For the Record by Regina Jennings

Author:Regina Jennings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030;FIC042040;FIC027050
ISBN: 9781441230553
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

“No hard feelings.” Mr. Sanders gathered his coat and hat. “Don’t judge my wife too harshly. I should’ve told you up front.”

“You had your reasons.” Joel dropped his hat on the desk. He wished he could assure Sanders that it was fine, but Joel had nothing left to give. He was spent.

“You’ll get through this,” Sanders said. “If Della can forgive me, then people will give you another chance.”

But he hadn’t earned it. They had no reason to trust him. He’d let them down. Joel dropped to his chair. “It’s late.”

“Sometimes God can only work with us after we’ve come to the end of our own efforts,” Sanders said. “You didn’t expect this blow, but if it’s gonna knock you down, make sure you fall toward God, not away.”

Joel had already been leaning on God, hadn’t he? What did another failure teach him?

Sanders didn’t move, just stood, looking him over. Was Joel going to have to throw him out? Finally, with a sigh, Sanders scuffed out of the building, leaving Joel alone in the dark.

He could close his eyes and still see the light of the flames burning inside his eyelids. The house would be standing yet if it weren’t for his bullheadedness. He’d come in here so proud that he’d show these people a thing or two. A firm hand was all they needed. Just be tough and they’d straighten up.

Instead he’d caused an innocent man to get his house destroyed and nearly got him killed. Joel dropped his head to his desk. What could he have done differently? Wasn’t the law to be respected? Wasn’t he hired to stop the Bald Knobbers, not to give them permission to play army? He’d followed his orders, but how could he face everyone tomorrow? How could he recover the ground he’d gained?

He huffed a bitter laugh. Ground gained? Before this, they’d just as soon feed him a bowl of poison ivy as greens. They cared even less now.

A knock sounded on the door. Joel lifted his head. Couldn’t they wait until morning to scorn him? Why couldn’t they let him be for at least one night? The hinges creaked, but he didn’t move, too worn down to even care if he was in danger.

Then Betsy peeked around the corner. Never one to get all womanly about his emotions, Joel would’ve had a hard time pinpointing exactly what he was feeling at the sight of her pert face—embarrassment that he’d let her down, aggravation that he couldn’t wallow alone, warmth that she cared enough to come.

Without saying a word, she entered and then gently pressed the palm of her hand flat against the door and eased it closed. Removing her shawl, she hung it on the hall tree. The only light was what streamed through the window, but it was enough to see the concern in her eyes.

“You’re covered in soot,” she said.

He didn’t know where to begin. An apology? An excuse? A promise to do better? No words seemed to matter compared to the gravity of what had occurred.

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