Land of a Thousand Dreams by BJ Hoff

Author:BJ Hoff
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736940511
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

21

Pharisees and Sinners

The lawyers have sat in council,

The men with the keen, long faces,

And said, “This man is a fool….”

PADRAIC PEARSE (1879–1916)

Michael, you are going to be at the bazaar next week, aren’t you?”

It was early Sunday morning. Sara sat across from her husband at breakfast, who, for the most part, seemed to have forgotten she was in the room.

“Michael?”

Finally, his dark eyes met hers across the top of the newspaper. “You’re joking, of course.”

“I’m not. But I am counting on your help.”

“My help?” The paper slipped another notch, down to his nose. “What sort of help would that be?”

“I had hoped you might speak about Five Points—from a policeman’s perspective.” Ignoring the strangled sound that bounced off the paper, Sara went on. “You can explain better than anyone else about the illegal boardinghouses—and what happens to the immigrants who end up in them.”

The newspaper came down, although he clung to it like a shield. “Sara,” he said reasonably, “I’m a policeman, remember? I arrest robbers and help elderly ladies across the street. Sometimes I crack heads, and I often chase pigs. But I never, never address mission bazaars. Never.”

When he would have hidden once more behind the paper, Sara reached across the table and stayed his hand. “It’s important, Michael. These women need to know the hard truth, even if it makes them uncomfortable.”

“What will make them uncomfortable, Sara a gra, is the visible proof that their genteel lady chairman has gone half-cracked and not only married a crude Irish cop, but is actually parading him about at her teas.”

Sara glared at him. “You are not at all crude—except when you choose to be, as you are doing right now. More than likely,” she added with a smug smile, “I’ll be the envy of every woman there for having the courage to marry such a dangerously handsome man.”

He grinned at her. “No doubt. But I’m still not giving a speech to your church ladies,” he said with annoying finality. “Your grandmother is late this morning, isn’t she? Have you checked on her?”

“She’s getting dressed. I expect she’ll be down any time now. Don’t change the subject, Michael. There’s another reason I’d like you to be at the bazaar, although I really do hope you’ll consider speaking. I think Jess Dalton is going to need all the support he can get; having you there will guarantee him at least one ally.”

Michael sighed, folding his papers with great precision as if to make a point. “Why is that?”

“The news is out about their plans to keep Arthur Jackson in their home indefinitely.”

Michael groaned his understanding, and Sara went on. “The Pulpit Committee has already called a special meeting.”

Michael straightened in his chair, frowning. “You don’t think they’d ask him to leave?”

Sara looked down at her plate. “Quite frankly, I don’t know what to expect. I wouldn’t be so concerned if Father were on the committee, but he isn’t.” She sighed. “There are some truly good people in our congregation who won’t be bothered in the least by the Daltons taking in a Negro boy.

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