The Fiery Ring (28 page)

Chase couldn’t help smiling at her forwardness. Her brusque ways were refreshing, and he put out his hand, which she took in both of hers. He felt the roughness of them, callused from a lifetime of hard labor. “That may take a while,” he said, “but at least I can chop your wood and feed the chickens.”

Time seemed to slow down for Chase as he settled into a peaceful life once again at Sister Hannah’s home. He felt separated from the rest of the world there. Her house became his world, and each day he would rise, eat breakfast with her, and study the Bible with her. This consisted mostly of Sister Hannah opening the worn black Bible and reading to him. Some days she would read for almost an hour without commenting. Then finally one day, she said, “Sometimes I think we talk too much, Chase, and we don’t let God talk enough. The Bible says, ‘The entrance of thy words giveth light,’ so we’re going to put the Word into you until you’re all light on the inside.”

After their Bible study, Chase would spend a good part of his day sawing down trees, cutting them into lengths, and splitting them with a maul. He soon had enough wood for Hannah to go through two winters, all good white oak that split like cloven rock each time he hit it.

The nights were the same as the mornings. He would again listen to Sister Hannah read the Bible to him, then explain what she thought the good Lord meant. At no time did she ever accuse him or make him feel guilty. One evening after reading from the Gospel of John, they talked for over an hour about the encounters of Jesus.

“There ain’t no better book than John,” Sister Hannah said quietly. A single bulb dangling from a chain overhead illuminated the room dimly. They sat at the kitchen table with their cups of coffee, but they were forgotten now. He listened intently as Sister Hannah murmured, “Jesus kept hunting people down, or else they searched him out. Nicodemus in chapter three comes lookin’ for Him. Didn’t have the vaguest idea what the Lord Jesus was talkin’ about or who He was. When Jesus told him, ‘Ye must be born again,’ old Nicodemus didn’t have a notion in his head what the Lord was talkin’ about. Then the woman at the well—how that woman must have felt to find someone who loved her no matter what she’d done!

“Then a little further on, there was that fellow born blind. I’ve always loved this story. You notice, son, that he didn’t get saved all at once. After the blind man was healed, the Pharisees asked him who healed him, and he said, ‘Jesus. He put clay on my eyes and I washed and now I can see.’ He didn’t know anything about Jesus. But later on, Jesus sought
him
out—all this is in chapter nine—and he asked that feller, ‘Dost thou believe on the Son of God?’ right here in verse thirty-five.” Sister Hannah put her finger on the Bible, and Chase followed the lines. “You know, I’ve thought lots of times, Brother Chase, that this is the most important question. ‘Dost thou believe on the Son of God?’ ”

The room was quiet then. A fly was buzzing around, making an unsteady hum, and Chase read the next line. “ ‘Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?’ ”

“That’s right.” Sister Hannah nodded. “And Jesus said, ‘Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.’ ”

Chase read the next line aloud. “ ‘And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.’ ” Chase had felt little or nothing in his heart during the few days he’d been with Sister Hannah again, but for a reason he could not explain, his heart all of a sudden seemed to break. He looked across the table at Sister Hannah, and tears formed in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but somehow that touches my heart.”

Sister Hannah leaned over, and her eyes were also filled with tears. “That’s the Spirit of God, son, and He’s asking you, just like He asked that blind man, will you believe on the Son of God?”

“I’ve always believed that Jesus was God as long as I can remember.”

“Then will you ask Him to be Lord of your life and let Him do anything He wants with you?”

Chase Hardin had never felt as he did at that moment. He was filled with a mixture of fear, joy, and excitement, and yet he could not speak. He watched Sister Hannah get up and walk around the table. “Son, let’s kneel right here before Jesus. I’m gonna pray, and you’re gonna pray, and when we get up, you’ll be a new creature.”

Without a word, Chase fell on his knees. He felt Sister Hannah’s arm go around his shoulder, and he began to tremble and weep. He could hear her calling out to God in a loud voice, and then he heard his own voice crying out in agony, “Oh, God, I need you! Save me in the name of Jesus and by His blood!”

Chase never remembered how long he called out like this, but he did recall later that at one point weakness overcame him. Finally Sister Hannah pulled him to his feet, and spoke in a voice of exultation. “That’s what you needed, son. God’s done a work in you. Ain’t that right?”

Chase Hardin knew she had spoken the truth. “Yes, Sister Hannah,” he whispered, “He has.”

****

It had been three days since Chase had accepted Christ, but somehow he felt the need to stay on. He and Sister Hannah continued to study the Bible morning and night. He attended church with her that Sunday, and at the end of the service, when she gave an invitation, he came forward and saw the joy in the old woman’s eyes. “I want to be baptized, Sister,” he said.

And so baptized he was that very morning in a horse pond under the blue July sky. Sister Hannah did not baptize him herself; rather, a tall, strong elder put him under the water.

When Chase stepped out of the water, Sister Hannah grasped him, soaking wet as he was, and said, “I ain’t never been happier. Now God’s ready to go into business with you, son.”

****

Two days after his baptism, Sister Hannah received a phone call for Chase. It was Travis Winslow.

“Bad news, Chase.”

“Is it Joy?”

“No, she’s all right, but the cats turned on Karl. They didn’t kill him, but he’ll be out for a long time. Maybe for good.”

Relief washed through Chase that it wasn’t Joy. “I’m sorry about Karl, but I’m glad Joy’s all right.”

“Well, she’s not all right. Stella’s got Joy talked into takin’ Karl’s place. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the plan.”

Chase did not hesitate. “Where are you?”

“In Yazoo City, Mississippi.”

“I’ll be there as quick as I can. Don’t let her get in that cage, Travis. Tie her up if you have to!”

“All right. I’ll do whatever I can—but please hurry, Chase!”

Chase turned to Hannah. “I gotta go, Sister Hannah.” He explained the nature of the phone call and said, “I gotta get there quick. She shouldn’t be getting in the cage all alone with those cats.”

“Get your things, boy, but you’re not hitchhikin’. I got the
cash for a railroad ticket. I’ll take you down to the station. You can catch the three-forty. Ought to have you there maybe tomorrow, or the day after for sure.”

Things moved so rapidly then that within an hour Chase was saying good-bye to Sister Hannah on the railroad platform. He hugged her and kissed her cheek. “I’ll call as soon as I get there, but please pray that whatever happens, we’ll keep Joy out of that cage.”

“I’ll do that, and you do whatever God puts in your heart, boy. You’re His child now, and He’ll take care of you.”

The conductor called out, “All aboard,” and Chase tore himself from Sister Hannah’s grasp. He ran to catch the train as it was moving out. Turning, he waved to her, then went inside and found a seat, knowing that God was sending him on his first mission.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Stella Makes an Offer

As Chase entered the circus grounds, he could hear the band playing and knew by the tune that it was the final spec. He shifted his suitcase from one hand to the other, then marched resolutely across the grounds, where he encountered Doak Williams. The big man turned to him with a flash of surprise in his eyes.

“Why, it’s you, Chase! Hey, real good to see you.” Doak put out his huge hand, and Chase shook it. “I ’spect you heard about Karl.”

“Yes. Did you see it, Doak?”

“Was standin’ right there. We was lucky to get him out alive, Chase.”

“What happened?”

“You know how Sultan’s always lookin’ for a chance to fight somebody, do some damage. Well, he found a chance all right, and it seemed like the rest of them cats was just waitin’. We got in as quick as we could, but Karl was clawed up bad. One of them got him right across the face, laid it right open. You know how them tiger claws catch better’n I do. He ain’t never again gonna be the good-lookin’ fella he was, the doctors say.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s in the hospital. They took him to Jackson, but I don’t think he’s ever gonna be the man he was. A man can’t go through a thing like that and be the same—but I reckon you know all about that, don’t you, Chase?”

“I sure do,” he said, nodding grimly.

“I guess you heard about the deal that Miss Joy made with Miss House.”

“Yes, Travis called me and told me about it.”

“I sure hope you can put a stop to that. You know that girl ain’t got no business bein’ alone in a whole cageful of them critters. You’d think seein’ Karl clawed up like that woulda changed her mind, but that girl’s stubborn as a blue-nosed mule!”

The blare of a trumpet sounded, and Chase turned to face the entrance. The spectators were filing out now, talking and babbling as usual, and Chase said, “I think I’d better try to talk to Travis first.”

“You can talk to him,” Doak said, nodding, “but he’s already told me he’s used every argument he can with Miss Joy. Says she just won’t pay no attention. She’s bound and determined to do it.”

“I have to stop her, Doak.”

“You comin’ back to work, then?”

“I don’t know what I’m gonna do—I’ve just gotta do
something!
”

Chase made his way inside the big top. He scanned the crowds and saw Travis standing beside the center pole. Chase hurried toward him, and at the same time Travis saw him and came forward to meet him. The two men shook hands. “Glad to see you, Chase.” Relief washed across Travis’s features, but then he shook his head. “I’ve said everything I can think of to get her to reconsider, but maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

“I’ll try. But first I’ve got some news for you.”

Travis Winslow straightened up and stared at Chase. “What is it?”

“While I was gone I got converted. It took me long enough, but I finally found the Lord.”

Travis reached out, his eyes bright and a smile on his lips.
He gave Chase a hug and said, “Well, brother, I’m glad to hear that! I’ve been praying for you.”

“So have a few others. My mother and Sister Hannah. You’ll have to help me along. I need lots of counsel.”

“You’re going to do fine, Chase.”

“Well, I better go find Joy.”

“She’s probably with the cats. She didn’t do the act today, but like I said, she’s determined to do it soon.”

“I’ll see you later, Travis.”

Chase made his way back to the menagerie, and as Travis had predicted, Joy was there. She was stroking Mabel’s head, which was pressed against the bars. Chase came up behind her and said, “Hello, Joy.”

She turned quickly, her lips parted in surprise. Then she smiled and put her hands out. When he took them in both of his, she said, “I’m glad to see you, Chase, but I didn’t expect it. You heard about Karl, of course.”

“Yes, Travis called me. I hope Karl’s going to be all right.”

Joy realized he was still holding her hands, and when she looked down at them, he dropped them. “I don’t think he’ll ever be the same, Chase. His face was terribly clawed. They had to put in a lot of stitches, and the doctor says he’ll always be scarred.”

“I’m so relieved you weren’t hurt. How did you get out of there in one piece?”

“The cats just went after Karl. I clung to the cage, and they stayed away from me.” Joy fell silent then and looked at him in a strange way. “Why did you come back, Chase?”

“Because I was worried about you. I was at Sister Hannah’s when I got the word.”

“Yes, Travis told me. What were you doing there?”

“I needed some help, and I thought she was the one I needed. So I spent some time with her.”

“I miss her a lot. I’d love to go back too.”

“She’d love to see you.” He hesitated, then said, “I gave my heart to the Lord while I was there this time.”

Joy looked stunned, then said quietly, “I’m glad for you, Chase.”

“It’s a beginning, but as Sister Hannah says, it’s easier to become a Christian than it is to
be
the Christian you’ve become.”

A silence fell between them, each of them aware that something unpleasant lay ahead. Chase finally said simply, “I don’t want you to do the act alone with all these cats. You’re not ready for that, Joy.”

“I can get ready for it. Karl used to do the act by himself all the time. I can learn to do it by myself too.”

“Karl’s had a lot more experience than you have. When you’re alone in there you have to turn your back on half of them.”

Joy shook her head. “I can do it. I’ll just have to be careful.”

“Why do you want to do it, Joy? Do you just love applause so much—is that it?”

Joy’s face flushed. “That’s part of it, I confess, but Travis wants to go to Bible school, and my raise will help pay for it.”

“I doubt if he’ll take your money. He doesn’t want you to do it, and he’s got sense.”

Joy straightened up and said in a businesslike voice, “I’m glad you’re back, Chase. It’s good to see you again, and I’m happy for you that you’ve found God, but I’m going to do this act no matter what you or anybody else says.”

****

“I heard you were back, Chase.” Stella stood at the door of her trailer and put her hands out. When Chase took them, she gave him a firm grasp and smiled. “Somehow I thought you’d come back.”

“I guess you’ve got a pretty good idea of why I’m here.”

“Sure—you’re worried about Joy Winslow.”

“That’s right. Stella, you’ve been around circuses a long time. You know how dangerous that act is. I’ve been worried sick about her being in that cage with Karl, and here
she’s talking about getting in all alone with fifteen lions and tigers.” He shook his head in despair, a pleading look in his eyes. “She can’t do it. It’s too dangerous.”