"Thank you Emma. I'll talk to Harald about it tomorrow."
Emma refilled their cups from the pot.
"Speaking of Harald. You know he's still married, don't you?"
"When I first arrived, I thought you said Emmaline was divorcing him."
"Well that's what she said. But I don't know if she actually followed through with it. Do you think Harald would tell you if she did?"
"Why should he? It's not as if he wants to get married again."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. I've seen the way you two look at each other... and chatter away in Norwegian, oblivious to everything going on around you." Emma smiled.
"I think we are very good friends at the moment, but I do like him a lot."
"Don't give up on him, will you? I'm sure the divorce will come through. He's a good man and would make the perfect husband for the right person."
Ingrid blushed to the roots of her hair at the gentle teasing. She knew in her heart though, that Emma was right.
~#~#~#~
Hetty and Sophie had spent their first day of freedom in bed at the parsonage, under the watchful eye of Abigail, Jeremy's wife. Some time had passed, which eased the minds of both girls but the memory of their escape was still fresh in their minds. Sophie had recovered more quickly than Hetty and both girls were now staying and working with Emma at the Hotel. Both girls still regarded their escape as being inspired by God.
Sheriff Benson had carried Hetty all the way and while there were few people out on the street, a few noticed the beaten woman he carried. Sophie carried Hetty's bag as well as her own meager belongings and held her head high as the entourage made their way down the length of the street to the parsonage.
"I sure am happy to be out of that place Sheriff, but I can't help wondering what Big Jim will do." Sophie knew what Big Jim was capable of and wanted no part of it."
"You girls will be safe now. Just leave Jim Olson to me. I'm of a mind to lock the man up for beating Hetty half to death and closing his place down would give me more pleasure than a Sunday dinner with my wife... and believe me, that's something hard to beat." He chuckled.
"Bobby, go fetch the Doc down to the parsonage and fill him in about Hetty. I'm worried she might have some broken bones."
Abigail ushered them inside and Jeremy gently laid Hetty on the bed his wife had prepared. There were two single beds in the room and Sophie sat on the spare one. "It's really good to see you Abigail. I can't believe I'm sitting here with you in a parsonage."
The men tactfully left the women alone and went to wait for the Doc.
"Would you like to take a bath Sophie and change into some regular clothes? I can bring a tub in here for you and I've got plenty of water heating." Abigale knew what it felt like to escape from Big Jim and instinctively knew that looking and feeling clean was the first step on the road to healing. In Hetty's case, there was also a lot of physical healing to do.
"The Doc's here," said Abigail. Do you want to wait for a bit and take your bath in here or try the washroom off the kitchen? You can lock yourself in if you feel the need to, but I'll need to help get Hetty cleaned up for the Doc."
Sophie was feeling braver by the minute. I'll try the washroom, thank you Abigail. I can organize the water too if you want to go with the Doc."
"Good girl Sophie. I'll bring you some clothes and other things shortly. Then you can spend the rest of the day sleeping and dreaming about what you will do with the rest of your life. In fact, if you want to work at the hotel, I know Emma would be pleased to have you. But we can talk about that later."
Sophie smiled. "I just hope Hetty is going to be alright. She's a smart woman and only arrived yesterday on the train. I can't understand how a woman like her ended up with Big Jim."
"Well, she might talk to us about it later when she starts to feel better. For now, we'll take one day at a time, and don't forget, I'd like the Doc to check you over as well... just so you can move on with your life with a clean slate."
"OK. Thanks for letting us come here Abigail. I just hope the Sheriff understands Big Jim will come after us and it's not going to be pretty."
~#~#~#~
Unbeknown to Ingrid, Emma consulted with Tillie and her husband Jeb, the lawyer in town. "Do you think it would be possible to find out about Harald's divorce? I think the poor man needs to know one way or the other what is going on. Personally, the sooner he is shot of that woman the better. He had a good life and an excellent business before Emmaline arrived in town."
Tillie eagerly agreed. "Ingrid and Harald are a match made in Heaven. Have you seen how hard that girl works? And tasted her cooking? She doesn't realize she's working. The best part is they are both Norwegian. There's a cultural thing there as well. They seem to naturally and instinctively work together because of it."
They were all in agreement.
"I'll send a wire and see what I can find out through the County Court," said Jeb. "It won't take too long, so long as she's already filed."
Emma broke in. "If Emmaline doesn't divorce Harald, then Harald should be able to divorce Emmaline. She was the one who left the marriage after all, behaving shamefully with a preacher."
"Let's not become too excited until we have the facts," advised Jeb. "But either way Emma, the man deserves to be free of her and happily married to a woman who actually wants him. If we can help the good Lord along the way, so much the better."
~#~#~#~
Chapter Five
Sunday was a day of rest, one devoted to the Lord and Harald had become accustomed to collecting Ingrid from the hotel and escorting her to Church.
"Are you ready to go ladies? Let's be on our way."
Emma liked the new arrangement and always enjoyed going to church, but there was no disguising the pride on Harald's face as he offered his arm to Ingrid for the walk down the street to church.
Sophie walked with Emma for moral support as she still felt uncomfortable about mixing with 'respectable folks' as she called them.
"I would love to visit with Hetty," said Ingrid wistfully. "It's so horrible what that man did to her. No one deserves to be treated that way... ever. Never, for the rest of my life, will I forgive myself for allowing Hetty to sneak off that night when we arrived. I should have realized she'd be worried at the sight of the Sheriff and I was too wrapped up with meeting Millie again to notice what was happening."
Harald was proud that the woman he adored was also blessed with compassion, as well as beauty. "It wasn't your fault Ingrid." He stopped walking for a moment and took both her hands in his. "No one could have known or stopped Jim Olson from doing what he did, especially a small woman like you."
Ingrid and Harald were looking deeply into each others eyes during this exchange, as if no one else in the whole world existed.
"I hear the Sheriff has laid charges against Big Jim and one of his henchmen... has them locked in his jail cells waiting for the circuit Judge to hear the case against them," mentioned Emma.
The two lovestruck Norwegians broke apart at once before Harald once again took Ingrid's arm by way of escort.
Harald cleared his throat and continued. "Jake also wants to close down that disreputable establishment... says slavery ended in 1865 and he doesn't hold with young girls being bought and sold for illicit purposes."
"Well I for one," stated Emma vehemently, "hope he succeeds. This is a great little town and it will be even better without the likes of Big Jim. The hearing is sometime next week, depending when the Judge arrives."
Ingrid was proud of Harald's stand and found herself wishing he could make a stand against Emmaline too. She could not imagine her life without Harald in it and gave his arm a loving squeeze to show her support. It only took a few minutes to arrive at the church and the little group mingled with the others waiting outside for the service to begin.
It seemed as though the men in the Sheriff's jail cells was the only thing the residents of Hope Springs could talk about this morning, aside of co
urse, from the burgeoning romance between Ingrid and Harald. The townsfolk were fond of Ingrid and they loved her kind and compassionate nature, as well as her hardworking attitude. She was humble about her achievements and always considered others before herself. The fact that she'd restored Harald to his former self only endeared her to them more. Ingrid didn't know it, but the whole town thought she and Harald should be married.
~#~#~#~
Everyone loved the new Pastor and attending church was now a spiritual occasion in Hope Springs. The man had a genuine love of God and practiced what he preached. Furthermore, he openly aided the Sheriff in his attempts to stamp out evil practices in the town. His first action after he got off the train and set off to find the parsonage, was to rescue a young woman from the bondage Jim Olson had kept her in since she was twelve years old.
Abigail became his housekeeper and then his wife, not long afterward. It was obviously a match made in Heaven, though at the time, Harald's wife Emmaline was so morally outraged that a Preacher could marry a former prostitute, she boycotted services. Since then Emmaline had run away after the former Preacher and with her departure, the citizens of Hope Springs had learned the value of true Christian compassion together with a closer relationship with God. Pastor Jeremy had been good for them and the town was better for his presence.
As always, the service left the attendees feeling uplifted, especially when Pastor St John preached that everyone should open their hearts to the right balance of justice and forgiveness during the coming week. "It is our job," he sermonized, "to pray for justice and for God to guide the Judge in his work. Most importantly, we must open our hearts even wider, to help and encourage the young women recently rescued from a life of sin, to find their rightful place in our community so they are able to lead Godly lives once again, without fear. I would also ask you to pray for these young women, that they can find it in their own hearts, to forgive their captors for the evil acts that were done to them."
It was a a lot to think about and the following week would prove to be a decisive one. Jeremy could only pray that tolerance and forgiveness would prevail over more explosive emotions. Now, the outcome was in the hands of God, like so many things in life and he hoped his parishioners heeded his words. With the information he was about to impart to Harald, the following week had the potential to be implosive at the very least.
With Jeremy's advice still fresh in their minds, the townsfolk headed outside for a little more mingling before heading home to their Sunday lunches. The woman of the house would have had it in the oven before they left for church so that a delectable repast was waiting for them upon their return from their duty to the Lord.
Jeremy approached Ingrid and Harald. "Please come back and eat with Abigail and I today. She has something wonderful prepared for our dinner... and Ingrid, I thought you might like to visit with Hetty for a bit. This week will be difficult for her."
"Thank you so much Pastor Jeremy... I would very much like to do that."
"And you too of course Harald. I need to speak with you about a couple of things."
"Alright then, it will be a pleasure, thank you."
"There's no rush. It's good to visit with friends after church."
Half an hour later, the congregation was ready to go its separate ways and it was time for the Sunday repast and the treasured rest afterward that folk needed to face a new week with a stout heart.
~#~#~#~
Abigail and Hetty had lunch under control and Ingrid joined them in the kitchen.
"It's so good to see you Hetty," gushed Ingrid while she gave her a careful hug.
Even so, Hetty winced. "I'm much better but my ribs still hurt and I'd as sooner stay indoors until these bruises are completely gone."
Hetty's hair was as red as ever as it was her natural color, but her clothes were no longer of the gaudy type and when the bruises on her face were properly healed, she would again be a striking woman. Her confidence was slowly returning too.
"I've not told you Ingrid, but before circumstances led to my unseemly career, I used to teach school. There is a schoolhouse across the way but the teacher is leaving so Pastor Jeremy is going to recommend me to the school board. I just hope it all works out."
"We will pray about it Hetty, but from what I've heard when you and Jeremy get your teeth into a discussion, there will be no problem. You are well educated and Hope Springs is lucky to have you. And I'm sure Emma won't mind you not working at the hotel, although I know she'll miss you, Abigail opined."
"I'll do my best not to let you down."
While the women saw to finalizing the details for lunch, Pastor Jeremy and Harald sat out back in the barn talking.
"I've had a letter from the Reverent J.T. Miller who is now living in Houston and it makes for interesting reading. I'm only telling you because it concerns Emmaline."
At Harald's sharp intake of breath, he continued. "It seems he has found the Lord in a good way and has repented of his sins. That includes his behavior with Emmaline, as well as dividing the community here. I believe him, for what it's worth and we must practice forgiveness."
"Well that is all very well Pastor Jeremy, but why are you telling me this?" There was a sinking feeling starting to gain pace in Harald's stomach and he braced himself to listen to the remainder of what he was now sure, was going to be unwelcome news.
"The Reverent J.T. Miller has also broken with Emmaline. She went after him, as you know and apparently was less than impressed when she found he'd turned into a good Preacher. He tried to help her understand the error of her ways, as he had, but she would have none of it. Emmaline, for better or worse, is returning to Hope Springs and you, Harald."
Harald slumped onto a bale of hay, dejected, head in his hands. "This is terrible news Jeremy. I thought she was divorcing me and I was going to ask Ingrid to marry me. Now you are telling me she's coming back here?"
"It would appear she has nowhere else to go."
"But I don't want her. She is useless in the store and almost ruined my business."
"I understand Harald, but the only thing you can do now is to trust in the Lord to find a way through. You should also keep Ingrid working in the shop because you need her help now business is doing so well. As you said, Emmaline won't work so you need someone who will. That doesn't need to change. The rest is over to the Lord. Now come and have lunch, even if it tastes like dust in your mouth."
"You really do understand. I will take your advice and also set some boundaries for Emmaline. Before she went away, I was too easy on her, especially when she behaved badly."
Lunch was a somber affair and Jeremy's words held true. It did taste like dust in Harald's mouth, but he put on a brave front, gaining strength from the Godly people around him.
Afterward, Harald escorted Ingrid back to the hotel and on the way, told her the unhappy news. "I'm so sorry Ingrid, in fact I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. I wanted to be divorced from her so I would be free to court you, but now my dreams have turned to ashes again. You must know I have feelings for you Ingrid and I have never been so happy since you have come into my life. It feels as right as it could be."
"It feels right for me too, Harald. You have made me so happy I could cry. But please, we must not despair and we must behave as befits a married man and an employee in a very busy business."
He kissed her fingers. "I was hoping you would say that but Emmaline can be unpleasant and cruel. Yes, I need you with me for the sake of the store, but am reluctant to have you subject to her fits and tantrums."
"I am inclined to trust in the Lord regarding this situation, Harald. It seems as though it's not something either of us can control, and you need not fear for me. I'm stronger than you think."
"Pastor Jeremy said the same thing. And I too will be strong in the face of whatever she is of a mind to throw at me. Do you think you could help me prepare the guest room above the store for her? I do not want her near me. And if she isn't going to file for div
orce, then I will. All is not yet lost. You Ingrid, are a woman worth waiting for."
~#~#~#~
Chapter Six
The following Tuesday evening, Emmaline arrived on the train, complete with all the airs and graces she'd departed with. She caught the eye of any man who cared to look twice and sashayed up the street to the mercantile. The store was closed of course but she pounded on the door anyway, particularly when she noticed there was a light out the back in the kitchen. She gave up knocking after a time and went around the back, furious that Harald had not let her in.
"Here you are. Leave the trunk there for my husband." Emmaline sounded even more imperious because of her English accent. She paid off the boy who had carried it for her before entering the kitchen, noting at once that it was filled with the aromas of baking, evidenced by the rows of pies and cakes laid out on the table.
It was a moment before she noticed Harald writing up figures in his ledger at the table and Ingrid who was removing another batch of pies from the oven, tiny ones this time, filled with brandy soaked dried fruits. They looked up together when Emmaline entered.
"You'll need to take my trunk upstairs Harald. It's on the back porch."
It was as if she had never left, yet Harald's response was not what she was accustomed to.
"Emmaline. You will need to organize it yourself. In case you hadn't noticed, we are a couple of weeks from Christmas and if you cast your mind back, you'll remember it is a very busy time of the year for the store."
"You can't speak to me like that. Take my trunk up. Now."
Harald kept calm, refusing to budge from the task he was engaged in.
"I can, you know. You left me for another man and I would have been happy had you stayed gone. I'm not interested in your tantrums Emmaline. You may use the guest room upstairs for the duration of your stay and organize what you will for your luggage.
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