Sean Donovan (The Californians, Book 3) (26 page)

"To my surprise she told me she had known that all
along, but she never worried because she was certain
that as soon as I understood, I would believe, and then I
would make that step. She was right. We knelt right
there on the sand, and I told God I was a sinner who believed He sent His Son to save me, and Charlotte,
that's what I was trying to do with you.

"I was certain that as soon as you heard the words
from me or Pastor Miller, you would make a choice for
Christ. I lost sight of the fact that I grew up hearing
words like 'saved' and 'eternal life,' forgetting that not
everyone understands." Charlie was taking in every
word, so Sean continued.

"I need to tell you why I believe. First of all, belief is a
choice. One of the first acts of faith is believing that the
Bible is God's Holy Word, and that the words inside can
be trusted and need to be obeyed.

"The Bible tells us that our life on earth is not forever;
everyone's physical body dies, but there is life after
death. It also says that all men sin and sin separates us
from God, but Charlotte, honey, I honestly didn't know
how to tell you any of this.

"I've been so afraid that you would think I was saying
I'm better than you are, so I held back. I didn't want you
to think my love was conditional. Am I making any
sense?"

Charlie could only nod, and Sean moved on.

"The Bible teaches that this life on earth is temporary,
and following this life is eternity. I know you're not
certain that God is there, but I believe with all my heart
that He is. And when the time comes for you to die you
can either meet God as your Savior, as I will, or you can
meet Him as your judge. If you meet Him as your Savior,
then you will spend eternity in heaven. If not, then you
will spend eternity in hell, separated from God. I have
accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. That's what I meant
when I said that my eternity is settled.

"Should I die on Sunday, I know without a doubt that
I'll go to be with God. That's why I'm not afraid. I'm not
wishing that I'll die, but I'm not afraid either. You can make that choice also, so you don't have to be afraid,
Charlie, for yourself or for me."

It was the first time he had called herby her nickname,
and it was said so tenderly that it made Charlie tremble.

"Please hold me, Sean," she whispered.

Sean was more than happy to comply. He knew he had
given her a lot to think about, and she obviously needed
time to take it in. All he could do for the moment was
pray that he would be there when she needed him most.

Charlie spent the night wrapped in her husband's
arms. Even in sleep she clung to him. In the morning,
Saturday, Sean told her he had to meet with Duncan and
Witt. Charlie was proud of herself when she didn't argue
or cry.

She walked over to Duncan's with him. While the men
talked in the kitchen, she stayed in the living room with
Lora and tried not to think about the conversation in the
other room. She wasn't denying what was to come, but
she didn't think she could handle hearing plans that
were certain to lead to her husband's death.

"I want us to head out around 4:00. Since I'm sure he
won't be there until after dark, I've written a note to leave
him. I want to play things my way, so the note tells him
where we can meet again in a few days."

"I still think we should go after dark," Witt interjected.

"Then tomorrow night would be our only chance, and
I don't like those odds," returned Sean. "My way is
better. When he finally arrives, he will see tracks made by three horses and know that I'm not coming alone."

Witt was frustrated. "Where is your meeting place for
Tuesday night?"

"It's only 15 minutes outside of town, but it's far enough
away from the bank that he will be lulled into a false
sense of security."

Duncan agreed wholeheartedly with Sean's plan, and
between the two of them they won Witt over to their way
of thinking. The men continued to plan their actions of
the next few days with careful precision.

Sean was the first to leave, and Duncan and Witt were
able to discuss something that had been on both of their
minds. When Witt finally left, Duncan sat down and
wrote a letter to the judge who had sentenced Sean to
hang.

Charlie tried to act normal at Sadie's house on Sunday,
and in fact fooled everyone at the dinner table except the
man who loved her. Sean could see the strain in her face,
and prayed that she would turn to God for comfort.

Sean knew his life on earth held no guarantees, so he
didn't dare tell Charlie he would be back. He was confident, however, that they would not see Hartley this day.
Still, he said nothing.

In fact, they had barely said a word to each other on
any subject when Sean realized it was 20 minutes to 4:00.
With a heavy heart he moved toward the livery to saddle
Buddy, their best mount. He dreaded leaving Charlie
when she was so upset, but he could not for the moment
see any help for it.

Charlie stood at the window as Sean tied Buddy's
reins to a tree limb and came inside. He wasted no
words, but came directly to Charlie and took her in his
arms.

"Charlie," he again used her nickname, and she loved
the sound on her ears. "If you find you have time on your
hands in the next few hours, I want you to do me a
favor."

"Lora invited me over."

"I know she did, and I could tell when you thanked
her that you didn't plan to go."

"That's true. What did you want me to do?"

Sean reached down to the kitchen table for his Bible.
"If you stay here and feel restless, start reading in the
book of John." Sean turned to the first chapter and left
the Bible open on the table.

"Take down a few notes if something confuses you,
and we'll talk about it when I get back."

"Will you be back, Sean?"

"If it's within my power to be here, nothing will keep
me away." Charlie thought she would drown in the
emotional depths of her husband's eyes.

"I love you," he whispered before his lips covered
hers. Charlie clung to him.

When they both heard the approach of other horses,
they exited the house together. Sean climbed on his
mount and stared down at his wife. He dragged his gaze
from hers and stared out in the direction of the meeting
place. A second later he leaned from the saddle and
pulled Charlie up to his lap. He kissed her long and
hard, and then set her back on the ground. This time he
didn't look in her direction as he heeled his horse and
went with the other men.

Charlie paced for 15 minutes before she picked up the
Bible and carried the precious Book to her bedroom. She
lay down on the bed, snuggled into Sean's pillow, and
began to read the first verses.

Charlie made an effort not to get slowed down by
unfamiliar words. Reading steadily, she came to John
3:16 and 17 and remembered Sean reciting them to her.
Several times her eyes focused over each word before
continuing.

Time ceased to exist as she read about Jesus and Nicodemus. Her eyes devoured the story of Jesus and the
Samaritan woman, and then on to the sick boy in Capernaum whom Jesus healed, sight unseen.

Chapter after chapter fell away. The feeding of the
5000, Jesus walking on the water, the healing of the blind
man, the raising of Lazarus-all became real to her. Page
after page revealed Jesus as Shepherd and Lord. With
tears pouring down her face, Charlie arrived at the final
chapters where God's perfect Son was mocked and crucified for the sins of all men.

By the time Charlie read the last verse in the last
chapter, she had cried until her head hurt, and she was
wrung dry. She told herself she had to get up and watch
for Sean, but before her mind could make her body obey,
she fell into an exhausted sleep, with Sean's Bible held in
her embrace.

The men rode out of town with the sun at their backs.
There was little talk, and Sean by necessity took the lead.
Their pace was steady for about 20 minutes, and then
Sean eased off as the terrain became rocky.

Hartley chose his meeting place well; it was secluded
from three directions. The hair at the back of Sean's neck
stood on end. He knew that Hartley could have them in
the sight of his rifle at that very moment. Since he had
been the one to betray Hartley, Sean knew he would be
the first to die.

But all was quiet. They rode into rocks that resembled
a small canyon with no sign of anyone or anything. With
plenty of sunlight still available, they completely scouted
the area. Had it not been for the fear of Hartley showing
up and surprising them, the entire trip would have been
anticlimactic.

Sean left his note in a conspicuous place, and the three
rode home by way of what was to be the meeting place
two nights hence. They didn't tarry and were back in
town just at dusk. Witt asked both men to his home in
order to go over their plans one more time.

It was well after dark before Sean rode toward home.
Seeing from a distance that all was dark, he stopped and checked first with Lora and then with Sadie. He went
back home with his heart pounding in his chest. The fear
that Charlie might be harmed made his anxiety over
Hartley seem a small thing. Without bothering to attend
his horse, he tied Buddy outside the house and entered,
his heart pleading with God for the safety of his cherished wife.