A Time to Love (33 page)

Blake was overwhelmed at the news and praised the Lord that he could go back into the business he knew and loved, and most of all, that he could build his new life with Linda at his side.

Hand in hand, the happy couple stepped outside. They saw Sheriff Claude Perkins some fifty yards away, standing beside a horse and buggy. Perkins waved.

Blake stopped walking and said, “Linda, let me just smell the air of freedom for a moment.”

They stood together, holding hands, and took in the beauty of the cerulean sky and the golden sun shining down on their world.

Blake took a deep breath and said, “Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness. And thank You for our time to love.”

The
Sacramento Gazette
carried a front-page story of Blake Barrett’s release from prison, and a photograph of him and his bride to be at the depot when they arrived with Sheriff Claude Perkins. Beneath large headlines was the story of Haman Warner’s underhanded deeds, his death at his own hand, and the suicide note clearing Blake of all guilt.

Blake found his house just as Haman had left it and moved back in. Linda was going to stay at one of Sacramento’s hotels, but when the couple went to Pastor Duane Clarke to make arrangements for their wedding, the Clarkes invited her to stay with them until she and Blake were married.

Linda immediately wrote to her parents to tell them all that had happened, giving God the praise for answered prayer. With joy she informed them that in a few days she and Blake would be married.

She also wrote to Joline to confirm that she was right. God had the man, the time, and the place all worked out.

Blake and Linda wanted nothing elaborate for their wedding—just a small private ceremony with a few of Blake’s closest friends. As they took their vows, both bride and groom were glowing with such happiness and contentment that they, the pastor, and the guests could strongly feel the heavenly Father smiling down on this blessed union.

Two days after the wedding, the newlyweds were eating breakfast together in the kitchen of the Barrett house.

Blake talked about how good Linda’s cooking was, then said, “Sweetheart, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”

“Yes?”

“As you know, we’ve already got two different families who want to buy this house.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“When I was at the bank yesterday, I asked the new owner if he knew of any towns in California that needed a bank. He said Stockton is growing rapidly, but the town has no bank. The people there have to do their banking at Manteca or Concord. When he said that, I remembered that not long before Dad became ill, he’d mentioned that he was thinking
of starting a new bank in Stockton. I never thought any more about it until yesterday.”

“Where is Stockton, darling?”

“Fifty miles straight south of here.”

“Mm-hmm. And you’re thinking that we should also sell the house in Cheyenne City and the bank, and establish a new bank in Stockton.”

“That’s it. I know there’s a good church in Stockton. Pastor Clarke and the pastor there are good friends. His name is Brandon North. Excellent preacher. I’ve heard him several times when he and Pastor have exchanged pulpits. So the church question is already settled.”

“That’s the most important thing.”

“Right. I just think that with all we’ve been through, we should start our new life together where there are no unpleasant memories to haunt us.”

“I agree, darling. Let’s make it a matter of prayer and let the Lord guide us.”

Two days later, with peace in their hearts, the newlyweds started early and drove to Stockton. They found a quaint hotel to stay in while they took care of three main items of business.

The first thing was to locate a choice piece of property in the business district where they would have the bank building erected. They found the perfect lot, right on a corner where businesses were springing up.

Blake’s money at the Pacific Bank and Trust Company was still intact, for which he was thankful. With checkbook in hand, he struck a deal by early afternoon. Thrilled at the way God was working, they went to work on the second item, which was to hire a contractor to build the new bank. Because Stockton was booming, three San Francisco contractors were busy erecting buildings in the business section, and by noon the next day, Blake was able to hire one to start work on the new bank building within three weeks.

The third item was to find property where they could have a house built. They drove through town for a while, with Linda making notes of some of the vacant lots marked for sale.

Blake was commenting that he would hire the same contractor to build their house when Linda looked longingly toward the hills east of town.

Blake followed her line of sight and said, “See something out there you like?”

“Mm-hmm. Country property.”

“Country property?”

“Yes. I’ve lived in town all my life. How about a piece of property with some open space around it?”

“I’m game,” he said, turning the buggy east and putting the horse to a trot.

They drove down several country lanes, spotting farms and vineyards, as they looked for land marked for sale. Linda noted a few acreages, pointing out the ones she liked best, and Blake liked them all.

The sun was dropping beneath the western horizon when they took a different road and started back in the direction of town. A cool breeze wafted over them.

They were about two miles from Stockton when Linda made a small noise, and Blake looked at her to see what the problem was.

She was smiling from one ear to the other and looking southward off the road toward a lovely two-story, pale yellow frame house. A tree-lined lane ran from the road to the house in a sweeping curve. A wide porch stretched across the front of the house, and the property was surrounded by a white picket fence.

“That house down there,” said Blake, “is that what you’re gasping about?”

“Yes! Isn’t it beautiful?”

Dusk was gathering, but there was enough light for Blake to see that she was right. “Yes, it sure is.”

“Oh, Blake, turn down the lane and drive up to it. I want to see it up close.”

“Honey, the people who live there will think we’re awfully nosy if we do that.”

“They won’t mind, I’m sure.”

“Okay. Whatever pleases the queen of my heart.”

As they drew near, Linda said, “We’ll just tell the people we’re going to buy property and have a house built, and we like the style of theirs. So we’d like to look at it.”

Blake chuckled. “Mrs. Barrett, you’re a case, you are!”

“Well, it certainly isn’t going to hurt if we—“Linda’s hand went to her mouth. “Blake, look!”

Blake saw the For Sale sign affixed to a corner post where the lane met the road.

“Well, whattaya know!” he said. “It’s for sale!”

“Yes, and the Lord’s going to let us buy it!”

“How do you know if you want it, Linda? You haven’t really seen it up close, and you haven’t even looked inside.”

“I just know this is our house, Blake!”

He guided the buggy down the lane toward the house. Soft lamplight glowed in many of the windows, and more light glowed onto the front porch through the front door, which stood open as if to welcome them in.

Glistening white shutters adorned the windows upstairs and down, and Linda took note of the beautiful drapes of muted colors.

As Blake drew the buggy to a halt near the porch, Linda squeezed his arm. “This is it, darling! I’m sure of it! I know it in my heart!”

Blake grinned, then pointed with his chin at the elderly woman who stood at the door, smiling at them.

When the newlyweds returned to their hotel room, Linda said, “What a dear, sweet lady. Too bad she had to lose her husband to consumption.”

“Well, one good thing,” said Blake, “at least her children and grand-children in San Diego will be glad to have her living with them.”

“I’m sure they will.”

“Let’s talk to the Lord right now and ask Him to direct us about the house. If we have peace about it in the morning, we’ll go back and make a deal.”

“I already have peace about it, darling,” said Linda, “but let’s pray.”

When the sun broke the eastern sky the next morning, Blake felt as positive about purchasing the house as Linda did. After breakfast, the excited couple climbed into the buggy and headed for their new home.

By the end of March, the Barretts were in their home and the bank building was under construction.

Sadie Brown had been hired as housekeeper by the people who bought the house in Cheyenne City. She and Linda had a difficult and tearful good-bye.

Linda wrote to her parents, telling them all that had happened, making sure they knew that she and Blake were very much in love, living in the center of God’s will, and superbly happy. She told them they were in a good Bible-believing church, and that they had told their story over and over again, giving God the glory for the way He made Romans 8:28 work out perfectly in their lives—even when there were very dark hours for both of them.

She wrote the same news to Joline, who responded with a long letter, saying how happy she was for both Linda and Blake.

During the first week of July, the bank opened, and by the end of the summer, it was showing excellent profits.

During this time, Linda and her parents were writing back and forth frequently, and by invitation of both Blake and Linda, the Forrests traveled to Stockton, arriving on Thursday, September 12.

When they got off the train in early afternoon, Linda and Blake were there to greet them. Nolan and Adrienne took to their son-in-law immediately.

They wanted to see the Stockton Bank and Trust Company, and were taken directly to the bank, where Blake introduced them to his employees and gave them a tour of the place.

That evening after supper, the Barretts and the Forrests were sitting on the wide front porch, enjoying the warm evening and the soft breeze.

Nolan asked Blake about prison life, and Adrienne wanted to know about the moment Linda and Blake first met that day at the prison. When
the Forrests had been told enough detail to feel satisfied, Linda asked them about Pastor and Doris Stanford, and all Linda’s old friends at church.

When the conversation slowed some, Adrienne looked at her daughter by the light of the lamps glowing from the parlor windows and said cautiously, “I have something to tell you about your sister.”

“What about Janet, Mom?”

Nolan Forrest sat quietly and watched, hoping the subject would not upset Linda. He and Adrienne had agreed that it probably wouldn’t, since Linda was so happily married to Blake.

“Your sister was in Boston a few weeks ago and showed up one evening on our doorstep. She said she was visiting some friends and just couldn’t leave without seeing us.”

Linda’s features were noncommittal. “So how is it going for her and Lewis?”

“Well … Janet said they’re fighting a lot, but they’re still together. Your daddy and I thought you should at least know that we saw her.”

“I’m glad to know she’s still alive,” Linda said. “And I hope she and Lewis get over their fighting, stay together, and go on to be happy.”

Nolan released an inward sigh of relief. “Janet asked about you, honey,” he said.

“Oh?”

“We told her you were in Stockton, California, married to a very successful banker.”

“What did she say to that?”

“Nothing. She went on to another subject.”

Linda nodded. “If she should come by again, tell her I wish her the best.”

Both parents smiled.

“And tell her the same from me,” said Blake.

“I appreciate your attitude,” Nolan said. “Both of you.”

“And so do I,” put in Adrienne. “The Lord has done a real work in your hearts, and we’re thrilled with the way He has blessed you.”

O
NE MORNING IN MID-FEBRUARY
1880, Linda Barrett awakened at first light. She turned quietly and watched the sleeping man beside her. Admiring his rugged masculine features, she whispered, “Thank You for my wonderful husband, Lord. He’s everything I thought he would be, and more. And thank You for blessing him in his business.”

She was so grateful that God, in His wisdom, had let Lewis run away with Janet. If she had married Lewis, she’d have missed being married to the most wonderful man in all the world.

Linda smiled to herself as she remembered the time, right after being jilted, when she thought she could never love a man the way she’d loved Lewis. How wrong she had been!

“Lord,” she said in a low whisper, “You never take something from Your children without giving them something better in its place.”

She loved every minute of being married to Blake and enjoyed making their home comfortable and happy for him. There was only one thing to mar her happiness. With all her heart she wanted to give Blake a child. She lowered her hand to her midsection and wondered if a new little life was forming in her womb. She’d thought she was pregnant three months ago.

Maybe this time …

Blake Barrett whistled a lively tune as he left the small barn. Business at the bank was thriving, and he’d put in a long, satisfying day of work.