But giving up his life as he knew it in order to care for a woman? He was used to caring for his fellow men and women. From a distance, of course. Now he’d be expected to meet her every need and guide her in the ways of everyday life here in Birch Creek.
It would take a while to get used to having her in his life, but he was a man who could adjust to whatever the situation called for.
He checked his watch and finished putting away the papers he had been working on when the train had arrived today. It would be a while before he could focus again on his sermon he’d be giving in a few days. Good thing he’d gotten a decent start on it.
Benjamin returned to his home to make sure it was clean enough to bring his new wife home to tomorrow. He looked at the bed then up to the heavens. A second place to sleep would be important. This bed was small, made only for one person, and he could not comfortably share it with her. He would have to look into either ordering one through the Howard’s catalog or find out if one of the local builders had any ready-made frames. A mattress would be important as well.
He might as well head over to the Howard’s mercantile right now to find out what they might have on hand. He would also check with their daughter-in-law, Annabelle Howard, to see if she had any quilts to purchase. If he couldn’t get a bed right away, a good quilt or two would provide decent padding for sleeping on the floor so Amelia could have the bed.
He was only halfway from the church property to the mercantile when he heard a greeting from young Jessie Clark. The boy had been taken in by the Clarks a few years ago and had grown into a fine young man. Now nearing the age he could soon start looking to begin a family of his own, many of the young daughters in the area were keenly interested whenever he was about.
“Good evening, Reverend,” Jessie said. “I was sent by Miss Susan to find out if you’ll want to use her tables and chairs for your celebration tomorrow.”
“Word’s already out huh?”
“Yup. Spreads like wildfire when Mrs. Howard gets news of a wedding. You know how she is.”
“That I do,” Benjamin said.
“So about the chairs?” Jessie repeated.
Benjamin looked toward the boarding house where the Clarks lived. It was near enough to the church they often pooled their resources when Mrs. Howard got it in her head to throw a celebration.
“I suppose we’d better,” Ben said. “Will you need help bringing them out tomorrow?”
“Nah,” Jessie said. “Michael and I can take care of it. And there will be a dozen or more men around to help as well. We’ll even come help make sure the benches inside the church are ready for your wedding.”
Ben nodded his appreciation. “They’re all still set up from Sunday’s meeting. They’ll work for the ceremony just as they are.”
“All right,” Jessie said. “We’ll plan to pull the benches out after the ceremony when everyone gathers for the food and dancing.”
“Thank you again, Jessie.” Ben shook the boy’s hand. “And tell Miss Susan and Michael thank you as well. I hope the children are feeling better. I’m assuming you’ve had the chicken pox already?”
“I have,” Jessie said. “Was a baby. Don’t remember it, but last time it went through our area before my parents died, I didn’t have to worry about it then.” Jessie turned and looked back at the boarding house. “Little ones will be all right though. Right now, they’re just itchy. The fever seems to have gone. I’d better go back and help Miss Susan. I’ll see you tomorrow. And congratulations.”
He was off without another word leaving Ben to continue on his way to the mercantile. When he entered it, Mr. Howard was at the front and greeted him with a smile.
“I hear congratulations are in order. From what my wife tells me, your bride-to-be is resting upstairs after her travels here.”
Ben took a quick breath and put a smile on his face. He needed to make sure the folks here in town didn’t think he was reluctant to get married. Especially when news spread that she was a friend of the family. At least having known her before would allow folks around here to believe it was all planned out in advance.
It wasn’t a lie. His grandparents and Amelia had planned it. Ben had just been a little slow on the uptake.
***
Amelia took the pan off the stove and continued to whip the gravy to keep it smooth. She placed it on the table next to a bowl of boiled potatoes and stepped to the side so Mrs. Howard could place a bowl of carrots.
“I think that about covers us. Just hope the men aren’t going to be long.” Mrs. Howard left the kitchen and moved to the doorway that would allow her to call for her husband.
Moments later, a knock sounded on the door to the other side of the house.
“Might as well make myself useful.” Amelia walked to the front door and opened it up, not surprised to see Benjamin standing there. He had his hat in his hand and his hair had been combed. Her smile at seeing him was genuine, but she still worried he would be bothered for quite some time at this turn of events.
“Good evening, Miss Clover.” He gave her a slight bow and looked into the house behind her as if wishing to see someone else there as well.
Amelia stepped back and motioned for him to come inside. “Mrs. Howard has just called for her husband to let him know dinner is ready. I’m sure they’ll be fine with you coming on in.”
Benjamin glanced behind him out into the street. Was he searching for anyone who might catch him coming inside? At last he did finally enter, but he lingered by the door as she returned to the kitchen. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable by staying in the same room with him. Especially since no one else was in the room there to chaperone. If he was this skittish now, there would definitely be a lot of getting used to each other in the days to come.
Though he was the same man that had met her at the train station, the way he behaved now that he knew he was to be her husband instead of her preacher just exasperated her.
She was a good woman with a good reputation. Of course, no one here knew her or her history. So he was probably wise to still be very cautious of what people might say. After all, he’d practically told the sheriff he was only marrying her to keep up appearances since the news would get out that she had come here to be his wife.
Amelia just hoped they could become comfortable with each other soon. She was likely more nervous than he was to be marrying a stranger. A married man had so many more freedoms than a married woman. Once they were wed, she would have no other option but to obey him. Amelia prayed he was also the kind of man she could grow to love and honor. His profession made her believe it would be all right.
He was obviously a good man. He cared for her reputation and he was willing to marry her to keep a promise he hadn’t realized he had given. Why had she just blindly trusted Grandpa Morrison?
“Amelia,” Mrs. Howard said, “let me introduce my husband to you officially.”
She looked to where Mr. Howard stood and heard the sound of Benjamin’s footsteps coming toward the kitchen.
“I answered the door for Reverend Morrison while you had slipped out,” Amelia said, relieved he had come in on his own.
A quick introduction was given for Mr. Howard’s and Amelia’s sakes and they were all seated around the small square table. Benjamin sat to the left of her and Mr. Howard to the right with Mrs. Howard straight across.
Fortunately, Mrs. Howard was good at keeping the conversation going. Unfortunately, it all revolved around the wedding they’d be having tomorrow.
“Now don’t worry about a thing when it comes to the food and set up. I’ve done this enough to know exactly what to do. There are lots of ladies that love to whip up something yummy to share. There will be a few hours of visiting and we’ll even see if Mr. Lowry will bring his fiddle. It’s been a while since we’ve done any dancing. The children here in Birch Creek are going to be so excited for a chance to run around and play games and get out of their chores for a few hours.”
“I
s this something you do at each wedding?” Amelia asked. Any she’d attended back home had been more solemn. The wedding itself being a special occasion. Then they would have a meal with the family and visit for a short time then leave.
Benjamin smiled. “Mrs. Howard has been doing something like this for every wedding that I’ve known of here in Birch Creek. It’s something the whole town looks forward to. Most times, they have a little bit more time to plan it, but there have been half a dozen or so she’s put on with less than a day’s notice.”
“That many people get married so quickly?” Amelia looked at the others at the table. The men just smiled and Mrs. Howard nodded.
“Why, our own son did the same thing. Good man that he is, he stepped up and saved Annabelle from needing to worry about the town drunk who had completely mislead the poor girl. Colten’s been besotted with her ever since. You know, I don’t think a pair have to know each other all that long to know things will work out. Especially if the two are committed enough to give it an honest go and to be aware of what their partner in life needs.”
Mr. Howard chuckled. “Ruth convinced me to marry her within a week of knowing her. Been trying to keep up with her ever since, but she’s right. You each do your part and everything will work out.”
Amelia smiled at the obvious love between the Howards and looked at Benjamin hoping to see he felt the same way. Instead, his face was unreadable as he looked down at the food on his plate.
***
Benjamin still couldn’t believe he was getting married tomorrow. He’d often wondered if he should find a wife to help him with his duties, but having it sprung upon him like this was still unsettling.
Miss Clover seemed nice enough. The praise for the meal she’d cooked without a lot of help from Mrs. Howard showed him that he’d be fed well when they were married.
Yet all this talk about how a loving and lasting relationship could work on such short knowledge of another person worried him. He’d seen it a few times with some of the couples he’d officiated over the weddings in town. Doing it himself though? That was another matter altogether.
He wanted to be the right kind of husband for her. He was certain he could treat her right and provide for her needs, yet would she grow to hate him if he couldn’t find it in his heart to love her the way a man should love his wife? He’d devoted his whole heart to the service of his God. The church and Bible taught a man should love his wife, but he’d never had a romantic notion about any woman since he’d decided to serve the Lord.
Amelia was lovely to look at, and he did appreciate that she was a good woman from a good family. But love? He didn’t know if it was possible for him.
“What would you think of taking a walk to the church after dinner?” Mrs. Howard asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.
He looked at her, then to Amelia. “Would you like to see the church?” he asked.
Amelia’s returning smile gave him a sinking suspicion that he had missed something in the conversation. Had she been the one to ask to see it? He would have to be much more observant or he would find himself in a lot of trouble.
“Yes,” Amelia said. “I thought it would be nice to get an idea of the layout of the church. It would be nice to see where you work. I’d love to hear more about how you came to be out here and if you were involved in the construction of the building or if it was here when you arrived.”
“Oh,” Benjamin said. “Of course. Yes, seeing the building before the wedding would help you, I’m sure. And no, I didn’t help build it. The building had been erected by the good folks here in town before I arrived. I came and replaced Reverend Swallow who retired and moved to Boise to live with and care for his sister who took ill.”
“You’ve been here for how long now?” Mr. Howard asked. “Six years?”
“Almost seven,” Benjamin said. “Fresh out of my own schooling. I was grateful for the opportunity to come and learn from Reverend Swallow for a few months before he left. The people here in Birch Creek have been so good to me.”
“We were happy to have you here,” Mr. Howard said. His wife, Mrs. Howard, nodded her agreement but instead of talking to him, began telling Amelia about how the church building was set up so she’d know where she’d be entering the building and how long the aisle between the benches was.
“If we’ve all had enough to eat,” Mrs. Howard said, “I say we should just leave the dishes here on the table for the moment and we’ll go take a look at the church before it gets too dark. I can always clean up with the lantern better than we can see the church in the dark.”
She stood up and held her hand out toward Benjamin. “While you finish your potatoes, I’ll take the keys and show her around. Then we’ll let you two men catch up to us when you’ve finished.”
Knowing it would be pointless to argue, and realizing this was a good chance for him to get his own mind sorted out a little without worrying about offending his future wife with his lack of focus, he handed the keys to Mrs. Howard.
In less than a minute, she had left the house with Amelia right behind her. One other benefit to not going with them right this moment was that he could sit in silence for a minute or two. Mr. Howard was so much quieter than his wife.
Benjamin took a forkful of his potatoes and gravy and gave Mr. Howard a quick nod as the two ate in silence.
“Don’t worry, Reverend,” Mr. Howard said after he’d cleaned his plate. “You’ll do fine. She seems like a lovely young lady and you’ll soon figure out how to read her just like you do with all the other folk here in town.”
He met Mr. Howard’s eyes, wondering if he ought to explain himself, or question the man further. In the end, he merely nodded and stood with him.
“We might as well be on our way. And if you’ll take my advice…” He paused and raised a brow. “You should show her your home and your church so she can feel like this is a place she’ll belong. I don’t reckon she knows this, but I heard her crying upstairs when my wife left her to rest a bit once she’d first arrived. I think she’s a little overwhelmed at the idea of a quick wedding to a man she hardly knows, no matter how much you say she’s a friend of the family.”
Benjamin nodded, once again surprised at how very observant Mr. Howard was.
“Oh, and one more thing.” He cleared his throat a little before continuing. “Give her time to fall in love with you a little before… you know.”
Mr. Howard ducked his head and walked out the door in the direction of the church, giving Benjamin enough time to overcome his shock before he had to meet the man’s gaze again.
When they reached the church, Mrs. Howard was standing at the front doors and waved them over, indicating they should hurry but be quiet. As he neared the steps, he could hear the most incredible singing voice. Clear as an angel’s, with a range that delivered a stunning rendition of Amazing Grace.
He took the steps slowly, hoping to not surprise or startle her and make her stop singing. She stood with her back to the door, halfway up the aisle of the building looking toward the front where they would stand tomorrow and pledge their vows before God.
For the first time since he’d agreed to marry her, he felt as if this would be a good thing.
***
Amelia loved the way the acoustics of the building helped her bring out the heart of the words and emotion she felt as she sang the song. It was a lovely building and would be a joy to be here each week and listen to her future husband talk about the good word. As she finished the last note, she smiled at the way it seemed to hang in the air before whispering up to heaven.
She turned around and was surprised to see Mr. Howard and his wife standing together while Benjamin walked past them and into the center of the room.
“That was lovely,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve heard it sung better in my life.”
Amelia smiled and moved her arms to encompass the room. “I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to see what it would sound like in here. It’s a lovely church.”<
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“That it is,” Benjamin said. “If you’d like to walk with me through it, I’ll show you the different things. We have a basement where the children’s classes are held. For a while we even held school meetings there as well. That was before the school was finished.”
“I’d love to see it all,” Amelia said, looking up at him. He seemed so much more relaxed here inside his own territory. She made sure to listen quietly and didn’t interrupt much as they walked through the building. It wasn’t a tiny church, but it wasn’t overly large either so they finished up inside rather quickly and were soon walking toward the small house a half dozen yards beyond the church building.
“This is my home,” Benjamin said. “I suppose I should say, our home, starting tomorrow.”
“It looks nice.” Amelia studied the brick exterior. That would help keep things at a nice temperature throughout the year. It had a very simple yard, and Amelia thought it would be nice to plant some flowers. At least there were a few shade trees that would help as well in the hot weather.
“Would you like to see the inside first, or more of the outside?” Benjamin asked once Mr. and Mrs. Howard were close enough to join them.
“Either sounds fine,” Amelia said.
Benjamin went to the door and opened it, then allowed her to walk in first. Once inside, she moved toward the parlor where the remaining evening light from a window allowed her to see the simple furniture. Benjamin entered and soon had a lantern lit and held it up.
“It’s not much, but it is very comfortable. There is this main room, then a kitchen and two rooms.” He spoke quietly and she wasn’t sure if it was because he was nervous, or if he didn’t want the Howards to hear all that he was saying.
The Preacher's Bride: A Golden Valley Story (Brides of Birch Creek Book 6) Page 3
