Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren Page A

to the next every week, and paying visits to sick parishioners all over the region throughout the week. The man easily surpassed seventy and suffered from chronic heart problems. Ben worried that he would keel over on some deserted country road, and no one would discover him till spring.
    As far as Ben was concerned, Little Hickman had grown big enough to support a preacher of its own, and he’d been hoping his longtime friend, Jonathan Atkins, might assume the position. Jon had recently completed his seminary degree and moved back to town.
    Of course, there were bound to be those who would balk at the idea of having to increase their giving. A full-time preacher would require a salary. It would seem there were some in the church who had not yet caught the vision that God was bigger than any of them could imagine. Just the same, he meant to bring up the matter at the next church council meeting.
    “Do you suppose he’ll have a peppermint stick in his pocket?”
    Ben gave his daughter another grin. “He usually does. But don’t ask him for one. That would not be polite.”
    “I know that, Papa. Usually I just go up to him and smile very pretty, and that is all it takes to get him to reach into his pocket.”
    “Lili,” Ben said in a scolding tone while fighting back a smile, “where do you learn such impish ways?”
    Shrugging, she laughed and skipped out of the house, leaving him to tend to a whimpering Molly.
    The schoolhouse was packed to the gills this morning. Whether it was because people wanted to check out the improvements inside, or whether they were hoping to get a look at the new teacher, Ben couldn’t say. He wanted to believe it was because folks were anxious to worship God on this hotter-than-usual August morning.
    He spotted Miss Merriwether almost immediately. There she was, bright as could be in her rose-colored gown and prim little hat. She’d found a place in the very front row and, although he wouldn’t have minded greeting her, he certainly wouldn’t make a point to do so. At least there were several folks gathered around her to make her feel welcome. For that Ben was happy.
    “Papa, there’s Miss Merriwether,” Lili said, tugging on his arm as they made their way past other worshippers to sit on a bench about halfway back.
    “So I see.”
    “Can we go sit with her?” she asked midway down the pew.
    “No, Lili. We will sit here.”
    “Can I go sit with her?”
    “We will sit as a family.”
    Molly began to fidget as soon as they sat, and Ben told her in a whisper to behave, bringing about a batch of tears. Frustrated, Ben shifted her on his lap and jostled her, but she wouldn’t be comforted. When Molly’s cries intensified and she started kicking, several heads turned, particularly those of the women. Somehow he managed to ignore their blatant stares and kept up with his incessant bouncing.
    To Ben’s relief Carl Hardy went to the front and led the gathering in the singing of the first hymn. Ben sang out in his deep bass voice, hoping to drown out the sounds of his anxious child. Lili paid no mind to her sister’s whimpers, more bent on getting a better view of the much more exciting Eliza Merriwether.
    At the close of the five-verse song, Molly was still going strong. In fact, she’d geared up for her second round by the sounds of it, her blotchy, puffy face and runny nose a clear indication of her sour mood. “Lili, stay here,” Ben instructed quietly. “I’ll try to calm Molly outside. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
    “Can I go sit with Miss Merriwether?” Lili whispered loudly.
    Pausing in the middle of the row, and knowing he was blocking the view of everyone behind him, he nodded in haste. He was in no position to argue with her, and Lili knew it. He would have to speak with her later for having manipulated him unfairly, particularly when he’d already told her no. Of course, he’d also told her they would sit as a family, and now here he was deserting