Twenty-Seven

W

ade looked around him at the crowd that had shown up to help with cleanup after the storm. A couple of his farmhands, including his foreman, were missing due to dealing with damage on their own properties. He’d sent out a message on the church’s website that he needed help and half a dozen people had shown up.

He’d asked everyone to meet him at Alethea’s because that’s where the need was the greatest. A huge oak had fallen at the back of her house and was leaning precariously against her tool shed. If the shed gave out, her house would be the next to catch its fall.

Micah stood at the back of the group looking bleary-eyed with Jo right by his side. Both wore smiles as they spoke quietly to one another. Maybe some good could come from last night’s storm if it started the two of them back on the right path.

Wade held his hand up and quiet settled over the group. “I want to thank you all for coming. As you can probably guess, the main priority is getting this tree down without doing damage to the house.”

He laid his hand on the shoulder of the man next to him. “I’m going to let Abbott Clinton here take lead since he has the most experience. He’s already singled out the ones who’ll help with the cutting. Once it’s down, we’ll all help with the cleanup. In the meantime, there’s plenty of limbs down along the property line. Everyone not helping Abbott, follow Zane and he’ll tell you what to do.”

Without letting Wade know, Zane hadn’t come home last night. He hadn’t been happy when Wade hunted him down before daylight to let him know he needed him to come in to work early. It probably hadn’t helped that Wade had called him irresponsible for not letting him or Dani know he wasn’t coming home. He didn’t expect Zane to give him every detail, but a little common courtesy would’ve kept them from worrying.

Zane stomped past him on his way to where the tractor waited, anger written in the scowl on his face. “When this is over, we need to talk.”

Wade called out to Zane’s receding back. “Fine, but in the meantime, remember Who you represent.”

Both of their parents had used that line on them anytime their actions leaned more toward human than Christian. He’d heard it more times than he could count when he was a teenager. Zane was looking at his teen years in the rearview mirror. It was past time for him to grow up.

During the course of the day, he’d forgotten all about Zane’s desire for a conversation until he cornered Wade in the barn that night. The angry look had been replaced with something else. Something that put Wade on alert. Whatever was on Zane’s mind was bigger than the spat they’d had that morning.

“Is now a good time to have that talk?”

“Sure.” Wade gestured to the door of the tack room. “Let’s go in here so we can sit.”

They each took a side at the table where they usually worked on harnesses and other gear.

“What’s on your mind?” Wade let his hands rest on the table as he studied his brother. Zane’s hair touched his collar now. Ma would’ve been after him to get it cut. Zane had changed the most since her death and not just in looks. Even though Wade spent more time with this sibling than the others, he knew less about Zane’s life outside of what happened on the farm.

Zane glanced up at him and then looked back down at the table. “I’m leaving.”

“What?”

“After the show on the Fourth, the band is going on the road and I’m going with them.”

“What do you mean going on the road? Don’t you need to have concerts or whatever booked in advance?”

“The rodeo has sold out on advance tickets. That got us a booking in North Carolina, which should lead to others. There are plenty of smaller joints that’ll surely let us play in between the bigger ones.”

Roaming around the country aimlessly with a ragtag group of wannabes was not the life he’d pictured for his brother, and he was almost positive it hadn’t been his parents’ dream either. Even as this thought settled, he could almost hear his ma’s voice saying let go and let God, but that didn’t apply here. Surely God wanted him to nudge Zane in the right direction.

Lord, I’m doing everything in my power to not let the family fall apart now that Ma’s gone, but I’m flailing around like a fish out of water here. I don’t mean to hold Zane back, but he needs the anchor of his family. If he leaves…

Wade leaned back and took in a slow breath. “North Carolina doesn’t require more than a day’s travel, two at the most. I’m sure we can work things out so you can take time off when you need it. That’ll allow you to transition and still have a steady income until things pick up with the band.”

Zane leaned forward and looked him in the eye. “You’re not listening. I’m leaving Shiloh. With Ma gone, there’s nothing left for me here.”

“Nothing?”

“You know what I mean. The rest of you have a family of your own. Except for Jo, but that’ll change soon if you have your way about it.”

“Are you mad that I want to see Jo settled? Because I want the same thing for you, but I know you’re not ready yet.”

Zane waved his hand. “It isn’t about that. Jo can take care of herself. This is about me. I think we can make it as a group, and I need to find out one way or another. That’s not going to happen if we stay in Shiloh.”

Let go and let God.

“What about living expenses? Hotels and takeout don’t come cheap.”

“I have some put back—not from what Ma left me but from working. Plus, Baydon’s dad gave him an RV. We’re all going to live in it for a while.”

Baydon? Wade didn’t remember ever hearing that name before but that was probably his fault.

As Zane began speaking again the let go and let God mantra grew louder in Wade’s head.

“I know you don’t have faith in the band making it. Maybe we won’t, but we’re going to give it our best effort.”

Zane was right about Wade’s lack of faith. They had a good sound, but it took more than that to make it in the music industry. Still, this was his brother. He deserved Wade’s support.

Let go and let God take care of Zane. God will anchor him and his family will always be family no matter where they all land.

Wade reached across the table and placed his hands over Zane’s. “If this is your dream, you have my full support. Whatever I can do to help, just say the word. And Zane, I do hope you make it. I hope you make it big time, but if at any time you decide it’s not for you and you want to come home, you’ll always be welcome.”

Jo could hear the old farm tractor coming down the dirt drive before it came into view with Zane behind the wheel and a trailer loaded with broken limbs pulled behind it. He veered into the yard and stopped next to the porch where she sat. “Got any limbs you need hauled off?”

“No, I took care of those yesterday, but thanks for checking.”

Instead of moving on, he killed the engine and stepped up onto the porch to sit next to her on the swing. “Shouldn’t you be out looking for a job?”

“Shouldn’t you be getting on with yours?”

He lifted his hat and slicked his hair back with his hand before replacing it. “I’ve got a few minutes. Haven’t taken a break all day.”

“Actually, if you must know, I have an interview tomorrow.” She sent a cheesy grin his way. “You may be looking at the next Shiloh Elementary school nurse.”

He scrunched his nose. “I never pictured you working with kids.”

“Am I that bad in your eyes? I’m great with kids. My nieces and nephews love me. Just ask them.”

“You’re right. They do love you. I guess I got the idea because you’ve left me with the impression that you didn’t plan to have any of your own. But I also guess that changed once Micah Abram entered the picture.”

Jo bit her lip and tried to hide her smile, then sobered with the next thought. “I think deep down, I’ve always wanted a family, but I buried it because I was in a relationship that would never allow it.”

“And now?”

She sucked in a deep breath. “And now the possibility is there. Even if things don’t work out between me and Micah, I can still have a family with the right person. And by right person, I mean the one God has in mind for me.”

“In that case, I hope you get what you want.”

As determined as she was to let God lead, she wanted Micah and Lala to be part of her future family so badly it hurt. It was all she could do when she and Micah were together yesterday not to pick right back up where they left off.

“Have you talked to Wade?”

She looked at Zane, worry wrinkling her brow, but he didn’t look back at her. “Not today. What’s up?”

“I put in my two weeks’ notice yesterday. I’m leaving Shiloh. The band is going on the road and I’m going with them. I need to do this. I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t try to make a go of it.”

She could hear the uncertainty in his voice. Was he worried he was making a mistake or that she wouldn’t approve?

“No need to try and convince me. I think you’re right. You should go after your dreams if you can. But there’s no shame if it doesn’t work out either. Just means you were meant to do something else.” She wrapped her arms around him, and he hugged her back. “Don’t go getting into any trouble out there in the world, but if you do, you know who to call.”

“Thanks, sis.”