Gabe Kleeman stood in the field and, turning, gazed in every direction. The Madison Range in the distance, the plentiful ranch land, and the numerous trees gave testimony to how blessed he was to have acquired such a fine piece of land. He couldn’t have done it, of course, without Pa’s help. Adjacent to his parents’ property, the spread had come up for sale when the Potter family had moved to Iowa. Pa had suggested Gabe take out a loan on the property and start his own ranch.
From the beginning, that had been Gabe’s dream—to own his own ranch.
Now, after three years, he was back in Ellis Creek. Not that he had minded traveling to Missouri to assist his aunt and uncle after his uncle’s accident. The years spent there drew Gabe and his extended family closer, giving Gabe the opportunity to help ensure that his aunt and uncle didn’t lose the farm they had worked so hard to keep.
God had answered the prayers of Gabe’s entire family throughout the past couple of years. Gabe was stronger and healthier than he had ever been, and the days of his rough start in life as an ailing youngster would forever be in the past.
Gabe’s return to Ellis Creek sealed the fact that he belonged here. Always had. His family, the land, the cattle, the beautiful summers, and the crisp winters would always beckon him to the place he had lived since a young lad. He had missed much since his time away and was glad to be back.
Three days later, Gabe sat in church, awaiting the sermon. He hoped the reverend would preach another convicting sermon as he had done last week when he spoke of allowing God to take all your worries. The reverend had reiterated that the Lord cared for the smallest of sparrows. Gabe would need to remember that as he started this new chapter in his life, operating his own ranch.
The Waller family sat in the fourth pew from the front. A fine location for the family in Gabe’s humble estimate, as it afforded him ample time to take in the fine beauty of one Miss Meredith Waller. Not that Gabe wasn’t listening to the goings-on at the church service and particularly the sermon, for indeed he was. But there was just something about the woman who had captured his attention all those years ago during their early school days. She hadn’t known he existed then, and she certainly didn’t know now.
Meredith might never know if Gabe didn’t figure out how to use the mouth God gave him to actually speak to her.
Old Mrs. Plunkett began playing a hymn on the piano, and Gabe focused on his hymnal. When the song concluded, everyone took their seats to listen to the announcements. Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe had a perfect view of Meredith. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back in what Lula would call ringlets. She had expressive, pale blue eyes that he remembered from school when she appeared to be looking his way once. More like looking past him while in a daydream, but Gabe still recalled her sparkling eyes.
Meredith looked back over her shoulder, and Gabe redirected his attention to the front of the church. It wouldn’t do to have Meredith discover he was staring at her. Did she realize he had returned from Missouri? Had she even known he had left?
When Meredith faced forward again, Gabe’s eyes wandered once again to gaze upon her beauty. What would she say if she ever knew he fancied her? Would she laugh? He had attempted once several years ago to speak to Meredith by asking her to a barn dance. When Gabe had finally forced the words from his mouth, he’d been horrified with embarrassment when he realized he had asked her to a yarn bance.
If only Gabe hadn’t been born shy, maybe he would have a chance with the prettiest girl in Ellis Creek.
He could talk to just about everyone else in town, but when it came to Meredith, his tongue got tied into hopeless knots. Better not to say anything at all than embarrass himself again, as he had with the “yarn bance” incident.
A nudge to his rib cage drew his attention from Meredith to his younger sister sitting to his right. A sly look in her eyes told him he’d been caught. “What is it, Lula?” he whispered.
“I saw you.”
“What?”
“I saw you staring at Meredith Waller. You are supposed to be listening to the announcements.”
Gabe felt the warmth travel up his neck. He shook his head. Why was it that his parents decided to have another child when Gabe was ten? Couldn’t he have remained an only child? Not that he didn’t love Lula with all his being, but a pesky sort she was, especially at times like these.
“I could listen if you weren’t talking.”
Lula narrowed her eyes at him. “I know you fancy Meredith Waller.”
“She seems nice enough.”
“Maybe I should tell Tillie.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Lula merely shrugged, her long brown braids bobbing as she did. She stuck her chin out and focused her attention on the reverend, acting as though she had been listening intently to the announcements all along.
In all his shyness, and there was plenty of it, Gabe would die an early death if Lula ever breathed a word of her suspicions. He would have to purchase more of those jawbreakers she had grown so fond of and bribe her with one each week to keep her conjectures to herself.