Free The Glorious Prodigal by Gilbert Morris Page A

different from Jeff.”
    “He certainly is!”
    Diane reached over and took Richard’s hand. “You must be patient, dear,” she said.
    “I think I’ve been patient for a long time, but he’s got to wake up. He’s not a child now. He’s got a wife and a baby. It’s time for him to take control of his life and be responsible.”
    Diane did not have an answer for her husband’s valid concerns. She lay silently and, as always, went to sleep praying for her son who had given them all such grief.
    ****
    Without question, the summer wedding of Carter Simms to Cora Langley was the most extravagant event to ever take place in Lewisville. Reverend Charles Fields performed the service, and the church was packed. Everyone had followed the stormy courtship of the pair, and several bets had been made as to the outcome of it.
    Stuart Winslow was one of the few unhappy spectators. He had sat beside Leah and after the ceremony had attended the reception in a large hall nearby. A tense moment came when Leah approached Cora to wish her well. Her cheeks were slightly pale, for she well knew what she had never voiced to Stuart. She said quietly, “I hope you have a happy marriage, Cora.” Then she turned quickly to Carter. She was almost as tall as he was, and she noted the strain around the edges of his eyes. “Congratulations, Mr. Simms,” she said. “I hope you have a happy marriage.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Winslow.” His eyes did not remain on her but darted quickly to his bride.
    His expression changed as he saw Winslow lean forward and kiss Cora on the cheek. He did not speak, but he heard Stuart say, “Congratulations, Cora.”
    Neither man offered to shake hands, and Winslow nodded and said coolly, “I wish you a happy marriage.”
    “Thank you.”
    The tension between Carter and Stuart was evident, and everyone watching knew that the two men had clashed before. Lewisville loved its drama, and here was Carter Simms marrying Cora Langley—a woman who had never been denied by any man she chose to put her eyes on. The other actor in the drama was Stuart Winslow, who had pursued Cora avidly—many said he had captured her heart—but the moment passed quickly.
    Ace Devainy later encountered Simms, who had deliberately come over to stand beside him. “Congratulations, Carter,” he said. “Hope you’ll have a long and happy marriage.”
    Simms nodded briefly and murmured a word of thanks. His eyes went across the crowd to Cora, and then he said, “Your friend Winslow’s a dashing fellow.”
    Ace hesitated, not knowing how to answer. “I guess so,” he said finally. “He’s had his troubles, but he’s settling down now.”
    Simms turned to him, and there was a cold light in his hazel eyes. “You can pass the word along that he won’t be welcome at my home. Cora won’t be receiving any of her old friends, at least not him.”
    The threat was not even veiled. As plainly as if Carter had shouted the warning, Ace understood that Simms would not tolerate any advances at all on the part of Stuart Winslow. He nodded and murmured, his voice soft as the summer breeze, “I’ll pass the word along, Carter.”
    “Make it clear.”
    Carter left Devainy and went over to stand by Cora. He possessively put a hand on her arm, and she turned and smiled up at him, then reached up and patted his cheek. Devainy watched all this and then glanced at Stuart. He saw that his friend’s eyes were on Cora, and a sense of foreboding came over him. He knew he would never pass the warning along, for Stuart was just the sort of fellow who would take it as a challenge.
    I hope he shows a bit of good sense for once, Ace thought. Then he turned to Ellie, who was coming to him to take his arm.
    “Wasn’t it a wonderful wedding?” she said.
    “Yes. Makes a fellow want to get married himself.”
    Ellie blinked with surprise. “That’s strange coming from you.”
    For some time Ace Devainy had felt the futility of his life. Now he said