Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) (5 page)

Glenna chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip but said nothing.

“The queen,” David continued, “makes me think of the virgin, Mary, who bore our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

“There’s one card left,” Glenna said, pointing to the jack of diamonds. “What does that stand for?”

“This card,” David said, emphasizing each word, “represents the devil himself.”

CHAPTER 5

G
lenna’s brown eyes grew as huge as flapjacks. “The devil?” she rasped. “Mrs. Olsen said the devil is man’s worst enemy.”

“Mrs. Olsen was right.” David shuffled the cards thoroughly and held up the deck. “These can be used in a bad way, by the devil, or they can serve to remind us of the fact that there truly is a God and He loves us very much.”

Glenna blinked rapidly. “God could never love someone like me.”

“That’s not true,” David was quick to say. “Why would you even think such a thing?”

“My daddy was a gambler. He cheated people out of their money.”

David shrugged. “That was your father’s sin, not yours.”

“But—but, sometimes I covered for him. I often told lies in order to protect him. Daddy was all I had. He watched out for me, and I took care of him.” Her eyes pooled with fresh tears. “Some days, when we had no money, I begged or stole things. Daddy’s gone now, and I’m all alone with no way to support myself. I hate stealing, but I may not have any other choice.”

“You’re not alone,” David argued. “God’s with you, and so am I. You don’t need to lie or steal.”

Her eyes drifted shut as she drew in a shuddering breath. “You’re here now, but you have your own life. My ticket only takes me to Granger, Wyoming. When the train stops there, I’ll be forced to get off. You’ll go on and forget you ever met me.”

David swallowed hard. She was right, of course. He did have a life—obligations to the church in Idaho City where he’d been asked to pastor. He could hardly take Glenna with him. Besides the fact that he barely knew Glenna Moore, she was not a Christian. By her own lips she’d admitted she was a sinner.

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
The scripture passage from the book of John reverberated in David’s head. He, of all people, had no right to point an accusing finger at anyone. Not after all he’d done in the past. He wondered if Glenna might question him about his earlier days now that she’d revealed some of hers.

“Your silence only confirms what I said,” Glenna moaned. “Once we part ways, you’ll never think of me again.”

David knew that wasn’t true. Though he’d only known the young woman a few hours, she’d made a lasting impression. He turned slightly in his seat so he was looking her full in the face. “I assure you, Glenna, you are not a woman to be easily forgotten.”

He resisted the urge to kiss away the tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. Instead of acting on impulse though, he merely reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Would it be agreeable for me to share some passages from the Bible with you? I believe God’s Word will act as a healing balm, if you’re willing to let it.”

For a moment she said nothing, her eyes shut and her breathing labored. Finally she spoke. “I suppose it would be all right. I have nowhere else to turn, and all the steam has left me … like vapor rising from wet boots.”

“There is only one place to turn. God’s love can ease your pain.” David removed a small Bible from his pocket and began to read some scripture verses pertaining to man’s sin and the need for salvation. Then he went on to read the account of Christ’s death and resurrection. “It’s about as clear as cold water, Glenna. You can be released from sins by a simple prayer of faith.”

“I–I don’t know how to talk to God. I used to pray when I was very young—when my mother was still alive, but I haven’t uttered a prayer since her death. I wouldn’t even know how.”

“I’ll help you, Glenna. I can lead you through the sinner’s prayer.”

She drew in a deep breath. “Sinner—yes, that’s what I am.”

“We’ve all sinned and come short of God’s glory,” David murmured. He admired her willing spirit. He wished everyone he preached to would be so eager to admit their shortcomings.

Glenna had never known such a feeling of freedom as when she finished her heartfelt prayer and confession of sin. A new creature, that’s what she felt like now that she’d asked God’s forgiveness and accepted Jesus as her Savior. She didn’t have her real daddy anymore, but David had reminded her that the heavenly Father would always be with her.

She brushed an errant tear from her cheek and sniffed deeply. God’s Spirit might be here, but physically she was still alone. Her ticket would only take her as far as Granger. Then what? Daddy had all their money. Glenna had nothing but the clothes on her back and a few more personal belongings in her suitcase.
I may have my sins forgiven
, she mused,
but I’m sure in a fine fix!

“For a lady who’s just been reborn, you look a bit down in the mouth.”

David’s deep, mellow voice drew Glenna out of her musings, and she shifted in her seat. “I’m glad I found Jesus, but it doesn’t solve my immediate problem.”

He lifted one eyebrow in question.

Her shoulders drooped with anguish and a feeling of hopelessness. “Daddy’s gone, and I have no money—only a train ticket to Granger.”

“Do you have any other family?”

She shook her head. “Mama died giving birth to my brother. He died, too. That’s when Daddy started drinking and gambling. He never mentioned any relatives either.”

“What did your father do before that?”

Glenna had only been five at the time, but she still remembered. “Daddy used to run a mercantile up in Sioux City, Nebraska. We had a house of our own and everything.”

David offered her a sympathetic look. “After your mother died, did your father sell his home and business?”

She nodded. “He sold out to the first man to make an offer.”

“And then?”

“We left Sioux City and traveled from town to town. Daddy gambled in order to make a living, and I remained in the care of the boardinghouse keepers when he was gone.”

“Did the women who ran the boarding homes educate you?” he asked.

Her forehead wrinkled. “Educate me? In what way?”

He smiled. “The three Rs—reading, writing, and arithmetic. Your manner of speech indicates that you are not uneducated.”

Glenna shrugged. “We never stayed anywhere long enough for me to go to school with other children. Daddy was an educated man though. He always took time out to teach me reading and sums.” Lost in memories, she stared down at her hands until they blurred out of focus. She’d always felt as if Daddy loved her. At least until today when he’d jumped off the train. How did he think she could care for herself? Why hadn’t Daddy ever gotten a
real
job so he could be a
real
father?

A shallow sigh escaped Glenna’s lips as she continued her story. “Once, when I was about ten years old, I thought Daddy might actually change.”

“In what way?”

“He met a lady. I think she really loved him.”

David smiled. “Many a good woman has been responsible for helping tame a man.” He patted his jacket pocket, where he’d replaced the small Bible. “Of course, no one but God can ever really change a person’s heart.”

Glenna grimaced. “Daddy needed Jesus. Not even Sally Jeffers could heal his hurting heart. When she started making demands, Daddy packed our bags, and we left Omaha for good.”

“Demands? What kind of demands did she make?”

“Asking him to settle down, get a job, and marry her.” Glenna’s eyes clouded with fresh tears, and she turned her head toward the window. There was no point in talking about all this now. Daddy hadn’t married Sally, and he sure enough hadn’t settled down. She drew in a deep breath. Life was so unfair.

David shifted uneasily in his seat as he glanced across the aisle at the poet whose nose was stuck in a book. The events of the last hour had been a bit too much … even for someone like himself. Maybe he should have remained in his seat, listening to Alexander go on and on about his writing and many ailments. Perhaps he shouldn’t have involved himself in Glenna’s life at all. The pastor part of him was as pleased as honey that she’d responded to his invitation to accept Christ as her Savior. The only fly in the ointment was the fact that Glenna’s father was gone, and she had no other family to turn to. The man part of him felt responsible for someone who obviously could not care for herself. How could David abandon this woman? Glenna had relied on her father all these years, and she really needed someone now that he was gone.

David’s thoughts drifted to the letter he kept tucked in an inside jacket pocket—the letter from the deacon at his new church. The congregation at Idaho City Community Church thought their new pastor was married. If he showed up without a wife, it could affect his standing in the church and maybe even the entire community. A wife could be a real asset in the home, as well as in the ministry.

For several moments David sat there quietly, thinking about a way to solve both of their problems. Then, impulsively he reached for Glenna’s hand. “I–I’ve been thinking.”

She turned to face him, an eager, almost childlike look on her face. “Yes?”

“I was wondering—how would you like to get married?”

CHAPTER 6

D
avid didn’t know what Glenna’s reaction to his question might be. He thought she would probably say she wanted to think about it awhile. After all, they’d only known each other a few hours. The last thing he’d expected was for Glenna to throw herself into his arms, but that’s exactly what she did.

“Yes, yes, I’ll marry you!” Glenna sobbed. “Thank you, David. Thank you so much!”

Just as she pulled away, the train gave a sudden lurch, and David nearly fell off the bench. He gripped the edge of his seat to steady himself. The jolt was enough to get him thinking straight, and the sudden realization of his surprising proposal hit him full in the face. What had he been thinking? Glenna was no doubt in shock over her father’s unexpected actions. She probably only agreed to marry him because she wasn’t rational right now.

David glanced her way. She was looking at him as though nothing was wrong. He had to admit, he was intrigued with the young woman, and he did find her beauty to his liking. There was another concern though. What was he was going to do with a wife he barely knew?

The hint of a smile tweaked Glenna’s lips. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“You do?”

She nodded soberly. “You think I accepted your proposal too readily.” Before David could respond, she rushed on. “I know we don’t really know each other yet, but I’m sure this will work out for both of us. I’m all alone now, and I need a man.” She leaned over close to him and whispered, “I will be a good wife. I promise.”

David swallowed hard. Glenna Moore was pleasant and rather easy to talk to, but was this the right thing for either of them? Another concern he had was over her ability to fulfill the role of a preacher’s wife. She’d only been a Christian a few hours. What did she really know about God’s ways or the expectations which would no doubt be placed upon her?

“When will we get married, and who will perform the ceremony?” she asked, breaking into his troubling thoughts.