So, no services in the Army camp either. “It’s easy to fall out of the habit,” Kate assured him. “It won’t take long. Mr. Yates doesn’t preach for hours like some ministers.”
“Maybe next Sunday,” he said. “I just thought I’d see if I could meet your mysterious guest.”
“He left,” Kate offered. “Check the geyser field.”
He nodded. Disappointment fell over her as the door swung shut. But Mrs. Pettijohn warbled to a stop, and Kate hurried back to her place beside Danny.
Standing before the hearth, Mr. Yates adjusted the spectacles on his broad-tipped nose.
“I take my text today from Luke. Caleb, you do not have my permission to sleep.”
Caleb jerked upright in his seat as Pansy elbowed him.
Mr. Yates dropped his voice, tone conspiratorial. “Imagine this. President Cleveland has come to your town and decides to dine at your house. Oh, what a day!”
Pansy leaned closer to Alberta. “Almost as big a day as when Lieutenant Kingman visited.”
Alberta put a finger to her lips.
“How much time will it take you to prepare?” Mr. Yates asked them. “A few hours? A few days?”
One house? Kate and Pansy could have the space spick-and-span in three hours, less time if they had Sarah and Ida to help. By the way Miss Pringle’s head was cocking, she was making calculations of her own.
“And now our great president is before you,” Mr. Yates said, leaning toward them, “sitting in your parlor, telling about all the things he’s done, the places he’s gone. Dinner is moments away, your shining glory.”
Alberta sat taller as if eager to hear what was on the menu.
“And your sister, the one person you could count on for help today of all days, abandons you to go sit in the parlor with the men and listen.”
Alberta gasped, and Mrs. Pettijohn glared at Miss Pringle, who shrank in her seat.
“Such was the case of Martha and Mary,” Mr. Yates said, hands braced on his waistcoat. “Martha worked her fingers to the bone preparing her home for a visit from our Lord. And her sister sat and listened.” He glanced around at his makeshift congregation. “Poor Martha. Things like the state of her home and the quality of her meal had become the most important things in her life.”
Kate nodded. And why shouldn’t they be? Martha may not have been running a hotel, which would be judged by her guests, but her hospitality was going to be judged by all those who entered that day.
“And there was Mary, just sitting around, listening!”
“I’d be fired for sure,” Pansy muttered to Alberta, and the cook nodded before glancing back at Kate and reddening.
“So, Martha appealed to the one person her sister might obey—our Lord himself. Did he order Mary back to work? Show his displeasure that she thought to listen to the menfolk talk? No. He told Martha to leave her be, for she had chosen the most important thing.”
He removed his glasses and stared at them all. “Those who come to visit Yellowstone plan and pack and travel far to reach its fabled lands. There are many things they could do. Only one is needful. Stop and listen to the words of the One who created all this for your pleasure. Remember your duty to him today, and every day. Let us pray.”
Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn climbed to their feet and bowed their heads. So did Alberta and Pansy and Caleb. Kate’s cheeks felt hot and wet. Was she crying? Why? She knew she served a mighty God. His wonders surrounded her.
But to stop her work, to simply listen?
To let him dictate the pace of her life?
She rose with the others, bowed her head. Mr. Yates intoned his prayer, but her heart spoke for her.
Lord, I feel as if you’ve been urging me to listen. I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to hear. You know I have a hotel to run. I’m both father and mother to Danny now. I made time for this service.
Why did all that sound like an excuse? What did God want of her?
Your love, your trust.
Oh so difficult since Toby had died. Some of the light in her life had left with him.
Yet God had brought it back in Will. Will was calm, steady, but he still knew how to take time to enjoy things like ice cream and baseball. There was a lesson in that.
If she could just let go—of her fear, of her hurry.
My burden is easy, and my yoke is light.
An amen rumbled through the room, and she looked up in surprise. Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn were going forward to thank Mr. Yates and shake his hand. Alberta and Pansy were edging out of the row. Caleb was already halfway toward the door. Could her burden really be lightened? She certainly felt less encumbered than when she’d sat down for service.
Danny tugged on her hand. “Could we go somewhere and listen?”
Kate smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
“I know where,” Danny said. “Let’s take Lieutenant Prescott to our special spot.”
She’d fought the urge, told herself Will wouldn’t be in her life long enough, feared for the protection of the great beasts. But taking him up to their spot seemed right, good. A step in trust.
Approved by someone higher than herself.
Kate nodded. “As soon as he finishes the morning sweep.”
Will cantered up the road from the Grand Prismatic Spring. Mr. Jones had once more eluded him, and he’d sent Lercher back to camp while he checked the spring. No one had been in the vicinity. The number of visitors thinned more each day. There was no reason he couldn’t have stayed for services as Kate asked.
Except he still wasn’t sure of his welcome.
Oh, he realized she wanted him there. Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn would likely have greeted him happily. The minister wouldn’t understand about his past. But Will knew. And so did God.
The thought made him flinch. He’d failed so many people that day, but most of all he’d failed
