Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #9)(35)

He smiled at her. She knew. There was a reason she had taken him, shown him and told him. Because his was also the people’s work. What she didn’t know was that his father was a wealthy, somewhat famous televangelist, who made a lot of noise about helping the needy and yet had never managed to get his hands dirty. He consorted mainly with rich people. In his stable of friends were politicians, government honchos, police officials, philanthropists. Anyone who could protect him in the clinches and make him richer.

In Noah’s stable of friends, so far, there was a bartender, a stripper, a cook and a midwife.

For the first time in a long time, the flavor of his life tasted good in his mouth.

Noah’s trip with Mel to the vagrants’ camp in the forest presented many possibilities to a man whose soul was fed when he could feed people. His visit to Grace Valley to spend some time with Harry Shipton, a heck of a nice fellow, had been likewise illuminating. They spent two hours together and Noah learned Harry was not just a Presbyterian minister, but also divorced and a recovering compulsive gambler. Even though he’d swindled some local friends, the whole town had welcomed him home after his treatment program. Here, in this little burg, Harry had found the truest sense of forgiveness and community.

Harry then gave Noah a tour of the town and lunch at the Grace Valley Café. Noah met Dr. June Hudson and her partner Dr. John Stone, and June’s father, the former town doctor, Elmer. He had an invitation from Elmer to go fishing and get an education about a few things those Virgin River men didn’t know and couldn’t learn. “No matter what they say, I’ve always outfished them. Bunch of liars, that’s what they are,” Elmer told him.

Grace Valley was a precious little town of quaint clapboard houses and delightful people, but when he’d brought up the subject of rural poverty, June and Harry had been quick to fill him in, in detail, about their special cases. On the surface, some of these mountain towns looked to be thriving and healthy, but there was an underside, hidden in the trees, of both marijuana growers laying low under the law and impoverished families that June, John, Harry and a few others tried to look after.

A few days later when Mel Sheridan pulled into the vagrants’ camp, Noah was seated around a weak fire with the boys, Bible in hand. Four of them sat on overturned buckets and there was a stack of army blankets beside one of them.

“Well,” Mel said, approaching. “Didn’t take you long to make yourself at home.”

“We were just talking about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane,” he said, standing. “These guys aren’t the first in history to look for answers in solitude. So—what’s in your pantry today?” he asked with a smile.

Six

Noah had a couple of phone calls to make that he’d been putting off for more than a week. Mrs. Hatchet and Mrs. Nagel. He had to tell them he’d hired someone and thank them for their interest in the job. Mrs. Hatchet said, “Yes, I know. It’s all around that you hired some pretty young thing.”

“As it happens, she is both pretty and young, but she was hired because she has office experience and is capable of helping with the heavy work that has to be done around here. I’m sorry it didn’t work out, Mrs. Hatchet, and I’m very glad I got to meet you. And I’ll look forward to seeing you again.”

She merely grunted and hung up.

“Mrs. Nagel,” he said when he called the next woman. “Reverend Kincaid here. I just wanted to let you know that I—”

“Hired that young slut,” she snapped into the phone.

“Excuse me?” he said, shocked and affronted.

“I’m glad I’m not going to work for you if that’s the kind of man you are!”

“I see,” he said calmly. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

She gave a derisive snort before disconnecting without saying goodbye. “Whew, dodged a bullet there,” he muttered into a dead phone.

Noah spent the next week door-knocking in the more rural areas of Virgin River, introducing himself and inviting people to a church that would be refurbished and open for business in a couple of months. He’d also been to Valley Hospital twice. He was now known among the volunteer women and before he even asked, he was directed to a patient who had had no visitors. While he carried a Bible and introduced himself as Reverend Noah Kincaid, he wasn’t there to pray or preach unless asked. All he did was visit. He sympathized, comforted, consoled. He also laughed, shared favorite jokes, straightened linens, fluffed pillows and even gave assistance to the bathroom.

Merry had died at home, in his care. During her brief illness and chemotherapy he’d spent countless hours at the hospital. While she was reading or dozing as the chemo IV or transfusion was running, he’d make the rounds and visit with staff, patients and gathering families. He hadn’t even realized he’d found a mission there. But people welcomed his friendliness and it filled a place in him. It fulfilled him.

On his way back to Virgin River, he visited the nursing home where Salvatore Salentino was living. When he stood in the doorway, the old man said, “Well, here you are again. I guess you won’t give up till you convert me.”

Meanwhile, Ellie and Lucy were making progress on the cleaning and painting. Ellie had finished two bathrooms and was getting to work on the kitchen. And Lucy, for all her infirmity, was getting up and down the steps like a pup…and following Ellie everywhere.