31. Gage

31

GAGE

G age tied the transparent string around the tiny loop in the fishing lure. After practicing for hours with Jacob last weekend, the knots were still frustrating.

"You need me to try, Mr. Howard?" the little girl in front of him asked.

"I got it. Just one more loop."

Yeah, he wasn't going to get used to being called Mr. Howard anytime soon, but that was how the preacher had introduced him to the kids earlier, and the name was sticking.

He finished off the knot and bit off the excess line before handing it over to the girl. "There you go."

"Thanks!" she yelled over her shoulder as she ran off toward the riverbank. She'd be back in less than fifteen minutes. That was the fourth lure he'd tied for the same kid.

"Hey, can you help me?"

Gage turned around to find another younger boy standing with his rod in the air. A bundle of line was tangled just above the reel.

Good grief. How'd the kid even do that? "Yeah. Let me see."

The kid pointed toward the table off to the side where some of the folks from the church were handing out equipment and baits. "I'm gonna go get another one until you finish that."

Wait a minute. How'd he get stuck with this rat's nest? After inspecting the reel, it looked like a better option to cut it out and put new line on it. He walked over to the table and showed the mess to Mr. Chambers. "What do you think?"

The older man huffed. "Cut it out."

Gage picked up the scissors and got to work. He'd stripped the old line from the reel just as the preacher walked over and cupped his hands around his mouth to be heard above the chatter.

"Lunch is almost ready! Make your way over to the tent for hamburgers and hotdogs!"

Kids grumbled, and parents herded their kids over to the equipment and bait area. Gage put down the reel he'd been working on and started accepting rods from the kids and securing the lines and hooks so they didn't get tangled together.

Yeah, Gage wasn't taking up fishing anytime soon. He hadn't experienced the peacefulness of the hobby yet.

When the last of the rods were collected, Gage and some of the men made their way over to the tent for lunch.

Grady stepped up beside Gage and slung an arm over his shoulders. "What do you think?"

"I think fishing is more trouble than it's worth."

Grady let out a hardy chuckle. "It's not so bad if you're by yourself or with a pal."

"If you say so."

Gage had seen the older man who owned Grady's Feed and Seed many times when he stopped by the store, but other than polite greetings, he didn't know the man. After today, Grady felt like an old friend. Helping a herd of kids all day could really bind you to someone. It was the same connection that came from surviving a difficult situation together.

The older man released Gage's shoulders and walked over to talk to someone else. Parents and kids were everywhere, and between the laughing and hollering, the whole thing was overwhelming.

Brett stood at the entrance to the canopy area welcoming everyone in and directing them to where they could line up for food. The guy seemed to be everywhere Gage looked. He drove older folks and small children to the river on a four-wheeler, set up the tables and chairs, taught the kids how to cast, untangled countless lines from trees and brush under the water, and now he was shaking hands with a smile on his face. How did he have that kinda energy?

Despite the hard work, Brett seemed happy all day long. Gage had been watching the Patton siblings all day, and neither one of them had so much as grumbled about the work.

Gage walked up to Brett, who extended a hand to him. "Hey, man. Grab a plate and we'll say the blessing in a little bit when everyone gets here."

"Thanks." Gage shook the hand and scanned the shaded area under the tent for Hadley.

He spotted her almost instantly carrying an armload of juice boxes to a big cooler. Gage ran over to her and took the drinks from her. "I got it."

"Thanks. I'll go get more," she said as she turned back the way she came.

Did she ever stop? She'd been cooking since before the sun came up, and she spent half the night before helping him load tables and chairs from the church into the back of his pickup. He shoved the juice boxes down into the cooler full of ice and turned to meet Hadley as she approached with another load.

"Let me handle this. You go get something to eat," Gage said.

Hadley wiped her brow and propped her hands on her hips. "That's the last of it. I think we can both sit down."

Gage put the rest of the drinks in the cooler and closed the lid. "If anything else comes up, let me do it."

Hadley waved him off. "I'm fine. Thanks for helping though. How were the kids at the river?"

"Wild, needy, and happy."

That was one thing that kept him going today. All of the kids were smiling. Well, except one little boy named Judson who claimed a trout bit him.

She laughed as she slid her hand into his, linking their fingers together. "That's par for the course."

Gage lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. "Let's get you something to eat."

He followed her through the food line and to a seat at an empty table. Before long, Dawson and Olivia came over, followed by Anna and her boyfriend, Dean. Hadley introduced herself, and Gage did the same. He'd seen the guy a few times at Beau's garage but hadn't actually talked to him before.

Once the line was empty, Grady stood in front of the tables and lifted his hands. "All right, folks. Let's bow our heads."

Gage tucked his chin as Grady thanked the Lord for the food and everyone who had worked so hard to make this event a success. He named off everyone from the pastor to the butcher who processed the meat. The list was long enough that little kids were starting to whine.

"...Hadley Morgan and Gage Howard…"

Grady kept listing off people who'd helped, but Gage was still stuck on his own name. He hadn't done much, but he'd gotten a mention in Grady's prayer.

How many people would notice and turn up their noses? How many people here would pull their kids closer if they knew where he came from? The mention of the Howard name was enough to put most people in Blackwater on high alert.

When Grady finally said "Amen," the chatter resumed, and everyone dug into the food on their plates. Hadley picked up a burger dripping with ketchup and mustard and let out a low groan as she chewed.

"That good, huh?" Gage asked.

"I'm so hungry. I think I skipped breakfast."

"I'm sorry. I could have brought you something." The idea of Hadley being even the slightest bit hungry had all kinds of alarms blaring in his head.

"You were busy too. Besides, I was saving my appetite for this beauty." She held up the burger like it was a prize-winning culinary dish.

Gage had missed breakfast too, but that didn't bother him as much as hearing Hadley skipped it.

Anna wiped her hands on a napkin and asked, " Dawson, how's the studying going for the sergeant's exam?"

"It's going. It's not a piece of cake by any means."

"I've been quizzing him at home. He's doing really well," Olivia said, looking at her boyfriend like he was her hero.

Jacob jogged up to the table dressed in a baseball uniform. Red clay was smeared over the front of the blue-and-white team name on his chest. "Hey! We made it!"

Lyric walked up behind Jacob and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "And he won."

"Good job, man," Dawson said, offering Jacob a fist bump.

"Thanks. I scored a run."

"Even better," Dawson added. "Now go get some food."

The kid ran off at full speed as if he hadn't just played a sport for hours. Lyric shook her head but followed him with a smile on her face.

Hadley chatted between bites until Jacob got back to the table. After that, the kid took over the conversation, excitedly telling everything that went on in the whole ballgame.

Gage sat highly aware of Hadley beside him. She won over everyone she met, and people flocked to her like starving animals at feeding time. Everyone wanted a piece of the joy she radiated.

Once everyone sat around with empty plates, Bro. Higgins stood back from the tables and raised his voice. "Can I get everyone's attention?"

The gathering quieted in seconds, and some started angling their chairs to face the preacher. Gage did the same, and Hadley moved hers to be beside him. She slid her arm through his and linked their fingers together.

The surge of warmth in his chest was new, but he was getting used to his body's reactions around Hadley. She brought out something inside him he hadn't known existed.

"I want to thank Mr. Chambers for letting us come out here and fish today. He's opened his home many times, and we appreciate the chance to enjoy God's beautiful creation with so many friends. The kids have been running around having fun all day, and that's all thanks to our volunteers who put a lot into making this an awesome day for us."

That was something Gage noticed too. The people who made this a fun day for the kids did a ton of work, and everyone seemed happy and willing to do it. With so many hands helping out, no one seemed tired or irritated.

"I know we've had a great time here today, but let's not forget why we're able to hang out and have such a great time together. Jesus called us to be fishers of men, and some of His disciples were fishermen by trade. They understood the difference between catching fish and catching hearts .

"Men, I'm talking to you. As the leaders of our households, it's our job to lead our families to Christ just as He ordered. The disciples left their homes to follow Jesus, and we're called to go into the world and spread the news about Him. Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Him?"

Gage's chest tightened. He'd heard about the path to salvation. Mr. Chambers was drilling it into his head every chance he got. Why did the road seem so long? Why was the stretch of road between Gage and Christ riddled with potholes and snares? Every time he thought he was making progress, a piece of his past came up to grab him, rooting him in place.

At least he was on the path. He'd left his home, but not in the way the disciples did. He'd given up a bunch of his old sins, and he was beginning to see right and wrong in a clearer light. Still, everything he'd done seemed to be holding Gage back from reaching the unfiltered happiness some of these people carried.

Bro. Higgins gestured to the kids playing in the dirt by one of the tables. "This is the next generation. We're raising the leaders of tomorrow, and how can they lead the world to Christ if they don't know Him? It's our job to teach them."

The preacher lifted his chin and scanned the crowd. "So, I'll ask again. Are you ready to give up your old life and the sins that weigh you down? Are you ready to start new and follow Jesus? He offers forgiveness for all sins, and once you belong to Him, He keeps no record of wrongs."

Gage glanced down at Hadley. She had a peace about her that led everyone to believe she'd lived a happy life. No one could look at her and see the marks her dad and other men had left on her heart.

Was that because she'd gained freedom like what Bro. Higgins was talking about? Was that the evidence of God's forgiveness?

Bro. Higgins scanned the quiet group of people in front of him. "Repent and be saved. That's step one. It's the way to hope. It's the beginning and the end. Start a new life and leave your old one behind. Turn to Jesus." The preacher pointed at Grady. "Grady, would you pray for us?"

Everyone bowed their heads, but Gage couldn't focus on the words. A dull roar filled his ears, and a churning unease stirred in his gut. The skin on the back of his neck tingled as he squeezed his eyes closed.

Hadley shifted beside him, and Gage looked up. The prayer was over, but he hadn't heard the closing.

"I need to help put away the food," Hadley said as she stretched her arms above her head.

Gage opened his mouth to offer his help, but Mr. Chambers stepped up beside him and slapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Can I borrow you for a minute?" he asked .

Gage turned back to Hadley, who smiled up at him. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Sure." She stretched up to press a kiss to his cheek before walking off.

Gage looked at Mr. Chambers. "What can I do for you?"

The older man jerked his head. "Walk with me."

Gage fell into step beside Mr. Chambers and looked back toward the tent area. People were already clearing tables and folding up chairs.

"You listening?" Mr. Chambers asked.

"I'm sorry. Did you say something?"

"No. Are you listening? Did you learn anything today?"

Brushing his hand over his jaw, Gage thought over the last few hours. These people actually practiced what they preached. It was a contrast to the hypocrisy he'd always associated with the church.

"I'm trying."

"Try harder. Hadley deserves a good man. You can be that man if you decide you're up to the task."

Gage nodded. The man was right. He needed to step it up. "I don't think I've thanked you yet, but I do appreciate all you're doing for me. I didn't think I was salvageable until I met you and Hadley. My life didn't have a purpose, and I'm not sure I've really found it yet. I'm starting to think I'm a work in progress instead of a failure. "

"Don't give up. The Lord will let you know when it's time."

Gage looked over his shoulder as they left the people behind. "Where are we going?"

"Fishing," Mr. Chambers said.

"But I need to help Hadley."

"You need to help yourself first. Trust me, that woman has things covered."

Mr. Chambers was right. Hadley was a rockstar when it came to handling whatever life threw at her. She was strong and steady like the Big Horn Mountains surrounding the ranch.

Gage's phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. Every muscle in his body froze when he saw the name on the screen.

Rome Wilson.

"You need to take that," Mr. Chambers said as he kept walking.

"Nah. It's fine." Gage pushed the phone away and started walking again.

Mr. Chambers didn't turn around as he said, "Go ahead and take care of your business."

Okay, now it felt rude to ignore the man's orders. Gage answered the call and let Mr. Chambers walk on ahead.

"Hello."

"Hey, man. You in the land of the living?" Rome asked .

Gage looked back toward the crowd he'd just left. He was alive. Was he really living yet?

But he had an idea about how to get there.

"Something like that."

"I heard about the bust. Man, am I glad you didn't get picked up too."

Rome's voice was like an echo from the past. It scraped across Gage's nerves until they were taut and vibrating.

"Why's that?" Gage asked.

"Bruce mentioned another stash of car parts. I'm assuming you can get those for me."

Yep. This was exactly the draw back into his old life Gage had been dreading. "Sorry, man. I don't do that anymore. That's Bruce's business."

Rome laughed. "Come on. You're gonna sit on those parts when I could get you cash? You can't leave the money, man."

Money. Since leaving the Howards behind, Gage's perspective of money had shifted. He didn't need cash jobs anymore when legit jobs paid the bills with plenty left over. "Like I said, I'm out."

There was a thick silence over the line before Rome spoke again. His tone was darker without a hint of laughter. "This isn't really a gig you get out of."

Gage pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed through the urge to tell Rome exactly where he could go with his attitude. "Looks like I did."

"You ratted." Rome let out a string of curses. "They said you did, but I didn't believe them."

"They dug their own graves."

Rome didn't hold back his fury as he launched into another round of curses and threats. Gage pulled the phone from his ear and studied it for a few seconds before ending the call.

"Everything okay?" Mr. Chambers asked as he strolled over and handed Gage a fishing rod.

"Maybe. I'm not sure yet."

Mr. Chambers nodded. "Let me know if I can help."

As willing as the man was to lend a hand, this wasn't a problem Gage's new friend could fix. There wasn't much he could do except keep his eyes open. If the past tried to sneak up on him, he needed to be ready.