Page 94 of Love in the Wild

Gage nodded, rubbing his bearded cheek against her hair. “I promise.”

That was all she could ask for and all she wanted. They could work through anything, as long as they did it together.

28

GAGE

Gage crossed his arms on the wheel of his pickup and stared at the house right in front of him. The two-story log house with a wraparound porch didn’t have the feel of a mansion or outrageous wealth, but it still had a sense of awe about it.

The ranch was quiet, and peace surrounded Mr. Chambers’s house. It was different from the quiet of the woods Gage was used to living in. Birds chirped here, and footprints were scattered all through the thin layer of snow around the place.

Gage looked down at his phone. No messages. Hadley was in Cody at a doctor’s appointment with her mom, and she wouldn’t be back for a couple of hours.

He looked back at the house and tapped the heel of his boot against the floorboard. He should have told Hadley what he was doing today, but he didn’t want to get her hopes up in case Mr. Chambers hated him and decided he wasn’t worth the time.

Stretching his neck from side to side, he sat up and grabbed the door handle. Now or never.

It had to be now.

Gage walked up the porch steps and stopped at the front door. The wood was old and weathered, but it wasn’t falling apart. Instead, it bore the marks of good use and memories.

He raised his fist to knock, and the door opened immediately. An old man with white hair and a barrel belly stood in the doorway wearing a red-and-tan pearl snap and jeans.

“‘Bout time you got here. I’m Ronald Chambers.”

Gage took the hand the man offered and gave it a good grip. “Gage Howard.”

“Good to meet you.” Mr. Chambers lifted his other hand and shoved a book flat against Gage’s chest. “Hold this, and follow me.”

Gage glanced at the leather-bound book. The words Holy Bible flashed in gold lettering against the black cover. It was heavier than he’d expected.

Mr. Chambers was halfway to Gage’s truck before he shouted over his shoulder, “You’re drivin’!”

Gage jogged down the steps and got back in the truck. Mr. Chambers turned to point down the path leading in and out of the ranch. “We’re goin’ that way.”

There wasn’t any need to ask questions. This guy was handing out answers before Gage even needed them.

Mr. Chambers made himself comfortable in the passenger seat, rolling down the window and propping his arm on it. “Hadley tells me you want to know about God.”

“Yes, sir.”

“How much do you know?”

Wow. Way to break the ice. “Nothing.”

“Then we’ll start at the beginning. Just so you know, there isn’t a linear way to learn about God or study the Bible.”

“Good to know.”

“So you’ll have to be smart enough to decide what works best for you.”

No pressure.

“Hadley told me a little bit about you, but I want to hear it from you.”

Gage glanced over at the man running the show in the seat beside him. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything you think is important about yourself.”

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