Full Circle

Chapter 9

"So, Gabby headed to New York this morning, huh?" Sam asked as she dumped feed into the trough for the horses.

Clint grunted a yes as he picked up two more buckets of grain.

"And she didn't say why she was going?"

Clint dumped his buckets into the trough and then leaned against the corral fence. "No. And I'm beyond frustrated. She hasn't told me much of anything lately."

"Me either. Is she talking to anyone?"

"Paula seems to know what's going on. She definitely knows more than she's telling. Some days I'd bribe her with just about anything to know what's going on with Gabby."

"Do you have any clue why she was flying back to New York?" Sam pressed.

Clint shook his head. "All she said was that she had something important to discuss with her family and that I'd know everything when she came back."

Sam made a face, expressing her confusion at Gabby's actions.

Clint snorted. "My thoughts exactly. I don't know what to think Sam! She took her rings off. She framed that photo you gave her of us and put it on the mantle. While we were dancing at the party she made a comment that got me thinking she was interested again. In me, that is."

Sam laughed. "Yeah, that was a given." she teased.

"But that's it. Other than that things have been as they've always been. What am I supposed to do? I don't want to overstep my boundaries, read into something that isn't there. But what if she's waiting for me to make the first move?" Clint took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't remember things ever being so complicated between us."

"It wasn't. But a lot has happened between the past and present to make it complicated." Sam pointed out. She looked over at Clint, smiling in admiration. "You must be a saint. At the very least, you're a very patient man. You've waited a long time for her to come back to you."

"Saint Clint. Hah! What choice have I had Sam? It was either accept what life handed me and keep praying or shut her out of my life permanently. I didn't like either option but I couldn't let go of her altogether. Now that she's back I have no idea what to do!"

"Pray some more." Sam announced.

Clint knew she wasn't being trite. She meant it. And she was right. He had to trust that God knew what he was doing, just as he'd done for the past six years. But with Gabby so close it was hard to be patient anymore.

Sam shuffled over to him, stacking her bucket with his. Then she reached out to squeeze his arm. "Let's just see what she has to say when she gets back. Hopefully she'll finally enlighten all of us." Then she picked up the buckets and headed back to the barn.

Clint stayed by the fence, watching the horses. This time he was the one who had a hard time praying. Even with Gabby back in Miller's Creek he was still afraid God would tell him no.

* * * * * * * * * *

Gabby sat on the deck at her parent's home, nervously chewing on her lip. She'd been sending short bursts of prayer to Heaven through the entire meal, hoping to have the grace and strength to get through this conversation.

Her parents and the Reeses had been just as surprised at her impromptu visit as Clint had been. But she waited until she could get them all together before she told them why she was here.

"This is a nice evening to eat outside. July's usually such a scorcher." Bob commented, leaning back in his chair.

Dinner was over and they were lingering over dessert, but small talk was waning as they grew more curious about Gabby's visit. Finally, Kirk took the plunge.