The young boy shuddered under his hand and then took a step forward. “Sir, I hitched a ride on your train without payin’ for a ticket. Could you please tell me how much I owe ya for a ticket to Cheyenne? ’Cause that’s how far I rode without payin’. In fact, ya better charge me for the trip back too, sir.”
The ticket agent stared for several seconds. Glanced at Joshua and then back at Caleb.
Caleb stepped closer. “Did ya hear me, sir?”
The man’s mouth opened an inch, but nothing came out as he blinked and looked to Joshua for guidance.
He nodded. “Yes, sir. A round-trip ticket to Cheyenne. The boy wants to pay back what he stole.”
The man found his voice. “Young man, this is the most admirable thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Thank you, sir. But what I did was wrong.” His bottom lip trembled.
The ticket agent nodded.
“We’re travelin’ to Cheyenne so I can pay back everyone, sir. So we’re gonna need two of those round-trip tickets to ride the train today.”
Joshua didn’t miss the quiver in Caleb’s voice, but he was so proud of him for speaking up and handling this. “Is it all right if we make several stops along the way? It might take us a day or two. Maybe more?”
“I’ll mark your tickets as such.” The man prepared some tickets.
“Thank you.” Josh and Caleb chimed at the same time.
“Since you are on such a noble quest,” the ticket agent leaned over the counter, “I believe some grace is in order. I will gladly accept your money for the two tickets today, but your debt is forgiven.”
Caleb turned to Joshua and craned his neck to look up at him. “Is that okay, Uncle Josh?” His whisper wasn’t all that quiet. “I don’t know whatdebtmeans.”
Josh worked to keep a stoic face and tousled Caleb’s hair. “Just like Jesus paid for our debt of sin on the cross, this man is saying your debt to the railroad is forgiven.”
“Oh,thankyou, sir.” Caleb’s breath left him in a dramatic sigh as he turned back to the ticket window. “I promise I’ll never do it again.”
Once they were settled on the train, Caleb snuggled up next to Josh, placing his head on his shoulder. “Thanks again, Uncle Josh. And I’m real sorry.”
“I know you are, Caleb. I’m very proud of you for beinghonest and forthright. This won’t be easy. Not everyone will be as forgiving as the ticket agent. But I will be with you every step of the way.”
“I know. I expected that man to yell at me. I deserved it, I know. But Mama and Daddy prayed with me before we left and told me that Jesus would be with me.” He yawned and pulled his knees up to his chest.
“Since we don’t need to get off the train for a bit, why don’t you take a nap so you’ll be fresh for our next stop?” Joshua lifted his arm to put around the boy and it was all the coaxing he needed to lay his head in his uncle’s lap.
———
Sunday morning dawned without a cloud in the sky. Joshua wasn’t looking forward to the day. Not after several disappointing visits to vendors who had taken it upon themselves to scold young Caleb and charge an exorbitant price for the small items he stole.
Still, his nephew had held his head up even in the midst of tears. He’d apologized multiple times and handed over the money himself. Something he told Joshua he was determined to do.
The plan was to head to church after breakfast and then to the mercantile.
Caleb was quiet all through the meal, but at least he ate like the growing boy he was. At the church, he hesitated at the bottom of the steps. “Ya think the preacher will be like the people last night?”
“I hope not, son. But it’s not our place to judge. We’re here to apologize and pay off a debt.” If he could take the pain for the young boy, he would. That’s what love did. But his nephew was determined to continue.
They entered the church and Caleb strode right up to the preacher at the front. The service didn’t start for a while sothere were only a handful of people in the building. “Mr. Reverend, sir?”
Joshua followed and stayed a few paces back.
“Yes, son.” The pastor held out a hand and took a seat on the front pew.
Caleb joined him. “I stole a dollar from the offering plate a few weeks ago. I don’t live here. I ran away from home and hitched a ride on the train. But I’m paying back”—he looked over his shoulder at Josh a bit timid—“all my debts.”
