by Lilah Rivers
“See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her, but now murderers! Your silver has become dross; your choice wine is diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.”
Bella knew the corrupt men among them the Lord meant to identify; for there was corruption among them, working against them, innumerable and unconquerable by any Earthly means.
But the Lord provided other means of defense, greater means, and Bella knew they’d be calling upon those in due time.
Pastor Robinson read on, “Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: ‘Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on my enemies. I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.’”
Chapter 14
Bella and her family stepped out of the First Baptist Church of Barnock, the pastor’s words still ringing in her brain. She could only hope and pray that her neighbors would take those words to heart and give them the full consideration she did.
But of all her neighboring families, one in particular was still uppermost in Bella’s mind. The Callahans stepped out of the sanctuary a few moments after Bella and the Archers, and her eyes were drawn to them beyond her control. She combed Josh’s tall, athletic build until her mother gave her a little tap on the arm. Bella looked over to see Sybil’s knowing expression, one brow raised.
As the congregation mulled and mumbled with one another, the two families collided not far from the sidewalk.
“Barton,” Archer patriarch Elroy said, “good to see you.”
Barton looked around, as if a bit nervous, his family gathered around him. “You too, Elroy.” Barton glanced at Bella and her brothers and mother. “And to all.”
Bella’s mother Sybil said to Helen Callahan, “You must be Helen. How can it be that we’ve hardly met in the entire year since we’ve come to Barnock?”
Helen offered a little smile. “Keeping the house has me busy as a bee.”
Elroy said, “How rude of me; Elroy, Helen, this is my wife, Sybil, my sons Dean and Lucas, whom you know, Barton.”
“Yes, good day to you, young sirs.”
Dean and Jonah shared a little glance before nodding and extending their hands to shake in civility and friendship.
Elroy added, “And my daughter, Bella.”
Barton nodded to Bella and said, “My wife, Helen, and my sons Josh and Hugh.”
Hugh Callahan lifted his cap and smiled. Though he couldn’t have been more than fifteen, he had the air of a young gentleman.
But it was the other Callahan son who had Bella’s attention. Josh smiled with a slightly sheepish air. Bella knew he was thinking about their meeting at the creek. He seemed to have a typically male view of his worth, that he’d been somehow compromised when she’d found him. So strange, she thought, that men are often quite willing to lend a hand, but they blanch at the notion of receiving one; as if the measure of their manhood is to be found in their physical might, their dominance over the landscape.
“That was quite a sermon the pastor shared with us today,” Bella said. “Words to live by.”
“Quite so,” Josh said.
Jonah Archer said, “Indeed! ‘Your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.’ It could hardly have been clearer.”
Josh smiled, but Bella could see that it was born more of strained patience than true amusement. “‘Woe to the sinful nation …’”
But Dean Archer was quick to add, “A people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption!’”
Elroy glared at his son to quiet him, and the young man stepped back, eyes downcast.
But Barton said, also quoting the recently familiar scripture, “‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord.”
Josh said, “Afterward, we will be called the City of Righteousness.”
Bella nodded as Sybil slipped her arm into the crux of her husband’s. She added, “‘The Faithful City.’”
The members of each family nodded as the two clans parted. But Bella couldn’t help looking back at Josh as he stepped away with his family. To her quiet delight, he turned back as well, offering up a little smile as he stole one last glance at her. But each turned back to walk away from the other, and Bella couldn’t help thinking that would be the way it would have to be.
“What nerve,” Dean said, “that Callahan character, trying to turn the word of the Lord against us!”
“You did much the same,” Elroy said in a cautionary tone.
“But we’re not wrong,” Jonah said. “Those ranchers are heartless men, you can tell just by talking to them. They have their nerve showing up in a church at all.”
Elroy said, “Jonah, govern your emotions or surely they shall govern you.”
“At least that would be honest government,” Jonah said. “Not like that Parker Bristol!”
“But that’s no reflection on the Callahans,” Elroy said.
The twins shook their heads and rolled their eyes. Bella’s brothers had a clear dislike for the Callahans. The closer the families got, the more conflict there was going to be. Bella had allowed herself some hope, but it seemed more and more clear that it wasn’t well founded. The rift between the Callahans and the Archers was only going to get wider, the worse the conflict between the ranchers and the homesteaders got, and Bella felt certain it was only going to get much, much worse.
“Bella!” Bella turned to see Turner Moss approach, an eager smile on his face, little black mustache curling upward.
“Turner Moss,” Bella said as the young man approached.
Turner shook hands with the twins and with her father. “Mister Archer, good to see you again.”
“And you, Turner.” Elroy glanced around. “I don’t see your parents?”
“My father’s not well, I’m afraid, my mother wanted to stay home and look after him.”
“We’re so sorry to hear,” Sybil said. “Do give him our very best, won’t you?”
“Of course,” Turner said. “We haven’t seen you at the store recently.”
Sybil glanced at Bella, who looked down demurely. “The homestead provides most of our needs,” Bella said.
“You’re very blessed,” Turner said. “But if you have any needs at all, of course you’re always welcome.”
“Good of you to say,” Elroy said.
Dean asked Turner, “Any chance of you getting some of those contraptions in your store, that make the pictures; what’re they called?”
“Cameras,” Turner said, “they take photographs.”
Jonah tilted his head. “No, they give photographs.”
“It’s a term of art,” Turner said. “But I don’t think we can afford to carry them just yet.”
“Maybe next year,” Elroy said.
An awkward stillness settled around them until Turner cleared his throat and said, “I … word is that you’re representing the homesteaders in this fracas that’s going on.”
Elroy shrugged. “I’m doing what I can.”
“Thank goodness somebody is. Y’know, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pastor Robinson’s choice of scripture wasn’t aimed squarely at both groups.”
Elroy smiled and nodded. “It hadn’t occurred to me, but you make a good point.”
“That should give our family something to discuss on the way back to the homestead,” Bella said.
Turner shook Elroy’s hand again, and both of the twins’. The family walked away, toward their carriage, to make the trip back to their homestead.
“Good man, that Turner,” Jonah said. “He’ll make a good hu
sband to some lucky girl.”
Dean nodded, and both turned to glance at Bella. “I’m sure she’ll be very happy,” Bella said, choosing to leave it at that. But she knew the notion would never simply rest there.
Her family were in favor of a union between Bella and Turner, she knew that. But the face of Josh Callahan kept flashing in her memory, his name ringing in her heart like a bell.
But the rest of the ride was quiet, giving Bella too much time to think.
They want me to marry Turner, Bella had to tell herself. My mother has matchmaking on her mind, and she’s not going to wait any longer for me to pick my own husband!
Thoughts of Josh recurred to her, his face crisp in her imagination.
With the way my family feels about the Callahans, and the way they feel about Turner Moss and his family, there’s no doubt about what choice they’d have me make. And with this conflict between the ranchers and homesteaders, it could hardly seem clearer what the surest path would be.
But thoughts of Josh kept distracting her, making Bella increasingly uncertain about what her future would or should hold.
When does God ever set us before the easy path? That’s the way of the other, not of the Lord. The way to heaven is narrow, suited only for the stout of heart, those with eyes to see. When the Lord creates something new, it is for us to perceive it.
But Bella couldn’t be sure what God was creating for her. Past eighteen, she would be marrying soon, whether or not she truly felt herself ready. Her only concern was that she would never be truly ready to marry Turner Moss, good man that he was. But the only man she would consider seemed to be out of her reach, destined never to be by her side or to give her his name. Bella knew that sacrifice was often required of good people, good Christians, and she was willing to sacrifice if she had to.
But she wasn’t yet willing to admit that she had to. The words of Isaiah rang in her memory, in her own voice and not the pastor’s.
“The multitude of your sacrifices what are they to me?” says the Lord.
Chapter 15
Bella rode in the buckboard wagon with her family, sitting next to her mother in front, the twins sitting behind them. Bella’s mind was on Josh, but she knew her mother’s mind was on Turner Moss.
“So sad to hear that Turner’s father isn’t well,” Sybil said. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Elroy nodded, shaking the reins. “We’ll pray for him.”
“Of course we will,” Sybil said. “But … perhaps we could do more than just pray.”
Jonah leaned forward from the bench seat in the back. “We could see to their house, any chores or repairs.”
“That’s an admirable offer,” Sybil said. “I’m sure they could use a hand … or four.”
Dean said, “I’ll match this weakling hammer blow for hammer blow,” bumping his shoulder into his brother’s.
“I will make them a fine chicken soup,” Sybil said, “and we’ll take it to them on Wednesday, after Mr. Moss has had time to get his strength back.”
Jonah said, “I’ll ride back into town tomorrow, make sure we’re not arriving unannounced–”
“Or unexpected,” Jonah added.
Sybil turned to Elroy. “Do you approve, husband?”
Elroy seemed to give it some thought, and then nodded with a distracted air. “I think it would be a kindness, yes.” After a stilted pause, he added, “I wonder what our daughter makes of the idea?” All eyes turned to Bella, her brothers smiling from the seat behind her; she didn’t need to look back to know.
“I think it’s a lovely gesture,” Bella said. “I only feel inadequate. The boys can lend a hand around the house. Mother, you’ll bring your soup. But what can I contribute?”
Sybil looked like she was trying to hide her smile, but she was clearly doing a very poor job of it. She said, “I imagine your company will be contribution enough.” The boys snickered behind her, and Bella could only sigh and look out over the Nebraska landscape, Norway spruce and mimosa and paw paw, a peregrine falcon circling overhead.
Other words from the day’s sermon rang in the back of her brain, echoing with a new import that sent a chill up her spine.
Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness, only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil.
Bella had to ask herself, Am I rebelling, against my family, against God’s will? I don’t mean to, I’ve never been rebellious. Is my head injured, is my heart afflicted? I know I bear wounds and welts, from the move and from challenges before, but surely I’m not so infected and diseased? If so, can I trust my own judgment, can I ask or expect that others trust it?
But she felt sound, her feelings reliable to her own way of thinking and feeling, too real and too true to simply ignore out of hand. And those thoughts, those feelings, kept bringing Bella back to Josh. She already knew the path would not be the easy one, no matter which direction she chose. She needed more time, more insight into her own feelings, into the feelings of both Turner and Josh. And she’d have it soon enough; not later than Wednesday evening, just a few days ahead.
Chapter 16
Jesse Hayden and the other homesteaders dug the trip trenches in a series over thirty feet long, a stretch of about forty feet wide. They’d dug another block of such trenches a quarter mile to the west and intended to dig yet another a quarter mile to the east. They dug the trenches roughly a foot deep and a foot wide, and then refilled the trenches with very loose dirt that would never support the weight of a fifteen-hundred or two-thousand-pound steer.
This’ll show that dandy Elroy Archer! What are his words going to do? What good did they ever do? With his pretense to greatness, thinks he’s so smart. They should’a come to me to begin with, those ranchers would never have encroached this much. They took us for weak, and that’s Archer’s fault!
Jesse was refilling one of the trenches when Samuel said, “Hey Jesse, I think we got comp’ny.”
Jesse looked up to see several riders coming at them fast, seven or more, in a wide arc to surround them. Jesse and Samuel and the several others dropped their shovels, but their rifles weren’t nearby, and the seven Comanche soon had them isolated. Those who still had shovels held them like clubs, ready to swing at any of the seven mounted braves, all armed with rifles. Jesse’s hand hovered near his holster, but he knew he’d never have a chance to draw and take even one of them before taking one of those Winchester balls in the chest.
Jesse looked at the seven and at the men around him. He could see the fear in their eyes, and he knew why they were afraid. The towns were rife with stories of the savages and their depravities against the white.
The Comanche looked down at them, then at each other. One of the Comanche let his paint carry him forward, eyes on Jesse. Jesse took him for their leader and felt the brave took him for the same.
The Comanche pointed at the cluster of trenches, the work half-finished. He shook his head slowly, saying some things in his language that Jesse did not understand. But he’d heard about the savages and their ridiculous superstitions. They thought of the Earth as a living thing; what was more, it was like the Earth was their mother. To them, digging a hole or building a fence was like hurting her mother, stabbing her flesh, chopping her up.