“Every person who’d known the blacksmith was ashamed. His wife was so sick about what she’d done that she stopped caring about herself or anyone around her. She seemed to give up on living. She bore a son shortly after the hanging; and in the five years that the little boy lived with her, the only words she ever spoke to him where laments about the trial and how wrong she’d been. After five years she took him to an orphanage, left him there, and he never saw his mother again.
“That man,” Caleb told them quietly, “was Joseph Stone. My father.”
A collective gasp had gone through the congregation when he said that.
He’d closed the service by saying, “This week I want each of us to search our own heart. I think there are things in all our lives that need fixin’ before we can take the time to try to fix somebody else. God told us in His Word to leave the judging to Him. If one of us is in sin, then believe me, God will deal with that person. But in the meantime, we need to love and support each other instead of finding fault with one another.”
He then smiled and stepped down from the platform to stand on the same level as the congregation. His concluding words had been, “I think your lives will be richer once you replace the hate and condemnation in your hearts with love.”
The prayer was now over, and everyone was leaving the church. Rachel sat and tried to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat.
He’d done it for her. All of it. The friendly greeting, the sermon, the story … everything.
She looked over her shoulder to where he stood at the door, shaking hands with people as they exited the church. For one brief moment, he seemed to sense her stare and looked her way. It was a quick glance, but she’d seen what he wanted her to see.
It was love—deep as the ocean and endless as the midnight sky. He loved her and she loved him.
“Are we gonna stand here all day or are we going to get on home?” Addie complained beside her.
“I’m hungwee!” Caitlin sang out.
“All right, all right!” Rachel grumbled good-naturedly, and they started down the aisle.
They were the last ones to leave, and Caleb watched as they made their way toward him. “Well? What’d you think?” he asked. She could see that her answer was important to him.
She smiled and tried to share with him what was in her heart. “Thank you, Caleb,” she whispered as he took her gloved hand in his own. “I don’t know what to say, I …”
He squeezed her hand. “You deserve no less, Rachel.” To anyone who happened to see their exchange, it looked like he was merely wishing her good day.
“Well, Brother Caleb, why don’t you come over to our place today and have dinner with us,” Addie suggested.
Caitlin jumped up and down. “Pwease, Caley! You come! You come!” she chanted, latching onto his leg.
Jessie came up then, holding Emmy’s hand. “We’re going to the Primrose house today. I heard Mrs. Primrose say on the way out of the house the other day that Brother Caleb would make Patience a mighty good husband,” Jessie chose to inform them all.
Caleb had been shaking his head at Jessie, but it did no good. “Rachel, it’s not what you think!” he quickly tried to explain.
But Rachel wasn’t mad. She was laughing! “Oh Brother Caleb,” she managed to get out, “you should see your face!” She laughed some more.
“Yooo-hooo!” a voice trilled from the steps outside the church. “Are you ready to go, Brother Caleb?”
Caleb looked down at Patience as she batted her lashes and smiled at him. “Yes,” he said. He could feel the blood rushing to his face. “I–I’ll be right there.”
He looked at Rachel and frowned at the mirth on her face that she made no attempt to hide. “It’s not funny!” he insisted in a sour whisper.
“I didn’t say a word,” she insisted, then waved at him as she and Caitlin, with Addie trailing behind, walked down the steps.
He looked down at Jessie, and the boy shrugged his shoulders as if saying, What did I do? Emmy just smiled at him. Caleb closed his eyes and sighed.
“Well, come on, you two. Let’s go,” he said as he ushered them out of the church.
When they arrived at the Primrose farm, Caleb noted that it looked about like he’d expected it to look. Nothing fancy. Everything was in it’s place, clean and practical. The inside of the house was pretty much the same.
He watched as Prudence ordered Patience to set the table and do several other menial chores. For the first time, he really took a look at Patience. She was so nervous about getting everything right for her mother that she dropped her usual facade. She wasn’t that unattractive, she just didn’t do anything to fix herself up. She wore the same plain brown dresses that her mother wore and none of the lace and frills that most young women her age were so fond of. He wondered if it was because Prudence wouldn’t allow her to wear such things. Probably.
Caleb felt a little guilty at being so irritated by her and began to feel sorry for her.
The rest of the afternoon turned out just as he’d expected it to. Prudence lectured him about the qualities a preacher must have in a wife. Then she expounded on the many talents and qualities that Patience possessed. She was the perfect candidate for a preacher’s wife, according to Prudence.
The children were quiet throughout the meal. Of course, they couldn’t have gotten a word in edgewise even if they’d wanted to.
Caleb wondered what Rachel was doing and thought about what Prudence Primrose would say to him if she knew he considered Rachel to be perfect preacher’s wife material.
He lived for the day when he could tell her.
Chapter 12
A week had passed, and Rachel couldn’t remember ever being this happy and content. Because of Caleb’s sermon and his hiring her to keep his house, folks around town had started to loosen up around her. Some had even smiled at her the day before in church. She was beginning to wonder if Caleb had been right. Maybe he could help change the attitudes of people around her.
Feeling lighthearted, she scooped Caitlin up in her arms and ran the few steps to Caleb’s gate. They were laughing and were not aware of the three ladies who stood on the front porch, blocking her way.
Rachel had walked all the way up the steps before she noticed them.
Prudence Primrose, Isabelle Duncan, and Effie Lawrence stood in front of the door like soldiers creating a barricade. Their heads were held high, their shoulders were thrust back, and all had expressions of grim determination pasted on their faces. They took a menacing step toward Rachel and Caitlin that caused Rachel to step back against the porch railing.
Rachel could feel little Caitlin gripping her hand fearfully, and that made her angry. How dare these women scare a helpless child! She opened her mouth to tell them so but was cut off.
“We’ve decided,” Prudence motioned her head to include the other two ladies, “that you are not fit to take care of the reverend and his children! You’ve already led one man astray with your sinful ways, and you’ll not bring about the downfall of this good minister!”
Rachel gasped, so hurt and shocked that she was unable to reply. Caitlin began to whimper.
Isabelle Duncan walked up. “We’ve seen how you look at him in church. You’ve got him bamboozled into believing that you’re good and innocent, when we all know better!”
“How dare you say these things to me and scare my little girl!” Rachel cried out at last. “You don’t see anything but what you want to see! I’m sick and tired of all of you judging me like you have the right. You don’t! Now, move out of the way. I have a job to do!” she demanded, as angry as she’d ever been.
She pushed them aside; and as she reached for the door handle, the door swung open. Caleb stood there; and after seeing Rachel’s face, he glared at the three stern women standing behind her.
“What is going on here?” he demanded.
Caitlin cried out his name and flew into his arms. He caught her easily and naturally and held her litt
le body close. “Can I help you ladies with something?”
Prudence eyed with distaste the frightened child in his arms. “We came to warn you, Reverend! We’ve noticed how this woman is worming her way into your good graces, and we felt it our duty to make you aware so that you can be on your guard against her!” Having said this, she crossed her arms across her chest and thrust out her chin.
Caleb was nearly shaking with anger. “Miz Primrose,” he began, his voice hard, “Miss Rachel is a friend of mine, and I’ll not have you call her names or make false accusations about her character! She’s here to help me keep house and care for the orphan children who live here and not because of any of the things that you’ve accused her of today!
“I’m sick and tired of folks making hasty judgments against others when it’s not their place to do so. Reverend Parker was wrong to do what he did to Rachel. Instead of trying to comfort a young woman who was attacked and violated, you people shunned her.”
Effie and Isabelle were the first to speak up. They apologized profusely to the preacher and then to Rachel.
Rachel watched as a variety of emotions crossed Prudence’s features, ranging from shock to anger.
But suddenly, as if she had decided not to make a scene, Prudence lowered her eyes with false humility. “Accept my apology, Reverend,” she mumbled. “We were merely concerned for your well-being.”
Caleb looked displeased with the halfhearted apology, but he answered, “I understand, as long as you think about what I’ve said.”
Prudence nodded weakly and said, “Come along, ladies.” Together they left the preacher and Rachel on the porch.
Rachel and Caleb had just stepped into the house when Caitlin began crying that she’d left her doll out on the porch.
“I’ll get it,” Caleb volunteered.
When he reached the porch, he saw the women standing at the gate. They didn’t notice him as they spoke.
“She’s brainwashed him! That’s just what she’s done!” Prudence hissed to her companions, thinking they were out of earshot.
Isabelle gaped at her friend, “Oh Prudence, I don’t think—”
“The reverend had a point, Prudence …,” Effie argued.
“Don’t tell me her Little Miss Innocent act got to ya’ll, too! She’s a liar and a fornicator! Believe me, I know one when I see one!” Prudence declared.
Her friends looked at each other and then back to Prudence, their expressions doubtful. They’d always followed Prudence and believed every word she said. On this matter, however, it seemed they were not sure.
But neither said another word, and all three left, headed back toward town.
Troubled, Caleb stooped down and picked up the doll. Then he went into the house.
His troubles fled, however, the moment he saw Rachel’s worried face. Caleb went to her and took her into his arms.
“It’s going to be all right, Rachel,” he comforted.
She shook her head against his chest. “It’s not, Caleb. They’re talking about us. I knew this would happen.”
He pulled her back so that he could look her in the eye. “Don’t give up now, Rachel. This will work out. I’ll find a way, all right?” Gently he reached up and wiped away a tear that was slipping down her cheek.
“But I don’t want this to ruin your ministry. If one person starts spreading things about us, then they’ll start believing it.”
He shook his head with confidence. “Rachel, I don’t believe God is going to let that happen. I can’t explain how I know this, I just feel it … in here,” he said, placing his hand over his heart. “And if I wasn’t sure, I’d simply take you and Caitlin and move someplace else!” He grinned. “That may not be such a bad idea anyway. Then we could be married right away!”
Rachel stared at him. “Married?”
He nodded and suddenly sank to one knee. “Rachel Branigan, please say that you will marry me and become my wife.” She opened up her mouth, but he waved away her concern. “I know we can’t make it public right now, but I need to know one thing for sure. After we find a way around all this gossip and these judgmental attitudes, will you marry me?”
Her tears started again. “Oh Caleb.” She sighed and ran her fingers through his soft black hair. “Yes,” she answered. “I’ll marry you!”
“Yeeee hiiiii!” he whooped. He jumped up, grabbed her around the waist, and planted a big kiss on her surprised lips.
Little feet came running into the room. “Oh, yuk!” Jessie complained. “It’s nothing. They’re just kissin’ again.”
Emmy laughed and started dancing around them. Caleb let Rachel go, picked the little girl up, and planted tiny kisses on her cheeks while she giggled in delight. It was the most emotion either of them had ever seen Emmy show, and it delighted them.
Caleb turned to Jessie, and the boy quickly backed up. “I gotta go to school,” he said with more enthusiasm than he’d shown in a while. “Good-bye!”
Caleb smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Maybe that’s the way to get him to go to school without complaining. Threaten to kiss him!”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Yes, but he left without eating breakfast, and he’s at least forty minutes early!”
“Well, if you’ll make something up, I’ll run it down to the school for him,” Caleb said, embarrassed that he hadn’t thought of the problem first.
Caleb was coming back from the school when Addie ran out onto the boardwalk and motioned for him to join her. Curious, he trotted across the street and into the store.
“What do you need, Addie?” he asked, noticing the worried frown on her face.
Addie shrugged. “It’s probably nothing, but I thought you needed to know that someone was in here yesterday asking questions.”
Caleb froze. “Who was he? What kind of questions?”
Addie thought a minute. “Well, he was asking about you. He said he knew someone with your last name once and wondered if it was you or a relative. He was sort of medium height with wiry blond hair but had black eyebrows and lashes. Looked really strange. I didn’t get his name, though.”
Caleb racked his brain trying to remember who that description fit. And then it clicked.
Jenkins had a boy named Yancy who rode with him. He had wiry blond hair and black eyebrows. People often commented on his odd looks, although Jenkins always did his best to make sure the boy covered up well so that no one could identify him.
Dread was building in Caleb’s heart. Jenkins must have found out about him. And if that was true, no one around him was safe.
He excused himself, asking Addie to let him know if the man came back, and left for the sheriff’s office.
It was time that Lee Cutler knew what was going on.
Lee was sitting at his desk when the preacher came in. He threw down his pen and stood up. “Well! To what do I owe this pleasure?” he greeted.
Caleb shook his hand. “I have something I need to tell you, Lee. I may need your help,” he stated grimly.
Lee became serious and motioned for Caleb to take the seat across from him.
“Three years ago, I worked as a bounty hunter in the New Mexico and Arizona area. If the outlaws didn’t come peacefully, I didn’t hesitate to put them out of my misery, I guess you could say.” Caleb’s mirthless laugh was tinged with sadness. “I was after a man named Bill Jenkins. He was a leader of a gang of outlaws that mainly robbed banks and held up stages. They would as soon kill you as look at you, and they left a lot of innocent deaths along their trail. I found Bill in a saloon one day; and when I tried to take him in, he drew his gun on me. I was a fast shot and I killed him.
“Well, old Bill had a brother who set me up in a bogus gunfight. I was shot from behind several times and left for dead.” He shook his head. “They thought I was dead.
“A preacher and his wife took me in and that’s how I met the Lord and felt the call to preach. I haven’t even thought about seeing that gang again. I would never have imagined that they could
be here in Texas!”
Lee propped his elbows on the desk and leaned forward, clearly shocked at what he was hearing. But he waited for Caleb to finish.
“They know I’m here, Lee,” he finally said. “It’s like a nightmare come true. They will come for me; and when they do, they won’t care who gets in their way. I’m not so much scared for myself as I am for the rest of the people in this town. What if he finds out about Rachel and Caitlin? He’d use them to get to me.”
Lee put out a hand. “Now hold on, Preacher. That’s what I’m here for. I know who you’re talking about, and believe me when I tell you that I’m close to capturing and arresting them.” He hesitated for a moment, then continued. “But that’s not all. Milton Pierce is with them.”
That name brought forth such anger that its ferocity surprised even Caleb. He knew he had to let God help him deal with the animosity he felt for Rachel’s attacker. But to think that he was riding with his enemy …
“How did you find out?” Caleb asked.
“We’ve been gathering information about each of the gang members from witnesses and victims. Milton’s bandanna got yanked off by an angry man who refused to give up his gold watch. The man never lived to tell about it, but someone else happened to see Pierce.” He added, “Milton Pierce wasn’t the one who did the shooting. At least he doesn’t have murder on his list of offenses. Not yet, anyway.”
Caleb leaned forward. “Do you think you have a prayer of arresting any of them? I want to see Jenkins brought in, but I want Pierce more. If we can get him to confess …”
Lee nodded. “Then Rachel will no longer have to live under the stigma of being a wanton woman,” he finished for him. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll contact the other towns in this area and see if I can get some help with this. If we all work together, we may be able to solve all of your problems.”
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