Gatehaven Read online

  Ian couldn’t help laughing. Clearly, the Frenchman now knew that Cook, her daughter, and Stephen, Gabeau’s son, were no longer under his control. What pieces of furniture would he throw around when he learned that Shannon was back at Gatehaven?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  THE MORNING SUN beamed through the window in Leon’s bedroom. Still in bed, he started to reach for his cane when memories of the previous night flooded him with instant rage. His cook, her daughter, and the son he hated had left him forever, and then he discovered that Shannon had returned to Gatehaven. His muscles hardened as if they had turned to stone.

  He’d taken a candle and gone into Shannon’s room on the previous night, but she was not there. His lips curled upward in a hateful smile. He would find her.

  A sudden pain stabbed him in the chest. His breathing became labored, and Leon gulped for air. He tried to call out but couldn’t. Nobody would hear him in any case. McGregor would be tending the animals, and nobody else was in the house but Mr. Colquhoun.

  “Anger and inner wrath will kill you someday, Monsieur Gabeau,” the Healer had said. “If you want these spells of yours to go away, you must force yourself to remain calm.”

  Calm? He might well be dying. He got up and reached for his cane, and this time, he got up.

  Another pain like liquid fire invaded his chest. He staggered to the bed and fell back down.

  Where did I put my pills? He thought for a moment. Oh yes, the table by my bed.

  The pills were inches away. But did he have the strength to reach over and grab them? He needed to try.

  It took every bit of strength he had to stretch out his arm and touch the edge of the table with his fingertips. Slowly, he walked his fingers toward the sack with the pills in them. The pain in his chest increased, but he kept on. His finger reached the sack. He attempted to pull it toward him. It came his way for a short distance. Then it slid off the table and fell to the floor with the pills still inside.

  Leon opened his mouth to call out. But no words came.

  Nobody will find me here. I am doomed.

  He felt as alone as he had on the day he fell in the well. Yes, he tripped and fell. Rachel didn’t push him. But she might as well have. She ruined his life. Because of her, he would never be the same.

  Christians called out to their God at times like this. Maybe he would call on his. Sometimes it worked. But at other times . . .

  Unless he did something, he would soon lose his ability to think. Leon reached down and found the sack. It was almost as if it had been put within his reach on purpose. He slipped his hand inside, grabbed a pill and dropped it in his mouth. He felt as if he was going to faint. But he would not die.

  Not this time, at least.

  His eyes closed. Sleep tempted him. He wanted it—needed it. But he refused to give in even to his normal bodily desire for rest.

  I’m better than that, he told himself.

  Leon sat up in bed, moving his legs around until his feet touched the floor. He would sit there awhile and then he would get up.

  Shannon was likely in Gatehaven by now. Were it within his power, Leon would go and fetch her at once—bring her back to his estate. However, what he wanted to do was not always what he should do. In this case, logic must reign.

  If he hoped to reach his goal, he must plan his moves carefully from this moment on. And nobody must ever know how truly weak he felt at that moment.

  The vicar was preparing his sermon for Sunday the next morning when Ian moved from Leon’s estate to the vicar’s cottage. He gave Ian permission to continue feeding Buster, and he encouraged him to spend the morning as he liked.

  “Look around, Mr. Colquhoun. Enjoy yourself. We will have much to discuss after the noon meal.”

  Ian would have enjoyed a long visit with Shannon or her brother. But he didn’t feel welcome at Gatehaven regardless of who was in charge. Peter took a job at The Boar and Tongue in the village of Fairs.

  He took Buster out for a stroll in the woods on the chance that he might find more bones. He didn’t. Ian was writing a letter to his parents when Mr. Steen called him into his study.

  “Please sit down, Mr. Colquhoun. Did you bring your Bible?”

  “No, I did not.”

  “No matter. I have an extra one.” He handed Ian an English Bible with a worn brown cover. “Do you own a Bible?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Please keep your Bible with you at all times and read it as often as you can. Also, pray in earnest. One never knows when he or she might need a word from the Lord.”

  Ian nodded. Then he thumbed through his Bible without looking up.

  “We’ve discussed demons and the warfare of the spirit among other things. Is that not correct?”

  “Yes, pastor, I believe it is.”

  “Turn to the Book of Isaiah—chapter fourteen. Read verse twelve.”

  “Aloud?”

  “Of course.”

  Ian cleared his throat. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

  “Who is Lucifer?” the pastor asked. “Do you know?”

  “Lucifer was a holy angel who fell from grace. Now he is the devil.”

  “Correct. But why did Lucifer fall from heaven—fall from grace?”

  “He weakened the nations.”

  “Yes. But more than that, he rebelled against God.”

  “My pastor in Luss said that Lucifer was also called the king of Babylon.”

  “Correct again. Lucifer was the king of Babylon. But the Lord is the King of Israel.”

  “And the demons?” Ian asked.

  “Demons and fallen angels are Satan’s underlings. But believers and holy angels are under God’s command.” The vicar glanced toward the door. “Now we will walk over to the church, and I will show you how our services must be conducted and your part in it. Pay close attention. Our services are different from what you are accustomed to in the Reformed Church.”

  Ian wanted the current discussion to continue. He also hoped to learn about warfare of the spirit. His facial expression probably showed his disappointment. Nevertheless, he accompanied the vicar to the church—and listened as he explained the rituals Ian would need to learn in order to perform his duties as the vicar’s assistant.

  This took several hours. When the teaching finally ended for the day, the vicar turned to Ian and smiled.

  “Do not be discouraged, Mr. Colquhoun. We shall discuss the topic you seemed to enjoy again soon. In fact, we will also discuss topics you might find even more interesting.”

  Ian assisted the vicar for the first time during the service on Sunday morning. Even the young boys who served at the altar seemed to know more than Ian did. He looked around the sanctuary, hoping to see Shannon seated in one of the pews. But nobody from Gatehaven attended services that day.

  After the service, Ian changed out of his white robe and hurried to the pastor’s cottage. His stomach was making disgusting sounds indicating a need for food by the time he and the vicar finally sat down for their noon meal. Ian was asked to say the blessing.

  He couldn’t remember the mealtime prayer Mr. Steen had taught him to say. He sent up a prayer from the heart instead. When he finished, he apologized for not remembering.

  “There is no need to apologize, Mr. Colquhoun. Prayers from the heart are always better than those that one recites from memory.”

  Ian couldn’t believe his own ears. Had the vicar actually spoken against the kind of prayers that came from a book? He finally concluded that perhaps what the vicar really meant was that there was a place for both.

  “You did well today,” the vicar added. “When we finish eating, we will go into the sitting room while my cook cleans the dishes, and we will discuss those topics you so enjoy.”

  Ian’s smile was both physical and internal. “Thank you, sir.”

  The humble meal of roasted calf and vegetables taste
d delicious, and Ian intended to thank the cook for preparing it as soon as they finished eating. But his head was so full of thoughts and questions regarding their upcoming discussion, he hoped he wouldn’t forget.

  At last they went into the sitting room and sat by the fire. The room was larger than Pastor Petit’s sitting room, and the shelves held more books. Still, Ian felt a peace there, reminding him of home.

  “We are at war, Mr. Colquhoun. Did you know that?”

  Ian was stunned. He hadn’t heard the news for many days. Still, if England and perhaps Scotland were at war, surely he would have heard.

  “Then there is bad news from the colonies?”

  “The war I am talking about has nothing to do with England or the colonies.”

  “Then please, Mr. Steen, pray tell where this war is being fought.”

  “The war I am talking about is taking place here and everywhere else. I am talking about a spiritual war.”

  Ian nodded. “Oh, I see.”

  But he was really just beginning to see with spiritual eyes.

  “Read from the Book of Revelation—aloud if you please,” Pastor Steen ordered, “chapter twelve and verses seven, eight, and nine.”

  Fortunately, Ian had brought his own Bible this time. He found the Book of Revelation and turned to chapter twelve.

  “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven . . . ”

  Ian remembered Shannon saying that there were carvings of dragons all over Gatehaven, and that the dragon represented Satan. A shudder ran through him. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

  “That is the war of which I speak. Now, Mr. Colquhoun, read chapter twelve in the Book of Revelation, verse eleven, and learn how to fight this war we find ourselves in.”

  Ian cleared his throat. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

  The vicar smiled. “Perhaps you are wondering what all this means. If so, you are not alone. I also wondered. At times, I still have doubts. But if it could be explained briefly, I think it would be this. We are in a battle against the powers of evil, headed by Satan or the devil or Lucifer or the king of Babylon or by whatever name you call him. And as believers, we have the God-given power to overcome this evil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.”

  “And am I right in assuming that we might have to give up our lives one day if it is a choice between serving God and keeping the law of man?”

  The vicar’s nod was slow and perhaps thoughtful. “That would be correct.”

  “I think I understand what you are saying, Pastor Steen. But how would we apply this to our everyday lives? What would we say? And what must we do?”

  “You have asked a very good question. And I can give you but one answer. We must say and do what Jesus said and did while He was on earth. We must resist the devil and he will flee from us as we are told to do in the Book of James—chapter four and verse seven. “

  “All these scripture verses at one time are hard for my simple mind to take in at one sitting. Please explain what you mean, sir. I still do not understand.”

  “If tempted to do something you know is wrong, resist the temptation. Don’t act on it. Say no to sin. As long as we have free will to sin or not sin, we can always resist—no matter how strong the urge to sin might be.”

  The vicar must have known how confused Ian was because he sent him an especially warm and friendly smile. “When the tempter came to Jesus and tried to get him to sin, Jesus told him to go away. Then he quoted a verse from the Bible. True believers must demand that Satan go hence just as Jesus did—but not in our own strength. We must give God the glory for all our accomplishments. Under the Old Covenant, the house of Israel prayed in the name of the Lord. As New Covenant Believers, we must pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

  “For many years I went around rebuking Satan at every turn,” the vicar explained, “and it is certainly correct to do so according to the Scriptures. Then one day I read in the Bible where it said that God lives in the praises of His people. I finally realized that when I thank and praise the Lord, God is with me as He was with David on the day he defeated the giant, Goliath. The devil, fallen angels, demons, they all back away in the presence of a Holy God.”

  “Are you saying we should actually speak to Satan and his underlings aloud—rebuke them as Jesus did?”

  “Yes, but only in the name of Jesus. The battle is really the Lord’s. Never forget the power of prayer, praise, and thanking God for everything in life whether good or bad.”

  “Good or bad? Are you saying we must thank the Lord when things go wrong?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  Ian shrugged his shoulders. “How could any man give thanks to God if he lost his livelihood, his house burned to the ground, or his children died? That would be impossible.”

  “It’s called faith. And with faith, nothing is impossible.”

  “Faith?”

  “Faith is another word for trust, Mr. Colquhoun. It means you choose to believe that the Lord has a plan you are not aware of and that He can and will turn your bad times into blessings. I even have a scripture verse you can recite to the devil at just such a time. I won’t quote the entire scripture verse here, but it is found in the Book of Isaiah—chapter 54 and verse 17 (NKJV): ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper.’ I like to make it personal and change the word you to me.”

  “So?”

  “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,” the vicar said. “But do you know who the him in that scripture verse might be, and who the Lamb is?”

  “The Lamb is Jesus, the Lamb of God. However, I cannot say the identity of the him in that verse.”

  “Who would believers overcome by the blood of Jesus?” the vicar asked.

  “The devil.”

  “Correct. So now you know the identity of the him. Do you not?”

  “Clearly, this must be the answer.”

  “Now,” the vicar said. “Let us review what we have learned. The verse you read earlier stated that they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. So one might say something like this to Satan, the fallen angels and demons. ‘I am a child of the Most High God, and I have been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, no weapon formed against me will prosper. And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.’”

  “That is it?” Ian said. “That is all I must say during what you call warfare of the spirit?”

  “That is what I sometimes say and one of the things you could say. But don’t make it a ritual by always saying the same things in the same way. And don’t do anything merely because I do it. I could be wrong. Learn how to live in Christ by reading and studying the Bible. And do not forget the power of prayer, praise, giving thanks, and fasting.”

  “Fasting. Must I fast as well?”

  “Jesus told His disciples that they would fast after He was gone. So fasting must be important.”

  Ian nodded. “I see what you mean.” He glanced down at the Bible in his hands and then looked back at the vicar. “But I must tell you, sir, that except for perhaps my pastor, nobody in my church in Scotland would ever do the things you mentioned here today. They sing hymns of praise, of course, but they would never simply praise God aloud as if He was standing right in front of them. And they would never rebuke Satan either.”

  “Some church members need a better knowledge of the Bible and what God really says in it in order to become doers of the Word and not merely hearers only. Maybe one day you will become a pastor, Mr. Colquhoun, and teach them.”

  The vicar probably expected Ian
to confirm his best wishes—promise that one day soon he would speak to invisible beings as if they were visible, tell them to go away in the name of the Lord and teach others to do the same. Like “Get thee behind me, Satan” and “I rebuke thee in the name of Jesus.” But Ian wasn’t ready for such a huge step of faith.

  Frankly, to suggest such a thing seemed rather bizarre. At the same time, Pastor Steen’s lesson caused Ian to want to learn more so that one day he might actually do it.

  “Recently, a man I barely knew told me of a dream he had,” the vicar continued, “and his dream took place in the future—perhaps at the end of time. According to the Book of Daniel, only God knows the meaning of dreams, and the man didn’t tell me whether or not he prayed about the meaning of this dream after he awoke. Before I had the chance to ask him, he stepped away. I never saw him again, but I remember the dream.”

  The vicar paused and cleared his throat. “He said that in the dream he was in a place where leaders declared what was good and what was bad. He said that sin was based on man’s rules, not God’s Holy Word. He said God’s commandments were outlawed in that those who told others not to break God’s laws were called names. Many were put in prison for following the Lord.”

  “Prison for keeping God’s commands?” Ian said. “How could this be?”

  The vicar shrugged. “The man who had the dream was confused as well. For example, he said that in the dream it wasn’t a sin to kill an unborn child in the womb or soon after it was born. He said that in the dream, such acts were considered lawful and the normal thing to do. However, to warn others not to sin was a crime. As I said, in the dream, bad was good and good was bad.”

  “What a terrible place,” Ian said. “What a terrible dream.”

  “Mr. Colquhoun, there are more terrible dreams, terrible places and terrible acts going on right here in the village of Fairs than I care to think about.”

  He is talking about Gatehaven, Ian thought.

  “But in the Book of John chapter fourteen and verse fifteen,” the vicar went on, “Jesus said, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’ And in the Book of Matthew chapter nineteen and verse seventeen, Jesus said, ‘Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’ What life do you think Jesus was talking about here?”