This Time(19)
Reese followed him into the barnyard. "Give her time. Belle's a wise woman, she'll come around."
A forceful wind blew through the barnyard from the northwest, and Burke surveyed the sky. Dark, heavy clouds drifted in, covering the fading blue day.
"Looks like rain," Reese noted. "The top up on that new fangled car of yours?"
Burke swung up onto Tracer and looked down at his dad. "Top's up. I won't be gone long."
"I'll have your mother save you some dinner."
Burke nodded, then kicked Tracer into a run.
***
The evening came without the song of the crickets, and the wind carried the heavy scent of rain. Belle trotted along the back roads towards the chapel atop Trixie, leaning into the gusts, her thoughts fractured with the events of the past few days.
Her heart felt delicate. Thoughts of Burke crowded her mind, and her usually peaceful soul struggled against anxiety. All day she continually prayed and cast her cares upon her Lord, yet the resolve and closure she longed for eluded her.
She fixed an early dinner for her dad, Jake, and Cole and left them sitting around the table sipping fresh brewed coffee, talking and planning the new fence line. Duke looked up and nodded covertly as she slipped out of the kitchen, the compassion in his eyes telling her he understood. Without him saying it, she knew he would be praying for her. That idea alone gave her strength.
In the distance, the chapel came into view like an oasis on the prairie. Instinctively, Trixie quickened her pace.
When they arrived at the old hitching post, the mare stopped routinely, and Belle slid off her back. Her feet hit the ground as another rider rounded the chapel corner and abruptly stopped. Without even looking up, Belle recognized the sleek golden coat and cream color mane of Tracer.
"Belle," Burke said, surprised.
She glanced up at him. "Burke."
He slid off of Tracer. "How are you?" he asked, reaching for her guitar case.
Reluctantly, she let him help and forced herself to smile at him. "I'm fine. How 'bout you?"
"Good, good."
"You still in town? I thought you'd be gone by now." She kept her gaze averted.
"No, I'll be here for awhile."
"Oh," she simply said, feeling uncomfortable, struggling to maintain her composure. A tiny part of her sparked with anger that he'd showed up at her favorite prayer spot. She'd come here to get away from the thoughts of him that deluged her mind.
She snatched her saddlebag from Trixie's back, and walked with Burke toward the chapel steps. He followed her as she scooted through the narrow chapel door,then handed her the guitar. She thanked him curtly for his aid and darted down the isle to her favorite corner under a tall stained glass window. Once she got situated, she paused for a moment and took a deep breath, longing for the peace that saturated the quiet air of the chapel to saturate her soul.
"Your peace, O Lord, guards my heart, my mind, my feelings," she confessed softly. Subtly, the Lord's gentle voice touched her spirit.
Just be with Me.
She exhaled, loving the idea of just being with her Lord. She resolved to spend her energies on Him, not being anxious about Burke. She focused on her purpose and dug her Bible out of the saddlebag, then tuned her guitar.
In the back of the room, she could hear him settling in, the pew creaking as he got comfortable.
Just ignore him and focus on Jesus, she reminded herself. Yet, her songs sounded flat and lifeless, her prayers routine and uninspired. Once she checked her watch and found that only fifteen minutes had passed when it seemed like an eternity.
Her eyes constantly looked toward the back, trying to catch a glimpse of him. She couldn't see him, so she guessed he was kneeling somewhere.
Focus Belle, focus. Fix your eyes on Jesus! She continued on, worshipping as an act of her will. Another fifteen minutes passed as she paced in front of the altar, praying and reading scripture. She picked up the guitar again and sang the words of Psalm Sixty-three. Gradually, peace replaced the swirling anxiety, and she warmed with the love of her heavenly Father.
***
Burke lay prostrate on the floor, listening to Belle's worship, feeling as if he were invading a private moment. He tried not to listen, but his heart loved the lyrical sound of scripture and music.
With quiet resolve, he offered his burdens to the Lord, gradually discovering answers to the issues that burdened his mind.
First, he prayed about the Coach's offer to lead the Haymakers' football program. Lord, is this the job you have for me? Is this one of the reasons you brought me home?
One by one, he prayed over the other job offers he knew were on the table; sports commentator, sitcom actor, commercial spokesman, traveling speaker. Though each one had a certain appeal and intrigue, nothing excited him like the idea of coaching young, high-school men.
After a long while, he grew confident that he understood the Lord's heart in the matter. He knew he should accept the invitation to become Haskell High's head coach. A peace and joy welled up inside him every time he conceptualized the idea. He took another moment to pray, thanking the Lord for His wisdom and guidance.
Relieved to have the status of his new career nailed down, Burke shifted his prayers to Grace. He cared for her, that much he knew. For months now he'd been asking the Lord if she was the one for him. Yet, when he seriously considered their relationship, he had to admit they were little more than good friends. While they enjoyed spending time together and considered themselves a couple, their relationship had not deepened much during the past year. Instead, it had grown comfortable and convenient.