His main concern had shifted to the situation with the new Pastor who was doing a fine job, but had a seemingly scandalous situation on his hands due to his housekeeper, a former lady of the night, living opening under his roof. Emmaline Larson made sure everyone in town and the surrounding area knew about it by sending out a series of scurrilous letters with the final attack taking the form of a public denunciation in the Hope Springs Gazette.
Abigail had a close circle of supportive friends but increasingly, since Emmaline's condemnation, she found it difficult to walk up the street without someone throwing a derogatory comment in her direction. Shopping at the mercantile was impossible because of Emmaline, which was in turn an unacceptable situation for a housekeeper who needed to shop for her employer.
The solution was obvious to everyone but for some reason the two people concerned were unable to take the necessary step to solve the problem. Jake had even spoken to Jeremy about it. "You need to marry her. Anyone can see you two belong together. You like each other and more I suspect, so you have more than enough to make a go of it. You are going to have to do something about it soon, my friend."
"I know Jake, and I do want to marry her but after what she's been through, I don't want to cause her any more distress... if you know what I mean."
"I believe I get your drift, but you don't need to do anything about that aspect do you? Millie and I were married for a while before that side of things was sorted out. You can love a person just as well without it you know. Why don't you just bite the bullet and ask her before Emmaline tries to run you out of town?"
Jake's words gave Jeremy something to think about and he decided to ask Abigail to marry him that evening after supper.
Unbeknown to Jeremy, Jake's wife Millie, together with her friends Emma and Tillie, were having a similar conversation with Abigail.
Emma started. "I don't suppose you know that Tillie and then Millie, both arrived here as mail order brides?"
"No. I didn't," answered Abigail, wondering where this conversation was going. In fact, Abigail's knowledge of mail order brides was limited to say the least but she sensed she was about to be enlightened. Not that she minded their company because these days, they were her only contact with the outside world.
Millie chimed in. "Yes, and because I was attacked on the way and then lost my luggage, I looked dreadful and couldn't prove who I was. Jake locked me up because he thought I was plying an unmentionable trade in the streets."
"I was running away from home and went to seek help from my brother," confessed Tillie. "Jeb had written to him asking about a suitable woman to marry and when I turned up on his doorstep, I neatly solved a problem for both of them."
"The point is," continued Emma, "that people get married under a variety of circumstances and you are no different. Out West there is a perilous shortage of women and men have to advertise for a wife. You have a huge advantage over those women though, because you know your man and have had an opportunity to learn to know his ways. Under normal circumstances, Pastor Jeremy would have to spend ages writing letters to women back East, and never know if the one he selected would be suitable to carry out the duties of a Pastor's wife."
Abigail could now see where the conversation was going. "You all should know that I have no intention of marrying anyone... ever."
"But why? asked Emma. "Pastor Jeremy is the perfect man for you and a blind horse could tell there is real liking and affection between you already."
Abigail answered reluctantly. "I cannot allow any man to ever touch me in the way that marriage dictates. It is something that is utterly abhorrent to me. I can understand how this might not have occurred to you because you have had different lives compared to me. But please believe me when I tell you that being with a man in that way is something I simply cannot do. Not now, not ever."
~#~#~#~
The three women suddenly understood what Abigail meant.
"Abigail, please forgive me for being so unthinking," said Emma. "To me, you are a perfectly normal woman and I simply didn't think about your past."
"It's alright, Emma. My point is that I could never marry a man and feel I had the right to deny him his marital rights. That being so, it is better for me not to marry at all. I am resigned to it."
Millie just laughed. "Oh Abigail, I'm sorry too, but you couldn't be more wrong. I've seen the way Pastor Jeremy looks at you and he would walk on water for you. That being so, I expect foregoing marital rights would be a far simpler proposition for him."
"Besides, and please forgive me too, Abigail, you don't know how long your present feelings about it will last. Things between married couples change over time, especially as true love and respect grow between you," continued Tillie.
"Having the background you have had Abigail, you probably don't realize that most young women don't like that aspect of marriage at first. True enough, some go on to spend their whole lives not liking it, but most others don't. Adjustment happens as love grows between you. The way I see it, is that of all the men I've seen in my life, Pastor Jeremy is the only one I'd lay odds on, that wouldn't mind foregoing his marital rights... either short term or forever. And no-one can tell what the future will bring. You just have to trust yourself that everything will be alright."
Millie had to add to the conversation. "You have to marry him Abigail. He adores you, and you are the perfect person to be married to a Pastor. You would have a respectable position in the community and you would be safe. Better still, you could walk up the street and pick up your own shopping. Not that I mind helping out mind you, but I figure you would feel a lot better about being in public if you were a respectable married woman like us."
"Well, I find I cannot disagree with anything you've said," agreed Abigail. "However, I believe it would be awkward to marry under the circumstances. I could never deceive Pastor Jeremy... he's too good a man to be treated so."
"In that case," said Emma, "you need to have that conversation with him."
"Yes, I do," replied Abigail. "There's only one problem with that though," and she couldn't help laughing. "He's never asked me to marry him."
The women rose to take their leave, having accomplished their mission to help their new friend. Emma mentioned before leaving, "You have some serious praying to do Abigail. Never underestimate the power of prayer. And we'll all be praying for you both as well. I just know everything will work out fine."
~#~#~#~
After her friends had departed, Abigail sat at the kitchen table in the parsonage and thought carefully on what they'd said. There was no denying she liked being with Jeremy and felt safe under his protection. And it was also true she delighted in helping him any way she could. The thought of her presence under his roof causing him social ostracism was mortifying and the last thing she wanted was to bring trouble on such a good man. She didn't want to leave him, but then, he'd never indicated that he wanted to marry her.
It was also true the situation needed resolving quickly. Her friends were right. She needed to pray for guidance from God. Now.
Half an hour later she was cooking a special dinner for Pastor Jeremy. Not in the dining room though because she felt the kitchen was cozier, and besides it was the heart of the house, something that was important to both of them. She laid the table with a pretty cloth and dishes and at the last, added the candle sticks from the parlor for a special touch. Beautiful.
Jeremy came home to a house that smelled divine and in addition to noting the house was spotless, found his clothes freshly washed and ironed as well. There was fresh water waiting in his room and he delighted in freshening up before dinner. He dressed carefully, but casually and fingered the small ring case in his pocket. Tonight he would ask Abigail to be his wife and finally place the ring he'd ordered weeks ago, on her finger.
His feelings for her had grown steadily since the moment he'd met her and he was sure that she was the woman he was destined to spend the rest of his life with. He knew it would be harder for Abigail though and he
resolved to do everything in his power to help her through what he now realized, was the thorny issue of marrying. Pray God he was up to the task.
"I'll be ready for supper in a few minutes, Abigail... after I do a quick check of the doors and windows. I surely will be ready to give this chore away before too much longer."
"Take all the time you need. Supper will be ready when you are."
He came into the kitchen ten minutes later, admiring the aromas that were coming from the stove.
"I've made some fresh rolls to go with supper. I hope you like them." She dished up supper and put their plates on the table along with the rolls, piping hot from the oven. The candles twinkled brightly in their silver candlesticks and provided a special ambiance to the room, which Jeremy found pleasing, considering his quest this evening.
Abigail looked more beautiful than ever, if that was possible, in a white high necked blouse, decorated with lace. With her dark hair piled on top of her head, her classic features were more prominent, particularly the cheekbones. When she smiled at him, he thought he might melt away before he had a chance to ask her the all important question.
As they ate, the exchanged the usual small talk. "Besides cooking and baking, what have you been up to today?"
"I had a lovely visit with my friends. They are such good people and make up for anything Emmaline Larson does. Rumor has it she might be leaving to join the Reverend J.T. Miller back East soon."
"She is a troubled woman. I hope she finds what she's looking for, but somehow I doubt it."
He put his cutlery aside after clearing his plate, took a few sips of cool water and cleared his throat.
"Abigail, we must speak about some important matters and I have a feeling you know what I am going say. But before I begin, please understand that I want the best for you, always. I have grown very fond of you and would have you by my side forever, as I minister to the people of Hope Springs."
She meant to speak but Jeremy raised his hand a little to stop her.
"I understand that you must feel uncomfortable at the thought of some aspects of marriage, and before I continue, I feel I must reassure you that I will place no demands on you regarding those aspects. I want so very much to make you happy, Abigail that I will never expect anything from you, that you feel unable to give. For ever if needs be. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"Yes, I do and I thank you for it from the bottom of my heart."
"I want to offer you the security of marriage, my protection, a respectable position in the community as well as my growing affection. So, will you marry me? Please? You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."
Abigail's mind was all in a whirl. He understood how she felt. How could that be? God answered her prayers. "Yes, I...."
As she started to say the words, a shotgun blast broke the peaceable silence around them both, along with the kitchen window and its protective shutter. Jeremy pulled Abigail to the floor. "Stay down. Crawl along to your room and lock yourself in."
She did as he said as more blasts from the shotgun peppered the house.
~#~#~#~
Chapter Ten
Sheriff Jake Benson was half way through eating the supper his wife had cooked for him when a flurry of shotgun blasts broke the silence of the evening. He detected at once that the shots were located at the southern end of the street. It could only be the parsonage.
"Millie, stay inside and put out the lights. You know the routine. I'm going to collect Bobby and see what's going on."
"Be careful Jake..."
"You know I will."
Jake found Bobby already waiting outside the kitchen door and they carefully made their way down the street to the parsonage, noting the light in the upstairs window of the mercantile. It was the guest bedroom and Jake knew for a certainty there were no guests staying with the Larsons. Harald knew better than to keep a light on in these circumstances so he deduced that it had to be Emmaline.
"You thinking the same as me Bobby?"
Yes, boss. Reckon I am. Wouldn't surprise me if Emmaline has hired someone to shoot up the parsonage."
They made their way unseen down the street and split up to circle the house, noting the damage to shutters and windows. They found the gunman at the back of the house trying to force the locked kitchen door, which was in danger of giving way after having its lock partially shot out.
"Drop the gun and put your hands up. Don't try to run or you'll find I'm not as nice as I sound," cautioned Jake.
The man went to step sideways and Bobby immediately shot at the side of the man's boot, grazing the boot but not injuring the foot within. "You heard the Sheriff. Drop the gun."
Reluctantly he put the rifle down and Jake noticed the man was another of Jim Olson's thugs. "Jim won't have any of you left at this rate. You can join your friend in the jail house 'till the Judge comes through."
"Jim Olson didn't have nothin' to do with this Sheriff."
"In that case you won't mind telling me who did?"
"I can't do that."
"Yes, you will. A spell in the jail house might change your mind."
"No sir. The lady who hired me to shoot up the parsonage is worse than Jim Olson and would shoot me quick as look at you if I said her name."
Sheriff Benson smiled at the man's lack of smarts. "You don't have to tell me her name. Take him to the jail house, Bobby. Put him in with Clem."
"Sure thing, boss."
The kitchen door opened from the inside and Pastor Jeremy stepped out onto the back porch. "What in the world was that all about. Every window and shutter in the entire house is shot up. Looks like I'm going to have to take your advice and move into the hotel for a while until I can get this fixed."
Jake smiled wryly. "Emmaline was behind this but I have a feeling she won't be around for much longer. I can't prove it of course but nothing that woman does could surprise me after this. Is Abigail alright?"
"Oh, Lord. She's still locked in her room... and she said yes."
"Yes, what..."
"We were having dinner and I asked her to marry me and she said yes. The word was no sooner out of her mouth when shots started flying thick and fast at the house. I hope she hasn't changed her mind now."
"Glad to see you taking all my advice then. Here's some more. Rest easy. After this she'll have more reason than ever to be married to you. Now go get her and the things you'll need and I'll take you up to the hotel."
Jeremy went back inside see how Abigail had fared. She'd climbed out from under the bed, which she considered the safest spot in the room, and unlocked the door. Jeremy took her in his arms and quieted her trembling. "Jeremy, are you alright? I was terrified for you."
"Does that mean you still want to marry me?"
"Yes, it does, if you will have me. But I hope life with you will be a little less spectacular."
Jeremy laughed. "I hope so too. To put your mind at rest, it wasn't Big Jim behind this. Jake thinks it was Emmaline. But we can talk about that later. Before we were so rudely interrupted, I was going to give you this."
He pulled out the little box from his pocket, relieved it was still there. The ring he'd ordered for Abigail was beautiful in its simplicity, a small diamond surrounded by tiny light blue sapphires, set atop a thin gold band. He slipped it onto her left hand ring finger. "I am honored to have you as my wife, Abigail and I meant what I said before about honoring your wishes. God has delivered you to me and I will spend the rest of my life cherishing you as you deserve."
Abigail looked at the ring adorning her finger, stunned that anyone would think enough of her to give her something so beautiful.
"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Thank you Jeremy." Spontaneously, she put her arms around him, feeling loved and respected.
They stayed thus until Jake interrupted them. "Hurry up you two, I want to get home and finish my supper."
~#~#~#~
Jake escorted the happy couple to the hotel where they recei
ved congratulations and best wishes for their happiness.
"The County Judge is arriving on the train tomorrow afternoon and he can marry you the day after tomorrow, if you're of a mind to settle things quickly. He'll have some court business to do as well, of course, so maybe after that?"
Emma was excited for Jeremy and Abigail. "We can do the whole thing here in the hotel if you like and the men can arrange to have the parsonage fixed up."
"Is that going to suit you Abigail? We can do it later on if not..."
Abigail composed herself. "After everything that's happened, it's probably best if we do it quickly, so life around here can get back to normal as soon as possible."
Jake agreed. "That will go a long way to settling things down in town. I expect the Judge will send both of Jim Olson's thugs to Huntsville State Prison for a spell, so things will quieten on that front as well."
"Before you head off to finish your supper, Jake, I want to thank you for rescuing us tonight. And I hope we can work on a long term solution for the girls at Jim Olson's establishment."
"It would be an honor Pastor Jeremy. Outlaws disrupting the peace is one thing but that saloon is a blight on the town. Goodnight now."
After Jake left, Emma took Jeremy and Abigail upstairs to their rooms so they could settle in. It had been a momentous evening and apart from the damage to the parsonage, the outcome was excellent. It meant a couple of busy days for Emma to prepare the food, however, little Rosie was proving adept in the kitchen and would help.
Jeremy took the opportunity to work on his sermon while he had a couple of hours of free time and knew exactly what he wanted to say. He would be a married man by the time he delivered it and wanted to use the opportunity to teach an important lesson as was demonstrated by Jesus in the New Testament, albeit he was going further by actually marrying Abigail.
The happiness Abigail was experiencing was too great for sleep to come naturally so she went downstairs to find Emma and Rosie in the kitchen. "Can I help?"
Abigail (Mail Order Brides of Hope Springs 3) Page 6
