“I don’t believe you.” Logan’s smile disappeared.
“That doesn’t make it any less true.” Adria stared at him. “I do not know the combination. Mr. Billiter said I was safer that way from anybody who tried to steal from us when he wasn’t in the store.”
“His money was safer anyhow.” Logan frowned. “I thought I had the perfect chance with the wagon shop on fire. Get the money. Go.”
“You set the fire.”
“Purely an accident, but I’ve never been one to look askance at an opportunity.” Logan shrugged. “I did manage to save a small wagon. A bonus for my work there. Got the horse I bought yesterday harnessed to it ready to go. All I need is some cash in my pocket.”
“You have a wagon and horse? Ready to go?” The Lord could make good come from the worst happenings. Like maybe now.
“There’s room for two. Just open that safe and we’ll be on our way.”
“I told you I can’t open the safe, but I do know where some petty cash is stashed. In case I needed extra to make change when Mr. Billiter wasn’t here.”
“Well, get it. Some is better than none.” Logan was almost smiling again.
“But you have to do something for me first. Take me somewhere.”
He moved closer to Adria. “I’ve already told you I’d take you all the way to California.”
Adria stepped back. “I don’t need to go that far. Just to a place in the next county. I have to take a friend there.”
“Uh-oh. I sense trouble brewing. Your friend wouldn’t happen to be a slave by any chance?”
“What’s that matter to you?”
“Only some jail time if we’re caught and lucky enough not to get shot by the slave trackers.”
“Arson is a crime too.” She stared at him without wavering.
“I told you that was an accident. A lamp turned over on a pile of scrap wood. Nothing intentional about it at all. The place went up too fast to do anything about it.”
“Mobs don’t need much proof. Just a name whispered in the right ears.”
“You play a tough hand, Miss Starr.” Logan actually laughed. “But find the cash and let’s go chase trouble.” He handed her the candle. “What’s going to be our story if we meet anybody on the road?”
“I’m running away with you to California, of course.”
Another laugh. “Your boyfriend isn’t going to like that.”
“No, he isn’t. But maybe we won’t meet anybody.”
“You’re a woman of many secrets.” He reached to touch her face, but she stepped away from him.
“And you’re a man I shouldn’t trust.”
“I’m a scoundrel for sure. I’m betting your aunt warned you about me from day one.”
Adria didn’t bother answering him. Ruth was right about him, but getting Twila away was all that mattered right now. She got the cash out of a jar on a bottom shelf, then grabbed a wool blanket off one of the shelves. She’d have to find a way to replace the money tomorrow.
Logan blew out the candle and loaded up a cloth sack with food. “For the trip. It’s a long way to California.”
They made their way through town under the cover of smoky darkness. If this was the Lord’s better plan, Adria prayed it worked. Pray believing, she reminded herself. She had a lot to believe. That they’d get Twila to a safe place. That nobody would see her with Logan. That he wouldn’t betray her. That the town wouldn’t burn down. The fire looked like it had jumped to a couple more buildings.
The church wasn’t far from where she saw flames. She hoped Pastor Robertson had the money for Louis in a safe place. At least the money at the store would be all right even if the men couldn’t stop the fire. The safe wouldn’t burn.
They didn’t talk as they climbed into the wagon and headed out of town. Thank goodness the road where Twila was to wait for her wasn’t blocked by the fire. When she told Logan to stop the wagon and softly called Twila’s name, the girl slipped out from the trees.
The moon peeking through clouds lent enough light to the night so that it was easy to see Twila was as pretty as Bet had said. Her fear was plain to see too, but along with it was that same determined set of mouth Bet had.
“Thank you, Miss Adria.” She looked from Adria to Logan. “Is that one safe?”
“He’s what the Lord sent us,” Adria said.
“That’s the first time I’ve been accused of being an answer to prayer.” Logan flashed his smile. He watched Twila climb into the wagon. “She’s a stunner. Must be worth plenty.”
Twila hesitated, ready to jump back out of the wagon. “He don’t sound safe.”
“Feel easy, girl.” Logan held up the blanket for her crawl under the wagon seat. “Not much I won’t do to put money in my pocket, but selling people isn’t one of them. You’re safe as long as we don’t run afoul of some hunters hot on your trail.”
“They won’t be missin’ me ’fore morning. By then, Mam says I’ll be halfway to freedom and Miss Adria safe back at her house.” The girl looked at Logan. “I ain’t knowin’ what Mam would say about you.”
“I’ll be headed to California. Fine place, I’m told.”
Twila scrambled under the wagon seat then, and they pulled the blanket over her.
Logan flicked the reins to start his horse moving. “I’m no common horse thief either. Bought this beauty for a fair price. And the wagon was there for the taking. It was going to burn anyhow.”
“You don’t have to convince me, Mr. Farrell. God is the one to hear your confession.” Adria kept her eyes straight ahead.
“I suppose so, but if I’m the answer to your prayers, then maybe I’ll have some good points on my ledger to balance out the bad.” He drove the horses on in silence for a moment. Then he said, “If we’re running off to get married, don’t you think you should sit closer to me?”
“There’s nobody here to see.”
“Me. And you.” Again he was quiet for a moment. “I wasn’t just blowing smoke when I asked you to go to California with me. We could hunt up a judge in the first town we come to. Get married legal and all. I figure that would be important to a girl like you. Raised proper. Then again, I was raised proper too. At least my mother tried. She’d be happy as a catfish in the river if she could know I married a girl like you and started having little Farrells.”
Since she didn’t move toward him on the wagon seat, he scooted a little closer to her. “I think I could fall in love with you with the least little bit of encouragement. The two of us would make quite a team. We could have a good time together.”
“Life is more than a good time.”
“People say that, but I’ve never understood why. What’s wrong with having a good time?” He didn’t wait for her to answer him. “There aren’t any ‘thou shalt not have fun’ rules in the Bible that anybody has ever been able to point out to me. My opinion is the Lord had a good time now and again while he was down here. Fishing with his buddies. Walking on water. Going around healing folks. That had to be good.”
“Then they put him on a cross.”
“Well, there is that. Not something I aim to let happen to me or anything like it. I intend to stay one step ahead of the authorities, and I’m pretty sure there aren’t a lot of those authorities out West. A man like me will be right at home.” He looked over at Adria. “A woman like you, well, you’d be right at home too. With me.”
“I’m not in the marrying mood today.” Who would have thought she would have the opportunity to turn down two proposals in one day? One from a man who wouldn’t believe she didn’t love him, at least not enough, and another from a man who didn’t seem to care whether she loved him or not.
“You might change me. Set me on the right tracks. Turn me into an upstanding citizen.”
Even without looking at him, she knew he was smiling. “With prayer, anything is possible. Even you changing. But right now I’m praying for Twila. And that we can recognize the place we need when we see it.”
&n
bsp; “Better pray we don’t stumble across any slave hunters too. Talk about people who need religion.”
And so she did bow her head and pray just that. She had the feeling that under the cover, Twila was doing the same.
Thirty
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Will read from 1 Thessalonians 5 to the faithful few scattered out in the Mount Moriah church pews.
The worshipers didn’t come out on Wednesday the way they did on Sundays. But Will liked gathering with those serious about the need for prayer. At his previous church, the people had prayed for Mary and the baby through the months of her confinement. They had come together and stood around Mary’s bed and prayed for the fever not to take her.
That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done. That Scripture from Matthew 18 had chipped away at his faith when Mary hadn’t been healed.
He still didn’t understand. He might never understand until he stood in front of the Lord’s throne when all would become clear. But he was ready to accept the Lord’s will concerning him. Concerning all of the people who were hearing the Scripture and lifting prayers up for the sick and those in need.
Earlier, at the beginning of the service, smiles bloomed on every face in the church when Will revealed their progress in raising money for Louis. The people had come together with prayer, and this prayer the Lord was answering abundantly. But Will had no bitterness in his heart when he thought about that prayer answered and his prayers for Mary not. He was turning loose of his questions and once more grabbing hold of faith in the Lord’s will over his.
Rejoice evermore.
His eyes settled on Ruth sitting straight in front of him, three rows back. With a smile lighting up her face, Willie had run to Ruth when she came in the church. Ruth had stooped down to talk to her and pulled her into a hug when the child told Ruth she’d forgotten her doll.
Willie had been sniffling about not having the doll since they got to church. It could be he should have gone back and fetched it for her, but that would have made him late to start the service. That didn’t seem necessary when they would be going home in a little while. She could get the doll then. A spoiled child was a ruined child, or so his mother used to say.
Still, the child’s sad face made him wish he hadn’t worried about the starting time or what his mother once said. What would a slight delay in the starting time matter if the doll would give his little girl some comfort when everything was so new and different for her?
Perhaps that was why she had run to Ruth. Someone she recognized in a sea of strange faces. Now Willie leaned against Ruth, her eyelids drooping as people spoke various prayer requests.
For more rain. The fields were dry in spite of the shower the night before. For healing. Several had family members in failing health. For spiritual growth. Who among them didn’t need that? For more believers in the church pews. Will didn’t speak the prayer of his heart aloud, but the words were there in his mind as he watched Ruth gently smoothing back Willie’s hair.
Please, Lord, let Ruth be a new beginning for me. And not just for me, but for Willie too. She’s lost so much.
He had worried too long about his loss without thinking enough about his child. And a little child shall lead them.
Will pulled his mind away from Ruth and Willie to listen to Mr. Martin asking for prayers for a son who had fallen away from the church. Mrs. Martin dabbed her eyes as Mr. Martin spoke of the son’s waywardness.
As the congregation bowed their heads to pray with the Martins, a man Will didn’t know burst though the church door.
“Fire!” he shouted.
Alarm rippled through the people as several men jumped to their feet. A couple of the younger children began to whimper, but not Willie.
“Is the church on fire?” Will couldn’t smell smoke, but if the church was on fire, they needed to waste no time exiting the frame building. He stepped down from the pulpit toward Willie.
“Not the church. Byrd’s wagon shop, but the wind’s spreading the flames this way.” The man’s eyes were wide and his voice loud. “Two other buildings done caught. The sheriff told me to come warn you that your parsonage and the church could be in danger, Preacher.” He looked around. “And to get as many men as we can to fight the fire before the whole town goes up in smoke.”
The women stepped back to let the men leave. Then they shushed their children and hurried after them. Will took Willie from Ruth and followed them outside where the smell of smoke was strong. Night had been settling in, but the flames licking up into the sky cast an eerie light over the town. Perhaps they should have stopped for a moment of prayer before they left the church, but they were all surely sending up prayers as they ran toward the fire. He supposed he should chase after them, but he had to consider Willie. He tightened his arms around her as she burrowed her face into his shoulder.
“Is the money the church collected for Louis here or at your house?” Ruth looked worried as she stared toward the fire.
“I took it to the bank yesterday. It’s safe.”
“Pray we all are.” Ruth’s voice was soft as she stared at the glow that seemed to have moved closer just while they were standing there.
“I best go get my mare out of the shed just in case.” He had put the horse up for the night before coming to church. He looked at Ruth. “Will you be all right?”
Ruth seemed ready to say something, but then she merely nodded.
Halfway down the hill to the shed, Willie raised her head off his shoulder. “Are we going to burn up?” She was trembling.
He stroked her back. “No, of course not. The Lord will take care of us.”
“Will he take care of Ruth too?”
“Yes, Ruth too.” He slowed his step. He should have left the child with Ruth. He looked back up the rise toward the church where Ruth stood watching them. He could take the child back to Ruth, but he was already almost to the shed.
“And Maysie?”
“Maysie?” Will frowned before he remembered that was what Willie called her doll. “I’ll get it for you as soon as I can.”
“I want Maysie.” Willie whimpered, but Will didn’t have time to think about a doll. The fire was getting closer. He could hear it crackling through the wooden structures. When he opened the shed door, the horse was neighing, restless in its stall.
He put Willie down next to the building. “You stay right there with your back against the shed and don’t move. Do you understand?” He bent down and looked her in the face.
Her wide eyes glistened with tears, but she stood still.
“Stay there,” Will repeated as he stood up and pointed a finger at her.
The mare was kicking the stall and tossing her head. Will had to work to calm her enough to attach a lead to her halter. He glanced at his buggy in the other side of the shed, but no time to harness the mare to it. He had to take care of Willie.
He led the mare out to her pasture field behind the shed. He looked back, but the open shed door hid Willie from view. He’d wanted her safely out of way of the nervous mare’s hooves. As soon as he unhooked the lead, the mare kicked up her heels and took off for the far edge of the field. Good. No buildings close there.
Not as true with the shed and the house. Even as he thought that, a whoosh of flames rose up from a building only a couple of houses away. Fiery sparks flew up into the sky.
He ran back to the shed and pulled the door back. Willie was gone.
His heart bounded up in his throat as he looked around for his little girl. The smoke was getting thicker, burning his eyes and making it hard to see. Overhead, sparks swirled in the updrafts from the fire. Then a flame flickered to life on the shed roof.
“Willie!” he shouted, but no answer came back to him. The child was nowhere to be seen.
Ruth’s throat tightened as she peered toward the smoke rising from the town.
A sense of foreboding had settled on her as she watched Will carry Willeena down the hill toward his house. Ruth should have kept the child with her there by the church where it seemed safer, but she had hesitated to be so forward. Besides, from the way the little girl clung to Will, it was obvious she was scared. She needed her father.
The fire was fearsome. Flames licked up from the buildings down the street with sparks flying high into the air. Black smoke gathered above it all to hide the moon that earlier had peeked out between clouds. But the fire hadn’t reached the middle of town and was nowhere near her own house on Elm. Adria would be home from Billiter’s by now. A breath of relief whispered through Ruth at the thought of Adria safely away from the rushing flames.
Looking back toward where Will and Willeena had disappeared into the smoke and shadows around the shed, she wished she had gone with them. Found a way to help.
At a noise behind her, she whirled around to see Mr. Manderly setting a bucket of water down by the church steps. “Oh, I didn’t think anyone was still here,” she said.
He straightened up and squared his shoulders. “I don’t intend to let that fire have the church building or my organ.”
“Perhaps the fire won’t reach this far.” She saw no need in pointing out the futility of one bucket of water against the raging inferno coming toward them. The church was up on a little hill apart from any other buildings. That gave more hope of the church building surviving than Mr. Manderly’s bucket of water, but at least he was doing something and not merely standing and watching.
“We can pray so, Mrs. Harmon, and for rain. That might be all that saves the town.” He looked from her toward the fire. “You best go home and see to your own place.”
“Yes.” But instead of heading toward her house, she started down the hill into the smoke gathering around Will’s house and shed. It was hard to see, but something pulled her that way. Will and Willeena pulled her that way. She had to be sure they were all right.
The horse’s frantic nickering added to the alarm. She hesitated as, not far away, a new burst of flames lit up the yard and she spotted Willeena running toward the house.
River to Redemption Page 25
