After she’d shared everything with Dad, she went to the window and gazed out. Beautiful plants, their lush greenery and blooms in the garden plot, caused her to reflect.
She looked over her shoulder at her father. He’d had such a hard time being stuck in bed, physically unable to do what he loved. But his mind still flourished.
Then there was Julian. Physically, he was tall and strong. He could grow beautiful things. But his mind and soul had been riddled with the ugliness—the rottenness—of death.
The juxtaposition wasn’t lost on her. And the difference had been a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The garden before her would be a constant reminder of that.
And the challenge to share His unconditional love with a lost and dying world.
Joshua reached the telegraph office in Walker Creek and prayed there would be favorable news. But if there wasn’t, he was still at peace. God had brought him this far. Even if he had to find a way to pay for the rest of his schooling or change universities, he would make the sacrifice.
“Ziegler!” Mr. Mavery held up a telegram. “I was about to send someone out to your ranch with this. It’s marked urgent, so I knew you’d want to see it right away.” The smile on the man’s face was a good sign.
“Thank you, sir.” Josh took the paper and walked back to his horse. It was a lengthy note that must have cost a small fortune to send.
He began to read:
Joshua,
I pray all is well with your fiancée. Please send news. I will have tickets ready for you as soon as you are available to return.
Rest assured all will be waiting for you at school. The university will not argue with me on this matter. If you will be delayed longer than two weeks, I will have to pull some strings, but don’t worry.
Son, it’s time I let you know who I am. You know me as Mr. Bricker, but I am your grandfather. Matthew Ziegler.
Foolishly, I disowned your father when he was determined to follow his dreams and go west. In my old age, I realized my mistake.
I would like to come see you in Chicago as soon as you are back.
Perhaps one day, I can reconcile with your father.
My prayers are with you,
Your grandfather
Josh had to read it several times. His grandfather? Would wonders never cease? He let out a chuckle as he headed back into the office to send a response. Ziegler in German meantbrick layer. No wonder he’d chosen Bricker as his alias.
His parents had taken the news of Mary quite hard. Perhaps this news could bring a bit of joy back to the family. Dad often spoke of his regret in how he left, but he’d never felt comfortable reaching out to his parents. Not after being disowned.
It took Josh thirty minutes to take care of business in town. He sent a telegram to his grandfather and received another with more information in return. Tomorrow he’d have to leave again. But so much had changed.
God was good.
———
It was almost nine o’clock by the time he reached the Lakeman home again.
Anna ran out the door to meet him.
He pulled her into his arms. “Oh, I don’t want to say goodbye to you.”
“Then don’t. Let’s just write as often as we can and never say goodbye.” She pulled his hand and tugged him along with her toward the creek. “It’s late and Dad’s asleep, but he wanted me to tell you that he’ll be praying for you and he’s always here if you want to write to him, too.”
“I will. He’s been wonderful to me. And I hope that he continues to recover.”
Stopping in the middle of the path, she faced him. “My hope—and his—is that he will be able to walk me down the aisle at our wedding.”
