LITMIR.BIZ

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immediately hiring another guard for the station and railroad yards. It was better to take preventative measures than be sorry later. Daniel didn’t intend to let anyone undermine what they were working so hard to build. There was too much at stake.

      * * *

      Leah joined the other young women on their walk to church. It was a beautiful morning, warm and filled with sunshine. The perfect day for a joyful announcement. She wished she felt more jubilant than cautiously relieved. Her future wasn’t as uncertain as it had been a week ago, but apprehension still wound its cold claws into her conscience. Daniel Gardner had always been a close friend, but when it came to pondering a husband she’d never so much as considered him. Maybe she’d been too close to him and had foolishly overlooked what was right in front of her. Now that the war had cut her world into pieces like a jigsaw puzzle and she had to fit it back together again, he was the best option she had.

      She felt guilty for thinking that way, as though he hadn’t been a choice back then, but now he was good enough. But it wasn’t that way at all, and she sure didn’t want him to have the impression he was her last resort. He would make any woman a good husband, and she was truly blessed that he’d asked her to be his wife.

      When they reached the new church building, Aunt Mae stood outside the door with Reverend Taggart and a dark-haired young woman who, by the size of her swollen belly, could only be Opal Godwin. Aunt Mae smiled from ear to ear. She wore a lavender-and-cream-striped dress with ruffles on the cuffs and hems of the jacket, skirt and overskirt. Lace at the neck cut into her abundant chins, and the matching buttons down the jacket front looked as though they might pop at any moment.

      Opal, who was painfully thin by contrast, wore a loose dress with white lace-trimmed bodice and sleeves and a gray pinstriped skirt with black trim. Pleats draped the round protrusion of the child she carried. The colors washed out her already-tired complexion.

      “You’re all here!” Aunt Mae beamed. “I left early to help set up for the celebration after the service, so I didn’t get to see your lovely dresses. I hope your breakfast was adequate.”

      “It was tasty and satisfying,” Hannah replied.

      “Welcome,” Reverend Taggart greeted them. “Darling.” He kissed Hannah’s cheek.

      “Opal has been looking forward to meeting you,” Aunt Mae said, addressing Leah.

      “And I her.” Leah took the hand Opal extended and placed her other hand over the back. “I hope to be able to call on you this week, Mrs. Godwin. I’m a midwife.”

      “I’ve heard all about you, and I’m relieved to know you’re here. But, please you must call me Opal.” She kept her voice cheerful, but her brown eyes and the dark smudges beneath them belied her weariness.

      “Your husband is a boot maker.”

      Opal nodded. “An extremely talented one.”

      “And you help him?”

      “I’ve always helped him in the shop, but he won’t let me now, so I’ve been staying in our upstairs quarters sewing and doing a lot of reading.”

      “Your husband is looking out for your welfare and that of your child. Rest is good.” She leaned forward so Opal was the only one to hear her. “I expect to be doing a lot of that myself in the months to come.”

      Opal raised her eyebrows in question.

      “I’m expecting a child, as well. I answered the advertisement to find a husband because mine died only a few months ago and I have no family left.”

      Opal hadn’t released Leah’s hand, and she squeezed her fingers gently. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Swann. You must have been frightened and felt very alone.”

      A flutter of the old heartache caught in Leah’s chest, and she fought it down. Opal’s understanding left her feeling vulnerable. “Yes. Finding Daniel and Will here was like having family again.”

      “I’m glad you found your way to us.”

      “So am I. Thank you. And please call me Leah. How is your appetite?”

      “I’m never very hungry.”

      “We’ll have to do something about that. Your baby needs sustenance and so do you. This is an important job you have, nourishing this baby.”

      “Everything seems to make me feel sick,” Opal admitted.

      “We’ll see what we can do.” Leah flashed a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry, all right?”

      Menfolk climbed the wooden stairs behind them, so the women entered the church. Morning sun streamed through the stained glass windows that lined the side walls, creating arcs of color across the plain-hewn pews, polished floorboards, as well as heads and shoulders of those already seated. The color and warmth lent a surreal tone to the already reverent atmosphere inside the building.

      “Isn’t this the most inspiring sight we’ve seen yet?” Pippa said from behind Leah’s shoulder. “All the colors of God’s rainbow right here for us to enjoy on Sunday morning. This little church couldn’t be any more beautiful.”

      “It is beautiful,” Leah agreed with a soft smile for her energetic friend.

      “Who do you suppose will be the first to marry here?” Pippa asked.

      Leah didn’t reply, but a flutter in her chest stole her breath for a moment. It would be her. She would be marrying Daniel in this very place. Soon.

      “There haven’t been this many men in the service since the church was built,” Aunt Mae said in a loud whisper. “Seems like they’ve all turned out to get a gander at the brides.”

      Hannah surveyed the crowd of men, her expression uneasy. When she looked at Leah, her gray eyes revealed what Leah imagined was fear or uncertainty. Her hair was pulled away from her face as always, leaving her expression visible. It wasn’t easy to travel to an unknown place with one’s future up in the air. The mail-order brides were here because they had no other choice but to take this chance.

      Leah reached for Hannah’s hand. “Come sit beside me. Unless you have to play the piano?”

      Again something flickered in the tall girl’s eyes. “No, I’m not very good at reading music. Thank you.”

      They noticed Will Canfield motioning and found he’d held a row for them.

      After everyone had been seated and Reverend Taggart moved to stand at an oak pulpit at the front, he looked around and visibly composed himself. “Good morning.”

      “Good morning,” the congregation greeted in unison.

      “I’m Reverend Virgil Taggart. I am fortunate to have been invited to your town, along with my beautiful daughter, Hannah, and the other three brides you sent for.”

      An irreverent whoop filled the building, followed by claps and whistles, to which the reverend good-naturedly grinned and nodded.

      Finally he raised a hand for silence. “I know. I know you’re pleased. It’s exciting to be here, too. I want to assure you I’m grateful for this position. I don’t take it lightly, and I am looking forward to knowing each of you as my family.” He released a breath, then went on. “Your gracious town has provided me with a home and ample help, so my burden will be easy. I’m going to do my best to be a friend and counselor to all who come to me. I put my trust and confidence in God to come here. He’s going to show me what He has planned next, and I’m excited about it.”

      He reached under the podium and opened a book. “Richard Mosely has graciously offered to play the organ. Thank you, Richard. Turn with me, if you will, to page sixteen in your brand spankin’ new hymnals.”

      Clothing and pages rustled as churchgoers reached for their hymnals and opened them.

      Bless Richard’s heart, he hit a couple of sharp notes before he settled into the measures of the

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