Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) (11 page)

She took up a towel and attempted to wipe up some
water she’d evidently spilled, but wasn’t doing a very good job of it. Paul
went to her side, stole the towel from her and proceeded to mop up the mess. “What
happened here?”

“Oh,” Amelia huffed. “Maybe someday someone will
invent a pump that won’t allow the water to gush out when someone wants a
simple glass of water!”

“Oh, I see.” Paul grinned at her difficulty in coming
by ‘a simple glass of water’. He’d never heard her raise her voice before.

“Yes, you do see. And it isn’t fair,” she blurted out.
“Sometimes, I wish that I had never . . .”

“Hey, it’s only water.”

“But, it’s just one more thing in my life that I can’t
do. It’s impossible for me to even pump water without spilling it all over the
place.”

Paul put his arm around her shoulders and drew her
close. Amelia reciprocated by tucking her arms around his middle, and they
hugged as he stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. After a moment
she broke away from him.

“I apologize for that outburst. I guess I was feeling
sorry for myself again. But I’m all right now. I don’t even know where that
came from. Forgive me?” Actually, she did know where the fit came from but had
no intentions of disclosing her secret to anyone. Even her mother had been
unaware of what she knew.

“Of course, forgiven and forgotten.” Paul smiled at
her and gently rubbed her cheek. He understood that her limitations must
frustrate her sometimes. “You know something?”

“What?”

“I hate those confounded pumps too. I can’t tell you
how often I’ve gone to work with wet shirt sleeves.”

Amelia smiled at him.

“Shall we go?” Paul took her arm and guided her out
the back door. “Would you care to take Sunday dinner with me today?”

“Well, Aunt Corrin said she would have a picnic lunch
waiting when I get home, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you came along.”

“Maybe she wouldn’t mind, at that. I’ll just ask her
when we get back.”

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Upon their arrival at the church, Paul and Amelia were
greeted by almost the whole congregation, one by one. Paul was certainly a well
known fellow in the community, and well thought of too. Amelia felt proud to be
escorted by him. She was also pleased that she was already acquainted with
several people present.

Once inside, Paul directed her to a pew. Paul told her
the number of people in attendance each Sunday outnumbered the seating
capacity, so they had to sit very close to each other. She wrapped her arm
under his to make herself more comfortable, leastwise, that’s what she told
herself. And soon the Sunday Service was under way.

Amelia was so happy to be back in church once again,
yet at the same time the only church she’d ever attended was the large, brick
church back home. Mother would be glad to know she’s able to go to church, even
though she lived in a saloon. She ached for the familiarity of her old life.

They sang three familiar hymns, Amelia noticing Paul’s
enthusiastic singing voice and wondered if he sang that way every Sunday or if
he was just trying to show off for her. Any doubts as to his motives for
worship were dispelled, though, when the Preacher called upon him to give the
opening prayer. Amelia’s church back home didn’t involve the congregation in
the service. The thought intrigued her.

Paul stood. “Dearest Heavenly Father, We thank you for
your generous blessings upon all our lives. We ask you to touch the heart of
Reverend Bennett. May he truly hear your voice as he speaks the message you’ve
given him to bring to us today. May our own hearts be drawn to your Word, and
may we carry back to our homes the assurance of your love and forgiveness and
saving grace throughout the rest of the day and into the week. We ask these
things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

This kind of prayer could only come from someone who
had a personal relationship with the Lord. Amelia’s muddled emotions were set
free from their confusion. It was as if God had not only heard her befuddled
prayers the night before, but He was able to make some sense out of them. She now
saw a clear direction for her life. And all she had to do was take it. She knew
all along that if she ever was to fall in love, it would have to be with a
Christian man. One with the same beliefs as hers. She found herself being drawn
toward Paul in a deeper way, and it both excited and unnerved her.

The service over, the usual fellowship resumed. It was
difficult to maneuver through the church because of the large number of people
who were visiting in the aisles. Paul kept hold of Amelia, guiding and turning
her as the need called until the two were once again back outside in the fresh,
Sunday air.

Wouldn’t the people back in Georgia think this quite a
travesty, leaving church to go home to a saloon? She was just glad to have a
place to go home to. Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like the saloon! Amelia
giggled at her silly, private thoughts.

“What’s so funny?” Paul asked.

“Oh, I was just reminded of something. Nothing
special.”

Soon they were at the kitchen door with the savory
aroma of fried chicken drifting out to them.

“Mm.” Paul’s said.

Corrin looked up from her cooking.  “Hello there. How
was church this morning?”

“It was wonderful,” Amelia replied. “I enjoyed it very
much. Aunt Corrin, did you know that Paul has a marvelous singing voice?”

“Actually, I did. But that’s a story for another time.”
 

When had her aunt heard Paul sing? Had she gone to
church at some time in her life? “Oh, Aunt Corrin. I invited him to picnic with
us. I hope that’s all right with you?”

 “Honey, that’s just fine. We have plenty of food.”

“See,” she said, turning toward Paul. “I told you she
wouldn’t mind.”

“We’d better not go too far, though. It looks like it
might rain,” Corrin said.

The threesome headed into the woods behind the saloon
and Corrin soon spied the perfect spot for a picnic under the shade of a giant
pine tree. A blanket was spread on the ground, the fair laid out like a buffet,
and they soon were enjoying themselves with food, conversation and laughter.

“Oh, Sweetie, I almost forgot to tell you. Some of my
friends are throwing me a Birthday party this Saturday night---a dance! Isn’t
that wonderful?”

“Yes, it is. It’s been a long time since I attended a
dance. I already knew about it, and I’m looking forward to it. I just wasn’t
sure if it was to be a surprise or not.”

“Well then, fair lady.” Paul grabbed Amelia’s hand and
kissed it. “Wouldst thou give me the pleasure of escorting you to the grand
ball?”

“Thank you for your offer, most kind sir.” Amelia chafed
at having emphasized her Southern accent again. “However, another gentleman has
already extended the same offer and I have accepted, so I’m afraid that I must
decline.” There, she said it.

Paul sat quietly for a moment, and then blew out a
huge sigh and said, “Cowan.”

“Yes.” In an attempt to console him, Amelia reached
for his hand and smiled brightly at him. “But I’ll save you a couple dances,
Paul.” There wasn’t anything either of them could do about the situation, so it
would be advantageous to simply make the best of it.

He sat quietly for a moment. “I’d like that very much,
Miss Jackson.”

“Well, in honor of the upcoming festivities,” Corrin
said, her voice sounding happier than Amelia had heard her since she arrived a
week ago. “Amelia, you and I are going shopping. We are going to Glenwood
Springs to buy ourselves the prettiest party gowns this side of the Rockies.”

“Where’s Glenwood Springs?”

“Oh, it’s about a half day’s ride on the stage. You’ll
love it. It’s much larger than Glory Gulch, and has a dress shop with the latest
fashions from Paris, and they’ll tailor them to fit. And we’ll buy all the
trimmings too. We leave on Tuesday’s stage, about twelve-thirty and will arrive
in Glenwood Springs around five. We’ll come back on Friday around eleven thirty
in the morning. I’ve made this trip so many times before, but it’ll be so much
more fun having you with me, Sweetie.”

“My goodness, Aunt Corrin! Don’t you think you should
take a breath every now and then?” Amelia said with a smile, but inwardly was
regretting the trip. She had just completed a long journey and wasn’t looking
forward to another one so soon. But her Aunt was excited and Amelia wouldn’t
think of disappointing her.

“I know I was rambling, honey.” Corrin giggled and
affectionately stroked her niece’s hair. “But I’m just so glad to have someone
to share my life with. I didn’t feel that way when you first came, I’m sorry to
say it. But I do now. You’ve become my extra ray of sunshine because you
brighten my day so much. I’ve got my very own grown-up daughter that I can
pamper and do things with. I’m just so glad you’re here, and I’ve grown so fond
of you in such a short time.”

“Thank you, Aunt Corrin. I love you too.” Amelia
leaned forward and put her head low on Corrin’s shoulders and wrapped her arms
around her. Teardrops trickled down her cheeks only to be absorbed into her aunt’s
shirtwaist. Although Aunt Corrin hadn’t said she loved her, Amelia knew the
bond between them would only grow stronger with time.

They held each other for a couple of minutes. Amelia
was grateful for her aunt, and for the changes that were brought into their
lives that both of them had resented only one week ago. She allowed the hug to
bathe them with love---the kind that heals old hurts, fills empty hearts to
overflowing, and renews the human spirit with a hope for the future. Then she
felt something wet fall onto her head.

Her aunt was crying! The longer they clung to each
other, the more Amelia knew they were becoming the family they always were, but
never knew.

When Amelia finally withdrew, she noticed for the
first time that the shoulder of her dress was wet also from her Aunt’s
teardrops. She now knew what to give Aunt Corrin for her birthday---the same
gift her mother had asked from her every year for her own birthday. But she
would have to practice the piano before next Saturday. The two ladies rubbed
their eyes and began to laugh. Amelia from the overwhelming joy that had
overtaken her, and she hoped her aunt’s laughter signified the same thing.

Just then an extremely loud crack of thunder crashed
through the air directly above them. Startled, Amelia screamed. She blushed and
quickly explained that there just wasn’t any way for her to be forewarned about
such noise.

The rain pounded down upon them as the three packed up
the picnic as quickly as possible and headed back to the saloon. Paul tried to
hurry Amelia through the forest, but she wasn’t able to negotiate the trees as
easily as he could. She was soaked by the time they were able to join Corrin in
the kitchen. They decided to warm up and dry off in the parlor.

Amelia and her aunt went to their rooms and changed
into dry clothing while Paul toweled off in the parlor. The ladies soon joined
him and they relaxed in the coziness of Corrin Dannon’s home.

It surprised Amelia that she had come to think of the
top floor of the saloon as her home. Molly had heard stories of how the top
floors of saloons were not nice places, but she’d been wrong, at least about her
aunt’s saloon. In fact, Amelia hadn’t heard anyone upstairs except for Aunt
Corrin and Paul and Jeremiah, and they were only there upon invitation.
Obviously, Molly had been wrong about a lot of things. Amelia realized she’d
been childish far longer than any of her friends due to her blindness. Why had
others sought to keep her that way?

Later in the afternoon, Paul announced it was time for
him to leave to finish some paperwork he had started the day before. Amelia
escorted him to the saloon door in order to ask him when she might be able to
use his piano to practice.

Paul told her he would take her to the piano only
after she agreed to first accompany him to lunch. She agreed, and they arranged
a time for him to come for her the next day. He placed his arm around her
waist, but she drew away from him.

“I don’t kiss blackmailers!” Amelia turned to go back
upstairs.

“You do now!” He grabbed her shoulder and spun her
around to face him and kissed her firmly, but lovingly.

“You’re a scoundrel, Paul Strupel,” she said when he
allowed her to take her leave.

“And a pleasant evening to you, too, Miss Jackson.”

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The rain continued in torrents through the rest of the
day and remained relentless through Monday also. This cooled the air
considerably, causing a chill and Amelia decided to cancel her plans for lunch
that day. She wasn’t particularly interested in venturing out into the cold
rain. Walking on a clear, dry day was a difficult enough feat for her to
perform, but slippery mud was not something she was eager to negotiate.

The peculiar thing about the rain was that her Aunt’s business
seemed to be booming during parts of the day that were normally slow. This
certainly made it easier for Corrin to find a crony of hers to take a message
to Paul that Amelia was canceling their luncheon and her practice session.