Chapter Nineteen

 

 

Anna enjoyed her bath and hurried to get to the church. She had so many things to do, but she wanted to go to church this morning, it seemed the right thing to do.

The Catholic church lay in a beautiful meadow away from the road. There were oak and pine trees surrounding it, close to the front was a row of flowers, mostly roses, and they were beautiful, and it smelled so pleasant. She noticed a beautiful group of statues on the lawn, it was Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. They were beautiful. She went to the door and it was open. She walked inside, and she couldn't believe the beauty of the old church. She gasped. Her little church north of town was quite simple compared to this one. This was like a Cathedral.

The stained-glass windows were lovely, and the statues had her staring, there was one of Jesus hanging on the cross just above the pulpit. Candles were lit in a long row in front of the pews. She'd never set foot in a Catholic Church before. But her mission was simple, she had to pray for the boys that they would return home safely.

She went down the long aisle and stopped at the last pew. She bent down on one knee and started to pray.

She prayed that those men would not make trouble and that Joe, and his men would not be harmed. She prayed that her marriage would always be good. And then she said a very personal prayer, "Please God, if it be your will, could you let me get pregnant, too! Thank you, and I appreciate it. Amen."

The priest came out then and saw her and came to greet her. "Hello there," he welcomed her. He was young and black headed with dark sparkling eyes. He had a ready smile and she liked him right away.

"Oh, father, yes, I'm Anna Lee Callahan, I just live down the road a bit. I wanted to come to pray this morning, a special prayer."

"I'm glad you did." He studied her a minute then asked. "You are not Catholic, are you?"

"No, but I figured any church would be a bit closer to God than my home." She explained. "And I wanted to be sure and reach him quickly."

"God?"

"Yes sir."

His smile broadened. "Prayer is good no matter where you are, even from the darkest of places. But I'm glad you came. And feel free to come and pray any time. This is a Catholic Church, but we open for anyone who seeks the Lord."

"Thank you. It's nice to be welcomed, and I will, as I live close by."

"I'm curious, perhaps it is not my business, but you said a special prayer?"

"Yes," she smiled shyly now. "There are some rough men in town and my husband, and his men are there to— well help the sheriff if possible and hopefully not to get hurt."

"I see. Well, it is good you prayed for their safety."

"We haven't been married long, and I fear he could get hurt, or his men."

"Of course, I'm glad to have anyone pray and for such a good reason."

"I-I also prayed for my marriage and to be with child soon." She told him.

"Aw, yes, that too is a good thing to pray for." He smiled again.

Anna Lee looked at the priest, "You are a young priest," she said shyly.

"Yes, I have only been here a couple of years now. It is my first church."

"I hope you like it here."

"I do, very much. The people welcomed me here and made me feel very at home."

"I am glad for you. Thank you and thank you for allowing me here."

"It is not for me to allow, but for God!"

"Oh yes, you are right. Well, I'll be going now."

"Good luck to you and come again, any time."

He smiled and she left happy that she had come here.

She turned at the end of the pews and looked at the priest. "You have such a beautiful church."

"Thank you," he told her his smile spreading over his young face. "Please come back and see us again."

"I will, count on it." She said and left.

She went home and put Sally in her stall, taking her saddle and hanging it over the stall gate. She curried her telling her about her wonderful night and her hopes and dreams for all her tomorrows. She went to look at some of the other horses, there were a few in the stalls, but several were in the corral. She climbed on the corral fence and watched them a while. He had some beautiful horses. She could tell the breeding stock and she hoped he would take the stallion he bought her in San Antonio and breed him to his finest mare.

Melanie came by with the Stallion.

"Well hello," she called to her.

"Hi, I see you brought Midnight back."

"Midnight?" Melanie questioned?

"The new Stallion Joe bought in San Antonio." Anna told her.

"Oh yes, I think he's very ridable now. I've worked with him several times and he is pretty gentle, but I left him with a bit of spunk as Joe said you are a fine horsewoman."

"Did he?" she grinned. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

Melanie took him in the barn and stabled him, Anna followed. "Would you like a glass of tea?" Anna offered.

"Yes, that'd be fine." She told her.

"I'm sorry I didn't get to meet your fiancé the other day."

"Another time, I suppose," Melanie said a worry wrinkle forming on her forehead.

"Something wrong?"

"No, not really. It's just—" She paused, glancing at her for a moment. "Ken, my fiancé was going to move his office here, but it's not working out well. He's a junior partner in a law firm in San Antonio and they want him to stay on another year."

"I'm sorry. Well, at least it isn't that far to San Antonio." Anna told her.

"It is when you work with a lot of horses every day and don't have time to go visiting." She said with unease.

"Sounds like you miss him already. But a year isn't too long." Anna encouraged.

"I just don't understand why he can't leave that firm and open his own office here, now." She huffed. Then after a moment, she blushed, "I'm sorry, it isn't your fault."

They went up to the house and Maria saw she had company. "Would you like some tea," Maria asked.

"Yes, thank you Maria, that would be lovely." Anna smiled at her. "You know, it takes a while to get established, especially when it's a business like being a lawyer, you have to build a clientele."

"Oh, how would you know about such things?" Melanie sent her a slightly snobbish look.

Anna tried not to take the insult seriously. "I know you think I'm just a dumb hick because I work in the livery stable, but I had an Uncle that was in law up north and it took him two years to get established and make any money. He almost quit and came back here."

"Really," Melanie looked astonished.

"Yes, Uncle Harmon, my dad's brother. He was a barber here in town until he finished his studies and became a lawyer. It really frustrated him that it took so long to make money at it."

"Harmon Murray, oh yeah, my dad used to go to him to get his hair cut. He became a lawyer?" Her nose turned upward in disbelief.

"Yes, he did." Hannah couldn't quite get over the slight arrogance of the woman. "It took him a while, but he passed the bar easily enough."

"But you have to speak Latin to become a lawyer." Melanie said thinking she'd caught her in a lie. "Otherwise you can't possibly read the books."

"Yes, he learned. Anyone can learn Melanie." Anna insisted.

"Of course, it's just a little surprising is all." She drank the tea Maria brought but didn't thank Maria or even acknowledge her. Anna watched her closely though, she never did know Melanie as she was older and went to another school. "I suppose it does take a while. But how are we ever going to get married?"

"If you love him, it will work out, I’m sure of it."

"Oh really, a girl that gets left at the alter three times tells me it will work out. How optimistic you are." Melanie was peevish and Anna tried to overlook her rudeness.

Anna reasoned that Melanie was just upset with her fiancé and didn't know how to handle it right now was why she was so snobbish. She'd forgive her this time, but she would not put up with her rudeness again.

Anna bit her lip but didn't grab the bait. Melanie was in some kind of mood, and it would not spoil Anna's good one.

"Well, that third one was a charm." Anna brightened.

Melanie didn't respond but told her she had to be going. Anna walked her to the door. "When's Joe going to be home?"

"This evening sometime, is there something you need?"

"I've got a horse he might be interested in. I'll talk to him later."

"Oh, I'll tell him." She told her honing her manners.

"Thanks, and thanks for the tea."

"Actually, Maria made the tea, not I." Anna informed her politely.

"Y-yes, of course. Good day." Melanie stomped out the door, not looking back.

Anna remembered how aristocrats never thanked the help for their service. She remembered her Aunt Helen who had suddenly become rich when her husband struck gold in California and when she visited her mother, she had the rudest way of treating people.

Anna leaned on the door when she left. Maria came in to pick up the cups in the front room.

"Something wrong?"

Anna decided to bite her tongue and not say anything about how rude Melanie acted. After all, she was upset about her intended.

"No, I don't think so."

Anna went out to the garden and looked around and saw it needed weeding and watering, so she got busy.

Pearl glanced out the window and turned to Maria, "Well, I guess you was right, she does work, don't she?"

"I told you so. She's a good lady."

"Did that Miss Melanie leave?" Pearl asked.

"Yes, why?" Maria asked.

"She's up to some trouble. Looks like our Mrs. is gonna have a time with her."

"Why, what happened?" Maria asked.

"I wasn't meaning to be nosey, but the way she carried on with the Mrs. made me a tad mad. She was really snippy with her and askin' about Joe. I know what she's up to. She's havin' man trouble and she wants to lean on Joe for comfort, I've seen it before. She got her claws after our Missy."

Maria looked alarmed. "Melanie?"

"Yeah, she's an uppity little brat that needs a spanking. She ain't no better than that Miss Susan that comes around. At least Miss Susan don't make no bones about what she's after, Melanie is sneaky. Did you know she wants Joe to work for her dad?"

"Who told you that?"

"One of the boys that works over there. Now what does she want with Joe workin' for her, when he got his own place to look after."

"You must be mistaken."

"Uh huh, we'll see. I think our Mrs. got some troubles."

"Well don't go brewin' more by flappin' your jaw then. This town don't need no more gossips."

"I won't. I won't have to. Anyone with eyes knows what she's after." Pearl told her.

"I hope you are wrong, Pearl."

Pearl stared out at Anna, "You know what, I do too! Because I like this gal, she's better than all the rest around here. She ain't so uppity."

Anna came in and Pearl had finished her dusting, Maria was taking a break, having some coffee with her and Anna walked in and sat down with them as though it were commonplace to sit with the hired help. They looked at each other and smiled.

"Do you girls go to the dances?"

"I usually make the cake for it, but I haven't been to a dance in years," Maria told her.

Pearl shook her head. "We got a dance on the other side of town for colored folks, I go."

"Well then, I want to make you both a dress for the dance." Anna told them.

Both of them looked at her then each other. "But you shouldn't be worrying about us." Maria protested.

"Joe thinks of all of you like family. And family takes care of family. Besides, I love to sew."

"You'd do that for us?" Pearl twisted her head.

"Why not?"

"But I don't even go to dances." Maria told her.

"Then you should start. You aren't that old, and you could have a lot of fun. And I'm gonna make you both a dress to wear to them." Anna told them and got up from the table. "I've got to curry Sally."

Pearl looked at Maria, "Is she serious?"

"I think so. I do not know what to say." Maria shook her head.

"Well, I for one will be protecting that one for sure. Anyone that includes me in her family like that, I'll protect. That Miss Melanie won't break her marriage up if I got anything to say about it." Pearl told her.

"You've changed your mind about her, then?"

"I can admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong."

Maria chuckled. "Oh Pearl, dresses for a dance, can you believe it?"

"She's something alright." Pearl chuckled.