Grace smiled at Josh when she saw Wyatt and Victoria standing at the top of the church steps. "He actually looks like he's enjoying himself," she observed.
Josh frowned good-naturedly. "I'm not sure about that. Once he gets inside, he'll probably settle. This is a big step for him. Coming back to the Lord."
"Victoria's faith is strong," Grace said. "Emma and I spoke to her about that when we saw her, last week."
Josh lifted a brow. "You didn't do anything to encourage her to do this, did you?"
Grace looked startled. "Me?" She shook her head. "This is all Wyatt's doing. God has led him back. This time, I'm sure it'll be for good. Especially if Victoria has anything to do with it."
Grace scooped her arm inside Josh's and gazed up at him. "We should get inside," she suggested.
Josh held Grace's arm close to him and smiled at her. Ryan grinned when he saw the two of them being so cozy. The three of them walked up the steps of the church. Just doing that made Josh feel like he, Grace and Ryan were already a family. All that was needed to make it real was for him to talk with Grace. And that was what he planned on doing after the church service.
Arriving at the top of the stairs, pastor Joseph shook Josh's hand. He looked across at Wyatt and Victoria. "I'm very happy to see your brother here, this morning, Josh," the pastor said. "It's a good day when the Lord brings one of his own back to Him."
"It sure is," Josh replied. He saw Wyatt's face turn a shade of red.
Victoria looked at Wyatt. "Wyatt and I will be sitting together," she announced.
"Of course you will," the pastor agreed and gave them both a wide grin. Josh could see this meant a lot to pastor Joseph. Judging by the size of the growing congregation every Sunday, they'd soon be needing to extend the church to accommodate the bigger numbers. That was a good problem to have, as far as Josh was concerned. A godly town was a good place to live. A good place to bring up a family.
Inside, Josh, Grace and Ryan took their place down at the front. All the usual faces were present. Grace's Buchanan cousins were all seated together. Matilda, Emma, Jake and the children sat alongside himself, Grace and Ryan. Josh smiled to himself. The sense of family was so strong he could almost feel it in the air. This was why he'd returned to Inspiration. He knew that now. There was nowhere else in the world where he could provide this kind of security and happiness for Ryan.
The service began. Pastor Joseph made a whole lot of fuss over the return of Wyatt to the congregation. He praised the Lord for bringing one of his own back to the fold. There were cries of joyous celebration when Wyatt responded to pastor Joseph's request that he stand and give a brief testimony about his return. Of course, Wyatt couldn't help complimenting Victoria's part in helping him make his momentous decision. When he sat down, Wyatt was given a round of applause. Any doubts about being welcome back would be completely dispelled, Josh told himself. He felt proud of Wyatt.
Grace held Josh's hand for most of the service. Ryan leaned against Grace as if she was his own mother. Grace did nothing to discourage Ryan's obvious affections. Finally, the service was over and everyone made their way outside to the yard. The sun was shining, and the air was cold, but Josh's heart was filled with undeniable good-feeling. Everything was going in the right direction, at last. There was only one thing he needed to do. The moment had come.
While he was standing talking to Wyatt and Victoria, Grace wandered across to speak with her Buchanan cousins. It looked like she was preparing to bring them all over to meet with Josh and Ryan. Josh felt nerves twist in his gut. Meeting all the extended family like this was going to be important. Although, he was acquainted with the Buchanans, now that Josh was hoping to make Grace his bride, it added a whole new dimension to a family gathering.
Just as he was summoning up his courage to speak to her family members, Josh's eye was caught by a figure over by the tree near the side of the church. Josh felt a chill race up his spine.
The stranger.
Instinctively, Josh laid a hand across Ryan's shoulder, drawing the little boy closer to him. The stranger was looking straight at Josh and Ryan. Then the man did something which made Josh's stomach twist. The man smiled and, lifting a hand, beckoned slowly toward Josh.
Josh glanced toward Grace, anxious to know if she had seen the man. But, Grace was busy talking with her cousins. Relieved she hadn't noticed the man's presence, Josh quickly considered what he could do. His immediate priority was Ryan's safety. He walked over to Wyatt and Victoria who were talking with pastor Joseph.
Josh smiled nervously at Wyatt. "Can I leave Ryan with you for a moment?" he asked Wyatt.
Wyatt's eyes narrowed with surprise. Clearly noticing that something wasn't right, Wyatt made as if he wanted to ask for an explanation, but Josh cut him off. "I just need to attend to something for a few moments."
Hesitantly agreeing, Wyatt took Ryan's hand. Victoria leaned down and smiled at Ryan. "Did you enjoy church?" she asked enthusiastically.
Ryan nodded. "Uh huh," he replied.
Wyatt peered at Josh. "Victoria has agreed to come to the ranch on Christmas day," he announced. "Isn't that wonderful?"
"It sure is," Josh replied, hesitantly, his mind caught between what that could mean for Wyatt and what would happen when he spoke to the man standing by the tree. Josh smiled at Victoria. "I'm sure Miriam will make a wonderful Christmas dinner."
Wyatt nodded. "She usually does," he stated. Josh was reminded that this would be his first Christmas at the Munro ranch for three years.
Josh saw Ryan gaze up at him. "Are we going home now, pa?"
"In a little while, Ryan," Josh reassured the boy.
Pastor Joseph smiled at Josh. "He'll be fine with us," he reassured Josh.
Josh nodded and walked away, taking note that Wyatt was watching him carefully. Josh started toward the distant tree, making sure he didn't go anywhere near the gathered Buchanan family members. They were all too busy chatting and laughing to notice Josh walking in the direction of the man at the tree.
Josh saw the man watching him with a steady gaze. There was something familiar about the man, Josh told himself, as he neared the stranger. Something about the man's features triggered a sense of recognition in Josh. But, he couldn't put his finger on what it was that prompted that feeling.
Finally, Josh reached the man. He was tall and gaunt looking. His angular features, tired, dark eyes and sunken cheeks suggested a life of hardship. Dark hair hung limp against his head. His skin was browned by the sun. There was a tightness about the man's posture, as if he was accustomed to being ready for action.
The man held out a hand. "Mr Munro?" the man said.
Josh frowned. "You know my name?"
The man nodded. "I sure do." Up close now, Josh saw the steadiness in the man's gaze. It wasn't friendly. This was a man with something important on his mind, Josh told himself.
"And you are?" Josh asked. The feeling that he knew this man was even stronger now.
The stranger looked over Josh's shoulder. Toward Ryan. "Fine looking boy you got there," he said slowly.
There was a hint of menace in the man's words which immediately awakened a defensive reaction in Josh. "My son, Ryan," Josh said.
The man's brows shot up abruptly. "Your boy?" he asked.
Josh nodded. "You still haven't told me your name, mister," Josh reminded him. Josh narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to the man. "Have we met before?"
The man shook his head. "Not exactly," he said. "But we do share a mutual connection."
"What are you talking about?" Josh asked. Unease flickered into life again.
The man tilted his head. "Maybe you and I should take a walk for a few minutes," he suggested.
"Why would I do that?" Josh asked sharply.
"Because I wouldn't want anything to happen which would upset the boy," the man said, glancing once again toward Ryan.
Josh's fist tightened into tense balls. He drew in sharp breath. "Now, look mister. Tell m
e what all this is about."
The man leaned back against the tree and sighed. "That boy there, belongs to me,' he said.
Rage flared in Josh. He took a step toward the man. The man didn't move a muscle. He merely fixed Josh with an unmoving stare."What are you talking about?" Josh demanded, trying to keep his shaking voice low.
"Like I said," the man continued. "Maybe it's best we talk away from these good folks." He squinted at Josh. "We wouldn't want to create a scene, would we?"
Josh sighed heavily. "Okay. Let's go down toward Main Street. But, you're going to tell me what all this is about. And I haven't got much time."
The man smiled. "It ain't going to take me long to tell you what I came to this town for, Mr Munro."
When the man walked slowly away from Josh, all he could do was follow alongside him, wondering what he was about to discover about Ryan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Everyone had left the churchyard over half an hour before as Grace stood with Ryan at the foot of the steps waiting for Josh's return. She wondered where he had gotten to. Wyatt had told Grace that he'd seen Josh talking to someone, and that they had both walked off in the direction of Main Street, deep in conversation.
The solitary carriage awaited Josh's return. Grace rested her arm across Ryan's shoulder. The boy looked as if he was also wondering what was going on. There was a sound from behind her and Grace looked up to see Pastor Joseph closing the doors of the church.
Turning to look back up the street, Grace heard Ryan call out. "There's pa," he exclaimed. Ryan made an effort to run toward Josh, but Grace held onto him.
Josh walked with bowed head. She could see his furrowed brows, the sagging of his shoulders and the heavy pace of his steps. Something terrible had happened, Grace told herself. She restrained the impulse to go to him.
When he reached Grace, Josh tried to smile, but it looked forced. "You waited for me," he said. His voice shook with emotion. Grace hadn't seen Josh look like this before. She desperately wanted to ask him what had happened. What he had been talking about with the stranger who Wyatt had described to her. But, she held her tongue. There would be time to ask him once they all reached the ranch.
Saying nothing, they all got up onto the carriage. Josh drove the carriage out of town. At one point Grace had to ask Josh to slow down. He'd seemed lost in thought as the carriage's speed picked up, heading up the snow-covered trail. Dutifully, and giving Grace a smile of recognition, had Josh slowed the carriage.
They reached the Buchanan ranch and Josh drew the carriage to a halt in the yard. Ryan jumped down, followed by Grace. Josh remained seated on the carriage, still preoccupied with whatever was on his mind. Jake came out from inside the ranch house and Ryan ran to him. Jake laughed and picked Ryan up into his arms. Grace saw her brother looking over at her standing next to the carriage. Jake was smart enough to realize that Grace and Josh might have things they wanted to say to one another.
Jake looked into Ryan's eye and smiled. "What say we go inside and you tell me all about today, huh?"
Ryan nodded enthusiastically and then Jake took the boy inside the house. To Grace, Josh's silence seemed to last forever. She was so eager to know what was on his mind, she could hardly contain the impulse to demand that he speak to her.
Finally, Josh stepped down from the carriage. Standing alongside Grace, she thought he looked somehow smaller. As if his stooped posture was evidence that some of his strength had left him.
"What's wrong, Josh?" Grace asked.
Josh's gaze settled on Grace. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "The worst thing."
Anxiety shot through Grace. "What is it, Josh?" She took his arm. "Tell me."
Josh glanced toward the ranch house. "Walk with me," he said. "I don't want anyone hearing what I have to tell you."
Worry flared in Grace, unstoppable and insistent. She stared at Josh. He shook his head, as if counseling her to temporary silence. At least until they were out of earshot of the house. Grace followed Josh silently until they reached the pathway between the stable and the corral. Now that they were far enough away from the house, Josh halted. He took Grace's arms, holding each with a tense grip. His eyes were filled with fear.
"You know that man we saw at the saloon," Josh said. Grace recalled Josh's reaction to seeing the trouble at the saloon. It had seemed like an odd reaction at the time, but she had told herself that, if it was important, Josh would speak to her about it. So far, he hadn't done so. But, she could see that the time had finally come.
Grace nodded. "What about him?"
Josh's gaze became grim. Steady. "Today, at the church, I found out who he is."
"He was at the church?" Grace asked, realizing she had been too busy with her family to notice.
Josh nodded. "He was there. I met him after the service. He and I got to talking."
Grace frowned. "What about?"
Josh shook his head and smiled weakly. "About the most important thing in my life," he said. He peered into Grace's eyes. "Ryan."
"Ryan!" Grace exclaimed. "What about him?"
Josh sighed. Grace saw him swallow nervously. Josh gazed into Grace's eyes. She saw pain there. Sheer, physical pain. Instantly, she wanted to reach out to Josh. To take away whatever was causing that pain. But, she could see that he had something to say to her. Something momentous.
"That man is Jeb's brother, Linus," Josh announced in a flat voice.
Grace gasped. "He's Ryan's uncle?" she exclaimed.
Josh nodded slowly. "I never met Linus before. Seems he and Jeb were estranged for a few years. Linus has been living in Texas these past few years."
"How do you know for sure this man is Jeb's brother?" Grace asked, searching for any way to deny the reality of what Josh had just told her.
Josh tilted his head. There was an air of defeat in Josh's demeanor now. "He showed me a photo of him, Jeb and young Ryan. He's also got letters from Jeb," Josh added. "There's no doubt in my mind he is who he claims to be."
Grace took a step away from Josh. He released his hold on her and watched as she paced in front of him. Clasping her hands nervously, Grace tried to figure out what all this could mean. There was only one reason why Linus would have come to Inspiration, she told herself. He had come to claim something important to him. And that could mean only one thing. Ryan. That simple thought caused fear to tighten in her middle.
"You said you had all the paperwork done before you left Wyoming," Grace said to Josh. "You told me that your adoption of Ryan is all perfectly legal."
Josh nodded. "It is," he admitted. He frowned. "But, if Linus is Ryan's only living family, doesn't that mean that Ryan truly belongs with him. And not with me, Grace?" Josh stared at Grace as if his world had just fallen apart. And maybe it had, she told herself. Without Ryan, what would Josh's new life mean? How could he go forward now that all he'd worked so hard to create was about to be taken away from him?
Grace advanced to Josh. "Do you think God would have done all this, just to take it away from you? From Ryan?"
Josh's eyes narrowed. She could see he was thinking deeply about what she had asked. "I thought I knew what God wanted me to do, Grace," he said. "Maybe I was wrong. Perhaps he just wanted me to keep Ryan safe until Linus showed up."
The Rancher’s Christmas Miracle Page 18