Chapter 152 – Easter Service

The men got up and headed to get their horses, so that they could head to the grove. It wasn't long and the other Mounties, minus Campbell joined Wynn, Dee and Jacobs. The cadets also joined them, except for the one on guard duty. Wynn looked around and noticed that Bill was also missing.

"Bill is staying at the jail." McGinty said.

Wynn nodded. He didn't say anything about Campbell being gone, but wondered where he was. When they got to the grove, Cody went and sat with Becky and Abigail. Wynn had the Mounties get in formation with him and Jacobs in the middle. The constables were on one side and the cadets were on the other. Wynn noticed that Eddie was in the grove and sat with some of the townspeople. He was doing a good job of not drawing attention to himself, but genuinely interacting with the townspeople as if he was a visitor. Wynn and Dee also noticed that several of the men that were working in town were at services. They mostly sat as a group off to one side. Lee's men had added some extra logs for people to sit on and several of the benches from the church had been brought out. It was a lovely day to have services outside, even if it was a bit chilly in the shade of the trees.

As Pastor Frank stepped forward, several of the ladies sang a few hymns. Those that knew the words joined in. As Frank stood there, he looked around at the people before him. There were many familiar faces and several that he didn't know. There were also faces that he only knew in passing, but hoped to get to know better.

"Let us stand and start with a prayer." Frank said.

Frank waited for everyone to stand.

"Heavenly Father." Frank said. "Many of us come to You on this glorious day with heavy hearts. Please be with those who aren't able to be with us here today for whatever reason. Show them that they are more than welcome here. If they are ill, please give them comfort and we ask that You heal them. Be with those that are with a heavy heart. Show them Your love and comfort for You also know their pain. Help the people of this town, new and old, to show each other the love that You want for all of us. Help us all as we navigate the difficult times ahead as we continue to heal from all that has happened here. I ask for special protection for all those who are here sacrificing to keep this whole town safe. Please be with the Mounties that are traveling. Guide them where they go and keep them safe. At this moment, I also want to ask you to open each and every heart here to hear Your word today. Please be with the children and heal their hearts. Give them joy and surround us all in Your love. Amen."

There were several amens that ran out when Frank was done. He waited a moment as people took their seats again. Frank opened his Bible and read from the Gospel of Luke in chapter twenty-four about the stone being rolled away and Jesus appearing to the others. Once he had read that, he looked out at the people gathered. He was sure that they were waiting to hear an uplifting sermon about Easter. He took a deep breath and let it slowly.

"If you would have asked me two weeks ago." Frank said. "I would have been able to show you the sermon that I was working on for today. Yet, in the last couple of days, I have realized that what I had prepared is not the sermon that I need to give. We are all here because we know or want to know the love of God. Yet there are many sitting here today that are struggling with their faith because of what has happened. You might ask how a loving Father God could allow the things to happen that have happened here in the last couple of weeks.

I would argue with those people that God didn't allow them to happen and He weeps with you in your heartbreak. Don't you think that God wept when the soldiers nailed Christ to that cross? God knew that Christ had to die to save us all, but that doesn't mean it didn't bring him sorrow. As far as the things that happened, God didn't allow them to happen and if you argue that he could have stopped them, I would say it's true. However, God gave us free will and with that He chose to remove himself and allow things to happen. He doesn't want those things to happen, but because man sinned all those years ago, we no longer have a perfect relationship with God and won't while we are here on earth.

That is not to say that we can't feel God and see the things that he has done for us. Was there not a rainbow after the flood? It may take awhile to see that rainbow, but I promise that if you keep looking it will be there. It may be a small thing, but it will be there. I know that it is hard to have faith when things are hard. … … … I know that I have shared some of this before with some of the people that have been here since I first came to town back in October. My life has not always been easy and I wasn't always on the right side of the law. I have served my time and changed my life. There was a time that I felt like God was punishing me and nothing was going to work out.

Then I met a Mountie. This was about twelve/thirteen years ago. I had done a few things, but this Mountie saw good in me. He told me that just because bad things happen or I had done bad things, doesn't mean that they have to continue to be bad and I didn't have to continue to go down the road I was on. I told him that there was no way that he would understand. He told me that he understood more than I knew. He told me that he had struggled for years as a Mountie to have faith with all the evil he had seen. He told me how hard it was to see all that, then go home to his wife and two boys and pretend that it didn't happen. He knew that his oldest wanted to be a Mountie just like him. He told me that he hoped and prayed that his son would choose a different profession because he didn't want the evil of the world to destroy his son like it was slowly destroying him piece by piece.

As much as he tried to be good and see good, he told me that he struggled to believe in a kind and loving God after all that he had seen. He told me that he wanted to leave the Mounties and be a farmer as it was easier to have faith when you didn't face evil all the time. I asked how his wife felt about that and he didn't say anything. A few years later I heard that Mountie was killed in the line of duty. I cried when I heard he had been killed. I realized that the world had lost a good man when he had been killed. I cried for his widow and two boys. I cried for him and wondered if he was able to hold on to his faith. I wanted to find my faith again, but I didn't know how. I felt that I was too deep into the criminal life. It wasn't that I wanted to keep doing it, but I had gotten involved with a man that was worse than I was and he used me because I happen to be good at certain things. I was afraid of what he would do if I tried to leave.

It still took a number of years and getting shot before I turned my life around, but this widow found my name in some things of her late husband and wrote to me while I was in prison. She had found something that I had asked this Mountie to hold on to because I didn't want the men that I was getting into trouble with to take it. The Mountie agreed and told me that when I turned my life around that he would give it back to me. Anyway I thought that item was gone after I heard that the Mountie had been killed. When she wrote to me, it was to return the item that her late husband had been holding for me. She told me that she hoped and prayed that I would use my time in jail to turn my life around, but if that wasn't the case, she would be more than willing to hold on to the item until I had. I wasn't allowed to have it while I was in prison, but the day that I was released, I put it on a chain and have worn or carried it with me everyday since."

Frank reached into his collar and removed the chain and ring that were there.

"This was my mother's ring." Frank said. "It was the only thing I had of her and I didn't want someone to take it from me. Granted there were many years that I didn't have it in my possession, but I always thought about it and what my mother would think about my life. It wasn't easy to leave my old life behind me, but I did it. My point is that no matter what has happened to us, we can turn our life around and be made new in Christ. It was while I was recovering after being shot that I started reading the Bible again. I had put it down many years before when my parents were killed and I was sent to an orphanage. I was angry with God for a long time that I had to lose my parents. So see, I understand your pain and frustration at losing loved ones."

Frank took a moment, wiped his eyes and took a deep breath.

"So my prayer for those you if that are struggling today for whatever reason." Frank said. "I pray that you hold on to God's love and not turn away from him. Please learn from those before you. There are plenty of people here that are willing to help, if you just ask. Don't let what has happened harden your heart to God. I am not saying that you can't be angry at God for what you are going through, but instead of allowing it to push you away from God, allow it to push you toward Him. All you have to do is ask and God will hold you close to Himself. I would also argue that being angry at God is a waste of time. It isn't going to change what happened and it is only going to allow the hate to grow in you. Now I have stood here long enough. Let's all stand and sing along with Cat Montgomery as she leads us in Crown Him with Many Crowns."

Everyone stood up as Cat came forward. She started singing and by the second line, most of the people had joined in. Frank stood back, and listened for a moment before joining in. After they finished the song, Cat started in on Christ The Lord Has Risen Today. When she was done, Frank stepped back up.

"Thank you all for coming today." Frank said. "Please be mindful of all the extra people in town. I pray that you all have a good week and next week we should be back in the church. Also for the children, school will resume tomorrow. Now for a final prayer.

Heavenly Father, please be with each and every person as they go forward from here. Open hearts to new relationships and help us to all reflect Your love to others this season. Please be with those that are here to protect us. Comfort and be with those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Give them people that they can talk to and share with. Now we pray as you taught us Our Father ..."

After they finished the prayer, people greeted one another. Many of the men that had come to work, headed back toward town. A few stayed and talked to people. Wynn directed the Mounties and Cadets to head back. Wynn dismounted and went to stand with his wife. Jacobs and Dee both stayed with Wynn. Frank came over to speak with Abigail.

"You should share that story you share with Jack." Dee said.

"He knows some of it." Frank said.

"I am sure he would still like to hear it." Dee said.

Frank just shrugged his shoulders.

"Thank you for sharing." Abigail said. "I know that wasn't easy for you. After hearing that, I can see that it wasn't easy to hand that chain over to Jack and Elizabeth because they wanted to keep their engagement quiet."

"I still carried the ring." Frank said. "But you are right. But at that moment, it felt right."

"Thank you for that." Wynn said.

"I just came over to see what time lunch was." Frank said.

"We will eat about one." Abigail said. "But feel free to come over anytime. Ann and her mother Marsha are coming over as soon as they get back to town. I am not sure what time Jack and Elizabeth will be in, but once we (indicating Jacobs, Wynn, Elizabeth Rose, Dee, Patty, Becky, Cody and herself) speak to a few people, we are headed that way as well."

"Then I will see if anyone wants to talk." Frank said. "If not, I will be over once I change into more comfortable clothes."

"Just come knock on the back door." Abigail said.

Frank nodded and then went to greet others. As people were talking, Elizabeth Rose leaned over to her husband.

"Where is Charlotte?" She asked. "I haven't seen her all morning."

"She probably just needed some space." Wynn said quietly. "Don't worry about it. You know that she can only take so many people and it has been a hard week."

Elizabeth looked at her husband and knew that he wasn't saying something. She also knew her husband well enough to know that he wouldn't say anything else while there were a lot of people around. Elizabeth looked at her husband and then her son and wondered what they knew.

While they were there, several people came up and inquired about Jack and Elizabeth. Wynn informed them that they stayed home since Jack was still recovering, but that Elizabeth would be at school the next day. As those gathered started to break up, Wynn turned to his wife.

"Are you ready to head back?" He asked.

"Anytime." Elizabeth Rose said.

Elizabeth Rose went over and let Abigail know that they were heading back. She promised to be along shortly. Elizabeth offered to take the kids and Abigail nodded. When Elizabeth returned to her husband, son and others, she nodded to Wynn.

"I told Abigail we would take the kids back." Elizabeth Rose said.

"Becky." Jacobs said. "I can push you if you are ready."

"Please." Becky said. "It isn't easy to move on the trail."

"I got you." Jacobs said.

Wynn picked up Cody, put him on Balder and then grabbed Star's reins as well. Wynn walked beside his wife and Patty. Jacobs, Becky and Dee ahead of them. Jacobs, Dee and Becky were talking about something as they walked back. Wynn smiled that Jacobs and Dee were able to get Becky to open up. Elizabeth Rose looked up at the smile on her husband's face and smiled. She knew that he was watching Dee and Becky. Wynn turned and saw a huge smile on Cody's face as he rode Balder back to town.

They stopped at the cafe. Wynn and Jacobs lifted Becky up the steps. Elizabeth Rose and Patty headed inside with Cody. The guys took their horses and went to the livery. When they got back to the cafe after caring for their horses, Wynn saw Campbell and had to control his anger. He wanted to put that man behind bars, but was waiting until he heard what happened to the real Campbell. They went back inside and saw the women were busy in the kitchen. Abigail was back and Ann was there helping. They had plenty of help in the kitchen for the time being. Wynn thought about going and checking on the cadets, but he was hoping that McGinty had taken care of them.

"Jacobs and I are going across the road." Wynn said. "Find a reason to leave and bring Cody with you. Then come over. We will talk there."

"Okay." Dee said.

Wynn and Jacobs left and headed across the road. Wynn saw several of the cadets out of uniform and there were several people moving around town. Elizabeth Rose saw them leave and turned to Dee.

"They wanted to check something." Dee said. "They won't be long, but I also need Cody's help."

"What do you need?" Abigail asked.

"I was thinking that he could help me check on the horses." Dee said.

Elizabeth Rose looked at her son and knew that he was up to something, but she wasn't going to push him at the moment. She figured that whatever they were talking about earlier, they hadn't finished and didn't want interruptions. She also knew that she was going to ask about it at some point. She was worried because it was the first that anyone had said about Cody having nightmares. She knew that both of her kids had them when they were Cody's age and younger because of some of the things that they had seen. She said a quick prayer that whatever was going on with Cody that talking to Wynn, Dee and Jacobs helped.

"Okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "Don't forget you promised to check on Jack and Beth."

"We won't be long." Dee said.

Elizabeth Rose nodded. Dee and Cody headed out and walked toward the livery, but then turned and went to the back door of the mayor's office and knocked. It only took a moment for Wynn to open the door.

"Where does your mother think that you are?" Wynn asked.

"Checking the horses." Dee said.

Wynn just looked at his son and shook his head. Wynn knew that his wife didn't buy that excuse, just like she didn't buy what he was saying about Charlotte. He just hoped that she wasn't mad at them for wanting to talk without interruptions. Dee nodded and then led Cody out to the main room following his father. Once again, Wynn opened his arms to Cody, who sat in his lap. Dee was close and Jacobs off to the side so he could take notes.

"Now." Wynn said. "You were going to tell us why you told Becky that they would separate you."

Cody looked at the three men and then turned back to Wynn.