Abigail (Mail Order Brides of Hope Springs 3)

by Trinity Bellingham

  "I'm seventeen next week, so I'm a bit older than I look," confessed Abigail. "And as soon as I have some wages, I'll pay you for the clothes."

  Pleased that the young women were happy in each other's company, Jeremy moved to his study to begin work on his first sermon in Hope Springs, but his peace of mind was soon interrupted by a pounding on the front door.

  ~#~#~#~

  The clipped and English aristocratic voice of Emmaline Larson demanded that Jeremy open the door. "Open up at once. I have a few things to say to you Pastor Jeremy St. John."

  He had no sooner opened the door when she stepped past him and went into the parlor. She seemed to know her way about the house and he wondered if she was a frequent visitor of the Reverent J.T. Miller.

  "Explain to me please, just who do you think you are by, keeping a fallen woman under your roof? I understand you have also employed her? If you think this behavior is suitable for an upstanding Pastor, then you are not the Pastor we need here in Hope Springs."

  "That is a rather harsh opinion to take Mrs. Larson and I..."

  She cut him off before he could utter another word.

  "I believe I know immoral behavior when I see it and it is nothing short of scandalous that you had that girl under your roof last night. You are to remove her immediately and send her back where she came from. A woman like that isn't fit for decent society."

  "That is a very uncharitable view, considering our Lord associated freely with such people. Surely it is for us to follow His example?"

  "I agree," said Millie as she came into the parlor with Abigail who looked nothing like a fallen woman.

  "I'd like you to meet Miss Abigail Jones, a particular friend of mine. Abigail this is Mrs Emmaline Larson."

  "Lady Emmaline to the likes of you."

  Millie continued, ignoring Emmaline's snobbery. "As I said, this is Abigail and she is the new housekeeper for the parsonage... and a wonderful job she's done bringing it back to a state of cleanliness. I believe you were asked by the Reverend J.T. Miller to keep the house clean after he left?"

  "I do not work as I am a true lady."

  "Well you should have employed someone to do so in your absence."

  "What you think is none of my concern Mrs Benson but I will only say this once, so listen closely. That woman," and she pointed at Abigail, "is to be removed from this parsonage forthwith or I will organize a boycott of church services immediately, as well as your removal Pastor St. John."

  ~#~#~#~

  Chapter Six

  Jeremy was aghast at what he had just witnessed. Never in his entire life had he met anyone like Emmaline Larson, even among the Boston socialites who sported some disagreeable women within their ranks. They were women who used words to inflict wounds as deep as any sword. He found himself wondering how the Reverend J.T. Miller could have formed a friendship with such a woman.

  "Please ignore that woman Abigail. Believe me, I have never encountered such rudeness," said Jeremy. "You have a job here for as long as you wish."

  "He's right Abigail. Emmaline has been a problem ever since I've been here and has a dreadful reputation. Why Harald married her is a complete mystery. He wanted help in the mercantile I think, and believed she would help bring customers in with her striking looks and English accent. But he was mistaken. She never lifts a finger and he is busier than ever. All she does is upset people. Please don't think everyone in Hope Springs is like her, because they're not," Millie implored her new friend.

  "This is just the sort of thing I feared would happen. I have brought shame to both of you, who deserve it least. Perhaps I should leave and start over in a different town. Then you won't have to suffer the insulting things she seems to like. I'm so sorry you had to experience that."

  "No, no, no," broke in Pastor Jeremy. You have done nothing wrong Abigail. Some serious wrongs were done to you, starting when you were twelve. It was a disgrace that such things happened but none of it was your fault. No-one in town knew what was happening and Jim Olson is the one who should be leaving. He is the one who has broken the law, not you."

  Millie continued. "Pastor Jeremy is right Abigail. You have done nothing to deserve the way you have been treated. If you ask me, Jim Olson and Emmaline deserve each other. They're cut from the same cloth and a kind of evil lives in them both. I won't lie to you, this town has an unsavory element but the majority of people are decent citizens. Please don't leave because you have only experienced the evil ones."

  "I value your friendship Abigail," continued Jeremy. "You are the first person I met when I arrived and you have been so good to me. And what about Emma? She likes you too."

  "Would it help if Emma and I came back later this afternoon after lunch. I could bring my friend Tillie too. She's married to Jeb Garrett, the town's lawyer and would love to meet you. Jeb and Jake are great friends too. There are more people who would like to meet you as well, but that might be enough for now." Millie figured she should stop while she was ahead.

  "OK, I won't leave, but I'm scared," confessed Abigail. "I've been telling myself for years I am as good as anyone else, but that has been in my head. It's so much harder when you're really out in a community. My whole world has been the inside of Jim's place since I was twelve and I've forgotten what it's like out in the town."

  "I understand why you are feeling fragile Abigail, but we will look after you," said Jeremy with sincerity. "The Sheriff is on your side too, if I might be so bold as to say so Millie."

  "You can keep on saying so, Pastor Jeremy. You have a good job here Abigail and the only suggestion I feel obliged to make, is that you come and stay with me, or with Emma at the hotel. That way, there can be no question of impropriety by sleeping here."

  Jeremy didn't want Abigail to live somewhere else but understood the necessity. She would spend her days here. "Of course Millie is correct and it's only a short walk to either the hotel or Millie's house."

  "Wonderful. That's settled then. We can sort out the details later this afternoon. Now I must go and make some lunch for Jake. He needs regular feeding, which you'll learn all about Abigail, as you look after Pastor Jeremy. And something tells me he'll need regular feeding too. I'll see you both later."

  ~#~#~#~

  Jeremy locked the door again after Millie left, disappointed that it was necessary to do so. Ideally he wanted to be available to his parishioners with the parsonage showing a welcoming open door as often as possible. However, for the time being it was not to be so. He would need to be patient and wait for the Sheriff to square things up with Jim Olson to ensure Abigail's safety.

  Abigail made as if to move back to the kitchen, feeling more composed after Emmaline delivered her dose of vitriol."I'll see about some lunch for you Pastor Jeremy. Just let me know when you are ready to eat it."

  "That will be fine, thank you. I would like to do a little work on my first sermon if that's alright with you. I got precious little done before Emmaline put in an appearance. This afternoon though, I'm going with the Sheriff while he puts Jim Olson straight about your freedom. You'll be able to enjoy your visit with the women while I'm gone, then I can walk you over to the hotel or Millie's place, whatever you decide. Oh, and I'll top up the wood box for you too."

  "That would be good. I might make a few cakes for this afternoon and there'll be plenty for your visitors too, to have with a cup of tea or coffee, as they come to meet you. And you must let me know if you have a preference for any particular favorite foods. I can bake bread too, so that will save you some money as we go along."

  Abigail headed directly into the kitchen, pleased she still had a job and even more pleased at the way her new friends stood up for her. It was a heady feeling and for the first time since her Ma died, she felt that people actually cared about her.

  She felt better about herself after the dreadful Emmaline sent her into an emotional downward spiral. It was fine to have such loyal friends and she realized that she did indeed want to stay in Hope Springs. She set ab
out her work with a spring in her step.

  Jeremy on the other hand, realized that his first ministry would try his faith and he would need to be strong to be a successful pastor in this town. It was his dream though and he would do what it took to minister to his community.

  His feelings for Abigail surprised him. However he would do nothing to bring back any of the horrific memories she must hold within her, of her forced experiences during the last few years. A woman in her position would likely never want to be touched by a man again.

  Not a promising future, but then again, love took many forms. Why was he thinking about love with a woman he hadn't known for a full twenty four hours? There was no logic though when it came to love, or so his friends had told him. He just knew there was something special about Abigail and he wanted to be with her all the time, to care for her and protect her at all costs.

  Emmaline's visit, unpleasant as it was gave him some insight about the Reverend J.T. Miller and why he felt he had to leave Hope Springs. The man was obviously well acquainted with Emmaline and he must have headed up a particular band of Christians who were not really proper Christians at all. And what was the story behind Emmaline's attachment to the not so good Reverend J.T. Miller?

  The consoling factor in the whole situation was the realization that there was a solid community of decent people here, good Christian people who were obviously stronger than the Reverend J.T. Miller and his followers. God was good indeed. A gentle knock on the door interrupted his reveries and again, he'd made no progress with his sermon.

  "Come in Abigail."

  She came in with a tray of food that reminded him he was mortal and he accepted it gratefully. It felt so right for her to be here and wondered if she felt the same way.

  ~#~#~#~

  True to her word, Millie called back later in the afternoon with her friend Tillie and the motherly Emma who enjoyed a break from the hotel. A gathering that involved three lively young women, even if Emma was there to keep an eye on them all, was no place for a Pastor and Jeremy took the opportunity to go visit with the Sheriff.

  He wanted to go with Jake when he went to see Jim Olson. Leaving the women to their visiting, he headed out, making sure his instructions about keeping the doors locked were understood before he left.

  It was hot out and he took his time to make his way up the street, keeping to the shade of the sidewalk where possible. It didn't take long to reach the Sheriff's office and he was grateful to step inside out of the heat. "Afternoon Jake."

  "Good to see you again Pastor. I'd like you to meet Jeb Garrett, our lawyer in town."

  Jeremy offered his hand in greeting. "I believe your wife is down at the parsonage Jeb and it's good to meet you. I'm slowly getting to know people in town and hope my unconventional arrival won't keep you from church on Sunday."

  "It surely won't and I like what you did in rescuing that young lady. Takes a good man to do that. I'm coming with you and Jake when you go down to see Jim Olson to help reinforce the message that holding people against their will is illegal."

  "My concern with the whole thing is the lack of evidence, Jeb. It's Abigail's word against Jim and his thugs."

  "Well, if all we can do is make it clear we are on to him, he might be more careful about behaving illegally. And if he knows we are setting about collecting evidence, he'll be even more careful. For the moment, that's all we can do for the girls who don't want to be there," finished Jeb.

  "I think we should go now, gentlemen," advised Jake.

  The three men moved purposefully out the door and headed to the northernmost part of the street where Big Jim Olson's saloon was located.

  Townsfolk took note and realized something was happening and those not already safely indoors, soon were. Jake pointed out the saloon in the middle of town. "This is the respectable saloon, if there is such a thing, but there's no illegal dealings in here and peaceable folks mostly use the place for a drink or two."

  Jeremy answered. "Might be a good place to meet some more of the townsfolk. I'll drop in soon and see."

  "We're here," warned Jake as they approached Jim's saloon. Stay alert and let me do the talking."

  There was silence as the three men stepped through the door. Jim Olson and three of his thugs were sitting at a table in the darkest corner of the room. Jeremy immediately recognized the man who had attacked him the previous evening, but kept his peace as they walked over to the small group.

  Jake collected a chair on the way, set it down among the group and sat on it, leaving Jeb and Jeremy standing. "I hear tell you've had a girl working here against her will. She tells me her father sold her to you and because of that, you wouldn't let her leave."

  Big Jim Olson was slow to speak. "I've a right to my own property."

  Jake answered quietly. "That's as may be, but I'm here to tell you that trafficking in human flesh is illegal and that woman doesn't belong to you. You leave her be now and if I find evidence of any more girls kept here against their will, I'll be taking you in."

  "That so Sheriff? Seems to me you can't prove any of what you just said."

  "Doesn't matter. The woman is out of here now and she doesn't want to come back. You try to bring her back here and you'll have me to answer to. She don't belong to you and never did. I don't care how long it takes, but I'm working on shutting this place down so you should clean up your act before I have all the evidence I need."

  Jake stood up. There was nothing more to say and he suspected they hadn't heard the last of Jim Olson yet.

  As Jake and his friends made their way out of the saloon, a young girl ran at full speed from the kitchen out back, through the saloon and placed herself near the Sheriff. "Take me with you please. Abigail escaped and I want to leave too. Please hurry and take me with you."

  She was breathing hard but there was no mistaking the fear in her eyes. "I'm not old enough for customers yet and I never want to be. Please..."

  Tears started to roll down her cheeks.

  Jeremy leaned down and picked her up, cradling the child in his arms and started walking down the street. "Let's go Sheriff, there's no time to waste. Looks like we've got us another one."

  ~#~#~#~

  Chapter Seven

  The men reached the Sheriff's office without incident, although the booming voice of Jim Olson followed them down the street. The child's name was Rose and she was a kitchen hand, which meant long hours washing and drying dishes, as well as scrubbing floors. She also helped with the washing on Mondays and the ironing on Tuesdays. The work was no harder than many children were expected to do but Rose was not able to attend school. Like Abigail, no-one in town was aware of her existence.

  "Well, we've got some evidence now," said Jeb. "After Rose has a chance to settle down, I'll take a statement from her and document what happened here today. It's a start."

  Jake looked grim. "I expect Jim is going to cause trouble, most likely tonight and that's going to be my focus. Thanks Jeb, I appreciate you taking care of the paperwork. And Pastor, it looks like you have another waif to look after. At least Abigail will know her and it might help the little girl to feel safe if you can keep her at the parsonage for a while."

  Jeremy looked at the girl he had rescued. "Sure, I can do that Sheriff. God has used me again to liberate a lost soul. There is a houseful of females down at the parsonage right now, so one more won't make any difference. Abigail will likely go with Emma to the hotel this evening so Rose here can go with her and then come back in the morning."

  Jeb looked interested in the conversation. "You know Emma has always wanted children and doesn't have any. I'm thinking this little girl and Emma were made for each other. If the arrangement suits, I can arrange the adoption papers."

  "That's a great idea Jeb. Let's see what happens," said Jeremy.

  "You're doing your best to turn this town on its head and you haven't been here a full day yet Pastor. But what you've done is good. Now why don't you two get going while I arrange some back
up for what might go down tonight. Don't want to scare you, but Jim has lost two of his girls in less than twenty four hours and he can't be happy about that. He sees them as his property and wants them back but I can't let that happen. I'll spend the night at the hotel myself if necessary but those two girls ain't going anywhere near Big Jim's."

  Jeremy and Jeb left Jake to attend to his business and both men walked down to the parsonage, Jeb to collect Tillie and Jeremy to reunite Abigail and little Rose. He needed to check and make sure the parsonage was as secure as could be with everything they needed inside, including firewood. His sermon would have to wait until tomorrow. Right now, it was more important to do God's work and play his part in ensuring the two young women he'd rescued, remained safe. As always, the future was an unknown quantity.

  ~#~#~#~

  Abigail was telling Tillie and Emma what had happened earlier that morning with Emmaline when they heard the front door being opened. Emma went to see who it was, but of course it was Jeremy come home. She noticed he had a child with him but wisely chose to say nothing until everyone was comfortable at the kitchen table.

  "Rose? Surely it can't be... How can it be, that are you here? Did you run away? Child, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you." She held out her arms to receive her.

  "The Sheriff was talking to Big Jim and when he went outside I ran and ran and caught up to the gentlemen and begged them to take me. The Pastor brought me," explained Rose.

  "He seems to have a habit of doing that," mentioned Abigail as the women around the table looked on. If Abigail's story was incredible, Rose's appearance was more so, and gave truth to the situation that had obviously been occurring in the town for a long time.

  Abigail offered Jeb and Jeremy tea and cake, who gratefully accepted and seemed inclined to talk about what to do with the waifs Jeremy had collected. They felt sure more girls needed liberating, and then of course there was the question of the sleeping arrangements for Abigail and Rose.