Chapter 4

Isabelle entered the newly finished church. It was dim, quiet; the perfect place for Isabelle to sit and reflect on the past few days. She slid into a small pew near the back, staring up to the altar. The candles gave the room a serene look. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she did so.

"To what do I owe the pleasure," a deep, peaceful voice asked from behind her.

Startled, Isabelle stood and turned toward the voice. A gruff looking priest with soulful eyes was smiling at her. He looked like an animal dressed in men's clothing, but was civilized in some sense of the word. Isabelle could tell that she and this man could become friends.

"Hello, father." She bowed her head in reverence.

"I haven't been called father in some time." He motioned for her to resume her seat. She did as he suggested and scooted over for the man to join her. "My name is Josiah Sanchez. And I'm not quite a priest." He sighed and took a swig out of the jug in his hand that had gone unnoticed by Isabelle. "What brings you into my sanctuary to the Lord?"

"Spiritual guidance." Isabelle returned her gaze to the front of the church. "I take it you prefer Josiah?"

The man laughed heartily. "What I'm called shouldn't matter; it's what I do and say that should be the important thing." He eyed her questioningly. "I find it hard to believe that a woman with such a beautiful and calm exterior could be so spiritually disturbed."

Isabelle chuckled too. "Well, Josiah." She punctuated his name with an eyebrow raise. "I'm not a very wholesome person."

It was Josiah's turn for an eyebrow raise. "I find that very hard to believe."

Isabelle smiled at the man. "Despite the image, my personality is a little lacking." She sighed and rubbed her hands on her skirt. "I'm a liar and a thief."

"Oh?" Josiah took another swig and looked down at his jug. "Are you a drinker too?" He handed it to her.

Isabelle wrinkled her nose, her thoughts turning briefly to the headache that overpowered her earlier. "I'm a reformed drinker." She handed the jug back to him.

Josiah laughed again and accepted his drink with a hearty chug. "Two out of three isn't bad."

Isabelle's huge smile reappeared. "Well, it's nice to know someone approves." Isabelle thought back to Vin and the look on his face when he said the word liar. She immediately saddened. "I need the kind of help only the Lord can provide."

Josiah sighed and placed the jug on the floor. "So this is serious." He turned his attention to her immediately. "Please." He motioned for her to continue.

"The truth is," she sighed and paused. She began much quieter. "The truth is I lie to men and then steal what I want from them."

Josiah sat there in the dark quiet of the church, as if digesting what the girl had said. Then he laughed. "My dear, that's what all women do."

Isabelle looked up in shock; then realizing the comedy in his comment, she smiled in return. "Not exactly. You see, I see a man. I don't like said man. I like said man's horse slash carriage slash gun collection slash etcetera. I take advantage of said man's natural attraction to a pretty young blond. I promise countless things said man asks for in return for the item of my desire. I run off with said item, never to see said man again."

Josiah nodded. "Coveting thy neighbor's possessions is breaking one of the ten commandments."

Isabelle sighed and stood up. She walked to the altar and looked up at the nearby crucifix. Then she returned her attention to Josiah. "I only do it to better my situation. For example, when I was eight, I promised the boy next door I'd play with him and only him for a year if he let me ride his pony for an hour. After a week of spending time with only him, I got tired of the games and went to play with a brother and sister who lived down the lane." She shrugged. "Since we were only little kids, Joey didn't mind much." She looked sheepish. "At least not until we were 16 and I promised to marry him in return for letting me keep his carriage." She frowned and bit her lower lip. "He was none too happy when I returned the carriage a month later and broke our engagement."

"Well, naturally. When a man thinks he's earned the love a beautiful, decent woman, he is not too happy to lose it." Josiah stood up slowly and approached her. He looked into her eyes. "How can a little angel like you be so deceitful?"

Isabelle squirmed uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the priest. "I was young and foolish. I didn't know any better. And with the exception of Mr. Connelly and the promise of being his slave girl for the use of his horse, I haven't done it in a long time." Isabelle suddenly felt ashamed of herself. "And as for love, I've never loved anyone. I said I'd marry or engage myself to a man; not love him." She turned and crossed her arms across her chest.

"To most men, they are the same thing." Josiah sat on the table at the front of the church. "Prior to this latest episode, when was the last time you used yourself to gain?"

"Well, prior to leaving Connecticut a few days ago, and the Mr. Connelly incident two days ago, not for years."

"What do you mean, prior to leaving Connecticut?" Josiah looked as if he was afraid of the answer.

Isabelle's face turned red in embarrassment. "Joey."

"You promised that poor boy something else?" Josiah was beginning to think it wasn't Isabelle's fault she could get away with selling herself in deals when men were dumb enough to take her up on them three times.

"My parents had just passed away." Isabelle's eyes filled with tears. "My ma said she wanted nothing more than for me to settle down with a nice man who could look after me. She told me that on her death bed." Isabelle sniffled. "I knew she was talking about Joey; they'd always liked him and he was fit to take care of a wife and family. I knew it was about time for me to settle down anyway; stop the drinking and the gallivanting in the nights. Joey wasn't the man I loved, but I thought I could make it work. I went to him after the funeral. He didn't trust me; I never gave him any reason to. He told me he was sorry for my loss and that my folks were the nicest people ever. I nodded and looked him straight in the eyes and asked him to marry me." Isabelle sighed and felt her knees start to go a little weak. She grasped the back of the pew nearest herself to remain steady. "He laughed in my face, asked me how I could expect him to believe me after I ran out on our engagement two years ago. I didn't have an answer. I just told him my parents wanted me to settle down and that they always respected him, so I thought it was fitting to at least ask." Isabelle's knees gave out and she fell onto the pew, sobbing.

Josiah raced closer to her and put a steadying hand on her back. He noticed her eyes were closed, most likely in concentration to keep herself from falling farther. "Please, go on."

Isabelle wiped her face of tears and took a few calming breaths. "Joey felt sorry for me because of my recent loss. But mostly he loved me, and always had. He agreed to marry me, for good this time." Isabelle's eyes fell open and she was instantly seeking something in Josiah. "I had no intention of running; I got scared because I knew I could never love him like he loved me. But mostly, I left because I found out my parents wanted me to come live here with Mary. A fresh start, who wouldn't want that?"

"A clean slate is a most welcome thing." Josiah was beginning to understand the girl a little better. "You must understand that by running, you were giving Joey a second chance as well." He noticed her looking at him questioningly. "He deserves someone who loves him as his wife, and by leaving Connecticut, you were giving him the chance to find someone who did."

Isabelle sniffled again. "You really think I did a good thing, leaving him like I did? Breaking his heart again?"

Josiah sighed. "I think by this time, he knew what he was getting into."

Isabelle laughed and stopped her crying. "Maybe you're right, Josiah. I just feel so awful. I really had every intention of going through with it this time. It's just…" Her voice drifted off as she looked out the window, a small smile playing at her lips and her eyes softening instantly.

Josiah recognized the look and glanced out the window to see what she saw. There was nothing out there but Clarion's empty streets. He returned his gaze to her, noting the look of love was still on her features. "It's just what, miss?"

Still gazing out the window in a daze, she continued. "It's just that, as I was cleaning out my mother's old writing desk, I found some letters from my sister. They were full of information about my little nephew, Billy, and my late brother-in-law's father. And there were these amazing stories about seven spectacular men. And one of them in particular stole my heart." She returned her attention to Josiah. "That's why I left Joey. I realized I wanted something else, someone else. And since my parents wanted me to come to Mary anyway, it just seemed right to tell him that rather than break his heart again."

Josiah was astonished. This young girl who used love like a bartering chip had found it through letters? The Lord did work in mysterious ways. And by the sounds of it, she was in love with one of his six comrades. He suddenly found himself wanting to know which one. "Does this man return your sentiments?"

Isabelle chuckled, the redness almost all gone from her features. "I think he barely knows I exist." She stood and held her hands out to Josiah. "And don't think of asking who he is. I know he's a close friend of yours and I'll never give up that secret to anyone." Her smile returned.

Josiah accepted her outstretched hands. He smiled down at her. "Well, if that little secret can keep you looking that radiant, by all means, keep it between yourself and God."

Isabelle squeezed his hands. "Thank you, Josiah. For listening and helping."

"It was my pleasure. Feel free to return at any time. The doors are always open to the troubled."

Isabelle stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "I appreciate that. And I may be in here quite often with that attitude." And with that, and feeling imminently better, Isabelle Manning left the quiet of the church and re-entered the midday bustle of Clarion.

A/N: Fun, fun. Josiah is a good man…I hope Isabelle seems a little more human now. I worked on this chapter at 5 in the morning, so I hope it flows ok. R/R!!!!