Matt dropped back into his chair and stared until Josh felt impaled by his keen gaze. “No. It’s just that I’ve heard twins sometimes share the same feelings.” Matt cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. “If your brother is like you, what’s to keep him from falling in love with Ellie when he meets her? I’d hate to see her in a tug-of-war between brothers. Bad business. All three of you would lose.”
Matt’s insight sent a chill through Josh. “We look alike, but it ends there. Edward and I chose different paths in life a long time ago. Besides, he’s already engaged.” Right, a little voice taunted. Beryl Westfield is like a burned-out comet compared with Ellie, who brings the sunlight. How can Edward or any man help falling in love with her? You were down for the count the first time you met her.
“Well?”
Josh gathered his wits and replied, “Edward may have his faults, but I’m sure he has enough honor to never come between me and the woman I love.”
Are you sure? the little voice persisted. Absolutely sure? Josh wanted to drown out the voice with a resounding yes, but doubts born of past experience rose. If push came to shove, would Edward let anything stand between him and something he’d set his mind on possessing? Time after time, the role of brother’s keeper had lain heavy on Josh’s shoulders. He’d given up much for Edward. If he fell in love with Ellie, as Josh knew could happen, must the older brother stand aside in order to keep Ellie from becoming a wishbone?
Matt leaned forward. “You can take my advice or not, Josh. But if I were you, I’d get a ring on Ellie’s finger before that brother of yours ever meets her.”
Josh’s mouth dried. “A wedding ring?” His heart leaped at the thought.
Matt rolled his eyes. “No, you dolt. A brand. A sparkler. An engagement ring. Something to tell the world she belongs to you.”
“You’re all right with that?” Josh marveled.
Matt cocked one eyebrow and drawled, “Well now, Preacher, it really isn’t up to me. One thing more. How are you going to support my daughter if Luther Talbot convinces folks you need to mosey on three months from now? I doubt you’ve saved much on the salary you get here.”
Josh wanted to laugh. “I have income from a trust fund my grandfather left and saved quite a bit from Bayview Christian. The trust fund principal comes to me when I’m thirty, unless Mother finds a way to stop it. She didn’t want me to leave San Francisco. By the way, this is privileged information.”
“Of course.” Matt’s eyes twinkled. He stood, signaling the interview had ended. “You’re a good rider. If Talbot succeeds in getting you kicked out, which I’m pretty sure he won’t, I can always use another good hand.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind. Now I’d best be getting back to town before Luther sends a pack of hounds after me.”
“He’s about ready to,” Matt warned. “His big gripe continues to be that you spend way too much time outside the church and parsonage.”
“How do you feel about it?” Josh asked.
“You have to do both. Tend the flock and go after the strays.”
Josh told Matt good-bye and headed back to Madera, pondering over the remarkable session and thinking of the rancher’s final words. So much to do. If only there were more hours in a day! “There aren’t,” Josh told Sultan. “Hmmm. Wonder what’s next?”
He didn’t have long to wait. The eastbound train was grinding to a stop when Josh reached Madera. He tethered Sultan to the hitching rail in front of Moore’s General Store and idly watched passengers descend to the dusty street. A heavily veiled woman paused on the platform at the top of the steps, with the porter attempting to assist her. A haughty voice commanded, “My good man, I can walk. Will you please let go of my elbow?”
Blood rushed to Josh’s head and roared in his ears. The voice could only belong to one person. “Mother?” he croaked.
Letitia stepped down, followed by her grinning younger son. “Really Joshua, must you gape?” She cast a disparaging glance up and down Main Street. “That’s what comes of living in a place like this. Now, will you kindly take me somewhere so I can recover from our dreadful journey?”
She looked at the well-filled horse trough nearby and sniffed. “I presume there are accommodations with modern conveniences. Or is this where people here bathe?”
fourteen
“Mother!” Josh grabbed the woman’s arm. He helped her from the street to the sidewalk that ran in front of the store, wishing the wooden planks beneath his feet would open and swallow him. He sent Edward a silent cry for help, but his twin had obviously been rendered speechless by their mother’s rude remark. Why are they here? Josh wondered. How can Mother, with all her social graces, be so insufferable? What is she trying to do, make me a laughingstock and undermine my work in Madera so I’ll have to go home? The sooner I can get her out of here, the better.
Before Josh could steer Letitia away, an elderly man hobbled his way through the crowd that always gathered to meet the trains. His cracked voice grated on Josh’s ears. “Jumpin’ jackrabbits, are there two preachers here or am I seein’ double?” He shook his head as if to clear it. “Can’t be. I ain’t had a drink for nigh onto ten years.”
This cannot be happening, Josh thought in despair. It’s like something out of a bad dream. “You’re all right,” Josh said aloud. “Mother, Edward, this is my friend Dan Doyle.”
Dan dipped his head to Josh’s mother. “Pleased to meetcha, ma’am. You got a mighty fine son here. T’other one looks toler’ble, too.” He cackled and held out a gnarled hand.
Mother ignored it, but Edward quickly reached out. “Thank you, Mr. Doyle.”
Dan swelled with pride. Josh bit back a guffaw. Bless Edward. The old man probably hadn’t been called Mister for years, if ever.
Edward turned to his brother. “About accommodations …”
Josh led his mother away before she could blurt out another derogatory remark. “It’s just a short way to the Yosemite Hotel. You’ll be comfortable there. By the way, where’s Father?”
Mother made a sour face. “Traveling to San Diego on business.” She fell mercifully silent, but Josh inwardly cringed. Her expression showed total contempt for Madera. On the other hand, Edward looked amused, even interested.
“It’s rather picturesque, isn’t it?” he exclaimed while they walked down Main Street. When they reached the Yosemite Hotel he stopped short and gazed at the imposing brick building. “Nothing wrong with that, Mother.”
“It isn’t too bad,” she conceded.
Josh squelched the desire to tell her that years earlier before the original structure burned, Mace’s Hotel had been a tiny wooden shanty that served as a saloon as well as a lodging place.
She stopped short and stared up the street. “Who is that?” She pointed to a bearded man leading a spirited horse. Dressed in a fine suit and tie, the man carried a gold-handled cane. A top hat completed the picture of elegance.
Josh battled the desire to repay his mother for humiliating him—and lost. “The captain.”
She looked blank.
“Captain Russell Perry Mace. He’s a hero. He hunted buffalo with Kit Carson, was wounded in the Mexican-American War, and spent years searching for gold before helping to establish Madera. He also served in the California State Legislature.”
“Dear me, why would such a fine gentleman live in this godforsaken place?”
“The captain owns the Yosemite Hotel,” Josh quietly said. “And God hasn’t forsaken Madera, Mother. He sent me here.” The instant the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Who was he to contradict his mother? Fortunately, her attention was so fixed on the captain that she either didn’t hear or chose to ignore her son.
Edward snickered. “You’ll have something to boast about to your friends, Mother. Meeting a hero and all that.”
The captain reached them before she could reply. “Well, well, who do we have here?” He looked from Josh to Edward. “Twins, is it?” He didn’t wait for a reply b
ut turned to Letitia. “You, madam, must be their proud mother.” He beamed at Letitia, who looked completely bowled over.
“Yes. I’m Mrs. Stanhope and this is Edward.”
“Good. Good.” The captain rubbed his hands. “Preacher Josh’s coming to Madera is the best thing that’s happened around here for a long time. I take it you and Edward will be staying at my hotel, Mrs. Stanhope? I’ll be honored if you’ll join me for supper. You, too, Preacher. Six thirty?”
Josh hoped his mother wouldn’t blurt out that they usually dined much later. He sighed with relief when she merely said, “We’ll be happy to join you, Captain Mace. Six thirty is fine.”
“Good,” he trumpeted. “Come in, and make yourselves at home.” He led the way into the richly furnished foyer with its impressive staircase leading to the upstairs sleeping chambers. Mother’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. Clearly, she hadn’t expected this.
“Joshua, do you have rooms here?”
“No. I live in the parsonage next to the church.” He glanced down at his dusty clothes. “I’ll stable Sultan, get cleaned up, and meet you here.” He beat a hasty retreat, his heart lighter than it had been since his family arrived. Thanks to the opportune appearance of the colorful Captain Mace, maybe things would be all right.
Just before the outer door of the hotel swung shut, he heard his mother ask, “Do we dress for din—supper?”
“Some do. Some don’t,” the captain replied. “Wear what you like.”
Josh chuckled to himself and hurried back to care for Sultan. How would Mother react to eating in the same room with sheepmen and cowboys, travelers, shopkeepers, and their wives? He shrugged. He could do nothing about it, except leave it to the Lord. But again Josh wondered, Why are Mother and Edward here?
He continued to wonder during the superlative dinner in the well-appointed dining room. Gaslight flickered on crystal and china. It gleamed on silver cutlery and tablecloths as starched and spotless as the pinafore-style aprons the waitresses wore. Josh rejoiced in the young women’s usual efficient service. His mother could have no complaint about it, even though she looked askance at their fellow diners.
The captain took center stage. Josh had heard some of his stories before but enjoyed the talkative hotel proprietor’s confession that gold mining wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. “One day, I washed thirty-four buckets of dirt in the forenoon and made sixty-two and one-half cents. In the afternoon, I bought a sack of flour, a half pound of pork, and a dollar’s worth of soap. It cost eight dollars.”
Mother eyed him suspiciously, but Edward’s eyes sparkled. Unless Josh was badly mistaken, his brother was having the time of his life.
When the last bite of the Lady Baltimore cake had vanished, the captain shoved his chair back from the table. “I imagine I’ll see you in church tomorrow, especially Pastor Josh.” He laughed heartily.
Josh held his breath, but Edward nodded. So did Mother.
“Good. Thank you for having supper with me.” The captain pulled out Mother’s chair. When she rose, he nodded and strolled out of the dining room.
Josh felt at a loss as to what to do next. “Would you like to see my parsonage?” he finally asked.
“Not tonight. I’m going to my room.” His mother swept out, long skirts trailing behind her.
Thud. Josh’s hopes fell to his toes. He turned to face Edward. “Is she ever going to forgive me?”
An unreadable expression came into his twin’s eyes, an expression that left Josh uneasy without knowing why. “She’s here, isn’t she?”
Yet a question hammered in Josh’s brain: True—but what does it mean?
After a sleepless night spent reviewing the sermon he’d planned, Josh gave it up at dawn. “Sorry, Lord. With Mother and Edward in the congregation, I simply can’t preach about the Lost Son.” He buried his head in his hands. “What shall I do?”
Silence followed. Peace came, first as a trickle, then like a river. It brought the feeling all would be well. Josh grabbed writing tools and began making notes.
A few hours later, he stepped behind the pulpit of Christ the Way, opened his Bible, and announced, “Our text today is from John 14.” Pages rustled as the congregation found the place. Josh’s heart thundered when he said, “Jesus told His disciples in verse 1, ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.’ In verse 27, He said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ “
He paused and closed the Bible. “Instead of preaching a regular sermon this morning, I’m going to tell you the story of a remarkable man.” He heard a snort from behind him. Please, God, don’t let Luther Talbot make a scene. Josh straightened. He wouldn’t give the chairman a chance.
“Horatio Spafford and his wife lived in Chicago. They had four daughters, who ranged from eighteen months in age to twelve years. In the winter of 1873, the family joyously looked forward to a trip to Europe. The time for the trip grew close, but business difficulties forced Spafford to remain at home. Unwilling to deprive his family of the trip, he kissed them good-bye, bade them Godspeed, and promised to join them as soon as possible.
“Anna Spafford and the girls boarded a French steamer and began their journey. Tragedy struck off the coast of Newfoundland. The ship collided with an English sailing vessel, which ripped a huge hole in the Ville de Havre’s hull. It plunged to the bottom of the ocean within twenty minutes.
“Just before the ship sank, Anna gathered her girls and prayed. The icy North Atlantic swept over them. It took the three oldest girls, then snatched the baby from her mother’s arms. Alone and near death, Anna was rescued by those in a lifeboat. Ten anxious days passed before the survivors landed in Wales. Anna wired her husband:
SAVED ALONE.
Heartbroken, Horatio boarded the next available ship to England and was reunited with Anna. They returned to Chicago.”
Josh paused and looked from face to face. “How many times does our faith weaken when we face adversity? Who among us could face such a loss and remain steadfast? My mother and brother are here today. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost either of them or my father. Yet the Spaffords trusted God and kept the faith. Horatio later returned to where the Ville de Havre went down. A hymn came out of his pain.”
Not a sound could be heard in the entire church. Josh saw tears trembling on his mother’s eyelashes. Edward sat as if turned to stone. Thank You, Lord.
Josh looked at Ellie. Her glowing eyes reflected her love for the God who had delivered her and Tim from a life of sadness. “I’ve asked Miss Sterling to sing ‘It Is Well with My Soul,’ the song wrenched from Horatio Spafford’s heart by tragedy.”
Ellie slowly stepped forward. Abby struck a single note on the organ and stopped playing. Ellie clasped her hands against her pale yellow gown and began to sing:
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
The glorious voice soared with triumph, needing no accompaniment:
“It is well … with my soul …
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Josh looked at Edward. Clearly astonished, his brother straightened in his seat and fixed his gaze on Ellie. So did Mother. The song continued. Josh saw his brother whisper to their mother. A satisfied smile appeared, but she never took her attention from Ellie.
“It is well … with my soul …
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Ellie had never sung so magnificently. Josh had never loved her more. Why then, did foreboding fill him? Another quick glance at his mother increased his apprehension. Whenever she looked like a pussycat who’d plundered the cream pitcher, it meant trouble. The unpleasant suspicion that his mother and Edward were neck-deep in some nefarious scheme perch
ed on Josh’s shoulder and clawed into him.
If not, why were they here?
fifteen
Josh barely got the final amen out before his mother and Edward left their seats and rushed up the aisle to Ellie. Letitia laid her gloved hand on the girl’s arm and beamed. Josh hadn’t seen her so fluttery since the mayor of San Francisco presented her with what Edward called a “do-gooder” award for work with various city charities.
“My dear,” she gushed, “what a marvelous voice! And that song …” She dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief and turned to Matt and his family. “You must be the Sterlings. Surely you are proud of this young lady.” Her treble voice rang through the church.
Tim gawked. Ellie blinked. Sarah’s eyes twinkled. The corners of Matt’s mouth twitched as he said, “And you must be Mrs. Stanhope and Edward.” He held out his hand. “I’m glad you came.”
Josh wished he could say the same. It might be unjust, but he couldn’t rid himself of the feeling mischief was brewing.
“Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, will you and your family be our guests for lunch at the Yosemite Hotel?” Edward laughed and corrected himself. “Dinner, that is.”
“Thank you,” Matthew said. “Sarah, Tim, Ellie, and I will be happy to accept. Our younger children can go home with my sister and her husband.”
Edward gave them his most charming smile. “I’m sure Josh will be joining us.”
You can bet on it, Brother. I’m not letting you and Mother out of my sight until you’re back on the train to San Francisco. Josh left the platform and came to the group. “Of course. Let’s step outside. Folks will want to meet you.” He maneuvered them down the aisle and into the yard. His heart warmed to the way the congregation flocked around his family. But when Amy Talbot, wearing a fluffy lilac gown and a here-I-go-a-hunting look approached Edward, Josh wanted to howl with mirth.
Wide-eyed and innocent, she peered up into Edward’s face, then clapped her small hands. “I declare, you really are alike as two peas in a pod.” Amy giggled. “What a blessing to have two such handsome men in church today!” She batted her eyelashes. “You know, Mr. Stanhope, we’re all simply crazy about your brother. If you plan to stay for a few days, Father and I would love to entertain you. I’m Amy Talbot, and my father is chairman of the church board.”
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