Angel In The Saloon (Brides of Glory Gulch) (20 page)

Then on the second afternoon of her punishment, peace
flooded Amelia like none she had ever known as she let go of all unwanted
bitterness. God was performing his perfect work in her heart, and she allowed his
presence to permeate every ounce of her being.

Sometime during the late morning hours of the next
day, as she was listening to God’s heart, Amelia heard a faint knock at the
front door. Mrs. Marcus answered it and Amelia strained to listen. She could
barely distinguish the two voices. It was definitely a gentleman caller. Mr.
Warren?

No, it was Paul! She heard Mrs. Marcus mumble
something. And then Paul was gone. She wondered how many other times he had
come for her and had been refused access to her. Her heart yearned for him, and
her eyes stung with the salty tears that flowed down her cheeks. Then perhaps
her aunt had also come by that week. They hadn’t abandoned her after all!

She began her prayers again, this time praying for
those she loved and the one she thought she may be in love with.

It’s only temporary. Rest in me.

And Amelia took comfort in the fact that she would see
them again soon.

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 “I think you’re just being paranoid, Paul.” Corrin
didn’t like his accusations that something wasn’t right at the Marcus house. “The
Preacher recommended them to me as the perfect couple for Amelia to live with. They’re
well respected in the church.”

“I know that. I’ve known them for some time now. They
seem like wonderful people. But I’ve tried to see Amelia at different times of
the day and each time they have an excuse as to why I can’t see her. I haven’t
seen her at all this week, Corrin. Have you?”

“No. They told me she wasn’t feeling well.”

“There, you see! They gave me the same excuse. Even
when Amelia was lying in bed from the beating, she was trying to get up and
around. What sickness would hold her down this long?”

Corrin contemplated this for a moment.

“Maybe, it’s time I go back for another visit. Come
back after work and I’ll have a report for you.”

Paul nodded and left the saloon.

Corrin would get to the bottom of this, whether the
Marcus’s wanted her to or not.

That afternoon, she walked confidently up the sidewalk
and knocked firmly on the Marcus’s door. Mr. Marcus answered and told her that
Amelia was not receiving visitors.

“Mr. Marcus, what exactly is wrong with my niece?”

He glared at the saloon keeper who glared right back
at him. The silence nearly drove Corrin crazy.

“Well? She’s all the family I have. If something is
wrong with her I have the right to know. And if you don’t allow me to see her
right now I will go to the Preacher and tell him that you are refusing to allow
me to see my own niece.”

Mr. Marcus studied her intently and finally must have realized
that she could cause trouble for them. “Wait here. I’ll get your niece for you.”
He closed the door, leaving her standing on the stoop.

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Mrs. Marcus unlocked the door to Amelia’s room and
quietly entered. Nothing prepared her for what she saw. Amelia was kneeling at
the side of her bed; hands stretched upward and outward, head tilted toward the
ceiling. She was singing praises to God in a soft, angelic tone, and although
an abundance of daylight filtered through the ample window, her face shined as
though an extra lamp was being held up to her. And her face was soft and smooth
and pure as the first fallen snow. All bruises and cuts from the attack were
gone without a trace.

The room itself was filled with a presence of peace
and joy and love such as the elderly woman had never encountered before. It
unnerved her, and she wasn’t sure if she should interrupt the young lady’s
worship. But realizing they couldn’t put off Miss Dannon any longer, she
finally spoke.

“Amelia, dear. Your aunt is waiting to see you on the
porch.”

Amelia stopped singing and smiled at the elderly woman.
“Thank you.”

“Here, it’s cold outside. Wrap this shawl around your
shoulders.”

Surprised by her sudden interest in her well-being,
Amelia took the shawl, grabbed her cane and headed downstairs. Within a minute,
she emerged from the house with Mr. Marcus directly on her heels.

Corrin grabbed her and hugged her generously. Then she
held her niece at arm’s length, apparently to look at her. She gasped. “Sweetie,
you’re face . . . The bruises are completely gone!”

Amelia ran her fingers down the sides of her cheeks. Then
she pulled back one sleeve and felt her arm for the scabs that had formed, and
they were also gone. She directed her face toward Corrin and smiled.

“I guess while God was healing my wounded spirit, he
thought he might as well take care of my skin too.”

Corrin simply hugged her again.

“I love you and missed you so much, Aunt Corrin!”

“I’ve missed you too, honey. And Paul misses you,” she
said with a defiant voice, probably so Mr. Marcus would hear. “He’s come by
several times to see you and you weren’t feeling well. But I can see now that
you are doing just fine.”

Amelia, aware of Mr. Marcus’ presence, knew she had to
choose her words carefully, knowing that Paul had indeed called on her, but
that the Marcus’ had intentionally withheld this information from her.

“Please, tell him I’m sorry I missed seeing him.” That
was all she could think of. If she divulged anything else, she may not feel
sunshine on her face for a week. And she certainly didn’t want to embarrass the
elderly gentleman. That wouldn’t be very Christian of her.

“I will, Honey. I will.” Corrin led her niece to a
swing on the porch. She held her hand and began to chatter in typical Corrin
style. “I almost forgot. Saturday night, we’re throwing a big birthday party
for Paul over at the Saloon. His birthday is actually next Tuesday. But he
wants to be sure the loggers and millers can make it, so we’re holding it on
Saturday. He’s turning forty, too. There’ll be a potluck dinner and music and
dancing. You will be there won’t you, Sweetie?”

Amelia choked down a big gulp. She knew the Marcus’s
would never allow her attend such a function at such a place to honor such a
man. Three marks against her. But with the gentleman right there, she was
uncertain how to answer, and finally broke the tenseness with a question.

“Mr. Marcus, what do you think? Shall I attend this
gala affair?”

“What’s wrong, Amelia? I can’t believe you’d hesitate
at an opportunity to see Paul---especially his birthday party.”

“Miss Dannon,” Mr. Marcus said slowly and purposefully.
“When you came to me to take in your niece, it was out of concern for her
safety and well-being. You didn’t think a saloon was a safe and proper place
for her to be. I don’t think it would be wise for her to attend this party. She’s
young and this may confuse her as to what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Amelia squeezed her aunt’s hand as a silent message
she hoped she’d understand---that she was basically being held prisoner there.

“Mr. Marcus,” Corrin replied in her normal tone,
evidently unaware of the situation yet. “This is a friendly gathering of dear
friends and acquaintances. It’s closed to those not invited. There will be no
strangers there. Amelia will be perfectly safe with us. I think she should come.
In fact,” Corrin directed this last statement to her niece. “I’ll come for you
myself, sweetie, around six-thirty.”

Mr. Marcus remained unnaturally silent at her aunt’s
apparent defiance of his rules.

“Thank you, Aunt Corrin. ” Corrin basked in her aunt
these past five days and hoped she wouldn’t continue to allow her to live in
this stifling place. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Corrin replied.

Amelia embraced her aunt, and whispered into Corrin’s
ear, “They lock me in my room and won’t let me see you or Paul. They say you’re
an evil woman. Please, I want to come home.”

In a motherly fashion, she hugged her back, this time
aiming her head over her niece’s other shoulder to be out of Mr. Marcus’ sight.
“Have your bags packed when I come for you on Saturday night,” she whispered.

They broke their embrace, Amelia was elated. She
squeezed her aunt’s hand in affirmation. They were going to break her out of
jail, and she could hardly contain her excitement to be going home again in
just a couple more days.

“You certainly are a precious gift to me, honey,”
Corrin said loudly enough for Mr. Marcus to hear. Then she leaned toward her
again and added, “And I’ll see you Saturday night.”

She left, and Amelia listened as her aunt’s dainty
footsteps disappeared down the street. The next time she’d see her would be the
last day she’d live there with the Marcus’s. She went back to her room with joy
now added to the peace she felt.

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Corrin Dannon left the two on the porch, one beaming
and one scowling. Two more days and Amelia will be back home in the saloon
where she belonged.

She regretted having brought her there in the first
place. Even if it had been a loving place, seeing Amelia anywhere else but in
her own home at the saloon was wrong. She saw that now and hoped Amelia could
forgive her.

Corrin stopped walking and smiled at her absurd
thoughts. This was Amelia Jackson she was thinking about---of course she would
forgive her!

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Amelia was pleased when Mrs. Marcus asked her to go
for a walk with her the next afternoon. She was more than happy to stretch her
legs and breathe the cool, October air. They walked in silence for some time.

“Amelia. I’ve been wanting to ask you something about
what I saw yesterday when I came up to your room to get you.”

Amelia smiled and prayed that God would draw this
woman’s heart toward him.

“I was wondering about that beautiful song you were
singing. I had never heard anything like that before. Who taught it to you?”

“It was not a memorized song, Mrs. Marcus. I was
expressing my love and adoration to my God and Savior. I simply told him what
was on my heart. When I came to know Jesus personally, I stopped reciting
written prayers and now I just talk to Him.”

Mrs. Marcus’s silence told Amelia this was new to her
and she allowed her heart to turn tender toward the older woman. She wasn’t the
terrible ogre she had initially thought she was. She was someone who simply
possessed a misguided faith and had never turned her heart over to God.

“Do you think you could show me how to worship God
that way?”

Amelia stopped walking and embraced her. “It would be
an honor to show you my Lord, Mrs. Marcus.” She felt this would best be done in
the solitude of her room, so they walked back arm in arm back to the small
house.

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“Hello, Amelia.” Paul said as soon as he saw the two
ladies coming toward the house. He strode down the walkway to the front gate. “Mr.
Marcus told me you were out for a stroll, so I just thought I’d wait for you to
return.”

Amelia smiled that lovely, innocent smile of hers, and
her face brightened. Approaching the two ladies, Paul took note of how
captivatingly beautiful Amelia looked, Corrin having told him of her miraculous
healing. Now seeing her countenance eased his worried mind. Corrin also had
made him aware of the Marcus’ feelings toward him and hesitated for a moment,
unsure what to do. But his hesitation lasted only momentarily. He grabbed
Amelia up with his strong arms in a fond embrace and held her for awhile,
allowing her gentle sweetness to permeate his longing heart. He kissed the top
of her head as she hugged his middle.

“I missed you so much, Paul.”

“Not nearly as much as I missed you.” Paul grinned and
kissed her on her forehead. Then he remembered Mrs. Marcus was still standing
nearby, and a chill went down his spine at the thought of the possibility that
his precious Angel may be locked in her room again on account of this display
of affection. He broke their embrace and looked at the other woman.

“Mrs. Marcus, with your permission, may I please visit
with Miss Jackson on the porch for awhile?”

Mrs. Marcus looked at him and then Amelia. “I’m
beginning to wonder what my husband and I were so worried about. I can feel the
love shared between the two of you and to keep you apart would be wrong.” She
took a deep breath and continued. “Go ahead and visit a little while, but if
you don’t mind, please keep it to about a half hour. My husband will be home
from his meeting in about an hour, and it would be best if you’d be gone by
then, Mr. Strupel.” And she turned to enter the house.

“Mrs. Marcus,” Amelia called to her. “I’ll be in
shortly and we can continue our talk, if you would like.”

“Yes, dear. I’d like that very much.” The woman
disappeared into the confines of her cluttered home.

“Wow! That wasn’t the response I was expecting, Paul
said. “But God works in mysterious ways; doesn’t he?”