be willing to let me use the saloon on Sunday.”
Bull pushed away from the tree. He was big and brawny and used his body in a way meant to intimidate Levi.
Levi didn’t budge an inch nor did he flinch. He’d met bigger, meaner men in his day. They didn’t scare him. Big didn’t make right.
Bull pushed his face to within an inch of Levi’s. “Preacher, you stay away from my saloon on Sunday and every other day of the week. I won’t have you interferring with my business.”
Levi felt the silent watchfulness of his congregation. They waited to see how he’d react to this bully. He slowly drew himself to his full height, holding the Bible at chest level like a shield or perhaps a sword. “I will go where the Lord directs, when the Lord directs, and to whom the Lord directs. I will not fear any man when it comes to serving my Lord.”
Bull edged closer, but Levi refused to move, forcing the man to teeter on the balls of his feet. He stepped back, a nasty look on his face. “Stay away from the saloon.” He strode off, thunder in every footstep.
Levi turned away. Caught Glory’s watchful look but could not read her expression. Admiration? He welcomed such. But perhaps it was only warning. Did she think him foolish for standing up to Bull? Or perhaps he only wanted to see something he could rejoice in. Could be she was only curious as any observer.
Glory tried to hurry Joanna and Mandy away from the church service. Levi tangled her thoughts with his words and actions. She’d come to the meeting fully expecting a fire-and-brimstone sermon. Warning about repentance and sackcloth. Instead, he preached love and trust. Neither of which she had any faith in.
Who was this Levi Powers? Seeing him help Mr. Phelps and Widow Kish, observing his fatherly way with Toby, and now hearing his words of welcome… well, it left her struggling for balance. Who was he?
Who was she? Did God really love her? She’d once believed. When Ma was alive. But it was so long ago she could barely recall, and she was but a child then, trusting her parents to take care of her.
That had changed, and she was no longer a child.
“I’m ready to go,” Joanna said.
“Finally.” Glory didn’t bother to disguise her impatience.
Mandy nudged Glory in the ribs. “Still think he’s too good-looking to be a preacher?”
Joanna shot them a startled look. “What’s looks got to do with whether or not he’s a preacher?”
Glory pinched Mandy’s elbow, warning her not to josh with Joanna about it. Glory didn’t much care to have another sister mocking her.
Mandy gave a naughty grin but said no more about the subject. She fell in on one side of Joanna and Glory on the other as they trooped toward home. The stopping house served only two meals a day—breakfast and supper—so the girls had the rest of the afternoon to themselves. No need to hurry back to the kitchen.
As they walked, Glory mulled over Levi’s words.
“Read your Bible. Find God’s promises.”
Her voice careless, she asked, “Didn’t Ma used to have a Bible? I wonder what happened to it.”
“I’ve got it,” Joanna said. “I think it’s time I put it out so we can read it. I know Ma would have wanted us to.” She sighed like she carried a heavy pack on her back. “Ma would be disappointed with me for not living up to her expectations.”
“No, she wouldn’t,” Mandy and Glory said at once. Glory fell back half a step and cast a protesting look at Mandy. They’d seen Joanna get all worried and overly caring about how her younger sisters were turning out. She knew from Mandy’s expression she didn’t welcome such a mood any more than Glory did.
“We’re grown-up now,” Glory said. “You don’t have to worry about us so much.” She vowed she would be more careful about how she acted and—she knew Joanna hated her going in the saloon even if it was to get Toby—where she went.
Joanna shrugged. “I will always feel responsible as the
Bull pushed away from the tree. He was big and brawny and used his body in a way meant to intimidate Levi.
Levi didn’t budge an inch nor did he flinch. He’d met bigger, meaner men in his day. They didn’t scare him. Big didn’t make right.
Bull pushed his face to within an inch of Levi’s. “Preacher, you stay away from my saloon on Sunday and every other day of the week. I won’t have you interferring with my business.”
Levi felt the silent watchfulness of his congregation. They waited to see how he’d react to this bully. He slowly drew himself to his full height, holding the Bible at chest level like a shield or perhaps a sword. “I will go where the Lord directs, when the Lord directs, and to whom the Lord directs. I will not fear any man when it comes to serving my Lord.”
Bull edged closer, but Levi refused to move, forcing the man to teeter on the balls of his feet. He stepped back, a nasty look on his face. “Stay away from the saloon.” He strode off, thunder in every footstep.
Levi turned away. Caught Glory’s watchful look but could not read her expression. Admiration? He welcomed such. But perhaps it was only warning. Did she think him foolish for standing up to Bull? Or perhaps he only wanted to see something he could rejoice in. Could be she was only curious as any observer.
Glory tried to hurry Joanna and Mandy away from the church service. Levi tangled her thoughts with his words and actions. She’d come to the meeting fully expecting a fire-and-brimstone sermon. Warning about repentance and sackcloth. Instead, he preached love and trust. Neither of which she had any faith in.
Who was this Levi Powers? Seeing him help Mr. Phelps and Widow Kish, observing his fatherly way with Toby, and now hearing his words of welcome… well, it left her struggling for balance. Who was he?
Who was she? Did God really love her? She’d once believed. When Ma was alive. But it was so long ago she could barely recall, and she was but a child then, trusting her parents to take care of her.
That had changed, and she was no longer a child.
“I’m ready to go,” Joanna said.
“Finally.” Glory didn’t bother to disguise her impatience.
Mandy nudged Glory in the ribs. “Still think he’s too good-looking to be a preacher?”
Joanna shot them a startled look. “What’s looks got to do with whether or not he’s a preacher?”
Glory pinched Mandy’s elbow, warning her not to josh with Joanna about it. Glory didn’t much care to have another sister mocking her.
Mandy gave a naughty grin but said no more about the subject. She fell in on one side of Joanna and Glory on the other as they trooped toward home. The stopping house served only two meals a day—breakfast and supper—so the girls had the rest of the afternoon to themselves. No need to hurry back to the kitchen.
As they walked, Glory mulled over Levi’s words.
“Read your Bible. Find God’s promises.”
Her voice careless, she asked, “Didn’t Ma used to have a Bible? I wonder what happened to it.”
“I’ve got it,” Joanna said. “I think it’s time I put it out so we can read it. I know Ma would have wanted us to.” She sighed like she carried a heavy pack on her back. “Ma would be disappointed with me for not living up to her expectations.”
“No, she wouldn’t,” Mandy and Glory said at once. Glory fell back half a step and cast a protesting look at Mandy. They’d seen Joanna get all worried and overly caring about how her younger sisters were turning out. She knew from Mandy’s expression she didn’t welcome such a mood any more than Glory did.
“We’re grown-up now,” Glory said. “You don’t have to worry about us so much.” She vowed she would be more careful about how she acted and—she knew Joanna hated her going in the saloon even if it was to get Toby—where she went.
Joanna shrugged. “I will always feel responsible as the
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