Annalise walked down the boardwalk and past the shops. The freedom of having five minutes without the presence of Aunt Lavinia’s oppressive personality refreshed her. She would certainly take advantage of the few minutes while her aunt chatted with one of her high society friends.
“Hello, Miss Van Houten.” Sheriff Bleyer interrupted Annalise’s thoughts.
“Sheriff.”
The sheriff swaggered toward Annalise and cornered her. Something about his stance and unrelenting stare left goose pimples on Annalise’s arms. He was a man of the law, so surely she was overreacting. “Tell me, Miss Van Houten, how are you takin’ to attendin’ Ridge Gap Bible Church?”
Was it Annalise’s imagination, or was there a note of sarcasm in the sheriff’s voice? “It is a Christ-loving church.”
“So you enjoy attendin’?”
“I do.”
How did the sheriff even know she attended the humble church? As soon as the question popped into her head, Annalise pushed it aside. Of course he knew. Nothing was a secret in Ridge Gap, least of all when Phineas and Lavinia Thorn’s niece decided to attend another church.
How scandalous!
“From what I understand, you’ve been attendin’ for the past two weeks now.” His never-blinking, gimlet-eyed stare unnerved her.
“Sheriff Bleyer, I have every mind to believe you are interrogating me.”
The sheriff appeared shocked. “Not at all, ma’am, not at all.” He turned and gestured toward the Ridge Gap Bible Church. “Just wonderin’ how you like the place is all.”
“I like it fine, Sheriff. Perhaps you should attend sometime.”
“No thank you, ma’am. I prefer First Church,” he said, a self-righteous gleam in his hardened hazel eyes. “Have a good day.”
Annalise watched Sheriff Bleyer strut down the boardwalk. Why had he chosen to intimidate her?
Matthias saw her from his position near the mercantile.
The lovely woman who had attended church services twice now.
But she didn’t take any notice of him. Instead, she chatted with Sheriff Bleyer.
The enemy.
Matthias watched the woman point in the direction of the church. Was she discussing something she’d discovered about the church with the sheriff?
Something akin to three members of the church assisting slaves in escaping to freedom?
Worry niggled at him.
The last thing they needed was to have their plans exposed. Too many lives were at stake. Matthias thought he had paid close enough attention to the newcomer. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Traitors, as he knew full well, didn’t look the same. Cloaked in dishonesty and selfishness, betrayal was second nature to them.
Which was why Matthias couldn’t afford to be gullible.
He should have made time to ask her about herself last week. But the parishioners had been overly eager to discuss the sermon afterward, depriving him of the chance.
“Reverend, so nice to see you.” Portly Mrs. Robinson bustled her way out of the mercantile and nearly collided with Matthias.
Matthias reluctantly drew his eyes from the scene of the woman and Sheriff Bleyer. “Hello, Mrs. Robinson. Nice to see you as well.” Matthias grunted inwardly at how unconvincing his voice sounded. Not at all fitting for one leading the flock.
“Why, Reverend, if my eyes don’t deceive me, I would say you might be captivated by that young lady.”
Could Mrs. Robinson speak any more loudly or be any more obvious? Matthias knew red crept up his freshly shaven face.
Lovely woman? Yes. Captivated by her? Perhaps. A possible threat? Yes.
Mrs. Robinson glanced from him to the woman, then back to him. While Mrs. Robinson was a dear woman, she quite often partook in gossip. Should she truly believe Matthias was “captivated,” as she said, word would spread throughout the church—and the town—within minutes.
“Now, Reverend, there is no shame in being mesmerized by a lovely young lady’s beauty. Why, when I was a few years younger, my husband—you do know that Harold and I have been married for forty years, don’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Matthias kept his gaze on the woman, but his attention on Mrs. Robinson.
“Anyhow, when I was a few years younger, long before Harold and I married, Harold was enchanted by my loveliness. I was quite comely, and he could scarcely take his eyes from me when we were introduced that fateful day. Now, forty years and four months later, we are still happily joined in matrimony. That could happen to you too, Reverend. Even if that lovely young woman is far above your station.”
Far above his station or not, Matthias had no interest in a woman who might endanger those seeking freedom and those who helped them attain it.
That evening, Matthias pushed the food around on his plate. Betsy had done a fine job making the meal, but he just wasn’t hungry.
“You’re in deep thought,” observed Betsy.
“Haven’t spoken a word all evening,” added her husband, Adam.
“What’s on your mind, Matthias?”
Matthias eyed his younger sister. So often, he had given thought to what would happen to her if the opposition knew.
He must never allow her to be implicated. He would take complete and utter responsibility before he allowed her to even be accused.
“Did either of you see the woman who has been attending church these past two Sundays and sits in the back pew?”
“The one in the fancy gown?”
“Yes.”
“I noticed her too,” added Adam. “Never seen her at our church before. What do you reckon she wanted?”
“Perhaps to worship?” teased Betsy.
“Funny, Bets. I’m concerned about why she was there,” said Matthias.
“It’s a peculiar day when we become concerned why folks attend church.” Betsy let out a soft laugh then continued, her overly large eyes appearing even larger. “I admit I wondered who she was as well. Folks of high society don’t usually attend our church. Maybe she meant to attend First Church and became lost.”
Matthias didn’t think that was likely, but he didn’t mention it. Always the optimist, his sister likely would think him absurd for even considering the woman’s affiliation with the enemy. “Did she appear to be listening to the sermon?”
“Devoutly,” answered Betsy. “Matthias, what is this all about?”
“I saw her speaking with Sheriff Bleyer today.”
Adam stopped chewing his roast chicken and narrowed his eyes. “She was speaking with Sheriff Bleyer? Did you happen to hear the conversation?”
“No. But I did notice her pointing to the church.”
“Oh, Matthias, you are always such a distrustful sort,” declared Betsy. “She probably needed directions.”
“My concern is that she may have been sent by Sheriff Bleyer, Phineas Thorn, or one of the others to find out if we are involved in assisting the slaves to freedom.”
Betsy tilted her head to one side. “Because she was merely speaking to Sheriff Bleyer?”
“Bets, I know you try to see the best in others, and I commend you for that. But sometimes we have to be realistic.”
Adam nodded. “Especially after nearly losing our lives with Gene’s deception.”
The three were the only ones who knew the details of their former friend’s treachery. Had the Lord not been watching over them, Matthias and Adam would have already been hanged or, at the very least, been doing time in the county jail in their former town.
“I watched her for a while, well, as best as I could with Mrs. Robinson doing her best to distract me.”
Betsy began to laugh. “That Mrs. Robinson is quite ornery.”
“That she is. Of more serious concern, we can’t have anything or anyone thwart our plans, and with Sheriff Bleyer nosing around…”
“Oh, Matthias. You’re so leery. The woman may have heard that you have wonderful sermons and how you encourage folks to live for our Savior. You do have a reputation here in Ridge Gap.”
Matthias knew Betsy was only good-naturedly chiding him. Still, he couldn’t let go of his worry.
“Trust, Matthias, just trust.”
“I’m trying, Bets, but it doesn’t come easy.”
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” The words from Psalm 55:22 burrowed into his heart.
Now if only his mind could believe it.