The Tender Flame (30 page)

Josh led her through the door and into the parlor.

“This furniture looks brand-new,” Jessica said. “You didn’t buy it with the house?”

“No, ma’am. I bought it all new.”

In addition to the parlor, there were two bedrooms, a kitchen with eating space, and a small study for Josh. As they went from room to room, Jessica commented that their tastes in furniture were very much alike.

“Oh, darling,” Jessica said when they returned to the parlor, “it’s just perfect for us!”

“You really like it?”

“It’s a fairy palace! You’ve made me the happiest girl in the world!”

Their lips came together in a sweet, tender kiss that carried the promise of a world of love and joy beyond compare.

Josh took her by the hand. “Well, that’s the tour, m’lady. I’m sure there are things you’ll want to do to the house to give it your own flair.”

“Well, I can see a few things I’d change, like maybe dress up the windows the way I want them, and a few other things here and there. Would that be all right?”

“Of course. That’s what I want you to do. After all, it’s your house. You fix it up just like you want it.”

This time they kissed longer and with more feeling. When they pulled back, Josh continued to hold Jessica in his arms as she said,
“It’s a very pretty house, darling, but the sweet presence of the Lord and the love we have for each other will make it a home.”

Josh agreed wholeheartedly and kissed her again.

T
HE PLEASING AROMA OF DINNER
wafted outside when Pastor Farrington opened the door and invited Josh and Jessica in. They could hear voices coming from the rear of the house.

“Maddie, Josh and Jessica are here!” Farrington called.

Brett got up from the couch in the parlor, and the three women appeared in the hallway outside the kitchen door. Madeline could see Jessica looking around timidly, apprehension in her eyes, and her heart went out to her. The poor dear. She rushed forward to greet her.

“Welcome, children! Josh, you can go sit with the men in the parlor. Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes.” She looked over her shoulder at Martha and Mary Ann. “Ladies, if you will stay with the cooking, I’d like to take Jessica to see her room.”

“We’ll take care of it, Maddie,” Martha said.

Jessica felt Madeline’s arm slip around her waist as the older woman said, “Come, dear, let me show you your room.” Madeline guided Jessica down the hall to an open door just beyond her sewing room. “Here we are, Jessica.”

“Oh, Mrs. Farrington, it’s lovely!”

The deep feather bed looked so tempting to her tired body that she could scarcely take her eyes off it. With an inward sigh she pulled her gaze away and took in the rest of the room. She spied her trunk, overnight bag, and boxes in the corner by the window.

The coverlet, drapes, and overstuffed chair were of the same material—a blue-and-white background with a sprinkling of soft mauve and pink flowers twined together by vines and leaves. A white
eyelet bedskirt peeked from underneath the spread, and the same white eyelet was at the windows.

There was a gleaming oak dresser with a large mirror on the wall above it, a nightstand next to the bed, and a large clothespress in a corner. Next to the clothespress stood a washstand with a basin and a pitcher of water. Colorful hand towels hung on a small rack behind it. Flowered rugs in muted colors covered part of the gleaming hardwood, and various delicate accessories adorned the room.

Jessica took hold of Madeline’s hand. “This is all so beautiful. Thank you so much for taking me in.”

“Honey, this is your very own room for as long as you need to stay.”

“I think I’ll tell Josh this room has to go to our house, or the wedding’s off!”

Madeline laughed. “I’m glad you like it, dear.” She noticed Jessica eyeing the wash basin and pitcher.

“Would you like to freshen up?”

“If you don’t mind. It’s been a long, dusty trip from Ogden.”

“All right. I’ll get on back to the kitchen. There’s plenty of time before dinner for you to change and get your breath.”

“I won’t take the time to change clothes, but I would like to wash the dust off my face. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Jessica poured water into the bowl on the washstand. As she pressed a towel to her face, she stepped toward the dresser. She looked into the gold-framed mirror and saw a tired girl with happy eyes. She patted and tidied her hair with damp hands and then began brushing the dust and wrinkles from her dress as best she could. Her eyes trailed to the overstuffed chair. She walked over to it and slowly lowered herself into its cushiony depths.

Almost instantly her head drooped and her eyes closed. She jerked upright and reluctantly left the plush chair, promising herself to come back to it as soon as possible. Moving back to the mirror, she gave her cheeks a good pinch to bring some color into them, then left the room.

Madeline was placing a steaming bowl of gravy on the table when Jessica entered the dining room.

“You can go into the parlor, honey,” Madeline said. “Mary Ann’s in there. Martha and I have it just about ready.”

“If there’s anything I can do?”

“It’s all right, dear, thank you. You go ahead and join the others.”

When Jessica entered the parlor, Josh went to her. “Honey, are you all right? You look a little peaked.”

“I’m just a bit tired. Other than that, I’m fine.”

“Dinner is served, folks!” Madeline announced by the parlor door.

A bouquet of summer flowers and tall, flickering candles graced the center of the dining room table. Madeline loved to cook and had outdone herself for this occasion. While the meal progressed, the Cornells asked about Jessica’s family.

“Daniel is planning on going to college to prepare for a business career. David has his heart set on a military career and, like my father did, he’s making plans to go to West Point.”

“Commendable for both of them,” Brett said.

“They’re fine boys, Mr. Cornell. I’m very proud of them.”

Jessica explained to the Farringtons that her father had been a major when she and her family were at Fort Union, and that at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, he was hit with shrapnel in his left leg which forced him to retire from military service. He was now a banker.

Her lips began to tremble when she explained her mother’s situation and what the doctor in Denver was doing to help her. “Dr. Stafford spoke optimistically when he examined Mama recently. I appreciate his attempt to keep her hopes up, as well as the rest of the family’s, but I’m … I’m really afraid Mama is not going to live a lot longer.”

Josh slipped an arm around her shoulders.

“Jessica,” Pastor Farrington said, “I’ll put your mother on the prayer list at church, and on Sunday, I’ll tell our people about her. I’m sure you agree there are no limitations on the Lord. If He wants to heal your mother of this disease, He can do it.”

“Thank you, Pastor. Yes, I believe He can, and I appreciate your concern very much.”

Farrington then said, “Josh, you and Jessica need to set your wedding date sometime soon. It would be good if the two of you were married for at least several months before you become pastor. This sweet girl needs some time to adjust to married life before she makes the big adjustment to being a pastor’s wife.”

“I understand, Pastor,” Josh said.

“What I am about to say has to remain between us at this point,” Farrington said as he ran his gaze over the faces at the table, “but I feel you should know. As Maddie and I have prayed about when to step aside, we feel the Lord is telling us to do it early next spring. We’ve come up with an exact date—the first Sunday of April. Both of us have peace from God that my last Sunday as pastor will be April 7.”

Josh looked at Jessica. “We’ll discuss it right away, Pastor, and come up with the wedding date.”

“I’m ready,” Jessica said with a smile.

When the meal was over, the men retired to the parlor, and the women cleared the table and washed dishes in the kitchen. Later, in order to give Josh and Jessica a few minutes alone, everyone but the young couple returned to the dining room. Josh and Jessica held hands as they sat on a love seat in the parlor.

“How about I take you to one of our fine eating establishments tomorrow evening?” Josh said. “I’ll bring a calendar, and we can talk about the wedding date then.”

“Sounds good to me.” Jessica’s eyes began to droop.

Josh touched her cheek. “You need to get to bed, sweet lady. I don’t want to leave you, but I can tell you’re completely worn out.”

When the door closed behind the Cornell family, Jessica thanked the Farringtons once again for letting her stay in their home, then went to her room. She leaned against her closed door for a moment and
whispered, “Thank You, Lord! Thank You for all Your blessings!”

She moved from the door and looked askance at her luggage, knowing she should unpack. Her jaded body rebelled at the idea. She gave in to her fatigue, opened her overnight bag, took out a clean nightgown, and moments later was dressed for bed. She unpinned her hair, gave it a quick brushing, then picked up her Bible and climbed into bed, propping pillows behind her.

She turned to Proverbs 31, and after a few minutes she closed the Bible and laid it on the nightstand. “That’s what I want Josh to feel about me, dear Lord. Far above rubies.”

Jessica snuggled into the feather tick. She felt a momentary wave of loneliness wash over her at the thought of her family, then prayed for God’s blessing on them and gave thanks for the Master’s tender care. Soon she was sleeping soundly as silver moonlight bathed her in its soft glow.

When Jessica awakened, she could tell by the sun’s position in the sky that she had slept quite late. Madeline was in the kitchen when Jessica appeared.

“Good morning, dear,” Madeline said. “I was just having my second cup of coffee. Come, sit down. I’ve got your breakfast simmering here on the stove.”

“It’s almost ‘good afternoon,’ Mrs. Farrington. I’m sorry. I never oversleep. I don’t know what—”

“Honey, you were a very tired young lady last night. I didn’t waken you because I knew you needed some extra sleep.”

Jessica ate breakfast then wrote to her parents, letting them know she had arrived safely in Oregon City and had been warmly received by everyone. Madeline walked to the post office with her, and on the way, told her they would start “Pastor’s Wife’s School” when they returned home. For the entire afternoon, the two women sat in the parlor as Madeline began preparing Jessica for the responsibilities and sacrifices that lay ahead in her role as a pastor’s wife.

That evening, Josh took Jessica to the Meadowlark Café for dinner and to discuss wedding plans.

“Is there a particular day of the week you’d like to get married?” he asked.

“I like Sunday afternoon weddings.”

“Well, guess what? So do I.”

“Then let’s make it on a Sunday afternoon.”

“We want to be proper in the length of our courtship, of course. Seems most folks think an engagement should last about six months. But since we have known each other for twelve years, I figure we don’t have to wait that long. What do you think?”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“And you heard Pastor Farrington say we should be married for several months before I become pastor of the church.” Josh handed her a small calendar he had taken from his pocket. “I figure a two-month courtship would be sufficient. We could get married, say, Sunday, August 27. That would be a little over two months from now. From the first of September to the seventh of April comes out to a few days over seven months. In my estimation, anything less than seven months wouldn’t be ‘several.’ What do you think?”

Jessica studied the calendar for a moment, turning it over to look at the year 1873. She smiled and said, “Oh, I agree a thousand percent. Anything less than seven months wouldn’t be several months. You are so right, darling.” Her eyes were sparkling.

Josh reached across the table and took her hand. “Then we’ll tell Pastor that we want our wedding on Sunday, August 27.”

They left the café and took a moonlight walk outside of town.