With Samuel’s help, they sang several verses of “Amazing Grace” and “Rock of Ages.” Without an instrument to guide them, they were probably a little off-key, but Jesse didn’t mind, and he knew God didn’t care, either. These people were having a great time worshiping together.
“Before you sit down, Samuel, I’d like to do one more song. Do any of you know ‘The Church’s One Foundation’? ”
Samuel frowned and shook his head, as did the others. Jesse nodded, knowing they might not have heard the song yet. “I’d like to teach this one to you because, as we begin a church here, I want us to remember who the founder of our church is. I’ll sing through the first verse to show you how it goes. Then you can join me the second time.”
The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation by water and the word.
From heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her and for her life
He died.
By the time the people finished singing, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. Blessed by how they longed to worship, Jesse hoped he would be able to deliver the message God had given him for these believers.
Seventeen
Throughout the singing and introductory statements he gave, Megan couldn’t take her eyes off Jesse. She forgot her discomfort with the crowd of people. She forgot her concern about Seana. Some change had transformed Jesse into a confident leader. She’d never seen that side of him before. His very demeanor took her breath away, and his words put a longing in her heart to know Jesus better.
“I’d like to read a portion of one of the psalms. Those who have their Bibles can follow along.” Jesse held his Bible in one hand while he flipped through the pages. “I’ll be reading from Psalm 90, verses 14 through 17. ‘O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.’ ”
Closing his eyes, Jesse prayed a simple prayer, then studied the people who waited in silence for him to begin. For some reason Megan could feel something different about this morning. Many Sundays Jesse shared Scripture with her and Seana. He’d taught her a lot, but today felt different somehow. She sensed a presence that hadn’t been here, or at least as noticeable, before.
“Those four verses hold a wealth of wisdom I could talk about.” Jesse stood tall, the slight breeze ruffling his hair. “I could talk about being satisfied with God’s mercy or rejoicing and being glad all our days. I want to speak to you instead about the years wherein we have seen evil and the choices we have to make because of that.”
Silence fell heavy over the group. This wasn’t what Megan expected for a first service. She leaned forward to hear what he would say next.
“We’ve all experienced hard times: crop failures, disease, loss of loved ones. How many of us are able to walk away from tragedies without anger or frustration? How many of us are glad that those things happened?” A murmur rumbled through the group. Jesse waited a moment for it to die down.
“Look again at verse fifteen. Moses is the writer of this psalm. We all know Moses suffered a lot in his life. He didn’t have an easy time, but here he is asking God to make him glad that he’s been afflicted. Why is that? Take a minute and think about some difficult time you’ve gone through. Have you been able to thank God for that trial? Are you glad you experienced it?”
The breath seemed to drain from Megan’s body. She thought of the deaths of her family, the lies spread about her both back East and out here. How could she be glad any of that happened? God couldn’t expect that.
Jesse’s tone softened. “That’s hard to do. I believe it’s only through God’s grace and the working of the Holy Spirit that we’re able to be glad in such circumstances. Why should we do this? Look at verses sixteen and seventeen.”
Glancing down at her Bible, Megan drew in a sharp breath. Her heart pounded. The hairs on her arms stood up. She tingled as if a presence surrounded her. She listened as Jesse spoke, knowing his words speaking to her heart were a message from God to her. The fact that God chose to speak to her in any form or fashion made her want to weep. He loved her. It didn’t matter what happened to her then or now, God loved her. He sent Jesse to be her husband because He loved her. Jesus would give her the courage to be right for Jesse, to encourage him in all that God had planned for him to do.
“When we choose to be glad for the afflictions God allows in our life, we will see the glory of God every day.” Several heads nodded as Jesse continued. “Do you want to be beautiful? Then be glad at what the Lord’s done in your life. Let Him establish the work of your hands and all you do will hold His beauty.”
Jesse shut his Bible and looked at each person. “God has called me to preach His Word—to be a pastor. I’d like to be your pastor. I would like for the Lord to establish a work for me here in this community for those who aren’t able to travel farther.” He smiled at Megan. “My wife and I invite all of you to come every Sunday and hear the Word of God preached. You’re all welcome to worship with us every week.”
They were dismissed after William led them in prayer. The men moved to shake hands with Jesse and carry the benches to the tables, while the women rushed inside to set out the food. Megan lost count of the number of people who told her how much they appreciated the service and how they looked forward to next Sunday. Seana and her friends raced around the yard like young colts finally free from a pen. Megan couldn’t seem to stop smiling. She hadn’t had the chance to speak with Jesse, but every time he looked at her, it was like a physical touch of reassurance and love.
❧
“Did you ever wish for a smooth road without any ruts?” Jesse grinned at Megan as the wagon rocked through another pothole. With the recent rains, the road to town had grown increasingly more difficult to navigate. Sometimes Jesse feared they would break a wheel in the places he couldn’t avoid.
“Do they have streets like that in Chicago? I can’t remember such luxuries.” Megan smiled up at him, her cheeks flushed with a healthy glow. Her eyes sparkled. Jesse wanted nothing more than to stop the wagon, hold her, and kiss her.
“Would you please stop that?” He guided the team around another hole.
“Stop what?”
“Stop looking so beautiful. We’ll be late getting to town and late getting home, if you don’t.”
“How will my looking at you a certain way make us late?” Megan gave him an incredulous look.
“Because I might do this.” Jesse pulled on the reins and stopped the horses. Taking Megan in his arms, he kissed her with all the desire he felt.
“Ick. I can’t look.” Seana made sounds from the back of the wagon like she was going to be sick. Jesse chuckled and released Megan, whose cheeks were even more flushed now.
Megan fanned her face with her hand. “Seana, you should pray for a wonderful husband like Jesse.”
“Not if he makes me sick like you’ve been.”
“You’ve been sick?” Jesse studied his wife’s healthy glow. He’d never seen her look so good.
Megan shrugged. “I’ve been sick a couple of mornings this week. Certain smells seem to be upsetting my stomach.” She smiled and raised her voice so Seana could hear. “The sickness has nothing to do with Jesse.”
“Tess Duncan says it does.” Seana crossed her arms, looking defiant. Her attitude toward him had improved, but Jesse knew they still had a ways to go before she would want him around for good.
“Why does Tess think Jesse is making me sick?” Megan’s eyes twinkled with mirth.
“Tess told me her mother says her father is the reason for some of her sickness. Her mother gets sick to her stomach and tired, then she gets fa
t, and then they have another baby in the house.”
Jesse felt the breath whoosh out of him. Megan’s eyes widened. He could see that she was considering if it were true. He sat perfectly still, watching the play of emotions across her face. When her eyes began to glitter and her hand covered her lips as they formed an O of wonder, Jesse knew. Megan’s hand strayed to touch her abdomen. Jesse couldn’t resist covering her hand with his, as awe filled him at the thought that they would have a child. In a few months, he, Jesse Coulter, would be a father.
“Is it true?” At his whispered question, Megan looked up. Her eyes shone.
“I think it is.” She sounded shocked and delighted at the same time. “I hadn’t considered this as the reason I was getting sick. It hasn’t been bad. Edith was so sick, she couldn’t get out of bed.”
“I love you so much, Megan.” Jesse gave her another long kiss. A quiet sniffle from behind interrupted them. Jesse glanced down to see Seana swiping at her eyes.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” He ruffled her hair. “You’re going to be an aunt. Don’t you like the idea?” Seana shrugged.
“What else did Tess say, Seana?” Megan lifted her sister’s chin. “What did she tell you?”
Seana tried to turn away. A tear trickled down her cheek. “She. . .she said you won’t want me around anymore and will probably put me in an orphanage since Momma and Papa died.”
Megan gasped. “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. Why would we want to get rid of you?”
“Because I don’t belong to you. I’m only a sister. Tess says you’ll only want your children around you now.” Seana’s lower lip quivered. Megan’s mouth opened and closed as if she were so shocked she couldn’t think of anything to say.
Jesse turned farther on the seat. “Seana, do you understand what it means to be an aunt?” Seana shook her head, looking as miserable as a child could.
“Well, I know something about it because I’m an uncle.” He waited until Seana gazed up at him, a glimmer of hope in her expression. “My sisters both have children, and while I lived back home, I often went over to play with them. I took the older ones fishing or hunting. I even escorted my oldest niece to a church social. She wanted to go with a boy and her parents agreed she was too young for such a thing. I volunteered to take her, and everyone was happy with that. We had a wonderful time.
“As our child’s aunt, you will have the responsibility of loving the baby and helping to guide her as she grows up. You can teach her games and show her how to do different jobs.”
“Ahem.” Megan tapped him on the chest with her finger. “What if this baby is a boy?”
Jesse grinned. “Then she’ll help show him how to do things.” He looked back at Seana, whose face had lit up. He could see she was considering how important her job would be.
“Does Sally like her baby brother?” Megan asked.
Seana nodded. “She likes them all most of the time. She says it’s fun to have someone to play with or to dress up like a doll.”
“See?” Megan smoothed some flyaway hair from Seana’s forehead. “You’ll have fun with this baby, too.”
Seana wrapped her arms around her legs and gazed off into the distance. Jesse could almost read her thoughts. She loved playing with Ennis, and this baby would be one more doll to attend to. Turning back around, he drew Megan close for a brief hug before continuing on to town. A father. The thought filled him with awe, fear, and joy all at the same time.
As they drew closer to town, Jesse could sense Megan tensing. She still hated coming to town, although she seemed to be enjoying the church services and the fellowship they had with those who attended. Jesse knew she still felt uncomfortable around the reverend and Mr. Sparks. Today they would be facing Mr. Sparks at the bank.
Jesse had finished the early planting. Despite all the chores that still needed doing, he and Megan couldn’t afford to wait any longer before talking with the banker. There had to be some way to extend the loan until fall, when the crops would sell and they would have the money to pay the bank.
He would also need to go by the post office and see if his letter had been answered. William had asked last Sunday if he’d heard anything. Another family had been put out of their home by the bank. William knew them some and thought they had paid their loan. Just like many of the previous people, this family was there one day and gone the next. Something wasn’t right, and Jesse intended to find out what.
Yankton appeared sleepy in the late morning. Most of the residents were working or at home preparing meals. The students whose families could spare them were at school; the other children worked alongside fathers and mothers in the fields and gardens. A light breeze took the heat from the sun, not making the air cold, but providing a freshness that felt good. The fresh scent of rain hung in the air from an early morning shower. Jesse drew in a deep breath, enjoying the smell.
He caught Megan’s hand in his and held on, hoping to give her some support. Her face had paled as they reached town. Most likely she was nervous, but after the news shared on the road, he wondered if she was feeling sick again. He stopped the wagon in front of the bank.
“You okay?” Megan jumped as Jesse spoke close to her ear to keep Seana from hearing.
Her attempt at a smile didn’t last. “I’ll be fine.”
Before Jesse could tie the horses, Seana had scrambled from the wagon. He helped Megan down, gave her a quick hug, and stepped back. “Ready?”
Megan took a deep breath, nodded, and lifted her chin. Jesse grinned and held out his arm.
When they entered the bank, there was only one customer, an old man doing more talking than the teller seemed to want to hear. Mr. Sparks stepped from his office as the door closed behind them. He rocked back on his heels and patted his generous paunch. Jesse could feel the anger curling up inside him. Sparks had the look of a predatory animal about to pounce on its prey. Jesse knew he and Megan were the prey.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Coulter. Have you come to pay off that loan?” The smirk on Sparks’s face told Jesse the man knew he wouldn’t be able to come up with the money.
“No, Sir, but we would like to speak with you about the loan if you have the time.” Jesse kept one hand on Megan. Seana stood behind them, subdued for the moment. The old man had ceased talking to the teller. The only sound in the bank was the ticking of the grandfather clock against the back wall.
“Come right on in.” Sparks gestured at his office door. “Maybe we can make this transfer early and fast.”
Jesse ignored the insinuation and guided Megan toward the office. He nodded at a chair along one wall, and Seana plopped down to wait for them. Sparks lumbered across the floor and settled into a protesting chair behind his desk. Jesse and Megan sat close together, a united front against the injustice of what Sparks had planned.
Opening a drawer, Sparks brought out some papers. He put them on the desktop and narrowed his eyes as he examined Jesse and Megan. “Well, are you ready to sign over the farm and admit you can’t pay off the loan? That will save a lot of grief. If you do that, I’ll even give you two weeks to pack up and move.”
Eighteen
Her fingers gripped the edge of the chair so hard, Megan wondered that the wood didn’t crack. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw something at this pompous windbag who thought he knew so much and had so much power. Her tongue refused to work. Bit by bit she calmed enough to ease her grip on the chair. The clock in the corner began to annoy her as each steady tick sounded like a stroke of thunder.
“My father did not have a loan with this bank, Mr. Sparks.” Megan blinked in amazement at her controlled tone of voice. Ice crystals should have been sparkling in the air in front of her.
“I have the papers right here, Mrs. Coulter. I’m sure your parents didn’t share such privileged information with you.” Sparks riffled the incriminating papers with his meaty fingers.
“We found no papers or notes of any sort when we went through my parents’ th
ings. My father always kept perfect records of everything. Why would he not have an account of something like this loan when it meant he could lose the farm?”
“I can’t answer that, Mrs. Coulter, and I’m afraid it’s too late to ask your father.”
Megan gasped. The blood drained from her face, leaving her light-headed. How could the man be so cruel?
“I’d like to see those papers.” Jesse stood, stretching out his hand to the banker. Megan could see the ticking muscle in his jaw, the only indication of the anger he must feel.
“These are private records for the bank only, Mr. Coulter. I can’t allow you to see them.” Mr. Sparks opened the drawer and slipped the evidence out of sight.
“I believe when I married Megan, I became the owner of her father’s farm. You consider me in charge of paying off the loan. Why won’t you allow me to see the agreement you had with Mr. Riley?”
“You can take my word for what is written there. That’s all you need.” Sparks’s chair creaked in protest as he leaned back. “All you need to do is come up with the money or sign the farm over. Which is it?”
A muscle in Jesse’s jaw jumped. “Due to the rough winter and the death of Megan’s parents, I’d like to ask you for an extension on the loan. We could pay you back in the fall when the crops come in.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Mr. Sparks frowned. “If I let one person have an extension, then everyone will want one. It’s bad for business.”
“Mr. Sparks, my father is a banker. I’ve worked with him for years. You can’t fool me.” Jesse’s eyes flashed. “I know you can hold off on payments without being hurt. An honest banker wouldn’t withhold information or force people off the land when they’ve had such a difficult time.”
Sparks stiffened. His eyes narrowed. “Maybe out here in the Territories we do things differently than you do in the big city, Mr. Coulter.” He leaned forward, his meaty hands spread on the top of his desk. “I don’t like your accusations. Because of Megan’s difficulties, I will extend the loan for two weeks. That will give you six more weeks to come up with the money. On that day I will be at the farm and you will either pay me or be ready to leave.”
Truly Yours Historical Collection December 2014 Page 59