by Al Lacy
A crooked grin came into play on Johnny’s handsome face. “Now to what I came to talk to you about. Randy is going to retire from this job and go to work at the bank, right?”
“Yes. It’s going to happen within a few weeks. I have to find another deputy and train him.”
“Okay, this is just what I wanted to discuss with you. Would you consider hiring me in Randy’s place? You wouldn’t have to train me.”
Clay’s eyes brightened. “You mean it?”
“I sure do.”
“Well, if you want the job, it’s yours. Randy told me when he came in this morning that they want him to start his new job at the bank on Monday, November 1. He needs the pay from the county until then, so I told him he would have his job here until that time. His last day will be Saturday, October 30.”
Johnny’s face beamed. “All right! I’ll tell Chief Carew today, so he’ll have time to find another man to take my place.”
Clay stood up and Johnny did the same.
“All right, son,” said Clay, “I’ll plan on you starting as my deputy on Monday, November 1, unless you happen to be chasing some outlaws at the time. If that’s the case, you will start here when you come back to Colorado Springs.”
“It’s a deal, boss!”
Clay moved around the desk and opened his arms. As father and son hugged each other, Clay said, “This makes me very happy. I’ll tell your mother about it this evening.”
“If you don’t mind, Dad, I’ll go by the house and tell Mom after I give my notice to Chief Carew.”
Clay chuckled. “Of course I don’t mind. That’s fine. I’m sure when you tell Priscilla tonight, she’s going to be very happy about it too.”
“She sure will!”
At the Colorado Springs United States Marshal’s office, Chief Max Carew sat down with his young deputy. Johnny explained the situation to him and informed him that potentially his first day as an El Paso County deputy sheriff would be November 1.
“I understand your situation, Johnny,” Carew said. “I can’t say that I blame you at all. I hate to lose such a fine deputy, but for Priscilla’s sake, it most certainly is the thing to do. But don’t forget to invite Clara and me to the wedding.”
“I will not forget, sir. I want both of you there.”
“Johnny, I appreciate your giving me this much notice. You’re going to be hard to replace. It will take some time. Sheriff Bostin is a very fortunate man.”
Johnny’s face flushed. “Thank you, sir.”
“Let’s talk about your Dolph Widner gang assignment with Jack Caldwell. I want both of you fellas to keep in mind how cold-blooded and vicious that bunch are. Be extra careful. I wish I had more men to send with you, but as you know, all the other deputies are already out on assignments. I want you and Jack to come back alive and unharmed. I also want Widner and his bunch brought back in handcuffs or draped over their saddles, whichever it has to be. The ones in handcuffs will hang.”
“We’ll do our best, sir.”
“I’m sure of that.”
Mary Bostin was in the kitchen when she saw her son ride past the side window. She went to the back door, opened it, and watched him dismount at the porch. When he saw her, she laughed. “Well, lookee here, Mrs. Bostin’s wayward son has come home!”
Johnny bounded across the back porch and folded her into his arms. “Wayward son, eh?”
“Exactly! He took that apartment, and even when he comes home from chasing all those outlaws, he sleeps in a strange bed.”
“A guy has to grow up sometime, Mom.” Johnny kissed her rosy cheek.
When they moved into the kitchen, Johnny found the room fragrant. He sniffed, a pleasant look coming into his eyes. “Mm-mmm! Smells like oatmeal cookies baking!”
Mary laughed again. “Well, what brings you here other than the fact that you probably smelled those cookies baking all the way from downtown?”
Johnny felt her soft eyes admiring him.
Mary was thinking how much she loved her adopted son. God had only given her this one child—and him by adoption—but he had fulfilled her every dream. She and Clay were both grateful that he had never disappointed them. They had every reason to be proud of him.
“Sit down, son,” she said. “I’ll let you eat a cookie or two.”
Johnny took his place at the table where he had been fed all those years in the Bostin home. Mary poured two cups of steaming black coffee, set a plate of warm cookies on the table, and settled in her own chair. As he chewed a cookie, she said, “Johnny, dear, you look like the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary. Tell me what Pastor said.”
Johnny told her the meeting in detail how it went with Pastor Wheeler.
Mary set her cup down and smiled from ear to ear. “I knew it would go well, honey. The Wheelers have known you and loved you as long as we have, and I know they’ve been praying for the right mate for Priscilla, just as we have for you. I’m sure they have felt confident for the last four or five years that the Lord had chosen you and Priscilla for each other. She’s a very special girl, and we love her as if she were our own daughter. I know she will be the perfect wife for you. It’s been quite obvious for some time that the Wheelers wanted you for their son-in-law.”
“I sort of felt that, Mom, but it was good to have Pastor treat me so well about it. Anyway, tonight, Priscilla gets her engagement ring.”
“I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you pop the question.”
Johnny chuckled. “Won’t be a wall, Mom. I’m taking her for a ride out of town after we eat at the restaurant.”
“I know, silly. It’s just a figure of speech.”
“Just thought I’d tease you a little bit.” He paused, then said, “Mom, I have more to tell you.”
“Oh? Well, I’m all ears.”
Johnny told her about having talked to his father about Randy Ashbrook, and that he had asked his father if he could be hired. His father had said yes, and he told her how Chief Carew took it and gave her the date that he would go to work as a deputy marshal of El Paso County.
Mary sighed. “Oh, honey, that’s good news! I’m so glad to see the Lord working to make things better for you and Priscilla. Your mom will be plenty glad to see you at home more, too.”
He reached across the table and patted her hand. “I was sure you would be.”
Mary’s face pinched. “Honey, I’m nervous about this assignment that you and Jack Caldwell are undertaking. That vicious gang won’t be easy to capture.”
“I know, Mom. But it has to be done.”
“Well, I’ll be praying hard, asking God to take care of both of you.”
Johnny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Right now, my mind is on tonight.” He reached into his shirt pocket. “Would you like to see the ring?”
Her face brightened. “Oh yes!”
Pulling out the ring, Johnny placed it in his mother’s hand.
“Oh, Johnny, it’s beautiful! She’s going to love it.”
He took another deep breath. “Mom, I’m so nervous. I’ve never done this before. What if she says no?”
Mary laughed. “Oh yes, I can imagine that! You know as well as I do that Priscilla has been infatuated with you since she first met you. Your father and I have watched that infatuation turn into young love in your teen years, and now it is mature love. There is no way under heaven she is going to turn you down!”
Johnny smiled. “I know that. I was just kidding. But I’m still nervous.”
“It’s only natural, Johnny, but you’ll settle down once you’ve put this ring on her finger.”
That evening, Johnny stood before the mirror in his apartment and looked at himself. He had taken extra care with his appearance because of the special occasion that was about to take place.
His nerves had been on edge all day. Even though he knew what Priscilla’s answer would be, their definite plan to marry would be a life-changing decision.
While recombing his hair, he p
aused with the comb in midair and thought of the day he first met little Priscilla. It was really love at first sight, wasn’t it, Johnny? That sweet girl wasn’t even aware of it, but she crawled right down into your heart.
A tender smile played across his face. And she’s been there ever since.
Suddenly becoming aware of the time, he gave himself a mental shake and finished the combing job. He checked himself one last time in the mirror, laid the comb down, and walked to the bed. He picked up his jacket and put it on. Making sure the treasured engagement ring was secure in his shirt pocket, he then buttoned it and headed for the door, whistling a happy tune, his eyes alive with anticipation.
Johnny Bostin was not the only one with jumpy nerves. Anticipating her dinner date with the man she loved, Priscilla Wheeler dressed with particular care in her room on the second floor of the parsonage. All day long, her woman’s intuition had told her that tonight was the night. Her parents had been behaving a bit peculiar since lunch, and her inner heart just knew it was coming.
Standing before the mirror, Priscilla looked at her reflection. She wore a royal blue wool dress, trimmed with a soft black velvet ribbon around the mandarin collar and down the placket of the bodice. Small velvet covered buttons marched in a row from the collar to the waist, and a gathered skirt fell gracefully to the tips of her shiny black shoes.
Priscilla knew that Johnny liked her hair down. She had brought the sides up and secured them with an ornate round gold-colored barrette. Fluffing out a fringe of bangs, she stepped closer to the mirror for one final inspection. She pinched her cheeks until they glowed with a pinkish tint, took a deep breath in an attempt to settle her nerves, and left the room.
Just as she reached the staircase that led down to the vestibule, she heard a knock at the door. She paused at the top of the stairs and watched as her father went to the door and opened it.
“Hello, Johnny,” said the pastor. “I believe Priscilla’s about ready.”
“All right, sir.”
Johnny’s gaze trailed up to the top of the stairs. The look in his eyes made Priscilla’s heart jump.
From where Johnny stood, Priscilla looked like a princess about to gracefully descend the stairs. As she smiled at him and started down, his heart did flip-flops in his chest.
Chapter Twenty-two
The faces of Dan and Madelyne Wheeler beamed as they stood at the door and watched Priscilla and Johnny step off the porch by the last glow of twilight that was settling over the land. Johnny helped the beautiful brunette into the buggy, walked around to the other side, and hopped in beside her. He took up the reins and put the horse in motion. As Johnny and Priscilla waved, the Wheelers waved in return.
Dan said, “Honey, somehow I get the feeling that our little girl already knows what’s going to happen tonight.”
Madelyne nodded as they turned and headed for the door. “She does, honey. Take it from me. She knows.”
After dinner at the town’s nicest restaurant, Johnny Bostin drove the buggy down Main Street, heading south. Priscilla was commenting on the delicious dinner when she noticed that he passed the street that would have taken them to the church and parsonage. Brow puckered, she smiled at him. “Where are we going?”
He put an arm around her shoulders. “Oh, just for a little ride in the moonlight.”
The moon was full and bright as they left the town behind and kept moving southward along the road.
Priscilla—especially lovely in the moonlight—looked up at the man she loved. “Johnny, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
The night was crystal clear and on the cool side, but the love flowing between them generated a warmth all its own.
Priscilla told herself she was right. This was going to be the night. She tried to calm her rapidly beating heart while clutching her hands together in anticipation.
Soon Johnny pulled the buggy off the road and drew rein beside a gurgling brook. Priscilla glanced at the brook with moonlight glistening off its active surface and sighed. “Oh, Johnny, it’s beautiful.”
He stepped out of the buggy and his white teeth glistened as he smiled. “Not as beautiful as you, my sweet.”
Her heart was pounding as he rounded the buggy and drew up on her side. He helped her down and led her to the bank of the brook. They sat down on a large rock, and he looked into her eyes. “Sweetheart, I have good news for you.”
She felt like a large butterfly was in her chest, fluttering its wings. “What is it?”
Johnny told her about being hired by his father starting November 1 to take Randy Ashbrook’s place, and that he had already given notice to Chief Carew.
Priscilla was thrilled. “Oh, Johnny, I’ll be so happy having you in town most of the time!”
He let a crooked grin curve his mouth. “Well, I had another reason for wanting to quit my U.S. marshal’s job. It’s one thing to be in town most of the time, but it’s another thing to be in town most of the time and being able to go home each night to my loving wife.”
The fluttering in Priscilla’s chest grew more rapid as she saw him reach into his shirt pocket and pull out a ring bearing a single diamond that glinted as it reflected the light of the moon. Even though she had felt sure this would be the night he formally asked her to marry him, the actual deed had her speechless.
Johnny held the ring in front of her, his eyes full of love. “Priscilla, darling, we’ve talked a lot about one day becoming husband and wife, but right now I want to make it more than talk. I have your father’s permission and blessing to ask this question. Will you marry me?”
Tears filled Priscilla’s eyes. “Oh yes, Johnny. I will marry you!”
Johnny smiled and slowly slipped the ring on the third finger of her left hand. “Then with this ring, I do engage thee to become my lawfully wedded wife at a date we will discuss in a moment.”
“Oh, you wonderful darling!”
Johnny folded her in his strong arms and they sealed it with a sweet, tender kiss.
When he released her, she held her left hand out so she could get a good look at the ring. He took hold of her other hand. “How about a June wedding next year?”
She looked at him with love light shining in her tear-filled eyes. “Sounds perfect to me.”
“Your father liked it too. He said this would give us time to prepare ourselves for married life.”
They sealed that with a kiss, then held hands as they watched the moonlight dance on the gurgling water. Their hands stayed locked together as they made plans for their future as countless other couples before them on earth had done. Gazing deeply into one another’s eyes, they pledged their endless love and devotion to each other.
On the ride back to town, they talked more about their future, and soon Johnny was pulling the buggy up in front of the parsonage. The lantern on the porch was glowing. He helped Priscilla out and held her arm as he guided her up the porch steps. Lantern light showed against the curtains in the parlor, indicating that her parents were still up.
When they stopped at the door, a sudden shiver ran through Priscilla.
Johnny frowned. “Are you cold?”
“No. Your love is keeping me warm, but—”
“But what?”
“With all the joy and happiness we’ve shared this evening, I hadn’t thought of it till now.”
“What?”
“Daddy talked about it when he came into the house for lunch today. Tomorrow you and Jack Caldwell will be going after that awful Dolph Widner gang.”
“Oh. That.”
“Yes. That.”
“Honey, it’s a job that has to be done. I may have other such assignments before I go to work for Dad. But come November 1, my work will involve this town and the county. We must keep our minds fixed on that.”
A whimper escaped her tightly-pressed lips. Her eyes lifted to meet his, filled with dread. “But … but that Widner bunch are so cold-blooded, Johnny. Shouldn’t Chief Carew send more than j
ust you and Jack?”
“He can’t spare any more men, sweetheart.”
She drew a shuddering breath and wiped at her tears.
Johnny folded her into his arms. She laid her head against his chest, wrapped her own arms around him, and held him tight. They clung to each other in silence for a long moment.
Feeling Priscilla’s trembling body next to his, Johnny silently asked the Lord to comfort Priscilla and give her peace about his Widner assignment.
At last, Priscilla’s trembling ceased. She drew back in his arms just enough to look into his eyes. “I’m sorry, Johnny. Since the day you pinned that badge on, I’ve never been able to get used to the danger your job entails. I promise that with God’s help, I’ll do better.”
“Sweetheart, I know the life I’m asking you to live is not an easy one. But as I told Dad today, God is as able to protect and care for me as He is a carpenter or a merchant. Please don’t be afraid for me.”
Priscilla let a smile curve her lips. She reached up and caressed his cheek lovingly. “You’re right, my love. I have to learn better how to let the Lord keep me from being afraid. God says in His Word, ‘Perfect love casteth out fear.’ And we know God’s love is perfect. I will strive to always trust you into His mighty hands, and let Him cast out my fears with His perfect love. My heart and my prayers will follow you wherever you go, and whatever the dangers you face, my confidence will be in the one who promised never to leave us nor forsake us.”
She rose up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his lips.
Johnny smiled. “That’s my girl. We must trust everything, every day, into His perfect care and plan for our lives.”
He kissed her again, then opened the door for her. “Good night, sweetheart. I’ll drive away the happiest man in the whole world. I’ll see you just as soon as I get back. Stay busy making plans for our wedding. It will occupy a lot of my thoughts as well. Remember that I love you with all of my heart, and I will be home soon.”
Priscilla warmed him with a smile. “I love you too, my darling. Hurry back. I’ll be waiting and praying.”