High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart) Read Online Free Page A

escaped strand of hair behind her ear, the other fist resting under her chin.
    Sawyer’s chin dropped to his chest and his lower lip protruded in a calculated pout.
    Nicki tried not to give in to the smile that suddenly tugged at the corners of her mouth as she gazed into his sweet face. “Sawyer, Mama has told you not to get into the food. This is very naughty.”
    Tears pooled on his lower lids, making his huge dark eyes seem even larger. The pout was still in place. “I sowwee, Mama.”
    “Está bien . That’s good. I’m glad you’re sorry, but we have talked about this before. You are going to sit in the corner while I clean this up.”
    His rosy lower lip still pooching out, he stood to his flour-dusted feet. Dark head bent toward the floor, he crossed his arms over his chest and did not move.
    “Go on, Son. I will come get you when I’m done.”
    Feet dragging, he made his way to the corner and sat, casting a how-could-you-do-this-to-me look over his shoulder before he slumped forward, resting chubby cheeks on chubby hands.
    When Nicki was sure he wasn’t looking, she allowed herself to smile. Poor boy. The winter was getting long. If only the weather would warm up, then they could go outside and he would have more room to play.
    Looking back to the mess, she tossed her hands toward the ceiling in frustration and moved to get the broom and dust pan.
    When the mess was cleaned up, Nicki walked over to get Sawyer, only find that he had fallen asleep on the floor. Stooping, she picked him up and rested his head against her breast. She grinned down at the white print of his bottom on the dark earth floor, then gazed lovingly into his sleep-flushed face. Tenderly she dropped a kiss onto his rosy cheek as tears pooled in her eyes. Blinking, she raised her face to the ceiling.
    Thank You, God, for this precious little boy. He has kept me going these past couple of years. You knew just what I needed to make it through this life, didn’t You? You have blessed me beyond measure.
    Moving to the room’s one bed, she laid Sawyer down and smoothed his dark curls. Gently covering him with his favorite patchwork blanket, she moved to add more wood to the stove. Today was exceptionally cold.
    She eased herself down at the table, thankful to have a little quiet time. Reaching for her Bible, the one Mama had pressed into her hands that day that seemed like a lifetime ago, she thumbed through the pages. She settled on one of her favorite psalms and leaned back to read. But she only got to verse four. Pausing, she stared at the page. But she wasn’t seeing the words, she was hearing them.
    “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
    Nicki could remember like it had happened yesterday—Father Pedro from the mission school she had attended as a child, explaining those words. “The psalmist, he was a shepherd, no?” The class had nodded. “And when his sheep were in danger, what did he use to protect them, besides his sling shot?”

    “His rod and staff,” the class echoed in unison.
    “Good! You sometimes listen when I teach, eh?” He smiled good-naturedly. “Yes. The rod and staff, and in the same way, when death comes knocking on our doors,” he rapped loudly on his wooden desk for emphasis, causing several of the girls to jump and a titter of laughter to pass through the room, “we know that our Heavenly Father, who loves us much more than a shepherd loves his sheep, will come to our aid, yes?”
    Again the class nodded.
    “Good! God loves you. He is not going to abandon you to the wolves, and predators of this world. It says He will be with you! Imagine that: God with you, helping you, protecting you. Ahhh, now that is a God worth serving, yes?”
    The thunder of horses’ hooves in the yard brought Nicki back to the present. She frowned and stood to see who it might be. John was not supposed to be back