Place to Belong, a Read Online Free PDF

some errands to run after church, so I’ll ride.”
    â€œAs you wish.” What kind of errands could he be referring to? But Ransom put a guard on his tongue. After all, Christmas was coming and no questions allowed. If only his curiosity could be stilled as easily.

    â€œI need to talk with Reverend Brandenburg after church, if that is all right,” Cassie said as Ransom helped her to the ground in the churchyard. “I need to see if he can come out to the ranch to marry Micah and Runs Like a Deer.”
    â€œWe’re not in any rush.”
    â€œThank you.”
    Gretchen met them inside the church, and thanks to some unseen machinations, Lucas ended up on the end of the pew, obviously not next to Cassie, where he wanted to be. He glared at Ransom, but Ransom made a slight motion to the Hudson family four pews behind theirs. Betsy had returned from her trip, and the family could see no sense in throwing fuel on the fire. Mavis sat on one side of Cassie and Gretchen on the other. Ransom made sure the grin of pride he was feeling did not show on his face. What a family he had.
    But then, the Hudsons had just as interesting a family. For years, Lucas had considered Betsy his girl, and everyone assumed that one day, when he was financially stable, he’d propose. Nowhere he was courting Miss Lockwood. Betsy had disappeared suddenly, mysteriously, and now she had reappeared. Where had she gone? What did she do while she was away? Ransom really ought to ask, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to do it. Frankly, he didn’t care enough to ask. That was Lucas’s job. He’s the one who had courted her, sort of.
    The glow lasted through the service as he and Gretchen shared a hymnal and Mavis looked out for Cassie. Arnett sat next to Mavis, leaving Lucas on the wall side. Afterwards, Mavis made a point to greet the Hudson family as if no hard feelings had ever transpired. Ransom admired that in her, especially because he knew that her openness was no act.
    Betsy’s little sister, Sarah, scowled smoldering coals at Lucas, but Mrs. Hudson took her cue from Mavis and returned a cheerful greeting.
    â€œHave you heard anything more on the rustlers?” Ransom asked Mr. Hudson.
    The rancher shook his head. “Strangest thing, no one has. Like they fell off the face of the earth. Took two head from us. Two from Jay Slatfield, and Arnett said he wasn’t sure but maybe several. He don’t run his herd as carefully as he used to, you know.”
    â€œNot surprising, I doubt he can see far enough to count heads. He does all right reading, however, so don’t count him out yet.”
    â€œOh no, I’m not, just trying to figure out what is happening.”
    â€œNothing. Looks like the sheriff got the right men in jail after all.”
    â€œWell, if that don’t beat all. From what I heard, that was some fracas at your place.”
    â€œThat would surely be one way to describe it.” Ransom glanced over and realized Cassie was back beside the wagon with his mother and Gretchen, so he excused himself and stopped at the tailgate to help them into the wagon. Lucas was nowhere tobe seen and his horse was gone, so he must have left immediately after church. Perhaps he’d told their mother where he was going.
    â€œLucas said he’d meet you all at the ranch,” Arnett informed him when he picked up the lines.
    â€œDid he say where he was going?”
    â€œNope. And I didn’t ask. Sure was good to be back in church like that. Thanks to you, Mavis. You folks are real friends.” His voice cracked on the last word.
    Ransom backed the team and swung the wagon around to head for home. “Thanks, Arnett. We’ve been neighbors for a long time. Glad we can help each other out. Kinda fits in with his sermon today, didn’t it?”
    â€œYa ever get the feeling like Reverend Brandenburg’s been listening over your shoulder at times, or can