Sean Donovan (The Californians, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

here-well worth the risk."
    "Who gets the money?" Anita wanted to know, catching Hartley's excitement.
    "We all do," Hartley told her with a smile.
    Sean knew that this was a now-or-never point in his life.
His father's face suddenly sprang into his head, and Sean
wondered where he was. It doesn't matter, he thought after
just a moment. He doesn't want to see me anyway.
    In an effort to hide the pain Sean bent low over the bank
plan now laid out on the table. "Count me in" was all he
said before everyone fell quiet and allowed Hartley to
explain.

     

    Santa Rosa, California
    Rigg was exhausted, but sleep would not come. He
was sure this stemmed from the fact that his wife was not
in bed with him. He rolled onto his side to better see the
woman who sat in the rocking chair, her silhouette illuminated by the moonlight flooding through the window.
    Katie had been sitting motionless for more than an
hour. She knew she would never be able to get out of bed
in the morning if she didn't lie down and get some rest
soon, but her heart was so heavy with thoughts of her
brother, Sean, that sleep seemed hours away.
    How long had it been since they had seen him? Nearly
two years-Molly had been an infant. Nearly two years
since Aunt Maureen had written, beside herself that he
had gone off on his own. They had been forced to accept
Sean's decision, but there had been times when it had
been close to torture to sit and wonder where he might
be.
    So why, tonight of all nights, was he so heavy on her
heart? Every day she thought of him, and prayed that
God would guide his path and someday bring him home, but tonight was different; tonight there was an
urgency in her thoughts. Something was happening this
night, and Kaitlin knew she had to pray.

    She also knew that if Sean had been in the room, she
would have held onto him with all her strength to keep
him from ... to keep him from what, she was not sure.
But somehow Kate was certain that Sean needed protection of some type at that very moment. Not that he
would have welcomed her interference in his life. He
had wanted as little to do with her at 16 and 17 as any
teen could. He hadn't wanted advice or even affection,
from her or anyone else.
    Nineteen and a half now, Kate thought to herself. Surely
he would feel some different.
    Rigg stirred in the bed when someone knocked on the
bedroom door. Kate, not wanting him to be disturbed,
started to rise, but Rigg was already to the door. He
opened it and found Marcail, now 14, waiting outside in
her gown and robe. Rigg, not understanding why Kate
was awake, also wondered at the fact Marcail wasn't
sound asleep.
    Rigg stepped back and allowed her to see Kate at the
window. She moved forward and stopped beside the
rocking chair, letting Kate see her face in the moonlight.
    "I can't sleep."
    "No," Kaitlin spoke softly, "I can't either. Are you
worried about Sean?"
    Marcail nodded, misery written all over her young
face. "Where is he, Katie?"
    "I wish I knew."
    "I can't get him out of my mind."
    "I can't either."
    "Do you think he's in trouble?"

    This time it was Katie's turn to nod. "We've got to
pray, Marc. God knows all about this, and we're going to
give it to Him right now."
    Both girls bowed their heads. As sisters, each in her
own way, they petitioned God on behalf of their brother.
    Marcail, really still just a girl, asked God to keep Sean
safe, and to bring him back to Santa Rosa right away so
they would know he was all right.
    Kaitlin, a mother, prayed differently. She prayed that
Sean would make wise choices and seek God's will above
his own. She also prayed that God would be glorified in
Sean's life, even if it meant her beloved brother would
have to know a season of pain.

     
seven

    Visalia, California
    We all experience seasons, Sean. They're not the predictable
seasons, such as winter and summer, but the unpredictable
seasons that come into our lives. I'm talking about times of