Kid wasn't the only one wearing black today. Ruth sat among a sea of black in the church she'd grown up in. The pews were full of mourners as her father had been well-loved among family and friends alike.

She'd barely heard anything as they'd sung hymns together and listened to a sermon. She'd tried listening extra hard as the pastor talked about his life. They were so few words to sum up the man he'd been.

A look at her mother showed she was holding up well. She was so brave. Robert and Laura sat on either side of her, holding her hand. Kid held hers. Ruth didn't know what she'd do without him by her side. The day would have been a lot harder that was for certain.

"Let us pray," the pastor said, and they all bowed their heads and closed their eyes. "God of us all, your love never ends. When all else fails, you still are God. We pray to you for one another in our need and for all, anywhere, who mourn with us this day. To those who doubt, give light; To those who are weak, strength. Keep true in us the love with which we hold one another. In all our ways we trust you."

Going to the family cemetery was harder in some ways than the funeral. It became more and more final.

She thought about little Jane who'd only been buried a couple weeks before. Death came for the old and young alike. It was one of the few sure things in life. Bodies would return to the earth from which it was created and souls would return to God who gave it. And that's why she wouldn't do anything other than what she was doing. Healing bodies, yes, but even more importantly making sure their souls were prepared for eternity.

The phrase "dust to dust and ashes to ashes" jumped out at her. And she once again focused on the words in the service she'd heard many times before but had never been said for her father.

"Almighty God, into your hands, we commend your son, James McKenzie, in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This body we commit to the ground."

The preacher poured the first handful of dirt over the lowered coffin, and she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labors for their deeds follow them."

He had earned his rest, and he was blessed. There was no doubt about that. She leaned into Kid as his arm went around her waist in comfort.

"Lord, we thank you for those we love but see no more. Receive into your arms your servant, James McKenzie, and grant that increasing in knowledge and love of You, he may go from strength to strength in service to your heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The Lord's prayer was said by them all and then when a benediction was given, they were all free to leave.

Her vision blurred as her eyes focused on one of the newly sprung flowers that had been picked for the funeral blowing across the graveyard on their departure. It was a sign of hope from the Creator. Flowers died just before winter, but they always came back.

They stayed a couple weeks more to comfort her mother. Kid had insisted, knowing Ruth too needed this time to grieve with her family and to share in the sorrow and remember the good times together.

"You have to take something to remember him," her mother insisted when the time finally came for them to go.

Ruth didn't know what to take, but as she glanced around the room, she alighted on a short, fat white pitcher with a green rim. She could still see him in her mind's eye, shaving at the pitcher with a handheld mirror.

They'd had so many conversations at that pitcher and bowl about God, politics, and just life.

Her mother seemed to know that's what she'd pick and started wrapping it for her before she could even say anything.

She probably wouldn't be back for her mother's funeral, which she hoped was many years in the future. It took too long to get here and folks didn't always have as much warning as her father had been given.

But whether she saw her family again in this life or not, one day they would be joined together in an unbroken family circle around the throne of the Lamb, singing His praises and rejoicing in the company.

Real Universe

Sister Ruth smiled as she watched Kid Cole walk away from her down the wooden sidewalk before turning pensive.

All he'd done was save her from some rough handling by the saloon keeper, but he'd set her heart beating erratically with his kind action and his touch had lit a fire in her.

Was he the answer to her prayer for a helpmeet? He'd said it plain he wasn't coming to her revival when she'd invited him. She didn't know the history or relationship He had with the Lord, but she'd been in the business long enough to know he was running from Him.

She hugged the Bible against her chest. She was a firm believer that nothing happened without reason. This spark between them meant something, and even if nothing romantic ever came of it, she was going to lead this hurting man to the Lord.

But she had a feeling that God had great plans for them, and that those plans would lead them together. And she had no doubt that all the waiting she had done for a husband was going to be completely worth it.

The End