Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗

Phoebe quickly climbed the stairs, ashamed that she had spied in on such a private moment.

Once upstairs, she pulled the letter out of her pocket and read it. There were other pleasantries that you would expect in a post, but the main purpose of the letter was just as her father had said. There were churches that needed pastors. Rev. Berger spoke of the number of women pastors that were coming out of college and wondered if Phoebe would consider taking a church in the north.

Her mind kept spinning around the thought of leaving home and heading to the Upper Peninsula. There were so many reasons why she should not do it. She was a woman, and a single one at that. And, as Esther and her mother had pointed out, the conditions in the Upper Peninsula were much harsher than they were in Mid-Michigan. Yet, somewhere inside of her was a desire to try, even if only temporarily, until a proper pastor could be found. Surely, she could help out until then? If only she had found a husband in Bible College.

Without meaning to, her thoughts turned to Will and she remembered the image of him praying with her father in the dining room downstairs. Was Will alright? What could have been so important that he couldn't have discussed it in front of her?

Could Will Caffey have some sort of dark secret? Phoebe laughed at the thought.

Then a worse thought came to her… what if Sarah were correct? What if Will was asking for her hand in marriage? Hadn't he been very attentive, even flirtatious since picking her up from the train station? And hadn't her father hinted as much, saying that Will had "intentions”?

Father wouldn't agree, would he? She tried to convince herself. She couldn't believe that her father would ever consent to something so sudden, but Reverend Albright seemed to have a great respect for Will. He had an honorable occupation and could support a family. And what did Phoebe have going for her? A college degree with no plan for which to use it.

"Oh my gosh!" she said out loud. "Daddy may actually wed me off to Will Caffey!"

She had to put a stop to this. Privacy or not, she had to let both her father and Will know that she was not interested in marrying him!

As she rushed down the stairs, her father was just coming out of the dining room.

"Is something the matter, darlin'?" he asked.

Embarrassed, Phoebe slowed her descent. She wanted to appear as calm and collected as possible when speaking with the two men.

"I'm fine, Daddy," she said, looking beyond the reverend. "Where's Will?"

"Gone."

"Gone?" Phoebe said. But what of the proposal?

"Take a walk with me?" her father asked.

Phoebe nodded her agreement, still shocked, as her father spoke to Sarah.

"Tell your mother when she gets back from the Smiths that your sister and I will be back in time for supper."

Reverend Albright led Phoebe down the porch stairs and turned right toward downtown. Phoebe had expected to turn left toward the church, as her father was apt to do.

"Where are we going?"

"There's someone I need to visit. I thought you could keep me company on the walk."

They walked in silence for a few minutes, and Phoebe wondered if she should bring up her father's conversation with Will.

"Have you thought much about Dr. Berger's letter?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"A little," she admitted.

They walked again in silence.

"And?" he eventually asked.

Phoebe took a deep breath. "I don't know, really. There are a lot of reasons why it is a preposterous idea."

"But…"

"But I am trained to do the work, and there is a need that has to be filled."

Reverend Albright motioned to a bench. They sat and he turned to look at her.

"Phoebe, God doesn't need you to accomplish his work."

"I know that Daddy. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills."

The pastor nodded. "Then answer me this...when you think about going north, does something happen inside of you? A stirring? A desire to go, even though you don't know what that means exactly?"

"Yes," she answered honestly.

"Have you been praying about it?"

"I have."

"Do you have an answer yet?"

"I – I don't know."

"Well, then, I guess we'll just pray some more."

Reverend Albright stood and offered his arm. She accepted and they continued walking until they had reached the front gate of Esther's house.

"Why didn't you tell me we were coming here?" she asked.

"Because I didn't know myself. Just knew we needed to visit someone."

The front door opened and out stepped Will.

"We meet again, Reverend Albright," he said, smiling at the preacher. "Phoebe," he said with a nod. "Do come in. I wish I could stay and chat, but I have things to attend to. Good day," he said before rushing off.

'Strange,' she thought, but didn't have time to dwell on it before her brother-in-law was ushering her and her father into the house. Esther was seated in a chair in the parlor.

"Oh, Phoebe! I've been hoping you'd come to visit."

Phoebe blushed. In all of her boredom, she never once thought to visit her pregnant sister. "I'm sorry, Esther. I promise I won't wait so long to visit again."

"So, what's new with you?" Esther patted the seat next to her. "Have you thought anymore about the church up north?"

"Actually, Father and I were just talking about it on the walk here," Phoebe said, preparing for another dose of her sister's opinions.

"And have you decided? Oh, I think it sounds like the most exciting adventure!"

Phoebe stared at her sister in disbelief. "Adventure? You said that you would worry too much if I went. You called it the Frozen Frontier, or something like that. Now it's an adventure?"

Esther laughed and waved a hand. "Phoebe, haven't you learned by now not to listen to my rantings? I was just shocked. You know that I'm in full support of women pastors, don't you? I think it's about time. Of course, I will miss you, but you are a strong, capable woman. And you still feel called into the ministry, don't you?"

"Well, yes, very much so."

"Well, then what's stopping you?"

Phoebe pondered that. What was stopping her? "It's just so far away, and the conditions would be so much more – more difficult than those to which I am accustomed."

"That's why it would be such an adventure!" her sister said excitedly. "Besides, I have faith that God will provide special protection for you. Remember, 'The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.' Do you trust in Him, Phoebe?"

That evening, Esther and John joined the Albrights for supper. They were just finishing when someone knocked on the door.

"I wonder who that could be," Mrs. Albright asked, starting to rise.

"I'll see to it," John said. He returned to the dining room, followed by Will.

"Good evening, Will," said Mrs. Albright. "You are just in time for dessert and coffee."

"Thank you, ma'am, but I didn't come to interrupt your dinner. I was hoping to speak with Phoebe."

All eyes turned to Phoebe.

"Oh – oh, of course," she answered, uncomfortable with the attention.

"I thought we could go for a walk, if that is alright with you, Reverend."

"Certainly. Why don't you join us afterward for coffee?"

Will didn't answer; it was as though he was waiting for Phoebe's response. As she pushed back her chair and started to rise, Sarah leaned over and whispered, "I told you so!"

Phoebe's stomach was in knots. She would have preferred to have avoided, rather than rejected, Will's proposal. She had never been in this situation, never having been courted by anyone. She clasped her hands to keep them from shaking.

"Don't forget your wrap this time," Will said. "It is a chilly night."

Phoebe clutched her shawl around her as they walked in silence, a silence she found very uncomfortable.

"You were right," she began. "It is chilly tonight."

"I'm sorry Phoebe, is it too cold? Would you like to go back?"

"No, no. I'm fine." She would much rather do this out of the watchful eyes of her entire family.

They walked in silence a little longer. 'He doesn't seem nervous,' she thought. How did he appear to her, she wondered. Thoughtful? Concerned? Almost…sad?

Since Phoebe couldn't avoid the conversation, she decided to hurry it along.