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his eyes, rubbed his face with his hands. A man learned a lot of tricks while locked in an eight-foot cell. One was how to turn off his thoughts, to silence the voices in his head.
“So ye’ve come back.”
Gabe looked up to find Brodie Lachlan standing in the doorway.
“Ye’ll work and work hard as long as ye’re here. Ye’ll do as ye’re told or move along.” The Scotsman pointed at him. “And if ye ever hurt the wee lass, I’ll break ye in two with my bare hands. Have we an understandin’?”
Gabe nodded.
“Good.” Brodie turned on his crutches and disappeared from view.
Do as he was told? That was easy. That was what he was used to. It was the freedom to choose that confused him.

“It’s not a sick body troubling him, Lord,” Akira said as she leaned a broom against the kitchen table. “It’s a crushed spirit, and Your word says no one can bear that.”
She stacked a pot and a frying pan on the table beside some dishes.
“I suppose that’s why You sent him. So his spirit can mend. I know Your purpose prevails, no matter what plans we make. I’d be pleased if You’d tell me what I’m to do beyond giving him work and a place to stay.”
She paused, glanced upward, then closed her eyes.
“And, Lord, I could use some help in having generous thoughts toward Hudson Talmadge. You say I’m to love my enemies, but that’s harder to do than I ever thought it would be.”
She felt a stab of longing for her grandfather. She could use some of his wisdom about now. Fergus Macauley had been a shrewd judge of character, a man of uncommon discernment. He’d been strong but gentle, and he had a faith to move mountains. She’d learned so much from him. But not enough. Not nearly enough.
“Ye’ve done it now, haven’t ye, lass?”
She opened her eyes to find Brodie staring at her, his large frame filling the doorway.
“He’s a Talmadge. He’ll only bring more hardship upon ye.”
“Did you know him as a boy?”
“I knew of him.” The tone of his voice said more than his words. “He’s from bad seed, that one.”
Her chest tightened. Sudden tears stung her eyes. “I don’t believe that, Brodie.”
“Ye’ve no knowledge of men and the evil they do, lass. Ye’re like a lamb for the slaughter.”
She remembered Gabe saying much the same thing.
And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb.
She’d smiled at the time. She was fairly certain he hadn’t known he was quoting from the book of Isaiah, but she’d known . She’d known and understood it was God telling her she was doing the right thing.
“Brodie, the Shepherd protects His lambs. I’m not afraid.”
“Ye haven’t the sense to be afraid.”
She laughed softly. “Thank you.”
“Ach!” He glared at her a few moments more, then left.
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, my friend,” she whispered. “Not devour it.”

Hudson rose from his chair. “Are you certain?”
“Yes sir,” Rupert answered. “Quite certain. I followed them all the way back to the Macauley woman’s ranch.”
Hudson flicked his wrist, indicating he wanted to be left alone. Rupert was swift to obey the gesture.
The instant the door closed, his fury erupted. “Blast her!” He hurled a paperweight across the room and bellowed a lengthy string of curses.
Wasn’t it bad enough Clarice’s spurious offspring carried the Talmadge name? Now Gabe had joined forces with Akira Macauley. As if to spite him.
Well, they didn’t know with whom they were dealing. They wouldn’t outfox Hudson Talmadge. He would destroy them. He would destroy them both.
Clarice’s image flashed momentarily in his mind. You know it isn’t true, Hudson. I’ve never wronged you. Never. I love you.
He cursed again, kicked over his desk chair, then strode out of his office.
Pity the first person who looked at him wrong.

There was something to be said for hard work. Especially when there was no one standing over his back threatening to do him bodily harm if he didn’t move fast enough or talk