The Rescue by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online

he said, immediately at his most solicitous. “How are you?”
    “I’m well, Mr Benwick. Tommy said you have news.”
    “Indeed, I do. Your father had a bit of a mishap on Wednesday. It’s only a sprained ankle, but very painful and swollen. He’s most put out about it, but Dr Smith has kept him at his office since it occurred.”
    Anne’s relief was great.
    “I’ll go there directly, Mr Benwick. Thank you very much.”
    “You are welcome,” he said kindly, but Anne caught a hint of hesitancy in his eyes.
    “Maybe it would be best if I exited the way I came.”
    Benwick’s chin jutted suddenly.
    “Never, Miss Anne! You are as welcome in my shop as my own family.”
    “Thank you,” Anne replied, giving him a grateful look, “but if I go out the side door,” she still felt he needed a rescue, “I’ll nearly be at Dr Smith’s door.”
    “As you wish, Miss Anne, but I hope to see you soon.”
    “And you shall.”
    Anne went on her way, Benwick holding the door and smiling at her in genuine warmth as she exited. Anne’s heart was cheered that at least Benwick did not believe the worst of her reputation. She set her mind to seeing her father, checking on his health, and ascertaining whether he remembered the events of the past week.

    “Palmer,” Anne said patiently from her place in the church pew, “you don’t know what you’re asking.”
    “I do, Anne,” he said with a smile. “Liddy is most eager to see you, and I hate to disappoint her.”
    “I fear that her disappointment will be the lesser of your problems if I show my face at Tipton.”
    “You can’t honestly think that we believe poorly of you, Anne.”
    “No, I do not, but I was in town yesterday, and more than one person has made it clear that life in Collingbourne has changed for me.” Even as Anne said this, she remembered Mrs Smith’s words. She was not an unkind woman, but she was outspoken and had told Anne in plain terms that if she wasn’t willing to say where she’d been all week then, indeed, her virtue was in question. Anne had remained mute. Mr Weston was new to the area, and much as Anne hated having aspersions cast upon her, she needed to give Mr Weston a chance to establish himself.
    Palmer tried for several more minutes, having taken a seat next to Anne near the front, but she would not be swayed. He was left with no choice but to tell her that if she did change her mind, she would always be welcome. Squeezing her hand, he returned to sit with his children.
    Judith Hurst joined her soon after Palmer left, but at the moment Anne’s heart was too heavy to speak with her. It was a relief to have Pastor Hurst step into the pulpit a moment later.
    “Good morning, friends. I’m going to start in an unorthodox and, for some of you, cryptic manner this morning. If you have not heard rumors from this last week, then there is no cause for worry. If you have heard the rumors that are spreading about one of our own, you need to know firsthand that there is no value or truth to these rumors. If you have not had contact with me or one of the elders, and you do have questions, I hope you will contact one of us today.
    “I’m not going to preach on gossip or the evils of it. We’ve talked enough about that subject to know where God’s Word stands, but my words today are simply to warn you to be on guard. Should you hear slander toward one of us, you must speak up and put a stop to it. If you have been talking without information, you must stop. And if you are at all tempted to shun any of our own without due cause, you must repent of that immediately.
    “As I said, we are here to help. Come to us with any questions and concerns, and keep this small church body in your prayers lest Satan use this to tear us apart and destroy our unity.”
    Pastor Hurst paused, his gaze taking in the congregation gathered that morning. There were no visitors or firsttimers—he had already checked—but he now took a moment to establish brief