An unpopular post...

I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God.   I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  I believe what the Bible teaches about sin and hell is true.  The most loving thing I can do is point someone to forgiveness and a new, born-again life through grace.  I do not put my trust in the highest court of the land, rather in the higher court of heaven.  Sometimes we must obey God rather than men.(Acts :29)

Our country was founded upon this freedom.  Studying my ancestry has revealed that many fled religious persecution whether escaping out of the Tower of London, the gallows, or the seizures of their land and homes.  William Penn was perhaps at first the best at understanding the need to allow this freedom with peace between the local tribes, Jews, puritans, and others who sought freedom to practice their religion.  He had seen, I believe, William Tyndale burned at the stake for printing the Bible in English so that people could understand for themselves what God has said. 

I have stood on courthouse steps and sang in protest about abortion.  I have been assaulted while peacefully standing holding a sign protesting abortion in a silent protest.  But I have not suffered like my forefathers in leaving everything to start over in a new land.  Some of my forbearers fought successfully against slavery in England with Wilberforce and Wesley while probably a majority of my early American ancestry "owned" slaves.  One in particular, a Mr. Ivy, a plantation owner, tried to make marriage legal between black and white in the early 1700's, but was unsuccessful.  This is why I have some black blood in my DNA as they "married" anyway without the consent of government.

The Supreme Court addressed the question if, marriage  between a man and a woman.  I must consider God's word.  I do not believe sin is graded, sin is sin, yet some sins bear more severe consequences for the sinner as well as for the family and the country.  This is not about whether Christians should love the sinner.  Yes: love the sinner, hate the sin just as our Lord does. He was nailed to the cross for our sin, yet He loves us unbelievably.   Most non-Christians do not understand that distinction.  For example, a young man I watched grow up, turned from his Christian values, and became a practicing homosexual.  I love this young man, hug him tightly when I see him, and pray for him, especially when he has tried to commit suicide. 

We have had a three year old boy, a foster child, taken from our home and given instead to a lesbian couple to adopt instead of us. I am not saying they are incapable of loving our beautiful boy, but I don't believe she has provided as stable a home as we would have since her partners have changed.  I believe a child's best interest is to be raised by a mother and a father. I have listened to the anguish of a dear relative by marriage tell of his painful childhood being raised by a lesbian mother and the harmful effects it had on him.  Our society is paying the price for fatherless children's pain and  its repercussions.

Regardless of my opinion, I do believe what the Bible has to say.  This is the final word:

"And He (Jesus) answered and said, "Have you not read, that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'  Consequently they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  Matthew 19:4-6  (One man and one woman equals marriage as was from the very beginning:  it wasn't Adam and Steve or Adam and Eve, Evie, and Eva.)  No law of the land can nullify God's plan.

Homosexuality is just one of the things on the list, nevertheless, it is on the list of sin:

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, buy you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God....But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  Flee immorality,  Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.  Or do you6:9-11 not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you  are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 
I Corinthians 6:9-11, 17-20

"But the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers, and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.  I thank Christ Jesu our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor (dragging Christians from their homes to be killed for their faith, even holding the coats while Stephen was stoned to death).  And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all."  I Timothy 1:8-16

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them...so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools; and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.  Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them,  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator...For this reason God gave them over in degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error...and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practiced them." Romans 1:18-32

"If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death.  Their bloodguiltiness is upon them."  Leviticus 20:13

"You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."  Leviticus 18: 22

Read about Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:16-19:29 

Jesus said, "but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  It will be just the same on the day that the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:29-30

"Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example, in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.  Yet in the same manner these men also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority...And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted with the flesh."   Jude, verses7-8 and 22-23

This post will not be popular with many in my family as well as friends, but I don't have to wait for the Supreme Court Ruling to decide what is right and wrong.  There has been no evolution in what God has ordained.

*This week the pope who speaks supposedly straight from God says there is no hell.  Hmm.  Pat Buchanan said, "Then why did Jesus die on the cross to save us from it?"  If you've ever used a potter's wheel and the lump you are attempting to form gets off base, it begins to wobble, there is nothing but to stop and throw it back into a lump, to knead it, make sure air bubbles are out and throw it down again.  That's where we are as a culture.  The Bible is the last word because it is the very word of God.

MARCH 28, 2018

PROVERBS 18:4

"The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,

and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook."

Are you thirsty for wisdom? 

Do you seek deep thoughts or conversation,

or are you satisfied with just the spray? 

It is hard to slake a thirst with flying fine droplets.

The beauty of wisdom is that it is an infinitive pool,

a fast moving stream, refreshing.

As waters are fast moving, flowing, as they pound

over rocks in a stream in their course, they are purified,

rather than becoming a stagnate pool.

It is a well-spring bubbling up, unending.

Wisdom is the stream that flows from the river of life

that comes from before the throne of God.

"Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden."

Genesis 2:10

"...You give them to drink of the river of Your delights."

Psalm 36:8

"But there the majestic One, the Lord, will be for us

A place of rivers and wide canals."

Isaiah 33:21

"Because I have given waters in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people."

Isaiah 43:20

"For thus says the Lord,

'Behold, I extend peace to her like a river,

And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream."

Isaiah 66:12

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 

'From Him his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

John 7:37-38

"Then he showed me a river of the water of life,

clear (bright) as crystal,

coming from the throne of God."

Revelation 22:1

"Where there is a sound understanding, and a deep well-informed mind, its wisdom and its counsels are an incessant stream, 'the vein of wisdom,' ever throwing out its healthy streams...the fountain of life." Adam Clarke

Jeremiah 2:14 gives a warning, however.  "For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Thirsty?

Got water?

CANCELED MAIL

A Just for Fun Western Fiction

by Celia Jolley

Violet got out her letter to read for the hundredth time it seemed.  It was funny how a little piece of paper could make a person willing to get on a train and ride across the miles into the unknown and to the unknown.  She sighed but quickly folded it up and slipped it back into its envelope before her seatmate succeeded in reading it over her shoulder.

"Next stop in five miles.  No services, but you can get out and stretch while we fill the water tank, folks.  You know the routine.  Hurry back on board as soon as you hear the first whistle.  The engineer will not wait for any lollygaggers."

"I swear, who would have thought that the highlight of our day would be the chance to get out and stretch our bones out in the middle of nowhere," her seatmate Miss Hart whined.

"I'm just thankful for the chance to hear the birds sing and to smell the earth sprouting instead of the clank, clanking and chug chugging of this iron beast."

"Good afternoon, ladies!  Isn't it a lovely day.  Could I offer my arm to either of you to go on a short jaunt while we are waiting for the engineer to call us back on board?"

"No thank you.  Like I've told you before, I'm spoken for, sir, and won't be stepping out with another man," Violet said gritting her teeth. The man never gave up.

"Oh, why not?  I may be promised as well, but I don't see any harm in an arm to lean on while on the journey.  Thank you, kind sir."

Violet could only shake her head at the young woman's feckless behavior.

The slicked up salesman grinned as if he was the cat that ate the canary.  She could almost imagine a yellow feather in his teeth; but no, those were just his yellow teeth.  

Violet stayed close to the train not wanting to wander too deeply in the tall grass where snakes might slither.  After a short while, the engineer sounded the shrill whistle warning, and everyone lined up like school children to climb the stairs to go back inside as if recess was over.  But she couldn't help but worry and once inside smashed her face to peer out the window trying to see Miss Hart and the salesman.  The wheels started their slow momentum on the rails.  A scream pierced the air.  There they were in the race of their lives.  All the curious passengers lurched to her side of the car gazing out the windows with a perverse glee, some even making bets, in order to watch Miss Hart running with her skirt above her knees before she finally managed to jump on the train at the last second emitting a boisterous laugh of triumph. 

However, the salesman wasn't so fortunate.  He was pumping his legs going as fast as he could before trying to catch the bars beside the stairs to swing aboard, but stumbled.  Everyone gasped in unison.  Though he wasn't ground under the unforgiving wheels, his attempt to run faster was all for naught.  The poor fellow finally had to give up.  He was bent over heaving for air.  It would be a few long nights for him on the lonesome prairie waiting for the next train to take on water.  Even though he might get hungry, at least he'd have water to drink, and at least he could climb the ladder of the water tower if prairie wolves caught his scent in the dark of night.

Miss Hart threw herself in her seat next to Violet.  "Did you see me?  I've never run so fast in my life."  She paused with her chest heaving. "But I raced the iron beast and won!"  She flung her fist in the air as a symbol of victory.

"Where were you?  I looked around for you and couldn't see you anywhere?"

"Ahh, we found a patch of shade on the backside of that shack back yonder.  By the time we got to our feet, the train was about to leave us in the dust."  Miss Hart could only speak in spurts since she was still panting from her exertion.  "But I don't feel too bad about him.  You were right.  That cad was trying to steal kisses from me.  Now he can cool his heels, take a swim even, in the water tower if he so chooses."

Violet slipped her hand back in her pocket in order to feel the security of the letter in her fingers.  That was something she did whenever she was nervous, which was most of the time.  The pages would probably be illegible by the time she arrived in North Fork.

"Where did you say you were going, Miss Hart?"

"Just call me Bitsy, short for Betsy, short for Elisabeth.  I'm getting off in North Forth."

Violet's eyes grew round.  "Truly?  That's where I'm getting off."

Bitsy giggled.  "I'm a mail order bride.  My handsome groom will be waiting to haul me off to the altar as soon as I arrive."  She squealed, "It's so exciting!  Though I surely wish I could have a bath first. After all these miles, there's so much grime and stench to deal with."  She tried to take a discreet whiff of her arm pits, and wrinkled her nose.  "I smell worse than a three day dead dog!"

Violet looked around alarmed to see if anyone else heard Miss Hart, Bitsy speaking.  She could only shake her head at the most indelicate young woman she had ever met.  Her aunt Agatha would have fainted dead away at such unlady-like behavior.

Violet looked around once again and bent over to whisper, "I'm a mail-order-bride as well."

Bitsy sat up straight from where she slouched.  "Oh. My. Word!   Well, shoot me in the foot, if that don't beat all.  You and me will be neighbors!  Imagine that!

"Shh."  Violet was such a private person and was afraid of what would Miss Hart, Bitsy, would say next.  "I think it should be our little secret."

"I don't know why you'd be wanting to hide that under a bushel, but I guess that's okay.  As for me, it's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me.  Just think, we'll be there in another day.  Can you believe it?"  And she squealed again.

Violet was sorry she'd said anything.  She was dirty, wrinkled, tired, sore, and cranky.  "I think I'll close my eyes for a while.  I didn't sleep very well last night."

"Or the night before, or the night before that, or the week before that.  This tin can is getting tiresome alright.  I'm looking forward to a feather bed at the end of these tracks, a feather bed with a cowboy included," she giggled, winked and then yawned.  "A little shut-eye sounds good to me too.  I think we're both behind on our beauty sleep."

Violet could admit to herself that she was more than a little alarmed at the casual words Miss Hart had just shared, that a soft bed would come equipped with a man in it at the end of her journey.  After all, that's what being a bride meant.  Oh dear!"  The train robber in this car had  just stolen her  sleep.

Her mind kept circling like a pin wheel.  If only her Aunt Agatha had not died so suddenly.  If only her cousin Heath had not come to claim her house as his due inheritance so quickly.  If only he had not ordered her to leave in two months time, and not a day later.  If only he had shown at least a little sympathy for her situation, had tried to help her find a position as a ladies companion or governess or something.  But he just said he'd be ashamed if it became known that his cousin had stooped to join the working class.  Instead, Heath had slapped the news clipping advertising for a mail order bride down on the breakfast table.

She would never forget her shock when he said, "I've already responded for you.  As soon as the man sends money for your ticket, I'm putting you on the train bound for out west."  She had trembled for days, but it did no good.  He would not reconsider her fate. 

She was still a few months shy of becoming of age leaving him as her legal guardian.  The decision was entirely in his hands.  She had no money of her own, other than the few silver dollars she'd saved from all her birthdays as a child.  She'd spent too many of those in order to eat on the train.  Neither her cousin nor her fiancé had thought it important to see to that little detail.

Violet jerked awake.  She gripped the seat in front of her with white knuckles. They had left the plains and had climbed into mountains and lush green valleys while she slept.

"North Fork, the next stop is coming right up," the sing song of the steward did not begin to soothe her fear.

"This is it!  You better at least fix your hair, Violet.  You'll be meeting your man in a wink and blink of an eye."  She squealed, "It's just so exciting!"

Violet wished she could calm her nerves as easily as she smoothed her hair.  She gripped her carpet bag on her lap and waited for the grinding halt of the wheels.

"Calling all passengers for North Fork."

Of course, Bitsy made a beeline out the door while Violet walked as slow as a snail with the world on its back and just as fragile.  If she looked back over her shoulder, she imagined a trail of slime in the aisle of the train left behind her.

With a deep breath, she let the steward help her down the stairs for the last time.  Violet came to stand beside Miss Hart surprised the young woman had not already been snatched up by her intended.  With trepidation, she looked through the crowd for a blonde cowboy with a blue bandana.

"OOoh!  There he is!" Bitsy squealed.  "Yoo-hoo!  Mr. Cleaver, I'm over here!"

Violet's mouth dropped open.  "What did you just call him?"

That's my fiancé, Mr. Tom Cleaver.  "Tom, oh Tommy!  It's me, Bitsy!"

The cowboy caught Miss Hart up and swung her around before setting her back on her feet.  "Aren't you jest the purtiest thing I ever did see!"

Bitsy

Violet's heart dropped, not pausing at her stomach, but falling straight to her feet leaving her light headed.  Just before the couple sauntered off arm in arm, she raised her voice.  "Oh, Mr. Cleaver, sir, I have a question."

Miss Hart turned around and said, "I'm so sorry, Violet.  I should have introduced you.  This here is my groom.  We're on our way to the church now.  He says the parson is ready and waiting!"

"Nice to meet you..." At least the man had the decency to blush.  "Did you say, Violet, as in Miss Violet Hunter?"

"Yes, sir.  In fact, I have the letter to prove it, the one you wrote me with all your promises when you sent me my train ticket."

"He sent me letters and a train ticket too!" Bitsy stomped creating a cloud of dust.

The man was untying his blue bandana and wiping the sweat dripping off his face.  "Yes, well, about that..."

Bitsy turned slit eyes on Violet.  "This is my man, Violet, and you need to keep your hands off him, ya hear?  I don't want you to even look at him!"

"This man is a two-timing..."  A crowd was beginning to gather.

"Now, ma'am, I can explain."

"Yeah, Tom.  How deep a pile did you step in this time?"  The crowd erupted in hoots and hollers.

"I didn't take you for no polygamist, Tom.  For shame!"  More teasing and jeering rippled through the crowd.

Now Bitsy had turned on Mr. Cleaver with her squinty eyes.  "What in tarnation are they talking about, Tom?  You are promised to me and only to me!"

Violet found her nerves suddenly displaced by anger, a righteous anger at that.  "Did you, sir, send tickets for both Miss Hart and me in answer to your request for a mail-order bride?  Was that your idea of a good joke?"

"No, of course not, it's just that..." he hemmed and hawed his boots shuffling in the dust making a bigger cloud than Bitsy had stirred up.  He finally spit it out showing off his pea-brained reasoning.  "I figured if I sent for both of ya, I could take my pick.  I saw the horse-faced woman who answered my cousin Reese's ad and didn't want to take a chance at being saddled with an ugly woman my whole life.  You never can tell if a woman is truthful when she writes in a letter telling a fella what she looks like, honestly."  He hugged Bitsy and winked at her.  "I sure am partial to red heads though, ya know.  You said you were a carrot top, and sure enough, your hair is as pretty as a copper penny."

"Truthful, honestly?" Violet sputtered.  As if that answered their predicament.  Thank goodness she'd missed his boat that was soon pushing off with Miss Hart on board. Too bad the man rowed with only one paddle. But where did that leave her but standing on the dock with no one and no where to go and no funds to go nowhere to?

She cleared her throat looking around the crowd that was now silently following their drama with heads turning like a weather cock twisting back and forth between whoever was speaking.  It probably couldn't be more entertaining than if she'd stepped off the train juggling monkeys. 

"Be that as it may, you owe me compensation, sir.  I demand that you put me up in a nice hotel until you can rectify this situation."

Tom

"You demand?"  Mr. high and mighty cowboy stepped right up close, toe to toe, and glared down at her as if he could intimidate her.  "You demand? Hah, that's a good one."

From the corner of her eye, she saw the sun glint off a badge.  The sheriff elbowed his way through the crowd, much to Violet's relief.  "The lady has a point Tom.  You brought her here under false pretenses.  She's due something.  On your way to the church, drop her off at the hotel and pay for at least a couple nights' rest before she gets on the train with a ticket you've bought her to go back east."

"Why sheriff, you know cowboys don't make that much money.  It cleaned me out but good to send for both of these hussies.  I can only keep one so I'll have to leave Miss Hunter to some other cowboy.  If she wern't such a shrew, she might be able to catch one right quick.  They'd be popping up like prairie dogs outta their holes, pretty as she'd be if she ever quit scowling.  Never could abide a sour-faced woman."

"Now, Tom, you might have a problem.  You can't just leave a woman to twist in the wind.  It ain't proper.  Our cowboy britches might not be fancy pants, but we know how to treat a lady when we see one, sure as shooting.  You might have to sell your fancy saddle unless you can come up with another solution..."

As several men shouted out that they wanted first dibs, he bellowed, "My saddle?"  The cowboy looked like he was about to draw his gun on the sheriff.  "Not on your life.  No woman, not even Miss Bitsy here, is worth that much."

Miss Hart swung her dangling purse round like David's slingshot and hit him upside the head while hissing, "Mr. Tom Cleaver, don't you ever, never, ever talk to me again like that, ya hear?"

"Ahh, Bitsy, I didn't really mean it.  I'm just all riled up right now, and the wrong things to say just slither out."

She clasped him tightly around the waist saying, "That's alright, sweetheart.  I know.  I've been cooped up with that woman more miles than I can count, and I'm powerful tired of her whining myself."

Violet, gasped and blinked back tears.  Just think, Miss Hart would have starved, having nothing to eat on the whole trip if she'd not shared with her.

"Now, Miss Hunter, is it?  Let's get you over to the hotel while Tom and his gal head over to the church where the minister's waiting.  I'm sure you're quite relieved not to have to throw your horse shoes around that staub.  He's no ringer, that's for sure.  You can do a whole lot better."  Violet felt herself wilting fast.  In fact, she could hardly look up at anyone in her shame.  She could not even look at the sheriff, though the man was picking up her carpet bag and sending for her trunk to be delivered to the Grand Hotel, which was anything but grand.

She sunk on a stool while he paid for her lodging. 

"Thank you kind sir."

"I'll make Tom reimburse me, have not doubt.  This badge doesn't shine for nothing."

Then she sat up straight finding her backbone.  "Is there a lawyer here in town?"

"A lawyer?"  the sheriff laughed.  "Here?  No, but I guess you could say I'm the law and the lawyer round these parts.  I've got a few law books in my office..."

"Please take me there then."  She finally looked the man in the eyes, in his fine straight black coffee eyes.

"Uh, aren't you worn out from your travels and needing a rest, ma'am?"

"Of course I am, but this must be resolved.  Kindly show me to your office, please."

The sheriff took off his hat and ran his hands through dark locks that were a little overdue for a haircut.  "You sure about this, ma'am."

"Yes.  I must gather my legal argument to give Mr. Cleaver.  I can't let him get away with this!"

"Well, I'm all for that, but..."

But by now, Violet was marching to the door and pausing there for him to join her.

In his office, she drank the sludge he called coffee and shuffled through the heavy volumes of law books he warily set before her all the while unaware of his close scrutiny.

"Ahah! This describes a breach of contract."  She thunked the pages before her with triumph.  "May I borrow your ink well and a use a sheet of your official paper, please?"

"Sure, ma'am.  I'm at your service," but his scowl showed he did so unwillingly.  

Violet was so intensely copying from his law book that she didn't notice the way the man was closely observing her from her messy hair falling loose from her chignon to her lips she was licking in her eagerness to resolve this problem.

Finally after long minutes of chicken scratching, she sat back and proudly stated, "There!  I think that about covers it."  She thrust the paper towards the sheriff.

Now it was her turn to keenly watch the man who had his brows furrowed reading what she had copied.

"Do you have an official stamp to put on it, kind sir?"

The man rubbed his jaw and sighed.  "I guess Tom deserves this.  But I'm sure he was speaking the truth about having no funds left.  I'm just surprised he ever managed to save enough to buy not just one, but two train tickets.  Usually he blows it all at the saloon on payday.  I'll hold him to it, however, even if he does have to sell that fancy saddle of his.  Boy is he going to hate this!"

"Well, I overheard him say that they were spending their honeymoon night in the Grand Hotel.  So, I'll be waiting for them in the morning with this charge."  She waved the paper to which he'd given his legal stamp.  "Will you be willing to stand beside me?"  She stared at those coffee eyes drinking them in.

The sheriff stared back at her pools of blue.  Then he shook himself and answered, "It's my privilege to serve you, ma'am."

It made Violet shiver every time he said "ma'am," as if she truly was a spinster, the reality she was sure soon to face.  That thought was bad medicine leaving a horrible taste in her mouth alright.  It was enough to break her spirit and shrivel up her bones.  "By the way, I can't go back home," she admitted.  "There's nothing waiting for me there to go back to.  So, do you know of any job openings here in North Fork?"

Once again the man was scrubbing his jaw with his calloused hand.  "Not the Empty Cup Café, not the Pinch Your Pennies Mercantile, not Wilma's Washtub...wait a minute, I heard Skinny over at Cookie's Bakery just got allergic to flour and puffed up something awful.  I'll ask Cookie for you if he needs help."

"Thanks," she covered a yawn blinking weary eyes.  "I think I'll find my room now."

"I'd be happy to escort you there, ma'am, if I may.  But I'd be glad to buy you dinner first.  I doubt you ate well on your journey and could use a little, uh...nourishment."  He almost said fattening up, but he knew that wouldn't be quite acceptable.  Though Miss Hunter was beautiful in a gaunt sort of way, he'd love to see her when she got her bloom back.

There was that "ma'am," again. She nodded hardly noticing the finger nails on the chalkboard shiver at what he called her.  It was the same one she always felt deep down in her bones, quivering at the fear of being alone.  Right now though Violet was almost too tired to care.  "Thank you, sheriff.  That's nice of you."  She yawned again hardly able to hide it behind her hand.  It was the kind of yawn that made your eyes water.

But Violet was thankful that the food she'd accepted was enough to sustain her climb up the stairs, one flight after the other, clear up to her third floor room.  Though her eyes were closed with her head on her pillow, her mind was full of the dinner conversation with the sheriff.  It was shocking even.  He professed to be a Christian.  So had Tom in his letter though he had not acted in very Christian manner luring her out here only to abandon her.  Yet, she was grateful to have escaped becoming unequally yoked with that bloke.  But the sheriff told how he had been led to God by a horse thief who repented in jail, a thief who was saved at the last like the thief on the cross.  In fact, the sheriff told how he had been baptized in the river right along with his prisoner who was handcuffed to him.  On that sweet note, sleep finally claimed her.

Someone knocked on her door the next morning. "I have warm wash water for you, ma'am.  The sheriff is waiting for you in the lobby."

Violet hurried through her ablutions making sure her hair was brushed until it was as sleek as a Miss Harvey's Siamese cat she petted once.  She shook out her favorite shirtwaist, the one which she'd hoped to wear when she was wed.  No use saving it now.  Her chance for a wedding had gone up in a puff of dust back at the train station.

When Violet came down the stairs in a rush from her third floor room, she made herself slow at the final descent in a more sedate manner.  But her heart was pounding from her flight down or from the sight of the sheriff standing there waiting, hat in hand.  She didn't know which.

He'd make some young thing a good catch.  Violet let out a sigh as she drank in his coffee eyes again.

"Care for a cup of coffee, ma'am," he asked politely.

She blushed furiously wondering if he read her mind.  

"Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver haven't checked out yet, so I figure we'd make a stake-out here in the lobby."

After not one hour, but two had passed waiting for the newlyweds to come down, she foolishly said, "I wonder what can be keeping them."

It was enough to make the sheriff fake a cough to hide his laughter and blush to the tips of his ears.  He cleared his throat, once, twice, before saying, "I'm sure they'll be down soon.  Check out time is at noon."

Exactly at 12:30 the couple sashayed down looking like they could hardly stand on their own the way their arms were wound around each other.

Now it was her turn.  "Excuse me, Mr. Cleaver, sir.  After consulting the law, I have something for you to hear.  She unfolded the piece she had copied from the law book...

"Civil Code 202.  Where said two parties have made a contract which one of them has broken, the damage which the other party ought to receive in respect of such breach of contract shall be such as may fairly and reasonably be considered according to the usual course of things, such as may reasonably be supposed to have been in the contemplation of both parties, at the time they made the contract, as the probable result of the breach of it.  The damages resulting from the breach of such contract would be the amount of injury which would ordinarily follow from a breach of contract, such as...
1.  Reliance Damages: restores the party who was the victim of the breach to the position they would have been in had the contract never been made.
2.  Restitution Damages: returns the benefit received by the breaching party back to the party who was the victim of the breach of contract.
3.  Consequential Damages: including emotional distress.
4.  Liquidated Damages: specific amount that the none-breaching party is entitled to recover from the breaching party.

A party entered into a contract because it relied on fraudulent information-inducement--a party who enters a contract based on misrepresentation of material facts made by the other party on the grounds of fraudulent inducement...

"Now stop right there!  Stop ye yammering 'cause I don't understand a word yer saying.  Do you sheriff?" Tom Cleaver stood feet apart, arms crossed, chest puffed with Bitsy glowering from out behind him.

"It's all legal, right by the book, Tom.  She's got a perfect claim for damages as a victim of your fraudulent inducement to get her here all the way to North Fork from Boston.  In other words, you owe her."

"Would you care to read it for yourself?" Violet asked.

"Nah, I don't need to read it to know it's a bunch of hooey, a pile of ...." Just then Miss Hart snatched it out of Violet's hand.

Her frown grew the longer she read it.  Then looked up accusingly at her new husband.  "How could you do such a thing to my friend, a helpless female, a jilted bride?"

He growled, tore it from her hand, wadded it up and threw it back at Violet where it lay at her feet.

The sheriff butted in saying, "Looks to me like the best you can do is to sell your saddle, or sit in jail while you figure out a way to recompense Miss Hunter."

"My boss would drop me like a hot potato if I didn't show up for work.  I'm lucky he gave me today off for my honeymoon.  I had to talk faster than I could swing my lasso to convince him at that!"

"Well, what is it, Tom?  Jail or your saddle?" the sheriff demanded.

Tom threw dirty looks at her, glared at the sheriff, then squinted at Bitsy who looked lovingly up at him.  He kicked at the carpet and spit out, "Just take my saddle then and be done with it.  I don't want to see Miss Hunter's face again, the weaseling, conniving..."

"Watch it, Tom, or you'll be losing your saddle and cooling your heels in jail.  I won't stand for any defamation of Miss Hunter's sterling reputation."

"Defa-what?  Never-you-mind, sheriff.  Just take the stupid saddle already then.  I paid six months of wages for it, I'll have you know.  It came from clear down in San Antonio."

"It's a sure pretty one, that's for certain.  Well, congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver."

Bitsy beamed while Tom glowered, and the sheriff took Violet out for breakfast at the Empty Cup Café.

"That was a pretty fancy legal speech you spilled back there.  Are you sure you aren't some lady lawyer from back east?  Do they even have such things as women lawyers?"

"I don't know.  I've never needed a lawyer before.  Thank you for the use of your law books and the official stamp though.  I suppose it would all hold up in court of law."

"The visiting judge usually only presides over hanging offenses.  He expects us to deal with our own trespasses against each other in a duly fashion.  You were a complete success, Miss Hunter.  Now, how much do you want for your saddle?"

"I have no idea, sir."

"Mink.  You can call me Mink like my friends do.  I'll ask the blacksmith what he thinks is a fair price.  But I have to admit, I'd like to buy it from you."

For a minute there, Violet was lost in his sable eyes.  "Yes, that would be fine with me.  That way I can pay for my lodgings until I can earn enough to do it on my own."

"I doubt you'll last long, Miss Hunter..."

"Violet."

"Thank you, Violet.  As I was saying, I don't think you'll last long..."

"Whatever can you mean?" she exclaimed in alarm.  "Is there consumption going around or diphtheria?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant.  It's just that a beautiful woman such as yourself won't stay single longer than a week or two as soon as word gets out that you're not leaving town."  He had no idea why she seemed so shocked.  

"I'm doomed to be a spinster.  I'm sure no one will have me, especially after word gets out that I squeezed Tom out of his saddle.  I'll be labeled, what was it he called me, a shrew, a conniver?"

The sheriff barked a laugh.  "That wouldn't hold back a posse of men hot on the trail of matrimony, ma'am."

"Miss."

"What?"

"I'd prefer you call me Miss."

He smiled.  "You'll be called Mrs. in less than a weeks tops,  I'd say if I were a betting man."

Violet blushed.  "Surely you jest."  Then tears pooled in her eyes.  "Please don't poke fun at me, Mink," she said softly.  "I don't think my heart can take it."  One tear plunked down in her cold coffee.

He was out of his seat and squatting before her wiping the next drip off before it could drop.  "Don't cry, Violet.  I wasn't teasing, sugar.  I was just speaking the plain truth.  We don't have any single women, let alone beautiful ones running loose in these parts..."

"Whatcha doing, sheriff?  Are you down on yer knees proposing to the pretty lady?"  The cook had came out holding their fried eggs.

"Huh?" Mink and Violet gasped in unison.

"Looks like it to me.  What's yer answer, Miss?  There's a right rowdy crowd looking in the window as it is ready to pounce on ya.  Sheriff is lucky to be the first in line,"  he chortled.

"If he asked me..." she began blushing.

"I guess I'm asking," the sheriff said hoarsely swallowing hard.

"Then, yes, if you'll loan me your law books so I can support the next poor soul who's been taken advantage of."

"Can I have a kiss and a saddle then?"

She blushed prettier than a rose in bloom.  Mink didn't wait and took that kiss.  The lady had her bloom back, that was for sure and certain.  He felt a little proud that he'd somehow managed to put her joyful heart she'd lost back where it belonged.

She demurely looked down smoothing wrinkles out of the skirt of her dress.  Violet was happy to realize that she was wearing her wedding dress after all.

He confessed, "I'm sure glad Tom's mail order got canceled, and he never got a chance to put his dirty paws around you.  I may not be your knight in shining armor riding in on a white horse to your rescue, but I'm not riding a mule neither."  When he saw her smile, he forgot all about their eggs over easy cold on their plates and offered his arm to take his bride to the church.  He'd not miss his chance to turn this Miss into a Mrs. before some other yahoo could.

"A joyful heart is good medicine,

But a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

P.S. I found the name Mink from a relative in the 1600's in Captain John Harper's lineage of Finns who came to settle New Sweden up the Delaware River.   

MISS PERFECT & MR. JUST RIGHT

A Short Story

By Celia Jolley

I wish I were sitting next to Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, anybody but Grumpy.  I don't know if it is possible, but I do believe he is more unhappy than I am for us having to be seated next to each other.  The years have not mitigated our understanding of malevolence against one another.  I did not know, could not remember what on earth had spawned such ill will, such strong dislike, but there it is, undiminished. 

It was a shame that such a tall, dark, and handsome man had to mar his striking appearance with a scowl.  I hoped he would lose it before he tried to make the toast to the bride and groom with his sparkling cider.  That might be the only thing that sparkled. 

Jase actually put on a happy face, did gallantly, then sank back into his iceberg.  I did not do nearly as well melting with tears and hardly getting a word out before my knees gave out and I fell back onto the white plastic folding chair.  It was not my zenith moment. 

How could a loving bride and groom have picked a maid of honor and best man of such polar opposites?  Hopefully,  it would not be an omen of mismatched lovers later.  They certainly appeared to be head over heels in love making me feel a smidge of jealousy.  Well, maybe a little more than a smidge.  I sighed as I wiped a smudge of mascara from under my eye where a tear still attempted to escape.  It now blackened the newlyweds initials on the napkin I had used.  Grumpy looked over at me with an arched eyebrow.  I had not meant to let such a heavy sigh be overheard to be judged by the likes of him.  I shot a cold stare straight back; only for a second our eyes locked before he looked away. 

I was the last to be single of all my girlfriends making me a misfit, a freak of unmarried nature.  What was wrong with me?  Were my standards too high?  Too low?  Was I somehow not alluring?  It had been a couple of months since anyone had even acted interested enough to hint at something as simple as getting a cup of coffee, dutch of course.  Maybe I needed to fish in a bigger pond.  This one was fished out.  I regretted spending so many of my college years wasted upon Mr.-I-Dumped-Him-First-Before-He-Could-Dump-Me.  Three years down the drain.   Now I've graduated, have seen my last girlfriend trip happily down the rose petal strewn pathway while I was headed home to my old bedroom at my parents. 

I grr-ed under my breath, but was evidently overheard by the groom's bff sitting next to me who once again arched an eyebrow at me, but this time with a smirk.

"Not having a good time, eh?"

"Everything is divine," I lied.

"The toasts are over, the cake is next, then the obligatory dances, then you're home free."

"There's the clean-up.  We are supposed to help the family with that, you know.  We'll be the last to leave, or did you plan on ducking out?"

"Oh, I wouldn't think of it."

"What do you plan on doing to the going away car?"

"Nothing.  I'm loaning him my sports car and have a friend guarding it in case anybody has ideas about doing anything to it that might mar the paint job."

"Oh."  I could not think of another thing to say to the man, nasty or nice, so I looked out over the reception party.  There wasn't a single man there who I would wish to dance with.  Not one.  All the good ones have gotten away, and I have officially begun the game of Old Maid. 

Now my chin was beginning to quiver.  How stupid!  I jumped up to escape but bumped into the chest of my nemesis Mr. Frosty in a tux as he was getting up as well.

I turned away, but he stopped me, put his finger under my chin and lifted my face to see the rivulets of  feeling-sorry-for-myself tears.  I kept my eyes closed so I would not have to face him.

"Hey, this is a wedding. It's supposed to be a happy time.  I promise to bury the hatchet for this one night if you will."

I could not talk, but I nodded and opened my eyes to see his searching mine.  His thumb wiped away the tears on one cheek while I wiped the other side with the back of my hand.  Then I was free to go.  I made a beeline to a bathroom and locked myself in a booth. I had counted to 100 backwards and forwards twice until I made sure I would not fall apart again, until my heart went back to a normal beat.  After doing what I could to repair my makeup damage, I went out to face the music.

The dancing had begun.  I missed her dance with her father, but now the bride and groom were dancing and more people were entering the dance floor.  His back was to me almost blocking my view.  He turned when he noticed me and checked me out as if for damage.

"Care to dance.  I believe it's customary for the best man and maid of honor to have one dance."

I still could not speak to him, but let him lead me out where the other couples were being happy.

I tried to look down, but whenever I glanced up, he was staring at me.  Finally, he said, "I can't remember, can you?"

"Remember what?"

"Why we can't stand each other?"

"No, but I'm sure it was for a good reason."

Then a rumble began down low then escaped into a deep laugh that made him stop dancing for a moment.  "I think I remember now.  Did it have something to do with you getting caught flirting with me as a freshmen when you worked in the student book store, and your supervisor wasn't very happy with you?"

"You flirted with me and got me in trouble.  I almost lost my job because of you.  I remember now."

"That's a four year old grudge.  Wow.  But I can't remember why I don't like you."

"It's probably because you asked me to help you cheat on a quiz in biology, and I refused to let you see my answer."

He laughed.  "I think you are right.  I'm glad to know I do have a good reason to despise you."

I tried not to laugh, but couldn't stop it.  "It didn't end there.  You made fun of me in front of all my friends every chance you got.  You called me mean names."

"What's so mean about calling you  Miss Goody Two Shoes?"

"I used to avoid you even if I had to go the long way around and be late for class."

"That must have been tough for Miss Perfect."

"There you go again, calling me names."

"A name?  I thought you'd wear that as a badge of honor.  Weren't you perfect all the way through school, except for that jerk you wasted your time with for three years, but who's counting?"

"I don't know how to answer that"  She looked up at him  bewildered.  Finally, she said, "Yes, he was a jerk, I did waste three years of my life with him, and so you could say that I'm not a candidate for the Miss Perfect title for that, if for no other reason.  But I'm surprised you noticed."

"I noticed alright.  I was mad at you every day of every month for three years that you couldn't see through his sham.  It took everything I had not to beat the pulp out of him whenever he opened his mouth about you.  He really was not a nice guy.  You wouldn't want to know some of the things he said."

"You're right, I don't want to know.  I feel like I ate the poisoned apple from him.  It took me too long to wake up."

"What made you wake up?"

"I don't really want to talk about it.  How about you?  Are you still with what's her name Pretty-Face?  How come she's not here?"

"No, pretty is as pretty does, and we aren't together any more."

"Good.  She wasn't a very nice person either.  I was always surprised you did not see through her."

"I was in love with a shell until the hermit crab climbed out with the claws clicking."

I laughed.  "I visualize that perfectly."

Neither one of us realized that we had talked clear through three slow dances while everyone else was jamming.  Then someone tapped me on the shoulder.  It was one of the ones I wouldn't be caught dead dancing with.  After all, wasn't it the prerogative of an old maid to turn down who she wanted to.

"I'm sorry, but my feet are killing me, and I just want to sit down now."

The Best Man guided me, the Maid of Honor back to our seats where I kicked off my shoes.

"Was that a little white lie that Miss Perfect just told?"

"No, I mean, my feet do hurt.  I'm not used to wearing heels.  But, I'm not about to dance with him.  He gives me the creeps."

"And I don't any more?"

He was bending over leaning on his elbows on his thighs to look into her face.

"No."

"Good."  He leaned back in his seat with his legs stretched out in front of him with a crooked smile on his face.

"Don't look so smug."

"What?  Are we still fighting?  Did you just remember another one of the top ten reasons you hate me?"

"No, it's just that you look like a cat that wants to eat the canary, but she's safe in her cage, thank you very much."

"Oh really?"  He smiled wider.

Suddenly, I wasn't so sure any more.

Just then the bride and groom came up arm in arm and spied them.  "Oh, good, you are finally getting along."  I  hugged the bride in a goodbye to girlhood sort of way while the guys wacked each other on the back.

"Are you ready to see us off?  Got the keys for me, bro?"

"Sure you don't want me to chauffer you?" he winked.

"No, I think I can handle it from here."

"Just be careful with the merchandise.  And be careful with the car too."

The guys laughed while the bride giggled nervously.  I found myself fighting back tears again.

In a blink of an eye, they were off and a friendship was changed forever.  I felt very alone all of a sudden.  An arm slipped around my waist and a warm breath was in my ear, "And so they've left us.  Whatever shall we do?"

"Clean up."

"And after that?"

I looked up at him shocked. 

"The night will still be young, and I'm still hungry.  All the fancy food did not fill me up.  I want a steak.  Are you game?"

"Sure.  But he just took off in your car."

"I guess you'll be driving.  Just kidding.  He gave me his keys.  Wait a minute." He patted himself down.  "The dirty dog forgot.  What could he have been thinking?" He winked and said, "So I guess you really are driving."

The bride had a huge family and so it did not take long to clean up the reception hall.  Soon he was staring at me holding my shoes in his hands that I had left under the table.  "I'm starving.  Let's go."

I was so nervous that I almost ran a red light and had to slam on the brakes.  He did not say a word, just cocked that eyebrow at me again.  I was glad to finally turn off the keys in the steakhouse parking lot.  He grabbed my hand as we went in.  I had no idea why I did not pull away.

"I hope you are as hungry as I am because their house special is worth devouring."

"I don't think I really ate much of the food at the reception, so I am ready for a steak after all."

It was delicious, but I hardly remember eating the meal at all.  The two of  us talked with a voracious appetite making up for the lost time of  our college years of not speaking.

"Remember the last chapel speaker sermon on I Samuel about David's life.  If you don't mind me saying so, I feel like David who finally had chance to win Saul's daughter's hand, Michal.  I would have killed a lot of Philistines if I thought I could have gotten you to notice."

"I'd rather not think of the bride price Saul put on David.  I don't know.  Michal wasn't so nice.  She certainly wasn't worth it."

"In what way?"

"She really loved David even before she married him; helped him escape from Saul, but had an idol handy to put in the bed to stall Saul's henchmen.  She told them that it was David sick in bed.  I think I know why she had a household idol.  I've had one.  It was called False Security.  My idol was my boyfriend.  Even though I knew my worship was misplaced, I kept him around afraid to let him go.  In the meanwhile, I let the true king escape out the window when I allowed the idol into my bed..."  Her eyes became round as saucers and she covered her mouth.  "I can't believe I just said that to you...I wasn't speaking literally."

"Okay."  He felt her shrinking away from him but did not let her, taking her hand that was trembling.
"I had a couple of misplaced loves in my life too.   Like the speaker said, David had a few too many love stories.  I guess going to a Christian college does not mean you graduate with a diploma of smarts.  Sometimes we earn one of stupid mistakes as well, one degree or another.  But didn't David get Michal back after all?"

"Yes, but she despised him in his pure worship.  She was childless until she died, meaning he spurned her as well since he had plenty of other wives."

"Yeah, you're right.  The two of them are not the perfect examples to follow when it comes to love. It makes you think again like what if she had escaped out the window with David.  She preferred obviously to be comfortable with the household idol and palace living.  Would David have sought love with so many other wives or could they have had one of those admirable marriages of biblical proportions?  Yet, after all David's failures, he kept coming back to God, a heart after God."

They were looking at each other while he held her hand rubbing his thumb gently over her fingers. 

Finally she sighed.

"What's the sigh for?  You did that at the table tonight at the wedding, and then it turned to tears."

"Doesn't it bother you to be still single when everyone else has paired off and flown away?"

"Let's get out of here.  I think they're closing down anyway."   He walked her to the car, but put his hand out for the keys.  "You scared me on the way here.  Let me drive us back." 

When Carrie handed them over, she found herself enveloped in his arms.  She sighed again.

"There you go sighing again.  I hope it was a good sigh." He tipped her face up.  "Do you think we would have a chance?  The bookstore supervisor is not looking over your shoulder, you know. You're not a freshman anymore."

This brought a grin with a dimple instead of tear.  "Do ya think?  I don't know how you can even speak to me after how I've treated you."

He kissed her gently.  Then kissed her some more that awakened something she'd never quite felt before.  Her other relationship vanished in the rear view mirror. 

Finally, he pulled away.  "We'd better go," but he did not move.  "I think I finally remember why I hated you."

"Really?  Why?"  She kept her arms around his neck looking up into the twinkle in his eyes.

"Because you let that other stupid guy take up with you instead of me.  I've wanted you ever since I laid eyes on you in the bookstore when we were freshmen.  I tried a couple of consolation prizes, but they really didn't satisfy.  They weren't you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's always been about you."

"I think I was a real idiot."

"No, I scared you away.  It was my idiocy.  I'd like to start all over and pretend the last four years had not happened."

"Hello," she offered her hand.  "My name is Carrie.  What's yours?"

"Jase.  Are you busy this weekend."

"No.  I just have to clean out my room and throw away a few idols."

"Good.  Maybe we can make a bonfire and turn the past mistakes into ashes."

"I'd like that very much.  Just so you know, if you dance before God, I'll be clapping from my window."

"Do you mind if I call you Miss Perfect for Me?"

She sighed.  "I'd like that, Mr. Just Right."

Having just gone through an elaborate ceremony with their friends, they chose a simple small wedding: it's usually best after a whirlwind courtship, after all.  It was more than just right.  It was perfect.

"Now Michal, Saul's daughter loved David.  When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.  And Saul thought, 'I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him...'"

I Samuel 18:20

"Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning.  But Michal, David's wife, told him saying, 'If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.'  So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped. And Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed..."

I Samuel 19:11-13

(Leave and cleave: to cleave as is the Scriptural command, you must be willing to leave.

What if Michal had been willing to follow David out the window?)

"Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Paltiel..."

I Samuel 25:44

"So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, 'Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed...And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel...

But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her...

Then Abner said to him, 'Go, return.'  So he returned."

II Samuel 3:14-16

(You can't make this stuff up!)

"Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord;

and she despised him in her heart."

II Samuel 6:16

(Was that the same window that she had let her husband David escape from?)

There you have it in a nutshell when you are more comfortable with an idol than rejoicing in the Presence of the Lord, more comfortable with palace living than in love with the King Himself.

In order to be just right, you must "be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect."

And that, gentle reader, is the gift of the Spirit: perfect love.