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    James and Esther were staring at Hawk. It was something they had never thought of, but now James said, “It would be very good, Jacob, for you to spend some time with your father.”
    But Jacob was staring at his father. Up until this moment he had kept his temper, but now he said coldly, “You left me here sixteen years ago, and now you come here unannounced and say, ‘Come live with me,’ and expect everything to be fine. I’ve got a life here with my grandparents, after I was abandoned by a father who obviously didn’t care one bean about me.” He saw his words strike against his father’s face and took a perverse pleasure in hurting him. And then he did something that he regretted the moment he said it. “Besides, I’m thinking of getting married.”
    â€œMarried?” Hawk said, his eyes opening wide with surprise. “But you’re only sixteen.”
    â€œI don’t mean right now, but I’m in love with a young woman named Annabelle Denton.” In his anger he forgot his promise to Annabelle to say nothing about marriage. Curtly he ended by saying, “You’re not really my father. I think you should go back to the frontier with your other family, especially the son you’re so proud of. Forget about me, because I’m going to try to forget about you!” He whirled and left the room, and they heard the front door slam.
    A silence reigned over the room for a moment, and James said quickly, “Jacob will calm down and probably change his mind. After all, it’s a pretty big shock for him.”
    â€œYes, it is,” Esther said. She came over and touched Hawk’s arm gently. “Don’t be angry, son.”
    â€œI’m not angry. I understand, and really I deserve everything the boy said.”
    â€œI’ll talk to him,” Esther said.
    â€œNo, don’t do that, Mother. I wouldn’t force him to do something against his will. You two have been a real blessing in his life, actually his mother and father. I’ll tell him I won’t bother him again if he doesn’t want me to.”
    Esther was closer to Hawk than the others. His face was turned slightly away, and for the first time since he was a very small child, she saw something that shocked her. This tall, strong man who had braved the wilderness and was able to handle anything that came his way had tears in his eyes. She reached out and whispered, “God has brought you back to Him, Josh, and now He’s not going to forget you. You’ll have your son again.”

Chapter Five
    Jacob and His Father
    A fitful night’s sleep had left faint dark circles under Jacob’s eyes. As he left his room and moved down the hall to the landing, he felt miserable and discontented. He put his hand on the polished walnut, remembering his delight in sliding down the curving banister when he was younger. I must have gotten in trouble a hundred times over this banister! The memories of that time came back as he descended to the first floor, and he found himself longing for those halcyon days when life had been so much simpler. He was a thoughtful, introspective young man, at times retreating from reality into a secret world of dreams and longings. Now as he entered the dining room, he shook his shoulders, forcing himself to assume a more pleasant expression.
    â€œGood morning, Grandpa.”
    â€œGood morning, Jake.” James Spencer had been standing at the mullioned window looking out at the oak tree that had shed all its leaves and now appeared bare and dark against the gray November sky. A brisk wind was stirring the crisp leaves that lay around the base of the huge tree, catching them up into a miniature tornado that swept across the flat ground and dissipated as they collided with a green hedge of holly decorated with crimson berries. Clasping his hands behind his back, James commented, “It’s going to be a cold winter. I knew