The Tender Flame (28 page)

“I heard her run to her room,” Carrie said. “Carrying the envelopes, I presume.”

“Yes.” Grant took one of Carrie’s frail hands in both of his. “She’s going to tell us what Josh has to say after she reads the letter and the telegram.” He paused. “I was just thinking that should Josh want to marry our girl, how far away she would be from us in Oregon.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing.”

“If it should happen, honey, I’ve already laid the groundwork for someone to live with us and take care of you and the household.”

“Oh?”

“You remember Bessie Williams—the widow who does the janitorial work at the bank?”

“Does she want to leave the bank?”

“She mentioned one day that she’d like to be a live-in maid in someone’s home, and I told her to hang on, we might have a job for her. I explained the situation with Jessica and Josh. Bessie’s willing to wait, so the foundation has been laid. With my raise in salary, we can afford to pay Bessie fairly.”

“Talk about mixed emotions,” Carrie said, shaking her head
slowly. “I want Jessica and Josh to marry, but if it happens, I’m going to miss her something awful.”

“I know what you mean.”

“I appreciate you telling me about Bessie, though. She’s a dear. I’d love to have her with us if the Lord leads Jessica to Oregon.”

For a few moments, there was not a sound in the room as they digested what they had just discussed and sent a prayer to the Lord for grace and guidance as they awaited their daughter’s news.

Jessica closed the bedroom door behind her and tore open the envelope. She had only read a few lines when her eyes filled with tears. “Oh, thank You, Lord Jesus! Thank You, thank You, thank You!”

“Grant, maybe you’d better go check on her. If this is bad news …”

Grant was just rising from the chair beside the bed when they both heard Jessica’s door open, followed by rapid footsteps. She fairly hurled herself into the room, her face shiny with tears.

“Aw, baby,” Grant said, “what’s the matter?”

A smile spread over Jessica’s face. “Nothing’s the matter, Daddy. Josh says he’s in love with me. He says the friendship love he had for me began to change when we saw each other in Fairfax, and he says there’s never been anybody but me for him, and there never will be! He says— Well, let me read you the letter.”

Carrie began weeping silently as she shared her daughter’s joy.

“Before you read us the letter, what was the telegram about?” Grant asked.

“I’ll tell you after I read you the letter. It’ll make sense then.”

Jessica choked up a few times while reading Josh’s declaration of love and his marriage proposal. By the time she finished the letter, her mother’s face was tear-streaked.

Grant chuckled. “So you’ll be his mail order bride, huh? I thought you said you’d never be one!”

“I’ll be
Josh’s
mail order bride!”

Grant opened his arms, and Jessica rushed to him for a hug. Then she bent over to embrace her mother. “Oh, Mama, he’s in love with me! Josh is in love with me! I’m going to be his wife! Praise the Lord!”

Carrie held her close, and as they mingled their tears, she said, “Daddy and I have prayed for this moment, honey. We’re so happy for you!”

“All right, tell us about the telegram,” Grant said.

“Well, you heard in the letter that Josh said if I will accept his proposal, he’ll send the money for my travel expenses.”

“Yes?”

“When I opened the telegram, it said at the very beginning that if I hadn’t yet received the letter, I should wait till I did to read the telegram. Anyhow, he said that if I accept his proposal and come to Oregon City, he’s made arrangements for me to stay in Pastor and Mrs. Farrington’s home until the wedding. It’s a long telegram. Josh said that Mrs. Farrington is looking forward to my coming … that she’ll teach me some things about being a pastor’s wife while I’m staying with them.”

“That would be a great help to you,” Carrie said.

“It’s a bit frightening to think of being a pastor’s wife, but with Mrs. Farrington’s help and advice, I know it will be easier.

“Josh says we’ll set the wedding date after I arrive. And he says that when he receives my reply—if it’s a positive one—he’ll buy a house just outside of town that’s being vacated in about three weeks. Hoping and praying I will say yes, he’s already put earnest money on it. So … I’m going to write to Josh and tell him that I will marry him, but that I can’t come till Mama’s back on her feet again.”

“No, honey,” Carrie said. “You can’t put this off. The two of you deserve to be together. You must go to Josh right away.”

“But Mama, I can’t just up and leave you! Especially now that Dr. Stafford has said you can’t cook anymore. You’ve still got Daniel and David to feed and clean up after. Who would do the housework? I—”

“Wait a minute, honey. Tell her, Daddy.”

“Jessica, the Lord knew this was going to happen, and He has already provided someone—Bessie Williams—to move into the house and do the cooking and the housework. She’ll also be right here to look after your mother.”

Jessica’s face pinched. “I … I’m a little scared all of a sudden.”

“That’s only natural,” Carrie said. “When a young bird takes its flight out of the nest, it’s bound to be a little frightened. You know Daddy and I will miss you terribly, but we have no doubt this is God’s will, and we want you to be married to Josh. We’ll be so proud, knowing you are in the Lord’s service.”

“The hardest part about all of this is that Mama and I won’t be able to come to the wedding,” Grant said as he wiped tears from his cheeks. “It would just be too much to attempt a trip like that.”

“I know, Daddy. I wish you could both be there, but I know it’s not possible.”

“Ah, but when she gets better,” Grant said, “we’ll be out there to visit you.”

“That will be wonderful!”

Grant looked into Jessica’s eyes. “Honey, I’m not in a hurry to get rid of you, but Josh deserves a quick reply, don’t you think?”

“I’ll write a letter this afternoon.”

“How about you dictate a quick reply and let me send him a telegram?”

“Oh, Daddy! Would you do that?”

Grant looked at Carrie. “What do you think, Mama?”

“I agree. That sweet boy deserves his answer as soon as possible. A telegram is the way to go.”

It was Thursday, June 1, 1872. Josh Cornell and Casey Harmon were working together at the lumber mill, cutting bark from logs that had been brought down from the camp. While they planed the bark off, Josh talked to Casey about the spiritual growth he was seeing
in Casey’s life. The two men were becoming close friends.

“So you’ve been reading your Bible an hour every morning and every night, eh?”

Casey nodded. “Can’t get enough of it.”

“I can tell you’re in the Book a lot, the way you answer questions when I fire them at you. You’re getting doctrinally stable plenty fast for a new convert.”

“I’m trying. Of course, Jed and I do a lot of studying together at night, too.”

“There’s another fella who’s grown fast in his Christian life. I’m glad you two can room together.”

Their attention was drawn to Mary Ann Cornell, who was walking toward them carrying a yellow envelope.

“Josh, that sister of yours is the prettiest girl in the whole world.”

Josh’s eyebrows arched. “Oh? And you’ve seen all the girls in the world? Well, I can tell you about one in Colorado who’s just as pretty.”

“I know. You have. About sixty thousand times.”

“Sixty thousand? Casey, haven’t I told you a hundred billion times not to exaggerate?”

“What’s so funny?” Mary Ann asked as she drew up.

“Just some of my strange humor, sis. What’ve you got there?”

“Telegram for a Mr. Joshua Cornell. Comes from Denver, Colorado.”

“Really? Let me have it!”

Mary Ann swung the envelope behind her back and jutted her graceful jaw. “Only if you tell Casey and me what Jessica says.”

“Oh, no you don’t, girl! It’s private business. Come on, hand it over!”

Mary Ann giggled and handed the envelope to her brother.

Josh ripped it open and unfolded the yellow sheet of paper. His eyes grew wide and then filled with tears. He waved the paper over his head, shouting, “Whoope-e-e! Praise God! Hallelujah! I’m going to be Jessica’s husband! Casey, you’ll have to work alone for a little while. I’m going into town and send Jessica a telegram. Mary Ann,
tell Dad I’ll be back to work in an hour or so. And … and tell him why I’m going into town, will you?”

“Sure, big brother.” She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Congratulations.” She turned and went back in the direction of the office.

“One thing before I go, Casey. Ah … make that two things. Number one. God used your testimony to bring Rick Kuchler and Mike Olmstead to Jesus last Sunday in the meeting at the camp. You really handled it well, and I liked the way you used Scripture in your testimony.”

“Thank you. And this means …?”

“This means I want you to get busy and prepare a sermon. I want you to preach it a week from next Sunday at the camp.”

Casey’s face lost color. “Me? Preach a sermon?”

“You came close to preaching when you gave your testimony. Will you do it?”

“Well … I reckon I could do that.”

“Good! Now, number two. Mary Ann.”

“What about her?”

“You’ve got a big ol’ crush on her.”

The young man ducked his head and blushed.

“Want to know a little secret? She’s got a crush on you, too.”

Casey’s red face went pale. “You mean it?”

“I overheard her talking to one of her friends a couple of days ago. She really thinks you’re handsome and very charming.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Go slow, but get in motion, boy.”

Casey took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. Thanks for telling me.”

“You’re entirely welcome,” said Josh, turning away.

Josh had taken only a few steps when Casey said, “Josh … thanks for number one, too. Thanks for having enough confidence in me to ask me to preach.”

“You’re welcome,” Josh said with a wink.

O
N
S
ATURDAY
, J
UNE
3, Lydia Price couldn’t help but notice the lilt in Josh Cornell’s walk and the light in his eyes as he worked around her yard all morning.

It was almost noon when he tapped on her back door and called through the screen, “All done, Lydia. And the food smells as good as always!”

“Come on in, Josh,” Lydia called from the kitchen.

Josh sniffed the air as he entered the kitchen and pronounced, “Potato soup!”

Lydia smiled at him over her shoulder. “You know where the water bucket is. Wash your hands. Soup’s just about ready.”

Lydia filled glasses with cool lemonade and ladled hot soup into the bowls. Josh led them in thanking the Lord for the food, and they began to eat.

“All right, Joshua … what’s happened?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Pardon me?”

“I think I know you quite well, Josh. You’re always happy in the Lord, and you’re a cheerful person by nature, but today I see more happiness and cheer than usual. Want to share it?”

Josh gave her a wide smile. “I’m getting married!”

“Married! I didn’t even know you were engaged.”

“Well, it happened too fast for a formal engagement.”

“I guess it did. I haven’t seen you with any young lady at church, and you’ve never told me about being in love. Come on, now, who is she?”

“You haven’t met her. Jessica lives in Colorado.”

“Oh, I see. Long distance romance, eh?”

“I guess you could call it that.”

“How long have you known her?”

“Since I was twelve and she was seven.”

“Really? Talk about childhood sweethearts. Tell me about her.”

While they ate, Josh told her about his relationship with Jessica from the days at Fort Union, New Mexico, up to the present. She would be arriving in Oregon City on June 22, on the Wells Fargo stage from Ogden, Utah, and would stay at the Farringtons’ home until the wedding.

“Have you set a date?” Lydia asked.

“Not yet. We’ll do that when Jessica gets here.” His grin grew into a chuckle.

“What’s so funny?”

“Jessica had a close friend who became one of those mail order brides.”

“Oh?”

“And when this friend told Jessica she was considering becoming a mail order bride, Jessica said she would never do such a thing. But I told her that if she accepted my proposal and came to Oregon and married me, that would make her a mail order bride. And she’ll soon be on her way!” He laughed again.

Lydia laughed with him. “She must be a wonderful girl.”

“That she is, Lydia. Wonderful, beautiful inside and out, and everything I want in a wife.”

“I’m happy for you. You haven’t told me your Jessica’s last name.”

“A real common one. Smith. She’s Jessica Smith.”

A faraway look came into Lydia’s eyes. “Oh, now isn’t that something?”

“What?”

“I almost had Smith for my married name. I was engaged to an army officer named Smith. He was killed in the Mexican War.”

Josh thought for a moment, then said, “But the Lord, who guides His children’s lives, already had Dr. Price picked out for you.”