And the greatest of these is Love

Chapter 19

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As promised, Pastor Joseph came calling at the Taylor's home later Sunday afternoon. Violet was all smiles when she answered the knock to let him in.

"It's good to see you Pastor!" she grinned, "come on in."

Pastor Joseph stepped in and looked around. There sitting in the chair in the living room was Jake. Jake was feeling a bit better about going up and down the stairs now so when he came downstairs to use the bathroom, he often stayed downstairs. This was much easier for Violet.

"Jake, Pastor Joseph is here to see you," Violet cheerfully told Jake. Jake turned around and nodded.

"Hello Pastor, thank you for making Violet happy by coming to see me."

"Jake!" Violet was upset, "why are you being so rude. Pastor is here to see us both."

Pastor Joseph looked at Violet, "I can come another time," then walking up to Jake he asked, "Jake, I wish you well, please let me know when you are up to having me come by. I hope it's soon though," and started to walk away.

Jake just stared in the air and after a little bit, looked over and saw Pastor Joseph leaving, "Stay. You are here now. Have a seat."

Violet sighed with relief. "I'm going to get a cup of tea, would you two like some?"

"Bring us both some," Jake replied.

When Violet brought the tea, Pastor Joseph thanked Violet then turned to Jake, "Well Jake, how you are doing?"

"I'm doing as best as can be expected, considering the circumstances," Jake said.

Joseph looked closely at Jake and remarked, "Your face looks better, especially now that the swelling has gone down around your eyes. Are you able to see okay?"

"Yeah."

"How's your jaw healing? Are you able to eat regular foods now?" Joseph asked.

"It's still painful, but now I can eat any food I want if I can tolerate it," Jake said.

"That's a good thing, right? Jake, you may want to start appreciating every little step in the right direction. You'll be surprised as each day passes, how well you are healing," Joseph encouraged.

Jake just shrugged.

Sensing that Joseph wanted to get personal with Jake, Violet excused herself, "I'm going to clean up the bedroom, I'll be upstairs if you need me. Good to see you Pastor."

"Good to see you Violet. Minnie said to tell you she's sorry she couldn't make it, but you are more than welcome to stop by our home anytime."

When Joseph heard the bedroom door shut behind Violet he said authoritatively, "Jake, let's cut to the chase here. There's more here than you are saying. You are progressively healing just as Dr. Carson told you you would, so you wouldn't be this angry for this long if it wasn't something more. You want to share with me?"

Jake didn't know what to say, "I have my reasons. There's nothing you can do anyways."

Joseph cocked his head and looked at Jake, "Jake, why don't you try me? I've heard a lot through the years, nothing surprises me, so don't hold back. I want to help."

There was a long deafening silence. Joseph just sat and waited. Jake closed his eyes and after some mumbling, he broke the silence. "I knew these men that attacked me before I started working for Gowen. I had to support my wife, and Gowen was willing to give me a chance, so I had to keep my job."

"What do you mean, you knew those men? From where?" Joseph inquired.

"I hoped to God I'd never see them again or I might kill them," Jake said scornfully. "When I was just a kid, my older sister and I would go out to play with other kids and we'd ride our bicycles and meet at the tree house. All of us were going to the same school and planned our secret clubhouse meetings."

"We're those guys from the same school?"

"Yea, but they had already dropped out. They caused a lot trouble in school and were kicked out. One of them was in the same class as my sister, Ruth, the others were older," Jake explained, that's when Joseph noticed the veins in Jake's neck were started to bulge.

Not wanting to cause Jake to blow up, he eased up on the questions and took a drink. Jake settled down and took a deep breath but he couldn't stop the hot tears that were now streaming down his face.

Joseph stood up and walked over to Jake. Crouching down by his side, he put his hand on Jake's shoulder and looked straight into his eyes, "Whatever is eating you inside, has festered and you are ready to explode. You got to trust me to help you. Jake, let it out."

Jake's face was red with anger and hurt. His words were barely audible, "I haven't told anyone, I promised Ruth I would never speak of it again."

"It's all right Jake, let me help you please."

Looking away, Jake just trembled and then sobbing he finally whispered, "One day, the three of them followed Ruth and I to the tree house," Jake's voice cracked, "they ambushed us, dragged me down to the ground and tied me up."

Joseph covered his face knowing the worst was still coming.

"They each... took turns with Ruth. I heard her screams and couldn't do anything. Nothing! I failed her. They took off and we never saw them again until I did now," Jake was visibly shaking and sobbing.

Joseph wrapped his arms around Jake and held him rocking him until his sobs finally gave way to sniffles. The two of them just sat in silence.

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After some time Pastor Joseph released Jake. Jake was regaining his composure and was breathing easier. He looked at Joseph and his eyes were one of relief and gratitude. It had been so many years of carrying around this horrific burden that it felt like he lost a thousand pounds off his shoulders. He was slowly coming to grips with the fact that he had let it out.

"Pastor, I feel so free of the weight that I've held on for so long."

"Ah, then you might recall from the Gospel of Matthew, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Jake did remember that, when Joseph quoted Matthew, from the studies he did of the Scripture with Pastor Lewis while in prison.

"I've only kept it secret because I promised Ruth I would never speak of it again," Jake confessed.

"Jake, let's surrender this to our Lord right now and ask Him to help you," Pastor suggested.

Joseph led Jake in prayer and then Joseph asked, "Where is your sister now?"

"She ran away from home years ago, and I don't know where she is. Mom and Dad were beside themselves with worry,so I never told them what happened," Jake admitted.

"Why not? You know Jake it should have been reported to the Mounties. Those boys might have done more harm to other women," Joseph sighed.

"Ruth was afraid. She didn't want them to come after her again or her family, so she made me swear to be quiet and I promised. I didn't know she was running away. I guess she wanted to leave because nothing seemed right to her anymore."

"Most likely they threatened to kill her if she said a word, so she felt trapped and ran away. Oh dear God. We have to look for her, Jake. She must be out there somewhere," Joseph encouraged.

Jake nodded, "But where do we start?"

"Well son, first we tell your wife. Violet needs to know."

"No, I don't want to burden her with this. She's had a rough time with me in prison and losing our baby, I don't want her to be worried about Ruth," Jake explained.

Joseph looked straight at Jake and said, "This is too important not to tell your wife. You and Violet are one now by the grace of God. She's been by your side all this time, she's not about to walk away now. Trust her."

Jake stared out the window. He wanted nothing more than to grow old with Violet having a family and watching their grandchildren grow. Pastor was right.

"All right, will you stay while I tell her?"

"Of course, in fact, I'll go get her," Joseph patted Jake's shoulder, "it's going to be all right."

When Violet heard the story, it all started to make sense to her, especially when Jake revealed another part of the story.

"When I got in that bar fight, it was because the men I was playing poker with were acquaintances of those brothers. They mentioned their names and I didn't say a word that I knew them, but then they bragged about the horrible things they did and I told them to shut up. They wouldn't, and I couldn't take it any longer and that's when I shoved the table," Jake admitted.

Violet was crying listening to Jake, "I never knew your sister, Jake. I barely knew your family. All along you've carried this by yourself and you never told me. I don't know if I should be sad or angry with you."

Joseph sat down across from Violet, "Your feelings are raw now Violet. It's been a shock to you and you need time to process this. Jake is trying to open up to you now because you are his wife. You deserve to know. There was no easy way for him to share this with you."

"Honey, I felt I was betraying Ruth if I breathed a word of this to anyone and I didn't want to hurt her any more than she already was. Now, I want to look for her, but I need you with me. Please forgive me," Jake said as he painstakingly moved to sit next to her.

Violet softly cried on his shoulder as she laid her head in the crook of his neck.

"What do you want me to do? How can I make this up to you?" Jake pleaded.

"Let's just go forward. What's past is past. I want to help you find Ruth, but we can't do this without help. We'll have to tell Sargent Grant not only about Ruth but the whole story," Violet said firmly.

"I agree," Joseph nodded. "The more the Mounties know, the better they will be able to help. If we find Ruth, and only God knows where she is, the charges against these men will increase and they'll be put away for a long time where they won't be able to hurt anyone else. Sargent Grant will have to contact whoever is the current Mountie from the town where you grew up and tell them the story. This has gone on far too long. Let's call Nathan and have him come over."

Allie answered the Grant telephone and told Pastor Joseph that her parents had gone to the home site where her Grandma and Papa Gleixner were building their new home, but she expected them back any time now. Jake left a message for Nathan to telephone him back or stop over and that it was important!

Pastor Joseph did all that he could do, then extended one of his hands to Violet and one to Jake, and prayed, "Father God, you know where Jake's dear sister, Ruth is. Please let her be found, Jake and her need closure. Lord, please have mercy on Jake and help Violet to support her husband no matter what happens. We ask too that those men who have torn Ruth's innocence away from her at such a young age, will also be found. In Jesus's name we pray."

"Amen."

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They had come home from the building site of Dee's mother and father's new home and saw how close it was now to completion. Next weekend they would be moving in. They were so gratified that both Christopher and Allie would have both sets of grandparents close by. Dee imagined what wonderful family birthdays and holidays in which they could all be together.

Nathan was happy too knowing he had built a bigger house than planned for these family affairs. Hopefully someday there might be more little Grants living under their roof he thought joyfully. Dee was thinking the exact same thing.

Arriving back home, he found Emily working in the garden as she loved to do with her gardening apron and sunbonnet on. Right next to her was Archie who had his overhauls and straw hat on too. Nathan grinned, "My parents look like twins."

Dee laughed, "Yes, but they are together and happy. I admire your mother so much for her loving ways. Here she is with your dad as if nothing happened between them all these years."

Nathan chuckled, "Dad can be more of a problem than a help, but somehow when it comes to gardening, Ma gets him to plant and weed. Maybe, I'll take him fishing later down by the stream" he suggested to Dee.

That idea didn't last long as Allie came running out of the house, "Hi Mom, Dad! You got a call, Dad from the Taylor's, saying asking if you would call back or come over as it was important. They didn't say why. Oh, and I'm going to meet Angela and Karen at Billees. We have to practice for the music for Bible Camp tomorrow.

"All right, but Allie, tell everyone I'll be stopping by when your dad returns," Dee called after her.

"I wonder if Jake is all right?" he said concerned to Dee, giving Christopher a kiss before he went down for his afternoon nap.

Nathan left soon after Allie gave him the message to go to the Taylor's. Not knowing what to expect, Dee gave him a tight hug and kiss sending him off with her confidence trusting her husband to handle whatever he was going to find.

When he drove up, Pastor Joseph was just about to leave, but stayed to see if he could help. Welcoming Nathan in, Violet offered him a cup of tea. "Sorry, Violet, but I don't drink tea."

"Coffee?"

"Sure, that sounds good," Nathan replied as he walked over to Jake, "how are you feeling now Jake?"

"Better thanks, have a seat," Jake offered.

When Violet brought Nathan his coffee and another hot cup of tea for Joseph, they all sat down in the living room. Jake nor Violet didn't know where to start, so Joseph did. He told Nathan everything they had shared earlier. Nathan sat there taking notes and then looking up he shook his head.

"I am incredibly sorry for all your pain and the burden you carried for so long, Jake. It goes to show that no one knows what another man's life is from the outside looking in. It explains a lot. Looks though like Pastor here has helped you to relieve some of this burden," Nathan acknowledged.

Jake nodded affirmatively.

Looking at Violet he addressed her needs too, "Violet, I am so sorry for the loss of your baby. I can't imagine. I know Dee and I would be devastated if we had lost Christopher."

"Thank you," Violet said timidly.

Nathan continued, "Believe me I know first-hand how it feels to have your husband drinking and gambling while you were home alone." Not hesitating any longer on that point Nathan quickly followed with, "Now, I need to get as many details as possible about your sister Ruth. She is the first part of this case I need to expedite."

Nathan listened intently to Jake describe his sister from years ago and any ideas as to where she might have run away to. He also inquired about his parents, his family life, the school he went to, his and Ruth's friends, and any other piece of the puzzle he could fill in. He described Dale, and Frank Fredrick and Clarence their cousin. Jake's description was right on target from what Henry had told him earlier with Clarence having a beard to hide the scar on his face, Dale walking with a limp, and Frank stuttering.

Going over every detail of what happened with his sister Ruth, Nathan acknowledged that those men would be charged for battery and assault of Jake recently, but if they could find Ruth, assuming she was still alive, then they would be facing charges of rape of a minor.

"Have you told me all that you know of any family or friends that your sister might have gone to," Nathan double-checked.

"Yes. My parents both died victims of the Spanish flu two years ago. I have given you the names of my aunts, uncles and school friends," Jake affirmed.

"All right then, I'll continue to contact the Mounties in all these towns and we have posters that are also sent with a reward offered by Henry Gowen."

"A reward is more than I expected from Mr. Gowen. I guess the rumors about him being a jerk to work for aren't true after all," Jake smiled.

Nathan chuckled, "Maybe at one time, but he's come full circle. He's been quite a decent employer now. I heard he's paying you your regular income while you're out. That's not a jerk in my book."

"Or mine," Pastor Joseph agreed.

Joseph shook Nathan's hand. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I have a good feeling that God will be helping you find these men and Ruth too!"

Over at Billee's the Chickadees and other ladies were busy making sure they had everything ready for The Fishers of Men Bible Camp. There they met making sure they had the music, skit, props, costumes, Bible stories, crafts, and food all ready to go.

The ladies' were all so cheerful and excited. Jane showed them the dance and they laughed so hard trying to follow her they plunked back in their chairs.

"I can't wait for tomorrow!" Allie said.

"It's always fun!" Rita said.

"I am promising good food," Luciana smiled.

"And lots of fun crafts," Teresa laughed.

"Fun games!" Marge joined in.

"Good times for all!" Joyce added.