When the Heavens Fall (41 page)

“It grieves me to find you in such a place.”

Quentin shook his head. “Do not grieve. All will be well. You know, there's a verse in the Bible that says all things work together for good to all that love the Lord.”

“How could this be good?” Eden exclaimed.

“I don't know that, lady. It's not for me to know the ways of God, but as he speaks, I obey.”

“We tried to bring food, but they kept it down below. I hope it gets to you.”

“I hope so. The food here is not good, and some are very sick and weak.”

A guard came for them then, cutting their visit short, and Eden said as Quentin took her hand, “How can you bear it, Reverend Winslow? Aren't you afraid of death? What if the Lord doesn't choose to save you?”

Quentin's smile was gentle. “Then one moment I'll likely be in terrible pain, but the next I'll be in eternal bliss with him that I love with all my heart.” He squeezed Brandon's and Eden's hands, and they could see the warm light of assurance in his eyes. “I can't tell you how greatly I rejoice that you have given your hearts to Jesus. When my brother brought me word that you had both been saved, I shouted for joy—and I could still shout!”

“You never gave up on me, Uncle,” Brandon whispered.

Eden's eyes misted over, and the tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned away, unable to speak, while Brandon said his farewell to his uncle. As they left, Quentin called out, “Be of good cheer, Nephew, and you, lady, trust in the Lord, for his mercy endureth forever!”

When they were out in the open, Eden turned to Brandon. “I can't bear to think of it! He's such a good man!”

“He is—and I believe that God is going to deliver him.”

“How can you believe when everything is so dark?”

“That's what faith is, Eden. It's believing God when all seems hopeless.”

The two walked on, and when they reached the carriage, Brandon helped her in and then joined her. He did not pick up the reins however, but turned to her and said, “Eden, this is a
terrible time, but I must tell you that I love you with all my heart and I always will.”

Brandon's hands closed upon hers, he leaned forward and kissed her, and she gave herself to his caress. His arm went around her, and he held her tight. Eden knew that whatever terrible thing might happen, there was one true man who loved her with all his heart.

“I love you too, Brandon,” she whispered.

“We'll love each other, and we'll see what God can do with all those he loves.”

The date for Quentin's execution was set for November 18. Time seemed to fly for Eden, for she had found a great love in her heart for Quentin Winslow. She thought often of how his words had led her to seek Jesus Christ and prayed for his release with a fierce intensity. She had opened her heart with her father and mother, telling them of her love for Brandon, and they had accepted him. They had always been grateful to him for returning Eden from her captivity and putting her back into their arms again, and now they both agreed that the young man's life was changed.

Eden stayed at home for a few days, but then she couldn't bear it. A restlessness troubled her, and she knew she had to be with the Winslow family. She asked her parents if she could spend some time with the Winslows, accompanied by Mrs. Taylor, and they readily gave their permission. She went to Stoneybrook that very day, only a day's journey, and both Heather and Stuart welcomed her as, of course, did Brandon. “I had to come,” she told Heather. “I can't do anything, but I need to be with you.”

“Why, you are family now, Eden,” Heather said warmly. “I'm glad that you've come.”

“Do you really believe that Quentin will live?”

“It looks so dark, and in the natural way of things it's impossible—but with God all things are possible.”

“I know that, but sometimes I become so frightened. Terrible doubts come to me, and I can't believe with my whole heart.”

“I think all God's people go through that, my dear. When you read the book of Psalms, you can see that David, a man after God's own heart, was often tormented with doubts and fears. He was God's favorite, but at times he had to walk through the dark valley of doubt. He even cried out many times, ‘God, where are you? Have you forsaken me?'”

“It seems wrong. I feel that I'm doubting God.”

“We have an enemy, the Devil, who can put thoughts into our minds. I found many years ago that some of my thoughts were not mine but thoughts put there by Satan.”

“That frightens me, Heather,” Eden said. “Is there any way I can avoid such thoughts?”

“Perhaps it's impossible to block such thoughts, but there is a way to avoid letting fears and doubts harm you.” Heather took Eden's hand and her eyes were glowing. “When fear comes into your heart, speak to the Devil! Give him the Word of God. When this happens to me, I say, ‘Satan, the Scripture says, “God has not given us the spirit of fear!” In the name of Jesus, leave me alone!'”

“I've never heard of such a thing!”

“It's what the Lord Jesus did, dear. When he was alone in the desert and Satan came to tempt him, Jesus simply quoted Scripture to him. When Satan urged him to turn stones into bread, Jesus said, ‘It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God'. And the Devil had to flee.'”

“I don't know enough of the Bible to do that.”

“You have a good memory, Eden, so we'll find some scriptures that teach us that God is to be trusted. You can memorize
them, and when the Devil brings doubts and fears into your mind, you can rebuke him with the Word of God.”

From that moment, Eden began memorizing scripture with Heather's help. She discovered two things. She had a gift for memorization, and she discovered to her great joy that when she grew fearful or troubled with doubt, speaking the promises of God aloud brought relief. More and more she gave herself to prayer and to the Word of God.

On the morning of November 17, Princess Elizabeth was sitting on a bench under an old oak tree outside her country house at Hatfield, reading the Bible in Greek. It was cold, and more than once her ladies had tried to get her to come in, but she had ignored them all. A message had come the night before:

Elizabeth heard the sound of horsemen approaching. Trembling, she stood up. Four horsemen drew rein some twenty-five yards away. She recognized several of the members of the Privy Council. Sir Nicholas Throckmorton separated himself from the rest. Elizabeth waited. When Throckmorton knelt before her as did the others and held out his hand, she saw Mary's ring in his palm.

“Will you, Your Majesty, please to accept the throne and rule of England?” Throckmorton said loudly.

Elizabeth took the ring and knelt down in front of Throckmorton. “Now God be thanked!” she cried. “For this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes!”

She rose to her feet and went to those who knelt as she came. One of those was John Fairfax. When she paused before him, he looked up and said, “Your Majesty, I beg you to show mercy on those who are awaiting death in the Tower.”

“You speak of Quentin Winslow, do you not, John?”

“He is most on my heart, but the others deserve mercy too.”

“And I will grant it,” Elizabeth said. She said, “Go to him, John, and give the jailers your queen's command that Quentin Winslow is to be released at once into your keeping.”

The Winslows had stayed up all night in a small room, praying for Quentin. Eden was sitting beside Brandon, holding his hand. She felt exhausted. It was a new experience for her to seek God in this fashion with all of her heart. She said to Brandon, “I am so tired, but my spirit isn't tired. It's only the flesh.”

“I know. I am the same.”

Heather had fallen asleep in Stuart's arms. He held her gently and tenderly, looking down into her face.

Eden glanced across the room, where Stuart and Heather sat on a couch. They were both asleep, but she noted that Stuart held her in a close embrace. “They love each other so much.”

“They always have.”

The two held onto each other, and finally, fifteen minutes later, they heard the sound of voices in the hall. Stuart and Heather woke and came to their feet. “Who can that be?” Stuart said.

Brandon cried with a loud voice, “Quentin!”

It was indeed Quentin! He was wearing the same filthy clothes he'd worn in prison, but his eyes were alight. He took in the four of them with one quick glance and cried with a loud voice, “Thanks be unto God for his delivering power!”

Stuart and Heather stumbled to him, and he caught them in his arms. They were joined by Brandon and Eden. Everyone was weeping for joy.

Finally Stuart managed to ask, “How did you get free, Brother?”

Quentin said, “The queen is dead. Long live Queen Elizabeth. She set me free.” He took Eden's hand. “Your father asked the queen to have me released at once, and she granted his request.”

They all then joined together. Quentin was hugged and kissed and squeezed and touched until finally Heather said, “We're going to smother him. Come and tell us how it all happened.”

“It was a miracle,” Quentin said, “but there are precedents. I am rejoicing over the others that are going to be released.” For a moment sadness came to him, and he said quietly, “I grieve for Queen Mary and I trust that she has the peace now that she never had on this earth.”

“Will all the prisoners be released?” Brandon asked.

“Yes. Queen Elizabeth has given her word that there will be no one punished for their faith.”

Brandon said, “It's a marvel how God has used Providence to save you, Uncle Quentin. If Eden had not been captured, I wouldn't have rescued her and her father would not have known me and would never have begged the queen for your life.”

“When she realized she was queen, Elizabeth said, ‘This is the lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.' That's the one hundred and eighteenth psalm,” Quentin said, “and I believe it.”

“So say we all,” Stuart Winslow said. “Now God be thanked for his tender mercies.”