and pinching her cheeks until they were a deep, rosy pink. Smoothing her hands down the front of her dress, she stepped into the hall and made her way to the drawing room at the front of the house. Already she could hear Hetty’s loud, booming voice and winced, hoping the preacher would not be put off by her sister’s strange ways. A few moments later, she entered the room, pausing in the doorway and allowing herself a final moment to collect her thoughts.
But then Hetty turned around and Charity’s thoughts were no longer her own.
“Here’s Charity now,” she said. “Reverend Howe, this here’s my sister, Charity Doone.”
Charity curtsied. “Reverend Howe, it is an honor, I’m sure.”
To say Randall was stunned would be putting it mildly. He kept staring from Hetty, to Charity, and back again.
When he could speak, the best he could say was, “You don’t look anything alike.”
Hetty snorted. Charity blushed. At four inches over five feet tall, and with her baby doll face and womanly shape, she was the antithesis of Mehitable Doone.
“Same sire, different dams,” Hetty said.
It took Randall a moment to decipher the animal references to their parentage. Finally he deduced that they’d had the same father, but different mothers.
“It’s a pleasure to be here. I hope I can be of some service,” Randall said.
Impulsively, Charity reached for his hand. “Oh yes, Reverend, you certainly can! I have been suffering these many months now, puzzling to discern the message God has been sending me. I know you will have the answers I need.”
Randall nodded, trying to concentrate on something beside the softness of her skin and the length of her lashes.
“It has been difficult trying to live with all this confusion. I long to soothe the ravages of my soul,” she murmured, blessing him with a bashful smile.
He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Ravages of her soul, indeed. If this fine figure of a woman became a nun, it would be the greatest waste of femininity ever known to man.
He patted her hand and then took a step back, hoping to maintain a proper distance between them. Yet even after she’d moved away, he could still feel her touch—hear her voice—even smell the scent of verbena on her person. She was woman personified. But a nun? He thought not and cleared his throat.
“Sometimes we misinterpret God’s messages.”
Hetty laughed out loud. “That’s what I been a’tellin’ her all along. I ain’t never heard tell of anyone becoming a nun after dreaming they was naked.”
Randall’s mouth dropped.
Charity glared at her sister, the flush high on her face. “You hush now, Sister. I won’t be made fun of.”
“Is this true?” Randall asked.
Charity shrugged. “Only in a manner of speaking.”
“You dreamed you were naked?”
Her lower lip jutted, not enough for a pout, just enough to show her disapproval. “Well… yes.”
“And this was the sign that said you must be a nun?”
“It’s a bit more involved than that,” Charity said.
Randall smiled benevolently because he couldn’t think of a single comment that wouldn’t be misconstrued.
“You know,” he said. “It’s been a long trip. If you would be so kind as to show me to my room, I’d like to rest before my sermon.”
“Shore,” Hetty said. “Charity, you show him the way. I got things to do.”
Charity smiled, pleased she would have the preacher all to herself. She could explain about her dream. Then he would understand.
Randall grabbed his bag and started to follow the want-a-be nun when he remembered something he’d been going to ask.
“Oh Hetty, I forgot to ask you something.”
She was already buckling on a gun and holster and swapping hats.
“Like what?” she asked.
“What time did you schedule my sermon?”
“Ask Charity, she’s the one who’s in charge of all that. All I did was promise to pick you up at the station. You and Sister Bare Ass there are on your own.”
She strode out the door, ignoring Charity’s indignant glare and leaving the unlikely duo alone. Randall licked his lips and then turned.
“My sermon,” he prompted. “What time?”
Charity beamed. “Why, you’re giving it tonight, under a full moon.”
The benches were full to overflowing as Randall gazed out across his new congregation. He would have been disappointed to know that they’d come out of curiosity, more than a desire to be saved. Life was difficult enough out here without worrying about a few measly sins. A couple of torches had been stuck into the ground on either side of his pulpit. Their fires burned hot,