The God Who Forgives - April 2026 Story Prompt

 by Kaylah, age 14

 

Andrea Prescott stood in the barn, grooming her horse, Shasta. She loved being in the warm barn with the sound of animals breathing around her. Andi tucked a stray lock of her dark waves behind her ear. Leaning against Shasta for a moment she closed her eyes and let a beam of sunlight coming in through a crack in the rough wall hit her face. The light danced on her closed lids and turned her face a rosy-golden. Andi didn’t want to do anything but stay in that position with her beloved horse beside her. She dropped into the soft hay and in moments drifted into dreamland.

~

The man pulled his horse to a stop at the front door of the house and dismounted. He raised his hand and knocked. His white mare twitched her tail at a pesky fly and snorted softly. There was no answer. He turned and looked at the ranch sprawled out before him. The barn was near the house, just across the yard. A chicken coop sat to his right. Fields stretched out as far as he could see and cattle and horses grazed leisurely on the tender spring grass. It was all quiet and peaceful. The man suddenly wheeled and looked at the barn. A noise of someone speaking softly and rustling the hay had caught his attention. Perhaps there was a ranch hand in there. The stranger tied up his mare and turned toward the barn.

~

Andi blinked sleep from her eyes and shakily stood. “Howdy, Shasta. I sure didn’t mean to go to sleep.” Andi stroked Shasta’s velvety nose and yawned. A noise made Andi startle. There were sounds of hooves and footsteps in the yard outside. Riley’s back already!? It can’t be supper yet. She straightened up and looked out the open barn door. A tall dark-haired man was striding across the yard. It wasn’t Riley. But who was it? Andi stared at the man. She recognised him from somewhere, she was sure. But where was it? Then, all at once she knew. Her heart dropped to her toes. Sweat broke out on her brow. Could she run and hide? Oh, why isn’t Riley here when I need him? The man reached the barn and stopped before her.

                “Howdy, ma’am.” He extended a hand. Andi stood feet apart, arms crossed. This was the man who had rustled her brothers’ cattle and held her for ransom several years earlier. What could he want? Oh, Lord, help me. Give me peace. Andi swallowed hard and then tentatively took his hand and shook it. 

                “What are you here for, sir?” Andi tried to keep her voice even.

                “I mean no harm. I would like to speak with you if that is possible.”

~

As soon as they were seated in the parlor, Andi spoke, “I will hear what you have to say, Mr. Walker.” He cleared his throat and began.

 “As you probably know, I’m Jase Walker. You see, after you and my sister outwitted my brothers and I and we were arrested, a trial didn’t happen right away. We were transferred to another jail and on the way, there was an escape. All the prisoners had been planning it for months and we arrived right in the middle of the plan. My brother Ty was caught and had his trial not long afterward. But Rudy and I made our way into the forest and lived there, avoiding sheriffs and the like for a while.

 “Then Rudy got separated from me and I never saw him again. Word came that maybe he was caught but I never knew for sure. Eventually I travelled far enough that the sheriffs in those parts weren’t lookin’ for me, and I settled down and got a job at a ranch. Started fresh, you know. But my conscience was troubling me. I’d been congratulating myself for gettin’ away and outsmartin’ them authorities. But somehow the victory was sour-like. I started gettin’ restless and drinkin’ a bit again when one day a traveling preacher showed up at the farm. He had supper at the farm and preached from his Bible at the local church. To this day I don’t know why I went, but I did and I fidgeted at the back of the church during that whole sermon. But something hit me that day. This man was talkin’ about a God who forgives. A God who doesn’t care how big your wrongs are or what-all you’ve done. He loves you the same and wants to forgive. The next week I went back and the week after too.

 “In a few weeks I had given myself to Christ and I was a happy man. God had forgiven me. But one thing troubled me: the authorities hadn’t. It bothered me for several months before I knew what to do. I quit my job and travelled back this direction. When I arrived, I turned myself in at the sheriff’s office. I could tell he didn’t know what to think but he locked me up and I got a sentence of 2 years. Very mild. Prolly ‘cuz I turned myself in and admitted what I done. After those years my conscience was settled. Except for one thing. Your family. So, I journeyed down to your brothers and apologised. Your brother, Justin, gave me a Bible. But I knew I needed to see you. So here I am. Can you forgive me?” Jase looked at the floor and fumbled with his sleeve. Andi let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Sending up one last prayer, Andi took a deep breath. God, help me to forgive. 

 “Yes, Jase. I forgive you.” In that moment Andi knew that God had swept all bitterness out of her soul. Bitterness about how he had treated Macy, about him stealing cattle. She felt as if she were glowing with that rich morning light. Thank you, God, that you are the God who forgives.