Redeeming Luke by Darlene Wells

Author:Darlene Wells [Wells, Darlene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wings of Hope Publishing Group
Published: 2014-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Luke looked in the rear view mirror at Grady in the back of the truck. The kid looked lost. And scared. He bristled at the thought of Grady’s father and his arrogance. Memories of the hypocritical church members in his past flashed. He could have called out any number of sins he’d seen committed by those people. But the guilt and shame of what he’d done rendered him mute, not to mention terrified.

At least his own mom and dad stood by him. Telling them about Sadie and the baby had been the worst experience of his life to that point. He remembered how his knees shook and his voice cracked. But they showed him love and forgiveness and support. That should have been enough to get him through it. But the people in church … bunch of self-righteous, judgmental—

“What did you say?”

Luke glanced over at Ruth. “What?”

“You were mumbling.”

Returning his attention to the dirt road ahead, Luke adjusted his hat on his head. “I was thinking about Grady’s father. Being a deacon and all.”

“I know.” Ruth sighed. “And it’s all my fault.”

“No. No it isn’t.” Luke’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. “That man is a hypocrite. It has nothing to do with you.”

“But if I hadn’t gotten pregnant—”

“Cornell Akins would still be a hypocrite!”

Ruth shrank back at his outburst. In the rear view mirror he could see that he’d gotten Grady’s attention as well.

He didn’t care. Everything was spinning out of control around him. And if there was one thing Luke couldn’t abide, it was not being in control.

Luke steered his old truck off Old Adobe Road and started down the driveway. The truck’s headlights illuminated the giant oak tree in the front yard, casting haunted shadows on the house. Ruckus bounded down the porch steps to greet them. Luke got out of the truck and went around to help Ruth down. Grady had beat him to it. He watched Grady support Ruth’s elbow while assisting her. Ruth started to lead Grady toward the house.

Luke cleared his throat. The two paused and slowly turned back to look at him.

He wagged his thumb in the direction of the barn. “It’s warm enough outside, he can sleep in there.”

Ruth stepped forward. “Luke—It’s a barn—”

Luke held up his hand. “And it’s a far bit more than what he had half an hour ago.” He looked to Grady. “If it gets cold, there are horse blankets. And if you need to use the bathroom—find a bush.”

“That’s awful!” Ruth opened her mouth to say more.

Luke raised a brow at her.

She stepped back and rubbed Grady’s arm. “Can he at least come in for

breakfast in the morning?”

Luke rolled his eyes and looked toward the barn. Couldn’t the kid just eat what the horses ate?

He walked past them and growled, “Fine.”

At the kitchen door he looked back to see Ruth in Grady’s arms.

“Ruth!”

The girl nearly jumped out of her skin. Grady scurried two paces away from her, dust kicking up around his feet.

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