Brides of Idaho Read Online Free

services. I expect we’ll meet outdoors for a few weeks. Now let us pray.” He bowed his head and asked God’s blessing on the food, thanking God for His many mercies.
    For several minutes after he sat down, the food was passed, plates loaded, and people put their attention to eating before they began talking. Much of the conversation centered on the trail ahead. Most of those present were headed for the Kootenais to look for gold. Hope and desperation hung like flags over the table.
    Levi listened to the man on his right tell how he’d sold everything and left his wife and children with her parents. “I aim to make enough to buy myself a piece of land and build a big house.”
    “And if you don’t?” It always bothered him that pursuing dreams without considering reality so often led to desperate actions.
    The man shuddered. “I don’t think I could continue to face life.”
    Levi had let his gaze and attention wander to Glory, who was in animated conversation with the man next to her. What had her so enthused? But his attention returned to the man at his side, and he dismissed all other distractions in his concern for the confession from the man’s lips. “If you find yourself in such a situation, I urge you to pray and ask God to provide direction to something productive. There are always alternatives to desperation.” Just as there were always alternatives to crime, though he didn’t voice the thought.
    Suddenly everyone pushed back as if given a signal. He hadn’t been watching. Perhaps Miss Joanna had indicated the meal was over.
    She spoke now. “For those planning to spend the night, the room will be ready by eight. Feel free to return then and claim a spot. In the meantime, you are welcome to make yourself comfortable outside and enjoy the sunshine.”
    Levi had noticed benches outside against the walls of the stopping house and guessed she meant those.
    Joanna continued. “Ladies”—she referred to the four female guests—“you’re welcome to stay indoors if you prefer.”
    Mandy strode outside, lifted the birds from the nail where she’d left them, and disappeared behind a shed in the far corner. Levi suspected she meant to dress them ready to cook.
    He barely got his feet under him when Glory started to gather up the tin plates with a good deal of racket. She carried them into the kitchen and dropped them into a basin of water.
    He made his way to the door.
    A great amount of clattering came from the kitchen.
    He emerged into the slanted evening sun and leaned against the warm wall.
    The young man he’d seen with Glory sidled up to him. “Hi, I’m Toby.”
    He shook hands with the younger man.
    “You really a preacher?”
    “I am.”
    “Where all you preached?”
    “Several places.” He named two towns in the Dakotas where he’d done what he could and moved on, ever wanting to do more.
    “So whatcha doing here? This here is a tight ship, as my pa would say.”
    Levi didn’t know if he meant the town or the stopping house and didn’t care to discuss it. He had his work cut out for him whether a kid who got drunk in the middle of the afternoon thought so or not. “Where’s your pa?” Seemed Toby ought to be with a parent still.
    “Back home in Indiana.”
    From the open door came more clattering. Washing tin plates seemed to be a noisy affair.
    Joanna, working in the dining room, called out, “Glory, could you keep the noise down a mite? My ears are hurting.”
    Levi grinned deep inside. Seems something was annoying Miss Glory to the point of taking it out on innocent dishes. Could be one of the reasons the stopping house used tin plates.
    Toby leaned back against the wall, shoulder to shoulder with Levi, by all looks, intent on a long chin-wag. Well, it was what Levi had invited. Part of what he’d vowed to do. The words he’d said to God on his knees guided his every decision.
Lord, You work on Matt where he is, and I’ll work for You out here.
    “I was headed for the