Marrying the Preacher's Daughter

by Cheryl St. John

  Elisabeth had noted that fact, too. “Look how big it is. And the stove comes with the house? It’s a dandy.”

  “I don’t know much about stoves,” Irene commented. As the real estate man opened a pantry door and investigated, Irene said to Gil, “I’m sure someone would be able to cook fine meals in this kitchen and on this stove.”

  “Probably,” he said.

  “Now, I’m not much of a cook myself,” she added.

  Gilbert had said nothing about her cooking in this kitchen, but Elisabeth picked up on what she assumed came as a veiled warning on Irene’s part.

  Gil slanted a meaningful glance at Elisabeth. She read his plea and walked toward the back door. “Mr. Payne, will you show me the yard and outbuildings, please?”

  Thomas Payne joined her quickly. “Mrs. Martin kept a fine herb garden. I’m afraid it’s sadly overgrown right now.”

  Out of doors, she listened to Mr. Payne rattle on about the good condition of the exterior of the home and the convenient washhouse out back. “I remember when your family moved here,” he said to her. “You were just a girl when I took you and your stepmother to visit that big house on the hill. She fell in love with it right off. I couldn’t believe my good fortune,” he went on. “That beauty was priced head and shoulders above what most people could afford, and I figured it might take a long time to sell. But then you folks came along.”

  Elisabeth nodded, wondering what was going on inside while she stood out here with the real estate man.

  “How is Mr. Taggart doing? I’ve seen him about town and he looks fit as a fiddle.”

  “He’s good.”

  “Shame about Dr. Barnes, isn’t it? Such a good man cut down in the prime of life. Can’t help wondering what his missus will do now.”

  “I believe she has a job and a new home lined up.”

  “Well, isn’t that good news? Glad to hear it.”

  The back door burst open, and Irene ran out, pulling Gilbert by the hand. “Elisabeth! You’re the first to hear! Gil has asked me to marry him.”

  Elisabeth stared, surprised, though she shouldn’t have been. She pressed a hand to her breast. “Oh, my goodness. Well…well, did you say yes?”

  Irene laughed. “Of course I said yes.”

  “That’s wonderful. Congratulations!”

  She gave both Irene and Gil a heartfelt hug.

  “None of the females in all of Jackson Springs ever caught his eye,” Elisabeth said, her hand on Gil’s sleeve and her statement directed at Irene. “I guess it took God bringing you right to his doorstep for him to think of marriage.”

  “I am a good catch,” Irene said and rested her hand on his shoulder. She studied Elisabeth. “And yes, he knows exactly what he’s getting into. He’s duly warned that I’m not much of a cook. Between his mother and Josie, I will learn. He agrees that women should be allowed the same rights as men, and he has no intention of trying to hush me.”

  “I was proud of you on Independence Day,” he told her.

  Irene looked from his earnest face to Elisabeth and gave her a broad smile.

  Elisabeth was sincerely happy for her old friend and her newest one. On one hand her head spun with how quickly this had developed. On the other, she appreciated how certain both of them had been about their feelings and the other person. Would she ever feel that way?

  Of course her thoughts went directly to Gabe. She couldn’t help wondering how he would react to this development. Until now she’d been a buffer for much of his dealings with his sister. She prayed he was prepared for this and that he’d be happy for her. Elisabeth expected the best.

  Gilbert turned to Mr. Payne. “We’re buying this house.”

  The remainder of the day, while Irene spoke giddily of a wedding and a honeymoon trip, Elisabeth stewed about what would happen when Gabe learned of the engagement.

  “Come for supper,” Josie insisted. “Gil should be here, too.”

  “Oh, yes,” Irene answered. “We need to tell people together.” Her expression changed as though she’d only just thought of something. “We’ll have to tell his parents.”

  “After school, I’ll send Anna over with an invitation to supper,” Josie supplied. “Or would you rather tell them privately?”

  “I’d better ask Gil about that.”

  “Don’t worry about how they’ll receive the news,” Josie told her. “Arlene is one of my dearest friends, and she has already expressed her fondness for you. She is well aware that her son is completely taken with you. She’ll be delighted.”

  “Oh, I hope so.”

  Josie was probably right about the Stellings. Elisabeth just wasn’t as confident of Gabe. “Do we have any apples?”

  “There’s a bushel in the root cellar,” Josie replied.

  “Irene, let’s bake apple pies for dessert.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  “I’ll show you. You can peel and slice while I make the crusts.”

  As the supper hour neared, the women set the table and changed into clean dresses. Elisabeth took herself outdoors to cut flowers for centerpieces.

  Gunshots not far away took her by surprise. At another volley of fire, she dropped the stems and stared toward the center of town, though of course she could see nothing from here.

  A bell rang, probably the one in the firehouse yard, startling her further. Another joined the peals.

  Kalli ran out into the yard, the twins and Phillip on her heels. Josie followed seconds later, carrying Rachel. Abigail and Anna, who’d been reading under a tree in the side yard, abandoned their books and slates and joined them.

  Josie stopped beside Elisabeth, a furrow in her brow. “What’s happening?”

  “I don’t know.”

  More gunfire erupted and then a string of firecrackers and another, as though it was the Fourth of July all over again.

  “I guess we’d better go see,” Josie said. She turned to the younger girls. “Take the boys’ hands.”

  As a group, they hurried down the steep brick street. At the bottom of the hill the racket grew louder. Irene was standing outside the little house, a hand shading her eyes.

  Sam stood in front of the church and motioned for them to join him.

  A wagon lumbered past, harnesses jingling. Several men rode in the back, waving their hats and cheering.

  Sam ran forward. “What’s happened?”

  “The president declared Colorado a state!” one of them shouted, and the others whooped and hollered. “We have statehood!”

  The men continued down the brick street, cheering and shouting the news to all who came out of doors.

  Gabe rode up just then. He’d heard the reports on his way back into town. His hair was damp with sweat.

  “Let’s go on into town and join those celebrating,” Sam suggested.

  “I’ll catch up with you after I wash up,” Gabe replied.

  The entire length of Main Street was filled with joyous citizens. One group had joined hands and danced in a circle. Others laughed and several lit firecrackers. Victor Larken carried a drum out of his store and made a racket.

  Shortly, Gabe joined them. Donetta Barnes had ventured into the throng and Arlene Stelling led her over to their gathering near the post office.

  At last people started home for their meals, and Josie invited Donetta to join them for supper. The widow seemed pleased to be asked. The Stellings had a buggy, so they gave Donetta and Josie a ride while the rest walked up the incline.

  Gil joined them, and once they arrived at the house, Elisabeth and Josie added another place setting.

  “Thank You, Lord, for answering the prayers of the people of Colorado,” Sam prayed. “Lord I pray that each person in our community is thankful to You this day. Hold the citizens of Jackson Springs safe.” After he asked a blessing for the food, conversation broke out. Bowls passed and there was more mirth than usual.

  The voices and laughter evoked a sense of belonging and peace within Elisabeth. Someti
mes she wondered how different their lives would have been if her mother had lived. But God had seen her father’s need—the need of her entire family—and sent them Josie. God could take any bad situation and turn it to His glory if only His children put their trust in Him.

  That situation on the train had been bad. Through it, Gabe and Irene had been welcomed into this circle of friends and family. Gil may not have found Irene if Gabe hadn’t been shot and come to stay with them. And…it was difficult to think on…was God using Gabe to turn Donetta Barnes’s situation around? How could that be? Didn’t a person have to be willing to let God work through them?

  Once everyone had finished eating, she and Kalli carried in the pies. The golden crusts and warm cinnamon smells met with sounds of appreciation.

  “I helped,” Irene said and gave Gil a proud smile.

  “Would you like to serve?” Josie asked.

  Irene stood and walked to the end of the table where the pies sat and sliced them into neat wedges. Abigail held small plates and carried the servings around the table to serve the guests first.

  Gabe looked at the generous piece of pie in front of him and raised his eyes to meet Elisabeth’s. She’d been thinking of him when she’d asked Josie about the apples and made the filling. Somehow he knew. He gave her a half smile that inched up his lips on one side, which in turn loosed a dozen butterflies in her stomach.

  Irene squeezed Elisabeth’s hand on her way back to her chair. An eternity later, everyone had eaten and been served a cup of coffee or had their milk refilled.

  Finally, and Elisabeth’s heart jolted with expectation, Gil cleared his throat, pushed back his chair with his legs and stood. “I have something I’d like to share with you now.”

  The room grew unnaturally quiet. All eyes focused on him.

  The sound of the clock in the foyer could be heard over the thick silence.

  He reached for Irene’s hand and she gave him an adoring smile. “I can’t remember being this happy.” He cleared his throat again. “I’ve asked Irene to marry me, and she’s accepted.”

  Arlene reached for her husband with one hand and with the other dabbed tears with her napkin. Chess held her hand and patted it, nodding with pleasure.

  Gil leaned to give Irene a peck on the cheek and a quick reassuring hug. She held both his hands, gazed into his eyes and then released him to go to her brother. At her approach, Gabe inched his chair back and stood to embrace her soundly.

  She leaned back and gazed up at him. “Are you happy for me?”

  “I am,” he replied.

  “I thought you might pitch a fit when you found out.”

  “You buttered me up with apple pie,” he said and glanced at Elisabeth.

  The others chuckled.

  “And besides he came to me yesterday, and we had another talk.”

  Irene swatted his arm playfully, hugged him again and returned to her fiancé. “Why did you let me worry?”

  “I didn’t know you were worried.” Gil turned toward his parents. “Oh. And I bought the Martin house.”

  More excitement broke out. People talked over each other in their rush to share their reactions to all the day’s news.

  Later, after the dishes were finished and the children were in bed, the Stellings visited with her parents in the great room. Elisabeth surveyed the rooms but didn’t find Irene, Gil or Gabe. She checked out of doors and discovered Gabe perched on the porch stairs by himself.

  She joined him, sitting nearby and lacing her fingers over her knees. “Are you all right?”

  He gazed into the star-studded heavens. “I waited too long.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Too long for what?”

  “To call an end to a life of chasing outlaws. To bring Irene here and make a home for her. I left her alone all those years.” His voice got thick with emotion. “A child raised by strangers.” He stood and walked a few feet away. “And now she’s making a family for herself with no help from me, and I’m the one who’s going be alone. Fitting, I suppose, because I sure don’t belong with these people.”

  “How can you think that?” she asked. “You’ve already made plenty of friends since you’ve been here. I haven’t run across anyone who didn’t like you or admire you or who didn’t have something good to say about you.”

  He shrugged. “I read people. I’m adaptable.”

  “You accept people for who they are,” she said. “Every thing’s cut and dried for you. Black and white. Simple.”

  “People aren’t that hard to figure out.”

  She got up to stand beside him, and with a hand at the small of her back, he led them across the yard in the darkness.

  Turning to face her, he opened his palm, and in the moonlight she recognized the stone she had given him. “You said this represents choices. Everything has a consequence, good or bad. I thought I was doing the right thing for my sister. Looking back, maybe the best school in the east wasn’t the best thing I could have done for her. Maybe just knowing someone’s there for you and wants you is better than all the provision in the world.”

  “She knows you care for her and that you only want the best for her.”

  “No, she doesn’t. How could she?”

  “Because you provided for her in the way you believed was best. She loves you, Gabe, and she believes in you.”

  “She believed in me all those years I was gone, too,” he pointed out.

  Elisabeth closed his fingers over the stone and held his hand that way. “You can’t change the past. None of us can change the choices we’ve already made. We can only choose to make better ones in the future.”

  “Is that what the stones do for you? Remind you to make better choices?”

  “I hope so.”

  “And what choice have you ever made that was so bad? You do everything perfectly.”

  She let his words sink in. Absorbed them. “I’m the reason my mother died.”

  “Didn’t she drown?”

  She looked away, gathering her thoughts, her composure. “Yes, she drowned. Our wagon train had come to a river. It wasn’t terribly deep, but the water was swollen and running swiftly. I still get a sinking feeling when I hear the sound of a river or a bubbling stream.

  “I don’t know how it happened or what caused us to tip, but one moment we were all seated on the bench or just behind it, and the next moment the wagon lurched sideways, throwing my mother and Abigail and me into the water.

  “The current was strong. The water was so cold it took my breath away. I was terrified, screaming, trying to swim, but my skirts were heavy. The water carried me downstream and an eddy pushed me toward a craggy bank where a limb hung out over the water. I grabbed on to it and screamed for all I was worth. I think I screamed for my mother. I cried for my father and prayed he’d reach me before I could no longer hang on.”

  “You must’ve been terrified.”

  “I was terrified. But I was also relatively safe, secured as I was to land by that branch. It seemed like forever I clung there, screaming until I was hoarse. And then he came. His arms locked around me, and I let go, safely carried to shore.

  “Father set me down beside Anna, who had been wrapped in a blanket by one of the women from the train. Abigail was standing and her teeth were chattering so hard I thought she’d break them. Someone brought me a blanket. Eventually I stopped crying.

  “I looked at Abigail. She hadn’t been crying, just watching the stretch of river beyond where we sat. ‘Where’s Mama?’ I asked.

  “‘Papa’s looking for her. The other men are looking for her, too.’ Her lips were purple, but her face was white. I probably looked just the same.” Elisabeth brought three warm stones from her pocket and looked at them. She raised her gaze to Gabe. “My mother had been carried downstream by the current. She hadn’t been able to reach a branch like I had. She wasn’t hanging on or safe like I had been.

  “If he’d gone for her first and then come back for me—or let one of the
other men fetch me—he knew I was safe—he could’ve reached her before it was too late.”

  “Did he find her body?”

  She nodded. “We didn’t even mark her grave. The wagons rolled right over the spot so it was indistinguishable. Like she’d never been there.”

  “You know they had to do that.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re not responsible for her death, Elisabeth.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Twelve.”

  “How many twelve-year-olds wouldn’t be frightened and calling out for help in the same situation? You had no way of knowing who was in more danger. That bank could’ve given way, and you’d have been buried under mud and water and not discovered. Currents like that are dangerous.”

  “I can’t let go of the responsibility I feel,” she said.

  “Your expectations of yourself are unrealistic,” he told her. “And so are your expectations of everyone else.”

  “Well, I don’t think so.”

  “I know you don’t. At least I know I’m not perfect, and I don’t hope to be anytime soon.”

  She bristled. “I don’t think I’m perfect.”

  “No. But you think you should be. Everyone else falls short, as well. You must wear yourself out being disappointed all the time. If something doesn’t conform to your neat and tidy equation of the world, you dismiss it.”

  “You’re just being mean now.”

  “Am I? Or am I being honest? You don’t have a problem with telling the truth, do you?”

  “How did this conversation get twisted around to be about me?” she asked. “We were talking about your sister.” His accusations stung. She had shared her most private feelings with him, which she now regretted with all her heart.

  “I’m traveling in the morning,” she said. “I’m going to bed.” With that, she turned and hurried back to the house.

  Once everyone said their good-nights, Gabe ushered Irene home. She was happy, and he would never say or do anything to tarnish her tender feelings or discourage her from seeking the life she desired. After getting them both a pitcher of water, she wished him a good-night and ducked into her tiny bedroom.