Courting Misfortune by Regina Jennings

Author:Regina Jennings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;FIC042110;FIC042030;FIC027360
ISBN: 9781493428267
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2020-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

14

Matthew had come to Joplin with the intention of interrupting the cycle that caught the miners—from the promise of easy riches, to poverty, to pain, to numbing the pain by utilizing the ever-present alcohol. Matthew wished they could think past the next day, the next drink, the next meal. On some things, he had definite ideas of his purpose and what would constitute success—like his new coworkers who had come to his Wednesday night study. On other quandaries, like Calista, he was searching in the dark.

But she was here now, and despite the grueling toil of his day, he had the energy to go wherever she wanted.

They left the flower store. He and Silas walked behind the ladies as Calista led the way. What exactly they were hoping to accomplish, he couldn’t say. From the time he’d realized that he was to leave Pine Gap, Matthew had prayed diligently for God’s guidance. For most of the situations he’d faced, he was confident that he was representing Christ well. His desire to help these people hadn’t wavered. He had managed to hold the loneliness and homesickness at bay. So far, he’d had no doubts concerning God’s calling. But no matter how many times he brought up Calista’s name to God, he never got a satisfactory answer.

Calista’s steps were quick and light as a deer’s, while Maisie’s showed more strength and surprising grace, considering her general manners. The two girls couldn’t be more different, but there were rare flashes of family resemblance—gestures that called to mind the other, like the way they tilted their head to the side when listening to a story, or the subtle alertness that made them difficult to surprise. And, of course, the easily discernible widow’s peak that even Oscar Kentworth had. Come to think of it, Matthew should be suspect of anyone in town who had that trait, since he already knew her family to be in the area. The last thing he needed was more of Calista’s relatives confounding him.

Although Matthew thought he had ample reasons to end his acquaintance with Calista, he could never pull the trigger. It was as if all the half-truths, unexplainable quirks, and outrageous behavior were to be ignored. Every time he opened his mouth to call her to account, he felt the restraint of the Holy Spirit. Mercy, patience, forgiveness. He’d come to town with the understanding that he would encounter people who lacked good raising. He’d scolded himself to remember that he couldn’t expect holiness out of lost sheep who’d yet to meet the Shepherd. But he felt an urgency with Calista that he couldn’t justify with a clean conscience.

For some reason, Matthew didn’t feel the same frustration with Irvin, no matter how many of his paydays went to the whiskey shops. Irvin was a work in progress, and if he made it into heaven with a deathbed conversion, Matthew would celebrate with the angels. But he didn’t have the same patience with Calista. Every misstep of hers affected him deeply.

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