California Romance

by Colleen L. Reece

  Ellie shot Tim a fiery glance, turned her back on him, and summoned a smile for Josh. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll do just that. Oh, I plan to sing ‘It Is Well with My Soul.’” She started to pass Josh, but his deep voice stopped her.

  “Although that’s one of my favorite hymns, would you mind saving it?”

  Humiliation engulfed her. “You don’t want me to sing tomorrow?”

  “Oh no! I’m looking forward to hearing you,” he quickly assured. “It’s just that a different song will fit my sermon better. Do you know ‘The Ninety and Nine’?”

  “Sure she does,” Tim blared. He began to sing. “ ‘There were ninety and nine…’ ”

  A twinkle leaped into Josh’s eyes before he said, “Begging your pardon, Tim, but I think we’d best let your sister sing tomorrow.”

  Tim stuck his nose in the air. “Well! Some folks don’t recognize good music when they hear it. I’ll save my singing for the horses and cattle. They don’t seem to mind when I bed them down for the night.” His cheerful grin spoiled his false indignation.

  Ellie felt her face scorch. Was there no end to Tim’s shenanigans? “I know the song and will be glad to sing it.” She climbed the steps to the veranda, snatching at the reins of her temper. A minute more, and she’d be screeching at Tim. But her rage weakened when he said, “Wait till you hear her, Josh. Ellie can beat a western meadowlark all hollow when it comes to singing.” Pride rang in every word.

  Josh’s quick “I’ll bet she can” sent tingles through Ellie. She raced inside, through the great hall, and up the broad staircase to her room.

  Heedless of her dusty riding skirt and the need to bathe and change clothes, Ellie dropped to her bed. She idly fingered the rich tapestry of the handwoven Mexican spread: red, emerald green, and white—the national colors of Mexico. Matching draperies hung at the large casement windows set deep into the thick adobe walls.

  Ellie only covered the windows while dressing. She loved watching the moon and stars from her bed on nice nights and the rain sluicing down the windowpanes in stormy weather. She thrilled to jagged lightning bolts and even the boom of thunder.

  “Well, Lord, I feel like I just came through a thunderstorm,” she said. “My nerves are twanging like the strings of my guitar when it’s out of tune.” She paused. “Joshua Stanhope sure is polite. Outside of Matt and Seth, he seems to be the nicest man I’ve ever met. I can hardly wait to hear him preach tomorrow.” Ellie screwed up her face. “Wish I could say the same for wanting to sing. At least I won’t have to face him during my solo. I do not need a reminder of how we met.” She felt a reluctant smile curve her lips. “Lord, I know it will be well with my soul, but I’m going to need Your help to settle the rest of me down.”

  For the first time since she’d crashed into Josh, Ellie had wits enough to remember more than how tall Josh was and the way he’d looked at her. At first, laughter had lurked in his eyes, as if held back by sheer willpower. She’d seen it replaced with compassion. And after Tim prattled on about her singing, genuine interest and admiration flickered in the gray depths. Now Ellie pictured his short, well-brushed light hair and his honest countenance.

  “It’s like goodness shines through him,” she whispered. “Is it because he’s a minister?” She shook her head. No. She’d met many ministers—godly men who gave their lives to the service of the Master. Yet never had she seen one whose presence affected her so deeply as Joshua Stanhope had done during their brief encounter. She’d always been too practical to believe in love at first sight, but now she wondered….

  A knock brought Ellie out of her reflections. “Are you about ready?” a woman’s voice demanded. “May I come in?”

  “Of course.” Ellie clambered off the bed and opened the door. Sarah stepped inside, lovely in a light blue, tiered fiesta dress that matched her eyes. “Sorry, but I had a little accident and—”

  “And landed at a certain handsome stranger’s feet,” Sarah finished with a trill of laughter.

  “You heard?” Ellie’s heart sank.

  “Everyone heard, thanks to that rascally Tim.” Mischief sparkled in Sarah’s eyes, and she cocked her head to one side. “Just remember. God brings good from everything that affects His children.”

  Ellie grunted. “I made a fool of myself in front of a visiting minister, Sarah!”

  Sarah donned an innocent expression. She cocked her head to one side and placed her hands on her hips the way Solita did when about to deliver a lecture. She even sounded like Solita when she said, “Land sakes, child. Every single girl, young woman, and eligible widow in Madera will be doing somersaults up and down Main Street to attract Joshua Stanhope’s attention if he becomes our minister. Especially Amy Talbot. You have to admit, Ellie, you have a running start.” Sarah giggled but didn’t look at all repentant. “Sorry. You probably don’t care for the word running right now.”

  Ellie laughed in spite of herself, but annoyance swept through her at thought of the petite and predatory Amy, with her oh-so-perfect blond curls and fluttering eyelashes.

  “You’re right. Running isn’t my favorite word at the moment. As for Amy being a minister’s wife…”

  “My sentiments exactly.” Sarah’s eyes twinkled. “So how about getting you into your fiesta dress so you can do something to help prevent such a catastrophe?”

  Ellie felt as if she’d been struck. She sank back down on her bed. “I can’t. I’m no more fit to be a minister’s wife than Amy is.”

  “Why not?” Sarah sounded genuinely astonished. “You aren’t still holding on to the past, are you?” She sat down next to Ellie. Sympathy filled her face.

  Ellie twisted her hands. How could she confess that the little girl who cowered before Gus Stoddard still lurked inside, coloring her attitude toward love and marriage? It wasn’t right to open old wounds by reminding Sarah that she’d once felt unworthy to marry Matt. The subject had remained closed ever since they talked about it years earlier, at the time of Ellie and Tim’s adoption. Yet in spite of all the love that surrounded Ellie, childhood scars had not completely healed over. She hadn’t realized how raw they still were until Sarah teased her.

  Don’t be a ninny, Ellie told herself. Joshua Stanhope would never fall in love with me. Even if he did, marrying me would be asking for trouble. Minister’s wives have to be beyond reproach, not related to the likes of Gus Stoddard. Josh would find himself out of a job and eventually begin to hate me.

  Sarah clasped Ellie’s hands in hers. Warm tears cascaded. “Ellie, honey, you are my sister. You are also Matt’s and my beloved daughter, but much more. The apostle Paul tells us that when we accept Christ, old things are passed away. All things become new, including us.” She dropped Ellie’s hands and gathered her into a close embrace. “You are a Sterling, Ellie, not a Stoddard. Don’t look back.” She gave a shaky laugh. “Remember what happened to Lot’s wife. You don’t want your partners at the fiesta lugging around a pillar of salt, do you?”

  “No.” Ellie hugged Sarah, warmed by the fragile feeling that just maybe things would be all right, after all. “Thank you.”

  Tim’s bellow from beneath the window broke into the tender moment. “Hey Ellie, are you coming or not?”

  Caleb’s shrill, “Yeah, Aunt Ellie. Where are you?”

  Sarah wiped away her tears. “So much for private conversations on your birthday.” She ran to the window. “Hold your horses, you two. It’s Ellie’s birthday. She’ll come when she’s ready.” She turned from the window, hurried to the large wardrobe, and took out Ellie’s fiesta dress. Each tier of the sunshiny yellow skirt and modest, ruffled neckline wore bands of white lace that matched the mantilla Sarah laid on the bed. “Are you going to be all right?”

  For now trembled on Ellie’s lips but she quickly substituted, “Yes.” She summoned a smile. “Better get down there before they send out a search party.”

  “Yes ma’am!” Sarah saluted. But before leaving the room, she looked straight into Ellie’s e
yes. “Remember what Matt tells us. ‘Walk tall and hold your head high.’ You have every right: You are God’s child—and ours.” The door closed behind her, leaving Ellie feeling as if she’d been sitting in the sunlight for a very long time. She hurried through a sponge bath and slipped into the lovely gown. Her fingers shook as she stepped to the mirror and pinned the mantilla on her dark brown hair.

  Pleased with the reflection that stared back at her, Ellie muttered, “First impressions may be lasting, but here’s hoping the way I look now will erase Joshua Stanhope’s memory of me sprawled at his feet.” She snatched up a stiff, white lace fan, swept out of her bedroom, down the staircase, and into the swirl of the fiesta.

  Chapter 6

  Buggies and buckboards. Carriages and cowboys. Would they never stop arriving? Ellie stood on the veranda, tingling with excitement. Half the countryside must have come to honor her on her birthday. The sound of jingling spurs whipped her around. She stared at Tim. “What are you doing in those clothes?”

  Tim smirked. “You like, mi hermana?” He smoothed down the short, black jacket lavishly embroidered in silver and ran his hands down the tight, black pants bound at the waist by a scarlet sash. “Soy un gran caballero.”

  Ellie fixed her fascinated gaze on the widest Mexican sombrero she’d ever seen. “There’s enough silver braid and conchas on that hat to give you a headache. What are you going to do? Fight a cow or do the Mexican hat dance?”

  Tim put on a wise look and stroked his fake mustache. Ellie suspected one of the horses in the corral had a bald spot. “I might.” He glanced over his sister’s shoulder and into the yard. His voice dropped to a whisper. “Hey, take a gander at Red Fallon over there with our new minister. Red looks prouder than a mama cow with a new calf.”

  Ellie surveyed the tall cowboy whose red hair showed streaks of silver. “He does, but Joshua Stanhope isn’t our minister yet.”

  “He will be if she has anything to say about it,” Tim drawled. He nodded toward a pink-clad girl and her father approaching Red and the minister. She wore an unmistakable where-have-you-been-all-my-life expression. “Amy Talbot has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, and Luther’s chairman of the church board. C’mon. We’ll go rescue Josh.”

  “We? I don’t think so.” Ellie put her fan up to smother a giggle and watched Josh free his arm from the white hand Amy had laid on it. “Besides, he looks perfectly capable of taking care of himself.”

  “He’s probably used to women on his trail,” Tim agreed. “But Amy’s after anyone wearing pants. She even flirts with me.”

  “You should feel honored,” Ellie teased. Satisfaction at being able to get even with her brother erupted into another giggle. “After all, she’s an older woman, and—”

  Tim snorted. “Yeah. Just like you. You’re pretty near an old maid, you know!” He settled the gigantic sombrero more fully and marched down the veranda steps, spurs clanking. A few long strides took him to the foursome they’d been discussing. Tim said something to Josh and glanced in Ellie’s direction. The minister promptly left the others and headed toward the veranda.

  Ellie’s breath caught when she observed Amy’s pout and the scowl on Luther Talbot’s face. If Joshua Stanhope wanted to become minister of Christ the Way Church in Madera, walking away from the Talbots was not a good way to secure the position. Josh reached the bottom step. The desire to warn and protect him caused Ellie to say in a low voice, “The Talbots don’t look happy about your leaving them.”

  Mischief shone in Josh’s gray eyes, but all he said was, “They don’t, do they?” Then he added, “Your brother suggested I go over the order of service with you for tomorrow. No one should object to that, should they?”

  The feeling of being in cahoots with him against a common enemy made laughter bubble up past Ellie’s ruffles. “They shouldn’t.” The words it doesn’t mean they won’t hung unspoken in the air.

  “I know I’m a stranger, but would you consider allowing me to escort you for at least part of the fiesta?” Josh looked back at the Talbots. “Perhaps you can alert me to any…uh…pitfalls that lie ahead, should I be accepted as your minister.”

  Ellie’s spirits rose, lighter than the balloons decorating the yard. Brighter than the dozens of luminaries to be lit at dusk. Not trusting herself to speak, she smiled and nodded. She felt a blush begin at the modest neckline of her gown. As it worked its way up, Ellie took refuge behind her fan. She held it so only her eyes showed, praying they wouldn’t give away the unexpected feelings churning inside her.

  Josh didn’t seem to notice her confusion. “Shall we go over the service so we can join the fiesta?”

  Ellie sternly bade her unruly heart to be still. She might never see Josh again after tomorrow. So why should she feel he might be the long-awaited stranger she’d yearned for each time she saw Matt and Sarah’s happiness? Or the way Seth and Dori shared understanding glances? Or the teasing between Curly and Katie?

  The notion left her breathless. But as the fiesta continued, her sense of wonder increased: bittersweet and haunting, like a persistent cloud dimming the sunshine of Ellie’s day. Amy Talbot’s obvious but futile attempts to pry Josh away from Ellie’s side didn’t help. Or the bevy of girls and young women who flocked around them, waiting to be introduced and expressing delight at Josh’s coming.

  When Josh turned away to greet a newcomer, Tim sidled up to his sister. “I gotta hand it to you, Ellie.” Admiration filled his voice. “Our new minister’s a goner. You’ve got him roped, tied, and liking it.”

  “What?” Ellie croaked, feeling the telltale red creeping into her face again. “Josh is just being polite.”

  “Horse feathers!” was Tim’s inelegant reply. “Just watch your step. Amy’s wearing her hunting expression and loaded for bear. And she isn’t the only one.”

  Ellie couldn’t help laughing, but Tim’s remark made her recall Sarah’s prediction: “Every single girl, young woman, and eligible widow in Madera will be doing somersaults up and down Main Street to attract Joshua Stanhope….You have to admit, Ellie, you have a running start.” Ellie bit her lip. She must not let the young minister’s marked attentions go to her head.

  Event followed event. Josh remained at Ellie’s side, except when participating in the games and races. If his broad smile was an accurate indication, he was having the time of his life. He joined in the three-legged race with Tim, so awkward they thumped to the ground after only a few steps and earned the good-natured jeers of the onlookers. At Tim’s insistence, Josh accepted the loan of a Diamond S gelding and entered the horse race. He rode well but was no match for his range-trained opponents. He came in last.

  A little later, a score of men and boys lined up for a foot race. Josh sprang forward at the starting gun, widened the gap between him and his competitors, and outdistanced them all. He accepted the blue ribbon but said, “Put the cash prize in the collection plate tomorrow. The church needs it more than I do.” It earned him a loud cheer of approval from the merrymakers.

  When Josh returned to Ellie, his mouth twitched. “Did I redeem myself ?”

  “Of course. Where’d you learn to run like that?”

  “I was talking about the three-legged race, not the foot race.” The twitch grew more pronounced.

  Ellie felt her mouth fall open. She tried three times before she could speak. “You—you—are you saying you fell down on purpose?” she stuttered.

  A mysterious light came into his eyes. “Shhh! Don’t tell Tim, but I thought if folks saw me sprawled on the ground, maybe they’d forget your spill.”

  Ellie’s heart lurched. What kind of person was Josh? They’d just met, yet he’d cared enough about her feelings to turn attention from her clumsiness to his. “You redeemed yourself. Thank you.” Ellie could say no more.

  A fiesta highlight was the piñata hung on a tree branch. One by one, Matt and Sarah blindfolded the children and gave them a long pole. Each had three chances to strike and break the burro-shape
d container and set the children scrambling when candy and toys showered down. Yet child after child struck and missed, or only rocked the piñata.

  At last the time came for Curly and Katie’s children to try. They looked wide-eyed up at the piñata. Riley’s lip quivered. “It’s too high.”

  “We’re too little,” Kathleen said. Tears sprang to her Irish blue eyes.

  Ellie wanted to cry, too. Why hadn’t they hung a piñata on a lower branch to give the smaller children a chance? Evidently this one was stronger than most. Neither of the Prescotts would be able to break it if the bigger kids hadn’t succeeded.

  Quick as a flash, Josh demanded, “Where are those poles? No blindfolds for us. We’ll show you how to break a piñata.” He scooped Riley up in one arm and Kathleen with the other. Then he snatched a pole from Tim and said, “Kids, put your hands above mine. Everyone else stand back.”

  The crowd fell silent and edged away.

  “Ready. Set. Swing!”

  Crack. The pole smashed into the piñata. It burst and spilled its contents onto the ground below. A great shout went up from the crowd. The children surged forward. Tim restrained the others while Josh lowered the Prescotts. “Riley and Kathleen get a head start,” Tim said. “They broke the piñata.”

  Moments later, happy laughter rang across the yard—but none happier than Ellie’s. If Josh hadn’t already redeemed himself, his caring actions with the disappointed little ones would have done the trick. Needing time to sort out her turbulent feelings, Ellie slipped away to her room. She crossed to the window and stood so she could remain unobserved but view the throng stretching from yard to corral and beyond.

  A parade of children—led by Caleb and his brother Gideon—crowded close to Josh, holding up their treasures for him to see. Their delighted shouts curved Ellie’s lips in a sympathetic smile. She thought of Jesus. He, too, had gathered the children around Him. He had ordered His disciples not to turn them away, as Luther Talbot was vainly attempting to do with the children below. What a wonderful, godly father Josh would make!