Chapter 10

Crystal stayed by the river for the rest of the afternoon, and it wasn't until it started to get dark that she headed back to the farm. When she got back, she saw that Jason was arguing with Jed and Mike. She walked closer, but stayed in the shadows so that she could hear without being seen.

"I tell you we need to go find her!"

Jason, she thought, he must be worried to be arguing with those two again. I wonder what's going on?

"No. We aren't going to find her. If she was fool enough to run off in a strange place, then that's her own fault"

"But we've GOT to find her! Crystal has never been in the country before, and it's almost dark!"

Crystal jumped. Jason's worried about me! That means that he truly does care about me. Oh, thank you, God! Crystal walked toward them.

"I'm the one in charge around here, Jason, and I say we don't go look for her!"

"Then I'll go!"

"You don't have to, Jason," Crystal said quietly, as she came up behind them. "I'm here."

Jed snorted in disgust and walked off. Mike looked after him, looked back at Jason and Crystal, then shrugged, and with a nasty smile, walked off after Jed. Jason hugged Crystal without thinking, then, embarrassed, backed off and mumbled an apology.

"It's okay, Jason, you don't have to apologize." Crystal spoke with a quiet joy that Jason had never heard before.

"Crystal...What happened out there?"

"Let's go talk somewhere else, and I'll tell you."

"Okay. Let's go inside and tell Mae that you're back. She's really worried about you."

They walked into the kitchen, and found Mae working on supper. The look on her face told Crystal that Mae was quite upset. Crystal looked at Jason. Jason nodded.

"Um, Mae?"

Mae whirled around. Her face lit up.

"Crystal!" She hugged Crystal. "Oh, Crystal, I was so worried about you!" Mae let go of Crystal and looked at her. "Why...Why, Crystal! You're...you're different! What happened to you?"

Crystal smiled, her eyes bright and excited.

"I believe," she said softly.

Jason let out a shout. Mae threw her hands up in the air. Both of them hugged Crystal.

"Oh, Crystal, I'm SO glad!"

That was from Mae.

"Crystal, that's wonderful!"

That came from Jason. Crystal laughed.

"You guys had better let go of me before I suffocate!"

Jason gave her a quick squeeze and let go, hardly able to contain himself in his joy. Mae held onto Crystal for a few more minutes, then let go.

"Crystal, how'd it happen?" asked Jason.

"Yes, tell us!" added Mae eagerly.

"Let's sit down, and I'll tell you."

The three kids sat down and Crystal began with tears of joy running down her cheeks.

"Mae, you don't know this, but Jason and I had an argument after Je...Mr. Smith and Mike beat him up. I...I accused him of being just like them. I should have known that he wasn't, but I was angry and hurt, and I guess I just took it out on him. He got me calmed down, and told me that God loved me, but, well, I didn't, no, couldn't believe it, so I just ran off."

Crystal told them how she had run off, how she had cried and cried, and finally, how God had spoken to her.

"It was just so...so..."

Her voice trailed off as she tried to explain. Jason reached out and took her hand.

"It's okay, Crystal," he said quietly, "You don't have to try to explain. We understand."

Crystal smiled at him, wiped her eyes, and stood up.

"Thank you. I'd like to go up to my room for just a little while, okay?"

Mae nodded.

"I'll call you when supper is ready, Crystal."

"Thanks."

Jason stood up, gave Crystal a quick hug, and whispered to her, "I love you, Crystal, and God does too."

Smiling, Crystal said, "thank you," and left the room.

"The Narrow Gate"

Chapter Ten

~Crystal Tells Jason and Mae That She Believes~

"The Narrow Gate"

*Chapter Ten*

~Crystal Tells Jason and Mae That She Believes~

Chapter Ten