33. Gage

33

GAGE

G age held onto both sides of the post-hole digger and made sure it was lined up in the correct spot before turning it on. The bit spun, digging its way into the hard earth.

Mr. Chambers stood nearby ready to place the post into the new hole in the ground. Gage had built fences before but never with a machine. His stomach had plummeted when Mr. Chambers mentioned the work he had planned for the day, but this wasn't so bad.

Gage pulled the bit from the ground, scattering dirt as Mr. Chambers placed the post. The wooden beam was pretty big, but Gage didn't dare ask the man if he needed help. That seemed like one of those things that could hurt a man's pride.

"So, what do you think?" Mr. Chambers asked with a heaving breath. They'd been out at a remote part of the ranch Gage had never seen before for hours without saying more than necessary to get the job done.

Gage lifted his ball cap and wiped his brow. Propping his arm on the digger, he looked around. "What are you fencing in over here?"

Mr. Chambers pointed to a clearing on his left. "I'm deeding this spot to Brett and Thea."

Gage's eyes widened. "For what?"

"A wedding present," Mr. Chambers said as he made sure the post was secure.

"You're giving it to them?"

"Yep. Everybody needs a place to start."

"But they're already living in a cabin on the ranch," Gage pointed out. Sure, wedding presents were a thing, but land was a far cry from a toaster. Land like this was… unattainable.

Unless you were a friend of the owner.

"But your mom is living there too, and they'll need more room soon. I figure they'll want kids and a place for them to play. This looks like as good a spot as any."

Gage rubbed the scruff on his cheek. "That's a big gift."

"I'm an old man. I can do what I want."

Gage held up a hand. "I'm not judging. It's just really generous of you."

"I'd rather be generous than rich."

Gage stared at the old man, trying to understand what a plot of land like that might go for in today's time. It wasn't chump change. What would it be like to have enough that you could give whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted?

"I want to be able to give like that one day," Gage said.

Mr. Chambers looked up for a second before turning his attention back to the post. "What's on your mind?"

Shoot. Gage hadn't been hiding his thoughts as much as he'd hoped. He'd been going to church and Bible study with Hadley for a couple of weeks, and there was something on his mind. He couldn't shake it no matter how hard he tried.

Gage put the machine down and propped his hands on his hips. The pressure in his chest built until there wasn't any room left inside him. "I want to give my life to the Lord."

Mr. Chambers stopped with his hands on the post and turned to study Gage. Whatever he saw must have been to his liking because he nodded. "All right."

Gage waited for more, then held out his hands. "That's it? You're not gonna ask me if I'm sure or tell me I'm not ready?"

Mr. Chambers huffed. "You're a grown man. You know when you're ready."

Surety swelled in his chest. "I do. I'm ready."

Mr. Chambers's wrinkled cheeks lifted with his grin. "I know you are. Do you know what to do now?"

"I think I'm supposed to pray and let Him know I want to follow Him." After the terrible choices Gage had made in the past about who to follow and who to give his loyalty to, this decision was a no-brainer.

"He already knows, but confessing your sins and letting Him know you believe is a good place to start."

"Right now?" Gage asked.

Mr. Chambers shrugged. "Now's as good a time as any."

Heart pounding, Gage nodded. Why were his hands sweating? Why was the air so thick?

"Don't chicken out. The Lord won't bite you," Mr. Chambers said.

"I'm not chickening out." Though his heart might explode in his chest before he made things official.

He planted his boots shoulder-width apart, propped his hands on his hips, and bowed his head. It took a few deep breaths before he was able to speak. "Lord, I've done a lot of things wrong. I've done a lot of running, but I don't want to run anymore. I know I don't deserve Your forgiveness, but I hope You can accept my apologies." He sighed and whispered, "It's not enough."

He took a few minutes to wrap up his thoughts. He was so far from a good man, and he had a long way to go to make things right. "I want what You want for me–whatever that is. I want Your guidance, and I want to do what's right for You."

Gage lifted his head, and the weight on his shoulders melted away. He took his first real breath and felt light. Was this what people meant when they talked about peace?

Mr. Chambers pressed his lips together and nodded before waving a hand. "Come here."

Gage stepped over to Mr. Chambers who wrapped him up in a bear hug, slapping his hand against Gage's back.

"Welcome home, son."

Chuckling, Gage wrapped the old man up. Had he ever given a man a hug before? He'd never been close with his dad or uncles, and his old friends hadn't been the hugging type.

After a few seconds, Mr. Chambers released him. "You're just a seed beginning to grow right now, but you'll be an oak tree one day."

Gage narrowed his eyes at the old man. "How do I do that?"

Mr. Chambers picked up the next post. "Start by digging the next hole then put down some roots."

Gage sat on Hadley's porch watching the sun set. The orange glow was chased by deep blue in the sky as it cast shadows over miles of rolling hills. The heel of his boot tapped a quick rhythm on the wood as the rocking chair moved slowly.

He'd never been the needy boyfriend type before, but that was before he met Hadley. Now, he needed her by his side as soon as work was over. With today's extra-special news sitting on the end of his tongue, he was on the verge of going out looking for her.

Hadley's car peeked over the hill seconds before the hum of the engine reached him. He stood, holding onto the railing as she slowly parked beside his truck.

No more waiting. Gage bounded off the porch and grabbed her up as she slipped out of the car. Crushing her to his chest, he spun her in a circle.

Her laugh bled into his chest, wrapping his heart in a happiness he'd never known existed.

"Hey to you too," she said as she clung to him.

When he rested her feet back on the ground, the news tumbled out. "I did it. I was with Mr. Chambers today, and I decided to dedicate my life to Christ."

Hadley's eyes widened, and her mouth gaped open. She sucked in a deep breath before asking, "Really?"

"Really. I'm all in, sunshine."

She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and tucking her face into the crook of his neck. "I'm so happy. "

Gage sank into her embrace, letting her wrap around him until they were tangled together.

There it was again. Peace. It lit him up from the inside out.

"I'm so proud of you. I'm so happy!" she said, clinging to him even more.

"Me too, sunshine. Thank you for being patient with me. Sorry I was so slow."

She leaned back and looked up at him with a wide-eyed smile. "Let's celebrate. With our friends."

"Sure. What do you want to do?" There hadn't been much to celebrate in his life, but besides that, Hadley could have asked for anything in the world, and he would have done whatever she wanted.

She jumped up and down on her toes. "Let's go to Barn Sour. I feel like dancing."

Gage chuckled. "You want to go to a bar to celebrate my salvation?"

She checked her watch. "If we go now, we can dance to the live music before people start getting sloppy drunk."

Gage jerked his head toward his truck. "I'd better go get ready then. I need a shower. I can be back to pick you up in an hour."

"No time for that. I'll gather the crew and meet you there."

"This is a date, sunshine. I want to pick you up."

Hadley waved a hand in the air. "You be sweet, and I'll be practical. I'll get a ride with someone there, and you can take me home."

Home. He had no complaints about living with Travis, but his home was standing right in front of him. It wasn't a place. It was a person, and the magnitude of his attachment to Hadley was staring him right in the face.

Gage swallowed past the tightness in his throat. "Whatever you want."

Her hands slid up around his neck and pulled him down to her so she could turn his cap backward. She pressed her forehead against his and whispered, "I have everything I could ever want."

Man, she hit the nail on the head. For the first time in his life, he knew happiness in its truest and purest form, and he'd do anything to protect it.

He closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers and breathing in her light. She met him match for match, reminding him with every move she made that this was where he was meant to be.

Pulling away suddenly, Hadley smiled up at him. "I have to get ready. See you at the Barn."

She backed away, holding onto his hand until her fingers slipped from his. Everything inside him wanted to follow her, but she was excited to go out and he couldn't stall her any longer.

Her long ponytail swayed with each step she took until she turned and hurried inside. Gage stood frozen, staring at the wooden door like she might reappear any moment.

Hurrying back to his truck, he blazed a hot trail for Travis's place. The faster he got cleaned up, the sooner he could see her again.

Showered and dressed in clean clothes, Gage fired off a text to Travis before heading out.

Gage: Going to the Barn tonight. Want to come?

Travis had a crazy work schedule at the fire station, but he should've been home already.

Travis: I'm cleaning out a shed at the Bensons'. I'll catch you later.

With his one friend invited, Gage headed for the Barn. His foot leaned heavy on the accelerator as images of Hadley's smile from earlier led him straight back to her.

Gravel crunched under his tires as he pulled up in the dark lot. Ridge's truck was parked on the far side, and Gage found a spot close to it. He practically sprinted inside until the bright lights inside greeted him. He blinked as his eyes adjusted and scanned the place for Hadley. Signs and car tags hung on the wooden walls, and a few tables and booths were scattered around the stage and a small open area for dancing.

A man wearing a cowboy hat, pearl snap shirt, and boots sang on the stage as he played an old, upbeat country song. A dozen people already swayed to the music, and every stool at the bar was occupied.

He spotted Ridge above the crowd and headed toward him. Hadley would be close-by.

His feet locked to the floor when he caught sight of her. With her long hair draped over her shoulders and the yellow dress she wore flaring out around her, she was a light in the darkness.

Sunshine. Bright and beautiful sunshine. Being near her warmed him as if he'd been frozen his entire life.

"Dude, just ask her."

Gage turned to three young guys standing together holding beers and staring into the crowd.

Hadley. They were staring at Hadley. He couldn't blame them. She was gorgeous and smiling as she danced in the dim lights.

But the urge to claim her rose like hot coals in his throat. It wasn't jealousy. These guys didn't have what Gage did, and he almost felt sorry for every other man in the world.

"Who are you looking at?" he asked.

One guy pointed. "The girl in the yellow dress."

The one beside him elbowed his friend. "I saw her first."

Gage shrugged. "You're all too slow. She's mine."

Their expressions fell in unison as Gage started toward Hadley. He didn't look back once he had her in his sights. She sang as she twirled with her arms out to her sides and snapped to the beat.

When she noticed him walking up, she stopped and let her arms fall to her sides. Her flowing dress settled, and her smile grew even wider, lifting her cheeks and narrowing her sparkling eyes.

He walked straight up to her and cradled her face in his hands. He took her in for two short seconds before pressing his mouth against hers. He wasn't sure how she felt about kissing in public, but she didn't push him away. Instead, her hands slid around him, burning hot through his T-shirt.

Kissing her slowly, all the darkness of the past fell away. Hadley was all-consuming as she gripped his heart and branded her name on it.

There would never be another woman for him. Hadley was it for him, but the realization didn't send him running. Instead, he leaned into the path his life was taking. Every moment of his life from here on would be a step in the right direction–a step toward being the man she deserved.