Yet for all of the church’s opulent outer appearance, inside its doors, hypocrisy reigned. Hypocrisy that Annalise wanted no part of.
She cast a glance across the street and up the road. A steeple rose above a humble white church. It reminded her of the church she attended with her parents in Virginia before their deaths.
A place of true worship.
“Come along, Annalise, or we shall be late,” Aunt Lavinia rebuked.
At twenty years of age, shouldn’t Annalise have a right to choose where she wished to worship?
Not if I am constantly under the control of Aunt Lavinia and Uncle Phineas.
“Aunt Lavinia, might I attend the church just up the road for this time only?”
And all the other times until I’m at least ninety-five…
Aunt Lavinia stopped and turned abruptly to face Annalise. Thankfully, Uncle Phineas was discussing with one of the elders the rewards for runaway slaves.
“Surely you jest, Annalise. First Church has always been our church. Why would you desire to go elsewhere?”
Retorts came to Annalise, most of them unacceptable to Aunt Lavinia. Half-truths filled her mind. But she couldn’t, wouldn’t lie. “I—”
“Are you doing your best to shame our good name by attending a paltry church with no parishioners of high social standing?”
“No, I just…It reminds me of the church I attended with my parents.”
“Feeling nostalgic, are you?” Aunt Lavinia narrowed her eyes, but they seemed to soften for one brief moment.
“I promise, Aunt Lavinia, that no one in our social circle will be the wiser as to my choice in where to worship. Nehemiah can deliver me to the front door and retrieve me when it’s over.”
“What if the church you wish to attend has a longer service? We won’t be waiting around for you.”
“I would not expect you to, Aunt Lavinia.”
“Won’t you miss being able to discuss individuals’ fashion, or lack thereof, with the other women in the congregation, as we do at our church?”
Not in the least. Besides, they are your friends, not mine. Annalise hadn’t been able to make any friends in her new home. She pushed aside the disheartening thought. “I promise to sit in the back of the church and watch the door for Nehemiah. Have him retrieve me when the services at First Church have concluded, and I will leave posthaste.”
“I really should ask your uncle.” Aunt Lavinia turned her perfectly coiffed head toward her husband. “On second thought, he is in a deep discussion with Percy Hiram.” She lowered her voice and rolled her eyes. “You know how they get when they discuss runaway slaves that have made it all the way to Canada. Phineas becomes a sourpuss for the remainder of the day. Best not to ask him anything if you desire a favorable response.”
“I agree. Perhaps this is a situation better handled without him.”
Did I really just say that? Annalise rebuked herself for allowing the words to tumble from her mouth.
“I suppose you are right. Run along then.”
Ten minutes later, she found herself in the back pew of the Ridge Gap Bible Church. Due to her tardiness, parishioners were already singing hymns when she arrived. The sound of their voices lifted to the Lord filled Annalise’s heart, and she merged her voice, singing with devotion to her Savior.
The church was full, almost to capacity. Annalise noted immediately that she stood out among the rest of the women with her elaborate dress. A few glances her way made her feel self-conscious, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Finally, she was in a place where she could fully worship the Lord.
A handsome young man approached the weathered podium and introduced himself as the Reverend Matthias Sorenson. His love for the Lord was evident as he began to preach. What a contrast between the sermons of Ridge Gap Bible Church and First Church!
All was quiet at supper. That is, until Aunt Lavinia decided to speak. Annalise watched her aunt dab at the corners of her mouth with exaggerated fanfare. “Annalise, your uncle and I would like to announce a guest who is coming for a visit tomorrow evening.”
Annalise inwardly groaned. Aunt Lavinia’s “guests” were never a good thing.
“His name is Dale Hiram, and he’s the son of an esteemed acquaintance, Percy Hiram.” Aunt Lavinia tapped her long nails on the table. “You would do well to make it a point to be gracious and congenial.”
Uncle Phineas glowered from across the table. “Not like the immature actions you indulged in with the last fine young gentleman your aunt attempted to introduce to you.”
Annalise shivered, even though the house was stifling from the high humidity. Beulah, one of the slaves, did her best to fan the family, but the constant flow did little to reduce the summer heat. The man Aunt Lavinia had attempted to introduce to Annalise last time was far from a young man. At least forty in Annalise’s estimation, his eyes had traveled up and down her body, and his leering expression had caused vomit to rise in her throat.
“Don’t be too harsh with her, Phineas. She is young and naive as to the importance of finding a suitable husband.”
“She’s twenty years old. Hardly a child,” growled Uncle Phineas.
“True, and I was embarrassed for days by her actions. The women in our social circle fussed unmercifully.” Aunt Lavinia’s wide forehead puckered. “It took some time to rectify the situation.” She paused and let out an exaggerated sigh. “Annalise, please do attempt to appreciate that we only want what is best for you. Or do you intend to be a spinster and reside here in our home upon our merciful act of charity for the remainder of your days?”
Never would I desire such a fate! But Annalise didn’t allow the thought to escape her mouth. While she never would have chosen to reside with her aunt and uncle, it was the only home she had, and Annalise didn’t wish to suddenly become homeless.
“Move the fan faster, Beulah,” snapped Aunt Lavinia. “I declare. If you do not do better than the ghastly job you are doing, we will have no choice but to sell you.”
Annalise tossed Beulah a sympathetic glance. The poor woman was doing her best. How her hand could not fall off from the constant motion was beyond Annalise.
Uncle Phineas scowled. “I never wanted her in the first place. We inherited several slaves from your parents when they died, Annalise. We have six of them left in this household. Many were sold because of their refusal to do an adequate job.”
“And many of them,” quipped Aunt Lavinia, pointing a long, crooked finger at her niece, “had to leave because you became friends with them.”
The accusation made Annalise’s stomach hurt. She had always thought of the slaves they owned as friends. Yes, her parents had kept slaves, but they were treated well. Of course, Annalise’s parents were godly Christian folks. Her aunt and uncle were the opposite. They called themselves Christians, but none of their behavior exhibited such beliefs. Wealth and power were their only concerns.
“Did you hear what I just said, Annalise?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Then you’ll do well to treat the slaves as they deserve to be treated.”
As animals? As less than human? Never.
“You should be grateful we allow you to live here at all. Your father was not on the best of terms with his sister. And I, quite frankly, never cared for the man,” sneered Uncle Phineas.
Nor did he care for you, Uncle Phineas.
“True, indeed.” Aunt Lavinia tapped her nails on the table. “Your father and I were never close, and he made his feelings known about his disapproval of my marriage to Phineas. It’s only out of the goodness of our hearts that we allow you to live here with all the freedoms most people wish for.”
Freedoms? What freedoms? You allow me to live here only to manage the funds left behind by my parents.
Annalise bit her lip. To retort would do no good. She’d tried it once.
That was the day she had realized just how evil her aunt and uncle could be.
That night was the
same as many nights at the Thorn household. Annalise’s only reprieve from her aunt and uncle’s watchful eyes was when she turned in for the night. Her small room on the second floor was her sanctuary.
Her lady’s maid, Jinny, helped Annalise into her nightdress. The tears began to fall.
Tears over the loss of Annalise’s beloved parents. She missed them so! Why had the cholera taken them so soon?
Why hadn’t God taken Annalise too?
Such a fate would be far better than what she now had to endure.
Tears over leaving her life in Virginia, only to be brought here to reside with Aunt Lavinia and her horrid husband, Phineas.
Grief over the way the slaves at the Thorn household were treated. Abuse of the slaves was rampant. Beatings, a daily occurrence. Whenever Uncle Phineas tired of any of the slaves, he merely sold them to the highest bidder.
If they survived his wrath.
Annalise’s parents had never once sold a slave. They had never once allowed one to be beaten.
Only six of the Van Houten slaves remained—Beulah, Jinny, Tandey, Nehemiah, and two other male slaves in the fields.
Annalise had never condoned slavery. But what could she do?
How could one person make a difference?
And with Aunt Lavinia and Uncle Phineas watching her every move, she had no freedom.
Lord, I beseech Your help, for right now, I feel helpless.
Chapter 2
Annalise walked down the boardwalk and past the shops. The freedom of having five minutes without the presence of Aunt Lavinia’s oppressive personality refreshed her. She would certainly take advantage of the few minutes while her aunt chatted with one of her high society friends.
“Hello, Miss Van Houten.” Sheriff Bleyer interrupted Annalise’s thoughts.
“Sheriff.”
The sheriff swaggered toward Annalise and cornered her. Something about his stance and unrelenting stare left goose pimples on Annalise’s arms. He was a man of the law, so surely she was overreacting. “Tell me, Miss Van Houten, how are you takin’ to attendin’ Ridge Gap Bible Church?”
Was it Annalise’s imagination, or was there a note of sarcasm in the sheriff’s voice? “It is a Christ-loving church.”
“So you enjoy attendin’?”
“I do.”
How did the sheriff even know she attended the humble church? As soon as the question popped into her head, Annalise pushed it aside. Of course he knew. Nothing was a secret in Ridge Gap, least of all when Phineas and Lavinia Thorn’s niece decided to attend another church.
How scandalous!
“From what I understand, you’ve been attendin’ for the past two weeks now.” His never-blinking, gimlet-eyed stare unnerved her.
“Sheriff Bleyer, I have every mind to believe you are interrogating me.”
The sheriff appeared shocked. “Not at all, ma’am, not at all.” He turned and gestured toward the Ridge Gap Bible Church. “Just wonderin’ how you like the place is all.”
“I like it fine, Sheriff. Perhaps you should attend sometime.”
“No thank you, ma’am. I prefer First Church,” he said, a self-righteous gleam in his hardened hazel eyes. “Have a good day.”
Annalise watched Sheriff Bleyer strut down the boardwalk. Why had he chosen to intimidate her?
Matthias saw her from his position near the mercantile.
The lovely woman who had attended church services twice now.
But she didn’t take any notice of him. Instead, she chatted with Sheriff Bleyer.
The enemy.
Matthias watched the woman point in the direction of the church. Was she discussing something she’d discovered about the church with the sheriff?
Something akin to three members of the church assisting slaves in escaping to freedom?
Worry niggled at him.
The last thing they needed was to have their plans exposed. Too many lives were at stake. Matthias thought he had paid close enough attention to the newcomer. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Traitors, as he knew full well, didn’t look the same. Cloaked in dishonesty and selfishness, betrayal was second nature to them.
Which was why Matthias couldn’t afford to be gullible.
He should have made time to ask her about herself last week. But the parishioners had been overly eager to discuss the sermon afterward, depriving him of the chance.
“Reverend, so nice to see you.” Portly Mrs. Robinson bustled her way out of the mercantile and nearly collided with Matthias.
Matthias reluctantly drew his eyes from the scene of the woman and Sheriff Bleyer. “Hello, Mrs. Robinson. Nice to see you as well.” Matthias grunted inwardly at how unconvincing his voice sounded. Not at all fitting for one leading the flock.
“Why, Reverend, if my eyes don’t deceive me, I would say you might be captivated by that young lady.”
Could Mrs. Robinson speak any more loudly or be any more obvious? Matthias knew red crept up his freshly shaven face.
Lovely woman? Yes. Captivated by her? Perhaps. A possible threat? Yes.
Mrs. Robinson glanced from him to the woman, then back to him. While Mrs. Robinson was a dear woman, she quite often partook in gossip. Should she truly believe Matthias was “captivated,” as she said, word would spread throughout the church—and the town—within minutes.
“Now, Reverend, there is no shame in being mesmerized by a lovely young lady’s beauty. Why, when I was a few years younger, my husband—you do know that Harold and I have been married for forty years, don’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Matthias kept his gaze on the woman, but his attention on Mrs. Robinson.
“Anyhow, when I was a few years younger, long before Harold and I married, Harold was enchanted by my loveliness. I was quite comely, and he could scarcely take his eyes from me when we were introduced that fateful day. Now, forty years and four months later, we are still happily joined in matrimony. That could happen to you too, Reverend. Even if that lovely young woman is far above your station.”
Far above his station or not, Matthias had no interest in a woman who might endanger those seeking freedom and those who helped them attain it.
That evening, Matthias pushed the food around on his plate. Betsy had done a fine job making the meal, but he just wasn’t hungry.
“You’re in deep thought,” observed Betsy.
“Haven’t spoken a word all evening,” added her husband, Adam.
“What’s on your mind, Matthias?”
Matthias eyed his younger sister. So often, he had given thought to what would happen to her if the opposition knew.
He must never allow her to be implicated. He would take complete and utter responsibility before he allowed her to even be accused.
“Did either of you see the woman who has been attending church these past two Sundays and sits in the back pew?”
“The one in the fancy gown?”
“Yes.”
“I noticed her too,” added Adam. “Never seen her at our church before. What do you reckon she wanted?”
“Perhaps to worship?” teased Betsy.
“Funny, Bets. I’m concerned about why she was there,” said Matthias.
“It’s a peculiar day when we become concerned why folks attend church.” Betsy let out a soft laugh then continued, her overly large eyes appearing even larger. “I admit I wondered who she was as well. Folks of high society don’t usually attend our church. Maybe she meant to attend First Church and became lost.”
Matthias didn’t think that was likely, but he didn’t mention it. Always the optimist, his sister likely would think him absurd for even considering the woman’s affiliation with the enemy. “Did she appear to be listening to the sermon?”
“Devoutly,” answered Betsy. “Matthias, what is this all about?”
“I saw her speaking with Sheriff Bleyer today.”
Adam stopped chewing his roast chicken and narrowed his eyes. “She was speaking with Sheriff Bleyer? Did you happen to
hear the conversation?”
“No. But I did notice her pointing to the church.”
“Oh, Matthias, you are always such a distrustful sort,” declared Betsy. “She probably needed directions.”
“My concern is that she may have been sent by Sheriff Bleyer, Phineas Thorn, or one of the others to find out if we are involved in assisting the slaves to freedom.”
Betsy tilted her head to one side. “Because she was merely speaking to Sheriff Bleyer?”
“Bets, I know you try to see the best in others, and I commend you for that. But sometimes we have to be realistic.”
Adam nodded. “Especially after nearly losing our lives with Gene’s deception.”
The three were the only ones who knew the details of their former friend’s treachery. Had the Lord not been watching over them, Matthias and Adam would have already been hanged or, at the very least, been doing time in the county jail in their former town.
“I watched her for a while, well, as best as I could with Mrs. Robinson doing her best to distract me.”
Betsy began to laugh. “That Mrs. Robinson is quite ornery.”
“That she is. Of more serious concern, we can’t have anything or anyone thwart our plans, and with Sheriff Bleyer nosing around…”
“Oh, Matthias. You’re so leery. The woman may have heard that you have wonderful sermons and how you encourage folks to live for our Savior. You do have a reputation here in Ridge Gap.”
Matthias knew Betsy was only good-naturedly chiding him. Still, he couldn’t let go of his worry.
“Trust, Matthias, just trust.”
“I’m trying, Bets, but it doesn’t come easy.”
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” The words from Psalm 55:22 burrowed into his heart.
Now if only his mind could believe it.
Chapter 3
The following Sunday, Annalise again attended Ridge Gap Bible Church. After a month of listening to Pastor Sorenson’s sermons, she found herself digging deeper into God’s Word and full of gratitude that Uncle Phineas and Aunt Lavinia allowed her to continue attending the church.
The Underground Railroad Brides Collection: 9 Couples Navigate the Road to Freedom Before the Civil War Page 54
