Chapter 7 #2
Although Mark put his arm back around her shoulders, and Heather enjoyed being so close to him, the magic of the earlier moment had gone.
Eventually, they decided to call it a night, and he walked her to her hotel. He bid her good night in the lobby and then left with a chaste kiss on her cheek. Even if the romantic evening had been somewhat upended, Heather still went upstairs grinning quite foolishly.
The leak and the curtain rod had both been repaired in her room, and Heather was happy to change into her nightdress and snuggle down in bed. It had been a truly wonderful day, despite the snake and the interrupted moment on the bridge.
Settling down, she added a few more lines to a letter she was writing to the Millers. They would want to know that she was safe and that Mark was everything she had always thought he was.
With that done, Heather whispered a prayer of thanks for the many blessings in her life and then fell quickly asleep.
The next morning, Heather was up early. She had so much to do.
Hurrying through breakfast, she was out of the door and down the street in a flash.
However, when she arrived at the store, she found the door locked.
That was odd. It was well after seven, and Leo was usually there.
At least he had been there that early for the last couple of days. Had something gone wrong?
Perplexed, Heather retraced her steps to the road and stood there wondering what to do.
Suddenly, the sound of a bell ringing loudly filled the air. Heather jumped in surprise. “What is that?”
“It’s the church bell,” a strange man said. He had black hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin. He smiled at her in a friendly manner. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” Heather said. “Why is the church bell ringing? Is there trouble?”
The man laughed. “No, no, it’s to call us all to the service.”
Heather was shocked. “It’s Sunday? Where did I lose a day?”
“Well, it’s not on the ground, signorita,” he joked. “I’m Herman, by the way.”
“I’m Heather,” she replied, feeling somewhat foolish.
“Would you like to walk with me?” he asked.
Heather hesitated for just a moment. She didn’t know this man, but he seemed harmless. “Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you.”
He beamed. “It’s my pleasure.” With a gesture, he indicated they should walk up the street.
“The church is relatively new. It was burned down not so long ago, and we had to do a lot of work to build it back. But we are confident that the dark times are behind us. Well, nearly behind us.” He crossed himself.
“Heather,” Mark called, running over to her. His hair was damp, and he wore a concerned expression. “I went to the hotel, but you’d already left. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I didn’t realize it was Sunday and that the store wasn’t open,” Heather admitted sheepishly.
“Time can get away from us sometimes,” Mark said with a smile. “Thanks for helping her out, Herman.”
“It was nothing,” Herman said brightly. “It is always my pleasure to help a lovely lady.”
“You going to church?” Mark asked.
Heather nodded.
“Great, we can go together,” he said.
They hurried up to the church. It wasn’t on the main street, which was why Heather hadn’t seen it yet.
It was tucked away down a side street and had a wide garden in the front that was bursting with flowers.
Bees buzzed around them in the sunshine as people talked and laughed as they walked up the steps into the church.
Inside, the building smelled of polish and candle wax, and the soft sounds of people finding their seats rang in their ears. Heather, Mark, and Herman found a pew with Clary and Thomas.
“Let’s hope Father Sumner has some words to see us through all of what lies ahead,” Thomas said to Mark.
He spoke softly, and Heather was quite sure that no one else was meant to hear.
Before she could ask what he meant, though, the service began.
Father Sumner was a little man with a balding head and a studious look on his face.
He spoke about having faith and believing that when times were tough, that was when the Lord was nearest and most attentive.
“Doesn’t He say in Psalm 46:1 ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble?’” Father Sumner asked.
Normally, Heather would consider such a sermon simply a call to keep the faith in everyday life, but considering everything that Mark had told her and what Thomas had said, there was more to this.
She wondered what was going on behind the scenes.
Would Mark tell her, or would she just find out along with all the other citizens of this unique little town?
After church, Heather and Mark went to lunch with Clary and Thomas.
It was a lovely lunch of sandwiches and lemonade that they ate out under a tree by the creek.
Heather couldn’t wish for a better, more relaxed way to spend time with Mark and his friends.
Although the conversation was light and airy, Heather got the feeling there was a lot that Mark and Thomas were tiptoeing around.
“Okay, enough,” she declared when they were done eating. “You two aren’t saying something that you’re dying to say. Could you just spit it out?”
Mark and Thomas stared at her with wide-eyed surprise.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Thomas said.
“Oh, I like her,” Clary said, grinning. “You’re right, Heather. And as Mark’s significant other, I think you deserve to know.”
“Clary,” Mark said. “I don’t want to burden?—”
“Mark!” Heather said. “We’re trying to build a relationship. We can’t do that if you’re going to lie and keep things from me.”
He sighed, looking at Thomas for help.
“You’re on your own, friend,” Thomas shrugged. “I tell Clary everything. I fear for my life if I don’t. The wheels might come off her stagecoach the next time I catch a ride.”
Clary rolled her eyes and grinned.
“Fine,” Mark said. “It’s sheriff’s business, but since you insist … There are things happening.”
He proceeded to tell Heather all about a plot that was unfolding in New York to catch the bandit leader. Then he explained how there might be some repercussions for the folks living in Unity.
“We’re preparing, which is why we’re heading to San Antonio tomorrow,” Mark said.
“You’re going to town so soon? Please can I come with you? I really need that dressmaker’s dummy I mentioned, and you did say I could prove a distraction to anyone watching,” Heather reminded him.
Mark sighed. “I did say that, didn’t I?”
“How are you with a gun?” Clary asked.
“Pretty good,” Heather said.
Mark stared at her in disbelief.
Heather laughed. “I wasn’t always a shopkeeper. I started out on a sheep farm, and my father taught me to shoot to keep predators away from the flock.”
“Every time I think I’m getting to know you, you pull out another surprise,” Mark said. But he was smiling.
“I plan to keep you on your toes for a good long time to come,” Heather teased.
Mark smiled. “I’m counting on it.”