Sean Donovan

by Lori Wick

  Sean’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and the older man chuckled. “Sadie was just in,” he said by way of explanation. Sean smiled in return.

  “What did she buy?”

  “Fabric. I would guess for a skirt or something.”

  Sean nodded and began to look around. He lingered over the fabric himself, but he wouldn’t have known what to ask Sadie to make. The tools distracted him for a time, but then he got down to business. He studied the writing supplies for a long time, and after picking out what he thought to be perfect, a lone book on the shelf caught his eye.

  He picked it up and checked the spine. He nearly did a double take when he read the words Holy Bible. Sean emptied his hands of all else and inspected the fat volume. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. The top was dusty, but the book itself appeared to be brand-new. He carried it over to Pete.

  “Pete, is this Bible for sale?”

  “Yeah, although I’ve had it for years. Some woman ordered it, but she never came back to collect, so it’s just been sitting here all this time.”

  “How much do you want for it?”

  The price Pete named was more than reasonable, and, intending to purchase it, Sean set the Bible down on the counter. His hands had gone to the pocket of his jeans when he spotted a small case of jewelry with a glass top. His eyes caressed the 14K gold wedding bands, ranging in price from $1.19 to $4.79. His look was tormented when he glanced back at the Bible.

  “Why don’t you give her both?” Pete spoke softly.

  Sean’s hand went again to his pants pocket, and he dug out the money he had brought along.

  “If you don’t have it now, you can bring it to me later. I won’t even put it on the bill.”

  Sean hesitated for only a moment. “Thanks, Pete,” he said gratefully, and in a few minutes was back on the street, the Bible wrapped in plain brown paper and the simple gold band tucked safely in his pocket.

  Charlie’s birthday was on a Sunday, and her first surprise of the day was breakfast in bed. As Sean set the tray down, he looked so satisfied with himself that Charlie couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You’re looking very pleased with yourself.” She spoke as she shook out her napkin, and then started as something fell from it and hit the tray. Charlie stared at the small gold band that had landed near her coffee cup and then at her husband.

  His smile was shy, and Charlie’s heart melted. She didn’t talk but picked up the ring, gave it to her husband, and presented her left hand. Sean gladly did the honors, and Charlie’s eyes shone as the smooth gold band slid onto the third finger of her left hand.

  “Happy Birthday, my darling,” Sean whispered when the band was firmly in place, and Charlie leaned close to kiss him.

  The breakfast was more than Charlie alone could handle, so she and Sean sat together on the bed and shared from the tray. As was the norm these last days, they talked of the baby, which Charlie had figured was due in early February. But as was also the norm these days, Sean sensed that something was bothering his dear wife.

  Knowing she was genuinely excited about the baby, he couldn’t help but wonder what was troubling her. Though she never mentioned it, he speculated often as to whether or not she was thinking about what Judge Harrison had said on the Fourth of July. Sean prayed every day about God’s purpose in such a pardon. He believed with all his heart that God would lead them in His time, so he felt it best not to press her.

  Sadie had asked them to a special dinner that afternoon, so they headed in the direction of the boardinghouse as soon as church was dismissed. To Charlie’s delight, Sadie had also asked Duncan and Lora.

  The meal was a great success, and Charlie was surprised again when both Lora and Sean handed her packages. She had already opened a package from Sadie containing a skirt and blouse, and of course her ring from Sean.

  The five of them were crowded into Sadie’s private parlor. Lora and Duncan exchanged a glance as Charlie peeled back the wrapping paper on the hard, flat gift.

  “Oh, my,” Charlie said in disbelief as she held up a beautiful daguerreotype of the livery. “Where did you get this?”

  Duncan smiled at how pleased she looked. “One of the photographers who wandered around town the week of the Fourth was in and tried to sell me a picture of my office. When I spotted the one he’d done of the livery, he told me he was headed to see you. I couldn’t resist buying it myself.”

  Charlie passed the picture to Sean, and his face split with a grin. He knew in an instant that it had been taken the day before the Fourth because he remembered seeing the photographer setting up and wondering what he wanted. Sean was smack in the middle of the picture, framed by the double doors and reaching toward his back pocket for his handkerchief.

  Framed in beautifully etched wood, the photo was examined by each and every one. Charlie thanked both Duncan and Lora, and Sean asked her to open the last gift. Charlie threw him a suspicious look before giving her attention to the gift he had placed in her lap. The whole room erupted with laughter at the way she babbled after the gift was unwrapped.

  “Oh, Sean; oh, my! My very own Bible! I can’t believe it! Do you know how badly I’ve wanted one? Where did you find this? Oh, look at the pages! Isn’t it beautiful? I can’t believe it—my very own Bible!”

  Charlie moved to her husband’s chair and threw her arms around his neck. He laughed as she tried to squeeze the life from him. She thanked him repeatedly and had to stop herself from sitting down to read it right on the spot.

  Sadie went to ready the cake and coffee after the presents were put aside. Charlie joined her in the kitchen, giving the younger woman a chance to mention her Bible.

  “You must wonder how I could be so excited about receiving a Bible,” Charlie began tentatively.

  “It has crossed my mind that there’s been a change in you,” Sadie said matter-of-factly.

  “I’d like to tell you about it sometime, Sadie.”

  The older woman turned her full attention to her niece. She studied the fervent young face for a moment and tried to put her finger on the change. At first she had attributed it to having a happy marriage with a handsome husband and a baby on the way, but Sadie could see there was more.

  “This means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” Sadie asked quietly.

  “Yes, it does.”

  Sadie suddenly smiled. “Well, honey, if it means that much to you, I’ll listen to all you have to say.”

  They were not given any further time for talk, but Charlie praised God for opening a door. Even as the cake was served by Sadie’s capable hands, Charlie prayed about the future opportunity she would have to speak with her aunt.

  When Sean and Charlie did head home, Charlie immediately sat down to read her Bible. She had read Sean’s on many occasions, but this was somehow special. As always, Charlie prayed that God would show her just what He would have her to see as she read the words, but she never dreamed of the things she would discover in the weeks to come.

  forty-four

  In other words, we should never have been married?” Charlie was looking very distressed, and Sean searched for some way to explain something he didn’t fully understand himself. They were studying in 2 Corinthians, the sixth chapter.

  Sean began carefully. “People who have made a decision for Jesus Christ are commanded not to marry someone who does not share that belief, and I was no exception. But everything happened so fast. I want to say that I had no choice in the matter, that I probably could have spoken up and stopped everything, but the truth is, such a thing never occurred to me.

  “I had come to a complete peace about dying, even though I was scared of the way that rope would feel. When Duncan removed the noose, I was in a state of shock. Less than ten minutes later, we were husband and wife.”

  Sean paused before continuing. He wanted Charlie to understand that God never condones sin, but that God’s sovereign will is always in play. “Darling,” Sean went on gently, “believing that God has complete
command of life and death, I have to assume He sent you to keep me on this earth for a while longer. Had we met under normal circumstances, it would have been wrong of me to even court you.”

  Charlie looked at Sean for a moment and then down at her Bible to read verses 14 through 16 again: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’ ”

  “Who is Belial?” Charlie asked softly.

  “That’s one of the many names for Satan.”

  Charlie nodded. “I rather figured you would say that, considering everything else written here.”

  “Charlie, tell me what you’re thinking.”

  The confused redhead gave a small shrug. “It’s just hard to think of our marriage as a sin.” Charlie held her hand up when Sean began to protest.

  “What if I hadn’t come to Christ?”

  “I’ve thought about that. First of all, I know my love for you would never change. Second, I’ve confessed the sins of the past and known God’s forgiveness and fellowship. Nevertheless, there have been numerous consequences from those sinful years. I’ve hurt people I love dearly, and all I can come up with is, God did spare my life, so I would have tried to serve Him as best I could, even with an unsaved wife.”

  Charlie gave a small sigh and looked again at the Bible in her lap. “There’s so much to learn, isn’t there?”

  “Yes there is, but God is infinitely patient.” Sean reached for her hand. “He knows our hearts and understands each and every struggle.”

  Charlie didn’t answer because she didn’t want Sean to know what she was really struggling with. Finding out what the Bible taught about marriage between believers and unbelievers was a little upsetting. But after some thought Charlie could see how much sense it made.

  On the other hand, her real struggle was much harder to define. It was a mix of knowing how right Sean looked with a Bible in his hand, and less so with a hammer, and also knowing that if they so chose, they could leave Visalia whenever they wanted. Charlie was well aware of the fact that Sean, after all these weeks, had never mentioned the surprising announcement made on Independence Day. This told her one thing—he was waiting for her to bring it up. But as much as Charlie wanted to talk about it, she was scared. It would be some weeks before she understood that God was waiting to take care of that fear.

  Charlie, now six months along in her pregnancy, stood rubbing her back. The dishes were put away, and Sean had already retired to the living room to read the paper. With her free hand, Charlie felt the very distinct swelling in the front of her skirt. She was not very big, but the baby moved constantly, telling her there was indeed a little person growing inside.

  Charlie looked at the doorway of the living room and still she hesitated. It was time to talk with Sean. She was still a little afraid of the future, but it was time to bring her fears to her husband. God had shown her many places in Scripture that assured her of His love and control, and Charlie found comfort in these verses. But God had also given her a husband, a man who loved God and wanted His will. It was time she talked to him about those fears.

  Sean smiled as Charlie took a place on the couch beside him. Reaching for her hand, Sean studied her face in the lantern light. The pregnancy was making her tired, but she was far and away the most beautiful woman in the world to him.

  Quite often when they sat together in the evening, Sean would lean over her swollen tummy and talk to their baby. But tonight he perceived that Charlie needed all of his attention.

  “Anything I can do?” It was Sean’s standard line when he sensed that Charlie needed to talk, and as he had hoped, it did the trick.

  “I’m being a baby,” Charlie admitted softly.

  “About what?”

  “About our moving away.”

  Sean didn’t reply to this, and after a silent moment Charlie continued.

  “You’re a good blacksmith, Sean, one of the best I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a few. But something hasn’t been right from the very beginning, and it took my coming to Christ to understand what that something is. You look better with a Bible in your hand.

  “I don’t know if that makes any sense, but I just can’t see you pounding on horseshoes for the rest of your life. It’s taken me awhile, but just after you said that you always think of Hawaii when you dream of us living elsewhere, Judge Harrison publicly pardoned you. I just knew that someday God would direct us away from here, and the truth is I’m scared to death.”

  Sean reached for Charlie and pulled her into his arms. “And you thought,” he finished gently, “that the second I knew you were willing to move, I would make you pack and drag you out of town.”

  “Something like that,” Charlie admitted softly.

  “Well, it’s not going to happen that way, darling, because I don’t know if we’re supposed to go anywhere. I picture us working as missionaries, just as my folks did, but I don’t know where, and God might have Visalia in mind for another 20 years.”

  “And you could be happy, Sean?”

  “Definitely. Now I have a question for you. Could you be happy if God shows us in an unmistakable way that we’re to move from here?”

  Charlie was silent for only a moment. “You know, for the first time in my life I think I could. Some of the fear is still there, because everything beyond this town is unknown territory to me, but if you’re beside me and we know we’re headed where God wants us to go, I’ll be fine.”

  Sean watched the front of Charlie’s skirt lift with the baby’s movement. His hand when to her abdomen as it often did to feel the baby move within her. No words were necessary for a time.

  “Do you still wish we could serve the Lord in Hawaii?” Charlie asked.

  “Yes, but not before spending some time with my family in Santa Rosa. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen them.”

  “We could go for a visit, you know.”

  “That’s true. Maybe after the baby is born.”

  “Let’s plan on it.”

  “All right. Who will run the livery?” Sean wanted to know.

  “I don’t know, but if we’re supposed to go for a visit, then God will send just the person we need.”

  Sean hugged her again. She’d grown so much in the last weeks, and he couldn’t begin to tell her what an encouragement she was. He ended their evening by calling her his darling Charlie and telling her she was the love of his life.

  forty-five

  Two weeks had passed since Sean and Charlie had talked about moving. The conversation had opened new doors between them, and they were now able to pray and discuss all possibilities with ease. But the real test of faith was upon them, and it was delivered in the form of their new friend, Franklin Witt.

  All Charlie had ever heard about Visalia’s banker had been put to rest as she got to know the man better. He had become something of a champion to the young Donovans, even before the judge’s surprising announcement. He never failed to inquire over Charlie’s health with real concern, and it was not at all unusual to see him lounging in the livery, sharing friendly conversation.

  Never before had he come on business, but this particular morning things were about to change. The morning had flown by, and the livery owners were just finishing lunch. Sean, always very concerned about Charlie overdoing, had almost convinced her to go to the house and lie down.

  “I can take care of everything here,” Sean urged.

  “Mrs. Franks’ mare doesn’t like you, and she still needs shoes.”

  “I’ll leave her for last so you’ll still have plenty of time to take a nap before coming to help me.”

  “I’m not tired,” Charlie replied stubborn
ly.

  Sean shook his head. She was exhausted. Charlie had not slept well, but she wouldn’t hear of it when Sean tried to convince her to stay in bed that morning. He could see that he was going to have to become very stern.

  “I want you to go to bed, Charlotte, and I mean now.”

  Charlie frowned at his tone and the order, but Sean leveled her with a look that told her he meant business. She turned ungraciously for the back door just as Witt came in the front.

  “I’m glad I caught you together. Have you got a minute? There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “Actually Charlie was just headed to the—”

  “Now is fine, Witt,” Charlie interrupted, ignoring the look Sean gave her.

  “Well, I just had a man come into the bank who wants to set up a livery in this town. He told me he’d rather buy this one, but didn’t really think it would be for sale. Either way, he plans to borrow money to open a livery.”

  “What’s his name?” Sean asked suspiciously, and Witt answered, “Zach Carlton.”

  Husband and wife exchanged a glance. A man named Zach Carlton had been in just two days ago to rent a horse. He had been far from casual about his interest in every square inch of Cooper’s Livery. Sean had tried to question him about whether he had business in town or was just passing through, but he’d been very evasive.

  “I can see that I’ve surprised you, and I don’t expect you’ve ever given it any thought, so why don’t I come by tomorrow and you can tell me if you’re at all interested?” The Donovans agreed and thanked Witt for his trouble before he went on his way.

  “We definitely need to talk about this,” Sean quietly told his now-pale wife, “but not until after you’ve slept.”

  This time Charlie did not argue, and after Sean put out the sign saying he would be back in 15 minutes, he escorted his wife to the house. He stayed with her until she was asleep, which took less than five minutes, but it was far more than five minutes before Sean was done praying and able to concentrate on his work.