Free Steadfast Heart by Tracie Peterson Page A

but I think she’s finally guessed after all this time. She is hardly a dense woman.”
    â€œNo, not in the least.”
    Abrianna shrugged. “If she has figured it out, she must think it a good cause.”
    â€œWhy do you believe that?”
    She smiled. “Because Aunt Miriam ordered an entire crate of Bibles to be delivered to the school.”

6

    I t’s always so nice to have you walk with us to church and back,” Mrs. Madison told Wade.
    â€œEspecially when you are clean-shaven,” Abrianna added with a grin.
    Mrs. Madison looked confused for a moment, then continued to speak. “And what a beautiful day. Don’t you think so, ladies?” Everyone murmured an approval.
    Wade glanced back at the line of young women who followed after them like ducklings following their mother. Mrs. Gibson and Miss Holmes walked behind the long line of ladies to ensure that no onlookers took liberties. The murmurs and giggles from the young women always amused Wade. Sometimes the ladies were captivated by someone who’d come to the Saturday receptions. Other times they chattered about upcoming events. Today they were concerned with what fashions and accessories they would need for Easter Sunday, which would fall on the first of April, just two weeks away.
    Abrianna seemed to be the only one not caught up in the nonsense. She had come abreast of Wade and Mrs. Madison.
    â€œWade, have you seen Charlie lately?” she asked. She searched the sides of the streets.
    â€œI saw him day before yesterday. Looked like he was getting along pretty well. Said his rheumatism wasn’t bothering him nearly so much.” Charlie was one of Abrianna’s “lost souls,” and on Sundays he usually met up with the ladies somewhere along the way home from church. Abrianna always brought a little paper-wrapped bundle of food to give him.
    Wade admired her heart. She cared for the souls that no one else seemed to even notice. She met them on their level, despite the unconventional situation it created. She didn’t ask permission of anyone. She never had. She had been doing this since they’d been young and often convinced Wade to join her on her exploits. But today Charlie was absent.
    Mrs. Madison pointed toward the Madison Building and smiled. “Don’t you think it looks beautiful on this bright day?”
    â€œI do, Mrs. Madison. It looks very nice.” He knew she desired such a response, and Wade didn’t mind offering it. Indeed, today the edifice of brick and wood did look quite regal amidst the neighboring structures. They made their way across the street, careful to avoid a passing carriage.
    This had become their Sunday routine. Wade would rise early, eat a light breakfast, dress in his best clothes, and arrive at the bridal school by eight-thirty. He would walk the ladies to church, sit apart from them in order to observe propriety, and then walk them home at noon.
    Mrs. Madison insisted that for such gallantry, Wade should stay and partake of the Sunday meal. He couldn’t refuse the delicious food created not only by the young ladies training to be brides, but also by the older ladies themselves and Liang, who was becoming a good cook in her own right.
    Most of the meal was prepared Saturday evening, but Liang would finish up on Sunday if there was anything left to do. Mrs. Madison kept the Chinese girl hidden behind the doors of the school, lest any Anti-Chinese League member tried to force Liang to leave Seattle. The ladies thought this choice their only wise one, but with Liang unable to attend church, they saw to her spiritual feeding. Abrianna had told him more than once that her aunts preached longer sermons than the pastor did at their church.
    Wade couldn’t help but smile at the comparison. Abrianna was given to exaggeration, but this time he had a feeling she had merely related the facts as they were.
    â€œI believe, ladies, that if it is this