“Thank you, Walter.” Martha popped a grape into her mouth.
With the sky as blue as it could be, the red rocks around them towered and soaked up the sunshine. The afternoon would be quite warm.
Jacob had already begun to sweat in his summer suit.
Martha finished off a sandwich and took a sip. “I’m sorry for my attitude earlier.” She wrinkled her nose. “My relationship with my mother continues to perplex me.”
This was unknown territory for him. One, he wasn’t used to courting a woman, and two, he had a close relationship with every member of his family. What should he say? “I’m sorry it’s been such a struggle.”
“If you haven’t already guessed, that was the reason for the crease in my brow as you so graciously put it.” A light laugh accompanied her words.
He smiled at her and picked up another sandwich. “You know ... I had a feeling.”
She released a huff and relaxed her shoulders. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Before this summer, I never really felt the need to pursue a closer relationship with my parents. Then I met you. My father fell. Then my mother ... well, she changed. Then when Father passed, Mother and I had this moment of connection. At least, I thought we did. But since then, she has kept me at arm’s length. Everything is secretive. She’s gone a lot more than usual. Or at least more than I noticedbefore. Instead of bringing us together ... my father’s passing has pushed us further apart. I didn’t realize how much I’d hoped for the opposite until this morning. She refused to come to church and basically shut the door in my face.” Once all the words were out, she pointed her blue eyes in his direction and shrugged. But the tears shimmering in the corners couldn’t be missed.
Jacob held her gaze, wanting to reach out and comfort her but unsure of his instincts. What was allowed in polite society? “I didn’t realize that happened this morning ... I’m sorry.” He stared at his plate for a moment and then back at Martha. “Is there anything I can do?”
A sad smile lifted her lips. “That’s sweet of you to ask, but no. You simply being here is balm to my heart. I appreciate it more than I can say.”
Throwing caution to the wind, he scooted closer to her and reached for her hand. “Iamhere for you, Martha. I wish I could take away the pain I see in your eyes, or give you the kind of relationship with your mother that I have with mine, but I know that God is the one who can meet your needs better than I.”
Her brow did that crease again.
“Do you not agree?”
She shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t agree with you. It’s simply that I don’t understand. I do believe in God. But He’s the Almighty.” Sucking in her bottom lip between her teeth, she squinted at him. “Please don’t think less of me, I truly am seeking understanding. But my relationship with God has always been as distant as that with my parents. Are you saying it can be different? I’ve never heard that taught in church.”
His heart ached for her. To never have known familial love and closeness ... it made sense that she never expected it from her Heavenly Father. “It can be the closest relationship you’veever had. Jesus, and God the Father, they long to have a deep, abiding connection with each one of us.”
The crease in her brow grew as she pinched her lips together. “I don’t understand. No reverend I’ve ever known has said such a thing.” Her frown deepened. “But then, I haven’t had an association with anyone that even ventured towardclose. Not as an adult. Except maybe ... you?”
His heart did a little flip. How he longed to bridge the gap for her. He opened his mouth, but snapped it closed as a new understanding hit.
He’d come to care for her far more than just a friend. Had hoped to say something to her today about his feelings. Class differences, societal rules... they all flew out the window. But if she didn’t understand love... she couldn’t understand God’s love.
Then how could they ever be together?
NORTHOFDENVER
With her two hulking bodyguards beside her, she waited for the wiry man to approach her desk.
“What do ya need?”
“It’s simple.” She slid a piece of paper across the desk. “Don’t hurt any of the fossils, but damage anything else you please. Take their tools. Make a mess.” She waved her hand in the air. “I don’t care. But don’t get caught and don’t tell anyone who hired you.”
“I’ve never let ya down afore.”
Pulling an envelope out of her desk, she looked at him sideways. “Be that as it may, this should ensure you get the job done and keep your mouth shut.”
He waited for her to slide it across. Once he peered inside, he chuckled. “That’ll do it.”
She stood. “I’ve got plenty of work for you over the next few weeks.” Then she leaned over the desk, steepling her fingers on the shiny surface. “But rest assured, I’ll kill you myself if I eventhinkyou’ve let anything slip.”
The terror in his eyes was all she needed.
He knew who he was dealing with.
Fourteen
