Measure of Grace Read Online Free PDF Page B

against me, but you shouldn’t have let it make you so mad that you tossed that rock through the window.”
    Jordan shrugged. “You’re my best friend. I didn’t appreciate himmaking fun of you for being a Christian. He said you were stupid, and called you a fool for being one of those born-agains. His dad agreed, saying your parents were also fools, then he made me really mad when he said, ‘A lot of good Buck’s religion did him when he was facing the stampede.’ ”
    Knight’s eyes misted. “Marshal Woodard didn’t tell me about that.”
    “He doesn’t know about it. I told him that George Crum had insulted your widowed mother and your dead father, but I didn’t go any further with it.” Jordan paused, then said, “Did the marshal tell you he took me to the feed store and made me apologize to George Crum for breaking the window?”
    “Yes. He also told me that your dad said you have to pay for it.”
    “Mm-hmm. I know I lost control of my temper, and I shouldn’t have thrown the rock through the window, but I just couldn’t stand the way they spoke about you and your family. I know I have a problem with my temper and I’ve tried to do better with it, but I can’t seem to keep a level head when I get mad.”
    “Well, again, I really appreciate your loyalty, Jordan,” said Knight, “but I don’t like to see you behind bars because you lost your temper. As you well know, I used to have a real problem with my temper, too, but when I got saved and learned to let Jesus take control in my life, I found that things got a whole lot better. I’d really love to see you open your heart to Him. First, because you need to be saved so you can go to heaven when you die, and second, because the Lord can change you down inside and make things a whole lot better in your life while you’re here on earth.”
    Jordan lowered his head and looked at the floor. “Like I’ve told you, Knight—I’m just not ready to do that, yet.”
    “Well, just what’s it going to take to make you ready? God warns in His Word not to put off salvation, Jordan. If you—”
    Knight’s words were interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the hallway that led from the office. Jordan’s head came up, and when the door opened, Knight looked around. Marshal Woodard stepped into the cell block with Sylvia and Lorene Shaw on his heels.
    “Someone else here to see you, Jordan,” said Woodard.
    Both women rushed to the cell and embraced Jordan through the bars. Sylvia had tears in her eyes as she said, “Thank you for coming to see him, Knight.”
    “He’s in here sort of because of me, ma’am. It’s the least I could do. I’ll be going, now,” he said to Jordan. “But you can look for me every day while you’re in here.”
    Tears were in Jordan’s eyes. “You’re a real, true friend, Knight. Thanks for coming. See you tomorrow.”
    As Knight headed through the door, the marshal picked up two straight-backed wooden chairs from the corner of the cell block and placed them in front of Jordan’s cell. “Here, ladies. Sit down.”
    Sylvia and Lorene thanked him. Both wiped tears from their cheeks and the strain of the situation showed in their eyes. As they sat on the chairs, Woodard unlocked Willie Beemer’s cell. Beemer had been sitting on his cot, silently looking on. “All right, Willie,” he said, “you’ve done your time for the latest trouble you’ve gotten into. Let’s go.”
    When the marshal and Beemer were gone, Sylvia and Lorene scooted their chairs closer to the bars. Tears were spilling down Jordan’s face. “Mama, Lorene,” he said, sniffling, “I’m sorry for bringing this grief on you. I’m sorry for bringing it on the whole family. Please forgive me.”
    Mother and sister both reached through the bars.
    “I forgive you, son,” said Sylvia. “I wish you’d learn to control that temper. I know you were defending Knight and his parents, and what George and Lester did was wrong, but throwing the