January 6
"So, have you heard?" Florence hissed into her teacup as the four of them, Dottie, Florence, Molly, and Rosemary, were enjoying a luxurious afternoon tea at Abigail's cafe.
"Heard what?" Dottie arched an eyebrow as she lifted her teacup to her lips, her pinkie poised in mid-air.
Florence leaned across the table so far she was practically stealing all of Rosemary's air. "The news about Henry."
"Henry?" Rosemary struggled not to spit out her tea in surprise. She swallowed. "As in Henry Gowen? Our ex-mayor?"
That was a name she didn't expect to hear in their daily gossip. He'd been sent to prison last year for bribery and obstruction of justice. Yes, he was the town hoodlum, but she saw just a glimmer of hope that he might be softening when he stood in front of the awful Ray Wyatt to shield Bill from taking a bullet. He'd done other things to show a change of heart as well. And she wasn't the only one who saw hints of his altered attitude. Abigail had too.
"The one and the same." Florence nodded, causing the bright yellow decorative bird pinned to her big violet hat to bobble up and down.
"Whatever could he want?" Dottie grimaced. "I was hopeful we saw the last of that despicable man."
"Rumor has it," Florence continued, "he returned recently, perhaps even over the holiday. So far no one has spoke to him, but the blacksmith said he spotted someone looking identical to Henry Gowen sneaking into the abandoned McCoy's place out by the mine."
Rosemary bit the edge of her nail. Henry Gowen, back in town? She wasn't sure what to feel or think about that. One thing was for sure, Lee wouldn't like it one bit.
"Imagine! Henry Gowen back in Hope Valley!" Dottie's face held a disgusted look as if she truly would spit out her tea any second. Rosemary hoped not, for she was sitting directly across Dottie.
"Perhaps he's ready to turn over a new leaf." Molly's innocent voice weighed in from beside her. Florence and Dottie glared at her in disbelief while Rosemary weighed the mystery in her mind.
"I wonder what he's come back for?" She imagined that perhaps he had left a valuable, or a sack of gold buried somewhere. That would be the only thing Gowen would return for, wouldn't it? Or what else?
"Who knows, but all I can say is good riddance. I would keep my eye out for that rat." Dottie sat up straighter in her chair.
Oh, Dottie was usually a forgiving and loving type of person, but she had good reason for holding onto a grudge. Her husband had lost his life in some kind of plot that the whole town was convinced involved Henry. But she wasn't the only one nursing a grudge against the "rat". Rosemary herself was about the only one walking around town not affected by the loss of someone she loved because of the conman. Oh, she and Lee had lost plenty of money and business because of the old miser, but the mining incident happened before her and Lee's arrival into town. She shuddered just thinking about how horrible it would be to have lost the love of her life in a scandal led by the seemingly heartless Gowen. Yes, it would take a miracle for Hope Valley to forgive him. Still, like Molly said, perhaps he desired a second chance? Perhaps the old goat was truly having a change of heart. But would Hope Valley give it to him? Rosemary turned her attention back to the ladies at the table.
"All I can say is keep your loved ones close and your valuables even closer." Florence gripped her satchel to her chest to emphasize the point.
Molly shifted uncomfortably. As usual, she did not appear comfortable in sharing in their dark gossip.
"Let's change the subject shall we?" Her soft voice barely reached Rosemary's ears.
"Only if you insist, dear." Florence did not look too pleased to be dismissed of her gossip. For a minute they were all silent, sipping their tea.
Florence must have gotten over the offense, for she was the first to look up over her cup, and speak again. "I hear we will be having a Valentine's dance this year for the first time in Hope Valley."
So she had another juicy tidbit of gossip. But this was one Rosemary already knew. She had mentioned her idea to Elizabeth and Abigail weeks ago at the Hope Valley Event & Planning Meeting at Elizabeth's house. My, the walls must be paper thin for Florence to have overheard that!
Molly absently ran her finger over the rim of her teacup. "Oh, if only I could get that handsome doctor to take me for a spin on the dance floor."
All eyes landed on Molly and she shrugged. "What? I know things didn't exactly start off with a spark, but I can't help if I still fancy the doctor, can I?"
Rosemary had known about Molly's interest in the dear doctor, but had yet to set them up. Perhaps… no, after the way Doc Carson had scolded her after her last matchmaking attempt, she wasn't sure she would be ready to give it a go…just yet.
"What about if we get you a date with the new pastor?" Florence wiggled her eyebrows in Molly's direction.
All three heads snapped toward Florence.
"Oh Florence, what a horrible thing to say. Pastor Frank is already going steady with Abigail. You know that." Dottie looked more disgruntled than usual today.
"Oh silly, I know that. The rumor is—" Florence looked around the room and lowered her voice, "that Pastor Frank will soon be replaced. Yes, the Board of Clergymen of Western Canada, have already met and have decided to dismiss him from his pastoral duties due to some interesting and scandalous items coming up from his past."
"Florence, it will not do to gossip about our pastor." Dottie sternly shifted in her seat.
"Oh Dottie, I am not gossiping. These are real facts." Florence retorted.
"And how, pray tell, did you acquire these facts, Flo?" Rosemary leaned across the table. She, like Dottie, had a hard time entertaining gossip about their dear Pastor. Never once had he shown he could not be trusted. In fact, Pastor Frank had done more for their community than she had ever experienced of a clergyman anywhere else, and she sure had seen a variety churches in an assortment of cities. She had never come across a Pastor, a church for that matter, like the one in Hope Valley. It was a place where they all were welcomed. They all fit, all belonged. The truth was taught there. No, there couldn't possibly be an ounce of legitimacy to what Florence said.
"I get my facts from the most reputable of sources." Florence crossed her arms. "All the pieces of the puzzle fit, trust me. You do remember the mention of his time in prison, don't you?" Florence questioned the group.
Oh, dear, Rosemary had forgotten that little crumb of doubt that was planted in their hearts. It was true their Pastor had served time in the Granville Penitentiary. For what reason, or for how long, no one was sure.
"That was a long time ago, Florence. Everyone deserves a second chance." Molly piped in from Rosemary's side.
"And since his arrival, he hasn't given us any reason to doubt him." Dottie's voice of reason sounded from across the table.
Florence shrugged. "I'm just telling you what I heard. Sooner or later we will have to accept the facts."
"So if this is true, and that is a big if, will there truly be a new pastor? When would he arrive?" Molly voiced the questions Rosemary had running through her mind as well.
Florence cleared her throat, making them wait a minute, as was her intent. "My source says they will just introduce him as a intern pastor, who needs a small church to practice for before heading back East. But—" her eyebrows danced up and down, "us four—" she motioned to them sitting there, "will know the truth. It is no more an internship than Dottie's a day under 35!"
"Really, Florence! I have had about all I can handle of this conversation." Dottie stood up and placed her napkin on the table. "Good day." She proceeded to walk out the front of the door. She had already appeared to be in a bad mood prior to their gossip session. Rosemary would pay her a visit later to figure out what had brought on this rare showcase of emotions.
"Goodness, I didn't realize she would get all in a huff. Was it something I said?" Florence truly looked clueless. Rosemary and Molly rolled their eyes simultaneously.
"You do lack tact, Florence. But back to the conversation at hand—If it is true, who's the replacement?" Surely she could get Florence to spill the beans.
"I know nothing of him except he will be a young one, and if we are lucky, handsome. He'll come under the guise of just being an intern with the intent of going back East, but we'll convince him to stay here. Perhaps one of us could even snag the fellow as a husband." Florence giggled into her teacup.
Yes, Florence always had a thing for men of the cloth. But after that last disaster with the fake "Pastor Hogan", one would think she would be a mite more careful.
Rosemary suddenly felt as if she couldn't breathe for all the gossip flowing around her. She had her bonnet full of news and that was enough for now. Perhaps she would go for a walk around town. Maybe it would help clear her mind.