“The man giving me water answered, ‘I’m just giving him a drink.’
“‘Well, all right!’ the jolly one said, ‘but don’t make him too comfortable; the boss says he has to go back.’
“The man with the water said, ‘That’s too bad. You know he’d fit right in, even though he is pretty beat up.’
“The jolly man said, ‘I know, Wart, but orders are orders. Why don’t I take him back? You go on to the party.’
“The first voice said, ‘You’d better hurry. The celebration is about to begin, and we don’t want to be late!’
“Again, someone picked me up, and this time I felt like I was floating. I still couldn’t see anything, but I felt much better than I had before drinking the water. Whoever was carrying me was a big man, almost like Uncle Ned, and while he was carrying me, he said, ‘I can’t take you back looking like this! Maybe some of the leaves from this tree will help.’ He gently laid me on the ground, and in a minute he was rubbing something scratchy all over my body. Whatever he put on me began to burn like fire.
“‘Hey, stop it!’ I yelled. ‘That burns!’
“I wanted to cry, but this didn’t seem like the kind of place where anyone ever cried. So I shouted again, ‘Please, get it off!’
“The jolly voice just said, ‘Steady, lad.’
“If the burning wasn’t bad enough, the man began to pull what felt like a big scab off my body. It kind of hurt, but it kind of felt good too. As he peeled something off my face, the darkness around me became lighter, and when he was done, I could see!
“I couldn’t understand where I was. Everything was so green, like spring, only more so. And there, standing in the tall grass, was a huge man as big as Uncle Ned, laughing as he watched me.
“‘Where am I?’ I asked. ‘And who are you?’
“He just smiled and said, ‘It doesn’t really matter who I am or where you are, because you can’t stay. I have to take you home. My boss heard your request.’
“‘What request?’ I asked. ‘I couldn’t talk until now.’
“The big man looked very serious. ‘My boss listens to people’s hearts. He knows what they need even before they know it themselves. He knows you want your mother, and he knows she needs you too.’”
Destry held a hand to her trembling mouth as tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
“The big man suddenly laughed and picked me up like I was a twig. ‘Now to get you home,’ he said.
“One moment we were in a place of bright colors and warmth, and the next everything was brown and cold. I shivered and cuddled closer to the man for warmth. ‘My leg still hurts,’ I complained.
“The big man looked at me soberly. ‘I’m sorry, lad. I can’t do anything about that.’
“‘Why not?’ I asked.
“He shook his head. ‘Pain and suffering help us remember. Now, if you felt no pain, this would all seem like a dream to you, wouldn’t it?’
“‘I suppose,’ I said. ‘I sure never had a dream hurt this much.’
“At that very moment we rounded a bend and saw our farm. ‘Your leg is broken, Robbie,’ the big man said. ‘It will heal in time, but I think your broken leg will help your mother heal too.’
“‘Is my mother sick?’ I asked.
“The big man grinned. ‘She’s not sick in the way you are thinking, Robbie, but she’s not ready to believe everything you’ve just been through.’ He stopped on the far side of the barn and set me on the ground. ‘This is as far as I go.’
“‘Why can’t you take me to the house?’ I begged.
“The big man actually looked sad for the first time. ‘No one can see me in your world, Robbie, only you—and that will only last a few more moments. You need to keep this adventure to yourself, at least until Christmas. Your mother would never understand right now, but there will come a time when she will, and you’ll know when you can tell her.’
“‘But my leg hurts,’ I cried. ‘How will I get to the house?’
“The big man grinned and said, ‘Your dog is almost back from the mountain. He’s going to start barking and bring your mother on the run. She’s going to take good care of you, Robbie. She loves you so much! Now, I have to go, but I will see you again someday, and that is a promise!’
“I blinked, and the man was gone. Before I knew it, Mother was hovering over me, crying and scolding. She thought I had fallen from the barn loft. I wanted to tell you, Mother, but the angel who brought me home didn’t think you’d believe me.”
Philip suddenly stood and crossed the room. Pulling a broken knife from his pocket, he held it out for his son to see. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, Robbie: Is this knife yours?”
Robbie’s eyes grew big and round. “Yes, it is!” he said excitedly. “Where did you find it?”
Philip was now visibly shaken. “The day you broke your leg, I was watching your grandfather’s sheep not far from Promontory Point. Several lambs had strayed, and I wanted to check the rocks below the cliff. While I was down there, I discovered this knife, bent and broken, and the rocks covered with blood.
Destry pulled her son from Bill’s lap and held him close. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she sobbed.
“The man said you wouldn’t believe me, Mother, and I didn’t think you would, either,” Robbie said timidly.
Destry began to weep without restraint. Holding Robbie tight, she whispered, “I feel so ashamed, but you were probably right!”
“Do you believe me now?” Robbie asked.
Destry glanced around the room. Mary sat quietly by the fire, her snow-white hair a vivid reminder of the trials she had endured and the miracles surrounding them. Looking quickly at Philip’s father, a man she had both feared and refused to accept, she now failed to even notice his missing hand. All she could see was the love in his tear-moistened eyes.
Doubt and fear had always kept Destry from exercising the faith she tried to profess. Wanting desperately to start a new chapter in her life, she hugged her tiny son and whispered, “Yes, Robbie, I believe I do!”
CHAPTER 65
Life beyond the Fire
The following morning dawned clear, and a hint of warmth softened the frosty air. There was a flurry of activity as Philip’s brothers helped him load the sleigh. Destry carefully wrapped a blanket around Robbie’s coat and muffler, and Philip placed him on the front seat, where he would ride between his parents. Both Philip and Destry were beginning to realize their little boy was becoming a young man, and they did not want to miss another moment of his journey.
When everyone had said their goodbyes, Philip urged the horses into a trot. Destry watched Philip’s family over her shoulder until the sleigh rounded a bend and they disappeared from view. Reaching the Greenway, Philip turned the horses west, and they began to glide quickly over the snow. Destry spoke little as she considered her Christmas—all the stories she had heard and family she had met. She thought about Philip’s father, whose commitment to country and duty had cost him his hand. She was sorry now that she had refused to see him all these years. He was so gentle with Robbie, and he loved his family so much. It was easy to understand why Robbie adored him.
Her mind turned to Philip’s mother, the spry little woman with snow-white hair. Destry’s cheeks flushed as she thought of all Mary had endured, and yet now, no one could possibly know how much she had suffered. Life had tried to destroy Bill and Mary Cotton, but God had other plans. By trusting in their loving Heavenly Father, Philip’s parents had been able to move beyond sorrow and loss and still make good things happen in their lives.
Destry placed one arm around her son. For once she did not feel the need to protect him; she simply wanted to be close to this unique individual God had allowed into her life. She marveled at Robbie’s simple faith. He was far more confident than she that all things would work together for good. After his fall, whil
e still in terrible pain, blind, and mute, Robbie had somehow known everything would turn out all right. Destry really wanted to trust the Lord like that. She had spent years attempting to control every situation in life, clinging to her son, trying to protect him from every danger, yet in one afternoon, Robbie’s life had nearly been taken. It made her realize God was a far better guardian than she could ever be.
Destry closed her eyes and began to thank the Lord for saving her son. She praised God for giving her—no, for giving her entire family—another chance. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Robbie, determined not to waste this new opportunity. Life was not to be lived in fear. She understood bad things would still happen, but she also realized God had the power to overcome evil with good. She could waste her life by looking back at mistakes and living with regret, or she could look forward with faith, hope, and love. In her mind, Destry could still see Philip’s parents standing in the snow outside their home, smiling and waving goodbye.
Suddenly reaching for Philip’s hand, Destry surprised everyone, including herself, when she whispered, “Can we come back next year?”
Beyond the Fire Page 61