The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin Page B

joke. “It’s girl talk, Reverend. I’m trying to get Adie to stay for the Bible study.”
    Of all the confounded choices…If she said no, Mary would think she had feelings for Josh. If she said yes, she’d have to sit through a harangue with Stephen in her lap. Adie had heard enough scripture from Old Man Long to last a lifetime. At night the family would sit in a circle while he read. Sometimes he thundered just at her.
    Adie couldn’t see Josh thundering at anyone. On the other hand, she could imagine Mary teasing her for days. She needed a way out.
    She looked to Josh for an excuse. “What if Stephen cries?”
    “So what?”
    “Babies fuss. Back in Kansas—” Adie sealed her lips. She’d slipped, badly. Emily had been in Kansas.
    Mentioning it had to rouse his curiosity, but he looked disinterested. “This isn’t Kansas.”
    Without a bit of hesitation, he walked out of the kitchen, leaving her alone with Mary. Without an excuse, Adie shrugged. “I’ll go, but I warned you about Stephen.”
    Mary’s eyes twinkled with mischief, but she kept silent.
    Adie lifted the bottle from the pot of water and followed her to the parlor. She saw Caroline and Bessie on the divan and Pearl on a hard chair from the dining room. She preferred it for her back. Josh was sitting in the armchair. Mary gave Adie the rocker next to him and squeezed onto the divan.
    When the women were settled, he opened his Bible. “Ladies, shall we pray?”
    Adie thought of Old Man Long. She wished she hadn’t come, but she couldn’t leave now.
    The women bowed their heads. Adie followed their lead, but her neck ached with old resentments. In the Long home, she’d worked from dawn to dusk. Once she’d fallen asleep during the Bible reading and Old Man Long had slapped her for showing disrespect. As Josh asked the Lord to open their hearts, Adie’s chest ached. She’d been eight when her father went to pan gold and never returned. She’d been twelve when her mother died and sixteen when Timothy Long had trapped her in the attic. Where was God on that miserable night?
    “Amen.” Josh’s voice rang with a joy Adie didn’t feel. He looked at her, then scanned the other faces. “Before we start, I have an announcement. This Sunday at ten o’clock, I’m holding a church service.”
    Pearl looked pleased. “Where?”
    “At Brick’s Saloon.”
    “A saloon!” said Caroline.
    Mary raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with that?”
    “I’m just surprised,” Caroline answered.
    So was Adie.
    Bessie smiled. “It sounds like you’re putting down roots, Reverend.”
    “No,” he said. “I’m just planting seeds. Someone else will tend them when I’m gone.” He scanned their faces, stopping when he reached Adie. “You’re all invited. In fact, I’m hoping for a little help.”
    “What do you need?” Caroline asked.
    “Cookies would be nice.”
    “I’ll make macaroons.”
    “Can anyone sing?” Josh asked.
    Mary’s face lit up with interest, but just as quickly her smile sagged. “I used to.”
    “Then you still can,” he said. “Any hymn would do.”
    “Can I think about it?” she asked.
    “Sure.”
    He looked at Adie but said nothing. She hid her eyes by staring at Stephen’s nose.
    Josh went back to business. “I thought we’d talk about a Psalm tonight. Any suggestions?”
    Caroline, seated on Josh’s left, looked poised in a blue dress with a lace scarf draped around her neck. She’d washed her face and repinned her hair. Across from her, Adie felt like an out-of-place sparrow. Her brown dress had a spot on the bodice, and her hair had become untidy.
    Caroline smiled demurely. “You pick, Reverend. I’m sure you have a favorite.”
    “I do.”
    Josh closed the Bible and recited words that Adie had never heard.
    “O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
    Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandeth my thoughts afar off.”
    His voice went deep and low, slowing as the psalmist