Reaper's Salvation: A Last Riders Trilogy

by Jamie Begley

  “My mother. She came to see me. I thought Soleil had left. She must have come back and I’d already left.”

  The light turned green.

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Ginny turned her head toward Willa. “Don’t be. It wasn’t much of a loss.”

  Ginny caught sight of Gavin running into the church.

  “Drive back! I just saw Gavin.”

  Willa turned around, pulling into the parking lot.

  Ginny opened the door and got out.

  “I’ll call everyone and tell them you found him,” Willa called out as Ginny shut the door.

  Wary of the slick sidewalk, Ginny walked as fast as she could to the church entrance. Inside, Ginny went to Pastor’s Dean’s office. Seeing it was empty, she was about to go toward the kitchen when she heard a voice coming from the chapel.

  As she drew closer, Ginny heard Gavin. “I don’t deserve her, but I’m begging You, anyway. I swore I would never beg to You again. You undo what You’ve done, I will praise Your name every day for the rest of my life.”

  Ginny saw where Gavin was as she came into the chapel. He was kneeling in front of the statue of Jesus on the platform where Pastor Dean gave his sermons. The room, other than Gavin’s voice, was eerily still.

  “I love her. She’s having my child. Take my life for theirs. I was too stupid to appreciate what I had. Is that why You took them away from me? I wasn’t even brave enough to tell her I love her. Why would she love me after the filth I did?”

  Ginny couldn’t bear it anymore. She went to his side, dropping to her knees to place her arms around him.

  “Gavin … I’m here … It was just a terrible mistake.”

  Reaper abruptly raised his head. When she saw his face ravaged with grief, she leaned into him. Turning around to sit, she pulled his head to her chest and began slowly rocking him.

  “I’m here … I never left you … I could never leave you … ever. I love you.”

  Gavin’s heartrending sobs tore at her heart.

  “I thought I lost you and the baby.”

  “Your son is fine. Snug as a bug in a rug,” she crooned, continuing to rock him.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, wild man.”

  “I spent nine and a half years in what I considered hell. It took me one hour thinking I lost you forever to find out what true hell was. Every minute, every second I spent in that hole was worth it to have you. I would do it over a hundred times over if that’s what I have to do to deserve you.

  “God didn’t punish me by making me suffer through the years; every single thing was preparing me to love you, and I will cherish you for the rest of my life.”

  Ginny wiped her tears away when she gasped in awe. “Gavin … look.”

  Reaper raised his head, and he saw the woman he loved more than breathing holding out her hand. Placing his hand in hers, Reaper realized what she was staring at so reverently.

  The statue of Jesus caught the sun’s rays as it lowered in the sky, and as it did, the statue glowed in an ethereal light. Their linked hands were covered in the light spreading across their arms.

  Before today, Reaper would have said it was a trick of the light. Now Reaper knew, without a doubt, what they were being given … a blessing.

  Reaper reverently lowered his head, accepting the healing power of God’s and Ginny’s love. The lighting, the blessing he was being given, cut with the skill and finesse of a laser to where he needed it the most—Gavin’s heart and soul, which had been locked behind the steel door of Reaper’s heart.

  The steel door opened, and the light targeted the soul buried beneath years of pain and humiliation. It barely stirred as the pure light of God’s and Ginny’s love lightened the darkness, then it began slowly opening like a flower unfurling in the first rays of sun. Still, the frightened soul fought to remain hidden, afraid. Reaper intuitively understood why.

  While he would always need God’s and Ginny’s love, he had to love himself.

  Reaper concentrated and reached down with an imaginary hand, pulling Gavin out of the ashes and into the bright light of his and Ginny’s love and into God’s loving arms.

  Opening his eyes, Gavin found himself staring at his and Ginny’s intertwined hands as the bright light faded away, returning to its home—heaven.

  “Did that just happen?” Ginny asked shakily.

  “Yes, it did.” Gavin would never doubt love again.

  A movement had Ginny and him looking to see Paster Dean standing in the aisle. Behind him were Willa, Viper, Silas, Trudy … everyone who was important in his life was there to share his new beginning.

  Pastor Dean spoke as he walked down the aisle toward them, the others following after about him. “Mathew 5:15-16: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Thank you, Father, for letting us witness your miracle. We all are truly blessed.”

  Gavin stood, helping Ginny to her feet. They immediately found themselves in the middle of a circle that would offer them a lifetime of love and support to draw on in times of need and give back when others needed the same.

  Gavin lay his hand on Ginny’s belly. “This isn’t the miracle God has given me. He gave me one the day you were born, a second when you told me you loved me, a third when my son was created, and today … when He carried me home.”

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Gavin made sure his shirt was neatly tucked into the waistband of his pants before he entered the diner. Striding to the counter, he didn’t sit down, just stood there until Marty noticed him as he waited on the customers.

  Seeing that he wasn’t taking a seat, Marty rumbled over to him with his notepad and pen at the ready. “What in the fuck do you want?”

  “I love Ginny very much. I promise to love and cherish her each day. I am going to marry Ginny if she will have me. May I have your blessing?”

  Marty’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and his jowls wobbled as if he didn’t know what to say.

  “You going to keep staying away when she comes to the diner?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you have my blessing … fuckwad.”

  Gavin knocked on Silas’s door.

  Silas opened the door with a friendly smile. “Why did you knock? Come on in.”

  Gavin stepped inside, seeing all Ginny’s brothers were there for their Sunday dinner. They were lounging in the living room.

  Silas looked at him curiously as he stood there formally.

  “I love Ginny, and I know how much Ginny loves you. If I can convince her to marry me, I will no longer have one brother but eight. I promise Ginny won’t never need for anything, and I promise to provide for her and any children we may have to the best of my abilities. May I ask Ginny to marry me?”

  Silas looked to each of his brothers, receiving their nods, before he walked toward Gavin and held out his hand. “You have our blessing. Welcome to the family, brother.”

  Ginny’s brothers all shook his hand in the order they were born. After Fynn’s handshake, Gavin excused himself and went outside. With Suki following, he walked across the property until he came to a fenced-off area. Unlatching the gate, he walked in until he knelt at the grave of Ginny’s father.

  “Freddy, my name is Gavin James. I’m in love with your daughter. I don’t deserve Ginny. I’ll never deserve Ginny. You raised a wonderful daughter.

  “One of my biggest regrets is that I never had the opportunity to meet you. Ginny talks about you every day, as well as Leah. She keeps both of you in her heart. The lessons you taught her will be passed down to our children. I only pray I have the ability to be as good a father as you were. I can’t receive your blessing in person, but I pray the blessing we are able to receive is you watching over us until one day we are able to meet in person.”

  Gavin stood to look down at the grave. “You’re going to have a grandson, your first one. We plan to give him your given name. Rest in peace, Fr
eddy.”

  Gavin took three steps to the side; kneeling down he a laid of bouquet of flowers on the small grave with a pink headstone. “Leah, my name is Gavin. I’m in love with your sister. She talks about you at least three or four times a day. How you loved to count the stars, and play make-believe, and dreamed of living next to each other. I’m sorry your hopes and dreams were never fulfilled in this lifetime.”

  Reaper stared at the two graves in the graveyard. Some of the markers so old, the inspiration so faded with time, they couldn’t be read anymore. The small gravestone marking Ginny’s sister tore at his heart.

  Bending forward he plucked a clump of dead grass from the mound of Leah’s grave. His jaw clenched at the strength of emotions he was feeling.

  “Little Angel, I hope you find the joy and happiness in your next lifetime, like I found in mine.”

  Rising to his feet, Gavin turned toward the gate to see Silas standing with one foot on the bottom rail.

  “I heard what you said to them. It was nice. Dad and Leah were crazy over Ginny. They would both be happy you found her.”

  “We found each other.” Gavin came through the gate, making sure to latch it closed.

  “I have to correct you about one thing, though. You did meet my father.” Silas patted Suki’s head as they walked.

  “I would have remembered if I had.” Gavin frowned, racking his memory from when he first came to Treepoint.

  “It was right before he died. You even have his signature.” Silas bent down to pick up a stick, throwing it for Suki.

  Gavin stopped, looking at Silas. “He was the silent investor who put up the money to build the factory and the club.”

  Silas took the stick from Suki, then threw it farther. “Yes.” Silas reached into his back pocket and pulled out an old envelope. “There is a reason you couldn’t find where Ginny’s deed to her part of the mountain was. It was because it had never been put in her name.”

  Gavin tore the envelope open. Reading the document, he began laughing. If he hadn’t believed that Freddy could foretell the future before, he did now.

  The deed had been made out to Gavin and Evangeline James.

  Dalton opened the door with a surprised look on his face.

  “May I speak with Trudy?”

  Dalton looked down at the bouquet of flowers in his hands. “Are you sure you want to come in? They’re all in there.”

  “I’m … sure.” Gavin lied, preferring to do another tour in Afghanistan than face the group of women in the living room.

  They stopped talking when he walked in.

  Making a beeline for Trudy, he handed her the roses. “Trudy, I love Evangeline. I promise to love and cherish her every day. I promise she will never feel invisible again. I also promise to let her have one slumber party a month.

  “Viper and I were never blessed with a sister, but if Evangeline consents to marry me, Viper and I both welcome you into our family as our sister with open hearts and arms. May I have your blessing to marry your sister?”

  Trudy motioned to the side table. “Killyama, hand me a tissue. I give you my bless—”

  “Not so fast, hot shot.” Sex Piston picked up the tissue box, tossing the whole box at Trudy. “What do we get out of you marrying Ginny? She’s like a sister to us; where’re our fucking flowers?”

  Gavin reached into his suit pocket and pulled out an envelope. “In the envelope are four gift certificates to King’s restaurant. Each certificate has enough money to take your whole family out for steak dinners and dessert. Ginny told me how much you like eating out. I thought you might like a steak versus flowers.”

  “You thought right.” Crazy Bitch jerked the envelope out of Sex Piston’s hand, dividing the certificates among them.

  “Ladies, may I have your blessing?”

  Sex Piston opened her arms wide. “Come to mama!”

  Gavin stepped forward to be hugged by Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, Fat Louise, and lastly by Killyama. Trudy stood up when it was her turn, her eyes twinkling in merriment. Placing a kiss on his cheek, she hugged him before releasing him.

  “Make her happy, Gavin. Evangeline has never wanted roses or champagne. From the moment Evangeline drew her first breath, she’s only wanted one thing—to be loved.”

  “I can do that.”

  Escaping, Gavin hurried past Dalton.

  “Ginny called and told them I was coming, didn’t she?”

  “About five minutes before you got here,” Dalton confirmed. “Show off,” Dalton muttered, holding his hand out. “I thought I’d never see the day that those she-cats could be tamed.”

  Gavin reached into his pocket, taking out four pieces of paper and giving them to Dalton.

  Dalton laughed, looking through the cell phone numbers scrawled under their names that the bitches have given him. “At least Trudy—”

  “Forgot one.” Gavin reached into his pocket and took another slip of paper.

  Gavin knocked on the heavy wooden door.

  “Gavin, come in. You’re right on time.”

  Gavin waited until Pastor Dean was seated behind his desk. “I came to ask for your permission to marry Ginny. I understand where I went wrong when I spoke to you before. You’re not only Ginny’s pastor and friend, but the man who mentored her and gave her peace and a kind ear when she needed it most in her life. As her pastor, I am asking you to consent to our marriage. And as a friend, I’m asking you to perform our wedding ceremony, if I get your permission.”

  Gavin held his breath, waiting for Pastor Dean’s verdict.

  Coming out from behind the desk, the pastor held out his hand. “As Ginny’s pastor, she has my permission to marry you. As your friend, I would be proud to marry you and Ginny.” Then his smile widened. “And as a brother, I want to say you finally got it fucking right.”

  Reaper smoothed the sleeves of his suit before he knocked on the door. Nervously, he ran a hand around the back of his bare neck, still getting used to having all of his hair cut off. It’ll grow back, he consoled himself. He needed to make a good impression to the man inside.

  “Hi, Gavin.” Lily smiled at him from the doorway. “How are you doing today?”

  “Good. How are you?”

  Shade’s wife’s beautiful violet eyes shined with mirth.

  “Taking advantage of the boys being over at Razer’s, and the men babysitting Mae while Rachel and I fix lunch. Come inside. The men are upstairs in Mae’s room.”

  Waving him inside, Gavin went into the kitchen to greet and hug Shade’s stepmother. Waiting until Rachel had her welcoming tears under control, he went upstairs following Lily’s directions. Silently, he stood in the doorway and a tiny Mae played hostess to the men who were sitting on the floor. Mae was having a pretend tea party and the men were sipping out of plastic cups as the little girl pour imaginary tea from a teapot.

  Reaper cleared his throat to let them know he was there. Shade jumped to his feet, while Will stayed seated.

  “Sorry to interrupt the party. Will, may I have a word with you?”

  “Shade help me up. My knees aren’t what they used to be.”

  Reaper enter the feminine room, going to Will’s other side to take Will’s other arm.

  Once Will was standing, Shade went to pick up Mae when she started crying. It never failed to move him when he saw Shade holding his daughter. He was an excellent father to his sons, but Mae held Shade’s heart in her tiny palm. Soothing his daughter in a low voice, Shade went to the side of the room to pick up a book to set on a white rocking chair and began reading to her.

  Returning his attention to Will he cleared his throat again.

  “I appreciate you and Rachel for coming.”

  “Were the one’s happy to get a free holiday. Thanks for offering to put us up at the hotel, but Shade wanted us to stay with him.”

  Nodding. Reaper started to clear his throat again and stopped himself. Lowering his pride in front of Shade, he got to the point of why he bought first class
tickets for them to come to Treepoint.

  “I would have flown to Florida, but I didn’t want to leave Ginny.”

  “Understandable. It worked out. Rachel was ready for a visit with the grandkids. What was so important you wanted to talk to me about. You want me to invest in another business?”

  “No. I want to ask if I can have your permission to marry Ginny. She considers you a second father to her, and I would be honored if you’ll allow me to marry her.”

  The hardnose ex-sheriff’s face turned soft.

  “Son, I can’t think of another man who I’d give my permission to. She’s a handful,” he warned.

  Reaper smiled. “I’ve heard that.”

  “How many times has she locked you out?

  “Twice so far.”

  Will gave him a considering look. “I expected more. Show’s you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.” Chuckling, Will gave him a pat on his shoulder. “I’ve got to go tell Rachel, you’re getting married. You staying for dinner?”

  Reaper turned to Shade to see him nodding.

  “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  “I’ll go tell Rachel.”

  Left alone, Shade laid the sleeping child in her crib.

  “How many more do you have to ask?”

  Reaper made a face. “One more.”

  Leaving the room, Shade left the door half open.

  “You going to tell the brothers you caught me playing tea party?”

  Pausing at the head of the steps, Reaper gave Shade a speculative gaze.

  “You going to tell the other brothers Ginny asked you how to get me to let her touch my dick?”

  “No. How’d you know?”

  Reaper laughed. “Took me a while to figure it out.”

  “How did you? She swore me to secrecy.”

  Reaper rolled his eyes at him.

  “She might have, but Ginny tells Trudy everything, and she can be bought.”