Blessed are the Merciful Read online

  Adam followed Dauntt and Colter out the front door onto the boardwalk, and Dauntt pointed to a sign in the window. Bold, black letters announced: Law Office to Be Opened Soon.

  “Hey, look at that!” Adam said. “I suppose you had that done, Mr. Dauntt?”

  “You might say that.”

  “Well, thank you. That was very thoughtful of you.”

  Colter laughed. “If you like that, Mr. Burke, look above your head.”

  Adam looked up and saw a large sign in a fancy metal frame. Both sides read:

  Adam Burke

  Attorney at Law

  The young attorney shook his head. “Gentlemen, I’ve never been treated so royally in all my life!”

  Dauntt laid a hand on his shoulder. “Mr. Burke, we’re mighty pleased to have you in North Platte. We know you’ll be a wonderful asset to this town and to the entire county.”

  The three men stepped back into the empty office and closed the door. Adam ran his gaze between them and said, “I assume there’s a furniture store in town?”

  “Sure is,” the sheriff said.

  “I’ll need to furnish this office and make it functional.”

  “Ben has to get back to his office,” Dauntt said, “but if you’d like to go to the furniture store and browse, I’ll be glad to take you.”

  Adam shook Colter’s hand and said, “Thank you, Sheriff, for being half of the welcoming committee. I sure appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure, sir. We’ll get to know each other quite well, I’m sure. If there’s anything I can ever do for you, just holler.”

  When Colter was out the door and gone, Dauntt locked it and said, “All right, Mr. Burke, let’s go find you some furniture.”

  Adam looked at the sign over his office door. “Just think, Mr. Dauntt—my shingle is up!”

  When they were rolling down the street, headed north, Adam said, “All I know about you, Mr. Dauntt, is that you’re the town council chairman. I never thought to ask you what you do for a living.”

  William Dauntt laughed and said, “I own the Dauntt Furniture Store!”

  IN EARLY OCTOBER, SETH COLEMAN finished his training course in Washington, D.C., and was formally commissioned as a deputy United States marshal. The day after the commissioning ceremonies, he and eleven other men who had finished the course were gathered in a room, waiting to be addressed by Deputy U.S. Marshal Kenneth Fortner, who was in charge of assigning the new recruits to their districts of service.

  Among the eleven other men in training, Seth had met Mike Frazier, who was a Christian. They had become close friends in a short time and enjoyed attending church together.

  Mike and Seth were sitting together, talking about where they might be sent, when Fortner came into the room. The rumble of voices died out as Fortner took his position before them.

  “Men,” Fortner said, “you are to be congratulated on graduating from the course. As you know, four of the sixteen men who signed up for the course were disqualified.

  “I am here to make district assignments. This group will be assigned to one of two districts. Half of you will be sent to the Austin, Texas, office. From there you will be assigned to a U.S. marshal’s office within Texas or New Mexico. The other half will be sent to the Kansas City, Missouri, office. From there you will be assigned to a U.S. marshal’s office anywhere in Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, or points west, all the way to the Pacific coast.”

  Fortner looked down at a sheet of paper in his hand. “Here are your assignments.”

  He began by reading the names of the six men who would be sent to Austin. Mike’s name was read, but Seth’s was not. Seth had thought he didn’t care which district they sent him to. He just wanted to get on with his life. However, even though he would be separated from Mike, Seth was relieved that he was not going to Texas or New Mexico. He had developed a fascination for the territory due west of the Missouri River, which was known more as the frontier than the southern extremes of Texas and New Mexico.

  When the meeting was dismissed, the men of the two groups told each other good-bye. It was hard for Seth and Mike to part, but they both knew the Lord was guiding their lives.

  As Seth headed toward his dormitory room, Bettieann Ralston came to mind. He mentally shook himself and went to his room to begin packing for the trip to Kansas City.

  Claude Ralston came awake when he felt Lillian leave the bed during the night. Moonlight was streaming through the window. “You all right?” he said in a hushed tone.

  Lillian paused with her hand on the knob. “Just listen.”

  The sound of muffled sobs came from the room across the hall. “It can’t go on like this, Lillian,” Claude said. “She’s got to go talk to Seth and at least hear him say that he forgives her or that it’s all over between them.”

  “She’s been nothing but miserable since she tried to see him the other time. Somehow, after trying once and not finding him home, she lost her courage. I’ll go talk to her again. You go back to sleep.”

  Lillian crossed the hall and entered Bettieann’s room. The weeping stopped when Bettieann heard her mother come in, but she was still sniffling as Lillian sat down on the side of the bed.

  “Honey, you can’t go on like this. You’ve got to talk to Seth and get this thing settled one way or the other.”

  “I know, Mother,” Bettieann said in a quavering voice, “I’ve got to quit being a coward and go see him. I’ve got to face Seth and ask his forgiveness.”

  “Good girl,” Lillian said.

  Claude was now standing by the door. “I’ll take you to his place tomorrow evening.”

  “All right, Daddy.”

  “I think it’s this evening,” Lillian said. “It is after midnight.”

  When her parents had gone back to their room, a feeling of relief washed over Bettieann. “Please, God,” she whispered, “let Seth be lenient with me. Help him to know how truly sorry I am.” Her last thought before sleep claimed her was, “Please, Seth … find it in that big heart of yours to forgive me.”

  Bettieann came home from Stinson’s Department Store where she worked as a clerk and hurriedly changed clothes. She dressed with care for her meeting with Seth. Though she had a measure of peace inside, she had scarcely been able to keep her mind on her work all day. She was checking her reflection in the full-length mirror when she heard her father come in.

  “All right, Bettieann, it’s time,” she said aloud, looking at herself one last time.

  Some twenty minutes later, Claude pulled the buggy up in front of the boardinghouse. Bettieann was visibly shaking. Claude took both of her small hands in his big rough ones and said, “You can do it, sweetheart. What do you have to lose? At least you’ll know you tried. Maybe Seth’s just as anxious to see you as you are to see him. I’ll be here if you need me.”

  He let go of her hands and gave her a gentle nudge.

  When Bettieann reached the porch step, she stopped and looked back at her father who smiled encouragement at her. She walked through the foyer and down the hall to Seth’s door. She rapped on it timidly, her heart beating like a trip-hammer. There were footsteps inside and she swallowed hard when the knob rattled and the door came open. A stranger stood looking at her.

  “Yes, young lady?” the stocky, silver-haired man said.

  Bettieann took a step back. “Oh! I’m sorry, sir. I … I was looking for Seth Coleman.”

  “He doesn’t live here anymore. My wife and I have lived here for three weeks now.”

  “Would you happen to know, sir, where Seth might have moved to?”

  “No, I don’t. Maybe the landlord knows.”

  “All right. Thank you. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

  The man smiled. “No bother. I hope you find Mr. Coleman.”

  Bettieann hurried to the landlord’s door and knocked. Seconds later, the door opened.

  “May I help you, young lady?” the man said.

  “Sir, I am a friend of Seth Coleman. I haven’t se
en him in quite a while. When I knocked on his door, the man there told me he and his wife have lived there for three weeks.”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “Would you happen to know where Seth moved?”

  “Well, not exactly. When he told me he was moving out, he said he was going to Washington, D.C. That’s all I know.”

  “Oh. All right. Thank you, sir.”

  Bettieann returned to the buggy and told her father what had happened, then asked him to drive her to the police station.

  The desk sergeant listened to Bettieann and her father, then said, “All I can tell you is that Officer Coleman applied with the federal government to become a deputy United States marshal. He was accepted and had to go to Washington for training.”

  “Would anyone here have any more information?” Claude asked. “Like where Seth might be staying in Washington?”

  “I doubt it, sir. If anyone would know, it would be Chief Bennett, and he’s out of town for another week.”

  “All right. Thank you, Sergeant.”

  When father and daughter returned to the buggy, Bettieann said, “Daddy, I can’t give up. There must be a way to find Seth—at least get a letter to him. I’ve got to contact him. If there’s any chance at all that he still cares for me, I have to know it.”

  “Tell you what, honey. Tomorrow I’ll wire the Chief U.S. Marshal’s Office in Washington and see if they can put me in contact with Seth. I’ll ask them to send the reply to my office. Maybe when I come home from work tomorrow evening, I’ll have some helpful information.”

  Bettieann and her mother saw Claude’s buggy pull into the driveway and round the house to the barn. Lillian took hold of her daughter’s hand and squeezed it. “Here’s hoping, honey.”

  Bettieann’s heart was pounding as she waited for her father to come inside.

  When Claude saw the look on her face, he sighed. “Bettieann, I’m sorry. I sent the wire first thing this morning and they sent a reply just after noon. Seth finished his training and received his commission to the U.S. Marshal’s office in Kansas City. I wired the Kansas City office, and the marshal there said Seth is en route to a marshal’s office somewhere in the west. They cannot give his location to anyone but family members. He suggested I contact Seth’s family for the information.”

  “But Daddy, Seth has no family!” Bettieann buried her face against her mother’s shoulder and cried out, “I was such a fool to treat Seth the way I did. How could I have done it? Now I’ve lost him forever!”

  The next day at work, Bettieann had a hard time keeping her composure as she helped customers in the store. Danielle Sharrow, another clerk at Stinson’s, noticed that Bettieann seemed troubled and distracted, but she was hesitant to ask her about it. Better to wait a few days, she thought, and see if there was any change. But Bettieann was not sleeping well, and Danielle noted day after day the dullness of Bettieann’s eyes and the sorrow in her expression. The following Monday, Danielle decided to talk to her.

  At quitting time, Bettieann was working behind the counter in the women’s clothing department, putting the day’s receipts in a small canvas money bag. Danielle looked around to make sure no other employees were within earshot, then eased up beside Bettieann and said, “Bettieann, I’ve noticed now for several days that you seem to be carrying a heavy load. I can tell something’s troubling you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Bettieann’s lower lip quivered slightly. “It’s a long story, Danielle. I very much appreciate your kindness, but I wouldn’t want to bore you with my problems.”

  “Bore me? Honey, I’ve come to like you very much. I can tell you’re hurting. Please don’t think I just want to stick my nose in your business. It’s not that at all. Sometimes when a person is hurting, it helps to talk to someone else. Especially someone who cares. And I care.”

  Bettieann blinked at the tears in her eyes. “I really appreciate your concern … and maybe it would help to talk to you.”

  “We’ll need some privacy then. How about coming to my apartment for supper? My fiancé picks me up after work and takes me home every day. He’ll be here in a few minutes. I’ll tell him that you and I are going to spend the evening together and that when we’re through he and I can take you home. How about it?”

  “I couldn’t do it without letting my parents know. How about we do it tomorrow evening?”

  “All right. You’re on for supper tomorrow night. I’ll have Lance eat with us, then he can do something else until about nine o’clock. That should give us enough time, don’t you think?”

  “Of course. And Lance won’t mind?”

  “Not in the least. He’ll want me to help you all I can.”

  “All right,” said Bettieann, showing the shadow of a smile. “I’ll look forward to it.”

  The next evening, Danielle prayed fervently in her heart for wisdom and power as she prepared a simple meal with Bettieann’s help. Soon supper was ready and on the table, and Lance Denning thanked the Lord for the food. Lance finished eating first and excused himself, saying he would be back about nine.

  When Lance was gone, Danielle reached across the small table and took hold of Bettieann’s hand. “Let’s go sit in the parlor.” She led Bettieann to a couch. A Bible lay on an end table within easy reach. “All right,” she said as they sat down, “tell me all about it.”

  Bettieann began to speak hesitantly, but soon a floodgate opened and she told the whole story. When she finished, Danielle said, “Honey, you made an awful mistake, but you mustn’t give up trying to find Seth. God knows where he is.”

  “But how will that help me?”

  “God loves you, and there is nothing impossible with Him. He can bring you and Seth together again.”

  “I believe in God, Danielle, but … but I’ve left Him out of my life, as have my parents. We’re not churchgoing people. I sure can’t ask for any help from Him.”

  “Oh, but you can. God loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary for your sins. He not only wants to save your soul, He wants to be the center of your life. He is already your Creator; now He wants to become your heavenly Father.”

  Bettieann blinked. “I never heard it put like that before.”

  “May I show you what the Bible says about it?”

  “Of course.”

  Danielle showed Bettieann the gospel story and what Jesus said about the necessity of becoming a child of God by being born again. As she went from Scripture to Scripture, explaining them and answering Bettieann’s questions, she could see that the Holy Spirit was working in the young woman’s heart. After a couple of hours, Bettieann Ralston believed the gospel, repenting of her sin and placing her faith in Jesus Christ.

  A divine peace stole over her battered heart. She knew from what Danielle showed her that she had a Helper, a Friend who sticks closer than a brother, and He was now in control of her life.

  Danielle showed Bettieann that because she was now God’s child, He cared about every detail of her life and was willing and eager to answer her prayers. God knew where Seth was, and He could bring the two of them back together.

  The next Sunday, Bettieann went to church with Lance and Danielle. When the invitation was given at the close of the sermon, she walked down the aisle and proclaimed her faith in Christ, and was baptized.

  As the days passed, the two young women spent much time in prayer together, asking the Lord to lead Bettieann to Seth if it was His will for her life. They also prayed for Seth’s salvation, whether God wanted them together or not.

  Claude and Lillian Ralston were amazed at the change in their daughter. The peace and contentment in her deeply impressed them, and soon they were attending church with her.

  One late afternoon in the middle of October, Rachel Mason stood over her father as he lay passed out on his bed. Joseph Mason had not been to his office in weeks. Although there were capable men at American Securities Company, Rachel wondered how they were dealing wit
h their employer’s absence. Roy Preslan, the company’s vice president, had come to the house a few times to talk business with Joseph, but Rachel had a feeling that each time Preslan left he was very discouraged.

  Rachel left the bedroom and headed down the hall toward her room. Just then Millie came out of Rachel’s room carrying a feather duster and her cleaning supplies.

  “Is he still out?” Millie asked.

  “Yes. Go ahead and clean around him as best you can, but don’t even try to take the bedding off. If he wakes up at all he’ll just holler at you.”

  Rachel sat down at her desk and picked up a letter that had come the previous day from Aunt Esther. Rachel had been writing to her aunt regularly to tell her what was happening with her father. In each letter, Rachel had asked Esther to pray that something would bring her father out of his downward slide.

  Esther had always answered each letter promptly, telling her niece that she was praying, but also reminding her that Joseph’s greatest need—and Rachel’s too—was to be saved. Rachel’s aunt always said it in such a kind and loving way that Rachel was not the least bit offended. She knew her aunt meant well, and she loved her sweet spirit.

  Rachel’s eyes scanned the letter again. She was about to begin writing a response when there was a tap at her door.

  “Yes, Millie?” she called.

  “Miss Rachel, Mr. Preslan is back. He’s waiting downstairs.”

  “Did you tell him Daddy is not able to see him?”

  “Well, ma’am, your father woke up when I was cleaning the room. He’s got a bad headache, but he’s sitting up in his chair. I thought I should ask you if it was all right for Mr. Preslan to see him.”

  “Let me talk to Daddy first. If he’s halfway sober I’ll let Mr. Preslan come up.”

  Joseph’s rheumy eyes struggled to focus on Rachel as she moved to where he sat.

  “Daddy, Roy Preslan is here again. Are you up to seeing him?”

  Joseph squinted at her and said, “He … he was jus’ here yesterday. What’s he want now?”

  “He wasn’t here yesterday. It was four days ago. If you’d leave that bottle alone you’d know what day it is.”