“Yes,” Rainy smiled. “Everything is fine.”
“I’ll see that,” the woman looked down at the envelope, “Nathan Draper gets this as soon as possible.”
A half an hour later Nathan turned up on the back porch once more walking up the stairs to confront the entire Smythe family.
“Thank you for seeing me,” he drawled. “I didn’t think you’d want to see me again.”
“Well, I for one don’t, but Rainy insisted.” Mrs. Smythe glared at the cowboy who towered over her.
“Nathan,” Rainy spoke over her mother. “I have been thinking about what you said earlier, and though I don’t think I can ever trust you, I will let you meet Lucas, but under one condition.” She turned her smoky blue eyes on him, pinning him to the spot with a sense of resolve that rocked him to his heels.
Nathan looked around the porch trying to spot the boy, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“He’s with Anne in our room, but she’ll bring him down at mealtime, and you can meet him then, but only if you agree to my rules.”
Nathan looked from Rainy to Mr. and Mrs. Smythe. That latter of whom was still shooting invisible daggers at him with her eyes. “Whatever you want,” Nathan said, steeling himself for the conditions.
“I will not tell Lucas that you are his father. You will be my friend that is all.”
Nathan felt a hole open up in his chest as each word struck home. Rainy wouldn’t let him meet his son as a father. Inside he wanted to rebel, to shout no and rage, but a sudden silent tug toward peace had him nodding. “It’s your call Rainy,” he said the sorrow still raw. “If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.”
“You’d better not mess this up,” Mrs. Smythe stepped up wagging her finger in Nathan’s face. “If you say one thing,” she balled up a small hand and smacked him in the ribs, satisfied at the breath that rushed from his lungs. “I promise you’ll regret it if you mess up.”
“Dana,” Owen Smythe placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder pulling her back and wrapping an arm around her.
“I’m not letting him hurt my girl again,” Dana sniffed. “And Lucas doesn’t need a deadbeat dad. He has all of us to love him.”
Each word was a harder blow than the tap of Mrs. Smythe’s fist on his rib cage, but Nathan knew that he deserved it. His heart had been renewed, but the sins of the past, the imperfections of his choices still had to be dealt with.
“Now that that is decided I suggest we go to lunch.” Rainy looked up again the familiar features before her warming her to her toes. “Do you have any questions?”
Nathan shook his head. “I’ll follow your lead.”
Rainy turned on her heel, her mother falling into step behind her as they entered the noisy dining area through the back door.
“Nate,” Mr. Smythe's calm voice stopped Nathan before he took a step. “Rainy seems to think you deserve this chance. I don’t know. Some say that a body can change, but it will take a lot to convince me. You hurt my girl once don’t do it again. It took her too long to put the pieces of her heart back together the first time.”
Nathan nodded looking up and meeting the older man’s gaze boldly. “Yes, sir.” He replied. “I want you to know that I am changed, but it isn’t in my own strength. My grandfather passed away last year and left me questioning the meaning of life. I found Jesus, and that is the only power that can save or change a man’s soul.”
Chapter 10
Nathan followed Rainy and her family to a table where Anne sat chatting with the little boy in the big hat. The blonde woman shot him a scathing look but didn’t say anything.
“Lucas, I would like you to meet an old friend of mine.” Rainy’s voice shook slightly but she glued a smile to her lips and turned to Nathan. “This is Nathan, I knew him when I was in school.”
The little boy turned on the bench, his legs dangling above the floor and met Nathan’s eyes. “You’re the tow-boy that made my mommy cry,” he scowled. “I don’t like you anymore.” Lucas folded his arms over his chest and glared.
“Nathan didn’t mean to make Mommy cry.” Rainy squatted in front of her son and patted his leg. “I was just surprised is all.”
Lucas looked between his mother and the tall man standing behind her uncertain if he should relent. “You don’t make my mommy cry no more,” he finally declared.
“I won’t make your mommy cry anymore,” Nathan breathed the promise to heaven as a vow. This was going to be even harder than he had first thought, and he wondered if he would have the strength to see it through. Only resting in God’s strength would he be able to prove to Rainy that he had changed that he could be a part of his son’s life.
“Can we eat now?” Lucas swiveled around to face the table once more, changing like the weather after a summer storm.
“We can eat now,” Rainy smiled, stepping over the bench and taking a seat as she indicated that Nathan could sit next to Anne across from her. “Did you have fun with Kadence today?”
“Yep!” the boy enthused. “His daddy took us for a ride in the big wagon. It’s huge!”
Rainy laughed completely absorbed in her son’s description of his day. Her whole body turned to Lucas, her eyes intent as she listened to each word and something turned in Nathan’s heart again. At one time the beautiful woman had looked at him that way. Her brilliant gaze and bright spirit focused on him. He had squandered that, but now, he had a chance to make things right.
“Would you like to go for a ride with your mother?” Nathan spoke before thinking. “I
