The Write Place

Read Chapter 5 Here

Table of Contents

The congregation filed out of the church building on the warm spring day.  The trees were budding, the hills a lush green.  On many of the hills in the distance could be seen freshly seeded farmland.  The congregants stood on the hill outside the church, the men in their cloaks and the women in their dresses, talking about the goings on of life while the crowds mingled around them.  Next to a bench under a budding apple tree stood a young woman in a burgundy-colored dress, her bonnet pulled up tight.  As she stood talking to several women in similar dress of the same age, strolled the new pastor in his black vest and clerical wear. Aside from his clerical tabs, his height made him unable to be missed or mistaken for anyone else. He walked up to the young woman in her burgundy-colored dress.  Upon his face he wore his day’s work.  He stood tired and nervous, as men often are around the female variety of the species.  The three women stood wearing anticipatory, feminine smiles.  Each knew what was happening under the surface, the things not spoken. The gaggle of women also knew what would follow, and with eager attention watched and waited for it to play out.

“Abigail, I presume,”’ he said in his deep resonating voice.  He held his Bible tight in his hands, close to his chest as he anticipated the flow of the conversation.  He took care to look down from his great height to meet her eyes, but also to not meet them too strongly as may be the case if he were careless. Every detail flittered through his mind, leaving him quite considerate about staying in the moment.

“That is the name my parents gave me,” said the short, brown-haired woman looking up at the tall arrival in front of her. The mischievous smile forming on her face became somehow more so.  Laughter followed and knowing smiles formed on the two other women beside her.  Her bright smile had formed on her soft features, hiding nothing of her interest in the following conversation.

“Well, judging by the stories I have heard, you must be Abigail,” he said with a laugh escaping from the smile upon his squared face.  He felt his body relax, the tension began to melt away. “Pleasure to meet you. I have known your father for some time but have not had the pleasure to meet any of his family.  I am David but having been introduced to the congregation that is hardly a secret.”

“One must engage in the gentleman’s formality of decorum.  But yes, he has spoken much of you as well.  I’m sure the stories he told you were only an excellent report of me,” Abigail replied with a playful air to her soft feminine voice. She was eager to test the man in front of her, as one does.  

“I’m sure there are none otherwise,” David replied with a twinkle in his eye.  Neither said it, but both knew he had done well. “Speaking of whom, have you seen your father?  I seem to have lost him after the service.  My attention was on the sermon, so I suppose that is to be expected,” he said, wiping away some sweat from his forehead.  Nervous as he was, he tried to control the racing thoughts running through his head, not all the anxiety had passed. Now it meshed and stewed with nervous excitement. A slight cooling breeze blew his preaching tabs and wig as it brushed over them.  

“It’s a hot day, is it not?” noted Abigail attempting to fan herself.  Her accompanying friends nodded with wearied words of affirmation escaping their lips.

“Hotter even in the pulpit.  At least there’s a breeze out here.  Thankful for anything on a warm day like today.  I’m sorry I have not been introduced to you two,” David said leaning forward meeting their gaze as well. “You are?” he asked.
“Suzanne,” said the short young woman in a pastel dress on Abigail’s right with a formal curtsy.

“Rebecca,” said the likewise petite brown-haired woman to the left of Abigail.  She grabbed the edges of her brown skirt likewise with a formal curtsy.

“It was a well crafted sermon today.  Good for the first time hearing you preach,” remarked Abigail with hearty approval as her blue eyes shone with excitement.  The light hit her eyes, lighting them up in a marvelous display. David saw the blue of her eyes, and began to see the soul underneath it.

“Well thank you for your kind remarks.  I had good material to work from,” David said, holding the Bible and receiving a laugh from the women in front of him.  “It’s based on one I did in seminary.  Some more work was necessary for sure, but I always found Jacob’s encounter with the Lord an interesting and rich passage.”  Abigail tilted her head up as if a thought had come to her. 

“I appreciated you bringing out Jacob’s name meaning deceiver and grappler, him losing in a grapple with God, and confessing it,” Abigail said with genuine excitement upon her soft pointed face.  Her joy displayed in her smile for all to see.

“Definitely a beneficial message,” said Suzanne as she brushed stray brown hair, which the wind blew wildly from under her bonnet.

“Indeed.  The word is truly rich,” Agreed David nodding his head with pleasure at their reception of his work.  The three women joined in with hearty nods of their own.

A plump elderly man with graying hair in a black unbuttoned cloak hobbled over from the crowd.  He hobbled with age and wear, keeping one withered hand on his cane. He made his way to David’s right hand, where he leaned nonchalantly on his walking cane.  Making eye contact with Suzanne and Rebecca, he spoke.  “Your parents are heading out, Suzanne and Rebeccah.  Best get off before they leave you with God,” he finished.

The two young women said their curt goodbyes and hurried off.  “Go on, hurry lest you have to fend for yourselves,” teased the man. “Well, glad you made it into town David. I trust the Jefferson’s have treated you well?”

“Quite well Mr. Baker,” answered David. “And I think they’re tolerating me just fine,” he added with an air of self-deprecating amusement, meant to kill his nerves at being the center of attention as much as to elicit a laugh.

“Even enjoying you perhaps.  Lovely family the Jefferson’s,” replied Mr. Baker, being encouraging as always.  “And do not worry, you can call me Walter.  You’ve known me long again.  You did well in the pulpit. Take care of the old girl, she’s served me well these many years,” he added, poking David with his cane in playful jest.  “Coming over later for dinner?”

“Yes, that is the plan.  I eat with the Jefferson’s first for supper.  Then I will be back here with you and your daughter.  I assume your presence, Abigail?” David looked at Abigail before returning his gaze to Walter, anticipating an answer while he hoped for one in particular.

“I had better be there. I’m making the food,” Abigail said, rocking her hips with a smile.

“Well I hope you’re there too or we’ll be very hungry,” David quipped with a grin.

“I’ll be there to help eat it. Perhaps we’ll all talk as well,” Walter added, pleased with his own wit.  “Well, we better be going on our way then.  Having her siblings over first.  They are all in town this week, so you will meet them this evening as well.  A rarity these days.  Part of helping me to move in with her sister and out of the parsonage.”  Walter, positioning himself, tipped his hat.  “Well, pleasant talking with you, and pleased you have now met Abigail.  Saw you talking with her brother, perhaps you can meet the rest of the litter sometime this week,” Walter said.  The simple joy in his voice betrayed the joy of a father full of years.

“That would be quite good, I’m sure. I will have the time to stop by and help,” David replied.

“Ah good, good. I look forward to seeing you this evening young man,” Walter said while motioning to his daughter.  Walter brought his hand back to his face and began to let out a violent cough.  His body shook as he attempted to stifle the cough with a free hand.

“Father, you really need to attend to your cough.  Get some rest,” Abigail proffered, resting a gentle hand upon her father’s shoulder.

“Oh, it’s all right Abigail.  It is but a small cough at the moment, and I have had coughs before,” Walter said, waving a hand to dismiss the thought.  “It is no worry. I look forward to seeing you later David,” he said, turning to the young pastor.  

“Of course, till then,” David said as Walter began to turn and hobble over to the parsonage behind the church. 

“It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Rutherford,” said Abigail, turning to David with pleased excitement upon her face. 

“The pleasure was mine, Abigail,” replied David. 

“Both of ours it would seem,” said Abigail. “If you’ll excuse me…”
“See you tonight,” David said. Abigail gave a parting curtsy before following her father. David watched them as she caught up to her father’s slow hobbling and called out to an elderly couple who waited by the church’s steps.  David followed after and they strode down the hill, each with their own way for the time.