Preacher Wore A Gun

by Joyce Livingston

  She gave him a shy grin. “And bugged you about it?”

  He smiled back. “Yeah, I guess you could call it that, but it worked. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.”

  “Of course there is. God never gives up on anyone. We may leave Him but He never leaves us. I’m sure He rejoices each time He sees you back in His house.”

  “The kids behaved pretty well today, didn’t they?”

  “Yes, I was quite proud of them.”

  “Me, too. Who knows? They may even be enjoying it.”

  ❧

  The next four weeks went by with reasonably few confrontations, which both Tassie and Mitch attributed to putting Dale’s wise advice into action. Tassie hoped the calm meant Mitch’s older children were finally beginning to accept her. At least they were tolerating her presence in their home.

  “Can you believe Tony and Delana are no longer complaining about going to church?” Mitch asked her one Sunday afternoon as he helped Tassie finish loading the dishwasher.

  She closed the dishwasher’s door, started it, then turned to face him. “And they’ve almost stopped harassing me. Probably because they see so little of me since they’re out with their friends every day, enjoying their summer vacation. Mitch, I’m trying so hard to reach Delana, but she still shuts me out.”

  Their conversation was brought to a halt by the doorbell. “That’s probably Dale.” Mitch reached for her hand; then the two of them hurried to the door. “Good, you made it,” he told his friend as he pushed open the storm door to allow him entrance.

  “Hey, I’d never turn down an invitation to visit with friends.” Dale paused and grinned at Tassie. “Especially since Tassie told me she’d save me a piece of her famous pineapple Bundt cake.”

  She smiled at him as she gestured toward the sofa. “You two go ahead and sit down while I get the coffee and cake.”

  She liked Dale. He was a good man, but more importantly he loved the Lord. Although she and Mitch hadn’t invited him over specifically for a counseling session, they did plan to take advantage of his being there to ask a few questions and beg for some much needed advice.

  By the time she’d filled the tray and headed back into the living room, the two men were deeply engaged in conversation.

  “Mitch tells me little Babette has adjusted well to having you in her home.” Dale stopped long enough to nod a thank-you when she placed his coffee and cake plate on the end table beside him. “But the older two are still not accepting you as part of this household.”

  “Unfortunately, that’s true, Dale. I tried everything I can think of to reach them. I think Tony is slowly, but surely, coming around, but Delana is. . .”

  “She’s jealous of you, you know.”

  Tassie gasped. “Jealous? Of me? Why? She looks at me as nothing more than a servant. She even insinuated I had only taken this babysitting job—as she calls it—because I couldn’t get a real job!”

  Chaplain Lewis looked from Tassie to Mitch and back again. “Not the envious kind of jealousy. She is jealous of you as a woman—the woman she fears might take her father away from her.”

  Tassie felt a flush rise to her cheeks. “I—I don’t know what you mean.”

  Mitch gave Dale a puzzled look.

  “Oh, come on, you two. Don’t try to tell me you aren’t attracted to one another. You maybe have tried to hide it, but it’s been pretty obvious. I’ve known it for weeks.”

  Tassie’s hand went to her throat. He noticed?

  “I’m sure, with all of you living under one roof, the children noticed it, too.”

  Mitch set his cup on the table with a thud. “Whoa, Dale. Tassie and I have never done anything improper. I’ve barely even held her hand.”

  “Knowing you both like I do, I’m sure that’s true, but you have to look at it from your daughters’ and your son’s perspectives. First their mother abandoned them; then she died. That was like losing her twice. Next Grandma moved in and, although she was here physically, to be frank, we both know she was in a drunken stupor most of the time; then she abruptly moved out. Again, double abandonment. That would have been bad enough, but you abandoned them, too, Mitch. You literally turned your back on your kids and let your work take over as a way of dealing with your grief.”

  “I didn’t mean to abandon them,” Mitch said quickly in his defense. “I guess I just couldn’t face reality.”

  Dale reached across and gave his hand a reassuring pat. “I know, old friend. Most men would have reacted the same way. Not only was your heart broken, your ego suffered a tremendous blow. But I’m proud of you. You’ve come out of it, you’re doing all you can to be the father you should be, and you’re taking your kids to church.”

  “I couldn’t have done it if it weren’t for you, Dale, and for Tassie’s encouraging me to get the kids to church.”

  Dale gestured toward Tassie. “One of the smartest things you’ve done is bring Tassie into this home to help you. Having her here has to be a God thing. To be able to find a fine Christian woman willing to come into this home under those circumstances was nothing short of a miracle.”

  Tassie, not sure how she should respond, said a simple, “Thank you.”

  Mitch leaned back against the sofa and stared off into space for a moment before speaking. “You’re right, you know.”

  She froze.

  Dale gave him a shy grin. “About your and Tassie’s attraction toward one another?”

  Mitch swallowed hard. “Yes. I can’t speak for Tassie, but I’ve been attracted to her since the first day she came to us. I know I shouldn’t. . .”

  Dale shrugged. “Shouldn’t what? Be attracted to a pretty young woman like her? Why not? There’s nothing wrong with two people who are not committed to someone else to develop a fondness for each other. I like the idea. It looks to me like the two of you belong together. That’s part of the problem. Your children feel the same way. They probably noticed the attraction long before you two were willing to admit it. That’s what scares them. They’re afraid—if you and Tassie do get together—she’ll abandon them like every other person they have ever loved and trusted has done.”

  Mitch gazed at him with a look of bewilderment. “So what should we do?”

  “First and foremost—continue to pray. Fall on your face before God and ask Him to guide your every action, your every word. Next, be honest with them. Believe me, they already know what is going on in your hearts. Don’t keep them in the dark. They may not like the idea of the two of you getting together, but they’ll be more receptive to it if they feel like they are a part of it, rather than thinking you’re trying to hide it from them.”

  Mitch rubbed at his forehead. “Are you saying we should tell—”

  “Not we, Mitch. You. You’re their father. At this point, Tassie should not be included. They need to hear it from you and you alone. Once you’ve told them, you need to sit back and listen to them, hear their viewpoint, let them know their opinions are valuable to you.”

  “So if they say they don’t want Tassie and me together, we end our relationship?”

  “No, not at all. That decision is up to you, but at least your children will feel like you were listening to what they had to say, that they had a part in whatever decision you make. But remember this. . .” He paused and looked at Tassie before turning back to Mitch. “It’s what God wants that counts. Seek His will in this. If He wants the two of you together, He’ll allow a love to develop between the two of you, a love that refuses to be denied.”

  “Even if my children—”

  “Look, Babette has already become Tassie’s shadow. It’s obvious that little girl already loves her. You said Tony seems to be coming around. Do you doubt God can change Delana’s heart, too?”

  Frowning, Tassie said, “I don’t want to be the cause of—”

  Again Dale interrupted. “Tassie, this family was dysfunctional long before you came, so don’t try to take on any of the blame. You told me you prayed about taking this jo
b before you accepted it, and I know both you and Mitch are in continual prayer for his children. Plus, I know you are both children of faith. You have to do all you can to show them how much you love them, but more importantly, you have to turn it all over to God and trust Him. He is able to move mountains.”

  Mitch reached for his cup then motioned toward Dale’s uneaten cake. “Thanks, Dale. We’ll try to take your advice. But right now, you’d better let Tassie pour you a fresh hot cup of coffee so you can enjoy that cake.”

  Later that evening as the two sat on the sofa, discussing their conversation with Dale, Mitch gave Tassie a shy grin as he reached for her hand. “I’m more than attracted to you, Tassie. It may be premature for me to mention it, but I think I’m falling in love with you.”

  Awestruck by his words, she simply stared at him.

  “I know I’m a bit older than you and come with a ready-made family, but do you think you could ever love me?”

  “L–love you?” she managed to utter as her heart fluttered within her chest. “I—I think I already do.”

  He scooted closer and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, I’ve been attracted to you since the first day you came into our home.”

  She felt as if she should pinch herself. Was this really happening? “But—what about the children?”

  He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Like Dale said, we have to turn everything over to God. If He wants us together, it will all work out.”

  They discussed their newly admitted situation for some time and the effects it would have on all of them. Then Mitch gave his fingers a snap and reached for his billfold. “I nearly forgot. I need to give you some money. Tony said you were driving him and a couple of his friends up to Wayman’s Lake tomorrow so they could go swimming. Maybe you could take them to lunch at some hamburger joint when they get through. Knowing how boys can eat, I’m sure they’ll be famished. You don’t mind, do you?”

  She took the bills and slipped them into her purse. “Mind? Not at all; it’ll be fun, and I’m sure Tony will appreciate it.”

  “I heard Delana say she is going to spend the day at her friend’s house, so I guess she won’t be going.”

  “Too bad. Tomorrow promises to be a beautiful day. I guess it will be just Babette and me.”

  “Are you and Babette going to swim?”

  Tassie let out a snort. “And embarrass Tony? I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Babette and I will be there to watch them but we’ll do our best to stay out of sight.”

  “Just the same, I’m glad you’ll be there. Did you ever swim at Wayman’s Lake?”

  “Yeah, I used to swim there all the time when I was kid. I was even a lifeguard there the summer before I went off to college.”

  “Lifeguard, huh? You never told me.”

  Tassie grinned. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, and I’m sure there are quite a few things I don’t know about you.”

  He gave her a coy grin. “I’d like to know every little detail about you.”

  “Dad!” Delana’s voice shrieked from somewhere upstairs. “I can’t find my cell phone. Did you hide it from me?”

  Tassie pointed to the pink cell phone lying on the coffee table then picked it up and held it out toward Mitch. “You want to take it to her or do you want me to?”

  “I’ll take it. Maybe if I start spending more time with her she won’t be so jealous of you.”

  “You really think she’s jealous of me, like Dale said?”

  “What he said certainly made sense. I know I need to let the kids know what is going on between us, but maybe I should hold off for a few days. . .let things calm down a bit first.”

  She nodded in agreement.

  “Dad! Did you hear me?” the voice from upstairs rang out again. “Did you hide my cell phone?”

  Mitch gave Tassie’s hand a hurried squeeze. “We’ll talk later, okay?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

  ❧

  “It’s pretty crowded out here today. You sure it’s safe for you guys to swim?” Tassie asked Tony as his friends began piling out of the minivan the next morning when they reached the lake.

  He gave her a fierce glare. “Safe? You’ve got to be kidding. What do you think we are? Babies? You don’t have to stick around. Why don’t you leave and come back for us later?”

  “No, we’re staying. Your father will expect me to keep an eye on you.”

  “That’s the lifeguard’s job,” he shot back. “Not yours.”

  Tassie took hold of Babette’s hand and the two backed away, ignoring his disgruntled remark. “By the way, in case you and your friends got thirsty, I placed the ice chest in the back and filled it with soft drinks. There’s also a bag of chips.”

  “We won’t need them. Eric brought a bunch of stuff in his backpack.”

  “They’ll be there if you change your mind, but please, Tony, keep an eye on each other and be careful.” Determined to stay out of his way, she took Babette for a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge, stopping often to admire the wildflowers and the natural greenery. Eventually, when Babette tired of walking, Tassie pulled out the old blanket she had brought along, spread it under a tree, and the two stretched out.

  “This is fun,” the child told her, smiling. “Can we come again sometime?”

  “Sure, sweetie. Maybe next time you and I will go swimming. Would you like that?”

  Babette lay down, flipped onto her side, curled up close, and yawned. “Yes, I’d like that.”

  “So would I.” She began to gently stroke the little girl’s back and soon Babette was fast asleep. Tassie gazed at the child, now so peaceful and lovable, and not at all like the raving little tyrant who had ordered her out of her room that first day. She turned her attention to where Tony and his friends were jostling out at the end of the long dock, and trying to shove one another into the water.

  Tassie laughed at their antics until Tim, a boy much larger in stature than the others, the apparent bully of the group, began struggling with Tony. The boy was being far too aggressive and Tony appeared to be wearing out. She wished he would just jump in and get it over with before someone got hurt. The big kid’s playfulness was getting out of hand. Finally, after one mighty shove, both Tony and the boy fell off. The other boys continued to jostle with one another, but as she watched, she realized Tony wasn’t anywhere in sight. Was he simply treading water on the opposite side, or was he in trouble?

  Unable to stand it any longer, Tassie leaped to her feet and, while both calling out Tony’s name and praying, ran the length of the dock. When he didn’t answer, instinctively, Tassie leaped into the water and began franticly searching the area in hopes of finding him. But Tony wasn’t there! And he wasn’t with the other boys. After sucking in a big breath, she dove under the murky water, flailing her arms and hands in search of him. When at last she surfaced, she screamed out for help, but both the crowd and Tony’s friends were yelling and being so rowdy they didn’t hear her, and the lifeguard was down the beach, breaking up a fight going on between another group of boys.

  She dove again, screaming for help each time before she sucked in another breath and dove down, but no one was paying any attention to her. She couldn’t waste precious time. It was up to her to find him.

  For a brief moment, she thought she felt something brush against her arm.

  But her air was gone.

  She had no choice but to resurface or risk drowning, herself.

  Ten

  With both her energy and her air nearly spent, Tassie gasped for air as her face hit the surface. “Help! Someone help!” God, please! Please, oh please, help me find Tony!

  Sucking in the biggest breath her lungs would allow, she dove again. She was about to resurface when her fingers came in contact with his face. Grabbing hold of his arm, she used her free hand to fight her way to the surface and screamed out again for he
lp. This time her shrill cry caught the attention of three of Tony’s friends who immediately jumped into the water and helped her pull his limp body to the shore.

  Tassie moved into position over Tony and, using the skills she had learned in lifeguard training, began CPR. In between breaths she glanced in Babette’s direction and mercifully found the child still sound asleep, totally unaware of her brother’s plight. “You, Jimmy,” she told the third boy, “go to the car, get my cell phone, call 911, and tell them we need an ambulance and a rescue team!”

  In desperation, she kept working on Tony, all the while praying. When a noise, an almost guttural sound, came from Tony’s throat, his head gave a slight jerk to the left, and he gasped for air, she shouted a loud, “Hallelujah, praise the Lord!”

  As Tony’s breathing evened out, she lifted his slim frame and cradled him in her arms. “Relax, Tony. You’re okay now. You have a cut on your cheek that will probably need stitches but, thank God, it looks like you’re going to be all right.”

  The boy stared up at her with glassy eyes then glanced around. “What happened?”

  “You must have hit your head when you fell off the dock.”

  “Tassie pulled you out,” one of Tony’s friends explained with widened eyes.

  “Tassie!” Babette screamed out as she wakened from her nap and began to cry.

  Another of Tony’s friends brought Babette to Tassie, who then explained to her as best she could what had happened to her brother. “But don’t worry. He’s going to be fine.”

  Suddenly, off in the distance, she heard the wail of a siren. By the time the ambulance and rescue crew roared into the parking area, Tony’s breathing had returned to near normal and he was sitting up on his own.

  One of the EMTs quickly knelt beside him, and after asking a few questions and checking him out, gave him a thumbs-up. “Everything seems okay, but since that gash on your cheek will require a few stitches, we’ll take you to St. Francis Med Center and let them have a look at you.”