they had in the past: to see to her own needs more often.
Weston went home by way of the church. It wasn’t actually on the way home, but he’d not met Pastor Hurst on Sunday and wanted to rectify that before he attended church again.
Pastor Hurst was in his study and heard the church door opening. He met Weston halfway up the aisle.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you. It’s Pastor Hurst, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Did I see you in the back row last Sunday?”
“Yes, I was here. Robert Weston.”
The men shook hands before Pastor invited Weston to join him in his study. That book-lined room was warm and comfortable, and Weston felt remarkably at ease.
“I’ve just moved onto my grandmother’s estate, Brown Manor,” Weston explained.
“How is your family doing with Mrs Dixon’s passing?”
“Well, thank you. It was not unexpected, and she left her daughter, my mother, well provided for.”
“Through you, Mr Weston, or is there an older son?”
“No, I’m an only child.”
Pastor nodded, hoping that this young man would talk about his first days here but knowing that some type of relationship might need to be established for that.
“My visit today is twofold in purpose,” Weston said. “I didn’t have a chance to meet you on Sunday, something I wanted to do, and I also wanted to ask about someone I believe to be part of your parish.”
“All right.”
“Do you know Anne Gardiner?”
“I do, yes. She is a part of our church family.”
Weston nodded, feeling some relief.
“Miss Gardiner was one of the first people I met when I arrived, but it was under rather trying circumstances. I was hoping you could tell me if she is well.”
“She’s fine, Mr Weston, but I think it only fair to tell you that she informed us of her predicament.”
Weston nodded, his face pained. “It was most unexpected. If I had it to do over again, I hope I would do things differently, but I must admit that it came as quite a surprise.”
“Are you all right, Mr Weston?” the kind pastor asked.
Weston laughed a little. “At times I’m still trying to believe this marriage actually happened. It was all rather dreamlike, if you catch my meaning.”
“I do indeed, Mr Weston. The Colonel is not a well man. If you haven’t dealt with him, it can be most alarming.”
“But Miss Gardiner does it every day.”
The pastor smiled before saying, “Miss Gardiner is a very special person. She looks like a stiff wind could carry her away, but she’s actually very strong—on the inside, where it counts.”
“I’m glad to hear she’s well.”
“She tends to be rather protective,” Pastor added next, working to be as subtle as possible. “She tends to put the needs of others above her own, sometimes to a fault.”
Weston nodded, finding that easy to believe. In his short acquaintance with Anne, he saw that she was very kind and unassuming.
“My man dropped her at the manse last week. Is she still staying with you?”
“No, she’s gone home.”
“And her father, is he well?”
“I assume so. I’ve not heard otherwise.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Weston said, making to rise. “Thank you for taking the time to see me.”
“My pleasure. Will we see you on Sunday?”
“I’m planning to be here, yes.”
“We’ll look forward to it.”
Pastor Hurst saw Weston out to his carriage, all the while asking himself if he should have been more blunt. He waved the younger man off, knowing he was completely unaware of the way Anne’s reputation had suffered from the incident, and that Anne herself was protecting him without regard for her own standing in the community.
It was with a prayerful heart—one that fervently asked God to make heads or tails of everything that had happened—that Pastor Hurst returned to his study to work on his upcoming sermon.
Levens Crossing
“Father, are you here?” Anne called to the empty house on Saturday afternoon. She received no answer. The stove in the kitchen was
Weston went home by way of the church. It wasn’t actually on the way home, but he’d not met Pastor Hurst on Sunday and wanted to rectify that before he attended church again.
Pastor Hurst was in his study and heard the church door opening. He met Weston halfway up the aisle.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you. It’s Pastor Hurst, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Did I see you in the back row last Sunday?”
“Yes, I was here. Robert Weston.”
The men shook hands before Pastor invited Weston to join him in his study. That book-lined room was warm and comfortable, and Weston felt remarkably at ease.
“I’ve just moved onto my grandmother’s estate, Brown Manor,” Weston explained.
“How is your family doing with Mrs Dixon’s passing?”
“Well, thank you. It was not unexpected, and she left her daughter, my mother, well provided for.”
“Through you, Mr Weston, or is there an older son?”
“No, I’m an only child.”
Pastor nodded, hoping that this young man would talk about his first days here but knowing that some type of relationship might need to be established for that.
“My visit today is twofold in purpose,” Weston said. “I didn’t have a chance to meet you on Sunday, something I wanted to do, and I also wanted to ask about someone I believe to be part of your parish.”
“All right.”
“Do you know Anne Gardiner?”
“I do, yes. She is a part of our church family.”
Weston nodded, feeling some relief.
“Miss Gardiner was one of the first people I met when I arrived, but it was under rather trying circumstances. I was hoping you could tell me if she is well.”
“She’s fine, Mr Weston, but I think it only fair to tell you that she informed us of her predicament.”
Weston nodded, his face pained. “It was most unexpected. If I had it to do over again, I hope I would do things differently, but I must admit that it came as quite a surprise.”
“Are you all right, Mr Weston?” the kind pastor asked.
Weston laughed a little. “At times I’m still trying to believe this marriage actually happened. It was all rather dreamlike, if you catch my meaning.”
“I do indeed, Mr Weston. The Colonel is not a well man. If you haven’t dealt with him, it can be most alarming.”
“But Miss Gardiner does it every day.”
The pastor smiled before saying, “Miss Gardiner is a very special person. She looks like a stiff wind could carry her away, but she’s actually very strong—on the inside, where it counts.”
“I’m glad to hear she’s well.”
“She tends to be rather protective,” Pastor added next, working to be as subtle as possible. “She tends to put the needs of others above her own, sometimes to a fault.”
Weston nodded, finding that easy to believe. In his short acquaintance with Anne, he saw that she was very kind and unassuming.
“My man dropped her at the manse last week. Is she still staying with you?”
“No, she’s gone home.”
“And her father, is he well?”
“I assume so. I’ve not heard otherwise.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Weston said, making to rise. “Thank you for taking the time to see me.”
“My pleasure. Will we see you on Sunday?”
“I’m planning to be here, yes.”
“We’ll look forward to it.”
Pastor Hurst saw Weston out to his carriage, all the while asking himself if he should have been more blunt. He waved the younger man off, knowing he was completely unaware of the way Anne’s reputation had suffered from the incident, and that Anne herself was protecting him without regard for her own standing in the community.
It was with a prayerful heart—one that fervently asked God to make heads or tails of everything that had happened—that Pastor Hurst returned to his study to work on his upcoming sermon.
Levens Crossing
“Father, are you here?” Anne called to the empty house on Saturday afternoon. She received no answer. The stove in the kitchen was
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