The Shepherd's Voice by Robin Lee Hatcher Page B

couldn’t find words to describe what she felt. She didn’t think there were any.
Gabe walked toward her, Cam leading the way.
I was worried. What kept you so long?
“Warm evening,” he said.
“I made iced tea. Would you like some?”
“Please.” He draped the suit jacket over the porch railing before settling onto the top step.
She went inside, filled a large glass with the cool drink, then carried it to him. She found him shucking corn.
What happened at your father’s?
“Here you go,” she said softly.
“Thanks.” He took it from her. “It’s a long walk from town.”
“I thought Mrs. Tal —”
“I preferred to walk.” He put the glass to his lips, tipped back his head, and drank, his Adam’s apple sliding up and down with each swallow. When he’d drained the glass, he set it beside him on the porch and reached for another ear of corn.
“Folks are talking, Akira. About me. About us.”
“Us?”
He didn’t look at her. “Hud suggested some think we’re …” He let the words drift into silence.
Understanding dawned. “Oh.” Heat rushed to her cheeks.
“I ought to leave. It isn’t good for you to have an ex-con on your place.” His expression darkened. “There’s those who would use me and what I am to hurt you.”
“You can’t leave, Gabe.” She leaned toward him, tamping the panic in her heart. “There will always be talk, no matter where you go, because you did time in prison. You know that’s true. People are the same the world over. There are mean, small-minded folks everywhere. But there are good ones, too. Ransom’s got its share. Stay and give them a chance to come around. Like Mrs. Wickham did.”
“It won’t stop the talk. About you and me.”
“Short of the two of us getting married, I don’t see how we can stop it.”
His eyes widened.
She was stunned into silence by her own words.
Gabe stood, reached for his jacket, stepped off the porch. “I’d best turn in.”
“Wait!” She was afraid. So afraid. “I have something for you. I’ll get it.” She rushed into the house.

Married?
Married to Akira.
It was a crazy, wild, outlandish notion.
She was everything good and true and pure.
He’d seen the evil men did. He’d lived it. God might have pardoned him, but that didn’t wipe away what he’d done, what he’d been.
Married to Akira.
It was worse than crazy. He would never be good enough for her. She deserved the best.
Akira reappeared in the doorway, carrying a black book in her hand. “It’s a Bible.” She held it toward him. “Miss Sebastian sent it to you. It belonged to a young man she was to marry, but he died. That was when she came to Ransom to live with her brother. She wants you to have it now.”
Gabe took the book, then rubbed his fingers over the worn leather cover. “I never knew Miss Jane was engaged.” More to himself than to Akira, he added, “This must have meant a lot to her to keep it all these years.”
“Yes, but you mean more.” She dropped her gaze to a spot on the porch. “Please don’t hold what I said against me. About stopping folks from talking. I never meant —”
“You don’t have to say anything, Akira. I know you didn’t mean it like it sounded.” He lifted the Bible in front of his chest. “I’ll thank Miss Jane for this.”
She watched as he walked away in the gathering dusk.
“But I did mean it, Gabriel,” she whispered when she was sure he was out of hearing. “I meant it with all my heart.”

ELEVEN
Gabe closed the Bible, then lay back in the tall grass near the river’s edge and stared up at the evening sky.
What a wondrous thing the word of God was! No matter what he read—Old Testament or New, single verses or entire chapters—it spoke to his heart. He’d known he wanted a Bible. He’d known he needed one in order to learn more about Jesus, more about how he should live his life.
But he’d never imagined it would be like this.
“‘For the word of God,’” he quoted, “‘is quick, and