First Street Church: Love's Double Blessing (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Clear Creek Legacy Book 2) Read online

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  Chapter 1

  Riel Shepard couldn’t wait to see his fiancée, Jenna McDowell. He'd spent a week in Denver at a hands-on saddle making workshop and he missed Jenna. They'd talked in the evenings, and even texted during breaks in the class, but it wasn't the same as seeing Jenna every day on Riel's grandfather's Cooper Ranch, where they both lived and worked.

  Riel, released last summer from the military because of medical issues, had visited his parents, Bryce and Patty Shepard, in Kansas, then drove down to Sweet Grove, Texas to visit his maternal grandfather, Russ Cooper.

  The visit ended up as a permanent move, thanks to his grandpa deeding his ranch to Riel, and the legacy box which had been passed down to him from an ancestor. Riel's full name was Gabriel Reuben Shepard, the same as his 1800s ancestor, a saddle maker in Clear Creek, Kansas. Because Riel was the first in the family to have the name Gabriel again, he was given his ancestor's leather tools.

  The tools had been a godsend. Gabriel's foot was blown off by an IED in Afghanistan, leaving him with physical and mental problems. He had no clue what he was going to do with his life until he held his ancestor's leather tools in his hands. The box of tools gave him the will to look forward to the future and a new way to make a living.

  And that future was with Jenna, a thirty-five-year-old widow who overcame her own set of problems. A year ago, Jenna came back from Dallas destitute after paying off her deceased husband's outstanding bills and lawsuits. Jenna was a former neighbor to his grandpa when she was young, so he offered her a small salary plus room and board to take care of the few livestock still on the place, and to cook meals and clean house for him.

  Together Riel and Jenna healed from their pasts, with the help of the veteran's counseling group at the Sweet Grove church, family, friends, and their love of dogs.

  Riel had asked Jenna to marry him and she'd accepted. His grandpa had given Riel his grandmother's engagement and wedding rings to pass on to Jenna, and he and Jenna both loved the sentiment and love that went with the rings.

  Now, besides remodeling the ranch house for them, and the bunkhouse for his grandfather, they were planning a December wedding.

  Riel's life was finally settling down as was his PTSD, and he looked forward to his future with Jenna.

  Riel slowed his truck as he passed the boundary of their ranch. Most of the ranch was leased to a neighbor for grazing cattle, but they kept eighty acres behind the barn for their two horses, a few steers, and a small flock of sheep to pasture in.

  Jenna raised Australian cattle dogs so needed a few livestock to train the dogs. This was a new venture for Jenna, so they were both starting over together with new professions.

  Riel was a quarter mile from the driveway when he saw Jenna's red pickup pull out and drive the other way toward town. Shoot. He was going to have to wait until she returned home to kiss her and tell her about the fantastic week he'd had.

  Riel continued home, enjoying the view of the newly painted red barn, white pipe fences and the century old stone ranch house. The place looked neglected when he arrived last summer. Being outside to paint and repair the buildings had given his body and mind the work it needed to heal.

  He pulled into his usual spot beside the house, took his duffel bag out of the back of the trunk, and walked into the house to find his grandpa. Riel’s mixed breed puppy, Lucy, and his grandpa’s two dogs, Lucy’s parents, Kelsie and Tanner, and Jenna’s dog, Miss Muffy, raced to greet him. After a happy reunion, Riel, with Lucy by his side, walked on to the house.

  "Hey, Grandpa, I'm home, " Riel called out as he walked into the mud room, anxious to tell him about his week.

  "In the kitchen, Gabriel." Riel followed his grandfather's voice, finding him sitting at the kitchen table, his hands around a cup of coffee and staring at a ring on the table.

  The ring. It was his grandmother's engagement ring he'd given to Jenna.

  Panic hit Gabriel's gut with a swift punch, making him want to double over in pain.

  "Grandpa, what's going on? Why is the ring sitting here instead of on Jenna's finger?"

  He just saw her pulling out of the driveway five minutes ago! Why didn't she wait to talk to him when she knew he was on his way home?

  His grandpa met Riel's eyes, showing sadness and pity for him.

  "I'm sorry, Gabriel. This morning she got a call from the Dallas police department. Good friends of hers, the Sharpes, were killed in an accident last night, so she took off to help their children. The police found a note stating to call Jenna in an emergency.”

  "That's so terrible! Why didn't she wait for me to go with her to Dallas though?"

  "Don't know, but she was in a hurry. Jenna did call her mom, and Sherry is going with her to Dallas."

  "But why did she leave the ring?"

  "I don't know. She was so upset and crying as she told me about the situation. She started to leave, then turned back, pulled off the ring, and left it on the table. Do you know why?"

  Riel stared at the ring, looking dull now after being a sparking symbol of his love and commitment on Jenna's ring finger.

  A thought hit Riel’s gut. Jenna released him of their engagement because, maybe she’d be raising the deceased couple’s children now? Jenna said she and her late husband, Tug, were godparents and listed as guardians to the Sharpe’s two young children.

  And Jenna knew he didn't want children.

  It's not that Riel didn't like children, he did, but not being able to protect one of the village children he'd spent two years with in Afghanistan had destroyed his faith in himself. He couldn't protect the child in his arms that fateful day, so he was afraid he couldn't protect his own children. He knew it was irrational thinking, but that's how his brain worked these days. The thought of bringing a child into this world brought his PTSD out in full force.

  Jenna and her husband hadn't been able to have children in their fifteen-year marriage, and she'd accepted her fate of being childless. Between both their situations, they accepted that children weren’t in God's plans for them.

  Now, becoming an instant guardian had put Jenna in an emotional tailspin.

  "If she was driving over to her parent's now, maybe I can catch them before they leave," Riel told his grandpa as he picked up the ring from the table.

  "God's speed, Son. I can take care of the livestock, so go with Jenna. Just keep me posted."

  "Will do, but I’m sorry we’re leaving you by yourself, Grandpa.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I can call on neighbors if I need help.”

  “Okay.” Riel knelt to pick up his puppy, who tried to crawl on his lap. Both needed time together since they’d been separated all week, but Riel needed to catch Jenna.

  “Sorry, Lucy, you’re going to have to stay with Grandpa.” Riel rubbed his pup’s chin as Lucy groaned with contentment. The two of them could keep this up for ten minutes, but Riel had to leave. Jenna needs his support and he needed answers.

  Riel called Jenna's cell phone as soon a
s he was in the pickup, but she didn't answer.

  Would she answer a text from him? Probably not, so he called Jenna's dad, hoping he could intercept Jenna before she left.

  "Ken, this is Riel. Is Jenna still there?"

  "Jenna and Sherry are in the pickup now, ready to leave."

  "Can you please stop them? I'll be there in a few minutes. Grandpa just told me what happened to her friends."

  "Will do. See you in a little bit."

  Riel raced down the gravel road, sliding as he barely made the corner. Slow down. Jenna doesn't need another accident on her mind.

  He pulled into the Peterson yard and parked his pickup sideways behind Jenna's vehicle, just as she was starting to back out of her parking spot by the house.

  Riel jumped out of his pickup, not bothering to shut his door as he jogged to Jenna's truck.

  "Come on, Jenna. Talk to me," Riel called above the noise of the engine while rapping on the window. Jenna kept her face turned away from the window so all he saw was the long braid of her rust-orange hair. Why wouldn't she face him?

  "Jenna, please!”

  Sherry reached across the seat to put the vehicle in Park, then turned off the key and pulled it out of the ignition before Jenna could react.

  "Mom!" Riel heard Jenna clearly exasperated at her mother's actions.

  "Talk to Riel, Honey. Dad and I will go back in the house and give you some privacy."

  Sherry looked pointedly at Riel then motioned for him to take her place in the vehicle. Riel jumped in and hit the door lock button to keep them in the cab together. Jenna hit the side button to unlock it, and Riel hit it again to lock them in. He'd keep this up until she gave up.

  "Grandpa told me about your friends' accident, Jenna. I'm so sorry." Riel paused hoping she'd speak, but she continued to look out the driver's window. Riel could tell her face was red and puffy from crying. "I guess it made you think of Tug's wreck, didn't it.”?

  "It's been playing over and over in my mind since I got the phone call," she whispered.

  Riel wanted to ask why she didn't turn to him for comfort, but was afraid to ask. Didn't she think she could lean on him for support and comfort? He wanted to tug her to his chest and wipe away her tears.

  Or was it because of the orphaned kids who now needed her to sort through their grief and plan their future?

  "I want to go with you to Dallas, Jenna."

  She shook her head but still didn't turn his way.

  "Why not?"

  "I just think my mom would be better help. You know...with the kids and all."

  "Did the couple have no other family?"

  "No. Both sets of parents had passed and no siblings for either of them.

  "Jim was on the NFL team with Tug. He and his wife Becky were our best friends." Jenna's voice broke into a sob. "They helped me through Tug's funeral and aftermath."

  He and Jenna had talked about her friends, Jim and Becky Sharpe in the past. Jenna and Tug were the godparents, and legal guardians of the Sharpe’s two children, six-year-old Amie and four-year-old RJ.

  "We don't have to talk about that." Jenna squeezed her eyes shut and tears streamed down her cheeks. He wanted to wipe them away but was afraid she'd pull away from him.

  "Jenna. I can handle it. Please tell me." Jenna sighed but didn't open her eyes.

  Riel rubbed his hand down his face. This was their first test of "for better for worse" and they hadn't said their wedding vows yet.

  What would be Pastor Bernie's advice on this? Probably take a deep breath, and think before you speak.

  “Jenna, I love you and we’re about to be married. Please let me help you though this situation. Besides the children, there’s their house, belongings, insurance policies that need to be taken care of.”

  “I left the ring with your grandpa, so you don’t have to help me. We can’t marry now.”

  “Yes, we can still marry, but the ceremony might have to be postponed.”

  “No! I’m going to be raising two children for the rest of their lives and you don’t want children!”

  Riel scooted over in the bench seat, so he could put an arm around her and draw her against his chest. She finally relented and spent the several minutes sobbing against his shoulder. Losing friends after her husband death had made memories fresh again.

  Once her sobs turned to hiccups, Riel opened the glove box of the pickup and pulled out a small package of tissue.

  “I’m not sure how much dust is in this package, but shake a tissue out to give your nose a good blow.”

  She finally looked at Riel while shaking out a tissue. Dust clouded the truck cab, but he didn’t say anything then, or when she blew her nose several times. He’d do anything to get her to calm down and start talking.

  “I can’t believe this has happened,” Jenna whispered after wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “This can’t be God’s plan. Tug was released of his mental terror with his accident, but Becky and Jim?”

  “It makes no sense.” Riel replied as he slowly rubbed her back.

  “My mind kicks into high gear thinking of funeral arrangements, are there insurance policies, what about the house and belongings, etcetera, because I’ve lived that nightmare before. But then thinking about Amie and RJ just…slams my brain shut. How am I going to tell them their parents are gone? What do I do with them? Where do we live?”

  Riel pushed Jenna against his shoulder and prayed, “Father, please guide Jenna and me as we work together for the sake of these two orphans. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.”

  Jenna sat up, staring at Riel. “These children are my responsibility, not yours.”

  Why was she so adamant about this?

  “We’re about to marry, Jenna.”

  Why did she look away instead of up at him? Then it dawned on Riel.

  “It’s my PTSD, isn’t it? You’re worried I’ll hurt the children.”

  Jenna shrugged her shoulders, but then nodded in agreement.

  “I’ll continue in the veteran’s group, and any extra therapy I need, because I want to say my wedding vows to you. Saying ‘for better for worse, in sickness and in health’ means I’ll be there for you and possibly two children, no matter what.

  “I guess you’ll have to decide if you can say the same words to me, and mean you’ll stick by me too, no matter what life throws at us.”

  Jenna still looked out at the window, but nodded to agree.

  Riel got out of the vehicle but turned back to say one more thing.

  “Maybe it’s best that your mom is with you for the first few days in Dallas, but I’ll be at the funeral.”

  Pastor Bernie’s counseling flashed through his head at lightning speed but didn’t seem to give him any answers as to help Jenna. Except one phrase from the wedding vows…for better or worse.

  Jenna was torn with grief right now, but Riel wouldn’t abandon her just because she said to. He’d go to Dallas and stay with Jenna until they brought the children back to the ranch.

  Chapter 2

  Jenna's mother insisted on driving to the outskirts of Dallas, then Jenna took over to navigate the Dallas traffic. At least now her mind had to concentrate on the road instead of the jumble of questions constantly pelting her brain.

  "Do you know if the children were in the car during the accident?" her mother asked.

  "Oh my gosh! I didn't ask, and the officer didn’t say anything about that. What if they're hurt, Mom?"

  "We'll deal with it. Just keep praying for strength and wisdom."

  Right now, Jenna couldn't pray. How could this have happened to such a wonderful couple, with two adorable children?

  Jenna and Tug met Jim and Becky Sharpe when they'd first moved to Dallas and become fast friends, doing something together every week, even if it was just meeting at one or the other's house for a meal. If Jim wasn't available, Jenna went to doctor appointments with Becky when the woman was pregnant with both children. Jenna and Tug had been honorary aunt and uncle t
o Amie and RJ.

  "There's the social services office on the right side of the street," her mom pointed out, just as anxious to see the children as Jenna because her parents had known the Sharpes too.

  "Thank you for coming with me, Mom. I couldn't have done it without you."

  "I’m glad to help, although—"

  "Please don't say Riel should have been here instead." Jenna blinked rapidly, trying to keep the threatening tears from falling. She had to be strong now for the children.

  "Jenna, you need to be thinking of Riel. What if this accident had happened after you were married? You need to deal with this together. He's a good man and will support you and the children, if it turns out you’ll get custody."

  Jenna turned to mom after parking the pickup and turning off the key.

  "What do you mean, if it turns out I’ll get custody?"

  "There might be stipulations on their guardianship. You're no longer married to Tug, so this might change things."

  "In other words, I might need to be married to Riel to get the children?"

  "We know nothing at this point, Jenna. I'm just saying be prepared."

  Her mom opened the vehicle door and climbed out, ready to enter the building. Jenna drew a shaky breath and squared her shoulders as she pushed the glass door to enter the social service office. No matter what, two young children needed her hugs.

  *

  "Were the children hurt?" Jenna's mom asked before Jenna could form the words.

  “Who are you and which children are you talking about?”

  Jenna took a deep breath and then identified her and her mother, then named the children they’d come to see. They pulled out their driver’s licenses for their identifications when the woman asked for them.

  “Thank you so much for coming, Mrs. McDowell. Your phone number was in Mrs. Sharpe's billfold and it said you were to be called in case of a family emergency.”

  The older caseworker shrugged her shoulders. "They weren’t hurt much. A few scratches, and stitches, from flying glass. It will be the emotional scars that will take time to heal.

  "They were trapped in the back seat of the car for about a half hour until the police could remove their parents with the Jaws of Life and get to the children in the back seat," the sympathetic caseworker confirmed one of Jenna's fears.