again walked to the pulpit and this time both Brother Oswald and Miss Sophrona moved to take seats in the congregation with their families.
The preacher waited. He stood, hands placed firmly on the sides of the lectern, taking stock of his congregation. Apparently, he liked what he saw, for he was smiling broadly.
Suddenly, startling the congregation, he boomed, "David was beloved of God!"
"Amen." The chorus of agreement came from several corners of the house.
"David was a man after God's own heart, the Bible tells us. Shouldn't we be striving after God's own heart?"
With more "amens" Esme's mind began to wander. Her gaze fixed on Cleavis Rhy's broad shoulders. Vaguely she heard the Reverend Tewksbury giving a quick reminder of the rise of David from shepherd to king. She knew the story well, so she allowed herself the luxury of inattention.
She decided that so far her plan was working well. Cleav had her in his thoughts quite often. He'd even been looking at her in church. For her next move she decided that she should make herself invaluable to Cleav. He worked too hard. A man of business needed help in the store, and a wife would be expected to do her share. Over the past days Esme had watched and learned in her hours of leisure at the General Merchandise. Next week she would show off her quick study and her willingness to help.
It was only when the preacher began reading from the Psalms that Esme's attention turned from Cleav's handsome profile to the pulpit before her.
" 'For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor, also, and him that hath no helper.' "
Esme felt, rather than saw, the covert glances that turned her way.
"He shall spare the poor and needy, that's what David tells us," Reverend Tewksbury told the crowd. "And that is just what the women of our Ladies' Auxiliary have decided to do."
A pleased murmur went through the congregation, and several of the prominent members of the Ladies' Auxiliary modestly shook their heads at the unspoken compliment. Esme saw Pearly Beachum reach across the aisle to take Miss Sophrona's hand, giving it a grateful and appreciative squeeze.
"Oh, no," Esme breathed the prayer desperately through her lips. "Not here! Not now! Oh, please not today!"
The preacher was beaming broadly now.
"Yohan, can you and your girls come up to the front," he asked with a beckoning gesture.
Pa rose to his feet, obviously surprised but delighted. The twins were blushing and giggling at the attention.
Esme thought she might be ill.
"Come on, girlies," Yo said to them, loud enough for the whole congregation to hear. "Looks like the preacher's found a way to make Christmas come in the springtime."
The congregation chuckled good-naturedly. Esme, following trancelike, walked with her family to the front of the church. She forced herself to turn and face the crowd when she reached the preacher, but she kept her eyes steadfastly set against the knotty pine wall on the left side of the church.
"Amens" were being spoken all around. Clearly the congregation was delighted at this evidence of their own goodness.
Yohan was expansive as he shook the preacher's hand and then stepped forward to clasp the hands of the deacons in the front row.
"Lord knows," he told the crowd jokingly. "If I'd imagined something like this, I'd a put on my better shirt.''
His humor brought out a titter. But the room quieted as Reverend Tewksbury cleared his throat, signaling a more serious turn of events. The preacher waited, drawing out the drama of the moment. The seconds that ticked by seemed like hours.
Esme quickly glanced at her sisters. The pretty twins had locked arms and were blushing and giggling behind their hands. Looking past them, she saw her father, who continued smiling like the village idiot.
Despite the bombardment of feeling that pounded in her brain and into her heart, Esme raised her chin. With deliberate calmness she stared sightlessly before her.
I'm smart and strong and as good as
The preacher waited. He stood, hands placed firmly on the sides of the lectern, taking stock of his congregation. Apparently, he liked what he saw, for he was smiling broadly.
Suddenly, startling the congregation, he boomed, "David was beloved of God!"
"Amen." The chorus of agreement came from several corners of the house.
"David was a man after God's own heart, the Bible tells us. Shouldn't we be striving after God's own heart?"
With more "amens" Esme's mind began to wander. Her gaze fixed on Cleavis Rhy's broad shoulders. Vaguely she heard the Reverend Tewksbury giving a quick reminder of the rise of David from shepherd to king. She knew the story well, so she allowed herself the luxury of inattention.
She decided that so far her plan was working well. Cleav had her in his thoughts quite often. He'd even been looking at her in church. For her next move she decided that she should make herself invaluable to Cleav. He worked too hard. A man of business needed help in the store, and a wife would be expected to do her share. Over the past days Esme had watched and learned in her hours of leisure at the General Merchandise. Next week she would show off her quick study and her willingness to help.
It was only when the preacher began reading from the Psalms that Esme's attention turned from Cleav's handsome profile to the pulpit before her.
" 'For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor, also, and him that hath no helper.' "
Esme felt, rather than saw, the covert glances that turned her way.
"He shall spare the poor and needy, that's what David tells us," Reverend Tewksbury told the crowd. "And that is just what the women of our Ladies' Auxiliary have decided to do."
A pleased murmur went through the congregation, and several of the prominent members of the Ladies' Auxiliary modestly shook their heads at the unspoken compliment. Esme saw Pearly Beachum reach across the aisle to take Miss Sophrona's hand, giving it a grateful and appreciative squeeze.
"Oh, no," Esme breathed the prayer desperately through her lips. "Not here! Not now! Oh, please not today!"
The preacher was beaming broadly now.
"Yohan, can you and your girls come up to the front," he asked with a beckoning gesture.
Pa rose to his feet, obviously surprised but delighted. The twins were blushing and giggling at the attention.
Esme thought she might be ill.
"Come on, girlies," Yo said to them, loud enough for the whole congregation to hear. "Looks like the preacher's found a way to make Christmas come in the springtime."
The congregation chuckled good-naturedly. Esme, following trancelike, walked with her family to the front of the church. She forced herself to turn and face the crowd when she reached the preacher, but she kept her eyes steadfastly set against the knotty pine wall on the left side of the church.
"Amens" were being spoken all around. Clearly the congregation was delighted at this evidence of their own goodness.
Yohan was expansive as he shook the preacher's hand and then stepped forward to clasp the hands of the deacons in the front row.
"Lord knows," he told the crowd jokingly. "If I'd imagined something like this, I'd a put on my better shirt.''
His humor brought out a titter. But the room quieted as Reverend Tewksbury cleared his throat, signaling a more serious turn of events. The preacher waited, drawing out the drama of the moment. The seconds that ticked by seemed like hours.
Esme quickly glanced at her sisters. The pretty twins had locked arms and were blushing and giggling behind their hands. Looking past them, she saw her father, who continued smiling like the village idiot.
Despite the bombardment of feeling that pounded in her brain and into her heart, Esme raised her chin. With deliberate calmness she stared sightlessly before her.
I'm smart and strong and as good as
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