by Barbara Goss
“Of course you’re right,” Gus said. “I just need some time to get my head around it.”
“I’ve been thinking of making a ministry of preaching to the town’s saloon women. In church, I’ll be preaching to people who already follow God. It’s good reinforcement, but I really want to spend my energy converting people who don’t know God,” James’s words sparked with enthusiasm.
“You’ve given me much to think about, James.”
“Oh, Lily,” Mandy cried. “Tell me you aren’t going back to Missouri!”
“I’ve lost him, Mandy. I came here to restore my relationship with Gus, but I failed.”
“I’m sure he still loves you. Give it a few days and he’ll come around, I know he will,” Mandy pleaded. “Even without Gus, you and I are enjoying it here in Hunter’s Grove and our cute cottage, aren’t we?”
Lily smiled at her friend. “Of course we are, but if I stay here I’ll never get over Gus.”
“I have an idea,” Mandy said excitedly. “Let’s go to town and buy new dresses to wear to church tomorrow.”
Shopping always excited Lily. “I like the idea, but we’d have to use the money we saved from Abilene. Emma told me to save the money to return to St. Joseph if things didn’t go well.”
Mandy smiled. “And that’s why I want to spend it.”
All of the dresses at the General Store were homespun, casual dresses and there wasn't much of a selection, so they ended up buying two of the same dress, but in different colors. Mandy chose a pastel blue dress. She also bought a bonnet to match. Lily couldn’t decide between the pink dress, and the off-white one.
The dresses had high, ruffled necks that hugged their throats, puffed shoulders to the elbow, and lace to the wrist. The skirts had alternating tiers of ribbon and lace, flowing from the knee to the floor. Unlike their other casual dresses these had buttons down the backs. The dresses were fancy, but still casual enough that they wouldn’t be out of place among the other women at church.
“Get the pink one,” Mandy said. "It makes your cheeks look rosy, and your eyes sparkle. I’ve always favored you in pink.”
Lily was convinced. She bought the pink dress and a matching bonnet. “You were right, Mandy--I do feel so much better having bought some new clothes.”
Mandy winked at her. “I knew you would. I think we women are born with a predisposition for that.”
The next morning, Lily and Mandy drove to church. As soon as their wagon rolled up to the barn, James ran out. He helped Lily down from the wagon and gave her a bear hug, then he swung her around in circles as they both laughed gaily. Tears of happiness streamed down Lily's face; James wiped her tears away with his fingertips.
“Hey, Lilybilly," James said, "don’t cry. I’m happy to see you, too.” He gave her another hug.
Lily sniffled into her handkerchief. “And don’t let anyone hear you call me Lilybilly,” she said, followed by a laugh.
James cleared his throat and tentatively said, “I’m staying with my good friend Gus.”
Lily’s head jerked up. “You are?" she said. "Oh…Well, I hope you’ll come and visit.
"Oh, my goodness! I almost forgot to introduce you to my friend.” Mandy had been standing behind Lily, but now Lily pulled her forward to stand beside her. “This is Amanda McGuire. Mandy, this is Emma’s brother, Reverend James Flannery.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss McGuire.” James bowed.
Mandy blushed and nodded. “Reverend Flannery,” she said.
Gus had been seated when Lily and Mandy entered, but now he stood, frowning as he watched James greet Lily. He felt a surge of jealousy. Why was James still hugging her? Why was Lily crying? Was she that glad to see him? Was there more between James and Lily than he knew? Gus hated the way Lily looked up at James, and unable to watch them any longer, he turned his head away.
When everyone had settled into their seats, he noticed James had taken a chair near the podium, while Lily and Mandy were seated in their usual seats in the back row. Simon introduced James to the congregation, although most of them already knew him quite well. James spoke for a bit, and then sat back down and let Simon finish the service.
After the service, when the congregation started to file out, Mandy approached Gus, who was talking to James. “Gus, Reverend Flannery,” she said by way of greeting. “Lily and I would be honored if you two would accept an invitation to dinner tonight. We want to thank Gus for all he’s done for us, and welcome you to Hunter’s Grove, Reverend Flannery.”
James smiled down at Mandy, “You can call me James when I’m not on official duty, Mandy.
"Dinner sounds wonderful. Certainly, I’ll come.” James turned to Gus and said, “What about you, Gus?”
Gus was speechless at first, but then he said, “I appreciate the invitation, Mandy, but I‘m not sure I can make it.”
Mandy shrugged. “If you change your mind, dinner's at six,” and she turned to join Lily at their wagon.
“What did Gus say?” Lily whispered, as Mandy climbed onto the seat.
“He said he wasn’t sure if he could make it, but James is coming.”
Lily pouted. “Darn him!”
James and Gus were sitting on the front porch sipping lemonade later that afternoon when James asked, “So why won’t you go to dinner tonight?”
Gus shrugged. “I haven’t spoken with Lily since I found out she’d lied about riding. It’s sort of an awkward situation.”
“Well, this is the perfect opportunity to get over the awkwardness. You two are neighbors and are bound to run into each other now and again. All I ask is that you're cordial to her.
"Please come.”
“Can I ask you a personal question, James?”
“Gus, you can ask me anything; we’re friends, remember?”
“Is there more between you and Lily than just a childhood friendship?”
“Absolutely not! She’s like a kid sister to me." James must've needed a moment for the true meaning of his question to sink in, because after a short delay, he laughed loudly. “You’re jealous!" he said, teasingly. "Admit it, Gus—you love her so much you’re jealous.”
“I never denied that I loved her, but I simply can’t enter into a relationship with someone I can’t trust.”
“I see. I do understand your dilemma, Gus." He paused, and then said, "Sorry for laughing.”
“I want to go tonight more than you know. I want to see Lily again. Heaven knows she’s all I can think about. But if I go, it won’t help me with my resolve to forget her. I hope you can understand that.”
James nodded “I’m going to pray for you and Lily.”
Gus returned the nod.
“What do you know about her friend, Mandy?" James said, changing tack. "She’s very attractive—have you noticed?”
“I have. Mandy's not only pretty. She's a kind person, too. And she’s been a rock for Lily. But…you know she was a saloon woman longer than Lily?”
“Her red hair is striking, don’t you think?” James said.
“It’s all right; I prefer brown though.”
“I’m sure Mandy's also found herself in a predicament that forced her into a profession like that. I'd be willing to bet there's a sad story behind every saloon woman and women of ill repute out there. Not everyone's had the benefit of a rosy life.”
Gus stared out over his fields, thinking about what James had just said.
“You all right, Gus?”
“Have a good time tonight," Gus said. "I need some time to think.”
Chapter 16
Harley Ward rode down the main street of Hunter’s Grove. He stopped, tied his horse in front of the Red Dog Saloon, entered, and as was the custom, ordered a beer for himself and the gentleman next to him at the bar.
The gentleman thanked him. “Ain’t never seen you ‘round here b’fore,”
“I rode in from Abilene today," Harley told him. "I’m here to look up some old friends. Might you know two women living
here by the names of Lily and Mandy?”
“Can’t say that I do. But if you ask Stony, he’d know. He knows everything.” The man drank his drink, nodded another thank you at Harley, and joined a table of poker players nearby.
Harley asked the bartender, “Who is Stony?”
The bartender replied, “He’s the owner of the hardware store.”
Lily, James and Mandy enjoyed a fine chicken dinner. “That was delicious, ladies,” James said as he laid his fork down on his empty plate.
“Mandy's the cook; I’m still learning,” Lily said.
James looked at Mandy and smiled. “You don’t look like the domestic type.”
“Oh? And exactly what type do I look like?” Mandy quipped.
James put on the pretense of thinking. “A glamorous debutante,” he said.
“Oh!” She smiled. “You, my fine reverend, are definitely getting dessert.”
“I have to say: I love staying with Gus, but he can’t cook like Mandy. I think the only thing he can make is stew. It’s very good stew, though.” He laughed.
Mandy set a large cake on the table and watched with delight as James’s eyes widened. The three-layered cake had homemade strawberry jam between the layers and it was covered with waves of creamy, white frosting. The jam was compliments of Simon’s wife who’d sent over several jars.
“Wow!” was all James said.
After dessert, Mandy insisted on doing the dishes to allow Lily and James to catch up on old times. “I’ll join you later,” she said.
Because the night was warm, Lily thought the small, front porch might be a good place to chat. They sat in the rocking chairs. Lily smiled as James rubbed his belly and sighed. “Good meal!”
Mandy chose that moment to come out of the house. She handed off two steaming cups of coffee, and disappeared back into the house.
“I like Mandy,” James said. “I imagine she’s been a good friend to you?”
“Oh, she has. I love Mandy,” Lily said. “She’s teaching me how to cook and bake, but I don’t think I’ll ever be as good as she is.”
“I understand you both worked at the saloon in Abilene?”
“Yes, but it isn’t like what most folks think. Saloon women don’t do anything except flatter a bunch of old men and make their night at the saloon an enjoyable one. We stand beside them for luck at the poker tables, and we try to look pretty and smile a lot. Nothing illicit happens, but the women of the town treat us like lepers all the same”
“I can understand that. I’ve mingled with more saloon women than you have,” James said.
“You?” she asked, shocked.
“Yes. I don’t drink alcohol, but I do go there to talk to the women about God. Most of them have led very unfortunate lives. I’ve even managed to help a few over the years.
"Enough of that. Tell me how you and Gus came to odds.”
Lily relayed the story from start to finish, including her relationship with Harley, since she knew she had nothing of which to be ashamed.
“So,” James said, “Gus didn't mention that part when he told me the story. He isn’t aware that nothing happened between you and this Harley?"
“Harley ran into Gus when he came back to the saloon to see me. He insinuated that he and I…well, that we slept together. I tried to tell Gus that it wasn’t true, but he didn’t believe me. Once you’ve been caught in a lie, your word isn’t worth all that much anymore.” Lily looked down at her hands. “I wish I could undo everything I’ve done.
“Then,” Lily continued, “because I had doubts as to whether Gus really loved me, since he professed his love for me after only two days of knowing me, Charles thought I should let him think I’d slept with Harley, and if he still wanted me then, it would prove he truly loved me.”
“Lily, I don’t believe in playing games," James advised. "I've always found the truth is always the best way to deal with problems, because lies usually come back to bite you. There's no doubt in my mind that Gus is in love with you; he told me so. He just fears he can no longer trust you.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears. “I surely got myself into a lot of trouble.”
“You need to have a heart-to-heart with Gus and tell him everything,” James told her. “It’s the only way.”
“He won’t even give me a chance.”
“I’ll try to work something out so you can talk to him. Don't ask me how, but I’ll work on it.”
“Thank you, James.”
“Now,” James said. He blew on his coffee in an attempt to cool it somewhat. “What’s this I hear that you're going to church?”
“I only went because Gus was there. Mandy sort of pushed me, too,” Lily said, wiping her eyes dry.
“Mandy? Is she a Godly person?”
Lily nodded. “She’s been a churchgoer since childhood.”
“So, are you ready to commit to being a regular churchgoer? Do you feel a desire to learn more?”
“I listened carefully to the sermons, and I’ve enjoyed them.
"I know one thing for sure: if I’d known more about God and the Bible, I wouldn't be in this mess right now. I've always believed in God, but I was always too busy enjoying life to take it seriously, I guess."
“Well,” James said as he carefully sipped his hot coffee, “if not knowing God got you into this mess, maybe knowing Him personally will get you out.”
“How?” Lily said.
“The first thing you need to do is pray a simple prayer with me. It’s a short one, but you'll have to mean every word of it with all of your heart. Do you think you could do that?”
“I think so,” Lily said. “What do I have to do?”
“Repeat after me, but if I say anything you don’t agree with, stop me, and we’ll discuss it. Okay?” James instructed.
“All right.”
“First, let me explain something important: we've all done, thought or said bad things, which the Bible calls ‘sin.’ The Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’” James continued. “The result of sin is eternal death. But, the good news is, Jesus died on the cross so that we could be forgiven. Jesus died in our place so that we could have a relationship with God and be with Him eternally, in Heaven.
“We can’t earn salvation; we are saved by God’s grace when we have faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. All you have to do is believe you are a sinner, and that Christ died for your sins, and ask for His forgiveness.
“Jesus Christ knows you and loves you. What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart, your honesty.”
Lily looked up at James when he said the word ‘honesty.’
“Yes, Lily. If you give your life to Jesus and follow him faithfully, Gus will regain trust in you. But that shouldn’t be your only reason for doing it. You have to want to live your life for God, and not for yourself. You have to feel it in your heart.
"Are you ready?"
Lily nodded.
James smiled. "Good," he said. He nodded. "Repeat after me.” James took Lily's hands in his.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner. I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Lily had repeated the prayer in her mind and again out loud, and she felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. “I feel good about the commitment, and I’ll try hard to live a good life, pleasing to God, but what if I make a mistake?” Lily asked.
James patted her hands before dropping them. “We dedicate our lives to God, but we are still sinners. God knows that. If you make a mistake, you pray daily, and ask for forgiveness. As long as you're truly sorry for your sins, they will be instantly forgiven.
“I have another question,” she said. “How does Jesus’ death save us?”
“That’s an excellent question.” James finished his coffee and set his cup into the saucer on the
table between them. “Think of God as the judge, which He is, and we as the people accused of a crime, as in sin. He sent his Son, who was without sin, to be crucified in our place, so that now we don’t have to experience eternal death. Jesus paid the price with His blood.”
“How do you know all this James?” Lily was in awe of his knowledge.
“God told me.”
“What?” Lily asked, feeling her eyes grow wide.
James laughed. “The Bible. He inspired devout men to write His word so that we would know what it is He wants us to do.”
Lily thought about what he'd said for several moments. “So if I read the Bible, I'll become as wise as you are about God?”
“Yes. I’ll see about getting you one of your own.
"Now, all you have to do is pray. Pray about your mess with Gus. Pray about your father’s attitude. Pray for all your loved ones.”
Mandy came out onto the porch then, and James jumped up to give her his seat, while he perched himself on the porch railing.
Mandy looked from Lily to James. “I feel as if I’ve missed something important. Were you crying, Lily?”
Lily nodded with a smile. “Tell her, James.”
James smiled. “Lily has said the Sinner’s Payer, and is now saved.”
Mandy stood and leaned over to hug Lily. “I’m so happy!” Then, she looked at James. “I’m afraid I’ve veered from the path as well," Mandy told him. "I gave my life to God years ago, but unfortunate circumstances…”
“No problem,” James said. “If Lily will take the cups into the house and give us some privacy, I’ll say the prayer again for you as well.”
Lily wasted no time giving them their privacy. “Come inside when you’ve finished and I'll wrap up some cake to take back with you to Gus’s.”
When James returned to Gus’s, he found Gus still sitting on the porch, holding his head with his hands.
