Brides of Idaho by Linda; Ford

You’re looking much better,” he said to Mr. Phelps.
    “Doing much better, thanks to you.” He squeezed Levi’s hand hard then released it and found a place for them to sit.
    Others arrived. People he’d not yet met. A dozen people from the stopping house who decided to delay further travel until after the service. It was almost time to start. He swallowed back his disappointment. He’d hoped Glory and her sisters would come.
    He took his place at the front and prepared to start the service.
    At that moment, the three sisters strode down the path. Each wore her usual outfit—Mandy in loose pants and baggy shirt, Joanna in a split skirt and dark brown blouse, and Glory in tight britches, form-fitting shirt, and worn brown vest. But he had never seen anything he thought looked finer.
    He smiled at them, his gaze skimming the older and younger sister and resting on Glory.
    But she didn’t return his smile. She scowled.
    He turned away to face the gathered people, his smile widening. Her frown perhaps said more than a smile. It revealed the same uncertainty about her feelings for him as he had for her. He let the satisfaction of such knowledge fill his heart. Better to be frowned at than to be ignored.
    “Welcome. We’ll begin with a song.” He didn’t have hymnals but chose hymns familiar to most and led them in singing, pleased to hear some strong voices from the congregation. Mr. Phelps had a deep voice that carried the others along.
    Then Levi began his sermon. He’d wanted to preach on rebellion being as the sin of witchcraft, or whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. But he had no peace about such passages and instead chose others.
    “Today, I want to remind each of you about God’s everlasting love. In Jeremiah thirty-one, verse three, God says, ‘I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’” He went on to give illustrations from the scripture of God loving people even when they failed and sinned.
    He tried not to speak directly to Glory though his heart strayed there on its own. She watched steadily. But her expression revealed nothing, giving him no idea whether the words spoke to her or not. But that was not his responsibility. God would use His Word in His way. Levi’s task was to speak it.
    Toward the end of the service, a large man sauntered to the edge of the clearing and leaned against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest. He plainly, silently said he wasn’t there to hear from God.
    Levi continued. “I want to remind you of the assurance in Numbers chapter twenty-three, verse nineteen. ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?’ and again in Joshua twenty-three, verse fourteen, ‘Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you… not one thing hath failed therof.’ God keeps His promises. I challenge you, read your Bible, find God’s promises, trust them. ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.’ Psalm thirty-four, verse eight.”
    He closed in prayer then moved to join the others, thanking them for attending and letting them know he was available for spiritual counsel or whatever they might need from him.
    Many thanked him.
    He sought Glory’s eyes, wondering what she thought. More than once he felt he spoke directly to her, praying God would use his words to heal her hurt and disappointment. But she scrambled to her feet and seemed in a great hurry to get Joanna and Mandy to leave. However, they seemed more interested in speaking to their neighbors.
    The late arrival still leaned against the nearby tree, a mocking expression on his face.
    Levi strode over and introduced himself.
    The man didn’t unbend an inch. “I’m Bull Johnson.”
    “The saloon owner. I’ve been hoping to talk to you. I need a building for church services and thought you might