So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Galatians. 3:9
WOW!!!! ALL THE GLORY TO GOD!!!
We're back!!! Thanks my dear readers for being so patient while I worked on the SHIELD series! Anyways I hope you're as glad as I am to have our story back!
I hope and pray this part blesses you! And I hope you enjoy it!!!
SO.... without further ado!! Let's get into what I hope you think is an exciting part!!
Here's goes... and praise God!
Chapter
8
2
weeks later.
It was early morning as Lexie led her horse out of the corral. The fog
surrounding her fit her dark mood.
Should I be going? Is this right? I have to
avenge pa. I can’t stay imprisoned the rest of my life. I have to be free!
Lexie
shook her head; she had been through all
this all night long. Her nap sack was packed, her horse saddled and ready to
go. Nothing was stopping her now.
She put
her foot in the stirrup and paused as her eyes made their way to Jake standing
on the porch. His eyes held longing as he leaned his side against the porch’s
post. Everything about him was screaming, Don’t
do it Lexie.
She
gritted her teeth as she swung her weight into the saddle. Clyde and Tim moved
forward and she followed.
Turning
her back on the cold place she had grown to hate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lizzie
flew of the ole black stallion again. Her face was red with irritation as she
sat up and glared at the horse prancing around.
This was
not the day she needed him throwing her around.
She had
been thrown around enough.
With a
growl and kick of frustration, Lizzie exited the corral. She couldn’t deal with
this horse today. The love-hate relationship she held with this animal was all
hate today.
Due to her
hurt in town.
She sat
down in a sigh of defeat on the top of the porch stairs. She felt like crying
again. But she didn’t. She didn’t go there.
Why were
people so mean? Why did Sam lie? Why was her waiting suddenly becoming so hard?
She
squeezed her eyes shut and folded her arms over the tops of her knees, then
buried her head in them.
She sat
there a long moment.
Then she felt
a warm hand on her shoulder; she looked up and her red eyes met Ben’s kind
ones.
“You okay,
Liz?” His voice was quiet.
She shook her head. “No. But I’ll get
there.”
Ben was
quiet for a moment and they both stared over their yard.
“It won’t
be easy to love those who have hurt you. And sometimes the waiting ain’t easy.
But God says to do both. Do you know that verse in Psalm, chapter 130: 5, it’s
says, I wait for the Lord, my
soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. Waiting will be worth it, Lexie.
It’s okay to cry out to the Lord, to tell Him about your hurt.” Ben reached in
His pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to her. “Read those,
Lexie. And remember, I’m here for you.” He then put his arm around her
shoulder.
Her lip
quivered and a gasp escaped her lips. She leaned her head on her brother’s
shoulder as the sobs took over her body.
…In His word do I hope….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clyde
pulled his horse to a stop as did the rest of the group. Lexie’s hands were
shaky as she pulled her reigns back. She knew Clyde’s stopping had something to
do with her. She wondered why he even let her come along in the first place.
That was the strange part. About two days ago he quit arguing with her about
going.
She was
probably about to be shot out of her saddle.
Clyde
pulled his horse around to face her, a smirk look to his eyes.
“So, you
wanna be an outlaw, and you wanna run ‘round with us?”
Those
words pinched her heart. Stop it Lexie,
this is what you want.
She simply
nodded.
“And shoot
and rob and do all the things outlaws do?”
She
swallowed hard before nodding again.
Clyde
nodded, an evil look on his face. “’Kay. You can.”
Lexie’s
throat was dry. She quickly glanced over at Tim, who was looking down.
What was
going on?
“If you
kill the Marshal, you can come along.”
Lexie just
stared at him. She had never even come close to killing before. She sorta
figured Clyde would want to do it.
“You pull
the trigger, and YOU kill him. If you do it, you’re in the gang.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lizzie
pulled her brown horse to a stop in a lush, green field. The wind was blowing
and causing her curly hair to fly around everywhere.
She slide
off the mount and only took a few steps before falling on her knees.
Her
screams were loud as she looked up and screamed to heaven, letting some of her
hurt and frustration pour out to God.
She cried
for a long time. Not even speaking. Just crying it all out. She slowly lay down
on her side in the field, still crying in pain. She felt so hurt and betrayed.
She felt that waiting had betrayed her.
She didn’t
even remember falling asleep as she laid there. But before she knew it she was
being startled awake by her name being screamed.
She sat up
quickly and blinked her eyes.
James
pulled his horse to a stop. “You better come; pa’s had a bad accident!” He
turned his horse around quickly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lizzie
fumbled her hands together as she waited with the rest of her siblings in the
kitchen. She stood with her foot propped in a chair.
Each of
them had worry on their faces and prayers in their hearts for their father.
Lizzie
felt guilt plaguing her stomach. Pa had gone to town to get some extra supplies
they needed. He had gone because Lizzie didn’t want to have to go because of
the Sam incident.
James had
said the wagon had turned over coming back from town. Something must have been
loose, or something….
James said
he was unconscious when he was found. And he was bleeding on the head and leg.
The door
to her parents’ bedroom opened and they heard footsteps coming into the
kitchen.
The doctor
had his black hat and bag in hand. He smiled at their anxious faces. “Children,
I’ll let your momma tell you all about it.”
“Thank you,
Doctor Smith.” Mrs. Tyson smiled.
He nodded
and patted her shoulder. “I’ll see myself out.” With that He walked out.
Momma took
a deep breath as she faced her family. “He’ll be fine. He had a concussion,
five broken ribs, and a broken leg and arm. So he’ll be laid up for awhile.”
She sighed in relief. “But he’ll be fine. Thank God.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fire
was cracking and orange was reflecting on her face from it.
Lexie felt
confused.
Could she
kill?
She
thought she could, but now….
Why was
Clyde even giving her the option?
Because He knew she couldn’t do it.
Or could
she?
Lexie
turned over on her side. She couldn’t go back. But she couldn’t kill the
Marshal herself. It was one thing to ride along and help with things like that
but to actually be the one that did them….
Lexie took
a deep breath and scanned over their camp sight. Her brothers were lying on the
other side of the fire.
Her life
had gotten so complicated since ma died. Or maybe… it got complicated since she
was torn from her sister’s arms so long ago.
Ma….
She had
been good to Lexie. She loved her.
But it
still wasn’t much of a life. She had thought it was but it wasn’t….
Pa was
right. It was best ma had died and escaped this misery.
Lexie
blinked. Feeling somewhat emotional. She
wondered what it would be like had she never been separated from Lizzie. She
might have had a nice life if Liz was along to help make it better.
A single
tear fell from her tired eyes.
She didn’t
even know where her sister was. She was probably married with three kids.
Lexie had
never even hardly seen boys. And they’d never even liked her.
Lexie
realized something in that moment. She was mad at her sister.
Truly mad
at her.
Lizzie had
always protected her. Always took care of her.
Why had
she let her be taken away?
Lexie
burst into sobs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the
Tyson children were in bed and Lizzie sat alone on the sofa in the sitting
room.
The room
was dim with only a few lanterns lit.
Lizzie
felt overwhelmed and exhausted with the day. She had hurt so much today. And
she had hurt even more with her pa’s accident.
She felt
like it was her fault. If she wasn’t still nursing her wounds she could have
gone into town. It could have been her inside of her pa.
She felt
so guilty. She knew she was guilty.
Instead of
crying again, like she so desperately wanted to do, she reached into her pant
pocket and pulled out the note from her brother.
It had four
verses on it. Lizzie went to reach for her Bible when the disturbed voice of
her father caught her attention. She slipped the small paper back into her
pocket and stood to go to her parents.
“…. It’s
okay. We’ll figure something out.” Her momma reassured.
Lizzie
walked in the room. Momma stood by her pa’s beside.
Pa’s look
was very disturbed.
“What-what’s
wrong?” Her eyes squinted from tiredness. Emotionally and physically.
“Your pa’s
worried about the sheriff’s office. With everyone being gone for round-up there
is no one to take over while he’s laid up.”
“What
about the boys?”
“I told
him Ben could look after things but he says he needs Ben to work with our
cows.”
“Well,
there’s got to be someone….”
Her momma
sighed and folded her arms. “I know. We’ve thought and thought but can’t seem
to find anyone-” Momma raised one eyebrows and looked over at Lizzie. “What
about you?”
Pa’s eyes
grew wide. “Lizzie can’t do that! I’m not sending my daughter to go take over
as being sheriff.”
Lizzie
just remained silent. Her eyes had gotten wider. She couldn’t imagine being
sheriff either. That was quite ridiculous.
“Oh, she
wouldn’t be sheriff. At least not in
the sense of fighting criminals. She could stay at the office. Keep it clean.
Collect the mail. And if anyone comes in with something she can always go get
one of the men from round-up. Which nothing should come up. Things have been
quiet for a long time. All the men are gone so that should take care of the
saloon wildness.”
Pa cast
glances between daughter and wife. His eyes held worry and his face held a
frown.
“Clay, you
don’t have a choice. Lizzie will be fine. She has a decent head on her
shoulders. And she does know how to use a gun and take care of herself.” Momma
looked at her. “But, of course, this is just if Lizzie wants to take over.”
There was
silence for a moment. Lizzie’s heart pounded in her chest.
Pa looked
at her, his eyes having softened a little and his frown having lessened. “Liz,
do you want to take over, like your momma says?”
Lizzie
looked between them. Her thoughts running rapid.
She wasn’t
capable of being sheriff. Even if it was just collecting mail and cleaning. The
thought terrified her. She just couldn’t.
And she’d
have to be in town. Oh, boy. That was just what she needed.
But being
scared to face town was what put pa in bed right now, with bruises all over him
and splints on his left leg and right arm. He was in so much pain.
Maybe she
owed it to him.
But she
didn’t measure up….
Through
all her confusing thoughts she felt a Still and Small Voice break through and
whisper to her heart. Do it.
She felt
scared still but she couldn’t deny what she knew in her heart: she was being
told to do.
“I’ll…
Okay. I’ll do it.”
She didn’t
know how she was going to do it. Or what lie ahead. But she just knew she had
to do it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lexie felt like she’d vomit as they rode closer
to town. It was 8AM in the morning. Instead of going in at night Clyde had said
they had to wait. They had to do their revenging in broad daylight.
Lexie just
knew she couldn’t do it. Clyde would have to and she would be on her own. If he
or the towns people didn’t kill her first.
They all
pulled their horses to a stop on the outskirts of town.
“Okay,
Lexie. This is it. Ya gonna be able to do it? Remember: if ya do, yer in.”
Lexie
swallowed but her mouth was dry. She stared straight at the town ahead. She was
breathing heavily.
This was
it. She had to decide.
But she
was so hurt and confused. She didn’t know what to do. She felt bitter and
loving all at the same time.
She didn’t
know which would prevail.
“Come on,
stupid. We’ve got to go. Our pa’s demanding revenge from his grave. We’ve got
to satisfy him so he can rest easy.”
Lexie felt
like she would explode from thoughts. Her heartbeat grew louder in her ears.
“Sure.” Her voice was hoarse. So hoarse.
Clyde
chuckled. “Okay, let’s go then.”
Then they moved
their horses forward.
They rode
into town.
Lexie felt
like hours passed as they made the small walk with their horses. She felt she might
pass out right from the saddle.
Slowly the
town’s people started to stare.
I can’t do this! I can’t do this!
They
stopped their horses.
She could
see the Marshal slowly walking towards them on the right sidewalk. He walked slowly,
his eyes held curiosity; his hand was on his gun. He probably wasn’t sure it
was them or he would have pulled his gun by now.
“Ya better
nail ‘em now, Lex. He’ll get us.”
Lexie
couldn’t move.
“Now, Lex,
you stupid thing.”
He had
killed her pa. He deserved to die.
“Now,
Lexie. This is yer last chance.”
Tim looked
nervously at them.
He was
nearing closer.
And she
knew Clyde was going for his gun.
The trees
flashed through her head. Her being jerked from his sister blazed across her
brain. Her pa dying. Her burying her ma.
Her time
was out. She had to decide.
“Ya… show ‘em.”
Lexie quickly reached for her side and drew
her gun. She fired. He fell back. Blood flying from him.
Something cold went off inside her.
Her eyes were wide as she still pointed the
gun, smoke curling from the barrel.
“Let’s get out of here!”
Clyde shouted and Tim and he spun their horses
around.
Lexie remained in the same position. Breathing
deeply.
The town was chaotic and men were pulling
their guns.
She snapped out of her daze and quickly
holstered her murder weapon.
She turned her horse around and kicked his
sides. She sped away as bullets flew after her.
But she could outrun them. Couldn’t she?
What do you think is going to happen next? Will Lexie continue with crime? Will Lizzie keep waiting and find healing and forgiveness in Christ? Will she be able to handle being substitute sheriff?
Comment below and God Bless!
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians. 3:11
