Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗
- Author: Jenifer Carll-Tong
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Phoebe stepped off the platform just as the constable slipped out the door. Not wanting to delay her expression of gratitude any longer, she quickly followed him out.
"Constable?" she called after him.
The officer turned back to the stairs leading to the church.
"Yes ma'am?" He took off his khaki campaign hat, revealing a well-trimmed head of sand-colored hair.
"I'm so glad to have finally met you. I've been trying to track you down for the past week." Phoebe smiled.
"Ma'am? You were trying to find me?"
"Well, yes, to thank you. You are the State Trooper who brought my trunks to the parsonage, aren't you?"
The officer climbed closer to her on the stairs and Phoebe couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. He rather reminded her of her brother-in-law John, not only because of his hair color, but he also shared the same blue-grey eyes.
"No, I'm sorry. That wasn't me. But I sure wish that I had been the one to have earned your appreciation," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled.
Phoebe frowned. "Oh, I was told that a State Trooper from my congregation had assisted in their transport."
"Well, this is my first time in this church, so I don't think I would be considered a member. I met your father and was impressed by him, so I decided to visit your church today."
"Oh, I see. Well, I hope I didn't disappoint you. My father has very impressive shoes to fill."
"Not at all. I enjoyed it very much."
"Then I hope to see you next Sunday as well, Officer…"
"It's James, ma'am. Lance James, and I wish that were possible, but I leave tomorrow for a new post. I was only here for the past few weeks training with some other new men."
"I see. Well, I hope you enjoy your new post, Officer James."
"So do I, but I doubt the view will be as beautiful," he said, smiling roguishly.
Phoebe pretended not to understand his meaning and wished him a good day. The officer was nearly back to his horse when Phoebe stopped him.
"Officer James, were you the officer who brought chocolate to the children working at the church this week?"
He turned and acted as if thinking about it.
"If I say yes, will it earn another smile from you?"
"Only if it's the truth."
"Then, alas, I must depart without a smile because that also was another officer. Would you like me to investigate and find the correct man?"
"No, no. That isn't necessary," she said. "But thank you for the offer."
He tipped his hat and rode away. Phoebe was pleased that this officer was being transferred. She would have difficulty concentrating on her sermons if that State Trooper were present every Sunday.
She could hear the final song ending and the door opened for the first of her congregation to exit. She shook hands and thanked everyone for coming – or at least she attempted to thank everyone. There were quite a few in attendance that passed by without so much as making eye contact, including Mrs. Smith.
But among the naysayers were also many smiling faces. Some were faces that she already knew: Mary and Jack Simmons, Wendell, and the Speer family, especially the children, were all a welcome sight.
"I had no idea the congregation was so large," she whispered to Mary as she passed.
"I don't believe it is," she whispered back. "I think many of them just came for the show."
"The show?"
"Yes, to watch you fail. That didn't happen, so I'm not certain most of them will return next week."
People actually came to church with the expectation that I would fail? Phoebe realized she was going to have to work hard to win over the little town of Iron Falls.
With a newfound determination, Phoebe rose the next morning ready to win over her naysayers. She had spent Sunday evening baking cookies and had decided that Mrs. Smith would be her first convert. The timing of her visit was important - she wanted to arrive after the boarders had left for the mines, but not so late as to be interrupting any other plans Mrs. Smith may have for the day.
She didn't want to wear something pretty for fear that Mrs. Smith would have cause to complain about Phoebe's big city ways, so after a hurried breakfast, Phoebe dressed in one of her more modest skirts and a simple blouse. She was about to braid her hair but thought twice about the youthful style, which might not help her to appear mature enough for her position. No, a braid would not do on the day she was to visit Mrs. Smith.
She went to the backyard and positioned her tub and bucket in an attempt to utilize the reflection of the windows as she had the day she'd first dined with the Speers, but soon discovered that the sun was not in the proper location to create a mirror-effect on her back windows. It had been late afternoon when she'd first used this trick. She wondered if the sun were reflecting on any of her other windows. With the bucket in one hand and tub in the other, she circled her parsonage, but she only had windows on the north and south sides of her home. She needed an east-facing window. She turned toward the church. The windows were large enough, but a little higher off the ground than her own. She wasn't sure she would be able to see into them, but it was worth trying.
When she arrived at the east side of the building, she realized immediately that the windows were much higher than she thought. However, if she positioned the tub a bit farther back than before, instead of closer to the window, she would be able to see herself. Closer would have been more ideal, but she would take whatever reflection she could get.
The ground around the church was more uneven than in her backyard and Phoebe had difficulty finding a spot level enough that was also the right angle. She finally found a spot that she believed would work and placed her makeshift platform in place. It worked, but her distance from the building made it difficult to see herself well enough to do a good job. She moved the tub a little closer, hoping to get a better view. From this vantage point, she needed to stand on her toes and stretch as far as she could.
It was not the easiest of tasks, but she was able to do a half-way decent job on her hair. It was only a simple chignon at the base of her neck, not some pompadour like Esther always insisted on, so smoothing the stray hairs that always seemed to curl around her face was more of a concern than creating a pretty silhouette.
The sun was completely above the horizon at this point and she began to fret that her pampering had delayed her too much. She hurriedly pinned the last stray strand into place, but in her haste, she lost her balance a little. She felt the bucket beneath her wobble, but only the slightest bit, but she threw out her arms to steady herself. Her sudden movement only made things worse. The washtub tilted drastically, and the bucket slipped completely out from under her.
Phoebe screamed as she fell backward, helpless to stop what was happening, but just when she thought she would hit the ground, she found herself safe in the arms of a man wearing a familiar looking khaki uniform. In shock, she inhaled sharply and looked up into the face of the man who had caught her - the man who had saved her from utter humiliation, or worse.
Two sapphire blue eyes – eyes that she had come to know very well.
They crinkled at the corners. "Hello Pheebs."
The white clapboard siding of the church looked gray this morning under the unusually cloudy August morning. Will dismounted and as he tied his horse, the normally placid gelding pulled against the hitching post, ears turned back.
"Woah, boy,” Will said, patting the chestnut Morgan's neck. "What's the matter, Tolly? You nervous about something?"
Will chuckled. Not because he was talking to his horse. He did that often. He chuckled because it was Will, not the horse, who was worried. It had been almost a week since he had first made himself known to Phoebe, and it hadn't gone well. Since that fateful day outside the church, she had avoided him at every turn, completely shunning him from her life. But
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