Molly brought me a nice slice of butterscotch pie. It seemed like forever since I put a fork into a piece of one of her pies. What could be better? Hot coffee, a piece of pie, and my gal sitting next to me? Maybe that was the problem. I was just getting too comfortable.
We were sitting there and I told her of what took place up in Silverton. “I’m glad he was gone Miles. I would hate for you to arrest him, no matter what he may have done.”
I nodded at her and took a sip while she continued. “And he even gave you a message. Do you think he is really headed for California or just said that to add more confusion?”
Looking up I saw Willis pass through the doorway. Seems he is always bringing me bad news and I think it might be the person that was with him. They came right over to the table and interrupted my coffee sipping.
“Mister Forrest, this here’s Mr. Bartholomew from the Denver office.”
He reached out his hand, but I had my cup in my right hand and didn’t feel the need to put it down. I glanced at Molly and she gave me one of her famous scowls. “Have a seat. Either of you gents want some coffee?”
They both nodded, so I got up to get a couple of cups. I wasn’t ready to offer them a piece of pie, but then Molly went and spoiled it with her generosity. “Mister Bartholomew, Willis, could I offer you a piece of butterscotch pie?”
“Coffee’s good for me, but thank you…Mrs. Forrest?”
I was some relieved, when Willis blurted out. “I’d sure be obliged for a piece of your pie.”
I handed each of them their coffee when Bartholomew asked. “Do you have any cream and sugar? This coffee looks very strong.”
“It’s up on the counter over there,” I said curtly. Cream and sugar, what else will he want? I wasn’t about to get up when Molly came back from the kitchen with Willis’ pie and said that she would get it for him.
“I’ll get right down to it Mr. Forrest. The Denver office of Wells Fargo is quite concerned over your handling of the murder that was committed by this Trenton fellow. And…”
I cut him off. “You sound as if he has already been tried, and there’s no evidence to show that he did it, or that he was even on that train.”
He didn’t like it that I cut him off. “Nevertheless, he was a friend of yours and there is reason to believe that you let him go.”
That did it. I stood up and let go with a punch to his nose. If I have to punch that where I like to hit. It doesn’t hurt my hand as much and it sure does all kinds of damage to the person: watery eyes, blood spurting. Almost made me not notice the ache in my hand.
“I don’t know where you’re from, but out here we don’t take lightly when a person’s name and honor is impugned. A less patient man than myself might have just shot you.”
Molly had rushed to the kitchen to get a towel for his nose. As she gave it to him, I continued. “Now, if you would like to continue your conversation I’ll listen.”
The nose stopped bleeding in short order, but it had dripped into his coffee. I wasn’t about to offer him a fresh cup. “The office wants you to go after this Trenton or it will deem it necessary to relieve you of your position.”
“Hmmmm, now let me see if I’ve got this right. I’m to go to California to look for Trenton or I’ll lose my job? California is a big place and if he’s a few weeks ahead of me he could be gone from San Francisco before I even get there.”
I decided to take a pause and eat another bite. I noticed that Willis had already finished his. “Why not have the Wells Fargo people in California look for him?”
“You know what he looks like,” came the reply.
“If this is the Trenton I know, he has one eye. Seems like those agents in California could be lookin’ for that. Don’t seem to reason that there would be many walkin about with only one eye.”
“Mister Bartholomew, you tell the higher ups back in Denver that if Trenton is apprehended then I’ll go fetch him back.”
Month: April 2017
Echoes from the Campfire
Regrets are not actions.”
–Loren D. Estleman (The Hider)
“Do not go out to the fields or walk on the roads, for the enemy has a sword, and there is terror on every side.”
–Jeremiah 6:25 (NLT)
The Daily Paine
Much of our religion has become godless and has degenerated into a mere matter of attitudes, opinions, ideas and actions.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“Wanting someone without a commitment to that someone is always one step away from hate.”
–Ravi Zacharias
Some call this day, Resurrection Monday. That’s an okay term, but then tomorrow is Resurrection Tuesday and so on. Since that triumphant Sunday, everyday is a resurrection day until He returns. But here is a question that needs to be answered. What are you doing about it now?
Jesus said to obey His commandments if we love Him, yet so many try to walk so close to that line. Do we fail to forget the lesson from Judas? He was with the Lord most every day for three years and yet He failed to recognize the importance of realizing that keeping His commandments was from the heart. Try to warn someone of a lifestyle and they will cry, “Legalism.” Or, “who are you to judge?” Some even take it to the postmodern extent, “In my opinion, this is not what Jesus meant.”
But, if we are not taking Jesus’ words to heart, can we really believe in a resurrection? Jesus said as the Father had sent Him so He is sending us. Maybe I should ask, where is He sending us? It might just be your workplace. Then I hear the sound, “Oh, they won’t let me witness there. I’ll get fired.” Hmmm, what a dilemma. The voice of the boss versus the voice of the Lord. However, do not despair, there are many ways to witness.
Perhaps, after your encounter with Christ, you simply decide to go fishing. That is what several of the disciples did. They had seen the Lord, talked with Him, but He was gone someplace else to they decided to go fishing. Let me digress to yesterday, current year. Does it make a difference what we wear when we are with the Lord? After all, He just sees the heart, or…. We have come along way from dressing our best when we meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Now, go back to the disciples fishing. “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, an swam ashore.” (John 21:7, NLT) For some reason Peter didn’t want to appear before the Lord naked.
I could mention others and wonder about them. Nicodemus, what was he doing? Annas and Caiaphas, when they heard of the resurrection, what were their thoughts? Lazarus, Martha, and the list could go on. Right now, the important thing is, what are we doing since the Resurrection?
“Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said.”
–John 21:16 (NLT)
Coffee Percs
I smell the hot coffee;
It floats on the wind.”
–Red Steagall
Gray light already, goodness pard, I’m movin’ slow this mornin’. Bones are a achin’, hmmm, maybe rain comin’ our way. But I heard the sound of coffee bein’ poured into a cup. Ever listen to it? There is somethin’ that makes the soul anticipate when they hear that sound. There is a promise in that sound. I read somewhere that “The sound of coffee is the sound of life, a herald’s call to a brighter future.” Then comes the taste, ahhh, yep, sure ‘nough the day’s goin’ to be brighter.
Makes me ponder that Saturday so long ago. The disciples had lost their good friend, their Master. They had heard the promises, but they dwelt mostly on the events of the crucifixion. Don’t we do the same? We dwell so much on the troubles of the day and forget to look up. The wars, the terror, and the thought of what might happen tomorrow worries us into a frenzy at times, but pard, He told us when these things come about to look up–redemption draws nigh.
So when we hear these things we should heed the promise of the One who was in the tomb, but rose in victory. That Saturday was a dark day, for they forgot all of the promises. Let’s not get numb with life and do the same. Coffee? Sure pard. Let me pour you another cup, and just listen to that sound.
The promise is always there and will be fulfilled so don’t get weary with the things of the world. You go gettin’ your mind on other things and might forget to tighten that cinch. Remember, He is risen!