Sam paused, and I was suddenly afraid the pastor would turn him out. I knew God never would, but humans were flawed creatures.
I led the way, and Sam and the children followed.
The inside of the building was long and narrow with wooden benches on either side of a central aisle. Just like Bess’s Place, the canvas shifted and waved as people moved about.
An older couple stood just inside the entrance, warm andwelcoming smiles on their faces. Their countenances put my heart at ease as I approached them.
“Glory be,” the woman said with a wide smile as she opened her arms for a hug. “It’s another woman!”
Her husband laughed, his eyes twinkling with joy. “Maria has been praying for a friend for months,” he said. “And look what the good Lord has provided.”
Maria’s hug was just as warm as her smile, and when I pulled back, she rubbed my upper arms with enthusiasm. “I hope you didn’t mind that hug. I couldn’t help myself. It’s so good to have you here, my dear.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m Reverend Green,” the man said, “and this is my wife, Mrs. Green.”
“Maria,” she said with a playful wrinkle of her nose. “Call me Maria.”
“I’m Ally Adams,” I said and then motioned to Sam.
“And this must be Mr. Adams,” Reverend Green said, extending his hand.
Sam paused and glanced at me.
“This is Mr. Kendal,” I supplied, quickly, hoping to cover the blunder. “My employer.”
“Goodness.” The reverend chuckled. “Maria is always telling me I shouldn’t make assumptions. Pardon me, Miss Adams.” He continued to extend his hand.
“I’m from Sydney Town,” Sam said, not yet reaching for his hand. “I thought you should know in case you don’t welcome ex-convicts into your sanctuary, in which case, I should leave.”
Reverend Green’s eyebrows jumped high as he continued to chuckle. “You just got here, son. The last thing I want you to do is leave.” His voice sobered as he took a step closer and presented his hand again. “It doesn’t matter where we come from or where we start, as long as we end up with God. I’m happy you’re here.”
Sam cautiously accepted Reverend Green’s handshake, and my heart breathed a sigh of relief.
14
September 16, 1929
Hollywood, California
It was hard to keep my thoughts on the scene we were filming at Griffith Park that Monday afternoon. After church in1849, Sam and I began to make plans to go to the Yuba River. Since Father had been exhausted from the walk, he’d gone to bed immediately after we returned, and I had not yet told him what I planned to do. That conversation was just one of many things that troubled me as we filmed.
A dozen people stood behind and beside the camera as Spencer and I waited for the scene to begin. We’d already run it twice, but Papa wanted one more take. It was exhausting work, but we were almost done.
“I still think Laurie should be successful in getting the kiss in this scene,” Spencer said as he leaned against a tree and ran his finger over a piece of grass he’d plucked from a nearby clump.
I fanned myself and moved closer to the tree to stand in the shade. I was wearing a hoop skirt, layers of petticoats, and a long-sleeved gown. My wig made my scalp itch, and the bonnet on top only added to the weight on my head.
“I’m going to ignore your comment,” I said, watching as thesound technicians adjusted the microphones that had been set up near the bridge where Spencer and I would pause in the scene. His character was playfully chasing mine through the woods on the way home from downtown Concord, where Jo had just received the good news that she would officially become a published author. After she bumped into Laurie, she revealed her secret about the publication, and he told her that his tutor, Mr. Brooke, had kept Meg’s glove after discovering it at a ball. It made Jo upset, and Laurie teased her that she wanted a beau. When he tried to put his arm around her to kiss her, she pushed him off a rock and ran away. He playfully chased her back to Orchard House.
Something tickled my cheek, and I lifted my hand as I turned. Spencer smiled as he brushed the grass over my skin. “We can still practice it, you know.”
I playfully swatted at the blade of grass. “You’re incorrigible.”
His gaze didn’t look like he was teasing. “I know what I want.”
I rolled my eyes and turned away from him again, my pulse thrumming from the look in his eyes. “Everyone knows what you want, Spencer.”
