Read Online The Work and the Glory by Gerald N. Lund - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gerald N. Lund
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learnin’ more about them there angels, are you?”
Lydia laughed lightly, studiously not looking up at Joseph. “No. I was just coming from the piano recital over at Miss Carrie’s boardinghouse.” She turned a little. “This is Joshua Steed. His father bought some acreage next to the Harris farm north of town.”
The leader stuck out a hand, heavily calloused and with dirt under the fingernails. “Will Murdock,” he said.
Joshua took it, not surprised that the grip was weak, almost flabby.
“Heard a new family had come in.” Then, remembering his manners, he jerked his head slightly toward his companions. “This here’s my brother, David. And this is my cousin Mark Cooper.”
Joshua shook hands with both of the others, trying not to show his distaste. He then motioned toward Nathan. “This is my brother Nathan. And Joseph you seem to know.”
“Oh yes,” Will said gravely, “we know Joe Smith, don’t we boys?” He looked up at Joseph, his face as innocent as a baby’s, as the other two hooted. “And how are you today, sir?”
“I’m fine, Will.” Joseph answered easily and with a half smile. “I see you’ve been warming the stools down at Phelps’s tavern again.”
Will’s mouth tightened and his eyes got suddenly ugly. “You got the gold Bible yet?” he sneered.
There was no response from Joseph, but the question certainly got a reaction from the Steeds. Both Nathan and Joshua jerked around to stare first at Will, then at Joseph.
“What?” Will chortled. “Ain’t ol’ Joe here told you about his gold Bible yet?” He looked up. “Why, for shame, Joe. People just love that story, especially the part ‘bout them angels flying round your house.”
Joseph remained calm and unruffled, as though bearing with considerable patience the mindless pattering of a child. He just looked at Will Murdock steadily, the clear blue eyes not wavering. Will tried to match his gaze, then started to squirm and finally turned away.
When it became obvious there would be no further response from Joseph, Joshua turned to Lydia, the look on his face clearly asking for an explanation. She just shook her head slightly. Then, as an afterthought, she looked up and said, “I heard tell, Mr. Smith, the waiting time is up this fall. Is that true?”
Joseph turned slowly and looked at her. Once more it was a steady gaze, without malice, but probing, searching. Will Murdock had looked away under the intensity of Joseph’s look, but Lydia’s chin only came up a fraction of an inch higher. “Well? Is it true? Will you be paying for your supplies in gold from now on?”
He shook his head, his eyes amused. “No. I think we’ll be buying our things same as other folks. You can count on that.”
Will’s brother, David, stepped forward, chin jutting out, chest expanded. “Hey, Joe, tell us what an angel looks like? Was it a boy angel or a girl angel?” He started to laugh. It was a jarring sound, like the barking of a dog trying to clear a bone caught in its throat.
“Yeah,” echoed Mark Cooper. He openly sneered. “Why don’t ya send one of them angels to tell us how to find some buried treasure?”
Lydia laughed aloud, tossing her head in contempt. Again Joshua was taken aback by her reaction. What was it that she and her pa had against the Smiths? He lifted one eyebrow, silently questioning her, but she refused to meet his probing look. He turned back to Joseph, curious now. “What are they talking about, Joseph?”
But at that moment the door to the store opened and Lydia’s father stepped out. “Lydia!”
It brought them all around. Josiah McBride was not a tall man; in fact he was an inch or two shorter than his wife. But he was one of Palmyra’s leading citizens, an elder in the Presbyterian church with his own family pew, and a member of the recently elected town council. He was short, but no one in Palmyra thought of him as a little man. And now he was drawn up to his full height, the
Lydia laughed lightly, studiously not looking up at Joseph. “No. I was just coming from the piano recital over at Miss Carrie’s boardinghouse.” She turned a little. “This is Joshua Steed. His father bought some acreage next to the Harris farm north of town.”
The leader stuck out a hand, heavily calloused and with dirt under the fingernails. “Will Murdock,” he said.
Joshua took it, not surprised that the grip was weak, almost flabby.
“Heard a new family had come in.” Then, remembering his manners, he jerked his head slightly toward his companions. “This here’s my brother, David. And this is my cousin Mark Cooper.”
Joshua shook hands with both of the others, trying not to show his distaste. He then motioned toward Nathan. “This is my brother Nathan. And Joseph you seem to know.”
“Oh yes,” Will said gravely, “we know Joe Smith, don’t we boys?” He looked up at Joseph, his face as innocent as a baby’s, as the other two hooted. “And how are you today, sir?”
“I’m fine, Will.” Joseph answered easily and with a half smile. “I see you’ve been warming the stools down at Phelps’s tavern again.”
Will’s mouth tightened and his eyes got suddenly ugly. “You got the gold Bible yet?” he sneered.
There was no response from Joseph, but the question certainly got a reaction from the Steeds. Both Nathan and Joshua jerked around to stare first at Will, then at Joseph.
“What?” Will chortled. “Ain’t ol’ Joe here told you about his gold Bible yet?” He looked up. “Why, for shame, Joe. People just love that story, especially the part ‘bout them angels flying round your house.”
Joseph remained calm and unruffled, as though bearing with considerable patience the mindless pattering of a child. He just looked at Will Murdock steadily, the clear blue eyes not wavering. Will tried to match his gaze, then started to squirm and finally turned away.
When it became obvious there would be no further response from Joseph, Joshua turned to Lydia, the look on his face clearly asking for an explanation. She just shook her head slightly. Then, as an afterthought, she looked up and said, “I heard tell, Mr. Smith, the waiting time is up this fall. Is that true?”
Joseph turned slowly and looked at her. Once more it was a steady gaze, without malice, but probing, searching. Will Murdock had looked away under the intensity of Joseph’s look, but Lydia’s chin only came up a fraction of an inch higher. “Well? Is it true? Will you be paying for your supplies in gold from now on?”
He shook his head, his eyes amused. “No. I think we’ll be buying our things same as other folks. You can count on that.”
Will’s brother, David, stepped forward, chin jutting out, chest expanded. “Hey, Joe, tell us what an angel looks like? Was it a boy angel or a girl angel?” He started to laugh. It was a jarring sound, like the barking of a dog trying to clear a bone caught in its throat.
“Yeah,” echoed Mark Cooper. He openly sneered. “Why don’t ya send one of them angels to tell us how to find some buried treasure?”
Lydia laughed aloud, tossing her head in contempt. Again Joshua was taken aback by her reaction. What was it that she and her pa had against the Smiths? He lifted one eyebrow, silently questioning her, but she refused to meet his probing look. He turned back to Joseph, curious now. “What are they talking about, Joseph?”
But at that moment the door to the store opened and Lydia’s father stepped out. “Lydia!”
It brought them all around. Josiah McBride was not a tall man; in fact he was an inch or two shorter than his wife. But he was one of Palmyra’s leading citizens, an elder in the Presbyterian church with his own family pew, and a member of the recently elected town council. He was short, but no one in Palmyra thought of him as a little man. And now he was drawn up to his full height, the
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