“Is that what you want?”
“Well…” She hedged and studied her folded hands. “It doesn’t really matter what I want. Your ministry is more important.”
Luke crossed the distance between them until he stood only inches away. Then he hunkered down in front of her. One knee of his black trousers brushed against her skirt. He cupped her chin, forcing Bethany to look into his face.
“Could you leave Silverstone and never look back, Beth?”
“Oh, I’d look back.” She wetted her suddenly parched lips and swallowed. At you!
Luke moved his hand away and then draped it across his leg. “You’re not happy here, are you?”
Slowly, Bethany wagged her head. “But last night’s got nothing to do with it—or with anything.”
“I know. I’ve suspected you haven’t been happy for quite a while.”
“I tried to hide my feelings. I apologize for not doing a better job.”
His gaze captured hers. “You’re doing a fine job, Beth, both at teaching and fighting your feelings of discontent. You never complained. It’s just that I know you so well.” He gave her a warm smile. “We met more than a year ago at the Navises’s. Remember? I walked you and your sisters home, to your family’s farm next door, and a storm came up on us fast.”
“A tornado.” Bethany recalled how frightened she’d felt at that moment when the dark funnel cloud roared toward them. Thankfully Luke kept a cool head, which calmed Bethany’s nerves. Together they took hold of her little sisters’ hands and ran to the house. They were able to warn all of her family and take shelter before it hit.
Fortunately, the twister missed their farm and the Navises, but it damaged several others in the area.
“I knew right then you belonged in Silverstone. You’ve got a soft way about you and an inner strength I’ve grown to admire.”
“Thank you, but…” Bethany hated to disappoint him. “Luke, I hate it here.”
“What specifically?” He leaned his head closer.
Bethany thought he’d be more shocked or even angry. His easy manner allowed her to be honest. “It’s so primitive here— and so brown. I’m accustomed to lush green farm fields and the colorful seasons in Wisconsin. I’m also used to a cooler climate. The heat here is unbearable.”
“I’d have to agree with you there, but darlin’, you haven’t even been here a whole two months.” Luke tone exuded patience. “The improvements will come. As for the desert, there’s beauty in all the brownness. I’ll show it to you, Beth.” He sat forward and took her hand. “But I think you’d do well to focus on the townsfolk. We’re here to help them spiritually and intellectually. I trust you’ll educate the children while helping other ladies realize their own dignity in Christ. The people here…they’re why we came.”
Bethany bobbed out a reply. Maybe she hadn’t given Silverstone a chance.
“Now, by next spring, if you still want to leave”—Luke released her hand—“I’ll take you home myself.”
She swallowed a bitter laugh. She’d never go home. Never. Not to Wisconsin. But Luke didn’t have to know that.
“In the meantime, we’ve got a situation. What are we going to tell the school board?”
“The truth.” Bethany squared her shoulders.
“They won’t believe it. Besides, we can’t count on Montaño coming to your defense. He’d likely describe a scene from out of those dime novels of yours.”
“They’re not mine.”
Luke fought back a grin.
“And nothing could be further from the truth.”
“In your mind—but maybe not in Paden’s.”
Every muscle in Bethany’s being wanted to scream in frustration. “Do you see how close-minded these people are, Luke? First they jump to conclusions and blame the Indians for any trouble that comes along, then when the sheriff grabs me, they immediately think the worst of me!”
“God can open their eyes and change their minds. Meanwhile, there is one thing we can do.”
Bethany sat forward. “Yes? What is it?”
“It’ll shut the mouths of the gossipmongers, no doubt about it. You’ll be able to teach school, and no one will have a single qualm about sending children into your classroom.” He grunted out a laugh. “It’ll also take care of Jonas’s pleadings once and for all.”
“Great. What do you have in mind?”
He removed his hat and slid to his knees. Then he took her hands. His blue eyes darkened with earnestness. “We can get married.”
“Married?” The suggestion knocked the breath out of her. “You mean, as in…you and me?”
“Yeah.” He drawled the word slowly. “I told you yesterday I wanted to court you, Beth. It’s really just the end result coming more quickly, that’s all.”
She was still in shock about the idea of Luke courting her. But marriage?
“Why?” she asked. “Why do you want to marry me? I’m a plain old field mouse.”
“On the contrary. I see a young woman who can support my life’s work. That’s important to a man.”
She supposed it was.
“If I’m not mistaken, Beth, you’re not averse to the idea of marrying me.”
He’d noticed? Her cheeks flamed. “No…no, I’m not.” But then a shadow of sadness crept over her. “It’s just that…” Where are the words of love?
“What, Beth?”
“Oh, I guess it’s all just happening so fast. I never dreamed you’d want to marry me.” Except she’d dreamed about him, all right!
“Well, I’m askin’. Will you be my wife?”
Her gaze locked with his. Marrying Luke meant she’d be a McCabe. Truly part of their family. Not merely a friend, but a member. Of a new family. A much better one than she left in Wisconsin.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
SIX
WELL, THAT WAS THE SHORTEST COURTSHIP I EVER saw!” Jake snorted a laugh from where they both sat at the rough-hewn table, two tin cups of coffee in front of them. “Twelve hours…and you slept through six of them!”
Luke shrugged off his brother’s amusement.
“Do you love her?” Jake’s brows knit together.
“More than I loved any woman. I guess I just didn’t realize it until earlier this morning when I heard about Montaño’s little stunt.”
“You sure you’re not just reacting to pangs of jealousy.”
“Oh, I’m reacting, all right.” Luke wanted to punch the sheriff in the jaw. “But I’ve got enough sense about me to know I want to make Beth my wife.”
“OK, then.” Jake’s smile widened. “I reckon congratulations are in order.”
Luke grinned too and gazed around the little cabin in which they now sat. Small but efficient, it provided easy access to both the church and schoolhouse, and he felt certain that with a little imagination Beth would get this place feeling like a home. A table and four chairs occupied a good amount of space on one side, and the stone hearth, which could be used for cooking, had been built into the middle of the far wall. Two rough-hewn wooden beds with straw mattresses occupied the two bedrooms, but pushed together, Luke decided they’d accommodate a newly married couple just fine—namely himself and Bethany.
He chuckled, looking back at his older brother. “So, when did you say you’re moving out?”
“I didn’t.” Jacob arched a brow. “When did you say you’re getting married?”
“As soon as you’ll conduct the ceremony. How’s this afternoon sound?”
Rubbing his thumb over his lower lip, Jake shook his head. “Nope, sorry, brother.”
Luke pulled his chin back. “Huh?”
“This is all sounding rather impulsive to me.”
“Jake, remember what Pa used to say? Long engagements aren’t always a good thing, especially when two people love each other. You’ve seen how Beth looks at me.”
Jake shrugged.
“And think about Ben and Valerie. They’re about as happy as our folks.”
“Yeah, except I listened to that woman’s doubts about her marriage the whole time Ben was gone looking for you. She was afraid Ben had just married her out of guilt.” Jake shook his head. “Don’t do that to Beth. Give her an engagement period—so she can back out if she comes to her senses.” Jake grinned.
“Thanks, brother.” Luke shot a gaze upward. But then he got to wondering if maybe Jake had a point. Beth seemed a bit thunderstruck when they returned to the boardinghouse. She only picked at her breakfast and said nothing as they walked to school afterward.
Luke chuckled inwardly. The best part had been watching Ed Winters eat crow when he announced their engagement. The man might be quick to make judgments, but he knew Luke would never marry a woman with questionable morals. Winters finally agreed that the incident last night might have been a tad exaggerated by his daughter. Beth would not be brought up before the school board.
“Besides,” Jake continued, “it’ll take me a couple of months to build myself a new place.”
“You’ve got a point there. Where are you thinking of building?”
“Not sure. But the other side of the church comes to mind.”
“That’d be good enough.” Luke figured his brother would be plenty far away from him and Beth and yet close enough if either needed the other.
“Mind if I change the subject?”
Luke knew his brother’s tone meant serious business. “Go ahead.”
“It’s about Dr. Cavanaugh. I followed her out of the boardinghouse this morning and thanked her for sticking up for Beth.”
“I appreciated it too.”
“Well, she’s a hard woman.” Jake wagged his head. “When I mentioned church, she said we’d never see her there and that she’d lost her soul a long time ago.”
“Lost her soul?”
“That’s what she said.”
“Hmm…” Luke rubbed his palm across his shaven jaw. “What do you make of it?”
“She’s in pain. Emotional pain. I can see it on her face. I know that look. There are great pools of sadness in those big hazel eyes of hers.”
Luke mulled over what his brother just said. Something stood out more than Dr. Cavanaugh’s spiritual problem. It wasn’t like Jake to notice the specific color of a woman’s eyes—and Jake had worked with a lot of women. Their folks had a ministry in Jericho Junction. They helped women escape from the bondage of prostitution and go on to lead successful lives in the Lord. When Jake returned from the war, wounded for life, he began working with Pa.
“What do you plan to do about it?” Luke asked.
“Nothing I can do now—except pray.” Jake heaved a sigh. “She doesn’t want any help, especially from me. It’s like her troubled spirit knows I have the key to unlock it, because I know Christ. I’d venture to say Dr. Cavanaugh is as scared of me as she might be of any war-painted brave.”
“Well, brother, we’re in a war, all right. A spiritual war.”
“I know it.” Jake slid his chair back and stood. He walked to the doorway and tossed out the remainder of his coffee. He leaned against the wood frame and stared outside, toward the center of town.
“I’ll pray for her, Jake.”
He turned, met Luke’s gaze, and grinned. “I knew I could count on you.”
Bethany felt as though she might scream if silly Trudy didn’t stop her overzealous ramblings. And she still hadn’t completely forgiven the girl for defaming her character before breakfast. But Trudy decided to adhere herself to Bethany’s side after school, and the girl’s excitement grated on her nerves.
“Oh! I just knew you and Reverend Luke were meant for each other! And to think you forced his hand by leading us all to believe you and the sheriff were romantically involved. How clever you are, Miss Stafford!” Trudy sighed dreamily. “Reverend Luke is so in love with you that he couldn’t bear the thought of you in Sheriff Montaño’s arms and had to claim you for his own. Soon you’ll be his wife.”
“Stop it, Trudy.” Bethany gave the girl a hard stare as she turned the key and locked the schoolhouse’s door. “And I’ll thank you not to go around repeating that nonsensical story.” She paused to keep herself from spilling out the truth. Luke was marrying her to save her reputation and his ministry in this small, dusty, Western town, and love had nothing to do with it.
She and Trudy strolled up Main Street, toward the mercantile. Bethany needed material for a few new dresses. Since she no longer worked so physically hard, like she had at home, she’d been steadily gaining weight. Mrs. Winters had offered to sew them for her.
Her thoughts wandered back to Luke. A loveless marriage— like so many others. Her heart ached. She’d wanted love. True love. Except she couldn’t do better than marry Luke McCabe. Bethany had the utmost respect for him—and feelings for him too. Feelings she could now permit to grow. And, perhaps, if she loved him enough, he would, in time, return her affections. Hadn’t he said last night that he was “interested”?
But interest wasn’t the same as love. Of course she supposed she could approach him and ask, “Do you love me, Luke? Do you care for me in that very special way?” However, the idea of confronting him about such a particularly crucial matter of the heart caused Bethany a good deal of trepidation. She’d never been good at revealing the deepest, most tender parts of herself. Life with her father had taught her to keep those parts hidden away, where they could not be hurt.
“Oh! I’m so happy for you,” Trudy continued. “May I be in your wedding, Miss Stafford? I’ve never been in a wedding—not in my whole life!”
“We’ll see,” she hedged. “I’m not certain of the details yet.”
“I can’t wait. I love weddings!” Trudy’s fat curls bounced as she skipped down the warped boardwalk.
However, Bethany felt miserable, and the light rain falling from the overcast sky only added to her gloom. She glanced around, but she didn’t catch sight of Luke anywhere. Usually he walked her to the boardinghouse after school. But something must have tied up his attention today.
“And just think,” Trudy persisted, “before Reverend Luke rode over to Harlan Whitaker’s place this morning, he wired your father and asked permission to marry you.” Suddenly she stopped short and covered her mouth. “Oops.”
Bethany too paused in her tracks. “Luke did…what?”
“It’s supposed to be a surprise.”
A lead weight dropped inside of Bethany. Luke sent a telegraph to Papa?
She slowly took a step forward. Then another. She recalled how her father had ordered her out of the house before she departed Milwaukee for Jericho Junction. He said she’d never be welcomed in his home again. But she hadn’t told anyone, only wrote about it in her journal. She didn’t think any of the McCabes would understand. They were a family-oriented people, closely knit in a loving way.
But Papa—he was different. Hard, stern, unyielding, except when it came to Bethany’s stepmother, Maribel. Ever since they met, Papa treated the woman like a fragile little flower that would break if she had to lift a finger around the house. Bethany had been making supper since she was eight. She worked in the barn and the fields. Then when her siblings began coming, Bethany cared for them too, so the strain of raising children wouldn’t be too much for Maribel. And when she displeased Papa, she endured the whippings, although she’d only suffered them a few times. She soon learned to avoid them. On the contrary, her stepmother never endured a cross word from her husband. Bethany remembered how she sobbed the night Bethany left.
Of course, Maribel was losing her maid and nanny…
Trudy suddenly gasped, startling Bethany into the present. “Your father won’t deny Reverend Luke’s request, will he?”
“I’m sure he won’t. He met Luke last summer and thinks very highly of him.” In fact, Papa probably wouldn’t respond at all.
Would Luke marry her without her father’s consent?
“That’s good.” Trudy sighed, and then another giggle escaped her. “Oh, Miss Staff
ord, we’d best get sewing on your wedding gown!”
Bethany groaned inwardly as they resumed walking. It suddenly dawned on her that soon she and her dearest friend, Sarah, would be more than sisters in Christ. They’d be sisters-in-law! The idea brought a small smile to Bethany’s lips. I’ll have to write Sarah another letter and tell her I’ll be a McCabe.
The very idea almost made her willing to stay in this godforsaken town. Still, her heart longed for the family she’d never had—a warm, loving mother like Rebecca McCabe, a kind and wise father like Reverend McCabe, and siblings her own age that she didn’t have to diaper or feed or raise. All that was back in Jericho Junction. Not here.
Reaching the mercantile, they entered and were immediately greeted by the proprietor’s wife, Mrs. Titus.
“Miss Stafford and Reverend Luke are betrothed!” Trudy blurted.
Bethany sent her a heavy frown. After all, it was her news to tell.
“Oh, I heard this morning, Trudy. Your mama told me.”
Bethany rolled her eyes just as Mrs. Titus fixed her ginger-colored gaze on her. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you plan to continue teaching after you’re wed?” The woman gave her dark-brown bun at her nape a pat. “We all hope so. You’re doing a good job, learning our young’uns.”
“Thank you. And, yes, I intend to keep teaching.”
“But what if you find yourself in the family way?” She wiped her large hands on her white apron. “Then what will we do? What will our children do? They won’t have a teacher. We’ll be right back to square one.”
A heated blush spread across Bethany’s cheeks. The family way? She hadn’t got that far in her thinking yet. “Well, I…I guess we’ll just have to trust the Lord to give me children in His timing.”
“Hmpf,” the woman snorted in reply, although she soon nodded in agreement.
Relieved by the outcome, Bethany inspected the bolts of material set out in rows on a large table. There were plenty to choose from, thanks to the freighting that took place on the Colorado River. Silverstone wasn’t as primitive as some towns in the Territory, but it wasn’t as sophisticated as Arizona City. In any case, both towns were still recovering from the devastating blows inflicted upon them by the Civil War. In essence, they were just now coming back to life.
An Undaunted Faith Page 7
