June (14 page)

Sam's eyes welled with appreciation. "Like it? It's so lovely it makes me puddle."

"Not a prettier place this side of heaven."

"I bloomin' well reckon not!" Sam sniffed, wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her dress.

"This is where Reverend Inman plans to build the tabernacle."

"Clean down there!" Sam exclaimed. "He must be off his nut! How will he ever-?"

June laughed. "Not down there. Up here. Right hereon the very spot where we're standing."

"I'm not one to know much about such matters," Sam admitted. Her freckles stood out in the harsh, cold light. She glanced around uneasily. "Should we be standing on such sacred ground?"

Nodding, June took a deep breath of the sweet air. "We're God's children. We can stand on any ground we want, 'cause we're heirs to the kingdom!" she proclaimed proudly.

"That's so beautiful, it makes me want to pray," Sam said solemnly. "And that's something I don't do a whole lot of "

"Shame on you, Sam Harris." June took her hand and pulled her to her knees. "We'll pray together, right here, right now."

Sam groaned as her knees met the grassy knoll. June looked over at her solemnly. "Do you want to start?"

Sam shook her head.

"Then I will. Bow your head."

"Me toes are cold," Sam murmured. "Bloomin' well should have stayed 'ome today."

"Father, we bow before you, thanking you for this marvelous day, for shared friendship, for unspeakable beauty. We thank you for Eli Messenger's life, and for his death, for we know you can work both for your glory. Bless Reverend Inman; grant him wisdom and strength to bring hope to the hundreds of lost and lonely who gather every night to hear your Word.

"Forgive us our sins, and protect us from harm. Bless Aunt Angie, and allow her to remain with us a while longer, Lord. She's needed so very much. Bless the children, Lord. Keep them safe and happy and protected. Bless O1' Joe, and keep him healthy so he can serve the children.

"Most of all, we praise you for your love, for sending your only Son to die on the cross so that we may have eternal life. Forgive our sins, and help us to do better. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen."

Pulling Sam to her feet, June smiled. "Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

Sam rubbed her aching knees. "Not as long as you do the talkin'. Do you come here every day?"

"Every day. Come, let me show you the tabernacle."

"Show me? It ain't been built yet, 'as it?"

"No, but I can make you see it."

Sam listened intently as June described the temple, its beauty and opulence, how Reverend Inman planned to pattern it after a great European cathedral, with the three magnificent arches, the stately portals, the beautiful stained-glass windows.

"It will surely cost a bloomin' fortune to build something like that!" Sam said.

"I suppose it will, but Reverend Inman says the Lord deserves the best."

"That's exactly what 'e'll be getting when this tabernacle is finished." Sam looked off in the distance, trouble coloring her features.

"Is something wrong?" June asked. She had detected a tone of sadness in Sam's voice.

"No, not really." Sam sat down, wiggling her toes. "It's bloomin' cold, it is."

"Want to put your boots on?"

"Not yet."

"Then what's wrong? Does something about the tabernacle bother you?"

"No-it's just all that money. When I think about what that amount of money, or just a smidgen of it, could do for the orphanage.... It could buy new shoes, schoolbooks, a woodstove for the upstairs. We 'ave a small one downstairs, but it can't begin to heat the entire house. And clothes. Nice warm coats and mittens. Clothes at the orphanage 'ave been 'anded down from one to the other so often that they're threadbare and hardly serviceable. Doesn't take long to go through clothes with all those kids-and more comin' every day. They come in all shapes and sizes, you know. From the oldest, twelve, right down to the toddler, who turned two last week."

June knew it must be difficult to feed and clothe so many children. "Others help, don't they? Donate money and food?"

Sam shook her head. "Aye, you'd think they would, and Auntie says they used to 'elp a sight more than they do now. The loggers are kind to the little ones, but nobody gives as much as they used to." She tsked. "There are so many in the community who could help.... Such a bloomin' shame."

"I know it must be difficult." Raising money for the tabernacle was hard enough. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh, lovey! Do you mean it? We can always use help!" Sam exclaimed.

"Then consider me an extra pair of hands. I have lots of free time, and I'd be more than glad to help. I haven't any money to offer, but I have a heart full of love, and Aunt Thalia says I can take a stove apart and black it as good as anybody. I can mop floors and hang wash. Not to be prideful, but you should taste my elderberry jelly. Papa said there was none better!"

"God bless you, June Kallahan! Not only can we use your help, but it will allow you and me to spend more time together. You'll love Auntie and the kids."

"I'd love to help, but I'll need to consult Reverend Inman.

Then I'll need to rearrange my schedule-perhaps I can spend mornings at the orphanage, afternoons in front of The Gilded Hen, and evenings at tent services counting the nightly offering. I have to keep my previous commitments, but I think I should be able to help you out too."

Excitement welled in June. She would love the children. And it wouldn't interfere with her work for Reverend Inman or the tabernacle. She'd make sure of it. Glory be! Praise God and alleluia!

"I can't wait to get started!"

"When can you start?"

"Soon, Sam. I can't say exactly when-but soon."

Sam's face fell. "Ow. I was rather gettin' me 'opes up you could start tomorrow."

June shook her head. "Tomorrow is Sunday, Sam."

"Ow, yes-I suppose you'll be wanting to attend services.

"Not attend, teach."

Sam frowned. "Aye, now you be pullin' me leg."

"Sam, I would never pull your leg. I'm serious." June explained her plan to hold Sunday services at nearby logging camps, starting with Pine Ridge, Parker Sentell's camp.

"Well, that does sound admirable." Sam thought for a moment. "Who's Parker Sentell?"

Taking her arm, June turned her around, and they started back. A cold wind had sprung up, and clouds were rolling in. "Now that's a story that will take more than an afternoon to tell."

"Ow." Sam winked. "A right 'andsome one, ay?"

"Most handsome," June conceded. "And incredibly stubborn!"

"How on earth did you get those loggers to agree to church services? 'ear tell, they're real rascals."

The observation reminded June of the day she had disregarded Parker's warning and gone into the rival camp alone. She shuddered. The men were rascals all right. Depraved ones. She didn't know what would have happened if Parker hadn't rescued her. June suddenly stopped, bringing her hands to her hips as she fixed Sam with a stern look. "Would you like to attend Sunday's service?"

"Ow, no, lovey...." Sam looked doubtful.

"Wonderful!" June slipped her arm back through Sam's. "And someday very soon, you can take me to meet Aunt Angie and the children. Meanwhile, you can start coming to services. It will do you good."

"Ow dear, I've fell in it now, 'aven't I? Well ... OK, I'll come to your services when I can-because you're such a good friend." Her eyes swept the darkening sky. "And if we've got a pound of smarts between us, I say we be 'eadin' back. From the looks of those clouds movin' in, we're apt to get caught in the middle of a gully washer."

June studied the bank of dark rain clouds. "I think you're right. And I think we'd best be putting our boots back onin case we have to make a run for it."

"Or a swim for it," Sam groused.

The two women sat down on the grass and laced up their boots. When the last knot was tied, Sam sprang to her feet. "Race ya!"

In no time at all, Sam was little more than a speck in the distance. June was just getting to her feet.

When June reached the revival tent, a rested-looking Sam was perched jauntily on a bench, eating an apple. "Where you been, slowpoke?"

Trying to catch her breath, June leaned forward, panting. "Are you part rabbit?"

"Lynx," Sam conceded.

Exhausted, June dropped to the bench and tried to catch her breath. "I'm so glad you're here, Sam."

"Me too, lovey. Me too." Sam lifted her eyes to the threatening weather. "But I best be going. It's about to open up and pour any minute."

"I'll ask Ben to drive you home in the buggy."

"Nah, I got Sissy." Sam pitched the apple core away, then brushed dust from her skirt.

"Sissy?"

"Me mule." Pulling June to her feet, she propelled her to the side of the tent, where she'd tied the animal earlier. "Meet Sissy, one fine mule."

"But you'll get soaked!" June protested as she felt the first sprinkling of raindrops hit her cheek.

"Not me." Sam bunched up her skirt and slid bareback onto the mule.

"You will unless you've got feathers like a duck!"

"Got me something even better." Sam reached across Sissy's bridle and prominently displayed her treasure. "I got me a bumbershoot."

Sissy turned her head, staring at June with big brown eyes that would melt a stone.

With a flick of her wrist, Sam proudly snapped the faded red umbrella open.

The sudden noise made June jump. She doubted anything so tattered would protect Sam from a sprinkle, let alone a downpour. The umbrella was so small, it scarcely covered Sam's head.

"Are you sure you don't want Ben to drive you? It'd be no trouble."

Sam gently nudged Sissy's flanks. "See you tomorrow then ... at services. Pine Ridge, you say?"

"Nine o'clock."

"Nine o'clock.

"Sharp."

"Sharp."

The big gray mule obediently trotted off. "See you tomorrow!" Sam waved with her left hand, holding the reins and umbrella in her right, bouncing high on Sissy's back.

An hour after revival services, people still milled around the tent. The altar call had lasted unusually long; fifty or more had come to profess their faith. June had a difficult time keeping her mind on business. Hard as she tried, she kept seeing Sam on the back of that old mule, waving that silly "bumbershoot." She prayed that her friend had made it safely back to the orphanage and that Aunt Angie wasn't any worse.... If anything happened to Aunt Angie, the orphans would have to find new homes.... They had worn-out shoes-improper heating. They needed so much.

When the tent eventually cleared, June disappeared into the small room behind the pulpit to count money. Ben and several other ushers piled the overflowing collection baskets on the large wooden table. Tonight's service was large and required that even more baskets be passed. The offerings seemed endless.

Counting the donations, June's mind returned to the orphans. Sam's words about the needs at the orphanage turned over in her mind. Shoes, clothes, food.

June shook the troubling thoughts aside. The tabernacle was important too. The orphanage served the needs of a pitiful few. The tabernacle would serve thousands.

The kerosene lamp burned low when she finally finished. She penciled the amount in the ledger, tucking it and the money inside the safe.

Pulling on her cloak, she thought of the orphans again. New shoes, warm clothes, adequate food, a stove for upstairs. Hardly selfish needs-important ones, that desperately needed to be addressed.

Her gaze focused on the safe. The outpouring of love had been so large tonight. Perhaps if she were to bring the children's needs to Reverend Inman's attention, he would help. Just a portion-perhaps twenty dollars? The amount would purchase staples for the orphanage for a month, if nothing else.

As she was about to snuff out the lamp and go in search of the reverend, he suddenly pulled back the curtain and entered the room.

"Reverend."

"Hello, my dear. Wonderful service tonight-so many responses. The angels surely are rejoicing."

Reverend Inman removed his wire-rimmed glasses and polished them with his handkerchief. June noticed that his worn overcoat had seen better days.

"Reverend, you should buy yourself a new coat. The one you're wearing isn't adequate protection against the cold wind."

"Nonsense. It's fine-any spare coin I have goes toward the tabernacle." He rubbed his hands together to warm them. "Did you see the crowd tonight? Did you see how they came to hear God's Word, to receive his blessings? Praise God!"

"Oh, yes, Reverend Inman, I saw." June's eyes focused on the safe. So many needs. Warm clothes, adequate food, a stove for the upstairs.

"God's been good to his people."

"Very good."

The reverend hooked his glasses over his ears, then looked around. "You're awfully quiet tonight. Have a big day?"

"Yes.... Reverend, I'd like to speak to you about a personal matter."

His eyes softened with concern. "Of course-please, say whatever's in your heart."

"You know the small orphanage on the outskirts of Seattle?"