Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind.” –Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT)
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“It was a grand day!” I announced solemnly.
“Yes, it was, thank the good Lord,” agreed Pastor Chapman. “Whenever we work for the kingdom it is a grand day.”
There came a chuckle from Charlie, “Now don’t you go preachifying to us, Parson. One sermon a week is enough.” That brought a laugh from all of us around the table. Our little group met after church on Sunday to eat the leftovers from Thanksgiving and to discuss how the day went. No elk stew was left but there was enough venison chili to go around feeding all of Mateo’s family, Charlie’s, Doc and Edith, Preacher Chapman and his wife, along with Molly and myself. Molly had a couple of mincemeat pies hidden that she had made yesterday, and of course, the coffee was on.
I looked at the crew, and then my eyes went to one newcomer. “Copper, you did a right fine job. How’re you feelin’?”
He smiled at the remark then answered, “Doin’ fine, a little tired, but, uh, Marshal, can I ask a favor? Please call me Boyd, or Finegan. Copper was part of my old life and as the Preacher-man said, old things have passed away, all things have become new.”
Nodding at him, I held out the coffeepot, “Want a refill?”
Copper, or now Finegan, willingly held out his cup.
The group was growing, growing up. There was no one in the jail, so Mateo locked it up so Lucas could be with us. Why, just a few years ago, he was working around town doing odd jobs, and now, my land, he was a full-fledged deputy marshal. There were smiles on everyone’s faces and I’m not sure that it was because of the pie, but from the joy of the Lord.
Doc held out his cup, “Go ahead, give me some more of that hideous stuff.”
I was in the midst of pouring when there came a banging on the door. I stopped mid-pour to look at Molly who had gotten up to go answer. “Hold on, let me get it!” I didn’t want her to answer the door not knowing who it could be. After all, from my experience there have been some mighty strange, rough, and evil people enter through that doorway.
My hand was on my pistol, ready to pull it if need be. I opened the door. “My mercy, what in the world…”