Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,23
who was watching her with an odd expression on his face. Maybe he wanted some time alone with Clint. Maybe it would help their case if Tom could get Clint to talk about what he knew—man to man.
“You know, you’re probably right.” Connie smiled and glanced over at her mother. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Maybe Clint and Tom could set out after lunch,” Mama offered. “Are you sure you won’t join us, Clint?”
“No, I have some other things to tend to. I’ll find something to eat, don’t you worry.” He turned to Tom. “Just come on over to the government house after lunch.” He pointed at the small building. “I’ll be happy to escort you around and introduce you to a few folks.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there.” Tom seemed content with this.
Clint tipped his hat and walked away without another word. Connie couldn’t help but watch him go. He was still a very attractive man, and there was something about him that had always captured her attention.
But I’m not in love with him.
“Ready for lunch?” her mother asked, and Connie nodded.
“More than ready.”
“Let us pray and give thanks,” Connie’s father said.
Everyone bowed their heads, and Papa issued a short but heartfelt prayer. “We’re so thankful, Lord, that you brought Connie and Tom here safely. Guard and guide them as they set about their work. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Connie and her mother murmured amens, then reached for the bowls and began to pass the food around the table.
“Connie tells us that you were instrumental in getting her this job, Tom. I have to say it was a real blessing,” Mama said.
“Yes, well, she wanted very much to see you proven innocent of the suspicions against you.”
“I’m grateful you’re both working so hard to see us vindicated,” Papa said, taking the bowl of lamb stew. “Although I’ve been quite confident that God would prove us innocent.”
“Since I don’t believe in God, I will do what I can to see the matter through to a satisfactory fulfillment,” Tom replied.
Connie cringed. She hadn’t told her parents that Tom was an atheist. Well, he was more of an agnostic. She didn’t really accept that he thought there was no God. It was more that Tom had decided if there was a God, He didn’t show the slightest interest in the people of earth, and therefore Tom didn’t have the slightest interest in God. It was something she’d worked hard to ignore. Everything else about Tom was practically perfect . . . everything but the most important thing.
“Sorry I’m late,” Isaac announced, coming to the table. “The calf was stuck, but we got him out.” He turned to his mother and held up his hands. “And I remembered to wash. What did I miss?”
“Tom was just telling us he’s an atheist,” their mother replied, as if Tom hadn’t mentioned anything more exciting than the weather.
“Oh.” Isaac nodded. “That could be interesting to hear about.” He then appeared to forget about it and started digging into the food around him.
Papa didn’t seem remotely shocked. After all, he’d dealt with people who didn’t believe in his God for most of his adult life. “That is quite interesting, Tom. How did you come to the conclusion that there is no God?”
Tom shrugged and helped himself to a platter of biscuits. “My father suggested it to me, I suppose. Not exactly in words, but certainly in deeds. His underhanded business practices and cruelty to my siblings and me made it clear that if there was a God, He surely didn’t care about us. And I found it hard to believe that anyone, even God, wouldn’t care about such deception and evil deeds. So I concluded there must not be a God.”
“That makes sense,” her father said, surprising Connie. “Is it at all possible you might rethink your conclusion if I was able to share insight with you from my own encounters with the Almighty?”
“I’d enjoy the challenge,” Tom replied. “People often tiptoe around my beliefs as if I might suddenly grow horns and a tail if they talk to me too long on the matter. But just as I don’t believe in a god, I certainly don’t believe in a devil.”
Connie watched her father as he considered this. He actually smiled. “I’ll look forward to our discussions on the matter. Would you be willing to do me the favor of joining us each morning for our family devotionals?”
Tom smiled. “Of course. You are, after all, my gracious