Abigail (Mail Order Brides of Hope Springs 3) Read online

"I know you mean well Jeremy but things are rarely as clear cut as we would like them. I set high standards for my community but the place is filled with the lawless and the Godless. There was nothing I could do to make them adhere to a few simple Christian values, like not associating with dirty former slaves, consuming liquor and shunning the whores who lure decent men from their true paths in life."

  "Don't you think you are being a little harsh?"

  "Certainly not. You don't know the half of it Jeremy. Why, people even stopped coming to church and set up their own form of worship by the Springs just out of town. Now if that isn't Godless behavior I don't know what is. I'm afraid you'll find your congregation severely depleted and I have no idea what to suggest to bring the Springs worshipers back to the Church. On the other hand, after the way they have behaved, they don't deserve to be included."

  "Well, I thank you for your insight Reverend Miller and I'll just have to sort things out as best I can."

  Jeremy privately thought the situation was severely overstated and would prefer to make his own assessment when he got to Hope Springs. The Reverend Miller was old fashioned in his views and was perhaps the wrong person to try and create a united community. He clearly had opinions that had alienated his parishioners. However, it was encouraging to hear that some of them gathered on a Sunday by the Springs to share their own fellowship. In fact, he thought it sounded idyllic and would likely be a pleasant way to commune with God.

  The Reverend Miller interrupted his musing."I'll leave you with the keys to the parsonage and the Church, so you can get settled in right away. You'll be comfortable enough if you employ a housekeeper to cook and clean for you." He handed them over to Jeremy.

  "Now I'll leave you to make your final arrangements and congratulate you again on graduating. Just remember to uphold the values that hold society together and you can't go wrong. Don't allow yourself to be drawn into all the modern thinking about blacks being as good as whites and never, and I mean ever, is there an excuse for bad behavior. The Bible spells it out clearly. Right is right and wrong is wrong."

  The two men took their leave and Jeremy wondered again what was waiting for him in Hope Springs. In any case, he would find out soon enough but there was one thing he was sure about. It wasn't a sin to be black and in most cases, there was a good reason behind bad behavior. It was his job as a Pastor to help people find their own moral compass and practice compassion and forgiveness. He also had the feeling that the Reverend J. T. Miller had been selective in revealing his opinions about the residents of Hope Springs.

  ~#~#~#~

  Jeremy arrived on the train on a Tuesday evening, arriving just before dusk as it always did. It felt good to be here at last and he took his time taking his bearings, thinking how different Texas was to Boston. Hope Springs was a frontier town in West Texas and as such, featured clapboard buildings with a wide main street. He rightly assumed the street would be choked with dust in summer and mud during the wet season. There was a smattering of houses behind Main Street, some with picket fences and well tended gardens which indicated there were at least some folks who took a little pride in their surroundings.

  It felt right for him to be here and so with his two portmanteaus, decided to walk on up Main street. So far he could see no sign of the waywardness spoken of by Reverend Miller and decided the man must have been a dangerously conservative preacher, bereft of the compassion that should grace a man of the cloth. There was no lawless behavior evident in the street and he noted an hotel, saloon, barber, mercantile, doctor's rooms and a variety of other buildings that housed the professions that generally adorned small towns.

  It was a small town, but seemed to have most of the amenities one could expect in a frontier location and he could see the Church way down the far end of town. There was another building down there too which bore the unmistakable look of a school house. So there were families here with children of an age to be educated. Hardly Godless and lawless, and speaking of the law, there was a Sheriff's office and jail house as well.

  He had a feeling he would be happy here. Hope Springs looked to be a simple town and presumably life would be simple as well. It was just as he had envisioned and more than far enough away from Boston to leave him feeling relaxed. In fact, as the miles had fallen away and the days passed, he felt for the first time in his life that he was finally en route to his destiny. Only time and his own efforts would tell if he was right.

  Presumably the parsonage was next door to the church so he decided to head down the far end of Main Street right away and freshen up after his trip. Maybe he would eat at the hotel and see about hiring a housekeeper and introduce himself to the townsfolk the following day. There was no need to hurry in such a small town.

  He had little in the way of possessions with him so getting settled would not take long. His most pressing need would likely be to organize a load of firewood, without which he wouldn't be able to cook, or heat water for a much needed bath. And lamp oil. He would need that too. A simple lifestyle was all that was required here and he relished the prospect of it.

  As he went down the street, musing on what he would need to organize right away, he passed a saloon and was surprised when a young woman came racing up the lane beside it, followed closely by a man who could only be described as a thug with a horsewhip. He obviously knew how to use it too as the girl appeared terrified. Her eyes were glazed over in fright and she crashed right into him, crying out in alarm as she did so. "Please save me," she pleaded. "You are a man of God and I believe the good Lord has sent you to save me."

  ~#~#~#~

  Chapter Three

  Jeremy dropped his bags in surprise as the young woman fell into his arms. "Please don't let him take me back," she gasped as she collapsed within his strong arms, trying to turn away from the thug with the horsewhip. The stroke intended for the girl fell on Jeremy's shoulders and in an uncharacteristic display of rage, he turned and threw a well aimed punch to the jaw of the thug who crumpled into a heap on the sidewalk. His sparring partner back in Boston would have been proud.

  He turned to the girl who was staring in astonishment at him. "Are you alright?"

  "Thank you, yes. But do you think we could leave before he comes to and comes after me again? If it's not him it will be one of the others."

  "Yes, of course, but who are these people who are after you?" he asked as they set off down the street.

  "I will explain everything to you when I am safe, I promise. Could we please hurry do you think? she asked before shuddering sobs cut short her words.

  Jeremy hastened down the street with the young woman, noticing her less than modest attire as they went. He also noticed a few curtains twitching in the windows of some of the street's buildings and couldn't help thinking his arrival could not have been more dramatic if he'd planned it. There would be some explaining to do tomorrow in addition to the other tasks he'd planned on.

  He could hear the young woman try to take control of herself as they finally approached the parsonage and he reached for the keys in his pocket, relieved when he found they fit. "Please come in. I have no idea what is here as I have just arrived in town, but you are welcome. You will be safe here." He dropped his bags in what appeared to be a parlor, went back to lock the front door before ushering her on through to the rear of the house where he found a roomy, comfortable kitchen with a large table.

  "Please sit down and rest while I light the stove. I don't know about you but I could use a cup of coffee." Jeremy looked at the stove, relieved to see it was clean with the ashes gone from the firebox. Better still, there was kindling and wood in the wood box. A few minutes later the stove was working to heat the kettle of water sitting atop of it. There was coffee too, so he added some to the coffee pot that was sitting beside it on the kitchen bench.

  The simple chores gave him time to think on the events of his arrival and he tried to understand his reaction to the thug who attacked him. He thought his behavior was not becoming of a Pastor
and perhaps he should have tried to reason with the man. It was clear though, that there was more going on here than was immediately apparent. He needed to find out what was behind the plight of the beautiful young woman sitting at his kitchen table.

  ~#~#~#~

  "Now, I don't want to put any pressure on you but I think we need to talk. I am Pastor Jeremy St. John, the new Pastor of Hope Springs. You will agree I think, that anyone who witnessed my arrival will not forget it in a hurry." He handed her a mug of coffee. "Sorry about the lack of milk but I will organize some supplies in the morning."

  "Thank you. It will be just fine." Abigail now had control of herself again and was embarrassed to find that her rescuer was a Pastor, although the concern he showed for her welfare was more than welcome. "My name is Abigail Jones and when I tell you about myself, you will not want anything to do with me." Abigail managed to say this with dignity.

  "I'll be the judge of that Abigail, but now you are feeling more composed, why don't you tell me why you were running away from that man up the street? Take your time because I sense there's more happening with you than is obvious."

  "You are perceptive Pastor St. John and you deserve no less than complete honesty from me. I will understand if you want nothing further to do with me. The only thing I would ask is that you try to understand the situation I was placed in and help to save other girls from a similar plight." Abigail spoke with a quiet dignity to hide her shame."

  "I'm listening Abigail." Jeremy was silently amazed that she sounded so much older than she looked. It wasn't only that she sounded older, her clothing was that of a far older woman, and one of questionable morals at that. Her appearance was very much at odds with the young woman she appeared to be.

  Abigail began nervously but relaxed as she told her story, comfortable in the Pastor's presence, a man who she instinctively felt no threat from. "I'll give you the short version to start with and fill in the details as you wish."

  "That will be fine Abigail." Jeremy found himself wanting to know everything about the beautiful young woman sitting in front of him, so different from the women who tried to capture his attention back in Boston.

  "Ma died when I was ten and my Pa and I headed West so Pa could settle and make a home for us. It never worked out though. I guess he was too messed up in his head from fighting in the Civil War. Ma used to be able to manage him, but I couldn't and he lost job after job as we moved further West. He took to drinking and gambling no matter how hard I tried to make a home for us. When we arrived in Hope Springs, I thought things might change for us, because of the name you see. I thought there would be hope in Hope Springs."

  "I felt the very same thing Abigail and believe it to be true, but please go on."

  "We lived on a small ranch about an hours drive away from Hope Springs. We didn't own it but Pa was supposed to be working it to make a living. It didn't work out though because Pa just drank whiskey all the time and then started gambling in Big Jim Olson's saloon. He owed Jim money and eventually sold me to Big Jim to pay his debts. I was twelve then and I've not seen or heard of Pa since."

  Jeremy just looked at Abigail when she said this and suddenly knew what she was going to say next. He cut in before she got started.

  "Before you continue Abigail, please remember you were a child on the receiving end of some despicable behavior from adults who should have known better. It wasn't your fault and I'm sure the Lord was testing you in some way. I can't tell you the 'why' or 'wherefores' of it, but somehow the Lord had a plan for you."

  "Ma used to say things like that too and I've been telling myself the same since Pa sold me to Big Jim. That and faith in the Lord that one day I would be rescued. I never gave up believing, even after he put me to work with his customers. I was almost fourteen by then but the first couple of years weren't too bad and I only had to do cleaning and cooking. The women were kind and never hurt me. They protected me for as long as they could. I know it sounds shameful, but I will miss them."

  "It's not shameful. There are good people everywhere Abigail and I sense you are one of them."

  It occurred then to Abigail, that the Pastor was not going to berate her for her previous occupation. She decided to continue her story. "I tried to run away two or three times every year but Big Jim always sent one of his thugs after me to take me back. He would always beat me, but I never gave up trying. He was always careful not to mark me because I was the youngest girl there and made him the most money. There are a few really twisted men around here and Jim advertised far and wide for his specialty services. I believe what saved me from the worst of his punishments was my saleability, even though it embarrasses me to say it."

  "I understand now. You were running away again this evening when you bumped into me."

  "Yes, you literally saved me. It was as if God put you there for me and I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for it. I do not doubt that Big Jim will come after me, but I will never go back. I was kept there against my will and never wanted to be in such an establishment in the first place. But I was a child and could do nothing about it. Now I am almost seventeen and old enough to make my own way in the world. I would somehow like to spend the remainder of my life helping others in a worse situation than myself."

  "I will see to it that no harm comes to you but we can talk more about it in the morning. Now I think you should get some sleep. With a bit of luck there will be a bed for you somewhere in this house."

  "Thank you, but is it possible for me to take a bath or at least wash myself? I would like to spend my first night night as a free woman in a state of cleanliness."

  "Of course... I should have realized. Let me see if there is a wash room or a bath I can put in your room."

  "I can organize heating the water..."

  "Not if it involves going outside to fetch it you won't. I'm locking this place up tighter than a drum until I can see the Sheriff tomorrow. Now, here's the bath. Would you like it in your room?"

  "Yes please... and there is a barrel of water here in the kitchen."

  "Well in that case, I'll just check the doors and windows and leave you to your ablutions. I wish you a very good night."

  ~#~#~#~

  Jeremy retrieved his bags from the parlor and found the main bedroom along the hall from the room Abigail would use. There was another bedroom as well and it was clear the parsonage was meant for a family. He unpacked quickly and lay down to sleep, knowing it would likely be hours before his mind would be still enough to do so. There was much to think on, not the least of which was his spectacular arrival.

  It occurred to him that perhaps Abigail was right and they were both part of a plan that only God knew about. As a Pastor, it was his duty to believe so, but that being the case, he found it incredible that God would use a young girl so and then place him in her path at the very moment she was escaping. Abigail intrigued him too. Her faith was such that she had survived the most trying of circumstances yet harbored no resentment at being treated so.

  If anything, her experiences had strengthened her faith. He had never seen anything like it back in Boston, but then again maybe such things happened there too but he had been too sheltered to see it. This would be the first test of his ministry because he was aware of the prejudices that Christian folk often displayed. A fallen woman was a bad woman. People didn't look any further than that. He would defend Abigail though. After all, didn't Jesus associate with thieves and fallen women? If Jesus survived the persecution, Pastor Jeremy St. John would survive it too. It was as simple as that.

  Never had he been so intrigued by a woman and it wasn't all a matter of faith. Abigail was beautiful and he couldn't get her out of his mind. She was the woman of his dreams, with a genuine love of God and a desire to help others, capable of practicing compassion and forgiveness. That he was attracted to her was undeniable and he couldn't have felt more shocked had he been hit by a lightening bolt. After her experiences though, he doubted she would ever consider a relationship or God
forgive him, marriage.

  She was no longer a child, that much was clear and he would need to be careful for both their sakes. He would not see her hurt in any way and given her recent past, feared for her. Protection was the one thing he could offer her though and would do whatever it took to keep her safe.

  He had questions too. Why did no-one in Hope Springs do anything about what was going on in Jim Olson's saloon? Was it possible they didn't know? If so, he would see to it they did. He needed to speak urgently with the Sheriff.

  ~#~#~#~

  Chapter Four

  The following morning Jeremy rose to find Abigail at the stove with fresh coffee and surprisingly, a pan of eggs and bacon spitting in fresh butter. There was fresh bread too, currently being toasted on the coals in the firebox. The aroma was delectable and he suddenly realized he was hungry, having missed dinner last night.

  Abigail answered his as yet unasked question. "A lovely woman called Emma brought these things for you. She realized you must be the new Pastor and would need a few supplies until you are settled in. Apparently she runs the hotel here but I didn't recognize her. I don't believe anyone would remember or recognize me now. But she saw what happened last night and didn't seem to mind where I came from. She's coming back shortly with some clothes for me, for which I will be forever grateful."

  Jeremy sat down at the table, pleased to hear there was at least one friendly soul in the town who was willing to be friends with Abigail. "Well, the color of that dress is ..."

  "Don't remind me. I had to wear it yesterday so no-one would be suspicious while I waiting to escape. Now would you like some breakfast?"

  "Yes please, I'm starving."

  Abigail served up the food, having found plates and eating utensils. The table looked pretty too, set with a clean cloth so that the butter and strawberry jam in their respective pots, looked enticing alongside the plate of toast.