The Tender Flame (21 page)

“It’s me,” she said, extending her hand.

Josh took it tenderly. “It’s wonderful to see you. What brings you to Fairfax?”

Jessica introduced Brenda and Aunt Bertha to him, explaining that she still lived with her parents in Montgomery Village and that she and Brenda had come to visit Brenda’s aunt, who was a member of the church.

“Well, somebody said it’s a small world,” Josh said. “I’m beginning to believe it. Jessica, it’s so nice to see you.”

“So you know this young lady, eh?” said the pastor.

“Yes. Our fathers were both stationed at Fort Union, New Mexico, years ago. We became very good friends.”

“Actually, Pastor,” Jessica said, “I owe my life to Josh.”

“Oh? How’s that?”

“I was in a wagon alone once, outside the fort. The team was spooked by a rattlesnake, and they bolted. Josh was on his horse nearby and saw what was happening. The terrified horses were charging toward a precipice, but Josh galloped his horse alongside the wagon and lifted me off only seconds before the team and wagon went over the edge. I was only nine years old at the time. He’s been my hero ever since.”

“I only did what needed to be done at the time.”

“I’m sure glad you did or I wouldn’t be here today.”

“Girls,” Aunt Bertha said, “we’d better get out of the way so these other people can shake hands with Pastor and Loretta.”

Jessica glanced at the line behind her. “Oh my, yes.”

“Jessica,” Josh said, “don’t leave, please. I’d like to have a few more minutes with you as soon as I’m through here.”

Jessica looked toward Brenda and her aunt.

“That’s fine, honey,” Bertha said. “I’ll go on home and get a fire built in the stove so we can cook dinner. Brenda can wait here and walk home with you.”

When the handshaking was done, the Wilkinses and Brenda struck up a conversation, giving Josh and Jessica a few minutes together. They walked to a spot under a large oak tree out of earshot from the others.

“I just can’t believe this, Jessica. Imagine running into you after
all this time. And to see you so grown-up.” Josh could hardly reconcile this young woman standing before him with the little girl whose teeth were too big for her face and whose black hair always hung in straight braids down her slim back. He stared at her silently, then shook his head as if to clear his vision of that child he had rescued from a violent death.

Jessica smiled. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Josh?”

“I’m just stunned at how mature you are at eighteen. And my … how beautiful you are!”

“Thank you,” Jessica said, blushing.

After asking about her family, Josh told about his family’s move to Oregon City some years before, and that his father had used the money from his inheritance to start a lumber business. The business was doing exceptionally well.

Josh was going to leave tomorrow for Oregon City to work with his pastor, Lester Farrington, who was set to retire soon. When Pastor Farrington retired, Josh would become pastor of the church.

“That’s wonderful,” Jessica said. “I’m glad to see how the Lord is working things out so beautifully for you. You deserve the very best.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, Jessica.” He paused, then said, “I don’t have your address anymore. Would you give it to me again?” He took a pencil out of his coat pocket and opened his Bible. While Jessica gave the address to him, he wrote it on the flyleaf.

“I’ll write you again sometime. I want to know how things are going for you and your family. You will write me back, won’t you?”

“Why, of course, Josh. It will be nice to get a letter from you again.”

“Well, I guess I’d better be going, Jessica. It sure is nice to see you. Maybe we’ll bump into each other another time.”

“Yes, it’s been nice to see you again.” As she spoke, Jessica extended her hand.

Josh clasped it and dipped his head. He grinned slightly as he looked at her from the tops of his eyes and said, “When we said
good-bye at Fort Union, I got a hug. How about this time?”

The hug was a discreet one, but sufficient to show affection between the two old friends.

On Monday the girls sent a wire to Brenda’s parents, telling them they would arrive at the Montgomery Village depot late Tuesday afternoon.

During the train ride back, Jessica’s mind was filled with thoughts of Josh, yet her heart was heavy. Even though he had taken her address and said he would write sometime, she doubted he would. She glanced at her friend beside her and noted that Brenda’s eyes were closed. She set her gaze out the window again.

Jessica was staring at milk cows in a pasture, with a white farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings as backdrop, when she felt her friend stir, then stretch and sit up straight. Smiling, Brenda said, “You may be taking in the countryside with your eyes, honey, but I know where your mind is.”

Jessica looked at her and grinned. “Oh, you do, huh?”

“Mm-hmm. On Josh. Tell me I’m wrong.”

Jessica shrugged. “You’re right.”

“He seems like a very nice man. Handsome, too. I can tell you’re head-over-heels about him.”

“Oh, you can, huh?”

“Mm-hmm. I sure hope something will develop between you.”

Jessica sighed. “That would be wonderful, but Josh is going to be in Oregon, and yours truly is in Maryland. Pretty hard for something to develop with thousands of miles between us.”

Brenda playfully tapped her friend on the shoulder. “God is able to bring people together no matter what the circumstances, if it’s His will.”

“Which brings up a like subject. Gil Simmons. You’re pretty excited about hearing from him, aren’t you?”

“I sure hope I hear back from him, but I’m not letting myself get
too excited. He’s probably received lots of replies to his ad.” Brenda sighed wistfully, then said, “Maybe he’s already got his mail order bride on her way west.”

“Well, to quote a very famous friend of mine, ‘God is able to bring people together no matter what the circumstances, if it’s His will.’ ”

Brenda laughed, and Jessica joined her. They spent the rest of the journey enjoying each other’s company as only best friends can.

When the train pulled into the Montgomery Village station, John and Betty Moore were there to meet them. Betty was happy to tell Jessica that Carrie was doing well and was preparing a special meal for her daughter’s return.

When the Moore buggy pulled into the Smiths’ driveway, Grant, Daniel, and David were on the front porch waiting for her. Daniel rushed to help her from the buggy, and David picked up her small piece of luggage. Grant stayed on the porch, leaning on his cane, and thanked the Moores for bringing Jessica home.

When Jessica entered the house, the aroma coming from the kitchen made her mouth water. “I smell fried chicken!” she cried, hurrying ahead of her father and brothers toward the kitchen.

Carrie was at the stove, stirring gravy in a pan. She turned and smiled as Jessica came through the door. “Oh, there’s my favorite daughter!”

Jessica embraced her. “And here’s my favorite mother!”

During supper, Jessica told them all about her trip and the stay with Brenda’s Aunt Bertha.

“John was telling me Sunday that the Fairfax church is a good one,” Grant said, “and that Pastor Wilkins is a tremendous preacher. How’d you like the church, honey?”

“It’s a wonderful church, Daddy. Pastor Wilkins preached Sunday
night … and yes, he’s a great preacher. You’ll never guess in a million years who preached Sunday morning.”

“Someone we know?”

“Yes!”

“Well, who?”

“A tremendous preacher.”

“C’mon, sis,” David said. “Who?”

“I know!” Daniel said. “The apostle Paul!”

“Well, not quite … but almost!”

“John the Baptist!”

“Close, but this preacher doesn’t wear camel hair or eat locusts and wild honey.”

“Is it someone this family knows personally?” Carrie asked.

“Mm-hmm. You might recall that he shared with me that God had called him to preach.”

“Josh Cornell!” Grant said. “You saw Josh?”

“I did. He graduated with honors from a seminary in Arlington, Virginia, in May. Pastor Wilkins invited him to preach last Sunday morning. He’s really good! Several people were saved at the invitation, and lots of Christians were at the altar getting things right with God.”

“Well, bless his heart,” Carrie said. “Did he know you?”

“Not at first, but when he heard Brenda introduce me to Pastor and Mrs. Wilkins, he looked at me with his eyes bulging and said, ‘Jessica! It’s you!’ ”

She went on to tell her family about the Cornells being in the lumber business in Oregon, and that Josh was on his way to Oregon City to become assistant pastor in his church.

Daniel grinned impishly. “Are you still in love with him?”

“Some things are none of your business, little brother.”

Daniel chuckled. “I just got my answer.”

Jessica fixed him with eyes like dark pinpoints. “At least I’m not having to bow to your blackmail like when we lived at the fort.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Daniel!” Grant said. “How your sister feels about Josh or any other man is none of your affair. If she wants to include you in on it, she’ll do so. Otherwise, son, don’t torment her about it.”

The grin on Daniel’s face melted like wax held to a flame. “Yes, sir. I was only funnin’ her, Dad.”

“I know that and Jessica knows that, but right now she’s feeling like she’s going to end up an old maid, and it’s a serious thing for her.”

“You’re not going to be an old maid, Jessica,” Daniel said. “You’re a sweet person, and next to Mama, you’re the most beautiful woman in all the world. God’s going to give you a good man just like Dad for your husband.”

Grant chuckled. “Oh, so now you smooth things over with flattery, Daniel.”

Carrie smiled. “It’s not flattery, honey. What Daniel just used was
diplomacy
.”

“Well, he didn’t say anything good about me,” David complained.

“You know why, don’t you, little brother?” Daniel said.

“No, why?”

Daniel looked impish again. “Because to say anything good about
you
, I’d have to lie!”

Grant laughed, and soon the whole family was laughing.

When the laughter subsided, Grant said, “I’m glad to hear that Josh followed through on his call to preach, and I think it’s great that the Lord has already lined up a church for him to pastor. Oregon City, you say?”

“Mm-hmm,” Jessica said.

“I hear that area is growing by leaps and bounds, with all those wagon trains going out there. Should be a good place to reap a harvest of souls for the Lord.”

“I’m glad for Josh,” Carrie said. “He’s such a fine boy.”

“Best thing about him is that he saved my sister’s life,” David said. “We’ll always owe him a debt of gratitude for that.”

Joshua Cornell had fallen asleep in the rocking, swaying coach as the train rolled across the southwestern tip of Pennsylvania. He awakened and looked out the window just as the train approached the trestle over the Ohio River.

He rubbed his eyes and looked down at the river and saw the afternoon sunlight dancing on its broad, rippling surface. The shadow of the trestle on the water, with its skeletal framework and the racing train atop it, made an interesting scene.

Josh’s thoughts went to Jessica, as they had continuously since Sunday. Jessica had always been such a joy to be around as a child—so vibrant and full of life. That had not changed. Neither had her sweet spirit. Jessica was still a fine and dedicated Christian. And how strikingly beautiful she had become.

He took his valise from the overhead rack and pulled out a pencil and paper. An hour later, the letter was finished and in an envelope addressed to Jessica. When he reached Chicago in the morning, he would mail it to her.

Josh replaced the valise in the overhead rack, then sat down and eased back on the seat. He was excited about the ministry God had for him in Oregon City. While he pondered his future there, Jessica kept coming to mind.

A week from the day Jessica and Brenda had returned home from Fairfax, Jessica was in the backyard with a rug paddle in her hand, beating the dust from throw rugs draped over the clothesline. She turned to see her mother standing at the back door.

“Did you call me, Mama?”

Carrie lifted a white envelope and waved it. “Yes, honey. A letter here for you. It just came in the mail.”

“Oh? Who’s it from?”

“That man who’s almost as good a preacher as Paul, and close to
being as good as John the Baptist, but doesn’t wear camel hair or eat locusts and wild honey.”

Jessica’s knees went watery. “Josh?”

“The one and only!”

She dropped the paddle and hurried to her mother. Her fingers shook as she took the letter and said, “I’ll go to my room to read it.”

When she was inside her room with the door closed, she tore open the envelope and unfolded the single sheet of paper. Her hands trembled as she began to read: