All Roads Lead Home. Christine Johnson

that could pay a lot of money for the right to produce it. If ever he had a way out of this foolish trip to Montana, this was it.

       He licked his lips. “What if I go to New York?”

       “New York?” Ma’s brows puckered. “I thought you wanted to help Mariah drive to Montana.”

       He struggled not to show any emotion at the mention of Mariah’s name. Ma still harbored hope they’d get back together, no matter how many times he told her it was over. “I’ve got a chance to sell my engine design to Curtiss Aeroplane. Jack Hunter is having his old mechanic put in a word for me, but I need to go to New York to present the plans to their engineers.”

       “Is that what you truly want, Hendrick?”

       He did. Or at least he thought he did. “Yes, Ma.”

       She bit her lip, and her eyes filled with tears. “Then pursue your dream, dear. Don’t let anyone stop you.”

       “I’ll take care of you, Ma. They’ll pay more than I earn here at the garage, and Peter can help out around the house.”

       “I understand.”

       Anna caught her breath. “Does that mean you’re not going with us to Montana?”

       Hendrick felt the tug of responsibility. Judging by her muted reaction, Ma didn’t want him to take the Curtiss job, but doing so would ensure that Anna stayed safely at home. She would hate him, but she’d be safe. “That means I need you to stay here with Ma.”

       “Stay here?” Anna’s eyes filled with angry tears. “How could you? You did this just to ruin my life. I hate you. I hate you.” Then she ran inside and slammed her bedroom door.

       Hendrick watched in silence, his gut a tangled knot.

       Ma touched his arm. “Don’t fret, dear. She doesn’t mean it.”

       “I know.” And he did know, but it still hurt. “It’s tough being the one in charge.”

       Ma softly murmured a protest. “God’s the one who’s in charge. Pray on your decision, Hendrick. He’ll give you the guidance you need.”

       Trouble was, Hendrick couldn’t hear the answers above the din of everyone’s conflicting needs.

       “I’m going to take a walk,” he grumbled and headed out to find some peace.

       Mariah held her tongue until Felicity took Luke upstairs for bed.

       “I’d like to see the river,” she announced to her brother, rising from her chair. “Will you show me the way?”

       Of course she remembered how to get to the river, but she needed to talk to Gabe away from the parsonage.

       She silently followed him across the expansive backyard. Any wind had vanished, and the evening descended with a golden haze and the croak of bullfrogs. Once Gabe closed the backyard gate behind them, she let loose. “How could you? You know Hendrick and I had a falling-out. Traveling with me for a month is the last thing he’d want to do.”

       Gabriel whistled a few notes. “Seems to me he said he’d go.”

       “Naturally he did, once you forced him. What could he say? You certainly manipulated that little scenario your way.” Every word only made her angrier. The air was thick and cloying. The last bit of daylight barely filtered through the trees. She felt trapped.

       “I manipulated him?” He tsked audibly. “Seems to me Hendrick Simmons is a grown man with a mind of his own. He made a decision. The fact that I happen to agree with him doesn’t make me manipulative.”

       Normally, Mariah kept her emotions in check, but Gabe and Hendrick had sent them catapulting out of control. “Why can’t you accept that I can do this myself? The fewer people involved, the better. You said so yourself.”

       “Hendrick’s a good, honest man. You can’t deny that.”

       She couldn’t.

       “I trust him to keep the secret.”

       “And Anna?” Mariah pointed out. “Do you feel the same way about her?” Even as she said the words, she recalled that Anna had been infatuated with Gabe when he first arrived. A shy girl then, she’d pined for him and must have suffered when Gabe chose Felicity.

       “She’s a good girl,” Gabe said softly, “and has grown up a lot since you last saw her. Yes, I have faith in her.”

       Mariah sighed. He was not going to let her out of this. “You know how difficult this will be.”

       “I know, sis, but you’ll manage. You always do.”

       They’d reached the river, flowing gently at this season. To the left, mostly out of sight, a footbridge crossed to the other side. In the low light, the water below looked black and endless, but once they’d climbed down to the water’s edge, it turned silky green.

       “I’m afraid, Gabe,” she whispered as they made their way to the rocky sandbar that was exposed this time of year. She wasn’t just afraid for Luke or all the problems that might happen on the trip, but for her heart. The old longing had returned with a fierceness she hadn’t expected, but a life with Hendrick could never be. One impossible obstacle still loomed between them, and his remarks tonight confirmed that it was still there. He wanted children of his own. Children she could never give him.

       Gabe hugged her shoulders. “I know.”

       Her shoes scrunched against the stones, sinking in slightly as they made their way to the center of the sandbar. They both looked downstream. For years she’d watched over Gabe, making sure he was all right. Now their roles were reversed. He was trying to take care of her. She bit her lip to stem the tide of emotion.

       “It’ll turn out all right,” Gabe said with another brisk hug. “It always does for those who love the Lord.”

       The corner of her mouth twitched at that reminder. “Are you preaching to me?”

       He bent and picked up a stone. “I’ve been teaching Luke how to skip stones. He can beat me now.” He let the stone fly. It bounced once, twice, three times before sinking beneath the surface. “Are we stones that sink to the bottom or twigs that float on the surface? Do we succumb to trouble or are we carried wherever the water flows?”

       “I’d like to think we’re boats, able to navigate treacherous waters.” Mariah was used to her brother’s philosophical musings, but this one deeply touched her soul. “You’re afraid, too.”

       He bowed his head. “Of course. Losing Luke would break my heart, but knowing he’d be beaten down by someone who’s supposed to love him would kill me.”

       He swiped at his face, and she knew he’d lost control of his emotions. She hugged him around the shoulders, as she used to when he was a boy.

       “I won’t let that happen,” she said, softly at first but with growing firmness. “God won’t let Frank Gillard take Luke.”

       “I hope you’re right,” he gasped, his shoulders shuddering as he gave in to tears.

       Behind them, a plank of the bridge creaked, telling her that they were not alone. She turned.

       Hendrick Simmons was watching.

       “Mariah. Pastor.” Hendrick knew she’d seen him.

       He’d come to the bridge to think, to let the steady flow of water help him sort things out. Instead, he’d heard the real reason for Mariah’s trip west. That changed everything. Someone had threatened to harm Luke, and she was going to Montana to stop him. Now he had to go with her.

       “Hendrick,” called out Gabriel. “Wait there.” He led his reluctant sister up the riverbank, and in minutes they appeared on the bridge. “Nice night, isn’t it?”

       Mariah hung back.