The Pastor's Replacement Bride
Copyright© 2023 by George H. McVey
Chapter 23
Joshua
It was the Wednesday before his wedding. One week since he’d saved the day by helping Hattie adopt RoseAnn. Now, he was standing here at the stagecoach depot again. They had been so blessed that the weather had held off long enough for this stage to get through.
He knew it wouldn’t be a problem for Nathan and his family. The man had enough money to buy a sleigh if he needed to and, knowing Nathan, that’s what he’d do. But today he wasn’t waiting for Nathan Ryder. No, today he was waiting for Hattie’s wedding surprise. He’d contacted Pastor Long and had paid for the man to come and walk Hattie down the aisle. The older preacher had been ecstatic in his response to Joshua’s telegraph.
Joshua hadn’t told Hattie, but he had informed both his uncle and Deacon Lyman so that they wouldn’t agree to walk her down the aisle. His uncle, he’d asked to stand with him, and then he thought of a way out. He asked all the deacons to stand with him since his bride had ten women standing with her.
His aunt was sitting where her mother would have, and it had thrilled her when Hattie had asked. It upset Hattie that everyone she asked to walk her down the aisle said no. But she decided she’d just do like the other brides and come down alone.
The stage pulled to a stop, and the door opened, and out came an older man dressed in a fine black suit. He looked around and stopped when he saw Joshua. “You must be Pastor Bryce. Hattie described you perfectly.”
Joshua shook the man’s hand. “Pastor Long, thank you for coming. I know it had to be difficult for you.”
The older man waved that away. “Nonsense. While I miss my Haddie, I know she is in a better place and I know she did the job God had set her to do. Bring our Hattie to you. So where is our girl? I thought she’d be here on your arm.”
Joshua laughed. “Pastor, if she knew you were coming, she’d have probably insisted on meeting you in Billings. No one has told her; I wanted you to be a surprise. She is so upset right now. She has asked every married man in town to walk her down the aisle and they’ve all said no. So, I thought we’d get you settled at the parsonage for now.
“I’m supposed to go to the Bride House for dinner. She is cooking for me. I had my cousin, who runs the house, tell her there was another gentleman caller coming for dinner, so there would be more than enough. If that’s alright with you?”
“That’s fine. I need to talk with you anyway, this will give us time.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong, but I will not be returning to Chicago. I have retired from the ministry.
“Don’t get me wrong, I still love the Lord, but without my daughter, I have no desire to deal with the problems of a congregation. I thought maybe I’d stay here and be around to be sort of an almost father to Hattie?”
“Pastor, I think that will please her immensely, and you’ll be an instant grandpa as well.”
“How’s that?”
“Give me a minute to arrange your luggage and I’ll tell you everything. Plus, I have a proposal of my own for you, since you are going to stay here. A job, so to speak.” Joshua turned to the stagecoach driver who he knew would, for a price, unload the luggage and deliver it to the parsonage. Once he’d arranged to have that done, he led Pastor Long down the boardwalk. “Are you hungry, Pastor? I don’t have any food at the house, but there is a very good diner just up the street.”
“I’m not at the moment, thank you. Let’s just get to your parsonage; I need to walk more than eat. Now, tell me what you meant about being a grandfather instantly.”
So, Joshua told Pastor Long about RoseAnn and how Hattie adopted her.
“She named her RoseAnn?”
“Yes, is that significant?”
“She didn’t tell you? Rose was my daughter’s middle name, Ann is Hattie’s. She named the baby after their special bond. In her, they aren’t almost sisters but knit together.”
The old preacher cleared his throat, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped his eyes and blew his nose. “That travel dust sure gets to you.”
“Yes sir, I suppose it does.”
The two settled in at the parsonage. Pastor Long refused to take the new bed, instead he took Joshua’s old cot. He laid down and slept for about two hours. Then he came and found Joshua in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee. Joshua offered him one and the older man nodded his thanks and then asked what was on his mind.
“So, Pastor Bryce, tell me how you had a gold nugget to give that gambler?”
“My mentor left me a legacy before he died, six bags of gold.”
“Your mentor? I don’t know of any pastors with those kinds of riches. Well, I know of one, but he is still alive.”
“My mentor wasn’t a preacher. He was, well, an adventurer is probably the best description. Nugget Nate Ryder.”
“You’re that Joshua Bryce.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nate and I were old friends. I grew up in Harlan with him and his sister. Almost married her. But he set me straight. He talked about you a lot, boy. I should have realized who you were.”
“This is a small world, Preacher. His grandson, Nathan, is performing our wedding. He’ll be here Saturday morning with his wife, daughter, and his aunt; a Mrs. Aggie Cutler.”
“Oh, dear Lord.” Pastor Long said. “How many unmarried brides do you have here, after you and Hattie get married?”
“Six, seven if you count my cousin, but she isn’t a bride, just single.”
“You may never get old Aggie to leave. She has a way of collecting girls.”
“Well, these girls are well cared for. Speaking of which, it’s about time to surprise ours.”
“Fine, but we gotta get one thing settled first. I am not Pastor Long anymore. It’s Randall. You are the man who won my almost daughter’s heart, and that makes us friends. However, Nate’s protegee and former Texas Ranger or not, if you hurt her, they’ll never find you ‘cause I got a bit of the mountain man in me still too. I could hide you in that tall lonesome up there and wouldn’t no one be wiser.”
“I understand. But you don’t have to worry. I promise you, I’ll love her and cherish her and protect her with my last breath, if I must. But I will never hurt her.”
“Good. Then let’s go eat.”
Hattie