A Marshal's Promise Read online

  “Yeah, I know. But don’t be. Our conversation went well. They’re thrilled about Tessa. I’ve never seen them move so fast. Mom challenged Dad to a race to the cafeteria. Worse than kids.” He laughed at the image, reassured with their reaction.

  “Can I bring you anything, Gunner? Would you like some coffee? Or ice cream? Chad insisted on buying Tessa an ice cream cone.”

  “Not right now, thanks. Maybe later. Save some chocolate-covered peanuts for me?”

  She laughed. “You’ve got it. Oops, I better go. George and Emily just barreled through the cafeteria doors with open arms. You were right when you said they were running. I’ve got to rescue Tessa from her ice cream cone. I’m afraid it will end up smashed against her chest or your mother’s.”

  Chuckling, Gunner disconnected and set off in the direction of his brother’s room.

  Would Mark survive long enough to meet his daughter? Would Gunner have an opportunity to mend their rift and to share his love for the Lord with him?

  Lord, please don’t let it be too late!

  22

  Gunner hadn’t seen this many tubes or wires connected to any living being before. And he’d been in plenty of hospital rooms.

  He pushed the door open farther and stepped into the room, wincing as he passed the bathroom, trying to ignore the lingering odor of medicines and bedpans that smacked him in the nose.

  Mark.

  Gunner sucked in a breath at the bandages covering his brother’s face, the skin once so vibrant and alive, now pale. Machines beeped while computers flashed lines and numbers.

  A nurse finished taking Mark’s temperature and flashed him a quizzical look.

  “Gunner Chapel. Mark’s brother.”

  “Ah.” She smiled. “You just missed the doctor. She got called away but will be back in a few minutes to go over Mark’s progress.” With that, the nurse left and closed the door behind her.

  Progress? That sounded good. Real good. Thank You, Lord!

  He scooted one of two chairs closer to the bed.

  Mark remained motionless, the monitors still emitting intermittent beeps.

  Gunner pulled up the Bible app on his phone and scrolled to the passage rifling through his head. He started reading. “‘When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the Son of Man that You care for him?’”

  “Am I dead?”

  The hoarse croak startled Gunner. He glanced up from the screen to find his brother’s swollen eyes fixed on him. “Do I look like an angel?”

  One side of Mark’s lips slid upwards in a half smile, half grimace.

  “Can I get you anything? Some water?”

  “Nah.” Mark closed his eyes again.

  Gunner refused to miss this opportunity. “Mark. There are a couple of people I want to introduce you to.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I don’t think I’m up to meeting anybody right now.” His brother’s voice sounded groggy, half-awake.

  The time might not ever get any better than now. “Yeah. Well, you look about as good as you usually do.”

  A croak came from his brother’s throat.

  He needed to start with the most important One. He said a silent prayer for the right words to share. “Do you know Jesus, Mark?”

  Silence.

  “A friend of mine introduced me to Him. You know He loves you. He wants you to be with Him. Forever. All you have to do is ask.”

  “Ask…what?”

  “Ask Him to forgive you. For every wrong thing you have ever done. For every sinful thought that’s flitted through your head. Tell Him that you’re sorry and ask Him to come into your life. To take over your heart. To fill you up with His love. His presence.”

  Still silence. The beeps on the machine sounded louder with every passing second. Had Mark gone back to sleep?

  Gunner waited.

  A single tear slid down Mark’s left cheek and stopped when it hit a bandage. “I’ve done…so…many…bad things.”

  “You’re not the only one, little brother. I had my share to confess. But just so you know, God has an awfully big eraser.”

  Mark opened one eye. “You did this?”

  Gunner nodded. “Yeah.”

  “When?”

  “About six months ago. I was heading out to find you next week to tell you all about it.”

  Mark closed his eyes again, moaned.

  “Do you want some water?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want me to get the nurse?”

  “No.”

  These ‘no’ answers were becoming a bit monotonous. Maybe Gunner should shake him up a bit. “Would you like to meet your daughter?”

  Mark’s swollen eyes snapped open to stare at Gunner. Mark snorted, but he couldn’t fool Gunner. He saw the telltale twitching of Mark’s jaw. “Who?”

  “Your daughter. Mina’s daughter.”

  ****

  Willow put an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and pulled her tight. Gunner had just called and asked them to come up to the waiting room. George and Emily had headed back upstairs a good thirty minutes ago. “Tessa. I won’t leave you if you don’t want me to. I know this has been a lot to take in.”

  Tessa didn’t seem to have a problem with meeting Mark.

  Willow did.

  “I’m fine, Mom. I can’t believe I finally get to meet my dad. I mean, I actually have a dad. And grandparents! This is totally cool.” Tessa pulled out of Willow’s tight hold to dance and clap her hands.

  Okay. So Tessa was exuberant.

  Gunner’s friend flashed her a sympathetic look. “Are you ready?”

  “Sure.” Willow scooped up their trash from the cafeteria table. “Chad, I’m sorry Gunner asked you to hang out with us all afternoon. I’m sure you have a ton of other things you could be doing. But we appreciate it.”

  He held the lid to the garbage can open while she deposited their trash. “Listen. Any time I’ve ever needed Gunner, he’s always there, no questions, no complaints. We have each other’s backs because that’s what friends do, right?”

  Friends? Only Regi would ever spend hours waiting in a hospital cafeteria with her. And Willow didn’t know a soul who would drop their plans for the day to shuttle her and Tessa—by plane—halfway across the United States.

  Tears pricked her eyes as she smiled her gratitude.

  “Come on, squirt.” Chad held the door open for Tessa, who had her head down playing a game on Willow’s old phone.

  They made their way to the elevator. Chad mashed the button, then turned to Willow. “I’m going to miss him. I’ve never worked with anybody quite like Gunner before.”

  I’m going to miss him. Willow could relate. She rested an arm around Tessa’s shoulders. “He’s definitely one of a kind.”

  “Have you guys known each other long?”

  “Ten years.” Let the marshal draw his own conclusions. The elevator door opened, and they stepped in.

  Chad’s startled eyes fastened on her, then his expression shuttered. His lips curled up on one side. “I’ve never known Gunner to keep female friends around that long. You must be pretty special.”

  Heat raced up her neck and flamed her cheeks. “Um…”

  He flashed a sheepish grin. “That didn’t sound right, did it?”

  “I’m not sure I…” The door opened. They stepped into the hall leading to the Progressive Care Unit.

  “Let me clarify. Gunner used to be that way. Not anymore. Never even looks at a woman in that way, as far as I can tell.” Chad blinked and shook his head. As if he’d already said too much. “But, then, this is his story. I should let him tell you about it.”

  He gestured toward the cluster gathered further down the hall. Gunner huddled around his parents, talking to the doctor. Tears streamed down Emily’s face.

  Willow’s stomach clenched. Were they too late? Or were t
hose happy tears?

  Gunner spotted them. He opened his arms, and Willow and Tessa stepped into his embrace. He made her feel warm and protected, wanted. She was glad they came.

  “Thanks, Chad. I owe you one.” Gunner’s voice rumbled against her head where he rested his jaw.

  “No, you don’t. I’m glad I could help.”

  Tessa appeared on her other side, tapped her arm and lifted anguished eyes. “Mom, when can I see him?”

  “Just a second, honey. Let’s wait to hear what Gunner says.” Willow glanced sideways and noticed the deep pockets under his eyes. Why had she acted like such a baby and thrown a fit, keeping him so long from getting to the hospital? Why hadn’t she been supportive of his need to see his brother after he told her about the accident? His brother could have died!

  Chad pressed a hand to Gunner’s back. “Take care of these two pretty ladies. Call me before you head back out, and we’ll get together. And next time make sure Regi comes along.”

  Gunner grinned at his friend, nodded. “You got it.”

  As the other marshal walked away, Gunner knelt in front of Tessa, cupped her shoulders and studied her face. “Sweetheart, are you ready to meet your father?”

  Tessa nodded.

  “You know he was in a car accident. You’re going to see a bunch of tubes and wires and hear a lot of beeping noises. His face was banged up pretty bad. I don’t want you to be scared. He doesn’t normally look like this.”

  Tessa nodded again, her wide, brown eyes a mirror image of the man in front of her. “Is he going to die?”

  Gunner’s glance skirted to his parents, a few yards away still chatting with the doctor.

  Emily pressed a tissue against her eyes, and George shook hands with the doctor.

  Gunner locked moist eyes with Tessa. “We don’t know, sweetheart. But what he wants most of all right now is to meet you. To say he’s sorry for all the lost years.”

  Willow didn’t bother trying to stop the tears that slid down her cheeks or the sob that broke from her chest. How could Gunner be so sweet after she had been so ugly? Chad was right. Gunner had changed.

  He extended back to his full height and held out his arms. Willow stepped into them, knowing in her heart that this is where she wanted to be. In his arms. Forever.

  He let her cry. After her tears dried up, he cupped both her cheeks with his palms. “It’s going to be okay.”

  She held on to his waist, nodded, and managed a weak smile. “I know.”

  This wasn’t the Gunner she remembered. This wasn’t the Gunner who’d caused her so much pain. This version was better.

  Oh, so much better.

  23

  “Gunner?” Mina’s voice sounded muffled amid all the commotion at Jungle Janie’s Pizza Parlor.

  Gunner scooped another slice of meat lovers pizza from the pedestal, but his gaze was trained on Tessa and another girl playing arcade games in the corner of the restaurant. Along with a gazillion other kids.

  “Hmm?” He took a sip of soda, chased by a healthy bite of pizza. This was so much better than the hospital cafeteria.

  A gentle touch landed on his arm. “Was it just me or did Mark seem even more alert today?”

  He swallowed past the giant lump in his throat, more from a heart overflowing with gratitude than pizza dough, and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I thought so, too.”

  She dipped her head. When she looked back up, regret filled her eyes. “I’m sorry for causing you so much grief about coming to see Mark, and for making you wait so long.”

  “No worries, sweetheart. It all worked out.” And it had.

  After two days, the bruises were lightening on Mark’s face. He seemed to grow stronger every time he opened his eyes, and he’d definitely talked more today.

  “It did, didn’t it? I’m so proud of Tessa.” Her smile reminded him of summer and sunshine. Such a stark contrast to the steely gray sky and temperature hovering around forty outside.

  Tessa? Gunner couldn’t decide who he was more proud of, Tessa or Mina. “Tessa wasn’t the only amazing one.”

  “I agree. I thought you were pretty great.”

  He shook his head slightly to clear the cobwebs. Had she just said he was pretty great? “Me?”

  “Yeah. The way you talked to Mark about forgiveness. And salvation.”

  He thought about that for a minute, recalling the exact moment last night when Mark had accepted Christ. Had that been the turning point for his brother?

  Everything else was a blur.

  “I’m glad I could honestly tell him that I forgave him.” Mina stared straight ahead but her voice sounded far away.

  “So am I, sweetheart.” Gunner glanced over at the girls. Still playing. He leaned over and kissed Mina’s temple. “That will have to last until later. When I can do better.”

  She smiled and looked down at her plate. She picked up the wedge and raised it halfway to her mouth. “I’ll count on it.”

  He took another chunk out of the pizza.

  “Gunner. You know I forgave you a long time ago.”

  He dropped the slice and tomato sauce splattered the plate. Emotions hammered at his head. Happiness, that she’d actually forgiven him. Regret, that he’d hurt her terribly.

  Gulp. He lowered his head, turned away slightly. Didn’t want her to see the moisture suddenly accumulating around his eyes.

  “I was mad at first. Angry. Hurt. Angry all over again. But I forgave you.”

  “I’m sorry, Mina. I never want to hurt you again. Or Tessa.” He forced the words past the dough lodged in his throat.

  “I know, Gunner. Even Tessa said that. Thank you for taking such good care of us.”

  “Tessa said what?”

  “She doesn’t know any details of our past relationship. But she said that you would never hurt me now.”

  “She said that?”

  Mina nodded.

  Gunner looked over to where Tessa played. Pride welled up in his chest. He swiped his face with a sleeve then took a gulp of soda.

  Mina tapped her fingernails lightly on the table. Something was on her mind. “I’m thinking of making a career change.”

  He sputtered, grabbed a napkin and covered his mouth to keep the soda from spewing all over the table. Was she kidding?

  Turning sideways on the bench, he met her contemplative look. Apparently not. Gunner tossed the dirty napkin on the table. “I thought your boss caved when he heard about Mark’s accident? That he approved you taking a few more days off?”

  “He did. Under duress. But that’s not why.”

  “Okay. Why?”

  “You know how I used to suggest that you go for a second college major?”

  “Yeahhhh.” Where was she going with this? He did a quick check on the girls. They sat in front of the giant ball pit, taking off their shoes. Still playing happily together.

  “Well, I think I figured it out. It wasn’t you. Your job. It was me. My job.”

  Huh? His head was spinning. “Your job? What are you talking about, Mina?”

  “What have I been trying to do since I was about fourteen years old?”

  That was easy. “Get close to your father.”

  She nodded, her lips set in a grim line. “Ever since Mom and Jason were killed and my father shipped me off to boarding school, I’ve tried everything I could to impress him. To find ways to get him to pay attention to me.”

  Gunner’s gut clenched. His children would never suffer like Mina had. If Gunner had his choice in the matter, Tessa wouldn’t suffer that way, either. He would make it up to both of them. “That’s totally understandable, Mina.”

  “Nothing worked. Not the good grades. Not the awards for academic achievement. Not making it into his beloved alma mater. Not even working in his firm. Nothing.”

  Gunner took her hand when she grew silent, surrounded by the noise of children playing and laughing, and coins clinking through arcade machines.

  “So you can understand why
I chose the accounting profession?”

  “Absolutely. It’s in your genes. All that math.”

  She shook that cute little head of hers, curls bouncing. “No, Gunner. It’s not something that comes naturally, like painting. It’s not even something I really like to do. I chose this profession because of my father. Wanting another way to connect with him.”

  No surprise there for him. But probably a huge revelation for Mina. “Did it work?”

  Tears glistened in her eyes but, brave woman that she was, she refused to let them trek down her cheeks. She cocked her head to one side and managed a weak smile.

  Good thing he was sitting down. His legs would have given out had he been standing. With just one look, she still managed to keep him off balance, his heart beating irregularly.

  “No. Other than paying the bills and keeping a decent roof over our heads, the only thing my job has accomplished is putting my daughter’s life in danger.”

  Speaking of Tessa! Gunner whirled back to glance at Tessa and caught her staring back. He grinned.

  Tessa smiled, then tugged on her friend’s arm to move on, her small fingers gripping her shoes.

  “I’m going to make a trip back up here at Christmas—”

  Yeah! He knew they could make this work!

  “—to see my father.”

  Uh, would you rewind that, please? Did she just say she was making a return trip to see her father? Where was the justice? Maybe Mina’s heart wasn’t as tuned in to his as he thought. “Um, do you think maybe you could squeeze in a visit to good ole Gunner here, too, while you’re in the area and all?”

  Laughing, she swatted him on the arm, mischief curving those sweet lips. “You nut. Of course, we’d visit you. Seeing you would be the highlight of our trip.”

  “Ah, Mina. You do my heart good. But, come on. Play fair. Flirting isn’t allowed in a restaurant full of a hundred kids and their families.”

  She nestled against his arm. He planted a kiss on the top of her head, hands itching to roam through that wavy hair, his lips aching to make contact with hers.