The Confession

It was Sunday morning and time for church. Allie put on her best dress, which was saved only for church and special occasions. She tied her hair back with a light blue ribbon that matched her dress perfectly. She even managed to get into her new corset by herself.

The scents of bacon and sausage could be smelled throughout the row houses. People were rushing around to get their chores done before church. Nathan made his rounds a little early, so he could be back in time to walk to services with Allie. The Canfield family was already at church, and Angela was going to play the piano there for the first time. Minnie would sing a solo, and she and Angela had practiced all week until it was perfect. Joseph was reviewing his sermon one last time as parishioners started arriving. Cooper had his own job to do at church. He would ring the bell, or as his father liked to say, the bell would pick him up and ring itself.

"Allie, are you ready? We need to leave if we're going to get to church on time."

Allie came down the stairs, and Nathan noticed for the first time that she looked so grown up in her Sunday best. She was not too lively this morning, but Nathan didn't think much about it.

"I'm ready. Let's go, Uncle Nathan."

Angela was already playing the piano when Nathan and Allie arrived. Angela favored hymns written by Fanny Crosby, an American mission worker and lyricist, who, like Angela, became blind at a very young age. Her first hymn was, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus."

Most of Hope Valley had come out today for Joseph's first official service as the church pastor. There weren't many seats left, so Allie and Nathan sat toward the back. Joseph welcomed everyone, and Minnie sang her solo, another Fanny Crosby composition, "Blessed Assurance."

The church was quiet as Joseph began his sermon, "The Power of Confession." Allie couldn't believe what she just heard. She swallowed hard and sunk low in her pew. Joseph read the scripture selections first.

"James, Chapter 5, Verse 16, Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. John, Chapter 1, Verse 9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness, and Proverbs, Chapter 28, Verse 13, Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them and finds mercy."

The sermon was a blur for Allie. She wondered what Angela was thinking. She knew that they had made the right decision to confess after church. Allie thought Nathan might go easier on her then.

Angela played the closing hymn, and everyone sang, "Onward Christian Soldiers." Joseph walked to the back of the church before the hymn ended, so he could personally greet everyone as they left. Since Allie and Nathan were seated in the back, they were among the first to see Joseph.

"Nathan, Allie, nice to see you. Thank you for coming this morning," said Joseph. Allie just simply smiled.

"Uncle Nathan, could we wait outside for Angela and Mr. and Mrs. Canfield?"

"Aren't you and Angela going to collect your leaves this afternoon?"

"Well, yes, but, um, I want to talk, I mean, Angela and I want to talk to the three of you. It's kind of important."

"Sure. Is anything wrong?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe. I think it was all that talk of confession. I really have to tell you something, but Angela and Mr. and Mrs. Canfield have to be here too."

"OK, Allie. We'll wait over there under the trees for them. Joseph may be a while talking to folks."

"That's OK. I can wait."

Nathan was right. The Canfields were the last to leave the church. Angela called to Allie to make sure she was still there. "We're over here Angela." Nathan and Allie walked to the steps of the church.

"Allie, Nathan, what's going on?" asked Joseph.

"Mr. and Mrs. Canfield, Angela and I have to tell you and Uncle Nathan something. I think it might be important."

"Why don't we go back in the church. Everyone has gone, and we can have some privacy. Please come in. Cooper, why don't you walk back home with the other boys. We'll be along directly," said Joseph.

Cooper left, and Joseph shut the door. They all took seats at the front of the church.

"Girls, what do you have to tell us?" asked Nathan.

"Well, it's really me that has to tell you something. Angela didn't do anything wrong. It's all my fault."

"Allie, you don't have to take the blame," said Angela.

"Yes. Yes, I do. It was my fault. Angela said we shouldn't go, and I talked her into it."

"What is it, Allie? Where did you go?" asked Minnie.

"Promise you won't say anything until I'm done. I'm very nervous." Everyone nodded in agreement. "Yesterday, Angela and I had to collect leaf samples for a school assignment. We have to collect and identify them. I told Uncle Nathan that the best trees were near your old cabin. When I told him we were going there, he told me not to. He said that Mr. Walden owned the property now, and he wouldn't like us trespassing, even if it was for a school project. Uncle Nathan said we should go behind the school, and we could find all the leaves we needed. I thought it would take too long, because the trees aren't as close together and there aren't as many varieties. So, instead, we went to the cabin anyway. Angela said we shouldn't do it. She knew we were going in the wrong direction by the feel of the sun on her face. I told her it would be OK, and we could get back in less than two hours. She didn't want to do it. Honest. It was me. Anyway, we got to the cabin, and we were behind some brush. We heard knocking on the cabin door. It was Mr. Spurlock. Mr. Walden was inside. He told Mr. Spurlock to shut the door. We heard everything they said, because they left the window open. Mr. Walden was mad that it took Mr. Spurlock so long to get back to the cabin. Mr. Spurlock said he went to see the boss and gave him the note from Mr. Walden. Mr. Spurlock said he started to ride back, but the weather was bad, so he took shelter instead. Mr. Walden was really mad at him and told him so. Anyway, I think Mr. Spurlock gave him something and whatever it was, it had $100 in it. He said it was a down payment. Mr. Walden got mad again and said he was expecting a bank draft for the full amount. Mr. Spurlock told him that the boss would be in Hope Valley next week to talk to Mr. Walden about the deal."

"Allie, are you sure about this? Did you hear anything else?" asked Nathan.

"Those men didn't hurt you, did they?" asked Minnie.

"No. No mama. That's when they heard us. We were trying to leave, and Allie's boot got caught, and we both fell down. We didn't get hurt, mama. Mr. Spurlock heard us though. He came outside and wanted to know who was there. I smiled, even though I was scared. I told him the truth. We came there to collect leaves for our school project. He was mad though. He asked us if we heard anything. I told him that we had just gotten there. I know that was a lie. He told us to get out and never to come back. Mama, we couldn't move for a second, but he yelled again, and we turned around and walked fast and went straight home."

"Those two men are trouble, Nathan. What are we going to do?" asked Minnie.

"First, we're going to deal with your disobedience, Allie. I'm surprised at you. Didn't I just tell you yesterday that I trusted you?" asked Nathan.

"I know, Uncle Nathan. I'm so sorry. You can punish me any way you want, and I won't complain one single bit. I deserve it. We were going to confess after church. Mr. Canfield, of all the sermons you could have given, why did you have to talk about confession today?"

"Hmm. Allie, I seem to recall some of your confession coming straight out of Anne of Green Gables. I read that book too you know," said Minnie.

"Are the two of you feeling a little guilty then?" asked Joseph. "You did the right thing telling us. I'm sure it must have been very hard for both of you. Nathan, Minnie, what would be a proper punishment for them?"

"Well, I think since they did confess, we might be able to let them up easy this time. I'm sure they have felt bad enough since yesterday afternoon. My recommendation would be, as your town Constable, that you both go behind the church now and collect your leaf samples, go home, have your Sunday dinner and then spend the afternoon working on your project. How does that sound?"

"I think Minnie and I could agree to that, Nathan."

Allie and Angela felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off their shoulders.

"Angela, let's go before they change their minds."

"Just a minute, girls," said Nathan. "You need to promise us that you will never go back to the cabin again. I mean it. You heard Mr. Walden and Mr. Spurlock. Do you think they're nice people?" Nathan looked at Joseph. "I'm sorry, Joseph. I know we just finished church, and I should be more charitable."

"No, I want Angela and Allie to be safe. That's more important than being charitable right now. I think they can save their charity for someone they can have a positive impact on. That may not be Mr. Spurlock and Mr. Walden," said Joseph.

"Go ahead. Go find your leaves, and both of you need to come back home when you're finished. What time are you having dinner, Minnie?" asked Nathan.

"Actually, we're not eating until 2 o'clock. Why don't you and Allie come over for dinner? We have plenty, and the girls can work on their project together, where we can keep an eye on them."

"Uncle Nathan, can we?"

"Yes, we'd like that very much," said Nathan. "Thank you. Now, go find your leaves, and I'll meet you at the Canfield's house. I think we're finished here."

Allie and Angela grabbed each other's arms as they usually do and went off on their adventure. As soon as they were out of sight Joseph asked, "Nathan, is there something going on at that cabin with Spurlock and Walden? They shouldn't have spoken to the girls like that."

"I'm afraid there may be. We have to keep this just among us." Minnie and Joseph both nodded in agreement. "Bill and I have been making inquiries about all the land purchases and transfers. There have been quite a few of them. We haven't found anything criminal, but I am concerned about what the girls just told us. I think it's just what I suspected. Walden is the front man for someone else with deep pockets. I'm only telling you this, because the girls were out there. I don't want Walden and Spurlock bothering them, especially if they think they may have heard something. Just keep an eye on Angela. In fact, if you wouldn't mind, Joseph, would you go out and tell them you're going to give them a hand collecting leaves? I'll go over to the café to let Bill know what happened."

"Good idea, Nathan. Minnie and I will see you at the house around 2 o'clock. Thank you, Nathan."

"I'll see you later, and thank you both," said Nathan.