Book Read Free

A Treacherous Mix

Page 27

by Kathy Herman


  “Abrisham and I have decided to pursue Christianity,” Reza said. “You may be a sinful man, as am I. But, Hawk Cummings, we also saw much light in you. We want this light.”

  Hawk felt so unworthy that he didn’t know how to respond. He blinked the stinging from his eyes and wiped away the disobedient tear that trickled down his cheek. He blew out a breath, and said, “So this is the last time we’ll see each other?”

  “It has to be,” Kennedy said. “I will always be grateful that you were in my life.”

  “Let me say a prayer for us before you go.” Hawk reached out and took Kennedy’s hand and then Reza’s. “Lord God, we’re so grateful that You’re bigger than our sin. That Your plans for our lives can’t be thwarted. Only You could take our sin and brokenness and use it for Your glory. I pray blessings on Reza and Abrisham as they depart now and go live their lives in peace. I pray that You would protect them and keep them invisible to anyone who would seek to hurt them. That You would bless them with good health, new friends, and children to love. I ask that You make Yourself known to them with the same loving-kindness and faithfulness that you have shown me. Draw them to Your Son, Jesus, the Light of the World who lives in the heart of every Christian, and bring them into a personal saving relationship with Him. I ask these things in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Savior. Amen.”

  “That was beautiful.” Reza put his arms around Hawk. “Thank you.”

  Hawk smiled. “Merry Christmas.”

  Kennedy reached over and embraced him with what felt like her whole heart and soul. “Merry Christmas, dear friend. We will never forget you.” She dabbed her eyes. “Hawk, we have to go. I need to ask you not to follow us. Not to try to find us. To do so could put all four of our lives in jeopardy.”

  “Four?”

  Reza put his hand on her middle and laughed. “See how fast the Lord answers you?”

  Chapter 37

  Kate rummaged through her jewelry box, wondering if she looked as flustered as she felt. She went out into the living room where the family was milling about, waiting to leave for Abby’s wedding ceremony.

  “Has anyone seen my amethyst earrings?” she said.

  Hawk shot her a devilish grin. He reached in his pocket and put something in his palm. “You mean these?”

  “My earrings!” Kate said. “Where did you find them?”

  Hawk walked over to her and handed her the earrings. “Mama, you gave them to me after church last Sunday and told me to keep them in a safe place, remember? You said you’d lose your head if it wasn’t screwed on.”

  Kate smiled sheepishly. “Thanks. I’ve been so focused on the wedding details that everything else is suffering.”

  Elliot laughed. “Sweetheart, do we look like we’re suffering?”

  Kate looked around the room at all the handsome men outfitted in black tuxes, white pleated shirts, and purple bow ties. And Riley, the junior bridesmaid, looking so grown up in a long dress of rich purple peau de soie.

  “Oh my, you’re all gorgeous,” Kate said, her eyes filling with tears for the hundredth time today. “I can’t believe Abby will be married before the sun goes down.”

  Elliot went over, put his arm around her, and kissed her cheek. “Which is why we need you to finish getting ready so we can get moving.” He gently nudged her back into the bedroom.

  “I’m glad you finally talked me into getting a wedding planner,” Kate said. “I thought it would be hard to let someone else take over, but it’s been a blessing.”

  Elliot sat on the side of the bed. “I went up the mountain to see how things look. Kate, it’s magical. I think Abby and Jay are going to be thrilled … Do you ever regret that we had a small family wedding at the church?”

  “Not at all,” Kate said, fastening one earring. “It was perfect. And the snow floating down, ever so slowly, almost poetically—talk about magical.”

  Elliot got up and stood behind her, his arms around her. “I love you so much. I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to be a part of all this. I can hardly believe I’m the stepfather of the bride and she’s asked us both to walk her down the aisle.”

  Kate leaned back in Elliot’s arms. “I feel blessed beyond measure. I guess a little like Job. After enduring so many tragedies and near tragedies, the Lord is pouring out His blessings on this family. I’ve wondered what this day would be like from the moment I first held Abby in my arms. If Micah is watching from heaven, I know he must be as proud as I am that you are a true father to the bride, and to all of our children.” She turned around and put her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

  “I love you more.”

  She smiled. “I love you most.”

  He started to kiss her. She giggled and pushed him away. “Don’t even start. You’ll mess up my makeup. I need to finish getting ready or we’re going to hold up the wedding. Why don’t you go round up the kids, and I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

  Elliot stood smiling at her.

  “What?”

  “You might want to put on the other earring.” He laughed and left the room.

  Kate smiled as she fastened her other earring. She powdered her nose. Freshened her lipstick. Sprayed her newly highlighted hair just a little more on the left side. Picked a piece of lint off her jacket and then slipped it on. She went over and stood in front of the full-length mirror.

  She scrutinized the mother of the bride. She was pleased with the feminine drape of the long raspberry lace bolero jacket dress she and Abby had shopped for together. The silk heels were a perfect match. Her earrings went beautifully with the diamond and amethyst necklace Elliot had bought her for her birthday, and the gem color was even more stunning with her dress than she had envisioned. She turned slowly from side to side, confident that her outfit was appropriately elegant, but not overstated, and would complement the dark purple dresses of the bridesmaids. Well done.

  Kate’s eyes suddenly brimmed with tears … again! This was Abby’s day. All eyes would be on the bride and her groom. Kate needed to stop worrying about how she looked and just enjoy the moments, memories that would be pasted in the scrapbook of her heart. She wanted everything to be perfect and memorable. How could it be anything else with so sweet a couple, totally smitten, committing their lives to each other?

  “Honey, are you about ready?” Elliot said. “Jay, Hawk, and Jesse have already left, and Riley and Buck are chomping at the bit.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Kate opened her top drawer and took out the picture of her holding Abby when she was a day old. What a beautiful baby she was. My sweet girl, this is your day. You and Jay are about to become one new creature in Christ. I am so proud of the lovely woman you’ve become. I love you so much and hope you and Jay will live on Sure Foot Mountain and raise your children here, but wherever you are, you’ll always be my daughter.

  Kate held the picture to her heart and then put it back in the drawer. She grabbed her purse and went out to the living room.

  Elliot whistled. “Wow, you look stunning.”

  “So do all of you,” she said.

  A smile appeared under Buck’s white mustache. “The grandfather of the bride is ready to roll. I didn’t put on this monkey suit for sheer comfort, you know.”

  Riley laughed and locked arms with Buck. “Come on, Grandpa. We’ve got a wedding to go to.”

  Kate stood with Abby and Elliot in the staging area, looking down at the guests who had filled two hundred white chairs neatly placed in rows on the green slope high above Beaver Lake. In front of the chairs near the bottom of the slope stood a white gazebo that had been leveled on the hillside to accommodate the wedding party and Pastor Windsor. The lighted center aisle was carpeted in deep purple.

  The tree-covered hills surrounding Beaver Lake wore rich autumn hues of crimson, rust, gold, and orange and were reflect
ed in its calm glassy water. The photographer took notice and didn’t miss the opportunity to capture it.

  The huge white pavilion where the reception would take place had been set up behind the staging area, where the ground was more level.

  Abby looked as if she had stepped off the cover of a bride’s magazine, dressed in a long-sleeve, slender column gown of soft, white silk and a crown of white spray roses and lavender, which accentuated her long auburn hair. Her bouquet was a simple mix of white and purple spray roses, and lavender.

  Kate leaned over and whispered to Abby, “Are you nervous?”

  Abby smiled, her eyes twinkling with joy. “Not really. It’s so beautiful. My eyes can’t get enough of it. All that planning … all those details … and just look at how perfect it is. I can’t thank you and Elliot enough.”

  Elliot bent down and kissed Abby on the cheek. “It’s magical.”

  “It is,” Abby said. “Everything I dreamed of, and more.”

  The wedding planner, Samantha Bouvier, appeared out of nowhere. She straightened Kate’s jacket and then moved to Abby.

  “You, sweet angel, are perfect,” Samantha said.

  She moved over to Elliot and straightened his bow tie and brushed some lint off his sleeve.

  “Okay, everyone,” Samantha said. “Remember how we practiced. As soon as you hear Pachelbel’s Canon, the bridesmaids will begin the descent. When I give the signal, Abby and her parents will lock arms and slowly descend the steps, heads held high.”

  Kate took a deep breath when the music began, and when it was their turn to go, she held tightly to Abby and descended the steps, her head held high as instructed. But as she neared the bottom, one face held her attention, and that was Jay’s. The way he looked at Abby nearly took her breath away. He was as radiant as she was, and just as pure, having saved himself for her alone. For a split second, Kate got a glimpse of Jesus as our Bridegroom, His face radiant and overflowing with love when He finally comes for His church.

  Kate glanced over at Hawk, his eyes brimming with tears. Did he see it too? Was he feeling the sting of regret in the presence of such innocent love?

  Kate and Elliot kissed their daughter and gave her hand to Jay, then stepped back and took their seats in the front row.

  With Elliot’s hand in hers, Kate entered into the ceremony with every fiber of her being. She would never again hear the parable of the Bridegroom without seeing the radiant purity that had emanated from Jay’s face.

  Chapter 38

  Inside the white pavilion, a string quartet played just loud enough to add to the festive celebration. All the guests had been served in the buffet line, many remaining seated and visiting at tables, others mingling as they moved around the room.

  Hawk mingled with the wedding guests as he made his way around the pavilion. Abby was gorgeous. She and Jay looked so happy. Laura Lynn looked beautiful too. He was happy to hear of her engagement to Michael.

  Hawk kept moving through a sea of people—and then he spotted her. He politely elbowed his way through the guests until he caught up with the tiny spirited brunette in a simple black dress.

  “There you are,” Hawk said. “I’ve been trying to catch up with you.”

  “The wedding was wonderful,” Jordan Bryan said. “Abby looks amazing. You look pretty handsome yourself. I rather like the tuxedo look on you.”

  “You do, huh?”

  “It’s almost as becoming on you as jeans and a T-shirt.”

  He laughed. “It’s crowded in here. You want to go for a walk?”

  “Definitely,” she said.

  Hawk took Jordan’s hand and led her through the crowd to the nearest exit, and out into the clean mountain air. A full moon lit up the landscape.

  Hawk took off his tux jacket and put it over her shoulders. “I’m glad you came. I told you it would be okay.”

  “I’m not in the habit of crashing weddings,” Jordan said.

  “You’re hardly crashing it when I invited you. Abby insisted.”

  Jordan laughed. “And some escort you turned out to be.”

  “I’m free now,” Hawk said. “I’m all yours until you tell me to get lost.”

  Jordan looked up at him, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Did I say anything about you getting lost?”

  “I want you to meet my mom and Elliot,” Hawk said. “We can’t keep putting it off. Abby figured it out. I don’t want them finding out about us from someone else.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. I just know how much they loved Laura Lynn. I’m nothing like her.”

  Hawk stopped and cupped Jordan’s face in his hands. “They’ll love you. How could they not? I love you.” Hawk let his lips melt into hers, then gently pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

  “You really don’t think they’ll gasp when you tell them I’m a jockey?”

  “A winning jockey. And no. I don’t.”

  Somebody came outside and announced that the bride was going to throw her bouquet.

  “Come on,” Hawk said. “Let’s go watch. I already know she’s going to throw it to Laura Lynn.”

  “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “Not at all,” Hawk said. “Come on. Abby’s feelings will be hurt if the family’s not there.”

  He took Jordan’s hand and went inside. He saw Abby standing with her back to a bevy of ladies, each eager to catch the bouquet. She kept looking over her shoulder.

  “See,” Hawk said. “She’s going to throw it straight to Laura Lynn.”

  Hawk walked to where the giggling females were waving their arms. He stood over to the side, getting a kick out of Abby looking over her shoulder.

  “Here she goes,” Hawk said.

  “One, two, three …” Abby flung the bouquet over her shoulder. It went high into the air, over to one side, and right into Hawk’s hands.

  He stared at it in disbelief, aware that the room was suddenly quiet. Then came a round of applause and laughter.

  Jordan laughed so hard she had tears coming down her face.

  “Okay, babe, let’s give them something to talk about.” Hawk reached down, sat Jordan on his arm, and lifted her up. Waving the bouquet with the other hand.

  The room erupted in more cheers and laughter.

  Hawk looked over at Abby, who was red faced and smiling from ear to ear. She winked.

  Chapter 39

  On Thanksgiving Day, Hawk sat out on the porch swing, wearing his warmest jacket, his hands in his pockets. His mother, Riley, and Jordan were in the kitchen, up to their elbows in piecrust, and having a ball. He could hear them laughing, clear out here. Jesse, Grandpa, and Elliot were watching football. Abby and Jay promised to be there around two o’clock, with a double batch of Abby’s homemade dinner rolls.

  On this day of heartfelt reflection, Hawk had been counting his many blessings and marveling that God had given him a new love. Jordan was everything his heart desired. And his family had fallen in love with her too. Jordan knew about Hawk’s affair with Kennedy. She had made a similar mistake several years ago. Together, over the past ten months, they had sought God’s healing and committed to a different course for their current relationship. Hawk had every hope that someday he would stand at the altar and look at Jordan the way Jay had done with Abby. It was never too late to do the right thing. He frequently recited the words from Isaiah 1:18 as a reminder: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

  Hawk reached in his pocket and pulled out a photo that had arrived in yesterday’s mail, the only contents of an envelope that had been run through a postage meter. It was a picture of a beautiful baby girl, maybe five months old. She had a head full of dark, silky hair and happiness in her eyes. On the back was written: “June 12, the second happiest day of our lives.” He stared in awe at th
e picture, wondering what her name was and if she would ever know her parents’ story.

  Hawk smiled. I’m thankful for you, my friends. You showed me what real love is. He put the picture back in his pocket.

  The door opened and Jordan came outside, bundled up in a navy down jacket and a pink stocking cap. “I just put my first cherry pie in the oven. And I cannot tell a lie, it was so much fun.”

  Jordan sat next to him and pulled his arm around her. “I love Kate. She actually taught me how to make a piecrust. I never did anything like that with my mother.”

  “Mama’s an amazing cook,” Hawk said. “She loves doing it. She’s been teaching Abby since she was old enough to hold a spoon.”

  “It’s weird, but I feel more out of control in the kitchen than I ever have riding a horse.”

  Hawk grinned. “I feel out of control doing either.”

  “Then let me teach you to ride,” Jordan said.

  “Why?”

  “Because I love it, and I want you to love it too.”

  “Okay,” Hawk said. “But only if you let me share with you something I want you to love.”

  “Sounds fair.”

  “Me first. Come on.” Hawk took her hand and hurried out to his Jeep. He opened the passenger side door and she hopped in. He ran around to the driver’s side, got in, started the motor, and backed out of the driveway.”

  “Where are we going?” Jordan said.

  “You’ll see.”

  t

  Kate looked out the kitchen window and saw Hawk’s Jeep pull out of the driveway. She wiped her hands with a towel and went out to the living room.

  “Does anyone know where Hawk and Jordan just went?”

  “I don’t,” Elliot said.

  Jesse looked over his shoulder. “Not me.”

  Buck shook his head. “I didn’t even know they left.”

  “Hmm.” Kate went back in the kitchen.

  Riley shrugged. “I was with you.”

  “I hope they’re back by the time these pies are ready to come out of the oven. I thought Jordan would get a kick out of taking hers out.”

 

‹ Prev