Never Too Late by Michael Phillips

Author:Michael Phillips
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781441211347
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

When I went out to start taking the laundry off the line in the middle of the afternoon, I realized I hadn’t seen Josepha in two or three hours. Katie was on the porch reading a letter that had come from Rob Paxton that day. Uncle Ward had just returned from town with it a little while before.

“What does Rob have to say?” I asked.

“He’s wondering whether to move or not,” answered Katie. “His boss, Sheriff Heyes, is going to Pennsylvania and has asked Rob to go with him.”

“Is he going to?”

“Probably. I think he needed to write it all down, to talk it over with someone.”

“Not just someone,” I said with a smile. “Someone special.”

Katie smiled back. “I suppose so,” she said softly. Then an odd look came over her face.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I don’t know, it’s just . . . this is such an interesting letter. I’ve never heard Rob talk this way before. I’m seeing a different side of him . . . no, not different—deeper maybe.”

“In what way?”

“His faith in God, I guess you’d say. He says he’s not trying to decide what he wants to do, but is trying to find out what God wants him to do. I guess it struck me because of what he does—being a deputy. I mean, how many men who wear guns on their belts talk about doing what God wants them to do? Don’t you think it’s unusual?”

“Hmm . . . I see what you mean.”

“I think maybe there is more to Rob Paxton than meets the eye.”

“He still thinks you’re special,” I said, smiling again.

Katie smiled back, then turned again to the letter.

“I haven’t seen Josepha since lunch,” I said. “Do you know where she went?”

“No, I haven’t seen her either,” answered Katie, looking up. “Is she taking a nap?”

“No, she’s not in the house anywhere.”

“She didn’t go into town with one of the men, did she?”

“I’m sure she’d have told us.”

“Didn’t I see her packing up a basket to take down to Henry?” said Katie.

“That’s right, now that you mention it. But that was hours ago.”

“I’ve heard nothing from down there. Usually you can hear Henry banging or singing or sawing away. It is awfully quiet now that I think about it.”

Katie looked at me, then slowly a smile spread across her lips.

“Hmm . . .” she said, “that is interesting—our cook and handyman running off together!”

“Katie!” I laughed. “I can’t imagine it’s anything like that!”

“They’ve been spending a lot of time together. Haven’t you noticed . . . and Josepha humming to herself when she’s busy making up those baskets to take to Henry?”

“Sure, I’ve noticed. I think it’s sweet.”

“I do too. I think it’s wonderful. All I was saying is that . . . well, maybe . . .”

Before we had the chance to speculate further on the mystery, in the distance we heard voices. There was no mistaking whose they were.

And they were singing!

Jimmy crack corn, an’ I don’ care.

Jimmy crack corn, an’ I don’ care.

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