Keeping his attentionon the sermon and off Josie was not the easiest feat Arlen had ever accomplished. He doubted she had any idea how much that shade of green made her skin glow or how it brought out the strands of gold and red in her hair.
Although, he admitted to himself, he would have found her just as fetching in her usual trousers and men’s shirt.
When the services were over, Arlen found himself blinking in confusion. He didn’t remember a single word the pastor had said. As the congregation began to exit the pews, Arlen extended his arm to Josie. She froze, looking at his arm as if it were made of something sharp.
“It’s merely a polite gesture,” he said, quiet enough so that only she could hear. It wasn’t exactly the truth, but he wasn’t about to tell her that he’d spent half the sermon imagining her arm wrapped about his, or thinking about how it might feel if she’d let him take her hand.
They stood there a moment, and just as Arlen thought the other congregants might take notice that something was amiss between them, Josie slipped her arm through his, her gloved hand warm even through his jacket sleeve.
Arlen turned so she wouldn’t see the grin that had spread across his face. He led them from the pew to where George was deep in conversation with another man. Arlen merely nodded at the man, not wanting to interrupt the discussion they were enjoying. Josie walked at his side as they left the church and emerged into the bright, warm day. The road stretched out before them and off to the right and across the way was a simple little park. Turning, Arlen’s eyes landed on the rows of carved wooden crosses next to the church. George had explained that there was one cross for each man who had perished in the blizzards. Those crosses seemed to go on for eternity. It served as a reminder of the sorrow this town had survived—and of the stark realities of life out here on the plains.
Josie paused beside him as she stopped to say hello to a friend, and Arlen found himself being introduced to one Mr. and Mrs. Landry, who ran the post and telegraph office in town.
Mr. Landry was friendly enough, welcoming Arlen and inviting him to stop by the office at any time. But his wife studied Arlen with an appraising look, as if she were trying to assess his worth at just a glance.
“It is good to meet you, Mr. Thomas,” she finally said. “Josie is my dearest friend. She’s more like a sister to me, and I only want the best for her. I hope you understand.”
Her narrowed gaze made Arlen want to pull on his collar. He suspected that not much got past Mrs. Landry.
“Faith,” her husband said in a reproving tone.
She gave him a smile that was nothing but sweetness and light. “I’m certain Mr. Thomas understands.” She looked back to Arlen and Josie. “And I hope to see you visiting soon.”
After the Landrys said their goodbyes, Arlen glanced down at Josie. “I believe that woman would do me harm if I acted in any sort of ungentlemanly way toward you.”
“Oh, yes, she would,” Josie said nonchalantly, as if what Mrs. Landry had said was perfectly normal and expected. “You ought to have heard the words she had for her sister’s new husband. Although Mr. Wendler has proven himself and now I believe all is well between them.”
Arlen felt a momentary stab of pity for poor Mr. Wendler. At least Josie wasn’t related to the surprisingly formidable Mrs. Landry.
Beside him, Josie pulled at her dress as if it made her uncomfortable. The gesture made Arlen smile. As pretty as she was in the frock, he had to admit he missed her in her usual unconventional clothing. The trousers and oversized shirts fit her personality better than any set of skirts could.
“Where is George?” She craned her neck to look past the knot of people standing in front of the church door. She suddenly stiffened, and Arlen followed her gaze to see the pastor striding toward them.
“Oh, no,” Josie said under her breath. Her fingers tightened against Arlen’s arm, and he raised his other hand to rest upon hers. It was a reflexive reaction, and not until his hand sat atop hers did he realize how intimate it was. But Josie said nothing about it, and when Arlen looked down at her, he saw that her expression was frozen into something between a forced smile and a wild fear.
“It’s all right,” he felt compelled to say in her ear.
“It isn’t,” she said under her breath, her small fingers into Arlen’s arm. “It truly isn’t.”
“My dear friends!” Pastor Collins said when he reached them. “Mrs. Gresham, you look well.” He eyed Arlen with undisguised curiosity.
“Pastor Collins,” Josie said, and despite the fact that her voice was polite enough, Arlen detected a note of irritation just beneath the surface. Her hand certainly hadn’t eased its grip on his arm. “Ar— Mr. Thomas, might I introduce you to Pastor Barnaby Collins?” Her soft brown eyes left his face to land on the preacher’s. “Pastor Collins, this Mr. Arlen Thomas. Mr. Thomas is newly arrived in Last Chance.”
“Are you now.” The pastor didn’t seem to phrase his words as a question, and so Arlen said nothing in response except, “Pleased to meet you, Pastor. I enjoyed your sermon.” He didn’t bother to mention he hadn’t heard much of it at all.
That brought a smile to man’s otherwise pointed face. “And I, you. I’m glad you enjoyed today’s message. “Jesus’s trials in the desert are one of my favorite subjects upon which to speak.”
That didn’t surprise Arlen one bit. The man hardly seemed the sort to dwell long upon the stories of turning water into wine or feeding the thousands.
“Might I ask what brings you to our little town?” The pastor’s gaze went quickly to where Josie’s arm rested upon Arlen’s. It was evident that he already knew. After all, according to Josie, he was the one pressuring the ladies in town to remarry. He must have wanted to hear it directly from Arlen’s mouth.
Josie glanced up quickly at him, her eyes showing her feelings clear as day.
Not one to tolerate either intrusions into his business or seeing a woman fearful of her own pastor, Arlen thought he’d put an end to this interrogation immediately. He lifted his lips into a slight smile. “Why, I’ve come to marry Mrs. Gresham.”
Arlen didn’t dare look at Josie. Her eyes nearly seared a hole into the side of his face. Meanwhile, Pastor Collins’s expression burst into one of immense joy as he clasped his hands together.
“Oh, I’m so pleased to hear that! Our Mrs. Gresham hasn’t been an easy one to marry off,” he said.
