People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.” –Ecclesiastes 5:15 (NLT)
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We had just finished a fine diner with Reverend and Betty Chapman after church services. She prepared a wonderful fried chicken dinner along with pickled beets and baked beans. She profusely apologized for not having any potatoes, but the season was past and they didn’t have any in their root cellar. Molly was the pie baker, but Betty Chapman was known for her cakes and she outdid herself with a chocolate cake of which we were now partaking in the living room.
“Miles, I hope my coffee suits you. I know you like it strong. I don’t make it often as I prefer tea,” she paused to look over at Molly. “Would you care for a cup of tea or would you prefer coffee?”
“I don’t often make tea just for myself, so if you don’t mind I share your tea. Oh, and I might say, that’s an exquisite tea set.”
“You’re kind,” replied Betty. “It belong to my mother who died just before we left St. Louis to come here.”
Now, I don’t mind a cup of tea now and then, but I do prefer my coffee. I could see the Parson watching me as I took my first sip. He was grinning so I reckoned I should say something. “Not bad, Betty, not bad at all. I can drink this.”
She gave a little chortle, “So you can drink it.”
“It goes well with this delicious cake,” I quickly added.
“Well done, well done, Miles,” enjoined the Parson. “Now what it this I hear about a new position?”
I quickly finished the cake, then held my cup out to be refilled which brought a smile from Betty. I took a sip, to wash the rest of the cake down my throat. “That’s what I want to talk with you about. It’s with the Colorado Rangers and I would be in charge of this district.”
“So what do you want from me?” he asked. “It seems that a door is open. Why are you hesitant to step through it?”
Glancing over at Molly I answered him, “Well, it will take me away from home more often, but not as long. As a marshal I could be away for longer periods. This would be a circuit similar to what a sheriff does with the county.”
Rev. Chapman looked over at Molly. “And what do you think?”
She sighed before answering, “I have the same concerns as Miles. The pay is steady, but knowing him he would take it seriously,” she paused to smile at me. “Overall, I think he would be home more.”
Laughing, I interrupted, “I should have partnered in with Lot Smith with the wild horse business when I had the opportunity.”
“Miles,” began the preacher, “we don’t live in the past with regrets, but look to what the Lord has for us in the future. I hesitate to say anything for if it doesn’t work out I don’t want you saying that the Rev. Chapman told me to do this or that.”
We all chuckled, but I told him that he had no worry regarding that. Since he was our pastor we thought we should run the idea by him. “One other thing, I could be called to Denver once in a while, something that I don’t relish. For sure whenever there is an election of governor.”
“I will say this…there is a door open and the Word of God says that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by him. However…”