A Steadfast Companion, page 18
Beside a rippling stream, they dismounted to rest a bit. While the horses munched on tufts of grass, Witt and Maddie sat on a fallen log nearby and enjoyed a snack of granola bars and bottled water. Joey hadn’t been up to a lengthy trek, but Ranger had come along. Witt fed him a few of the dog treats he’d brought, then poured water for him into a collapsible bowl.
When Maddie casually glanced at her phone for the third or fourth time in the past half hour, Witt fought a wave of apprehension. “Expecting a call?”
“No, just checking the time.” Her innocent smile definitely seemed to be hiding something.
He looked at her askance. “What do you have up your sleeve, Maddie McNeill?”
Looping her arm through his, she patted his hand. “Don’t be angry—promise me.”
“I could never be angry with you, honey.” An uneasy laugh escaped. “But now you’ve got me a little worried.”
“Well, you did agree that I could plan our date tonight. So...” She smiled sweetly, those amazing blue-green eyes boring a hole through his heart. “I arranged something special.”
His brow furrowed. “Why would I be mad about that?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” She stood abruptly and went to gather up Sunny’s reins. “We should head back.”
Shaking off his doubts, he climbed on Sage. Maddie was already several yards ahead, so he nudged his horse into a trot to catch up. Maddie kept the pace just fast enough so he couldn’t pepper her with more questions. Guess he’d have to wait and see what surprises she had in store.
It was nearing four o’clock when they reached the barn. With the horses returned to their stalls, Maddie seemed in a hurry to get the kennel dogs cared for. As soon as they finished, she started for the house. “I’ll drive us tonight,” she said over her shoulder. “Be ready at five thirty, okay?”
“Okay, but it’d sure help to have some idea where we’re going.”
“It won’t be fancy. I’ll be wearing my nice jeans again.” Her quick smile gave nothing away. “See you in a bit!”
Exhaling sharply, he looked down at Ranger. “I don’t know about this, fella.” Witt had mostly gotten over last summer’s ugly encounter with Emily. As happy as he’d been this past month, he didn’t think he could handle more surprises like that one.
At five fifteen, he brought Ranger down to the kennel and settled him in with Joey for the evening. “Much as I’d prefer to have you along for moral support, I have no idea what to expect.”
When he exited the kennel, Maddie was on her way out to the carport. His breath hitched. One look at her in those slim indigo jeans and hip-length purple sweater, and he was a goner. Whatever she’d arranged for tonight, as long as she was by his side, he’d be just fine.
“You look nice,” he said, greeting her with a kiss.
“You, too.” Leaning close, she straightened the lapels of his jacket. “Ready to go?”
He grimaced. “As vague as you’ve been, I’m not real sure.”
She tenderly touched his cheek. “You trust me, right?”
“You know I do.”
“Then get in the car and don’t ask any more questions.”
He had to bite his tongue a few times, but he managed to keep silent as Maddie headed toward town. He’d assumed they were going into Missoula for dinner at some special place, but when she turned the opposite direction and drove straight to Elk Valley Community of Faith, he couldn’t have been more confused.
“We’re going to church?”
Her hand shook slightly as she put the gearshift in Park. “Trust me a little bit longer, Witt. Please.”
He took note of a few other vehicles in the lot, including the pastor’s maroon truck. “Wait—this isn’t some kind of shotgun wedding thing, is it? Because I have every intention—”
“No, nothing like that!” The look she cast him was somewhere between disbelief and compassion. With a rough sigh, she said, “Just come inside with me. It’ll be okay, I promise.”
If she’d sounded a little more confident, he might feel a little better about the whole thing.
When he stepped around the Suburban, she seized his hand as if to be sure he wouldn’t escape, then led him around to the side entrance and down the corridor to the pastor’s office.
Had she decided they needed counseling? Probably not a bad idea, but...
“Welcome.” Pastor Peters met them in his doorway. With a glance over his shoulder, he said, “Good, we’re all here now.”
We? Who else was here? And why?
Maddie nudged him forward. “Go on in, Witt. It’s okay.”
The pastor stepped aside, and Witt eased past him. When he glimpsed the three people seated across the room, all looking uneasily at him, he froze.
Then Linda—Linda?—stood and strode toward him. Tears in her eyes, she took his face in her hands. “Oh, Witt, you silly, stubborn and incredibly courageous man. If only you’d told us. If only we’d known.”
“Daddy.” Emily came up beside her mother and reached for his hand. “I—I’m so sorry for how I treated you that day.”
Speechless, Witt could only stare in disbelief.
Then a brown-haired young man approached. “Hey, Dad.”
“Trent?” Witt’s voice broke. He could barely see through his own tears. He swept all three of them into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
Time seemed to stop as he hugged his family—the family he’d thought he’d lost forever. As a semblance of control returned, Pastor Peters handed him a wad of tissues and gently moved him toward the sitting area. Mopping his eyes, he sank onto one end of a small sofa. Linda and Trent took the chairs across from him, but Emily, perched on the sofa arm, hadn’t let go of his hand.
He glanced across the room, where Maddie stood near the pastor. “How?” He stretched his free hand toward her. “How’d you make this happen?”
Swiping at her cheeks, she came and sat beside him. “I realized that until you made things right with your family, there’d always be a part of you that would never heal. Linda and your children needed to hear the truth about what you did and why, so I asked Pastor Peters to help me reach out to them.”
“And we can’t thank you enough,” Linda said, wiping her eyes. “All the lost years, all you went through alone—I’m so, so sorry, Witt.”
Love surged as he looked across at the woman he’d once been married to, then at his all-grown-up children. “To protect you, I’d do it all over again. I’m only sorry I let my weakness ruin everything we had.”
Pastor Peters moved closer. “Your secret’s still safe, Witt. Enough time has passed that nobody would question your family’s forgiveness or your desire to reconnect.”
It sounded too good to be true. Still in shock, not only at reuniting with his family but that Maddie had arranged all this, he stood shakily. “I—I need a minute.”
Taking Maddie’s arm, he led her out to the corridor. “I hardly know what to say,” he murmured, holding her close. “This is the kindest gift you could ever have given me. Maddie, I love you so much.”
“And I love you with all my heart.” Eyes shining, she used her thumb to brush away a drop of moisture on his cheek. “In the car earlier, you started to say something about your intentions. Well, Angus Wittenbauer, I have a few of my own, and though they don’t involve a shotgun, they do involve a preacher.”
He kissed her then, long and deep and with an abundance of happy tears. As long as he lived, he’d thank the Lord for one snowy April day and a lady with a leaky kennel roof.
Epilogue
Valentine’s Day, four months later
Maddie surveyed the dining room table. She could barely remember the last time she’d used the room, much less Nana’s good china and table linens.
And she’d certainly never prepared a formal dinner for this many people. Besides herself and Witt, there’d be Emily and her husband, Kurt; Trent and his girlfriend; Linda and her new husband, Ed; and Pastor and Mrs. Peters. Plus Julia, of course, and Witt’s friend Carl Anderson.
Hosting her own wedding and the reception? What had she been thinking?
The back door clicked, and a moment later, Witt called to her from the mudroom. “Is it safe to come in?”
“Absolutely not! The groom is not permitted to see the bride before she walks down the aisle.”
A pause. “We have an aisle?”
“Figuratively speaking.” They’d arranged to be married in Maddie’s living room. With only their closest friends and family in attendance, they only had to move in a few extra chairs from the dining room.
“Well, how can I help you finish setting up if you won’t let me in the house?”
“You’ll have to wait till I go to my room to change.” She adjusted the heart-shaped centerpiece. Then, glancing at the clock, she sucked in a panicked breath. “Which should have happened twenty minutes ago!”
Spinning around, she smacked into Witt’s chest. He enfolded her in a soothing embrace. “Take it easy, hon. Everything’s going to go just fine. And as for silly wedding traditions, we’re not exactly kids anymore. Besides,” he said with a chuckle, “we saw each other only a few hours ago for chores and breakfast.”
She tucked her head against his shoulder. “I know. But this is my first trip down the aisle—figuratively or otherwise—and I want it to be perfect.”
He kissed her forehead. “How can it not be, with God watching over us? He’s sheltered us in the palm of His hand since the day we met.” Giving an appreciative sniff, he added, “And what could be more perfect than getting married on Valentine’s Day in a house filled with the aroma of a roast in the oven?”
“Oh, you!” She smacked his arm. “Really, I have to get dressed. People could start arriving any time now.”
“No worries. I’ll answer the door and make everybody comfortable. You go finish getting beautified, my radiant bride.”
How could he be so calm? She started for the hallway. “Send Julia back the minute she gets here.”
“Your wish is my command, milady.”
Men. Honestly.
She was just slipping into her dress when Julia peeked in. “Oh, Maddie, you look amazing! Here, let me get the zipper.”
“Thanks. I’m a nervous wreck today.” Standing before the mirror, she smoothed her hands along the seams of the ankle-length lace-covered gown. “Are you sure this dress isn’t too youthful for me? Did I go completely overboard with the whole white-dress-and-veil thing?”
“You’re never too old to wear the wedding gown of your dreams. You’ve waited long enough for this, Maddie. Enjoy every moment.”
Voices beyond the door indicated more guests had arrived. A moment later, someone knocked. “Maddie? It’s Alicia Caldwell.”
She nodded for Julia to invite her in, then greeted the woman with a hug. “Alicia, I’m so glad you came.”
“We wouldn’t have missed this special day. Also, I have a little gift for you.” She opened a palm-size velveteen box to reveal a delicate necklace. The tiny gold pendant was the profile of a dog centered inside an open heart. “When I saw it, I immediately thought of you and Witt and what brought you together. I gave him a matching lapel pin.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you so much!” She turned and gazed into the mirror, lifting her hair so Alicia could fasten the clasp.
Julia had stepped out for a moment. Returning, she said, “Everyone’s here. The harpist said to give her a nod whenever you’re ready.”
“I’ll leave you, then.” Alicia blew a kiss as she backed away. “Prayers and best wishes, my friend.”
Julia closed the door behind her, then turned to Maddie with an encouraging smile. “Ready for your veil?”
She studied her reflection in the mirror. “I think I’m going to skip it after all. Witt and I have no secrets between us, and he’s already seen me at my best and worst.”
“I am so happy for you.” Julia tucked a stray lock into the pearl-studded butterfly clip holding Maddie’s curls in place.
Hearing the crack in her friend’s voice, Maddie turned and drew her into a hug. “I pray every day that you’ll be this happy again, too.”
“Stop!” Julia eased away and flicked a finger beneath each eyelid. “This is your day. It’s time to go out there and marry your sweetheart.”
* * *
Nervously stroking Ranger, Witt peered down the hallway. Would his bride ever make an appearance?
Maybe she’d gotten cold feet. Maybe she’d changed her mind. Maybe—
Julia peeked around the corner with a nod and a thumbs-up, and the harpist made a smooth segue into “Be Thou My Vision,” the hymn they’d chosen for the processional.
With a hand on Witt’s shoulder, Carl, his best man, guided him into position in front of Pastor Peters. “Take a breath. It’s gonna be fine.”
Once he glimpsed Maddie, dazzlingly beautiful in her white gown, everything was fine. Better than fine. Perfect in every way.
From that moment on, everything became a blur, until...
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the pastor announced amid applause, laughter and a happy bark from Ranger, “I present Mr. and Mrs. Angus Nathaniel Wittenbauer.”
Taken aback at the use of his full name, he looked at Maddie askance. “I thought we’d agreed—”
“I know,” she whispered close to his ear, “but it’s my name, too, now, and I’m proud of it. Proud of you.”
After a flurry of best wishes and congratulations, the guests who weren’t staying for dinner said their goodbyes. Maddie donned an apron—she’d refused to change out of her gorgeous wedding gown—and with Julia’s help served dinner. Witt felt it a special honor to stand at the head of the table and carve the roast.
Later, he insisted on taking over kitchen cleanup. With his tux coat off and shirtsleeves rolled up, he filled the sink.
Trent came up beside him. “Let me help, Dad.”
“Thanks, son.” Having his kids with him made this day even more meaningful. He’d worried it might be awkward including Linda and Ed, but instead, their supportive presence brought closure for the past...and affirmation for this new beginning. He’d already enjoyed a few opportunities to reconnect with Trent and Emily and looked forward to many more—and for Maddie to get to know them better, too.
God bless her for never giving up. Oh, how he loved that woman!
Sniffling, he swiped his sleeve across his eyes.
“Dad? Hey, it’s okay.” Trent handed him a towel. “Go be with your bride. I’ll get Kurt to help me finish in here.”
He found her deep in conversation with Linda and Emily. They were smiling and laughing—a good sign—but when they looked his way and immediately went silent, he could only wonder what they’d been saying about him.
“Hi, honey.” Eyes sparkling, Maddie took his hand. “Is everything all right?”
“I just missed you, is all.” He lowered his voice. “Can we get out of here for a few minutes?”
“Of course.”
In the mudroom, he helped her into her puffy down jacket, then slipped on his own while she traded her wedding shoes for fleece-lined boots. With Ranger following close behind, they stepped out beneath a slightly overcast sky, snow flurries floating on the northerly February breeze. Witt wrapped his bride beneath his arm, and they strolled across the yard.
It seemed natural to find themselves at the kennel. Holding the door for Maddie, Witt beamed at her. “This is where my life truly began.”
She caressed his cheek. “No, my darling, because if not for everything that had gone before, we’d never have met. We are who we are because of all our yesterdays.”
He pondered that for a moment and knew she was right. “Then it’s a good thing we worship a merciful God who specializes in redeeming the past.”
“So, how about we get started on our amazing future?” She seized his lapels and drew him forward.
They kissed, and might never have come up for air if a certain dog hadn’t set every canine in the building to barking. Witt couldn’t be sure if the dogs were celebrating with them or just wanted supper. Both, he decided, because this was his family, and just like those precious pups, he’d found his forever home.
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from His Alaskan Redemption by Heidi McCahan.
Dear Reader,
As a life-long dog lover, I enjoy so much including special canines in my stories. Steadfast and quick to forgive, dogs are perhaps the truest earthly examples of God’s unconditional love. They also model how we as God’s children can trust in His benevolent mercy and rely on Him for every need.
Even when we think our faith is strong, as Witt did, we may have blind spots, areas of our lives we haven’t fully turned over to the Lord. Those are where we encounter the lessons God most needs to teach us. For Witt, it was embracing his worth as a forgiven child of God. For Maddie, it was learning to trust again and open her heart to love. I imagine the Lord using Ranger, Joey and the other Eventide canines to help their human companions along their journey of growth.
I hope you enjoyed this visit to fictional Elk Valley, Montana. I love hearing from my readers, so please contact me through my website, www.MyraJohnson.com, where you can also subscribe to my e-newsletter.
With prayers and gratitude,
Myra
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