Doubting Thomas (Tarnished Saints Series) by Elizabeth Rose Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Rose
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solved that problem, but she’d only made things worse. If only he could go back and do things over. If only he could see his mistakes before he’d made them.
“Josh, you and Jake clean up the dishes. Zeke, check the chickens and make sure the gate is secure so those dogs don’t steal another one before morning.”
“It’s Eli’s turn to help with the dishes,” protested Jake.
“Eli’s already sleeping,” said Thomas. “Sam, you get him to bed.”
“Sure, Pa,” said Sam, picking up the boy in his arms.
Thomas headed for the door and Dan followed.
“So how much did you get for the car, Pa?” Excitement showed in his eyes and Thomas knew it was because he’d promised to buy Dan a car once he had enough money. It was time Dan had his own set of wheels, and Thomas knew it. It would help immensely if they had two running vehicles.
Thomas laid his hand on Dan’s shoulder, regretting what he had to tell him.
“I’m sorry, Dan, but I only got four thousand dollars for the car. That will barely cover our property taxes due at the end of the month.”
“But Pa, that car was in prime condition. You told me yourself it was worth close to eight. That’s why we worked so hard. That’s why we stayed up nights trying to make it the best we could.”
“The buyer backed out once he found out who I was. No one wants to buy a car from me when they hear about what happened to Fawn. Brighton’s a small town, son. Word travels fast.”
“So who was the buyer brave enough to offer you half of its worth?”
“Gus took it off my hands. He knew I needed the money.”
“What?” Dan gasped in shock. “Your best friend scalped you? Gus knew darn well the worth of the Chevy.”
“He’s had it rough lately too,” Thomas explained. “That’s all he could afford, and I had no choice but to take it.”
“It’s not fair,” Dan said shaking his head. “This isn’t what we’d planned on.”
“Nothing is ever as we plan. You should know that by now.”
Thomas left him sulking, and headed for the pole barn. He lit a lantern and set it atop his desk. He pulled the envelope out of his pocket and counted the cash. He owed thirty-two hundred in taxes, and the 1980 Grand Marquis he was working on needed a new transmission. He figured that would set him back four or five hundred if he picked one up from the junk yard. That didn’t leave much for Daniel’s birthday coming up next week. The boy was turning seventeen, and Thomas wanted more than anything to be able to give him a car.
If only he hadn’t had such ill luck, he would have been able to sell the Chevy for what it was worth. He’d also been hoping to put away some money every month for Sam’s operation. He had four hundred dollars hidden under his mattress, but an operation like that would cost thousands. Being self-employed, he’d had to cancel his health insurance months ago. He’d get no help from anyone now.
He rubbed a weary hand over his face and fastened his eyes on the top drawer. He pulled out his key ring from his pocket and stuck the key in the lock. Slowly, he opened the drawer, reaching out for the envelope. It almost burned his hand when he picked it up.
Six months now it sat here, and every day he thought about using it to solve his troubles. He flipped open the envelope and carefully grasped the paper between his fingers, slipping the check out to look at it.
The life insurance policy he’d taken out on Fawn just after they’d married was worth one hundred thousand dollars. All he had to do was cash the check and his troubles would be over. So why couldn’t he?
He pushed the check back into the envelope and placed it back in the drawer. That is, back into the exact same spot he used to keep his gun before it disappeared. He slammed the drawer shut and locked it up tight. When was God going to hear his prayers? When would he send him an angel to guide his way and tell him what to do?
Chapter 9
Angel ran a brush though
“Josh, you and Jake clean up the dishes. Zeke, check the chickens and make sure the gate is secure so those dogs don’t steal another one before morning.”
“It’s Eli’s turn to help with the dishes,” protested Jake.
“Eli’s already sleeping,” said Thomas. “Sam, you get him to bed.”
“Sure, Pa,” said Sam, picking up the boy in his arms.
Thomas headed for the door and Dan followed.
“So how much did you get for the car, Pa?” Excitement showed in his eyes and Thomas knew it was because he’d promised to buy Dan a car once he had enough money. It was time Dan had his own set of wheels, and Thomas knew it. It would help immensely if they had two running vehicles.
Thomas laid his hand on Dan’s shoulder, regretting what he had to tell him.
“I’m sorry, Dan, but I only got four thousand dollars for the car. That will barely cover our property taxes due at the end of the month.”
“But Pa, that car was in prime condition. You told me yourself it was worth close to eight. That’s why we worked so hard. That’s why we stayed up nights trying to make it the best we could.”
“The buyer backed out once he found out who I was. No one wants to buy a car from me when they hear about what happened to Fawn. Brighton’s a small town, son. Word travels fast.”
“So who was the buyer brave enough to offer you half of its worth?”
“Gus took it off my hands. He knew I needed the money.”
“What?” Dan gasped in shock. “Your best friend scalped you? Gus knew darn well the worth of the Chevy.”
“He’s had it rough lately too,” Thomas explained. “That’s all he could afford, and I had no choice but to take it.”
“It’s not fair,” Dan said shaking his head. “This isn’t what we’d planned on.”
“Nothing is ever as we plan. You should know that by now.”
Thomas left him sulking, and headed for the pole barn. He lit a lantern and set it atop his desk. He pulled the envelope out of his pocket and counted the cash. He owed thirty-two hundred in taxes, and the 1980 Grand Marquis he was working on needed a new transmission. He figured that would set him back four or five hundred if he picked one up from the junk yard. That didn’t leave much for Daniel’s birthday coming up next week. The boy was turning seventeen, and Thomas wanted more than anything to be able to give him a car.
If only he hadn’t had such ill luck, he would have been able to sell the Chevy for what it was worth. He’d also been hoping to put away some money every month for Sam’s operation. He had four hundred dollars hidden under his mattress, but an operation like that would cost thousands. Being self-employed, he’d had to cancel his health insurance months ago. He’d get no help from anyone now.
He rubbed a weary hand over his face and fastened his eyes on the top drawer. He pulled out his key ring from his pocket and stuck the key in the lock. Slowly, he opened the drawer, reaching out for the envelope. It almost burned his hand when he picked it up.
Six months now it sat here, and every day he thought about using it to solve his troubles. He flipped open the envelope and carefully grasped the paper between his fingers, slipping the check out to look at it.
The life insurance policy he’d taken out on Fawn just after they’d married was worth one hundred thousand dollars. All he had to do was cash the check and his troubles would be over. So why couldn’t he?
He pushed the check back into the envelope and placed it back in the drawer. That is, back into the exact same spot he used to keep his gun before it disappeared. He slammed the drawer shut and locked it up tight. When was God going to hear his prayers? When would he send him an angel to guide his way and tell him what to do?
Chapter 9
Angel ran a brush though
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