The Maverick Preacher (17 page)

“What do you plan to do?”

“What I should have done months ago.” He hammered his fingers against the armrest. “There are some good men on that board, including Halston Smythe. I’ll see him tomorrow. If I know Hal—and I do—he won’t let the problem slide. I’m also trusting the women to speak to their husbands. With enough pressure, Frank will resign or face a recall.”

Pearl spoke up. “I hope the men listen.”

“I think they will.” Reverend Oliver’s eyes turned misty as he looked at his daughter. “If your mother were alive, none of this would have happened. She’d have given me the what-for six ways to Sunday.”

Pearl touched her belly. “I miss her.”

They sat in silence, each remembering loved ones until Pearl gripped Adie’s hand. “I’m worried about you. Frank still wants Swan’s Nest.”

“Leave that to me,” Josh said.

Adie didn’t know what to think. “What are you going to do?”

“It’s already done.” Josh leaned back in the chair. “Even before the fire I sent a letter to a cousin of mine. Elliot’s a banker and a good one. Denver’s ripe with opportunity, and there’s nothing Elliot likes more than being in the thick of things. He’s opening a branch of Boston Merchants Bank. Franklin Dean’s going to have some competition.”

Reverend Oliver lifted his chin. “‘Be ye wise in the ways of the world.’”

“That’s right,” Josh replied. “Elliot’s got a gift for making money. He’ll drive Dean to the dogs.” With his eyes bright, he turned back to Adie. “Even before last night, I asked him to pay off your mortgage. I figured you’d want to negotiate terms, but that’s off the table. As soon as Elliot can arrange it, you’ll own Swan’s Nest free and clear.”

The news stole Adie’s voice, her breath. Stephen would never go hungry. Emily’s dream of a place for women would
be secure. If she and Josh had been alone, she’d have hugged him. “How can I ever thank you?”

“Just love my nephew.”

“I do.”

Her reply reminded her of a wedding vow. Judging by the intensity of his gaze, Josh heard the echo, too. So did Pearl because she hugged Adie and whispered in her ear, “He loves you, Adie. Be brave.”

Except Adie didn’t feel brave. She had powerful feelings for Josh. She couldn’t deny them, but neither could she imagine being a minister’s wife. They both had more to say, but the talk would have to wait for a private moment. With her heart brimming, she looked at Josh and saw him speaking to Reverend Oliver. “Are you headed to the parsonage?”

“I am.”

“May I ride with you? I need to send another wire to Boston.”

A sad one, Adie knew. He had to tell family and friends of Emily’s passing.

Tobias pushed to his feet. “I’d be glad for the company, Reverend. It’ll give me a chance to talk you into taking over my church.”

Adie shuddered at the thought.

As Josh stood, he gave Adie a sweet look, then followed the older man out the door.

“Oh!” cried Pearl.

Adie gripped her friend’s hand. “Are you all right?”

She grimaced. “My back hurts.”

In the days before Stephen’s birth, Emily had made the same complaint. “We better get you to bed.”

Pearl shook her head. “I’d rather walk in the garden.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Adie stood first, gave Pearl her hand and pulled her up. Together they walked out the front door and into the sunshine.
As they neared the garden, the perfume filled Adie’s nose. She wasn’t on speaking terms with God, but she believed in Him. She knew He’d created the heavens and the earth, plants, animals, man and woman.

He’d created
her.

He’d created Josh, too.

For the first time in years, she felt as if she belonged with someone. On Sunday she’d test the waters at Brick’s. If she found peace, she could love Josh freely. Full of hope, she went with Pearl to smell the roses.

A
s Tobias steered the buggy down the street, Josh considered the events of the past hour. Adie had accepted ownership of Swan’s Nest without a fight. In the kitchen, she’d beaten back doubts about going to church. She’d been relaxed and happy until Tobias invited him to preach. She hadn’t liked the idea at all.

Josh didn’t know how he felt. At first he’d rejected the thought because he’d be tempted by pride. Seconds later, his blood had rushed. He’d be preaching every Sunday. He could spend weeks on the same subject, watching as the seeds took root and grew. He knew Adie disapproved, but Josh had asked God to direct his steps. He had to be open to anything.

As they passed the piles of stone from the demolished house, Tobias glanced at him. “You belong here, Josh.”

Maybe he did. “What makes you think so?”

“Experience.”

“Yours or mine?”

“Mine,” Tobias said. “Even this old fool can see God’s hand. There’s nothing better than a church of your own and a wife and family.”

“Hold on,” Josh said, chuckling. “You’ve skipped way ahead of me.”

“Not really.” Tobias turned the buggy down a street with busy shops. “I saw the way you looked at Miss Clarke. She’s a fine woman, and I know from Pearl that she adopted your nephew.”

Josh didn’t mention Adie’s troubled faith, but he knew her doubts stood between them. As much as he liked the idea, he couldn’t court her until she made peace with God. A minister’s wife worked as hard as her husband.

Tobias’s voice turned wistful. “My wife and I were married for twenty-nine years.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Not long enough,” he said quietly. “Ginny and I quarreled sometimes, but we always kissed good-night. That was our rule.”

“It’s a good one.”

“You should think about getting married, Josh. A good woman keeps a man honest.”

Josh thought of his past concerns. “Paul says marriage is a distraction.”

“That, too,” Tobias said. “But the commotion is worth what you gain. Ginny had a way of speaking her mind. Without her, I’d have driven this church into a ditch.”

“She sounds like a fine woman.”

“She was, but she’s gone.” His eyes misted. “Now it’s up to me to take care of Pearl.”

“Yes, sir.”

“My only concern is my congregation. On that score, you and I are in the same boat.”

“How so?”

“If you leave Denver, you’ll worry about Miss Clarke and that baby.”

Tobias had a point. Adie did a good job of running Swan’s Nest, but the big house needed constant upkeep. If Josh left,
she’d be wise to hire help…or to marry. He blinked and imagined a faceless man bringing her flowers. Only a fool wouldn’t see Adie’s fine traits, including her pretty red hair. When the right man came along, she’d fall in love and Stephen would have a father.

Josh wanted to be that man. He wanted sole claim to Adie and to raise Stephen as his own flesh-and-blood. The plan had a certain logic, but he worried about Adie’s hostility to his calling. Josh had another problem, one just as big as Adie’s lack of faith. Thoughts of marriage filled him with joy, but preaching in the biggest church in Denver took him back to the worst days of his life.

Tobias turned the buggy down a narrow street. “What’s the
real
reason you’re being stubborn about my offer?”

The answer rolled off Josh’s lips. “Pride made me a hypocrite. I destroyed my sister’s life.”

“So you got knocked off your high horse.”

“Yes,” he answered. “Leading a church like Colfax Avenue might stir up my pride.”

Tobias harrumphed.

Josh frowned. “You don’t believe me.”

“I believe you,” he answered. “I
know
you’re full of pride. So am I. So what?”

Josh took offense. “I’m trying to be faithful.”

“Nonsense. You’re acting like a whipped dog.”

“Sir?”

“Good men do battle with themselves every day. You know the scriptures.”

Of course he did. He’d memorized Paul’s famous words to the Romans. Like every other man, Josh sometimes did what he didn’t want to do, or he didn’t do what he knew to be right.

“You fell off your horse at a full gallop,” Tobias said. “It’s about time you climbed back on.”

Josh had to admire the man’s insight. Tobias had seen his deepest fear and dared him to face it. Josh had a lot of faults, but being weak-willed wasn’t one of them. “I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I’m asking.” Tobias gave a crisp nod. “Go home tonight and have supper with Miss Clarke. Hold that baby in your arms and then decide.”

Josh laughed. “You argue well, sir.”

As the old man steered the buggy down the street behind the church, Josh looked at the stone wall and saw another stained glass window. It depicted a stream meandering through a meadow. A willow tree hung over the banks. He recognized the first of the Psalms and a particular verse, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.” For months he’d been like the stream, wandering through a dry and thirsty land. Now he wanted to be the tree, planted firmly in Denver.

Tobias broke into his thoughts. “I’d like to hear you preach sometime.”

“Come to Brick’s.”

“Better yet, you come to Colfax Avenue.”

“I’m not—”

“Hold on,” Tobias said. “All I’m asking is one Sunday.”

Josh liked the idea. He could test the waters and himself, but he worried about his little flock.

“I’ve got a commitment to the folks at Brick’s.”

“Invite them.”

He couldn’t see bleary-eyed cowboys mixing with society matrons, nor could he imagine the girls from Miss Elsa’s in the front row. As for Adie, he doubted she’d set foot in a stone building with stained glass. In the end, though, Josh knew the choice came down to one question. On Sunday morning, where did God want him to be?

Tobias’s jaw hardened. “You can preach your heart out,
Reverend. Christ drove the money changers out of the temple and he wasn’t gentle about it. Franklin Dean defiled my daughter. I’d like to see him taken to task.”

“You could do it yourself, sir.”

“I’m too angry.”

Josh understood. He’d forgiven Dennis Hagan in principle, but his fists still wanted to flatten the man.

When they reached the telegraph office, Tobias stopped the buggy. As soon as Josh climbed out, the older man shook the reins. As the rig rounded the corner, a carriage approached from the same direction. Josh recognized the matched bays that belonged to Franklin Dean. In the seat sat Horace. Josh wanted to haul him to jail with his own two hands, but he couldn’t prove the man’s involvement. Neither could he link Dean to the crimes. On the other hand, he could take Tobias’s offer and preach a barn-burner about two-faced moneychangers.

The thought tempted him, but taking Tobias’s pulpit, even for one Sunday, scared Josh as a hot stove frightened a child. He knew his weaknesses. He also knew his strengths. By faith, Peter had walked on water. He’d doubted and sunk, but Christ had lifted him up. Josh felt that same hand on his shoulder, lifting him up and pointing the way to Colfax Avenue Church.

But, Lord, what about Adie?

Even as the thought formed, Josh knew it came from doubt. If he could trust God to guide his own life, surely he could trust the Almighty to shepherd Adie. A painful calm settled on his shoulders. As soon as he sent the telegram, he’d tell Tobias he’d preach this coming Sunday. Sure of his decision, he went inside the telegraph office, where he jotted a message to the Blue family attorney who’d spread the word about Emily. He paid the clerk to send it immediately, then walked out of the shop, silently praying that Adie would still come to church.

“What is it, Horace?”

“I saw something, sir.”

Frank, alone at his dining room table, looked up from the pheasant his cook had prepared. The bird was done to perfection as were the julienne potatoes, baby carrots and snow peas. Later he’d enjoy the cream puffs—both of them since Pearl wasn’t here to eat hers. After dessert, he’d indulge in a bottle of wine. If the liquor didn’t cure his loneliness, he’d visit Miss Elsa’s Social Club. He’d noticed a new girl and had asked her name. Gretchen, blond and blue-eyed, reminded him of Pearl.

Horace was standing respectfully by the door, but his eyes were devouring the delicacies on the table. The man ate well enough back in the kitchen, so he wasn’t hungry for food. As for what the food represented—wealth, privilege—Horace wasn’t entitled to such things. Frank swirled his wine in the fancy goblet, took a long swallow, then savored it with his eyes on Horace. The driver dared to look peeved. Frank would have ordered him to leave, but he needed his loyalty. He set the glass aside. “What have you learned?”

“I saw Revered Blue this afternoon.”

“Where?”

“At the telegraph office. He sent a wire to Boston.”

Frank forgot his meal. “Go on.”

“I went inside,” Horace said. “The operator’s a fellow named Reggie. He don’t say much.”

Frank drummed his fingers on the table. He wanted to tell Horace to get to the point, but sometimes even
he
had to be patient. “I suppose you had a chat?”

“Not exactly.” Horace grinned. “Reggie acted like he didn’t know the reverend from Adam. I waited till he left the counter. Then I looked in the trash.”

“Good work.”

“Yes, sir.” Horace stepped forward and handed him a crumpled sheet of paper.

Frank opened it and smiled. He’d been hoping for the wording of the wire and he’d gotten it, written in Joshua Blue’s own hand.

Franklin understood “trust fund,” but who was Emily and where did a baby fit in the story? He looked at Horace. “This is cryptic, to say the least.”

“There’s more,” said the driver.

“Go on.”

“I’ve been going to his church.”

Frank sneered. “A sacrifice, I’m sure.”

“Not so bad, sir.” Horace squared his shoulders. “Three of the ladies live at Swan’s Nest. One of them talked to Miss Elsa’s girls about Reverend Blue having a sister. He’s been looking for her and her baby.”

“I see.”

“The older lady told the young one to mind her manners. No gossip, she said.”

Frank lived for gossip. “Go on.”

“That’s all I know.”

Frank weighed the hodgepodge of information. Emily had to be Joshua Blue’s sister. The only woman to have a baby was Adie Clarke. The baby would be heir to a fortune, which made Miss Clarke a wealthy woman. Frank muttered a curse. If he’d guessed right, and he usually did, Miss Clarke was sitting on a goldmine. He’d never get his hands on Swan’s Nest. He had to drive her out while he could.

He glared at Horace. “The fire wasn’t enough.”

Horace frowned. “I had to be careful, sir.”

“Not anymore.”

“But, sir—”

“No buts, Horace. I want Swan’s Nest and I want it now.”

The driver’s jaw stiffened. “I can’t do it. Miss Pearl—she’s about to give birth. And that little baby, I heard he’s sickly. He could die in the smoke alone.”

Frank frowned. “Horace, are you going soft on me?”

“No, sir.”

“Good.” He swirled the red wine, watching as it caught the light from the candelabra. Intimidating Adie Clarke hadn’t worked, not with Reverend Blue interfering. Frank needed a new plan for a new enemy. “Perhaps we should take a different approach.”

“Like what?”

“Use your connection at Brick’s. Find out everything you can about Joshua Blue.”

“Why, sir?”

“The reverend and I are going to war.” Frank didn’t know precisely how he’d ruin Joshua Blue, but he intended to enjoy every minute of it.