Chapter 24

Gordon loved seeing people file into the church. Today was a double blessing with Mira on the front bench.

That morning she was so nervous, she had pinned her hair up three times before she put down the combs in something near desperation, with her honey-colored curls still escaping them.

He started to tell her it looked fine, but decided it best to appear to not be paying attention. He had gone out of the bedroom to build up the fire and fill the kettle with water while she dressed. But then he returned to get his Bible, where he pretended to look over his Scripture while really stealing looks at her and soaking in her presence. The very sight of her trapping stray curls back with combs had nothing short of joy filling him.

He didn't know how he could love her so completely so quickly. Perhaps that seed of attraction from when they were young in school had simply languished dormant in his heart to be awakened when he met her again. She didn't feel the same. He knew that. Whether she ever would, he could only hope. And pray.

His prayers had already been bountifully answered. A wife. A teacher. A woman who cared about people. He could tell that from how she responded to those who spoke to her before the church service. He had tried to stay by her side, but he kept being pulled away with this or that concern.

She hid her own nervous concern well now. As they ate their breakfast that morning, she had confessed the worry that her unusual laughter during the silliness of the serenade confusion would make everyone think she was foolish.

"A teacher can have no success with her students if their parents decide she lacks proper sense." With her fork, she drew patterns in the honey on the homemade bread that was part of the basket Aunt Stella had packed for them the day before.

Was it only yesterday he had promised love to Mira and she had promised the same to him? After a hesitation. Today he wouldn't worry about the hesitation.

"They will think you're wonderful," he assured her. "And so will the children once school starts. At least most of them."

"Most of them?" Her eyes widened a little.

He laughed. "A troublemaker or two are bound to show up. Don't they always?"

"I suppose so, but I'm not worried about that now. I'm worried about what people will think this morning. You don't have troublemakers at church, do you?"

"Just like in school, churches can have a few unhappy folks." He saw no reason to talk about those who worried he was bringing too much change to Sourwood. At least not yet. "But none who will want to make trouble for my pretty wife."

That had made Mira blush, which made her even prettier. Sometimes the Lord threw down blessings by the bushels.

That attractive blush continued to color Mira's cheeks as some of the women spoke to her and the men managed to take a good look before they found their accustomed seats.

People had a way of claiming a place in a church. It had been that way at his home church back in Louisville. His mother sat in the same pew every Sunday and had been known to be more than a little peeved if someone took what she considered her seat. His dear, faithful mother, but not perfect even as none of them were, in church or out. He wished she could have welcomed Mira into their family.

At least his sister could do so. Julie would be surprised, more like shocked, when he wrote her his news. Julie thought his chances of finding a suitable wife had been wiped out by his calling to preach in Eastern Kentucky.

Still alive then, his mother had been his biggest supporter of going on the mission field. She had waved away Julie's words and assured her the Lord would provide if Gordon needed a wife. And now the Lord had.

Mathena Brown came into the church carrying Dottie Slade's little girl after her husband and children were already seated. He looked back at the door, but Dottie wasn't following her in. He started to step away from the podium to ask about Dottie, but his watch said it was time for services to begin.

Mira didn't hide her relief when he announced their first song. They only had three hymnals, but the people were learning the hymns by lining—he sang a line and then they sang the same line. Their voices made a joyful sound to the Lord.

Mathena didn't sit down with her children. Instead, she brought Emmy Lou straight to the front pew where she leaned down, whispered something to Mira, and handed her the little girl. Gordon stumbled over two words in the song as he wondered how to rescue Mira and let Mathena know she couldn't just dump a toddler in Mira's lap. The way Mira beamed as she hugged the little girl stopped him. Emmy Lou clapped her hands and added her jabber to the singing.

Emmy Lou was used to being handed around in church. All the youngsters were. Even though Gordon had preached there over two years, he still hadn't gotten all the relationships straight. Everybody appeared to be kin in some way to almost everyone else.

The church benches were nearly full. He hoped to get the men to build pews soon. Once the school was finished. With spring, the men would be busy with planting and such, but some were eager to do whatever was needed at the church. Especially Dugan Foster. He and his wife, Effie, were rocks in the church.

Gordon was glad to see Effie sitting beside Mira. She was on one side and Miss Nicey Jane was on the other. They would help if tending to Emmy Lou overwhelmed Mira. Right now she didn't appear a bit overwhelmed as she settled the little girl on her lap. She kept the child's blanket wrapped around her. The church was still cool, but the stove would warm it up soon enough after people stopped waving the door as they came in.

He kept his face properly solemn, but he wanted to smile when Ada June came in and slid along the back wall to find a spot in the shadows. Her dog slinked along behind her. He'd have to work something out with Mira about school and Ada June's dog. The girl had to get her chance to learn.

Even the thought of a smile disappeared moments later when Cleo Rayburn and two of his boys came in the church. Gordon ought to be glad to see Cleo at church, but from the look on the man's face, he wasn't there to hear the gospel. Cleo didn't think he needed it.

That wasn't fair. Cleo claimed to be fine with the Lord and Gordon had no right to judge the truth of that. Who Cleo felt far from fine with was Gordon. He said if the Lord wanted Sourwood to have a preacher, he would have called a mountain man and not a flatlander to bring in city ways.

Gordon had no intention of bringing anything to Sourwood except the gospel, education for the children, and better health. Cleo wasn't against any of that, but he wanted to be the one who said what Sourwood needed. Not a brought-in preacher. Gordon had tried to win him over, but the man didn't like him. Plain and simple.

Should he decide to, Cleo could make short work of Gordon. He was built so solid and strong that a hurricane wind couldn't blow him off course or make him change his mind.

His older boy, Connor, followed in his footsteps. If Gordon didn't miss his guess, Connor would be one of those troublemakers Mira would have to deal with. If Cleo made him go to school.

Cleo's wife, Lindy, was Nicey Jane's daughter. Nicey Jane was ready to do anything for the church, but she wouldn't say anything against Cleo. Nor would Nicey Jane's husband, Riley.

That man was another puzzler. While Nicey Jane was at every service, Riley never darkened the church door.

Gordon pushed his worries aside. No need to borrow trouble that might never come to call. He had people to serve. A message to deliver. A schoolteacher wife to introduce.

That could wait until after the sermon since Emmy Lou had stopped bouncing on Mira's lap and looked sleepy. With a happy look on her face, Mira stroked the child's hair. No need disturbing that by asking her to stand.

After they sang every verse of "Lily of the Valley," he opened his Bible and began to preach about the seven gifts of the Spirit. Wisdom. Understanding. Counsel. Fortitude. Knowledge. Piety. Fear of the Lord.

From the look on Cleo's face, Gordon had no doubt he would soon need some of those gifts, especially understanding and wisdom. Could be he should grab Mira and make a run for home before Cleo could corner him after the services. But cowardice was not among the blessed gifts. Fortitude was.

Perhaps a better sermon for his first as a married man would have been about the fruits of the Spirit. Love. Joy. Peace. Long-suffering. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith. Meekness. Temperance.

From all appearances, Mira was gifted with each of those. He hoped she had an abundance of the long-suffering fruit. All pastors' wives needed that.

At the end of the sermon, Dugan Foster stepped up to lead the hymn "Just as I Am." Gordon blocked out all his straying thoughts and bent his head in earnest prayer that the words given to him by the Lord had touched hearts.

After the song, Gordon held his hand out to Mira. Miss Effie took Emmy Lou. Mira's face was flushed and her smile a little shaky, but she didn't hesitate to step up beside him.

"I'd like to introduce our new schoolteacher, my wife, Mrs. Mira Covington." Just saying the name stirred up joy in his heart.

They stood together at the front of the church while the people filed past them to welcome Mira. Ada June slipped out the church door. She wouldn't come forward.

When Cleo and his boys came around, Cleo said, "Hope Sourwood suits you, ma'am."

"Thank you." Mira smiled at the two boys. "I look forward to seeing you at school."

"We'll see if that comes about." Cleo nodded at the boys, who took that as permission to head for the door.

"I hope Miss Lindy isn't ill," Gordon said.

"She's fit. Stayed home with the littlest ones." Cleo glanced back at the people waiting to speak to Mira. "Soon's this glad handin' is done, I aim to get a word with you."

"Certainly." Gordon hid his reluctance as he turned to speak to the man behind Cleo.

After the last people shook their hands, Gordon walked Mira to the door where Cleo waited along with Dugan Foster.

Dugan held out a kettle. "The missus brung some chicken soup for your dinner, seeing as how you're just gettin' settled in."

"How kind." Mira took it from him. "Please thank her for us."

Dugan nodded and, with a curious look at Cleo, went out the door. Cleo made no move to follow him.

Mira hesitated before looking at Gordon. "Perhaps I should take this on to the house."

"That might be best." Again Gordon hid his reluctance. "I won't be long."

"Very well." She adjusted her hold on the kettle handle and smiled toward Cleo. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Rayburn."

Cleo inclined his head slightly to acknowledge her words. After Mira went out, Cleo stared at the door a moment before he said, "She appears to be on the fragile side, Preacher. I'm thinkin' the boys will run her out of school 'fore a week is out."

"Which boys are those?" Gordon kept his expression blank.

"I ain't meaning mine. But you know how boys can be. Little as she is, she couldn't wield a paddle hard enough to keep them kind in line."

"We can pray the children will behave so they can learn to read and figure."

Cleo scowled. "I can figure fine. My ma and pa taught me."

"Wise parents are a blessing." Gordon wished Cleo would get on with whatever was poking him.

"I ain't being late to get on home to talk about learnin' and such."

"Then whatever it is you want to say, go ahead and get it out." Gordon didn't quite keep his impatience out of his voice.

"I heared there was a rowdy carryin' on at your place. I'm thinkin' that ain't no way of doin' for a preacher."

He didn't feel he needed to explain anything to Cleo, but sometimes a man had to work to keep the peace. "Some folks did show up in the night to do a serenade when they heard I brought home a wife."

"A bunch of foolishness."

"Yes, but harmless enough, I suppose."

"I heared you passed out moonshine aplenty."

"Then you heard wrong. If anybody was nipping, they brought their own supply."

"I reckon that could be." Cleo appeared to want to dispute the truth of Gordon's words but stopped short of that. Instead he moved on to more infuriating words. "I heared yore little woman must have found some of that nipping for her own self. That she acted as peculiar as that Sarai Barton used to up on Leathers Hill."

Gordon clamped down on the anger that wanted to explode out of him. He was a man of God, but then even Jesus had shown some righteous anger. This wasn't the time for that. He pulled in a breath and let it out slowly to cool his temper.

"She was a little unsettled by the idea of being jerked from bed and thrust into a wheelbarrow for the amusement of our neighbors. But I can assure you she was entirely sober last night. Your mother-in-law, Miss Nicey Jane, can confirm that, since she and other of the women spoke with Mrs. Covington at length."

"Well, I'm just saying that if you've brung in another witch like that Barton woman, you'll live to regret it, Preacher." Cleo's eyes narrowed on Gordon. "And while we're about it, that girl of Sarai's needs to be told dogs don't have no place in the church."

"The dog doesn't cause any disturbance," Gordon said. "Never bothers anyone."

"Bothers my boy, Connor. He says it snarls at him."

Gordon considered the impact of his words and said them anyway. "Perhaps Connor should stay away from Ada June."

"My boy ain't got nothing to do with that woods colt." The man's face went red as he shook his finger at Gordon. "But upon my word, if that critter bites my boy, I'll shoot it before nightfall."

Gordon did wish his words back. "Maybe we should pray about this, Cleo."

"I don't need no help from you to do my prayin'." Cleo stormed out the door and slammed it so hard the doorframe rattled.

"Then I suppose I need to pray about it on my own," Gordon muttered. He thought of Mira waiting for him, but he went back to kneel at the altar to ask the Lord's forgiveness for his hard feelings toward Cleo and for stoking his anger.

He let silence gather around him a moment before he whispered, "And please protect Ada June and her dog, Bo."