Wanted Preacher

by Renea Westlyn

  “Did you know Pastor James slept under my tree last night?”

  “I thought he was supposed to be keeping watch over you, not sleeping,” winked Betsy. “Wasn’t that the sweetest thing?”

  “I-I don’t know. He makes me feel funny,” Abby blushed.

  Betsy stopped walking and looked at Abby, “Funny good or funny bad?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure. He makes me feel like I’ve got June bugs jumping under my skin.”

  Abby watched as Betsy bent over laughing, “Does he make your heart race?”

  “Fiercely,” frowned Abby which caused Betsy to laugh again.

  “Did Reverend Bates cause similar feelings?” asked Betsy softly.

  “No. He was kind to me and I liked him a lot. I might have fallen in love with him, if we’d had more time, we never even…” Abby trailed off unsure how to finish the sentence on such a delicate matter that she knew little of.

  Abby peaked up at Betsy through her lashes and watched Betsy’s hand cover her mouth in surprise, “OH! Oh my. So, you never… do you know what’s supposed to happen?”

  “Not really. Mamma passed when I was little and such things were never discussed with Papa.” Abby blushed bright red, “I only know something is expected of me. My -my stepmother,” a few sneaky tears slipped out and ran down her nose, “she…” more tears followed as Betsy guided her to a bench across from the mercantile.

  “She what, Abby?”

  Abby swiped at her tears, “She so-sold me-e to a-a bad man wh-who was going to l-let men u-use mm-me, like a-a hus-husband.”

  “Oh Abby!” Abby felt Betsy’s arms come around her yet again as she held her close, “I am so sorry. Is that how you ended up in Silverpines?”

  “My-my sister Kitty she, she responded to Reverend Bates’ advertisement. Then she snuck me out the night Papa died,” Abby sniffed. “Papa’s lawyer helped Kitty get me out of town. Kitty is supposed to be coming too, she-she should have arrived by now. I-I’m dreadfully worried. I fear when Samuel died Kitty’s plan for my safety died with him.” Abby tried to dry her face with her sleeve.

  “I wouldn’t say it failed exactly, why look at all the Reverends here wanting to marry you and the women helping you and everyone working to keep Reverend Skinner away from you,” smiled Betsy. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through Abby, I had no idea, but you’ve got friends here. You’re safe.”

  “You’re right, but what if in my upset yesterday I ruined my chance at getting to know Pastor James? And what if I wouldn’t make a good wife, I mean I don’t know the-the wifely things a husband wants.” She ducked her head in embarrassment.

  “If your upset ruined things, Pastor James would not have slept under your tree,” winked Betsy. “The rest will just come natural as God intended it to, but I’ll explain it to you to help ease your mind. You’ve nothing to fear,” she patted Abby’s hand.

  “Thank you, Betsy,” Abby said and hugged her friend. “Do you have shopping to do? I’m going to get some material to make new curtains and some handkerchiefs.”

  “I do need to grab a couple things and then I need to get back home. Do you want to stay with us for a while?” Betsy asked gently.

  “I-I don’t want to leave Zeph. I’ll be alright. Thank you though.”

  Akecheta awoke from his much-needed nap and gathered his clothing. It was time to visit the bathhouse and then go prepare a sermon. He’d yet to step inside the church and was looking forward to it. He prayed the Lord would guide him and give him a topic that the community of Silverpines would benefit from hearing.

  He decided to take a different route to the bathhouse and see a little more of the town. Later he’d visit the livery and bring Genesis to Alexzander’s. He didn’t like to board him anyway and still needed to take him out for a run. He walked down Adams Street toward the Silverpines Inn and turned on to Fourth Street. There wasn’t much more that he hadn’t already seen, and he could still see damage left from double earthquakes. He passed the Inn, the butcher and a lawyer’s office. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the bathhouse.

  He looked forward to washing all the travel grime off him, perhaps Abby would be a little more accepting, he thought. He knew it wasn’t really him she wasn’t accepting, yet it had stung. After speaking with Alexzander and Betsy, he knew Abby was simply upset and had no idea what was going on. He still couldn’t believe Alexzander hadn’t told her, but would she have understood what God had called Alexzander to do at the time? Probably not. Shoot, he couldn’t even explain how he knew she was the one for him. Akecheta noticed Abby seemed to constantly fill his mind even though he knew little of her. He knew what God said and she was the one, but how to make it happen? He didn’t want to put Abby in harm's way. What he didn’t know is if Abby would be safer with him or without him at this point.

  He stripped down and stepped into the steamy bath water, hoping it would clear his mind and leave room for an inspirational sermon.

  Abby left the mercantile shortly after Betsy had gone on home. She’d hoped to see Reuben, but he didn’t make an appearance while she did her shopping. It troubled her that the young man wouldn’t speak to her. Samuel had been so fond of him. Abby wanted to comfort him, wanted to introduce Reuben to Zephaniah too. She’d just have to continue to pray for the opportunity to reach out to him.

  Instead of heading home, Abby made her way down Ash Street to the cafe. Her mind was filled to the brim with racing thoughts of every kind and she found herself fighting a bit of melancholy. Only one thing for that, she thought, a nice cup of Lily Jo’s lavender tea.

  She was so lost in thought that as she passed the Barbershop and Bathhouse she didn’t see Pastor James step out and she ran right into him.

  “OH! Pardon me. I’m so sorry.” She reached down to pick up the package she’d dropped at the same time Pastor James reached for it, causing their heads to collide. “Ouch!” she said placing her hand to her forehead, the package forgotten on the ground.

  “I’m so sorry. I was just going to pick it up for you.” He reached down, picked up the package and handed it to her. She watched as he rubbed at his head, causing that dark silky curl to fall over his forehead. She wanted to reach out and touch it. Heat rose to her cheeks and she knew she was blushing again. She wondered if it was inappropriate to invite him to the cafe.

  “It’s quite alright, thank you, I-I’m sorry I bumped into you. I was lost in thought,” she said, catching the warm scent of sandalwood as she leaned forward to take the package from him.

  “Completely understandable. I hear a cup of tea can help soothe the mind. Would you like to join me?” he offered, and she wondered if he read her mind.

  “I-well, I was headed to the cafe,” she smiled softly. “Lily Jo has the best lavender tea.”

  “Well then, shall we?” He offered her his arm and she shyly took it and they walked into the cafe. Abby watched as the excitement lit up on Lily Jo’s face when they walked in. The poor girl couldn’t help but bounce on her toes. Abby was afraid she might even clap her hands.

  “Hello!” she said happily. “Would you like a spot of tea or coffee?” she asked as she showed them to their seats.

  “I’ll have a lavender tea, Lily Jo.”

  “And I’ll have black coffee, please,” said Akecheta.

  “Would you like any sweets to go with your drinks?”

  “Chocolate chip cookies?” Pastor James suggested. Abby’s face felt hot and a tear slip down her cheek, darn those blasted tears.

  “I’ll give you two a moment.” Lily Jo said softly and turned away.

  Akecheta reached out tenderly for Abby’s hand, “I didn’t know chocolate chip cookies would be upsetting.”

  “Th-they were Samuel’s favorite. I’m sorry, I-I’ve not had one since the accident,” she whispered as he gently wiped the tear from her cheek with his finger.

  “You know God counts every one of these?” he asked holding the tear on the tip of his finger. “Wer
e you married long?”

  Abby breathlessly whispered, “Only a week. I-I was his mail order bride. We-we were just beginning to build a friendship. He had an incorrigible sweet tooth, I made him cookies nearly every day. The last time I’ve even touched a cookie was the day of the accident.”

  Akecheta rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and looked at her with sympathetic eyes. His touch caused a warmth to spread through Abby. She didn’t know if she should take her hand away or let him continue to hold it.

  “Do they make peach cobbler here? It’s one of my favorite sweets. We could try that?” he suggested.

  Abby wiped away one last tear. “I haven’t had peach cobbler since I left Georgia. It was my sister’s favorite too.”

  Lily Jo returned with their drinks and to take their order for sweets and Akecheta happily told her, “We’d like two pieces of peach cobbler, please.”

  “That is a wonderful choice. Would you like it a la mode?” Lily Jo asked as she looked at the two.

  “What does that mean?” Akecheta asked.

  “It’s French, basically it means do you want ice cream on the side or top?”

  Abby watched as Akecheta licked his lips with enthusiasm. “That sounds delicious! Sweet and creamy,” he exclaimed. A small laugh escaped Abby’s lips, he sure was a happy man. She watched as Lily Jo bounced toward the kitchen for their order.

  “Now that’s what I like to hear!” Akecheta told her.

  She laughed again, slightly confused, “What is it you like to hear?”

  “Your laughter, it’s beautiful, like music to my ears.”

  “Thank you.” She lowered her head shyly.

  “Has Alexzander, umm Marshal Sewell been by to see you today?” He shifted in his seat.

  “No. I did see Betsy. She wants me to stay at her house. I just can’t leave Zeph.”

  “Zeph?” he questioned.

  “My kitten, although Hattie tells me he’s a lynx.”

  “He’s the sweetest thing!” Lily Jo said as she sat their cobbler on the table. “Enjoy!” and off she bounced.

  “She has a lot of energy, doesn’t she?” chuckled Akecheta.

  “You have no idea,” Abby stated dryly as she dipped her fork into her cobbler, causing Akecheta to chuckle. “Did the Marshal need me for something?” She watched as Akecheta took a bite of his cobbler, closing his eyes, savoring the moment. He let out an appreciative moan. Abby just smiled, if he liked Lily Jo’s cobbler perhaps he should taste a peach cobbler made by a Georgia girl. Akecheta opened his eyes and looked at her as if he’d forgotten what she’d asked. “The Marshal?”

  “Oh yes! I mean, no. He didn’t need you, but he does want to apologize to you. I should leave him to it honestly, but after your upset last night, I feel the need for you to know that I did not arrive in response to your ad.”

  “You-you didn’t?” She hoped he didn’t hear the disappointment in her voice.

  “I did see it, but I was already half way here. Alexzander sent me a telegram that said ‘Pastor needed immediately. Must be willing to marry’. That’s how I came to be here. I suppose you could say he was trying his hand at matchmaking,” grinned Akecheta.

  “So, you are here to marry me but not because of my ad?” Abby tried to keep the irritation from her voice, she had no reason to be upset with him.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “You-you’re not?” she asked confused.

  “No Abby, I am not here to marry you.” He paused, taking her hand. “I am here willing to marry you, willing to get to know you, and willing to build a life with you.” He brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss upon it, “Only willing if you are, Abby.”

  Chapter 7

  The following morning Abby walked into church in a daze. She felt as if she hadn’t had one clear thought since Pastor James’s announcement at the cafe. She arrived a few minutes early to at least dust off the pews. Only as she looked around she saw it had already been done. Someone had come in and cleaned the church! She sat down in one of the pews near the back and wondered at who it might have been.

  She watched as the side door near the altar opened and Pastor James stepped in, his rich baritone filling the church with praise. The song just happened to be one of her favorites that she dearly loved to sing.

  “Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

  Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

  Streams of mercy, never ceasing

  Call for songs of loudest praise…”

  He walked across the front, his muscular frame filling the area, and set his Bible and small cup of water at the podium. As he continued to sing Abby stood without realizing it and made her way to him. Her voice harmonizing beautifully with his.

  “Teach me some melodious sonnet

  Sung by flaming tongues above

  Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it

  Mount of Thy redeeming love…”

  Betsy and Alexzander entered the church with a few other congregation members following them, including the hopelessly romantic Lily Jo, who nearly melted into a puddle at the sight of Abby and Pastor James, who seemed unaware of their presence as they continued to sing.

  “Here I raise my Ebenezer

  Here there by Thy great help I've come

  And I hope, by Thy good pleasure

  Safely to arrive at home…”

  Someone at the back of the church began to clap startling Abby out of the trance she’d entered. She looked up into Pastor James’s rich dark indigo eyes finding more warmth there than she’d thought possible. She took a small step backwards as he reached for her hand halting her retreat.

  “You have a lovely voice, Abby,” he said as he rubbed small tender circles on the back of her hand.

  “Thank you.” She blushed, taking her hand back as Betsy rushed up to them.

  “Abby! I didn’t know you could sing! I’ve never been more captivated by that song than I was in that moment. You two should sing together every Sunday,” beamed Betsy. “Abby would you like to sit with us?”

  “Oh, yes. Thank you.” She turned away from Pastor James to follow Betsy to their seats, but he halted her progress once more by grabbing her hand. “Pastor James?”

  “Would you like to join me for a picnic after church?”

  She looked at Betsy who nodded encouragingly and then offered him a tiny, “okay” before attempting to follow Betsy once more.

  Akecheta returned to the podium hoping he would remember his sermon. Abby’s voice was completely bewitching. He’d never heard anything so sweet and so pure. His heart raced beneath his chest as he approached the podium part in exhilaration, part in nerves. Would this congregation accept him? He’d prayed long and hard of the word the Lord wanted him to bring, would they accept it as well, were they ready to hear it?

  Picking up his cup of water, he took a small sip and cleared his throat.

  “Good morning, church.”

  “Good morning, Pastor James.” Called out the congregation.

  Akecheta smiled, “I see you’ve all learned who I am already. It’s a pleasure to meet you, though I cannot say I know all of your names just yet, I am pleased to be here. Thank you for the opportunity to share God’s word with you today, shall we begin with a prayer?” He looked out over the congregation of nodding heads, noticing mostly women and children, some still wearing somber faces while others were beginning to smile again. Silverpines had been through a terrible tragedy, a trial like none other and he knew he must proceed gently.

  “Heavenly Father, we thank you for the ability to share in your word today, please open our hearts and minds to receive it. May it nourish us and bring forth healing to the broken hearted and restoration to the community. We ask this in your Holy name, Amen.”

  Picking up his Bible he stepped around the podium. “I could stand up there behind the podium,” he said taking a seat in the chair he’d placed in front of the podium, “but I find it easier to connect with a congregation when we are si
tting together as one church.” He watched as a few of the members nodded their heads in agreement and caught Abby’s sweet smile. “I want to share with you from the book of James this morning. These words, my new friends, may not be easy to hear but I want to share them with you as they’ve helped me to persevere through my own personal losses and trials.”

  Akecheta flipped his Bible open, “First, I’d like to share with you, what may seem an unfair verse with the trials you’ve recently been through, but in James one verse seventeen we are reminded that, ‘every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows.’ Meaning we can trust in him, even in hard times, through our trials and we are told, brothers and sisters, in verse two and three, ‘to consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.’ Not easy words to hear, are they my friends? Not when your loss is great, and your heart is breaking. Not when doubt clouds your mind and grief robs you of joy. I ask you though, when is the truth ever easily heard?”

  He paused a moment, looking out at the congregation noticing a few tears and a few nods, before continuing on. “We are encouraged in verse four to ‘let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ I know I’m new to the community here, but even I have witnessed the growth among you. I have heard the stories of how you have persevered and stood strong through your trials and in the face of your grief. It is for that reason today that I want to draw your attention to verse twelve. ‘Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’ Brothers and sisters, we are blessed. Our hearts may break, and our backs may ache, but we have the strength of our Lord within us and we are truly blessed.”