by Al Lacy
“Do you believe the Bible is the perfect, inspired, infallible Word of God?”
A wide grin spread over the preacher’s face. “I sure do. And I preach the Lord Jesus Christ as the one and only way of salvation.”
Dan shook his hand a second time. “Well, praise the Lord. It’s always a joy to meet a brother in Christ.”
“Amen! Are your two army pals Christians?”
“They sure are. They go to church there in Mogollon. Their pastor’s name is David Denison.”
Kelmar smiled. “Well, that’s great. I told you I’ve been to Mogollon many times. I’ve preached several revival meetings for Brother Denison. The two of us are good friends.”
“Small world, isn’t it? This is really great.”
“What are your friends’ names?”
“Clay Holden and Joel Stevens.”
“What do they do there?”
“They own the C and J Livery Stable in Mogollon. They bought it right after moving there. Changed the name, of course.”
“Sure. It used to be Bob’s Livery Stable. So what are you going to do there?”
“Well, in their first letter, Clay and Joel told me there are many cattle ranches in the area. I should explain that I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Tennessee, just west of Chattanooga. My pals say with my experience, I’ll have no problem getting a job on one of the ranches. You see, for most of the War my pals and I were in the cavalry. We love horses. So by having the stable, Clay and Joel get to work with horses. They also have a blacksmith shop and a wagon repair shop.”
“So is their business doing well?”
“Quite well, from what they said in their second letter. They would like to bring me in as a partner someday, but it will take some time to build up enough business to support a third man.”
“Well, it sounds like the Lord has things all worked out for you. And let me say this, Mr. Tyler, you will like Pastor David Denison as a person and a preacher.”
“This is what my pals told me in their second letter. They really love him.”
Dan asked Pastor Kelmar questions about his background, where he was from, and about his family.
Soon, from the seat in the box above, the stage driver called out that they were coming into Gallup.
When the stage rolled to a stop in front of the Wells Fargo office, the two men hopped out and helped the elderly women from the coach. Friends stepped up and welcomed the ladies, then escorted them to a waiting buggy.
Kelmar noticed a man come from the office carrying a satchel. “Hey, Mike! Are you going home on this stage?”
“Sure am, Pastor,” replied the middle-aged man. “I didn’t realize you and I would be on the same stage.”
They shook hands. “I didn’t either. Let me introduce you to a brother in Christ.”
Kelmar introduced Mike Guzman and Dan Tyler to each other, explaining to Dan that Mike was one of his church members and the owner of Holbrook’s tailor shop. The two shook hands, then Dan and the preacher took time to go to the washroom and splash some of the dust off their faces.
Moments later, the stage pulled out with the three men in the coach.
Kelmar and Guzman sat together on the front seat, facing Tyler. The preacher filled Mike in on Dan’s story, then he and Mike began discussing matters that had to do with their church.
Dan looked out the window of the rocking, swaying coach as it crossed the New Mexico–Arizona border. He ran his gaze over the magnificent scenery, taking in the beauty of the wide-open desert land. In Dan’s estimation, the farther west they traveled, the more beautiful it was. When there was a break in the conversation, Dan said, “Gentlemen, I’m overwhelmed at the beauty of this land. It’s marvelous!”
Kelmar smiled. “I know how you feel. Just look out there. We are now in the area known as the Painted Desert.”
Dan chuckled. “It’s well painted, I’ll say that.”
The preacher pointed out his window, which was south. “And take a look at that forest.”
Dan leaned toward his window and ran his gaze to the breathtaking sight before him.
“That’s the Petrified Forest, Mr. Tyler.”
Dan kept his eyes on the forest for a long moment, then looked out the other window. He chuckled, shaking his head. “Yes, sir, evolution sure painted this desert beautiful and petrified that forest marvelously, didn’t it?”
Kelmar and Guzman laughed, and for a few minutes, Charles Darwin’s godless theory of evolution—beginning with the big explosion—was discussed.
The preacher said, “It’s a lot easier to believe what the Bible says: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’ ”
Dan grinned. “Right. And it was Almighty God who said, ‘Let there be light.’ Like the heaven and the earth, the light didn’t evolve. God spoke it into being. And it wasn’t some accidental explosion that divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:4 says, And God saw the light that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.’ ”
Pastor Kelmar nodded. “Amen. It was all His wonderful handiwork, not the effect of some fortuitous explosion.”
“Yes, praise His name. Ephesians 2:10 says that we who are born again are created in Christ Jesus. It wasn’t an explosion that made us God’s children. It was the Lord. And the gospel light that shined into our spiritual darkness was no accident. The precious Holy Spirit directed that light into our darkened hearts and minds on purpose.”
Kelmar smiled. “You’re right, my brother. Are you sure God doesn’t want you to be a preacher? I think you’d make a good one.”
“Well, sir, if God called me to preach, I would most certainly obey Him. But He also needs laymen to back their pastors and help build the churches.”
Kelmar rubbed his chin. “Well I can’t argue with that. The laymen you just described?”
“Uh-huh?”
“There’s one sitting beside me right now. Mike has been such a blessing. He’s a soul winner. He backs me all the way and is a tremendous asset in our church. So is his wife.”
Dan set his eyes on Mike. “God bless both you and your wife. Keep it up.”
Mike smiled. “We plan to.”
“Tell you one thing, Mr. Tyler,” said the preacher, “Pastor Denison will be glad to have you in his church.”
“Well, I’ll do my best to be a blessing. I want to help him all I can. My two pals have really pitched in to help, I know that.”
“Great. Ah …”
“Yes, Pastor?”
“Do you and your pals have girls back home? I mean who will be coming to join you later? You know … to get married, settle down, and raise families?”
“No, we don’t. We talked about it just before they left for Arizona, and we agreed that since we have put our lives in the Lord’s hands, He will bring the young ladies He has chosen for us into our lives when it’s His time.”
“Well, that’s the way to look at it,” said Kelmar. “Marriage is a wonderful thing. A man sure needs to get the woman God has planned for him.”
“I can say amen to that, Pastor,” spoke up Mike. “My older brother back in Michigan married the wrong woman. He’s a Christian, and I believe she is too. But he married her on the basis of physical beauty without earnestly seeking God’s will in the matter. The marriage was miserable for both of them, and after only a few months, they divorced.”
Kelmar shook his head sadly. “That’s too bad, Mike.” Then he said to Tyler, “Be sure to seek God’s will in the matter of marriage, my friend, whenever you find a young woman you think might be the one.”
“I’ll do that.”
Soon the stagecoach pulled into Holbrook.
When the three men stepped out of the coach, Dan shook the hands of Pastor Richard Kelmar and Mike Guzman. “It’s been a real joy meeting you, my brothers. The Lord bless you.”
“We’ll see you again, Mr. Tyler,” said Kelmar. “And please greet my friend Pastor Denison for me.”
“I sure will. And I�
��ll look forward to seeing both of you gentlemen again.”
The driver and the shotgunner took two pieces of luggage out of the boot at the rear of the coach and handed them to Kelmar and Guzman.
As they walked away, Dan waved and smiled.
The driver said, “Okay, Mr. Tyler, we’re ready to head for Mogollon. Thirty miles to go, and we’ll have you there.”
“Sounds good.”
As Dan stepped into the coach and took his seat, the crew climbed up to the box. The whip popped over the heads of the team, and the stage pulled away from the Wells Fargo office. Soon they were out on the desert with dust flying from the horses’ hooves and the wheels of the stage. The bright sunshine reflected off the huge mounds of sand. Here and there, blossoms of ocotillo shone a brilliant red. The surrounding area was bedecked with ironwood and mesquite and an occasional cactus. Desert marigold, with its showy, long-stemmed yellow wheel-shaped flowers, made golden patches along the side of the road.
It was quite warm inside the coach. And Dan was glad for the breeze that whipped through the windows. He caught sight of a desert hawk periodically, as well as shiny black ravens. Once he spotted a vulture on the limb of a dead tree, twisting its head on its red neck.
The stage had gone about ten miles from Holbrook when the road swung parallel with a shiny river that wended its way through the land.
The driver called down from the box, “Mr. Tyler! That’s the Little Colorado. Branches out of the big Colorado River up north in the Grand Canyon. We’re now in the Valley of the Little Colorado River.”
Dan stuck his head out the window and studied the Little Colorado as it wound through the valley. It seemed wide enough to him. He wondered how big the actual Colorado River was. The golden sunshine on its surface showed that the water had a red hue. It seemed silent as it glided along. It was magnificent to see. He was captivated by the beauty of the river and by the vast rugged land around him. He had heard how the lure of the desert could capture a person, and now he knew it was so.
He was captivated, not only by the sweeping golden-red river, but the marvelous formations of red rock and the long reaches of desert; the undulating bronze slopes waving up to the dark, tree-shadowed mountains.
The miles passed, and when the sun was lower in the sky, the driver called to his passenger, “Mogollon up ahead, Mr. Tyler!”
Dan stuck his head out the window so he could catch a glimpse of the town. He saw the uneven rooftops of the commercial buildings on Mogollon’s Main Street, and the houses that covered broad areas on both sides. They were of many sizes and shapes. Most of them, he saw, were made of adobe.
Soon they were in town, moving along Main Street, and Dan grinned when he saw the stable with its sign on a pole:
C and J Livery Stable
Blacksmith Shop
Wagon Repair Shop
His heart quickened pace. His new life in Arizona was about to get its start.
When the stage pulled up in front of the Wells Fargo office, Dan grinned again when he saw the smiling face of Clay Holden.
“Hey, Clay!” Dan shouted through the window, then opened the door and jumped out.
The two friends embraced, each pounding the other on the back. When the pounding stopped and they each took a step back, Clay said, “Joel stayed at the stable to take care of customers, but he’s anxious to see you. I assume you’ve got some luggage.”
“Sure do. Couple of bags.”
Even as Dan spoke, the shotgunner pulled the bags out of the boot and carried them to Dan. “Here you are, Mr. Tyler.”
Dan thanked him, and before he could grasp the bags, Clay had them in hand. He pointed to a nearby wagon with his chin. “Your chariot, sir.”
Dan laughed and walked beside his friend toward the wagon which had C and J Livery Stable emblazoned on its side. Clay set the bags in the wagon bed. “Okay, pal, let’s go.”
They climbed in the seat, Clay put the horses in motion, and the wagon headed down Main Street.
While they were moving along Main and Dan was taking in the sights, Clay said, “Got good news for you.”
Still grinning, Dan looked at him. “I can always use good news.”
“Joel and I learned of a ranch job that’s open. It was advertised yesterday in the Mogollon Dispatch, and the ad is in today’s edition, also.”
“Well, tell me about it!”
20
THE WAGON ROLLED SLOWLY DOWN MAIN STREET. Brilliant shafts of light shone between the buildings on the west side of the street as the sun’s upper rim dropped beneath the horizon. Earth and sky were bathed in sunset light.
Clay Holden waved at a friend on the street, then looked at Dan Tyler. “The Box B Ranch is seven miles west of Mogollon. I’ve seen it several times. It has five hundred acres of pasture and wooded land and some three hundred head of cattle. I’ve never met the owners, but from an article in the Mogollon Dispatch last week, I learned that the rancher, Jim Brady, died suddenly on Tuesday of heart failure at the age of eighty-four. He left behind his widow, Suzanne—who is eighty-one. The lengthy job ad says she is looking for a man to come and live in the small cabin on the ranch and run it for her.”
Dan’s eyebrows arched. “Mmm. That sounds ideal. I’d like to talk to her about it.”
“Well, there’s one little hitch you need to know about. Since it is a comparatively small ranch, Jim had no hired men. Mrs. Brady explained in the ad that because of a substantial amount of money she sends periodically to take care of her sister in Texas who is very ill, she can only afford to pay a hired man thirty dollars a month. Carl Axton, the owner of the Dispatch, was in our wagon repair shop yesterday and commented that Mrs. Brady was going to have a hard time finding a man to work for those wages.”
Dan opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get it out, Clay said, “Joel and I talked about it after Carl left. We decided that if you took the job, we would supplement your income until the day comes when we can take you in as a partner in the business.”
Dan grinned. “I appreciate your kindness, Clay, but if I am hired by Mrs. Brady, I’ll be fine. When I sold the family ranch in Tennessee, there was a mortgage on it, but I still came out with a few hundred dollars. I can afford to work for thirty dollars a month for a year or so.” He glanced at the sun. “It’s probably too late to do it now, but if you will take me to the Box B first thing in the morning, I’ll talk to Mrs. Brady.”
“Be glad to, but would you rather see if you can get a betterpaying job on one of the larger ranches?”
“I’d rather talk to Mrs. Brady first. The idea of running the ranch for her by myself and living in the cabin sounds really good.”
“Well, Joel and I sort of thought the same thing, that’s why we got excited about it. I know you’ve got to be tired, so we’ll just go out to the ranch first thing in the morning. As you know, Joel and I are living in the same room in a boardinghouse. We only have two beds, but I’ll sleep on the floor and you can have my bed tonight. If you’re hired in the morning, you’ll be in your own cabin tomorrow night.”
Dan shook his head. “You’re not sleeping on the floor so I can have your bed. We’ve passed two hotels. I’ll stay in one of them tonight.”
“But—”
“No arguments, ol’ pal. I’ll stay in one of the hotels.”
Clay grinned. “Yes, sir, General Tyler, sir. Joel and I will be taking you to Pastor Denison’s home for supper. It’s already planned. The Denisons want to meet you—and believe me, she and her daughters cook up a delicious meal.”
“Sounds good to me. From what you said in your letter about Pastor Denison, I’m eager to meet him. You only wrote about his preaching and what a great pastor he is. I assumed he had a wife, but I didn’t know he had children.”
“Well, you’ll meet all four of them in a little while.” Clay waited a few seconds, then said, “Joel and I have some good news we want to share with you, but we want to do it together.”
They were draw
ing near the stable. “Good news, eh? I can’t wait to hear it!”
Clay swung the wagon through the open gate of the stable and pulled rein. Dan saw Joel walk through the door of the office. He jumped out of the wagon and they wrapped their arms around each other, pounding each other on the back.
When the pounding ceased, Joel gripped Dan’s upper arms. “Sure is good to see you, ol’ pal!” Then he said to Clay, “You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“No, sir!” said Clay. “As excited as I am about it, I managed to keep from telling him.”
“Well, I’m glad of that! But before we tell him, is he interested in seeking the job at the Box B Ranch?”
“Most definitely,” said Dan. “Clay’s taking me out to see Mrs. Brady first thing in the morning.”
“Good! And if you get the job, you’re going to accept our offer to supplement your income until we can make you a partner in the business, right? Clay did tell you about that, didn’t he?”
“He did, but I explained to him that I have some money left over from the sale of my ranch in Tennessee. I can make it comfortably on thirty dollars a month for a year or so. You guys are very kind to make such a generous offer, but I’ll be fine.”
Joel chuckled. “Well, we plan to have you as a partner within a year, so it’ll all work out.”
“Sounds great. Now I want to hear this good news.”
Clay and Joel looked at each other and grinned.
“Okay,” said Joel, “which one of us is going to tell him?”
“I’ll humbly pass the honor to you,” said Clay.
A wide smile spread over Joel’s face. His eyes danced with joyful light. “Dan, Clay and I are both engaged to be married.”
Dan’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding me!”
“No, it’s the truth,” said Clay.
“Tell me who these most fortunate women are!”
Clay grinned. “I told you Pastor and Mrs. Denison have two daughters.”
“Yes, but I figured they were children.”
Joel laughed. “They were children once.”
Dan snorted and shook his head. “Okay, okay. You two are marrying the pastor’s daughters?”