Chapter 12

Christmas is Coming

“Quint called yesterday.” Calley heard her mother say. She looked up and watched her working at the counter.

“Yeah? She turned the page in the magazine she was trying to read.

“He wanted to see about us coming up there and having Christmas with his family.

“Hmmm.”

“I asked about Gareth.” Ruth turned. “He said last he heard he was headed home for a while, ‘til spring.” When Calley didn’t respond Ruth pulled out a chair and sat down at the table beside her daughter. She took her face in her hands making Calley meet her eyes. “Honey, what happened between you two?”

Calley shook her head free and stared at her magazine.

Exasperated Ruth folder he hands on the table. “First I get a call from the police telling me you were in some kind of trouble, then you call and say you’re fine, but you’re with Gareth. Then you come home, quiet upset, hating Brad, and never even mentioning Gareth. Clue me in girl!”

“I don’t know mom!” Calley burst out. “That’s the problem! I just don’t quite know what happened, and I don’t know what to do. I told him no, but now I don’t know if I can live with that!” She stopped a minute. “Let me have a little more time?”

“Ruth tenderly brushed the hair back from her forehead the said, “I don’t know hon, you’re gonna have to talk to the Man upstairs about that, but whatever you decide, I will stand by you.”

They accepted Quint’s invitation, and two days before Christmas they were waiting for their flight at the airport. Calley was restless and wondered through the builkding. She saw a thin old man struggling with his suitcase so she went over to hold to door. He hitched up the strap on his overalls.

“Thankya Miss.” He smiled a toothless smile. “What brings you here so close Christmas?”

“Visiting friends.” She watched him tottering wishing she could help more without injuring his pride. “What was he doing away from home alone? “And you?”

His face fell. “It’s my Johnny. He looked away and suddenly seemed even more fragile than before. “Johnny was my good boy. Always helped me and done good in school growing up. He went off to Nashville and got himself singing some records and was doing real good, but he started drinking. At first it wasn’t bad, but he got worse, and worse. Never came home anymore. I am going to see him now. They called yesterday and told me he’s gone. I cain’t believe it. I guess he figured he lost everything else, he might as well lose himself. I cain’t believe it. My Johnny.”

Calley helped him to a chair and sat down beside him. He clutched her hand. “Gal, you get yourself a boy like my Johnny used to be. Find yourself a good man and stick by him. Every man needs a good woman, Johnny didn’t have none.” The old man drifted away into his memories.

Calley sat back. She knew now what she would do. Strange that this would show her. She couldn’t imagine Gareth killing himself, or even drinking, but that wasn’t what mattered, what mattered was her undeniable love for him. “Thankyou sir.” She squeezed his hand. “I am sorry about your Johnny.” She stared into his old eyes, then stood and hurried to her mother and sister.

“Mom.” She shook her head. “He showed me, and I know I’ve got to go to Gareth now.”

“What honey?”

“God gave me my answer. I can’t go with you to Quint’s. I need to find Gareth before it’s too late.”

Sarah stared at her, but Ruth nodded. “Then you go, and my prayers and blessings go with you.”

Calley fingered her necklace. She still wore the one her father had given her, she rarely took it off, but now it looked like something was missing. She dug through her carry on bag andlocated her travel jewelry case. In the bottom compartment she found the locket Gareth had won and threaded it onto the chain with the roper. Somehow, she thought Gareth and her father fit together. Her father’s death had left an aching void in her heart, but Gareth had filled it out and made the pain bearable. She was next in line at thecar rental center. Soon she would be on her way to find him.

It was late in the afternoon the next day when Calley drove the last miles to the Balleman ranch. Her knock at the door was answered by a small woman with eyes like Gareth's. “Mrs. Balleman?” The woman nodded. “My name’s Calley Thomas. I need to talk to Gareth.”

Mrs. Balleman nodded. “He’d working in the corral behind the stables. “He shouldn’t be hard to find.”

Calley nodded as she was already running in the direction she had pointed. She rounded the corned of the building and slowed to a walk. Gareth was working a black mare on a lunge rope. He saw her and slowed the horse then continued the workout soon bringing the horse to a walk to him, then he clipped off the lead and came toward her. His shirt was wet with sweat and clung to his chest in spite of the December chill.

He paused a moment then climbed the fence and took a seat on the top rail near where she leaned on it. “You’re here.” He said after several minutes.

“Yes.” She nodded. “I came to ask you to forgive me. To forgive me for the things I said, for the way I acted last time I saw you, and for lying to you.” Gareth could never take her father’s place, but he was seeping into the hidden corridors of her heart that she thought she had closed off from everyone.

“You know I forgive you.” He said, “Even though I am not totally sure what for.”

She spoke softly. “I made you believe that I didn’t love you, and that I never could. That was a lie.”

He slipped down and stood facing her. “You mean?”

“I mean that if you still want me, if you still care, I am ready.”

“If I still care!” He breathed deeply and tenderly traced the path of a tear down her cheek with his thumb. “I will always love you.”

The End

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Author's Notes:

Ah... the ending. -wipes her eyes- the torture is over! I hope you enjoyed the story and I hope you will check out some of my morecurrent work! Input is always appreciated and I do try to return the read and review favor!

Thank you!

Miss K Ree