Measure of Grace by Al Lacy Read Free Book Online

cell, Knight said, “I passed up lunch so I’d have time to come see you. Has your mother been here today?”
    “No. I expect her and Lorene to come soon.”
    Knight nodded. “Well, you wanted me to talk to your father and ask him to come see you. I did. But he said he won’t be coming. I’m sorry.”
    Jordan’s face sagged. “Thanks for trying.”
    “Sure. Wish I could have convinced him, but his mind is made up. But listen, Jordan, don’t give up on him. I’m sure it will be all right when you get out of here and go home.”
    Jordan moved his head slowly back and forth. “No, it won’t. Papa doesn’t want me to come home.”
    “Oh, sure he does,” Knight insisted. “He’s just upset and hurt over what you did. He’ll get over it.”
    “I wish you were right, but he won’t get over it. He’s washed his hands of me.”
    Knight couldn’t think of anything else to say on the subject. “Well, I wanted to let you know as soon as I could that I had talked to him. See you later.”
    “Thanks for trying, pal,” said Jordan. “See you later.”
    Knight had been gone only a few minutes when Marshal Woodard once again ushered Sylvia and Lorene into the cell block and placed the chairs in front of the cell so they could sit down. He picked up the food tray Jordan had slid under the cell door and left. Sylvia and Lorene hugged Jordan through the bars.
    As they sat down, Sylvia said, “Knight came to the house yesterday afternoon right after he had been here to see you. He talked to your father, and—”
    “I know, Mama,” cut in Jordan. “He was here about fifteen minutes ago. Passed up lunch at school to come and tell me what Papa said.”
    “Your father loves you, son,” said Sylvia. “He’s just trying to teach you a lesson. He doesn’t want anything like this to ever happen again.”
    “I’ve learned my lesson, Mama,” said Jordan. “I won’t ever do anything like that again. But all I want is to know my father is willing to forgive me.”
    “I know, son. But it will just have to wait till you finish your sentence and come home.”
    Looking at his mother with steady eyes, Jordan said, “Papa doesn’t want me to come home. Ever.”
    “Oh, of course he does,” she said, reaching through the bars to grasp his hand. “Of course he does.”
    “It’ll all be different when you get home, Jordan,” said Lorene. “You’ll see.”
    Looking past her son to the denim jacket that lay across the foot of his cot, Sylvia said, “Would you like me to take your jacket home, son? It’s getting warmer every day. By the time you get out, you won’t need it.”
    “No, that’s all right, Mama. Thanks, but I’ll just keep it with me.”
    Sylvia nodded. “All right.”
    Sylvia and Lorene stayed a while longer, then embraced Jordan another time through the bars and left.
    Ace Decker and Keith Nolan now had jobs at Fletcher’s Sawmill several miles northwest of Ketcham, near a dense forest, and had rented a small cabin in the foothills of the Sawtooth Mountains. They were still fuming at the treatment they were given by William Shaw and talked about their desire to get even with him. They would do so when they could come up with just the right plan.
    Knight Colburn continued to visit his best friend every day, but was not able to convince him that things would work out between him and his father. Sylvia and Lorene also came every day, and sometimes Mark Hedren was with them. They, too, were unable to persuade Jordan that his father would ever forgive him.
    Early on the morning of Jordan’s thirteenth day in jail, Marshal Woodard entered the cell block, carrying the usual breakfast tray. On some days, there had been other prisoners, but once again Jordan was alone.
    Instead of sliding the tray under the cell door, Woodard balanced it in one hand, took the keys off his belt, and unlocked the door. Handing the tray to Jordan, he said, “I’ve been thinking … how would you like to get out a day