Mr. Marcus remained unnaturally silent at her aunt’s apparent defiance of his rules.
“Thank you, Aunt Corrin. ” Corrin basked in her aunt these past five days and hoped she wouldn’t continue to allow her to live in this stifling place. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Corrin replied.
Amelia embraced her aunt, and whispered into Corrin’s ear, “They lock me in my room and won’t let me see you or Paul. They say you’re an evil woman. Please, I want to come home.”
In a motherly fashion, she hugged her back, this time aiming her head over her niece’s other shoulder to be out of Mr. Marcus’ sight. “Have your bags packed when I come for you on Saturday night,” she whispered.
They broke their embrace, Amelia was elated. She squeezed her aunt’s hand in affirmation. They were going to break her out of jail, and she could hardly contain her excitement to be going home again in just a couple more days.
“You certainly are a precious gift to me, honey,” Corrin said loudly enough for Mr. Marcus to hear. Then she leaned toward her again and added, “And I’ll see you Saturday night.”
She left, and Amelia listened as her aunt’s dainty footsteps disappeared down the street. The next time she’d see her would be the last day she’d live there with the Marcus’s. She went back to her room with joy now added to the peace she felt.
› › ›
Corrin Dannon left the two on the porch, one beaming and one scowling. Two more days and Amelia will be back home in the saloon where she belonged.
She regretted having brought her there in the first place. Even if it had been a loving place, seeing Amelia anywhere else but in her own home at the saloon was wrong. She saw that now and hoped Amelia could forgive her.
Corrin stopped walking and smiled at her absurd thoughts. This was Amelia Jackson she was thinking about---of course she would forgive her!
› › ›
Amelia was pleased when Mrs. Marcus asked her to go for a walk with her the next afternoon. She was more than happy to stretch her legs and breathe the cool, October air. They walked in silence for some time.
“Amelia. I’ve been wanting to ask you something about what I saw yesterday when I came up to your room to get you.”
Amelia smiled and prayed that God would draw this woman’s heart toward him.
“I was wondering about that beautiful song you were singing. I had never heard anything like that before. Who taught it to you?”
“It was not a memorized song, Mrs. Marcus. I was expressing my love and adoration to my God and Savior. I simply told him what was on my heart. When I came to know Jesus personally, I stopped reciting written prayers and now I just talk to Him.”
Mrs. Marcus’s silence told Amelia this was new to her and she allowed her heart to turn tender toward the older woman. She wasn’t the terrible ogre she had initially thought she was. She was someone who simply possessed a misguided faith and had never turned her heart over to God.
“Do you think you could show me how to worship God that way?”
Amelia stopped walking and embraced her. “It would be an honor to show you my Lord, Mrs. Marcus.” She felt this would best be done in the solitude of her room, so they walked back arm in arm back to the small house.
› › ›
“Hello, Amelia.” Paul said as soon as he saw the two ladies coming toward the house. He strode down the walkway to the front gate. “Mr. Marcus told me you were out for a stroll, so I just thought I’d wait for you to return.”
Amelia smiled that lovely, innocent smile of hers, and her face brightened. Approaching the two ladies, Paul took note of how captivatingly beautiful Amelia looked, Corrin having told him of her miraculous healing. Now seeing her countenance eased his worried mind. Corrin also had made him aware of the Marcus’ feelings toward him and hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do. But his hesitation lasted only momentarily. He grabbed Amelia up with his strong arms in a fond embrace and held her for awhile, allowing her gentle sweetness to permeate his longing heart. He kissed the top of her head as she hugged his middle.
“I missed you so much, Paul.”
“Not nearly as much as I missed you.” Paul grinned and kissed her on her forehead. Then he remembered Mrs. Marcus was still standing nearby, and a chill went down his spine at the thought of the possibility that his precious Angel may be locked in her room again on account of this display of affection. He broke their embrace and looked at the other woman.
“Mrs. Marcus, with your permission, may I please visit with Miss Jackson on the porch for awhile?”
Mrs. Marcus looked at him and then Amelia. “I’m beginning to wonder what my husband and I were so worried about. I can feel the love shared between the two of you and to keep you apart would be wrong.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Go ahead and visit a little while, but if you don’t mind, please keep it to about a half hour. My husband will be home from his meeting in about an hour, and it would be best if you’d be gone by then, Mr. Strupel.” And she turned to enter the house.
“Mrs. Marcus,” Amelia called to her. “I’ll be in shortly and we can continue our talk, if you would like.”
“Yes, dear. I’d like that very much.” The woman disappeared into the confines of her cluttered home.
“Wow! That wasn’t the response I was expecting, Paul said. “But God works in mysterious ways; doesn’t he?”
“He sure does.”
They sat in the porch swing and Amelia recounted the events of the past week to Paul. He listened with particular interest as she told of how God healed her inner turmoil and of Mrs. Marcus’ change of heart. He squeezed her shoulder and kissed her temple.
“I guess people’s lives are bound to change when God sends an Angel to town.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Amelia was not locked in her room again until the following evening---Saturday---around six o’clock.
“Good evening. Is my niece ready, yet?” Corrin greeted Mr. Marcus as lady-like as she could, even though she held him in contempt for how he had treated her niece.
“I’m afraid she won’t be going to the party tonight. We feel it’s in her best interest that she not visit that den of evil.”
Corrin gasped at the nerve of this man and she was about to tell him so, but quickly composed herself.
“Sir, I’m going to take my niece to that party.” She pushed her way passed the little man and in a few confident strides, she stood at the foot of the stairs
A gun being cocked shattered the quiet air behind her. She pivoted and saw Mr. Marcus pointing a rifle at her.
“I think you’ve intruded upon our Christian home long enough, Miss Dannon. I’m asking you to leave.”
Corrin looked fearfully toward the narrow staircase that must be holding Amelia prisoner. Was this old man serious? She stepped onto the first stair, but he stepped in front of her, steadily pointing the rifle at her.
Well, if she couldn’t get Amelia out of there, there were plenty of others who could! She retreated hurriedly back to the saloon.
The party was already under way. People around Glory Gulch were certainly different from those back East who were forever fashionably late. Here, if a party was to start at seven o’clock, one had better pass the word around that it started at eight.
Corrin had hoped Jeremiah would be there, but he hadn’t arrived yet.
“Where is she?” Paul asked when he touched her arm.
“My guess is that she’s locked in her room again. We’re just too evil for Amelia’s own good.” Corrin said wryly. She considered telling him about the rifle, but decided against it. Knowing Paul wouldn’t stand for that kind of behavior toward her, she feared somebody might get hurt.
Paul’s face filled with disgust. He headed toward the door, but Corrin caught his arm.
“No,” she said. ”You need to stay here with your guests. We’ll wait for Jeremiah. He’ll get Amelia away from those people.”
It was almost se
ven thirty before Jeremiah arrived. Corrin quickly ushered him into the kitchen and blurted out the story of Amelia’s fate. He sighed deeply and then smiled at her.
“I’ll . . . excuse me . . . we’ll be back before you can say Paul Bunyan.” He winked at Corrin and then rushed out the door kitchen.
› › ›
The Marcus’ didn’t answer the door when Jeremiah pounded on it. He persisted, pounding and pounding. Finally, he called to them in his booming, masculine voice, “It would be a shame to break down such a well built door in the cold month of October! There’s snow on the higher mountains! Looks like snow’s on its way here too, and lots of it!”
When the door opened he shoved it back and strode into the house, his huge, virile frame hovering well over that of Mr. Marcus who held a rifle to him.
He glared in Mr. Marcus’ direction, pushed him aside and headed up the stairs, ignoring the threats and protests coming from behind him.
When Jeremiah arrived on the landing he called to her. “Amelia! Where are you?”
“Jeremiah!” came her immediate reply from behind a door down the hallway. “I’m in here! At the end of the hallway!”
In three huge strides he was at her door, the Marcus’ on his heals as Mr. Marcus continued to shout protests and quote scripture at him. He grabbed the doorknob, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Where’s the key?”
“We’ll not hand her over to a sinner such as you!”
“Have it your way, then. Amelia, move away from the door!” He gave her a couple of seconds to do so and then, with all his force he kicked it open and grabbed her up in a big bear hug, lifting her off the floor. He put her down and stepped back, noticing that her bruises were nonexistent. He thought she looked absolutely beautiful, despite the ugly dress she was wearing.
“Miss Amelia Jackson. Mr. Paul Strupel kindly requests the honor of your presence at a party being given in his honor. Do you accept?”
“Yes!” she smiled beautifully as a tear trickled down her cheek. “I sure do!”
“Then may I suggest your pink party gown? I know Mr. Strupel was particularly fond of how you looked in that dress. Actually, so was I.”
Amelia blushed “I don’t know where my clothes are. They took them away.”
Jeremiah glared at the couple who were totally intimidated by him now, even though Mr. Marcus still held the rifle.
“Her clothes are in a trunk in this room.” Mrs. Marcus answered him as she pointed to a door beside her.
Jeremiah strode past her and proceeded to locate a lamp on a table just inside the door. Lighting the wick, he advanced to a trunk at the foot of the bed whereupon lifting the lid, he recognized all of Amelia’s pretty clothes and easily located the party gown that had so enthralled him when he first saw her wearing it. Then he returned to her room and gently placed it in her hands.
“Now don’t be taking too much time getting ready, we’re already forty-five minutes late.”
Amelia grabbed his arm before he had drawn away and pulled it toward her. She smiled and then reached to find his face, tenderly touching his cheek. Keeping her hand in that position she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him there. “Thank you,” was all she said, but somehow he knew she meant so much more than that. He did love her.
“You’re quite welcome, Ma’am. That’s what I do best---rescue damsels in distress. Now remember, don’t take too long.”
“Jeremiah?”
“Yes?”
“Shoes?”
“Coming right up.”
“And a hair bow. And my lace gloves, please?”
“Your wish is my command,” and he stepped out the door to the other room to retrieve the things she requested. He returned to her room and deposited the things onto the bed, then closed the door as much as it would shut behind him.
He herded the older couple back downstairs amidst their protests.
“I’m going to sue you for everything you’ve got!” Mr. Marcus spat out.
“Yeah, well there are two things you need to think about first,” Jeremiah said as he helped himself to sit on a chair. “First, there are no lawyers up here. You’ll have to travel four hours to Glenwood Springs to find one, and you’ll probably have to travel back and forth several times in the course of this ordeal.” He crossed his legs. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the lumber camp, but you’re certainly welcome to my half of my home. It’s one of those buildings that’s log halfway up with a tent on top. My brother owns the other half, so I don’t think you’ll get much use out of it.”
Mr. Marcus narrowed his eyes at him, sighed, and sat on the sofa.
“Yessiree,” Jeremiah continued. “You’ve got more belongings in this one room than I have in the entire camp, but you’re welcome to it.” He noticed the Marcus’s gaze toward the staircase, so he turned and saw Amelia gracefully descending on the carpeted stairs.
Jeremiah stood, a lump forming in his throat. He remembered the last time she’d worn that dress. It was the night he decided to let her go. “You look lovely, Amelia.”
“Thank you.”
He took her arm and escorted her to the door, Mr. Marcus on his heels, presumably to lock the door behind him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a few dollar bills and stuffed them into the older man’s coat pocket. “For the upstairs door.”
Then he helped Amelia out onto the stoop. Jeremiah turned and announced, “I’ll be by for the rest of her things first thing in the morning. Please have them packed and on the porch before I arrive.”
Riding back to the party Jeremiah heard quiet, lovely humming coming from the delightful and beautiful young lady sitting in front of him on his horse.
“You amaze me sometimes.” His voice broke the silence of the cool night air.
“Why do you say that?”
“You just came from being held prisoner for nearly a week and you’re humming.”
“Jeremiah, I wasn’t a prisoner. God placed me there so that he could work on me.”
“Amelia, are you trying to tell me God wanted you to be locked up for a reason? Why would he do something so cruel?”
“Well, my dear friend. He knew I was still hurting inside from the attack. I hadn’t worked through all that yet. Being alone in that room for so long allowed him to get my attention and help me heal my inner turmoil. And I also realized that I had a lot of repenting to do.”
“Repenting?” Jeremiah laughed at the thought. “Oh no, don’t tell me you did something horrible . . . like saying a cuss word.”
Amelia aimed a punch at him and it caught him on the arm. “You’re making fun of me. I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
“You’re right, I don’t understand. But I’m trying to. I just can’t picture you having anything to repent about. You’re the sweetest, most compassionate person I’ve ever met.”
“Why, Jeremiah Cowan. What a wonderful thing to say. Thank you so much. But the Bible says, ‘For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.’ Did you hear that, Jeremiah? That means every person on this earth is a sinner, and we can only be redeemed through our faith in Jesus.”
They rode the rest of the way without talking; Amelia’s gentle humming permeating through the chilliness and the message of her words resounding through the heavy barriers of Jeremiah’s heart.
› › ›
Paul had become a door watcher. The party had officially started over an hour ago, although most guests were there long before that.
Finally, the door swung open and Jeremiah walked in with Amelia. Paul smiled with delight. She looked lovelier than he had remembered and he nearly flew to her side. He scooped up her left hand and placed his free arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the temple.
“I was so worried about you, my sweet, sweet Angel.”
“Please, don’t worry about me any longer. I’m moving back home tonight.”
Her
smile captivated him and for a moment there was no one else in the room but her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to get you a gift.”
“Don’t you worry about that. Cowan just gave me everything I ever hoped for,” he said as he kissed her temple again.
“Excuse me, but I need to talk with Amelia for a moment.” Corrin pulled her niece away from Paul.
“But she just got here, Corrin. And I’ve hardly seen her at all this week.”
“I just need five minutes,” Corrin said over her shoulder as she ushered her niece into the kitchen.
› › ›
Inside the secluded confines of the back room, Corrin blurted out her feelings to her niece. “Oh, Sweetie, I’m so sorry I sent you to that place. I should never have done that. I missed you from the moment you first left. You’re my only daughter and I had no right to treat you like that. I was just so frightened because you were hurt. Please, I just hope you can forgive me.”
“Aunt Corrin. I’m so proud to be your daughter. You don’t have any reason to need forgiving.” Amelia smiled genuinely and lovingly toward her and grabbed her up in a tender embrace.
“Oh, yes I do.”
“Aunt Corrin. God wanted me to be there because I had so much to work through. Without this week of solitude to reflect and meditate and pray, I might have become a very angry and bitter person. So this week was the best thing that could have happened to me. I hope you can understand what I’m saying.”
“Yes, I think I do understand.” Corrin nodded her head, even though her young niece couldn’t see the gesture. “I’m just so glad you’re back. I love you so much.” She embraced Amelia as if she’d loved her all her life.
“I love you too, Aunt Corrin.”
Corrin’s eyes welled up with tears, but joyful laughter reigned in her spirit. This wonderful young lady had touched her life in such a different way than she could have imagined.
They rejoined the party, immediately being accosted by Paul. He whisked Amelia off to the dance floor, holding her closely as he spoke adoringly into her ear. Corrin allowed her this night of freedom, the thought of her sister entrusting such a precious treasure to her nearly overwhelming her.
Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) Page 15