The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [64]
Bert understood every person had a purpose, but did she have one apart from Simon?
Davis’s story continued to repeat in her mind. The child’s story gave her fresh hope that life could get better.
So far Bert had made a mess of things, and the situation wasn’t getting any better. With Simon admitting he’d shot John and her knowing what he’d done to other folks, she assumed he’d been the one working with Leon to rustle cattle. She needed help … answers now before anyone else got hurt.
Don’t try runnin’ or I’ll leave a trail of blood behind you.
Bert had a choice to start trusting God or to fall prey to whatever Simon planned. The old way had filled her with grief and shame—often made her wish she was dead. She didn’t want to die or be filled with sorrow one more day. She wanted to live.
Lord, I’m trusting You with my life. Help me to never let go.
Leah had been up most of the night. And in the predawn hours, she made a decision: Ember belonged at their home, not at the hotel. Although Bess was a fine woman, Leah had seen Ember first. She’d never had a girl, and Ember was her chance to be a mama to a girl who’d never known that special kind of relationship. No matter that Ember was full grown. Mothering didn’t begin and end with age.
She finished turning the bacon and checked on the biscuits. Aaron stacked plates on the table—his turn this week to help her with breakfast. With Ember gone, she needed help inside so she could tend to the garden and other chores outside. And Davis needed to be independent from her.
“Aaron,” she began, “as soon as breakfast is over, I want you to get the wagon hitched up for me. I’m riding into Rocky Falls and getting Ember.”
Aaron laughed. “I’ve missed her too.”
“Then don’t be teasing her so much.”
“Ah, Mama. We only tease her because we like her.”
Leah remembered how Parker and Frank used to tease their sisters. “She is like a sister to you.”
“I don’t think John and Evan would agree.”
Leah shot him a silent warning. “You didn’t have to remind me.”
“What are you going to do when they’re fightin’ in the dirt over her?”
She wagged a fork at him. “Your brothers have more sense than that, and I won’t allow it.”
Aaron took on a serious look. “Mama, I’m not a boy anymore. Both of them have feelin’s for Bert.”
“Do you think I should leave her in town?”
Aaron crossed his arms over his chest. How many times had she seen his father do the same thing? Frank, are you lookin’ down at your sons? “If you leave Bert in town, then John and Evan will continue talking about everything but what is wrong between them. If you bring her back, then it will force them to deal with it.”
When had Aaron gotten so wise? “Then I guess I’d better make sure I have a talk with both of them before the trip to town.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “If they take to fighting at the breakfast table, you reach for Evan and I’ll reach for John. In the meantime, we’d better pray.”
Footsteps thumped on the porch steps, and Aaron grinned. “I’d better make sure there’s plenty of honey for the biscuits.”
Soon John and Evan had finished breakfast, and Leah still hadn’t brought up the subject of Ember. She inwardly told her galloping pulse to slow down. These were her sons, and she had no reason to think her discussion with them would end badly.
“I have something to discuss with all of you,” she said. “It won’t take long, but it’s important.”
Five pairs of blue eyes peered back at her.
“I’m going into town this morning and bringing Ember back here. I feel it’s the right thing to do, but there are a few matters we all need to talk about first.”
John’s face revealed no signs of emotion.
Evan smiled from ear to ear.
Aaron played the part of the surprised brother.
Mark’s eyes sparkled like the mischievous boy she knew him to be.
Davis looked just plain happy.
Leah directed her attention to each boy. “Davis, you took advantage of Ember before. Although