Charlie spent the night wrapped in her husband’s arms. Even in sleep she clung to him. In the morning, Saturday, Sean told her he had to meet with Duncan and Witt. Charlie was proud of herself when she didn’t argue or cry.
She walked over to Duncan’s with him. While the men talked in the kitchen, she stayed in the living room with Lora and tried not to think about the conversation in the other room. She wasn’t denying what was to come, but she didn’t think she could handle hearing plans that were certain to lead to her husband’s death.
“I want us to head out around 4:00. Since I’m sure he won’t be there until after dark, I’ve written a note to leave him. I want to play things my way, so the note tells him where we can meet again in a few days.”
“I still think we should go after dark,” Witt interjected.
“Then tomorrow night would be our only chance, and I don’t like those odds,” returned Sean. “My way is better. When he finally arrives, he will see tracks made by three horses and know that I’m not coming alone.”
Witt was frustrated. “Where is your meeting place for Tuesday night?”
“It’s only 15 minutes outside of town, but it’s far enough away from the bank that he will be lulled into a false sense of security.”
Duncan agreed wholeheartedly with Sean’s plan, and between the two of them they won Witt over to their way of thinking. The men continued to plan their actions of the next few days with careful precision.
Sean was the first to leave, and Duncan and Witt were able to discuss something that had been on both of their minds. When Witt finally left, Duncan sat down and wrote a letter to the judge who had sentenced Sean to hang.
Charlie tried to act normal at Sadie’s house on Sunday, and in fact fooled everyone at the dinner table except the man who loved her. Sean could see the strain in her face, and prayed that she would turn to God for comfort.
Sean knew his life on earth held no guarantees, so he didn’t dare tell Charlie he would be back. He was confident, however, that they would not see Hartley this day. Still, he said nothing.
In fact, they had barely said a word to each other on any subject when Sean realized it was 20 minutes to 4:00. With a heavy heart he moved toward the livery to saddle Buddy, their best mount. He dreaded leaving Charlie when she was so upset, but he could not for the moment see any help for it.
Charlie stood at the window as Sean tied Buddy’s reins to a tree limb and came inside. He wasted no words, but came directly to Charlie and took her in his arms.
“Charlie,” he again used her nickname, and she loved the sound on her ears. “If you find you have time on your hands in the next few hours, I want you to do me a favor.”
“Lora invited me over.”
“I know she did, and I could tell when you thanked her that you didn’t plan to go.”
“That’s true. What did you want me to do?”
Sean reached down to the kitchen table for his Bible. “If you stay here and feel restless, start reading in the book of John.” Sean turned to the first chapter and left the Bible open on the table.
“Take down a few notes if something confuses you, and we’ll talk about it when I get back.”
“Will you be back, Sean?”
“If it’s within my power to be here, nothing will keep me away.” Charlie thought she would drown in the emotional depths of her husband’s eyes.
“I love you,” he whispered before his lips covered hers. Charlie clung to him.
When they both heard the approach of other horses, they exited the house together. Sean climbed on his mount and stared down at his wife. He dragged his gaze from hers and stared out in the direction of the meeting place. A second later he leaned from the saddle and pulled Charlie up to his lap. He kissed her long and hard, and then set her back on the ground. This time he didn’t look in her direction as he heeled his horse and went with the other men.
Charlie paced for 15 minutes before she picked up the Bible and carried the precious Book to her bedroom. She lay down on the bed, snuggled into Sean’s pillow, and began to read the first verses.
Charlie made an effort not to get slowed down by unfamiliar words. Reading steadily, she came to John 3:16 and 17 and remembered Sean reciting them to her. Several times her eyes focused over each word before continuing.
Time ceased to exist as she read about Jesus and Nicodemus. Her eyes devoured the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, and then on to the sick boy in Capernaum whom Jesus healed, sight unseen.
Chapter after chapter fell away. The feeding of the 5000, Jesus walking on the water, the healing of the blind man, the raising of Lazarus—all became real to her. Page after page revealed Jesus as Shepherd and Lord. With tears pouring down her face, Charlie arrived at the final chapters where God’s perfect Son was mocked and crucified for the sins of all men.
By the time Charlie read the last verse in the last chapter, she had cried until her head hurt, and she was wrung dry. She told herself she had to get up and watch for Sean, but before her mind could make her body obey, she fell into an exhausted sleep, with Sean’s Bible held in her embrace.