Page 61 of Loving Decker

“Let’s tell the fair boss when he comes to check on us.”

She sat by the woman who had always been a second mom to her. “How are you, Mrs. Dawson? I never really hear how you feel about all this land selling.”

She nodded and turned thoughtful eyes up to the sky. “I just know we’re in His hands. Good will come of all of this. I’m sure of it.”

Faith considered her. “I believe that. The Lord can make good of all that happens to us. But how do you know when to let go and when to keep trying to make things happen?”

“That is a great question. I think I’m always working and trying, and I’m always letting go.”

“So you do both at the same time?”

“Yes, I surely do. I work like crazy in the best direction I know how, but all the while I trust that whatever comes of all that effort will work together for our good.”

“But it could all fall apart around you.”

“True. I didn’t say we wouldn’t have any disappointments. Sometimes those are for our good, you know.”

“Ah, that is the truest thing I’ve heard in a long time.”

“You’ve been through so much, haven’t you?”

Faith was quiet for a moment, considering her life, her losses, and she nodded. “I guess I have. But this whole time I’ve been feeling particularly blessed. Except when Grandpa went into the hospital. But then, soon after, God gave me Decker.” Faith smiled. “It’s hard to think anything except how the Lord is always blessing me.”

“That is a remarkable faith you have there, Faith.” She winked. “I’m so happy that you and my son are moving forward at last.”

“I am too. You know? I never thought it would happen. I sort of lost faith on that one.”

“Not me. I knew he’d recognize you as the best thing that has ever happened to him, sooner or later.”

Her heart expanded with such a beautiful warmth. “You are too good to me, Mrs. Dawson.” She squeezed her around the shoulders. “Do you know what he said? He said that he doesn’t want to sell because he feels like he’s letting down his dad. And because he feels like he’s losing a connection to me.” She couldn’t believe it still. Such a tenderhearted thought.

“He’s loved you for a long time. Love comes in all shapes and sizes.”

They talked of all kinds of things and relived memories from Faith’s growing up, but the best part of the conversation was when Mrs. Dawson talked of Faith’s parents. She’d known them growing up. All of them had been raised right there in Willow Creek, and Mrs. Dawson knew stuff about Faith’s parents and how they met that Faith herself had never heard before.

“And your grandpa. He’s the one everyone loved to go talk to.”

“I can well believe that.” Her grandpa knew how to listen and respond in just the right way.

“Kids would come to sit with him in the barn. Of course, he’d put them to work. And they’d talk and talk, and he’d listen and then basically convince them to talk to their parents.” She laughed. “Or at least that’s what he did for me.”

Faith never got to hear just what Mrs. Dawson had gone to talk to her grandfather about because the vendors started showing up, and from that point on, the line never let up.

Hours later, their replacements showed up to get the midday stragglers, and she and Mrs. Dawson made their way to the arena.

“This rodeo will be all fun. We’ve got out-of-towners, our own boys, you, everyone coming together here in our own arena. There might be money up for grabs, but it’s all in fun.”

“I’m excited. I didn’t realize how much I missed barrel racing until I did it last week.”

“And you’re a natural. You and Electric could beat anyone, I’m sure of it.”

“And you could make me feel better about coming in last place. Are we in our regular seats?” The Dawsons, Haws, and Waltons all sat together at every rodeo. Of course Mrs. Walton was alone now, and Faith was all that was left of the Haws, but she valued this tradition. And besides, she loved to sit with Mrs. Dawson when she didn’t have to be backstage.

Pretty soon the stands were filled, and Faith was surrounded by all the people she loved. Dawsons on all sides, and people she’d grown up with in her town. The stands were also filled with visitors. And she was happy to see them. These were the people they needed to bring back to Willow Creek.

Decker and Maverick were not sitting with them, but Nash had come back for the rodeo. Everyone was smiling and happy. Faith wondered what secrets Nash kept. He didn’t reveal much about himself, not really. She wondered if he had a girl somewhere. Or what he did with his downtime while competing in the rodeos.

Everything was about to begin. Maverick was getting hooked up to the travelling microphone, and she could see a parade lining up to get this thing started.

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