Chapter Eleven
“For those of you who haven’t heard, a thief is walking among us. Walked right into the midst of us,” Pastor Thomas intoned, letting his gaze roam over the congregation gathered at the church on Sunday morning.
Gunder sat still, afraid if he looked around and saw someone who appeared guilty, he’d be unable to keep from grabbing that person and shaking them until their teeth rattled.
Lars placed his hand on Gunder’s shoulder from the seat beside him, although whether out of sympathy or restraint, Gunder didn’t know. There weren’t many men in town or at the mine who could subdue him if he truly lost his temper, except maybe the enormous mine security guards.
He forced his attention back to the pastor, rather surprised by the man’s sermon topic.
Pastor Thomas had assured him during breakfast at Mrs. Baldwin’s that he intended to make sure everyone at the service knew what had happened.
Gunder had thanked him and expected a mention at the end of the service.
But it appeared the pastor had changed his sermon to the sins of stealing.
“Stealing is a terrible sin. A sin that harms others and the community where they live. It shows disrespect for others and their possessions. It’s taking the gifts God has given you, like hands to do good work and a mind to think good thoughts, and throwing them back at the Creator.
” Pastor Thomas paused for effect, letting his words sink in.
Only by sheer will of force did Gunder keep his gaze glued to the pastor as he heard rustling and nervous shifting on creaking pews.
“Stealing, quite often, is rooted in selfishness and laziness. Whether they acknowledge it or not, one who steals is deceptive. They take shortcuts to getting what they want by stepping on the hard work of someone else.” The pastor went on to read a few Bible verses.
“In Exodus 20:15, for those following along, it says: ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ It doesn’t get any simpler than that, friends. Thou shalt not steal.”
Pastor Thomas paused again and looked over at Gunder.
“One of our flock—one who has faithfully attended services every Sunday since July—arrived home yesterday to find not only things precious to him had been stolen, but also that the thief had deliberately broken and destroyed many things that came to him at a dear cost. No one here can afford to replace necessities that were needlessly and heedlessly broken by a person of dishonor. A person of poor character. A person who has no thought for others beyond himself. Now, I ask you, if any of you know who committed this sin and caused this sorrow, please come forward. You can speak to me in private or before us all, but please share if you know anything. We just want what was lost to be returned.”
Enveloping, deafening silence fell over the congregation. One minute turned into two that felt as though they might stretch to eternity.
“Pastor Thomas?” a childish voice asked from behind Gunder, who couldn’t help turning to look at Dinah Dutton.
The little girl held her hand raised as though she were in school, as she sat close to her mother’s side.
Dinah, unlike her sister Maybelle, was a quiet, sweet child.
Risa had commented more than once she must be the only light to her mother’s heart.
“Yes, Dinah?” the pastor asked, smiling kindly at the child who couldn’t have been more than nine or ten.
“Is it a sin if you know something that someone did and don’t tell?”
“Yes, Dinah. We’d call that a sin of omission. We know from the sermon a few weeks ago that all sins, no matter how big or small, separate us from God. That’s not a good thing, is it?”
The little girl shook her head as tears welled in her eyes.
“Would you like to come whisper what you know in my ear?” the pastor asked, stepping out from behind the pulpit.
Dinah nodded. With a nudge from her mother and a scowl from her sister and father, the child bravely walked up the aisle to the pastor. He hunkered down and listened as she whispered something in his ear.
“Thank you, Dinah. You’re a brave, good girl.” He patted her back, then sent her back to her seat. “Let us sing ‘Amazing Grace,’ then I’d like the Dutton family to remain as well as Gunder Birke, Lars Hoffman, and Mr. Goodwin.”
It was a good thing Gunder knew the words to the old familiar hymn by heart, or he wouldn’t have been able to focus on the words enough to sing them.
As it was, he could hardly keep from turning around and glaring at Maybelle.
He had no idea why he knew, but there was an assurance in his mind as clear as the sunny winter sky outside that Maybelle had something to do with what had transpired in his tent.
“Go in peace, my friends, and have a blessed week. Oh, and don’t forget our Christmas Eve service will be next Sunday with refreshments afterward for those who’d like to stay.”
Since Gunder had been seated at the end of the pew, he stood and stepped into the aisle. As soon as others began to leave, he saw Maybelle trying to scoot past her mother and Dinah, looking intent on leaving despite the pastor’s request for the family to stay.
He stepped over to the end of the pew to block her in. She gaped at him, then turned, panic driving her to seek a means of escape, but Lars hustled to block the other end of the pew.
For a moment, Gunder thought she might lift her skirts and climb over the pews to reach the door, but her mother latched on to the back of her dress and roughly jerked her into her seat.
“Mama!” Maybelle hissed, slapping at her mother’s hand when it encircled her arm and held her in place.
“Be silent,” her father said in an authoritative tone Gunder had never heard the man use.
The church congregation quickly cleared out, leaving Gunder and Lars still standing at the ends of the Dutton pew and the pastor speaking quietly to Mr. Goodwin at the front of the church.
The two men walked over to stand next to Gunder. The pastor pinned Maybelle with a knowing look. She ceased trying to squirm away from her mother’s tight hold on her arm and faced the pastor with an insolent sneer.
“Why is everyone staring at me?” she asked, then reached up to finger one of the fat curls resting near her cheek.
“According to Dinah, you came home yesterday afternoon with kerosene all over your skirt and a box full of things that don’t belong to you, which you hid beneath your bed. When she asked what it was, you threatened to take a needle and stitch her lips together.”
Maybelle looked like she wanted to scratch out her little sister’s eyes, then her expression shifted to one of pure innocence. She widened her eyes and positioned her mouth into a demure pout. “I spilled kerosene when I was filling a lamp for Mama, being helpful, you see.”
Dinah shook her head and scooted toward the end of the pew out of Maybelle’s reach. “You never help Mama. Not ever. You pretended to fill the lamp after I’d already filled it.”
“Why, I ought to—”
“Be silent!” her father roared, shocking everyone, but especially Maybelle, who actually looked frightened.
Then he looked to the pastor. “If Dinah said her sister did something, then she did it. That child is incapable of lying.” Mr. Dutton looked fondly at his youngest daughter, then glowered at Maybelle.
“Tell us, without another lie escaping your lips, what you did yesterday.”
Maybelle swallowed hard, then looked from her father to Gunder, who was having a hard time keeping the fury he felt from exploding. “Well, I … I knew Gunder—”
He growled at her familiar use of his name and took a threatening step toward her.
“I mean, Mr. Birke,” Maybelle said, in a rush.
“I knew he was making a ring. One for Risa.” She practically spat out the name.
“I don’t know what he sees in that … that …
maid at the boardinghouse. I knew he was gone yesterday and went to look at the ring, then I saw the other things for her, and it just made me so distraught to know how much he seems to care for that plain-faced, dull-witted woman. ”
With his face red and a vein throbbing in his neck, Lars looked like he could happily have throttled Maybelle. Gunder was more than willing to hold her while he did it.
“Did you or did you not steal the ring and a box full of things from his tent, then break anything you could and upheave everything else?” the pastor asked, clearly losing his patience.
“Stealing is such a harsh word, don’t you think?” Maybelle asked, twirling one of her curls around her index finger.
“I think what is harsh is the punishment you’ll face when your life here on earth is through if you, Maybelle Dutton, do not immediately repent from your selfish, self-centered ways,” the pastor said in a tone that made Maybelle’s eyes widen in genuine surprise.
“Mr. Birke labors long, hard hours for each and every penny he earns. He does not have extra money to spend to replace items needlessly broken and destroyed by a careless, spoiled girl.”
When Maybelle started to open her mouth, her father placed a hand over it. “She will replace everything, without question. I suggest we go to the house and retrieve Mr. Birke’s belongings,” Mr. Dutton said, rising from his seat and jerking Maybelle to her feet. “Come along, Daughter.”
“But, Father, I …”
“Hush! For once in your life, hush!” her mother said, then gave Maybelle a less-than-gentle push toward the door with Mr. Dutton.
Mrs. Dutton took Dinah’s hand in hers. “I’m proud of you, baby,” the woman said, kissing the little girl’s cheek. “And if your sister ever threatens you again, you must tell me immediately.”
“I will, Mama.” Dinah smiled and held tightly to her mother’s hand as they all left the church and made the short journey to the Duttons’ house.
Gunder stood with Lars, the pastor, and Mr. Goodwin in the parlor as the four Dutton family members disappeared down a hallway.
“What in the world?” Mrs. Dutton exclaimed loudly, followed by the sound of hushed, angry voices. Mr. Dutton soon appeared with the box that belonged to Gunder.
“Is this yours?” he asked, holding out the box.
Eagerly, Gunder took it from him, digging through the contents. The letters, the bell in the oak box, even the tin of cookies were there, but not the ring. He shook his head. “The ring isn’t here.”
“Maybelle!” her father bellowed and charged back down the hall. Another minute passed with what sounded like a sharp smack and yelp, followed by sobs.
Dinah was the one who returned with the ring, holding it reverently in the center of her cupped hands. “Is this it, Mr. Birke?” the child asked with an eager look on her face.
Gunder got down on one bent knee so he didn’t tower over her and felt relief flood through his entire being to see Risa’s ring in her tiny palms. “That is the ring, Dinah. Thank you.”
He took it from her and clutched it tightly in his hand, then gave the child a gentle hug. She kissed his cheek and moved back, smiling. “I think Miss Risa is the prettiest lady in town, and the nicest.”
“I heartily agree,” Gunder said, playfully tweaking her nose as he rose to his feet.
Mr. and Mrs. Dutton appeared with Maybelle between them, her gaze directed toward her feet instead of the four men awaiting an explanation or apology.
“Maybelle, you will speak now, succinctly and sincerely,” Mrs. Dutton commanded, looking first at her husband and then her daughter, daring either of them to argue.
Gunder wanted to cheer the woman for finally finding her backbone, but remained silent.
“I took an interest in Mr. Birke, and when he failed to return my affections, it made me angry at him and Miss Hoffman. I stole his things, destroyed his belongings, and lied about it. I’m sorry for the distress and destruction I’ve caused, and I will pay for anything that needs to be replaced.
It was wrong of me to behave in such a manner.
” It wasn’t until Maybelle had finished speaking that she looked up at Gunder.
He could see in her eyes she didn’t mean a word of it, but didn’t point that out.
“I accept the apology, Miss Dutton, and hope you have learned a valuable lesson. I’ll make a list of what was broken, which Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Goodwin can confirm if that is necessary, and deliver it to your parents. ”
“Thank you for being so understanding, Mr. Birke,” Mrs. Dutton said, taking a step forward and clasping his hand between hers.
“I am deeply and truly sorry Maybelle did something so despicable, but I’m glad we could at least return what she stole from you.
” The woman turned and glowered at Maybelle.
“You may all rest assured this will not happen again.”
Gunder nodded, then glanced at Mr. Goodwin and Pastor Thomas. By silent agreement, they all moved toward the door.
“Take good care of your girls, Mr. Dutton, particularly one who was brave enough to do what was right,” the pastor said, smiling at Dinah before they walked outside.
Only when the four men stood on the porch outside the boardinghouse did they stop.
“After all that, I admit I want a better gander at that ring, Gunder,” Mr. Goodwin said, pointing to the hand Gunder still held carefully to his side.
“I’m curious as well,” Pastor Thomas said.
Lars nodded, and the three of them circled around Gunder as he opened his hand and they each, in turn, picked up the ring and studied the intricate, feminine design.
With a soft whistle, Lars handed it back to him. “You made that from the mineral dust you scooped out of the dirt where the wagons are loaded?”
“Yes, sir.” Gunder opened the box that held the bell and showed it to the men, explaining about his heritage and the bell, which had been made by his family as a gift for Risa.
“She’s a lucky woman, Gunder,” Mr. Goodwin said, then thumped him on the shoulder before hustling down the steps. “I’ll see you at work in the morning.”
The pastor reached for the doorknob. “I’m sure, circumstances considered, Mrs. Baldwin would be most pleased if both of you would join us for lunch.”
“Thank you,” Lars said, speaking to the pastor, but looking at Gunder in a studying way that the young man had no hope of interpreting.
He’d worry about what Lars was thinking later.
Right now, all that mattered was he once again had Risa’s ring in his possession, and his heart as well as his head filled with hope.