Matthias stood behind the pulpit, ready to preach the sermon. His eyes scanned the crowd. Would Annalise be there after his accusatory words?
Matthias swallowed hard. He never should have expressed that concern. Since he had come to know her, Matthias had realized how different she was from his first assumptions about her. He knew Annalise would do nothing to compromise the Faith Train, whether intentional or accidental. He knew that with every fiber of his being. Just like he knew that he was falling in love with the beautiful Southern belle with a heart for others.
Lord, please give me the opportunity to apologize.
Matthias again scanned the rows of pews. No sign of Annalise. Had she been apprehended by her uncle? Worry wormed its way into Matthias’s heart.
“Cast your cares upon Me.”
The prompting in Matthias’s heart propelled his mind to remember the sin of worry and how it had grasped so fiercely onto him throughout his life. Wasn’t that the topic he was preaching on this very day? Not to worry. Not to fret. Not to fear. But to cast all of his cares on the Lord. That the Lord would sustain him.
The last thing Matthias desired was to be a hypocrite. He had prayed time and time again that the Lord would free him from the bondage of worry and fear. For how could a man of the cloth doubt that his precious Savior would protect him? And a man of the cloth couldn’t preach about it when he himself didn’t live it.
Matthias shoved the thoughts of guilt aside. He hadn’t slept much as of late, between his concern for Annalise, his regret over the insinuations he had made to her, and the prospect of preaching on a sermon that would likely help him more than it would help his congregation.
One of the elders cleared his throat, catching Matthias off guard, and he brought his mind to the present. His congregation stared at him expectantly, awaiting his wisdom from the Word. Matthias wouldn’t fail them.
Lord, please give me the words You wish for me to speak. Help me to digest and apply each word of truth from Your Bible that I am about to quote. Free me from the fears and worries that overtake my mind. And Father, please give me the opportunity to apologize and reconcile with Annalise.
“Good morning. Let’s open with a word of prayer.”
After the opening prayer, the singing of several hymns, and the announcements, Matthias again took his place behind the pulpit. That’s when he saw Annalise walking down the aisle toward her newfound place beside Betsy and Adam.
Thank You, Lord.
His eyes connected with hers, and she looked away. Lord, another chance with her. Please?
Matthias set aside the turmoil roiling inside him and addressed the congregation with a renewed sense of peace.
Annalise had been drawn in by Matthias’s sermon. Oh, she was always captivated by the words of the gifted young man she had grown so fond of in recent months, but this time something about him was different. Almost as if the words Matthias spoke were directed toward something more personal.
She hadn’t slept well over the past two nights, going over and over the words Matthias had said and what he really must think of her. Annalise wished she could request that he do a sermon on dwelling on a topic repeatedly. She needed advice when it came to that trap she found herself in whenever something upsetting, frightening, or irritating happened.
Their eyes had connected several times throughout the church service. Those gray eyes that carried within them a tenderness toward others that Annalise had never before seen. Those eyes that she longed to gaze into without interruption.
Annalise pulled her mind back to the service. She ought not think about such things of a man who wasn’t courting her, and especially in church. Annalise offered a prayer seeking the Lord’s forgiveness.
And Lord, would You please allow Matthias and I to reconcile?
When the service concluded, Matthias walked toward her. “Annalise?”
“Hello, Matthias.”
“Could we speak after the other parishioners have left?”
Annalise nodded. She wanted nothing more.
It took some time for Matthias to offer goodbyes to the faithful members of his church. In the meantime, Annalise spoke to the people who had embraced her when she first arrived, even though she was different from them. Some congregants still eyed her with suspicion, but for the most part, she had been accepted because each person in the church had one important thing in common: their love for Christ.
“Thank you for waiting, Annalise.”
Her heart leapt at his voice. Feelings of elation filled her when in his presence. Were she to someday marry him…
I can no more marry Matthias than turn Uncle Phineas into a decent man. Besides, how can I even begin to think of marriage when we are not courting? And wasn’t I irritated and saddened about Matthias’s words just this morning? The word capricious came to mind, and she almost giggled at the description of herself.
“Annalise…” Matthias reached to place a hand on her arm.
A swarm of butterflies zipped up her arm. “Yes?”
“I am so sorry. Please forgive me for my accusations. I sometimes become so consumed in worry about the Faith Train failing that I forget God is in control. I know I upset you with my words, and I pray you will give me a chance to make amends.”
“I forgive you, Matthias. You must understand that I would never, ever do anything intentional, accidental, or otherwise to compromise the Faith Train. I have too much vested in it myself, and I care deeply for those we assist. I have been extra cautious at all times of Uncle Phineas’s watchful eye.”
His hand slipped from her arm to brush her fingertips before returning to his side. “I know that, Annalise. I do. I can’t tell you what a huge benefit you have been to the organization. We would not have been able to accomplish as much without your help. And with your sacrifice—and I’m certain it was a sacrifice—to come and warn me about the slave bait your uncle is planning, there is no way I can thank you adequately. You may have saved my life and the lives of countless others with that act of bravery.”
Matthias’s eyes almost seemed misty—something one wouldn’t expect from a man so masculine and seemingly tough when moving slaves through the network.
But Matthias had a tender side. A side that Annalise was quickly growing to love.
They spoke in hushed tones, for even the church could have someone listening who was set to thwart their plans. “Please promise me, Matthias, that you won’t give in to the slave that Uncle Phineas sends.”
“But how will I know who he is? Slaves approach me weekly with the code, expecting my assistance—our assistance—in securing their freedom. How will I know which one is false?”
“They have a slave chosen just for this purpose.” Annalise wished she could recall the name of the slave. “But you are right, it will be difficult to know. Sheriff Bleyer and the others know of your code with the tugging at your right ear.”
“They do?”
“Yes.”
Matthias shook his head. “Then we must develop a new code.”
“Yes. But until then, potential runaways will be using that code. You mustn’t assist any slaves for the next few weeks until I can glean further information from Uncle Phineas and his cronies.”
“A few weeks is a long time to refuse help to someone. Especially those who are innocent.”
“I agree, Matthias, but it must be done. You know that.”
Matthias appeared reluctant.
Lord, please help him to see.
“You are correct, Annalise. This one error could stop our entire mission. As it is, we are sending a telegram tomorrow to others in the network that we are delaying sending more slaves for the next few weeks. I don’t like it, but it’s something we must do. Betsy, Adam, and I spoke of it last night.”
“We can again offer our assistance once Uncle Phineas has given up on his plan.”
“But will he ever abandon his plan?”
Annalise doubted it. “Likely not. But in the meantime, as you say, we can develop other methods of spreading the word about how help can be accessed for those in slavery.”
“Yes.”
“Because, Matthias, I couldn’t endure it if something happened to you. Uncle Phineas is bent on hanging you, whether a judge finds you guilty or not. And a judge would, given Uncle Phineas’s influence.”
“Annalise, I’m not about to allow myself to be hanged. I have too much to live for.”
They stood for a moment, their eyes and hearts connected in this moment of time. Would they ever have the freedom to express their feelings toward each other? Two people from different social classes. Annalise with such strong restrictions placed upon her life by her nefarious uncle. How could they ever hope to court, let alone marry?
And did Matthias feel as she did? Annalise pushed the thought aside. There was another pressing matter.
“Matthias, when Uncle Phineas relents somewhat, promise me one thing?”
“Anything.”
“Promise me we will do all we can to help Jinny and Tandey escape.”
“I promise I will do everything in my power.”
If the two were allowed to escape, perhaps they could marry, as they had dreamed of for some time. Something most folks took for granted.
Matthias couldn’t take his eyes from her. Not only was the woman before him lovely, kind, spirited, and brave, but she was also a woman of forgiveness.
And the one who had captured his heart long before even he knew it.
“If only you didn’t have an uncle Phineas, I would ask to take you on a Sunday drive.”
The corners of Annalise’s mouth turned up in the pleasing smile Matthias had grown to admire. “It just so happens that Uncle Phineas and Aunt Lavinia are in Knoxville until tomorrow. A Sunday drive would be most delightful.”