“Prostitute. Soiled dove. Harlot.” None of them sounded good. “I’m ruined.” She collapsed on the settee and then looked around her hotel room. She really should move to something cheaper.
She thought about Francesca. The woman had offered her a job. Perhaps she should take it. Del was having money troubles. She laid her head back on the cushion and tried to recapture the joy of just a few hours earlier.
Instead, she slipped into the darkness of a dead-end life. The one she’d lived all those years in the saloons. In fact, the temperance ladies that had cut her hair had done her a favor. That was the day she’d had enough.
The day she found Bridgette’s ad for a mail-order bride. That Bridgette had accepted her was a miracle. But now, Jericho needed a real miracle to hide her past and for Del to accept her.
What to do now? She thought of the little church on the hill. Maybe the preacher was in and could help her. She really had no other person to talk to
Gathering her courage, Jericho left her room and was half-way down the stairs when she realized she hadn’t worn her hat. She turned around and ran to her room, praying no one had seen her.
Then with her hat securely on her head, she went back down the stairs. A glance at the clerk told her he’d seen her short hair. The man eyed her with a condescending look, and she half expected him to stop her and demand she leave the hotel.
But he didn’t.
Jericho walked outside and looked up the street. Odd that the church would be so close to the saloon. Seeing the Gilded Lady gave her a sick feeling. She was happy to pass it by, but she stayed on the other side of the street just in case.
The church sat atop the hill like a beacon of hope, even though going forward took all the courage Jericho had left. She could only hope the preacher was a kind soul and not condemning like the temperance ladies. Then again, she didn’t have much hair left for him to take.
She climbed the steps to the church and prayed for mercy. At the door, she waited. Finally, she knocked.
After several knocks, a man in a long black jacket opened the door. He was welcoming and warm despite his rugged face. “I’m Preacher Bret Gentry.” He stepped aside. “Won’t you come in?”
Jericho swallowed and shook his hand. “Jericho Winters.”
“Jericho, that’s a different name.”
She nodded. “I know. But it is my name.”
“Well, Jericho. What can I do for you?” He pointed to one of the pews and sat down in the row in front.
Jericho sat and wondered where to even start. “I came as Bridgette’s mail-order bride for Del.”
A frown quickly crossed his face, but his preacher smile quickly returned. “Yes, I had heard Bridgette was helping, ah, was finding women for men who needed brides.”
Jericho stood and paced a few feet and wound up in front of one of the windows facing the big mountain. “I have a past.”
Preacher Bret remained sitting.
She glanced at his reflection in the window and tried to figure out what he was thinking. She couldn’t read him. He was an interesting choice for a preacher. He looked like he’d be more at home in the saloon with his dark ragged hair that hung near his collar. And the scar near his left eye. That was it. His eyes. It wasn’t the color so much as the hint of an untamed soul. Not at all what she’d thought a preacher should look like.
Turning her attention back to the view out the window, she traced the mountain on the glass. “I’ve met Del, and we get along so well. I was afraid to face Bridgette and give him up. But now, I am troubled about how my past will affect him. Our marriage.”
“I see.” Preacher Bret kept his head down as if he were thinking through what he should say.
To help him, Jericho faced him and took off her hat. “Look at me, Preacher Bret.”
He looked up, but he didn’t look surprised at all. “Your hair is very short. Want to tell me why?”
Jericho smiled and came back to sit in the pew behind him. “You know, don’t you?”
He nodded. “I have my suspicions.”
“Did you suspect all along?”
He shrugged. “I have a past too, Miss Winters. Is Jericho your saloon name?”
She shook her head. “No, my father just liked the sound of it. He didn’t even give me a middle name to fall back on.”
Preacher Bret laughed and stood. Now, he paced but went the other direction to the window facing the town. “People can have hard ideas about others.” He turned to her and smiled. “Usually much more forgiving of themselves than those around them. You’re going to have opposition. How much, I don’t know the answer to that. A lot will depend on the person you are now. That Bridgette chose you and likes you says a lot. She’s a good judge of character. And a powerful friend to have on your side. Bridgette is a force to be reckoned with on her own.”
Jericho grinned. “I can guess that about her.”
“Does Del know?”
The light went out of her hope. “No. That’s why I’m here. How can I tell him and not lose him?”
Preacher Bret came back to her and sat down. “That is the real question, isn’t it? If you don’t tell him, you’ll be found out by someone. Either a nosy busybody, and we have some in this town, or a cowboy coming out of the saloon who recognizes you from the past. It will happen.”
She nodded. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
He took her hand. “If it will be easier, you can bring him here and tell him in front of me. It might be good for you to have a friend when you do. I take it Bridgette doesn’t know.”
“No, she doesn’t. I’m just sick about it. I don’t want to hurt Del, and I do have deep feelings for him. I’m afraid to call it love, but I think it is. I care for him more than I have for any man I have ever met.”
Bret stood and looked at her. His eyes had changed. Gone was the wild look, now they were warm and sincere as if he knew life’s mysteries. “Jericho, are you a believer?”
“I guess. My mother had a Bible. I’ve read some of it. I do believe there’s a God.”
“That there is. Some of the pain that you feel about your past is your heart reacting to sin. And hear me in this, all of us are born with that sin nature and the need to pay for it. But we can’t. Not on our own. That’s why God, in His love for mankind, sent His Son Jesus to pay the price. If you accept Him as your savior, then you are free to be a child of God and inherit eternal life.”
Jericho had heard such words before, they hadn’t made sense then and weren’t helping now. “But, I will still have my past.”
“Dear woman. Let me tell you a story. Once there was a man who grew tired of being poor. He joined up with some others of like mind, and they set about robbing stores, stagecoaches, banks. But the money they stole never turned out to be enough. They were poor in money and heart.
“Anyway, to shorten the story, they were captured by the Texas Rangers. Two were killed. Two went to prison. One of those two was me. I spent five years doing hard labor, but God was good to me and put me in a cell with a man who’d given his life to the Lord. He taught me the Bible.
“And when I came out of prison, I turned my life over to God. He called me to be a preacher. I searched hard and long for a church that would take me. When I met Judge Taggart, he gave me a chance. So, I know all about what a past can do.”
Jericho considered his words. “I would have never known.”
“But I can tell you this, someone in this town would have told you. What would you have thought if you found out from the gossip vine?”
She nodded. “I get your point. I’ll see Del and convince him to come to the church. And then I’ll tell him.”
“Good. I think that’s the best course. I’ll pray that the Lord will put mercy in your hearts toward one another.”
“Thank you, Preacher Bret. You’ve been a great help.”
She shook his hand.
The preacher opened the door. Getting out of a carriage was Judge Taggart and his wife.
The judge saw her and nodded. “Jericho, this is my wife, Rachel. If you’ll excuse us, we need the preacher.”
Jericho was two steps away when she heard Rachel. “Preacher Bret, James, and Li have eloped.”
Jericho shook her head. Life, love, and troubles.
Chapter 8
Del entered the well-stocked store and went to the counter and waited for Earl Hollander, the store owner, to bring out his items. Earl smiled and went behind the curtain to the backroom, leaving Del to enjoy the smells of tobacco, apples, and dust.
Coming from the back, Hollander set a saw, hammers, and a box of nails on the counter. “Now, do you need a drill?”
Sighing, Del nodded and looked at the bill. At least, Del had the money to purchase everything he needed, but not one item more. “That’s going to have to wait. I can get by with these things.”
Earl gathered the items. “When you’re ready, the drill will be here.”
Del thanked him, then put his hand on the counter. “If I could make an extra chair or two, would you be interested in selling them here in your store? On commission of course.”
Tugging on the stubble under his chin, Earl thought for a moment. “I could. Yes, I think that would be a good arrangement for both of us. The town is growing that’s for sure. I hear the judge wants to bring more jobs into the area to keep the town growing, too.”
“That is good news and should help us both to prosper.”
Earl shook his hand. “Let me know if you need to order anything else.”
“Will do.” Del picked up the items and balanced them the best he could.
“Let me send my boy to help you.” Earl turned to the back of the store. “Ron, come and give Mr. Selmer a hand with his items.”
A skinny boy of maybe fifteen came from the back and picked up the hammers and another package. “Ready?”
Del liked the boy. He was eager and innocent and helpful. “Thanks for the help.”
The boy grinned. “If you ever need help in your woodshop, let me know. I like working with my hands.” He laughed and held up the hammers. “I like working with wood, that is. Not just carrying things. Pa is going to want me to take over his store someday, but that’s not my dream.”
Del nodded. “When you’re a man, you’ll be able to make up your own mind, but your father is a wise man. Listen to him. I wish I had a good father like yours. Would have kept me out of trouble.”
Ron shifted the hammer to his other hand. “Mr. Selmer, what was it like in prison?”
“Hard, boy. But I learned about carpentry. I learned how to be a good man because I had a mentor who took me under his wing and taught me about wisdom and life. The warden of the prison also helped me out. I tell you, I’m not the same man who went in.”
Ron nodded. “I like you, Mr. Selmer. Remember, if you need some help, I’d really like to work for you.”
“All right, Ron. You’ll be first on my list.”
Del unlocked the door and pointed for the boy to put his goods on the counter. “Thank you, Ron. I’d pay you, but I’m short on money right now.”
“My pleasure to help. Pa says I shouldn’t accept money if it’s for the store anyway. He calls it goodwill.”
Del pointed at him. “Like I said, your father is a wise man.”
Ron left, and Del thought about their conversation. Ron was probably the first person he’d really talked to about prison, but it should have been with Jericho.
He hated to disappoint her, but he’d paid his dues. The old Del was gone. He was no longer a thief. “Crossed off, yes, sir. I am now Del Selmer, carpenter.”
He’d barely finished building himself up when he saw her coming. His courage and bold words fell to the floor like sawdust. He didn’t mind telling a boy about his past to try and keep Ron on the straight and narrow, but how was he going to tell Jericho?
She waved and continued toward him.
Well, he was stuck now. He needed to tell her before someone told on him. Many in the town seemed to want him to succeed, but there were others who always meddled in the business of their neighbors. And never in a good way. One of them was sure to tell on him.
Del opened the door and met her. “Jericho. I just got back from the store and was about to begin working on a chair.”
“That’s wonderful.” She smiled at him but looked as if she were unsettled. It was possible that someone had already told her of his past.
“I thought it might be good if we both went and talked to the preacher together.”
He grinned. “About a wedding?”
She blushed. “Well, I do think there is one in our future. But since we know so little about one another, I thought it might be good to have a third party with us.”
“Sounds reasonable. Preacher Bret is a wise man. He’d be the perfect one.” Del couldn’t believe his luck. The preacher had been in prison, too. That would make his past a little easier for her to swallow. He hoped so anyway.
She ran a hand over one of the chairs he’d just finished. “Very nice.” She paused and then turned to face him. “I thought that we could meet with him tomorrow. About this time.”
“I can take an early lunch. Want me to drop by the hotel, and we can walk together to the church?” He could see she was nervous. Did she already know?
“Would you? Thank you, Del.” She admired the chair. “You’ve got this wood polished so smooth. I’m certain many will want you to build their furniture.”
“I hope so. I’m sorry I can’t take you out to eat tonight. Once I get the business going, then I can court you properly.”
She nodded. “I trust you, Del. I know everything is going to work out.”
He hoped she’d keep saying that, especially after he heard of his past. But what a good idea to tell one another with the preacher right there with them. Bret would be sure to jump in and side with him.
She went to the door. “I better let you get to work. I might go to the dress shop and see about getting a part-time job for a while. I could use some spending money.”
His shoulders sagged along with his heart. “I’m sorry, Jericho. I’ll work hard and fast to turn things around. I don’t want you to go without. Ever.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. I can see you’re a hard worker, and I have no doubts your business will prosper. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She waved and left him.
Del watched her walk down the street. “I will take care of her if it’s the last thing I do.” He grabbed some wood and began measuring. If he worked hard today, he could get another chair finished.
***
Jericho was pleased with the idea of letting Preacher Bret in on their session to explain the past. Tomorrow, at least that worry would be put to rest one way or the other. She walked down the street, making sure to cross so she wouldn’t be close to the saloon and was almost to the dress shop when she saw Li.
The poor girl looked as if she were crying.
Jericho walked to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Can I help you?”
The girl turned and looked at her and then embraced her. “I need a friend. The whole town is against me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“James and I eloped. We got on the train and went to the next town over and had the sheriff marry us. We have the paper to prove it, but his parents won’t accept it. James is at the church now trying to persuade them.”
She cried and then looked up. “Why? Why can’t people leave us alone? I love him. I am an American. And I am a Christian.” She smiled. “Hardly anyone knows. James and I were talking about the Lord. And all of a sudden, I knew he was telling the truth. It sang in my heart like a long, lost song.”
Jericho wasn’t sure what to do, say, or think about it all. She wasn’t all that sure that she was a Christian. She’d never heard a song in her heart except for the one that mourned her loneliness.
“I was going to the park to pray. Would you come with me?”
They walked like old friends and went to the bench by the pond. Jericho winced at the idea of praying in front of anyone, but Li needed her.
The girl knelt in the spring grass and poured out her heart. Sometimes in Chinese and part in English. That Li loved James came through clearly.
Silently, Jericho prayed that their love would have a chance. That people wouldn’t judge them just because Li was from China. Although Jericho had to wonder about the problems it was sure to bring. Then she thought about her own past and how it was likely to have the same troubles.
Tomorrow would tell.
Finally, Li stopped and sniffled. “Thank you for your support. When I came to America, I was stubborn and spoiled. George, he was the man my family arranged to marry, but he was too old.”
“That must have been hard to travel so far.”
She smiled and shook her head. “At first, I hate to leave my China, but then I heard stories of a land of milk and honey. Gold on the streets. A land where anything is possible.” Her voice quieted. “A land where a Chinese princess could fall in love with American boy who is son of judge.”
“Do you think you would want to go back to China?”
She shook her head. “No. only to see my family, but there is so little hope in my old country. Here, hope grows on the trees, showers down from the rain, and is in the air we breathe.”
Jericho took her hand. “Even with the problems of your marriage with James, you can still have all this hope?”
She nodded. “Oh, yes. Hope doesn’t mean there are no troubles. But like the Christian Bible says, nothing is impossible with God. Nothing. In China, much is impossible.”
“I see. I like that, Li. Thank you for sharing it with me. I’m going to be watching for that hope more and more.”
Li giggled. “Hope is not seen. It is known in the heart. Like Love. Many miss it. But when you find hope and love, never let it go. I will hold onto James.”
“What kind of work can he do?”
“He is helping Doctor Phillip Newsome. He says that James has much promise and does well in his studies. James was going to ask the judge for money to go to school in Boston.”
Jericho (Bridgette's Bridal Registry Book 1) Page 6