XVII.
Sitting at the table with Faye, a feeling of helplessness came over Blane. As he began to regret his mistakes in the current situation, he interrupted his thoughts. He already knew what his “little mind” was about to do.
Should he let it, what he called his “little mind” would convict him with a mountain of doubt. It would suggest he should have lied to Wade and Clem about Andy’s condition. He should have said the boy had smallpox. The lie probably would have scared the two men into leaving the farm immediately.
His “little mind” would assert he should have taken a firmer stand when the two strangers first appeared. Such action would have at least caused them to declare their intentions. Finally, he should have actually lobbed boiling water onto the men and made the dash for his gun when he had had the chance.
As a mature Christian, however, Blane would have none of the nonsense his “little mind” would have him believe. Instead, he would turn to his heavenly Father in prayer.
He glanced at the woman sitting beside him. “Faye, will you pray with me?”
“Pray?”
“Yes.”
“I told you, Sam. I don’t believe the way you do. I’m too worried right now for any of that.”
For a moment he studied the woman. Although she was relatively young and attractive, she looked haggard. “Alright, Faye, I won’t preach you a sermon about it.”
She turned her head and gazed into his eyes. For a fleeting moment, she felt as though she were missing something. She watched him close his eyes and bow his head.
Blane calmed his mind, erasing all doubt. Then he fervently prayed. After a few moments, he opened his eyes and raised his head. He glanced at Faye who appeared bored with the silent interlude. He smiled at her faintly. Then he stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“Nowhere yet.”
“How can you stand by and do nothing? I thought I knew you. Right now, I don’t know if I understand you at all!”
“That’s okay, Faye. I’m not the one you should be trying to understand anyway.”
Faye turned her head and glared at him. “I thought you weren’t going to preach me a sermon.”
“You’re right, Faye. How about some coffee instead.”
“Coffee? There’s still some in the pot. Help yourself. I’m worried about Claude. He should have been home by now.”
“Yes, I think you’re right.”
“Sam, go look for him.”
“I can’t leave you and the children here alone with those two out in the barn.”
“If they try something, what are you going to do?”
“If I leave you here alone and they try something, what are you going to do?”
“We can’t stay here and do nothing! Wonder if Claude is hurt and needs help. That’s what happened to Andy. I’m worried, Sam.”
“I understand you’re worried. But let me ask you to be patient. Let’s not jump out of the frying pan into the fire.” He picked up two cups and the coffee pot. “I’m going out to the barn.”
“What are you going to do, offer them coffee?”
“Precisely.”
XVIII.
As Blane approached the barn, he looked for a gap in the boards. Perhaps he could peek inside to see what the two men were doing. Finding such a gap near the barn door,
he stopped for a moment and peered inside. The relative darkness inside the barn prevented him from seeing anything clearly. Listening, he heard the men talking, but he could only make out a few words now and then.
He decided not to knock and opened the door.
When the two heard the creak of the barn door, they looked up. Wade had a scowl on his face.
“Thought you might like some coffee.”
Wade’s frown instantly disappeared. “Well, that’s right nice of you, Preacher.”
Blane handed the men the cups. Then he knelt down to where the two were seated on a bed of straw and poured the coffee. “Faye said you were cleaning my gun. I appreciate that. Mind if I take it now?”
“Uh, I haven’t had a chance to clean it yet.”
“That’s okay, Wade. It’s already clean. I’ll just take it now.”
“No, Preacher, I’m afraid not.”
Blane had begun to reach for his gun belt which sat between Wade and Clem. When he heard Wade’s remark, he withdrew his hand. “Why not?”
“Let’s just say I feel better keeping your gun.”
Blane tightened his jaw and looked Wade in the eyes. “Okay, what do you want?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, let’s get this out in the open. Do you intend to harm us?”
“If you behave yourselves, me and Clem won’t hurt ya.”
Blane figured that was a lie. “What do you want?”
“We’re gonna hole up here a while.”
“For how long?”
“I haven’t figgered that out yet.”
“Are we talking another day or a month?”
“Like I said, Preacher, I haven’t figgered that out yet.”
“Well, you can’t stay here.”
“Why not? Seems to me you’re in no position to start telling us what to do.”
“Look, Wade, I’m asking you nicely. Get on your horses and ride out of here right now.”
Wade frowned. “Preacher, you’re startin’ to git on my nerves. How would you like a bullet in your gut?”
“You’d shoot a man in cold blood?”
“I’d shoot you or carve you up with my bowie. Either way, I won’t hesitate. Now, git out of here!”
Blane stood and turned to walk out.
“One more thing, Preacher. Boil some more water. I’m gonna take a bath in that washtub out back. After that, Clem’s gonna take a bath.”
Clem flinched. “I ain’t taking no bath!”
“You stink to high heaven. You’re taking a bath!”
Blane turned, “Okay, I’ll bring your water.”
XIX.
During the day, Blane could not see inside the barn. Under cover of darkness, however, the situation had reversed. Through the space in the boards, Blane could clearly see the two men by the dim light of the overhead lantern. Now and then, he could make out a few words.
Clem said, “We got to get rid of that preacher! I haven’t seen a fine-looking woman like that Faye in a long time.”
“Yeah,” Wade replied, “that preacher gits under my skin. Now, you keep awake, hear? Git me up halfway through the night and I’ll take over watch.”
Clem nodded as Wade turned over and pulled up his blanket.
Clem sat with his legs crossed, staring off into space. After a few minutes, he stood the Winchester upright between his legs. Then he wrapped both hands around the barrel. Finally, he rested his cheek on his hands.
Blane turned his back to the wall and slid down into a sitting position. Now, all he had to do was wait. He had not eaten supper so he would not tend to fall asleep. The
two inside the barn, on the other hand, had stuffed themselves. Blane figured he would not have to wait long.
After about an hour, he peered through the space in the boards. Clem was in the same, cross-legged position. His eyes were shut and his breathing was deep and even. Wade had not stirred.
Blane knew all along that the problem would be entering the barn without disturbing the men. The barn door squeaked horribly every time someone opened it. Blane had never opened the back door, but if he could do so quietly, he could sneak up behind Clem. Stealthily, he made his way to the back of the barn.
Near the back door, Blane found a space between the boards wide enough to peer through. Clem had not moved and his eyes were still closed. Ever so carefully, Blane stepped to the door and released the latch. Inch by inch, he opened the door. As careful as he was, however, the door creaked again and again. But Blane would allow it to creak only once, after which he waited a full minute or two. As he waited, he listened intently for any movement inside.
After what seemed like an eternity, he had opened the door enough to turn sideways and squeeze through. He stood erect and let his arms hang at his sides. Quietly, he shook his arms and moved his head and shoulders, limbering up his muscles. He also allowed his eyes to adjust to the dim light.
Clem had not moved. Wade was still lying quietly.
Cautiously, he took the first step, of perhaps twenty, toward Clem. His first thought was to pick up his own gun belt. But that would mean he would have to walk between Clem and the lantern. Blane figured a shadow across Clem’s eyelids would wake him. Blane’s next idea was to approach Clem from directly behind and draw the pistol from Clem’s holster. He altered his course with the next couple of steps to approach Clem from the rear.
As Blane rehearsed what he planned to do, a disturbing thought occurred. Many men wore guns with a thong on the holster holding the gun in place. Blane’s holster had just such a thong. If Clem’s holster had a thong and it was strapped over the hammer of his pistol, Blane would not be able to pull Clem’s pistol from the holster.
From this distance, he could not tell whether or not Clem’s holster had a thong. Furthermore, he could not remember whether or not he had seen a thong when he had sized up the man earlier in the day.
Additionally, Blane had to decide what to do once he had surprised Clem and had taken his gun. Blane’s instinct, of course, was not to shoot, but the situation might demand it. Certainly, Wade would awaken. Rather than surrender, he would react violently. Blane would be forced to kill Wade in such a circumstance. Clem, he figured, would present less of a problem since Blane had already taken the rifle away.
Still, anything could happen.
He took a step closer.
Within five steps of Clem, Blane’s heart sank. Clearly, Clem’s holster had a thong and it was tightly strapped over his pistol. That left the Winchester. But Clem had his hands locked around the barrel with his head resting on his hands. Blane would have a hard time prying the rifle from Clem’s hands. The man would certainly wake up and tighten his grip. It was possible Blane might not be able to get the rifle away from Clem at all!
Blane took another step. In doing so, he felt his nerves begin to jitter. He was too close to run away and too far away to fight. And still, he had not decided on the best course of action.
If either man woke up now, all would be lost. Blane must make his move now. He took another step. He was close. Very, very close.
TO BE CONTINUED
Comment on Faith (Part 6)
Our walk through this world is one we must tread alone. Although we have relationships with family and friends who may guide us (or criticize us), we are accountable for our own decisions. Decisions we make today, either wise or foolish, strongly influence our circumstances tomorrow.
Part of human nature is to second guess our decisions. We tend to characterize some decisions as mistakes and imagine what current circumstances would be like had we decided differently.
We may recognize that regret and worry add only sorrow to our lives. Learning by one’s mistakes is wise. Regretting past decisions and worrying about future circumstances, on the other hand, are pointless torments and inevitably produce their emotional equivalent: feelings of worthlessness.
As we become quick to recognize when our mind is beginning to regret or worry, we can interrupt our thoughts with something beneficial. One of the best cures for regret and worry is prayer.
Whereas regret focuses on the past and worry focuses on the future, prayer operates in the present. When we pray, we can ask for and receive forgiveness for our past mistakes. We can ask God to guide us in the present and watch out for us in the future. Assured of our worth as a child of Almighty God, we need not condemn ourselves.
How much does God value us? He loved us so much that he sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us. Jesus saw us in our sinful condition and said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”[1]
Blane had learned the lesson. He replaced his regrets with prayer.
[1] Matthew 11:29; cf. Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 12:22-31
