Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
As Torin sang the lines, his chest opened. His baritone blended harmoniously with Ivy’s lilting voice, with Jewel’s muddled words. And, in that moment, he felt a connection with God and the people in the church—friends and strangers, alike—which flowed into the greatest sense of relief and gladness.In spite of my fears and doubts, I’m so grateful I’ve come to church.
Yet, even as he felt uplifted, Torin knew more hurdles lay ahead—more people to meet, more potential critics of his daughter. But for the first time, that knowledge didn’t frighten him.
Maybe life’s goodness will be enough to handle whatever else comes.
21
Because the Nortons needed to be at the church early, Reverend Joshua suggested that Ivy and Cora accompany them, so they would already be inside and seated before the majority of the congregation arrived. “That way,” he said, with a humorous glint in his eyes, “you won’t be pestered by introductions and explanations and can approach the service in a more contemplative state of mind.”
So when Ivy entered the church with Cora, they had the place to themselves, aside from a few cowboy types in the back row, who she politely nodded at before moving on to the second pew on the right, where they’d been told to sit.
Brian joined them, sliding in from the opposite side to sit next to Cora, who gave her betrothed a sparkling smile.
While happy for the couple, with more poignancy than at such previous moments, Ivy couldn’t help envying their loving relationship.
Soon after, the Bellaires moved into the front pew, leaving plenty of space for the Nortons.
Ivy glanced around. The interior was commonplace, except for the beautiful stained-glass window—the centerpiece of thefront wall, which Uncle Andre had designed and donated to celebrate Delia’s marriage to Reverend Joshua. The colored light shining through the window adorned the wooden walls, floor, and pews with color. A small cross stood on the altar next to a vase containing red roses and some blooms she didn’t recognize.
With a smile, she visualized how the new church currently being built under Uncle Andre’s auspices would seem grandiose in comparison. But this simple one had witnessed the rituals of life and death and sheltered the congregants of several generations.The very walls must be soaked with meaning.
Individuals, couples, and family groups trickled inside. Sitting in the second pew in her new outfit and the hat that she’d selected from half a dozen Constance and Elsie had offered for her to choose from, and well aware of curious eyes upon her, Ivy didn’t feel contemplative at all. It wasn’t that she feared meeting new people. She just didn’t want so many of them focused on her.
In addition, Hank had regaled her with his sorry tales of wife hunting, which, while humorous, showed how few available young women lived in the area. He told her to be prepared to receive attentions from men, shaking his head with mock chiding. “Pretty, intelligent, educated, not too old—” he winked at Elsie “—not too young.”
Elsie had lifted her chin and pretended to sniff. But then she broke into giggles. At age seventeen, she was several years younger than Ivy and Cora and adamant that, although she adored the man, she wasn’t about to get married to Hank any time soon.
“Men of all ages and stations in life will come swarming like bees to honey. Not that we have many men of elevated station.” Hank paused, obviously thinking. “None that I can think of are bachelors or widowers.”
For a woman who’d had very little social life in New York and no interest from potential suitors, the idea of courtship daunted her. Ivy would have been more eager for male attention if shefeltavailable, instead of taken.I’m not, she scolded.I’m free to be courted.
Being surrounded by her friends and for Cora to whisper the names of some of the people she’d heard stories about but had not yet met helped calm her mood. The front row was mostly empty. Rose and Andre took their places halfway leaving space on either side of them.
From the other side of the aisle, Elsie and Hank filed into their pew to sit on Brian’s other side. Some space remained between Ivy and the end of the pew, enough for two people, Constance and Dr. Angus, she surmised.
Elsie took a moment to peruse Ivy’s appearance. “That dress, if I do say so myself, looks stunning on you.” She clasped her hands together. “I’m glad we were able to finish it for today.”
Ivy glanced down at herself. She did feel her best and ruefully lamented that Torin wouldn’t be present to see her in all her glory.
When she looked across the aisle, she saw a plump, narrow-eyed woman, with graying brown hair, sitting next to a tall, thin man with a bulbous nose, gazing at her with a speculative expression. She didn’t need Cora’s whisper to surmise they were the Cobbs. She’d heard about the unpleasant mercantile owners. The stuffed finch on the woman’s hat was the giveaway. Elsie had complained of the woman’s penchant to adorn her hat with birds.
An attractive blonde in a fashionable blue gown took a seat at the piano in the far left front and carefully arranged her skirts.
“Elizabeth Sanders,” Cora leaned over to whisper.
She recalled the story of the Boston heiress who came to Sweetwater Springs to stay with friends and ended up marryinga cowboy. When Mrs. Sanders began playing, “There Is A fountain,” and Ivy listened with a critical ear. The woman played well, very well. But not as good as Katie.
A wave of missing her sister went through Ivy. She inhaled a deep breath, catching the faint perfume of the flower arrangement on the altar. In that moment, she resolved to invite Katie to Sweetwater Springs. Ivy could purchase the ticket from her savings.
Of course, she’d have to first talk to the Bellaires. But she surmised that one of Uncle Andre’s dearly held goals was to draw as many congenial and talented people to live here as he could contrive.
Ivy doubted Katie would have enough courage to leave home. But at least her sister would know she was welcome if she chose.
Ivy tried to compose her thoughts away from absent sisters and prospective suitors and into the appropriate contemplative state.
