A Time to Gather Read Online Free PDF

the dirt-and-gravel road down to its first bend. Over three hundred acres made up the estate—land purchased by Max’s great-grandfather after he discovered gold on it in the 1800s. The original Beaumont built the hacienda that descendents had lived in for more than a century. Max had grown up in the old house. It was Spanish-styled, U-shaped with thick adobe walls and a red-tile roof. In recent years his parents had remodeled it into a retreat center.
    Claire knew from her own experience that people came because the place offered a safe harbor from the world. The natural beauty and the comfy rooms provided the ambience, but her in-laws added the essence of safety. Their faith and prayers and loving ways filled every inch with a tangible peace.
    In September, not many months ago, a wildfire nearly destroyed everything. Unwilling to start all over again at their age, Ben and Indio Beaumont had planned to sell the hacienda. Max and Claire, desperate to start all over again and to make a safe harbor of their own, decided to leave behind their old life, sell their house, and reopen the Hideaway.
    To date, the only completely finished room was the master bedroom suite. It was enough for them. They’d moved in and now worked most days with the construction crew—a high-priced outfit worth every penny because they renovated in record time. Ben and Indio lived in a camper down the road, on the site of their new home.
    Life resounded with glorious song.
    Except when Max said it teetered on the edge of a cliff.
    S on, what do you mean life is teetering on the edge of a cliff?” Ben Beaumont’s thick silver eyebrows drew together in a frown.
    Max did not reply. Claire noted his tranquil demeanor and marveled at the change. In days gone by, he had been highly expressive, his gestures nonstop and energetic, his words a rushing stream. Now, in life’s new season, his personality was tempered with calm moments of reflection.
    Max cracked a knuckle.
    Except for that.
    They were seated on built-in benches around a tiny table in the RV. Ben and Indio chose to live in these cramped quarters, never complaining, grateful to be alone again and back on their beloved land after the fire. Despite delays in the completion of their new home, they exuded contentment.
    Max laid his fists on the table. “Not counting Claire, everything in my life is a total unknown.” He began uncurling one finger at a time. “One, Danny hasn’t asked me a business question in weeks. Unheard of. Two, Lexi won’t make eye contact with me. Who knows what she’s hiding. Three, Erik drinks too much. Four, Jenna is falling apart. Five, Kevin is going off to war. Six, Phil made two major dumb moves with the agency.” He referred to the new owner of Beaumont Staffing. “And seven—no offense, Mom and Dad—but you’re getting feeble. As you should, since you are closing in on eighty.”
    Indio bristled, shaking her head and shoulders, pursing her lips. “I do take offense, Maxwell. Feeble? A little exhausted from time to time and getting up there in years, yes. But let’s not even consider the word feeble! It makes me sound like some witless nincompoop.”
    Claire couldn’t help but laugh at her mother-in-law, a short, plump woman of Native American descent who wore her salt-and-pepper hair in a long single braid. “Indio, we all know you are a far cry from witlessness or nincompoopness.”
    Ben chortled. “Now that easily applies to me, but not to you, love.”
    Tall and broad shouldered, he still looked like a strong cowboy to Claire. She said, “Ben, you don’t fit that bill either. I bet you could rustle a herd of cattle and ride a horse from here all the way to Denver.”
    He nodded. “Durn right. And eat beans out of a can heated up over an open fire and sleep under the stars.” He laughed again.
    Claire noticed Max’s somber face. “Hon, what are you trying to say?”
    “I just don’t know what to do with this feeling of helplessness.”
    She