Never a Lawman (Break Heart Brides Book 1) by Rachel Bird

Author:Rachel Bird [Bird, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beastie Press
Published: 2018-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The Little Church of Break Heart Bend was a lovely whitewashed clapboard structure nestled into a picture-perfect meadow at the southwest end of the town’s undulating topography. It was impossible to imagine the soaring, transporting rhetoric of Boston Trinity’s Rector Brooks fitting inside the Little Church, but the only other style of preaching Belle had ever known was Uncle James’s lengthy and fiery exhortations against the fires of hell, which would be as inappropriate in this sweet place as screaming at kittens.

A square bell tower loomed above the double doors at the front entrance. Inside were two rows of sturdy oak pews with a wide aisle between them leading to a simple altar at the center. Looking from the pews, a pulpit was raised modestly high off to the left.

A lovely Mason & Hamlin reed organ stood against the opposite wall, the bench occupied by a severe-looking woman about thirty years of age. Her brown hair was parted at the center and pulled back into a plain chignon from which no curl or errant strand might dare escape.

With a serious, workmanlike expression, she began a dour hymn, pumping and fingering as if the very notes she sent out into the world would weave a spiritual net, gathering souls both witting and unwitting.

Belle prepared for a service in the style of Uncle James.

She was wrong. Parson Hood’s sermon was decidedly not fiery, inoffensive—other than, apparently, to Faith—and gratifyingly short. He entreated his flock to do their best in their labors, avoid temptation in their pleasures, and practice the Golden Rule in their daily lives.

He also said a special prayer for Belle’s parents and the lost members of the McKinnon family. It was an unexpected and consoling kindness. Belle could tell even Faith was touched, because she stopped commenting under her breath on the preacher’s misquoting of scripture.

The congregation finished singing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” and after the final benediction, to the accompaniment of the resolute organist, Belle and the others filed outside to another lovely day.

She glanced longingly at Mae Tagget’s house, easily seen up a little hill from the churchyard where many of the congregants gathered. She couldn’t wait to get back to it and get to work. Sheriff Fontana had been right. The house suited them perfectly, situated here at the far end of town, away from the bustle and noise of establishments on Main Street that never closed their doors.

Why, when they’d opened the windows to let in the fresh air, Belle had been delighted to hear birdsong.

All the house had needed was its dust and cobwebs cleared away, the rugs beaten, the slipcovers shaken out, and moving whatever Mae wanted up to the attic. With all hands on deck after their jobs yesterday, they’d worked until long past dark, but it was a big house, and there were still things to be done.

“Clever of Chet McKinnon to leave town for a few days,” Charity said.

“Very convenient,” Faith agreed. “But I’m sure he’ll be happy to come to dinner as soon as it’s offered.

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