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“You don’t believe that, do you?”
“Yes, but I deserve it, so I’ll accept God’s wrath.”
“God isn’t out to get you. He offers you grace. All you have to do is accept it.”
“There is no way he would forgive me after all I’ve done.”
“When Jesus was dying on the cross, he forgave the murderer hanging beside him. Told him he would be with Him in paradise that very day. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but that was the gist of it.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He died on the cross that long ago day to bridge the gap between us and God and allow us to enter into His presence, but we have to accept the gift He’s offered us.”
“But I don’t deserve it.”
Tears streamed down Sam’s face as she repeated her father’s words from so many years earlier. “Neither did I, but I accepted His gift and He gave me new life.”
She had. And then she’d turned her back on the God who saved her, but He kept reaching out to her. All she had to do was take hold of His hand. She could lean on Him, and He’d see her through. He didn’t promise a trouble-free life, but He promised to be with her through the suffering.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Gavincouldn’tbelieveGraysonhad managed to arrange a date for him on such short notice. Grace, the petite blonde beside him was familiar, indeed. She was one of the bodyguard’s in his employ. And she was in the area with Federal Judge George Swisher. George had chosen to come to Benton to be near where his daughter was last seen. The same area from which she’d called him. Not wanting her out of his sight, he’d insisted his youngest daughter accompany him along with her protective detail, Grace. And Gavin would feel much better if the bodyguard was at this very moment be protecting Victoria Mae, instead of hanging onto his arm with a death grip. But as Grayson pointed out, she was entitled to a few hours off, and Scott and Kenneth could handle Victoria Mae for one evening.
Grace smiled up at him. “Are you going to get me a glass of champagne?”
He didn’t imbibe himself, so he hadn’t thought to grab one when the server came by with the tray. “Sure. I’ll go fetch you one.”
“Don’t be long.” She winked. Actually winked. He rolled his eyes as he crossed the room. He wasn’t sure if she was overplaying a role or if she honestly thought this was a real date. He hoped it was the former because as much as he liked and respected Grace, he was smitten with Samantha, and as far as he was concerned that meant he was off the market. Besides, Grace was an employee. He grabbed the champagne flute. Yes, technically, Sam was, too, but he planned to fire her the moment he found her. And find her, he would.
Upon arriving back at her side, he handed Grace her drink and turned his attention to Mason who was clinking a glass to get everyone’s attention. “There was a private ceremony in the conservatory, but the happy couple will now join us to repeat their vows publicly and celebrate their union.”
Gavin felt the blood drain from his face when Emmaline Swisher stepped through the door and curtsied to the crowd. The round of applause from the onlookers couldn’t drown out his pounding heart.
“Is that?” Grace asked leaning close.
He force his face to remain impassive. “It is.”
“We need to call the judge.”
“They checked our cell phones at the door, how do you propose we call him?”
“He’s going to fire Garrison Security.” She shook her head. “Does she want this?”
“I’m not sure.” He clenched his jaw and watched helplessly as Emmaline pledged her life to a wealthy Frenchman more than twice her age. She said all the right words and smiled wide, but the joy didn’t reach her eyes. The letter to Samantha from her uncle replayed in his mind, and he was as certain as he could be that Emmaline had not chosen this path.
Samanthakneltbythecot and poured her heart out to the Lord. It was the first time she’d truly leaned on Him since the death of her parents. He’d certainly found a way to get her attention.
Now that she knew the Continental Alliance was part of her family’s history, and they had been forcing young girls into unwanted marriages, conflicting feelings stirred within her. Part of her knew for sure that her father and her uncle would never get involved in something so evil. They wouldn’t be able to justify it, but the truth of her father’s involvement hung on the wall in the gallery of the estate. And the book her uncle had that she’d taken to Gavin in Philadelphia. That book held her family’s darkest secret. They’d been part of a secret society that aimed to undermine women’s rights and put women back into what they deemed was their proper place. It was backward. The Bible didn’t claim those things. A woman shouldn’t be forced to marry against her will. And men in general were not given authority over women in general. Her father had taught biblical authority as presented in God’s holy word, but Mason Kennedy and his twisted group had wrested that same scripture to make it fit their perverse ways. No God wasn’t behind what the Continental Alliance was doing. God was good. It was a simple truth, but one she’d pushed away for years. In that moment, she embraced it.
Prayers poured from her lips, and she felt serenity deep within her soul. A calmness she hadn’t experienced in years. Here she was in captivity, and she’d never felt more free. “Thank You, Lord, for filling me with Your peace.”
The door to her cell opened, and Mason appeared. He perched himself on the edge of her cot. “You missed a lovely wedding. I came by to fetch my wife, but I thought I’d stop for a visit with you first.”
She looked away from him.
“How are you faring, my dear?” He glanced at her empty plate. “I’m glad to see you have your appetite. Maybe I’ll have Warden bring you a slice of wedding cake. It’s divine.”
Tugging her knees to her chest, she lifted another silent prayer.
