Free High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart) by Lynnette Bonner

was listening to his and Gram’s conversation.
    Gram’s voice held a tremor of excitement when she answered, “There is an advertisement for a ranch manager in the paper today. Somewhere near Farewell Bend. I was just telling Jason that I think he should take the job.”
    Jason settled back into the cushions, refusing to give up on the prospect of catching a little sleep, yet knowing he was bucking the odds. He spoke with his eyes closed, hoping everyone would get the hint. “I wouldn’t be able to go until the spring thaw, Gram. And by then someone from that side of the mountains will already have the job.”
    Jeff, sitting across the room, cleared his throat. “Maybe not.”
    Every eye in the room turned on him in question. Jeff glanced at Marquis and put his arm around her protectively before he spoke. “I haven’t even spoken to Marquis about this yet, but late last evening I received a wire from the school in Portland. They want me to personally see to it that a noctograph reaches Prineville, which if I remember correctly is only about thirty miles from Farewell Bend.”
    “Jeff?” Marquis laid a hand on his arm. “You have to leave?”
    “I’ll try to make the trip as short as possible.” Jeff squeezed her hand.
    Jason sat back up and cast a frown at the newspaper in Gram’s lap. “How are you to get there?”
    “The Blind School has its own coach. We would head north to pick up the noctograph and the coach in Portland. From there we would head east through the Columbia Gorge, then south through The Dalles and down to Prineville. That way we wouldn’t have to cross any mountain passes. After that, though, you would be on your own.” His face softened and he turned to look at his bride. “I have someone to hurry home to.”
    Even though Marquis couldn’t see his face, the two became lost in one another’s presence. Jason, noting his sister’s contented smile as she reached up to trace her fingers across Jeff’s face, felt irritated at their sentimentality.
    Jason turned to Gram. “I don’t know, Gram. It says, ‘Willing to work for little pay until the ranch gets back on its feet.’”
    Gram laid a gnarled hand on his cheek. “You’re thinking in the flesh, my boy. Since when have you ever needed anything more than a roof over your head and some food in your belly?”
    “Yeah,” Sky pitched in helpfully, “I’m sure this ranch at least pays that much. Of course, you might have to live in a cave somewhere and hunt your own food.”
    Brooke reached over and playfully smacked Sky’s arm.
    Jason grinned at Sky, but his thoughts turned serious. Well, Lord, is this the place you have for me?
    There was no answer. But as Jason moved throughout the week, try as he might, he could not take his mind off of the man who had lost his wife and needed someone to help him run his ranch. Every time he opened a newspaper he would see the ad. Whenever Gram looked at him, he could see in her eyes that she thought he should go. Marquis asked him twice if he had made a decision yet. And he even heard some people in the mercantile discussing the advertisement when he went to pick up some sugar for Gram.
    Stepping out of the store, he leaned against a post on the boardwalk. Perhaps the Lord did want him there. He’d speak to Jeff and ask when they were leaving. The least he could do was check into the situation. All right Lord, if the job is still open when I get there, I’ll take it. I just hate to leave when Gram seems to be getting old so quickly. Help me to know if I’m doing the right thing .
    As he walked into the house and set the sugar on the counter Gram glanced up at him. “You’ve decided to go.” Jason blinked at her.
    “I can see the peace on your face, my boy. I’m so glad.” She laid her age-wrinkled hand on his cheek. “I’m so proud of you. You’re making the right decision.”
    Jason grinned at her. “How do you do that?”
    She did not give the tart reply Jason expected. Instead