Keeper of the Stars

by Robin Lee Hatcher

  Her dad was setting a tall glass of water on the tray beside a tossed green salad and a baked chicken breast. When he glanced her way he said, “Your food’s on the table.” Then he carried the tray from the room.

  Wordlessly, Penny and Trevor sat at the table, facing one another. They ate, and Penny supposed the hamburger and shake had flavor, although she didn’t taste anything. They even talked a little, about things that didn’t matter to either of them. Finally, unable to bear the unspoken any longer, she pushed her half-eaten meal aside.

  “Why did you come back tonight, Trevor?” It wasn’t exactly the question she wanted to ask, but it was a start.

  He finger-combed his hair with one hand, leaving it in the disheveled state that looked so good on him. “Remember that phone call I got on my cell when we were in Boise?”

  “Of course.” Everything had been different after that call.

  “It was a guy who used to be in my band years ago. He wants me to come back to Nashville. There’s a chance—a good one, he says—that I could get a recording contract. It’s what I’ve wanted and worked for all of these years.”

  Trevor’s music had taken her brother away. Now it was going to take Trevor away too. She wanted to hate and despise Nashville and country music and all it represented. But she couldn’t. She’d heard him sing. He deserved all the success he’d worked for. What was that old adage? If you love someone, set them free.

  “But, Penny, there’s something I want more than fame and fortune. I realized that tonight.”

  The breath caught in her lungs.

  “Sure, I love to sing. I love to entertain. But these weeks in Kings Meadow, the Lord has opened my eyes to where my real treasure lies. I’ve got to want Him more than anything else. And if I live for Him first, if I want Him most, I just might become the kind of man you would . . . you would want to spend your life with.”

  Trevor watched her expression, saw her trying to find the meaning in what he’d said thus far. “Just a minute.” He held his hand out, like a traffic cop. “Don’t move.” He got up and left the kitchen, returning as fast as he could with the guitar case in hand. He stopped at the table but didn’t sit down.

  More confusion filled her eyes as she looked up at him.

  “I love you, Penny. I didn’t know it was possible to love anybody the way I love you. Do you think you could ever learn to love me too?”

  At last, the hint of a smile curved her mouth. “Oh, Trevor. I already love you.”

  “Then marry me.”

  The tiny smile vanished. “I can’t. There’s Dad and the ranch and my job. How could I leave—”

  “I’m not asking you to leave. I’m asking you to let me stay. To let me be a part of all that you love.”

  “But your career.” Tears welled in her eyes. “How could I take that away from you?”

  He set the guitar case on the floor at her feet. “You wouldn’t be taking it away from me, Penny. I’m offering it up.”

  “You want to give up singing?”

  “Not give it up.” He knelt on one knee beside the case. “But offer it up. Let God have it to do with it what He wants. Maybe He’ll want me to sing worship songs for Him someday, like my mom said. Or maybe I’ll just spend my life singing and writing songs to you.”

  She covered her mouth with the fingertips of her right hand, the tears now rolling slowly down her cheeks.

  There was a verse in the Bible where God told Joshua to meditate on the law, on the Scriptures, day and night and to obey what was written there, and that if he did that, then God would prosper Joshua’s way and give him success. When Trevor had first read that verse, he’d thought it meant if he straightened out his own life, if he was obedient and followed all the Christian rules, he would finally get what he’d chased after for over a decade. But now he knew the success spoken of wasn’t necessarily success as the world judges it. God’s kind of success was far beyond what most people coveted, and it was that kind of success, God’s kind, he longed for now.

  “Marry me, Penny. Let me feed the cows three times a day. Let me ride horses with you through the snow in the winter and through the forests in the summer. Let me see a calf being born on a cold February morning. Let me see Harmony’s foal stand beside her, all legs and fuzzy coat.”

  “But what if—”

  “Let me be a part of your life, of your dad’s life, of this town’s life. Let me be the man God brought me here to become.”

  “Trevor, I—”

  He stood, reached out, and drew her into his embrace. Then he kissed her, a slow, deep kiss that tried to say everything his words could not. When their lips parted, he whispered, “I love you, Penny Cartwright. Finding you was no accident. It was meant to be.”

  She opened her eyes.

  “God knew what He was doing when He joined our two hearts.” He kissed her forehead. “Like the song says, you take my breath away.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You know, I never understood those lyrics until I fell in love with you.” He brushed his lips lightly against hers. “Marry me.” Another feathery kiss. “Marry me.” And when she didn’t answer, one more kiss and a whispered, “Marry me.”

  Her tears welled again, but she smiled now. “Yes, Trevor. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Later, he would be sure to thank the God who kept the stars for giving him this woman, for blessing him with all he would ever need.

  For now, he meant to keep right on kissing her. And she seemed perfectly willing to let him.

  Epilogue

  August 20

  “ALL RIGHT,” THE PHOTOGRAPHER SAID IN A LOUD voice. “Look at me and smile while you pretend to cut the cake.”

  There was no need for the bride to be told to smile. Penny couldn’t stop smiling even if she tried.

  Half an hour later, the last of the photographs had been taken, and Penny and Trevor looked out from the wings of the stage, his arm around her waist. The fellowship hall of the church—filled with lifelong friends and neighbors and a few Nashville guests as well—buzzed with happy voices that rose and fell like the waves of the sea.

  She saw her dad, looking handsome in his morning coat. He’d lost weight, a healthy weight loss, since improving his diet. And his new exercise routine, started because of the diabetes, had improved his back as well. Beside him—looking pretty in a lavender lace dress—was Dot Reynolds. It occurred to Penny that her dad and Dot would make a very nice couple. They were already good friends. She wondered—

  “Stranger things have happened,” Trevor whispered.

  She laughed, loving that he’d read her thoughts. Then she allowed her gaze to roam the large room again.

  She spied Grant and Skye Nichols, Skye looking ready to have her first baby any day now. Perhaps at any moment—which would certainly add a unique twist to Penny’s wedding day.

  Next to them were Buck and Charity Malone. Last summer, their outdoor wedding in the town park had been the biggest event Kings Meadow had ever seen. Penny had thought it lovely, of course, but her choice had been a smaller affair. Only a maid of honor and one bridesmaid. A wedding gown found on the sale rack at the bridal shop in Boise. Wildflowers for her bouquet.

  Sprinkled throughout the crowd were the men who had done so much to help the Cartwrights during her dad’s illness and recovery. Men like Chet Leonard, Ollie Abbott, Rand Foster, Patrick Lester, and Tom Butler. And their wives beside them, who had provided food for the family when preparing meals was the last thing anyone wanted to do.

  A fresh appreciation for the people of Kings Meadow welled in her heart. She remembered once wanting to find a job outside of Idaho. Now she found it hard to imagine ever wanting to leave.

  This was home. Her home. Hers and Trevor’s. And someday, God willing, their children’s home too. Out of the ashes of pain and anger and bitterness of a year ago had come an unexpected joy and peace and a future for her to share with Trevor.

  She didn’t bother to thank her lucky stars. She didn’t believe in th
em. But she did take a moment to thank the Keeper of the stars. It was a good way to begin a marriage.

  Note to Readers

  Dear Friends:

  It wasn’t easy to type “The end” on Keeper of the Stars because it meant saying farewell to the friends I’ve made in Kings Meadow. I hope you’ve come to love the setting and the characters as much as I have.

  I keep hearing from readers, asking about the order of the stories set in Kings Meadow. It is a bit confusing since only three of the five are part of the Kings Meadow Romance series. You can, of course, find the information on my website (www.robinleehatcher.com), but I will share it here as well:

  A Promise Kept (single title women’s fiction)

  Love Without End (Kings Meadow Romance, Book One)

  Whenever You Come Around (Kings Meadow Romance, Book Two)

  I Hope You Dance (a July wedding story in the Year of Weddings series)

  Keeper of the Stars (Kings Meadow Romance, Book Three)

  As I write this note, still many months from the release date, I haven’t settled on what story I will write next. So instead of introducing you to some new characters or a new series as I often do in a note to my readers, I’ll invite you to visit my website where you can always find the most up-to-date information.

  If you enjoyed this book, I hope you’ll take a moment to leave a review on Goodreads and/or Amazon and/or some other book retailer or review site. Those reviews are far more important than you may know and are deeply appreciated.

  In the grip of His grace,

  Robin

  Discussion Questions

  1. Penny Cartwright knew some hard losses and fell into the habit of trying to control her life and the lives of those she loved. Have you ever done something similar? Were you ever truly in control of the future, despite your efforts?

  2. Because Trevor Reynolds hadn’t known a father’s love growing up, he found it hard to trust in a loving God. Are you able to rest in the love of God, no matter what human relationships have done in your life?

  3. Penny let angry words linger between herself and Brad, and then when he died, it was too late to ask for his forgiveness. Has anything similar ever happened to you? What did you learn about the importance of forgiving and being forgiven sooner rather than later?

  4. Although he was young, Brad had a deep faith and the ability to love others. That love drew others to him. Are you able to love those who are far from God, those whose personalities or lifestyles are different from your own?

  5. The townsfolk of Kings Meadow pulled together to help a neighbor in need. God has given each of us a time and place to bond with and help others, and that begins with where we live. Have you found ways to reach out to your neighbors? In what ways do you care for those in need?

  6. Trevor pursued a dream of fame as a singer that was never realized, despite his talent. What do you think about the lesson he learned from the book of Joshua regarding true success? Are you able to “offer up” the talent God has given you, for Him to use as He chooses rather than as you choose?

  7. Do you have a favorite character from Keeper of the Stars? Who is it, and why?

  About the Author

  ROBIN LEE HATCHER IS THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR of over seventy-five books. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, Romantic Times’ Career Achievement Awards for Americana Romance and for Inspirational Fiction, the Carol Award, the 2011 Idahope Writer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from both Romance Writers of America (2001) and American Christian Fiction Writers (2014). Library Journal named Catching Katie one of the Best Books of 2004.

  Robin began her writing career in the general market, writing mass-market romances for Leisure Books, HarperPaperbacks, Avon Books, and Silhouette. In 1997, after several years of heart preparation, Robin accepted God’s call to write stories of faith and hasn’t looked back since. She has written both contemporary and historical women’s faith-based fiction and romance for Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Revell, Steeple Hill, Tyndale House, Multnomah, and WaterBrook.

  Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. Robin and her husband make their home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with Poppet, the high-maintenance papillon, and Princess Pinky, the DC (demon cat).