Refining Fire (25 page)

“You may take them back to their duties,” Aunt Miriam declared.

As the girls shuffled out of the room, Abrianna turned back to Mr. Welby. “I did not believe you capable of such a heinous thing, but I had to be certain. Please forgive me if I have offended you. That was not my purpose.”

“I am not offended by you. I am, however, offended that someone sought to use my building to further some devious and appalling scheme.”

“I am of a mind that your man, Carl, is responsible. After all, he was the one who seemed most upset by my desire to go into the basement.”

“Carl does lack certain . . . qualities.” Mr. Welby shook his head. “I am fearful that you may be right.”

“Sister believes we should contact the police,” Aunt Poisie announced.

Abrianna looked to Mr. Welby. “I think we must. After all, those girls were taken from their homes in China and forced to come here. They were drugged and mistreated, and someone should have to answer for it.”

“If it is Carl, and I feel more confident by the minute that it must be, then he will answer for it. I don't believe the police will give us any satisfaction, however. Not with the city in such upheaval. Not only that, but you know very well the attitude they have toward the Chinese.”

“I do. I must say that was also my concern.”

He stood and looked quite severe. “I promise you, I will deal with the matter. I will see the man dismissed from my service and punished.”

“How will you accomplish that, Mr. Welby?” Aunt Miriam questioned.

“I am not quite certain at this juncture, but you may rest assured that it will not go unpunished. I will find a fitting penalty and see to it that it never happens again.”

“I suppose, Aunts, that we cannot ask for more than this. At least we have a champion in Mr. Welby.” All doubt drained away. Priam Welby seemed to be just as incensed by the situation as they had been.

“I'm afraid, my dear Abrianna, that I will have to postpone our drive. I cannot set this development aside for an afternoon of pleasure in your company. If you will excuse me, ladies.” He bowed and moved to the door. “I will show myself out.”

“He was certainly alarmed to learn what had happened,” Miss Poisie said later that evening when the men had come home from working on the pier. While Thane had eyes only for
Militine and quickly found excuses for them to leave, Wade and Abrianna's father seemed quite interested in what had taken place earlier that day.

“Yes, I believe he was just as startled by the news as we were,” Mrs. Madison added. “He did not look to be a man who was bearing guilt.”

“And the girls didn't recognize him as their captor,” Miss Poisie threw in. “It would seem to me that his innocence was proven.”

Wade held his tongue. Welby was a master at deception. Of course he'd been able to fool three old ladies and an innocent young woman. Now, however, he wasn't at all sure how to respond. If he made a scene, it might only serve to alienate Abrianna. One way or another he would need to find proof before he spoke his mind.

“I am relieved to hear that. Although I do find it difficult to believe that a man with his power could be so deceived.” Wade tried to be careful with his words. “Did he say what was to be done?”

“Oh yes. He felt confident, as we did, that his man, Carl, most likely had something to do with it,” Abrianna replied. “He said he would handle it himself and see that the truth was learned and Carl punished—if responsible.”

“I see. He didn't feel the police should be involved?”

Aunt Miriam spoke before Abrianna could reply. “He pointed out that the law cares very little about the Chinese except to get rid of them.”

“And that the police are consumed with the problems brought about because of the fire,” Miss Poisie offered. “The paper said they've deputized over two hundred men to help keep everything under control.”

Wade couldn't argue their points. Welby was no fool. He would know, just as Wade did, that even if the truth were to
be told, most likely everyone in authority would look the other way. They had their hands full with more important issues, and the lives of those young women would mean very little because of their race. Not only that, but as he'd heard rumored, Welby had quite a few of the officials taking bribes. They would no doubt defend him.

“I suppose there is nothing more we can do about it,” Miss Poisie said in a dismissive manner.

“We will, of course, tend to these girls,” Mrs. Madison declared. “It is my personal desire to see them returned to their families.”

“Maybe Mr. Welby will even pay for their transport, Sister.” Miss Poisie glanced at Mrs. Madison for her approval.

“Perhaps.”

The conversation moved on to other events and concerns. The men answered questions about their work at the pier and what all was being done to get some kind of order back in the city. It was strongly believed that the docks were to be the first to be rebuilt. After all, the city was very dependent upon ships to bring in cargo.

“Here it is just two days after the fire, and goods are coming in from everywhere. People too. I heard today that San Francisco is sending a ship north that is loaded to the brim with building supplies and men eager to hire on in the rebuilding.”

“The brickworks around this area are to labor 'round the clock,” Mr. Cunningham added. “Now that buildings have to be constructed of brick, they'll need to keep that up for some time.”

“There are plenty of bricks to be had elsewhere, but no way to get them here. In time, however, that will change.” Wade tried not to show his agitation. He kept looking to Abrianna, who seemed quite happy to go on believing that Welby was a decent man.

Am I misjudging him?
Wade shook his head. No, he knew what kind of man Welby was. The real problem would be getting Abrianna to see the truth.

The Sunday after the fire dawned bright and warm. It proved to be a good thing that the weather held. Had it rained, the town would have been reduced to a muddle of ash and mud, making the work of cleanup much more difficult.

Brother Mitchell offered praise from the pulpit for the fact that in spite of tremendous loss of property, not a single life had been claimed by the fire. It was amazing that with all the destruction, no one had died.

“There would have been at least ten deaths if you had not risked your life,” Militine whispered in Abrianna's ear. “I prayed there'd be no deaths—not even one.”

Abrianna patted her hand and smiled. “God hears our prayers.”

Brother Mitchell offered a prayer and then turned the pulpit over to Pastor Walker. The man had something of a wild look to him. Abrianna narrowed her eyes and tried to figure out what was different.

“Sinners, repent!” He looked hard at the congregation. “We have seen the powerful hand of God—His judgment in fire.”

Abrianna quickly lost interest in the man's accusatory tone. She thought instead of the blessings God had given her. She caught a glimpse of her father to the far right in the pew ahead. It was such a miracle to have him back in her life, but with all that had happened, they'd had very little time to talk in private. She hoped to resolve that situation as soon as possible. She wanted to know him better, to see him as a real father and not just one of the needy they had fed.

Pastor Walker ranted on about the judgment that had come
down on Seattle. He condemned each and every citizen as having not been right with the Almighty, otherwise this might never have happened. As his voice rose in volume, Abrianna found it impossible to ignore.

“Some of you avoided the wrath of God this time. But there will be other times. God will not sit by while you live your lives in sin. You, even here today, allow for licentiousness and adultery. You might as well be the ones sleeping in the beds of harlots, for the guilt of this town is upon your heads.

“I stood at the door of this church and prayed back those spirits that would have fed on the walls of our building, those that feed upon your very souls. I preach despair today because that is what you are to face unless you turn away from your sin-filled ways.”

Abrianna could hear weeping throughout the church. The place was packed to capacity, no doubt due to the fire and the sense of loss felt by so many. She longed to offer comfort and words of hope rather than the harsh and condemning ones their minister was spouting out. Selfishly, she also longed to leave her seat and never return. It saddened her deeply to feel that way about the church she'd grown up in.

“The sins of this congregation are many and must be purged before you can be right with God.” He looked straight at Abrianna and pointed his finger. “You women who seek to do the job intended for men—you must cease or face the fires of hell.” She felt her cheeks get hot. He continued to shake his finger at her. “You are no less a harlot for the shame you bring upon yourself and this congregation.” She wanted to move, to call him down, but Abrianna found it impossible to do anything.

“And you older women—women whom God called to be teachers of the younger—you wallow in sin because you refuse to allow for the male leadership God intended you to have. You
honor only your own word and keep company with those who agree. You are condemned to a life of hell unless you repent.”

He didn't stop there. He pointed to a group of young men. “You adulterous generation. You give yourselves over to the pleasures of the flesh and bring condemnation down on this city. Repent!”

Pastor Walker had worked himself up into such a sweat that he threw off his suit coat and began pounding his fist on the Bible. “I alone hold the answer for you. I am the only one who can lead you to redemption.”

“I think I'm going to be sick,” Abrianna said under her breath. Would no one challenge this man? And then out of nowhere, someone did.

“You are wrong, Pastor Walker.” It shouldn't have surprised her that Wade would take a stand, but in that moment she'd never been prouder of him. “Jesus said that
He
is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by
Him
.” Wade got out of his pew and started walking toward the front. “You dare to stand as a man of God and deceive these people with words that are not scriptural?” He continued walking slowly forward.

“You are guilty of leading these people astray with your pride and arrogance, saying you alone have the answers. You say that you alone saved this church, but to my way of thinking, that honor goes to God.” There were murmurs of amen throughout the congregation.

“Apostate! Blasphemer!” Walker screeched.

Wade was unmoved. He held up his hand and closed his eyes. “Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you silence this man.”

He opened his eyes and stared hard at the preacher. “You are the apostate and blasphemer. You would have these broken and wounded people believe that the fire was somehow their fault, their sin. You are wrong. We live in a world corrupted—that
much is truth—but you, sir, are not our savior. That honor goes to Jesus.”

Walker opened his mouth and nothing came out but sputters. He looked furious and pounded his fist against his Bible several times before giving up. In fury he rushed from the pulpit and came at Wade with fists raised. In a matter of seconds there were at least half a dozen men at Wade's side. This stopped Walker cold.

“I think we should sing a hymn and conclude the service,” Brother Mitchell announced from the pulpit.

Abrianna breathed a sigh of relief as several of the men took hold of Pastor Walker and escorted him from the building. She met Wade's eyes when he turned. She smiled, feeling such a sense of pride and love for him that she wanted to go to him and tell him all that she felt. He smiled back, then took his place back in the pew alongside a giggly Clara, who tugged on his arm and was now whispering in his ear. Seeing her do that robbed Abrianna of her joy. Seeing Wade smile back at the young woman very nearly took her heart.