The Pastor's Replacement Bride
Copyright© 2023 by George H. McVey
Chapter 26
Hattie
Hattie sat in the tub soaking. She thanked God for his protection and deliverance that day. She knew she needed to get washed so she could get dressed, but the warm water drained all the stress and tension of her ordeal from her. There was a tap at the door and Virginia Snow walked in. Quiet little Virginia.
No one knew Virginia’s story. They knew she was a widow, but the scared little woman never talked about life before Sanctuary. She didn’t talk about much of anything. That she’d be coming to see Hattie alone was a surprise. “I wanted to check on you, to see ... to see if you were okay?”
“Thank you, Virginia, yes I’m alright. The water seems to wash away the fear and anxiety of the situation. I’m just thankful that Joshua arrived when he did. A few minutes later and we’d be having a different conversation.”
The shy widow hid her head by letting it hang down so her hair covered her face. “I know, and I’m thankful that didn’t happen to you. No one deserves to be hurt like that.”
Hattie had a sudden flash of insight. “You mean like you were hurt?”
Virginia nodded slowly and looked up at her friend and pastor’s wife. “Please, say nothing. I’m so ashamed of the way he treated me.”
“Oh, Honey, you don’t need to be ashamed. We can’t allow the sin someone else did to us, to cause us shame.”
“But if Henry knew, he’d stop courting me. He wants a respectable woman, not some drunk’s damaged widow.”
Hattie quickly washed and stood up, grabbing a towel. “If he is that shallow, Virginia, then don’t marry him. There are good men here. Find one of them. Why would you stay with Henry if you think he’d be ashamed of you?”
Virginia whispered so softly that Hattie almost didn’t hear her. “He’s the deputy sheriff; he can keep me safe.”
“Safe from who?” Hattie asked, concern on her face.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m safe here, no one knows I’m in Sanctuary.”
“I’m going to allow that answer to stand today, Virginia, but not for long. If you feel you need protecting, then we will have to make sure you can protect yourself.
“I met this lady today when Joshua brought me back. An older lady. She insisted on teaching me to defend myself. She made her nephew promise to stay a few extra days to do it. You will come with me Monday and learn too. Then, if Henry Snow is still so shallow, we’ll find you a new beau, one who will love you for who you are.”
“Thank you, Hattie. I’m glad you’re safe and that those men are dead.”
“I’m glad I’m safe too. Now, go get the others so they can help me get all prettied up. I’ve got a preacher to entice.” She winked at the other woman, who giggled and then left. “God, help me know how to help Virginia,” she prayed.
Then the girls invaded her room, and the beautification began. Make-up and hair done, the others left to let her and Lyla get her dressed. The others begged to stay and see her dress. “No, not until I get to the church. The only people that are going to see this dress before Joshua does, is Lyla and my new papa. He’ll only get to see it because he’s meeting me here to walk me to Joshua. Now, get.”
Once they were gone, Lyla opened the wardrobe and pulled out the wedding dress Hattie had designed and sewed herself. “This is lovely, Hattie.”
“Thank you. Do you think Joshua will like it?”
“I think Joshua would like it if you married him in your work dress and his shirt you came home in today. But he will love you in this.” Lyla went over to the dresser and opened it, looking for something. “Hattie? Where’s your corset?”
“It’s at the parsonage.”
“What! You can’t go out in that dress without your corset, Hattie.”
“Yes, I can. I made a special cotton cover, so I’d be decent.” She held it up. Instead of lacing up the back like a regular corset, it barely covered the middle of her breasts, keeping everything decent, barely, but the laces were on the front. “Why in the world would you make that?”
Hattie blushed. “I can’t say; it’s embarrassing. Oh, I shouldn’t have done it.”
Lyla shook her head as she got the meaning of the garment. “Not for you, is it?”
“Well, sort of?”
“Put it on and let’s tie it up.”
Once on, it really would be decent under the wedding dress, so Lyla smiled and helped Hattie step into the skirt. They’d loosened the bow so the front could open enough for her to step in, and then they pulled it up and tied it. Hattie slipped the dress on. She buttoned the pearl buttons while Lyla tightened the ribbon lacings and tied the bow just right. They put the lace cape on her and pulled the hood over her hair.
Then Lyla turned her to look in the mirror over the dressing table. “You look lovely, Hattie.” There was a soft knock on the door and Lyla went to see who it was. She came back and said to Hattie. “You have a couple visitors. I know what you said, but you should let these two in.”
“Okay, if you think so.”
Lyla opened the door, and Alfie and his sister Clarabelle came in.
“You’s even more purty. Like a pwincess,” Clarabelle said.
Hattie kneeled down and hugged the little girl. “Thank you, Clarabelle. You look like a little princess as well. Now, what did you and Alfie need to see me for?”
Alfie pulled a bouquet of wild violets from behind his back. They were tied with a blue ribbon. “Mama keeps these in a winder box and brings them inside when it gets cold. They grow all year round. She says they give her color in the whiteness. But we told her since they matched yer eyes, you should have some to carry at your wedding. Pa told us sometimes ladies carry flowers at their weddings.”
“Your Pa was right, Alfie. I would love to carry your mama’s flowers. Thank you for getting her to pick them for me.” She leaned in and took the flowers, then placed a kiss on the boy’s cheek. He blushed and turned, pulling his sister with him. “Come on, Clarabelle.”
“She kisseded you, Alfie. I thought she was gonna marry the preacher, but she kisseded you.”
“It’s not a kiss, Clarabelle, it’s like when Mama kisses us.”
“But she ain’t Mama.”
Joshua
Joshua stood in the front of his church, but not to preach. No, this time he stood with all his deacons behind him, awaiting the arrival of his bride.
As he waited, he thanked God for her safe return to him. He marveled at the fact that he’d first met her a month ago. Now, he couldn’t imagine living without her. The door opened and his head jerked to see her.
Only it wasn’t her, it was her nine sister brides and Helen. They came in, one after the other, and made a beeline for the other side of the area in front of the altar. They crowded in close, and then the door opened again. She walked in on the arm of Randall Long. She was a vision. The dress suggested things to him, while being completely innocent. She was covered and decent, but yet it enticed him at the same time.
His mouth hung open, and as they started down the aisle, his entire world was consumed by her. And then he couldn’t see her anymore. Randall Long stood between them. Joshua frowned. Then Nathan Ryder spoke “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the presence of God, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. The purpose of which is the enrichment of their lives, the propagation of the human race, and the extension of Christ’s church to the glory of the covenant of God.’