Painted Vessels

by Gina Renee Freitag

  “If you spent as much time carving those doll heads as you do staring at their model, you might make enough to last until the end of summer,” Hattie teased with a chuckle. Ada glanced up and caught Eli’s blush. He grinned at her and winked.

  “You can’t rush perfection, Hattie,” he teased back.

  “Ooh… Rosa!” Hattie called out. “I think we need to make some humble pie for supper.”

  Jed laughed at the woman’s remark and suggested giving Eli a double helping. The rest of the merchants joined in the light bantering as the women pulled out supplies to make their evening meal. Ada smiled as she handed the baby back to Goldie and helped with supper preparations. Eli returned to his task while he still had sunlight. Throughout the evening, however, he managed to steal small glimpses of his wife without anyone else noticing.

  ADA

  The low candlelight cast long shadows in the dark room. As Ada brushed her hair for the night, Eli watched. He was lying on their bed with his chin in his hands, most likely remembering the time he cut off her braid. That was over eight years ago, and she still wasn’t sure if it had happened in April or May. She did know, however, that tonight was an extremely dry September evening, the kind of dry that made her skin feel tight. It had been more so than normal all summer long. Even the spring brought less rain than usual.

  The arid weather was difficult on the farmers, who had to work harder to irrigate their fields; but it was good for Laura and Jacob, who had been blessed with a clear May sky on the day of their wedding. True to her word, Edith Taylor made sure the Gardners never received an invitation, even if Laura had written one. Ada shed a few tears on her birthday, partly in joy for the young couple, but mostly for having to miss their wedding.

  She set her brush down and rubbed some lotion into her hands and face.

  “Ready for bed?” Eli asked as he spun around and bounced under the covers. Ada went to her side of the bed and climbed in. As soon as Eli blew out the candle and leaned in to kiss her, Ada noticed something wasn’t right about the darkness. An odd glow flickered outside the window, filling her with hollow dread.

  “Eli.” She halted his advance, nodding toward the window.

  “Yeah, I see it,” he said. He hopped out of bed, walked to the glass, and peeked out. “It’s the Webers’ barn! It’s on fire!”

  He sprinted to the back door. Ada followed, throwing a shawl over her shoulders. Eli stepped into his shoes and grabbed a bucket from the back steps. As they ran toward the Webers’ barn, Hannah rushed out of her house, holding a bucket of her own.

  “Isaac’s in there!” she cried. Eli ran faster, and as he got to the wide door, Isaac limped out on an injured foot. He grasped onto his friend for support.

  “Darn loft ladder! I should have fixed that loose rung.” Isaac rubbed his head. “I think I blacked out for a minute and knocked over the lantern.”

  Ada reached them and grabbed the bucket out of Eli’s hand. Hannah was already at the water pump filling hers. The horses whinnied hysterically as Eli ran into the smoke to free them. Isaac hobbled after him, despite his wife’s protests.

  The fire was spreading quickly. As Ada threw one bucket after another onto it, she doubted the building could be saved. She didn’t like how long it was taking to free the animals. Eventually, first the horses and then the men stumbled out of the barn. Isaac carried two more buckets. As they rushed to the pump, Ada’s eyes drifted upwards, following the red glowing embers that lifted with the wind.

  “Ada, the bell pole—go ring the bell!” Eli shouted as he took one of the buckets from Isaac. She nodded, dropped her bucket, and ran toward the direction of town.

  As she passed Evelyn’s house, the concerned elderly woman popped her head out the door. Ada quickly informed her of the fire. Minutes later, she reached the bell pole at the end of town and pulled on the rope. She was breathless, and her heart was pounding. The bell had been placed there for just this type of emergency. It echoed throughout the street, and soon people were rushing out of their homes, startled but alert. As Ada continued pulling the cord, she pointed up the road. “The Webers’ barn!” she gasped between breaths. “It’s on fire!”

  The townsfolk grabbed buckets and ran in the direction she was pointing. She saw the Duncans, the Martins, David, and Daniel. Even the Johnsons and the Taylors and the Blakes, along with many others, hurried down the street—all pulling together to help one of their neighbors. Ada continued to ring the bell for several minutes, then she ran back too.

  As she approached their property, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The chaos seemed to unfold in slow motion. The fire had spread to the Webers’ house and was burning out of control! There was a frantic commotion as men and women alike desperately threw buckets of water onto a lost cause. Isaac held back his panic-stricken wife as she shrieked negatives and pushed against him. Ada’s heart raced as her eyes skimmed over the scene in front of her. She felt a light touch on her elbow and spun around to look into the troubled faces of Evelyn and Grace.

  “Where’s Eli?” she asked in a low voice, her stomach twisting into a knot.

  “Ada, honey,” Evelyn shouted over the roar of the flames. “He ran into the fire to look for Noah.”

  ELI

  The air was thick with blinding smoke; the floor was the only thing Eli could see. He crouched low to the ground and felt along the wall as he made his way into Noah’s room, calling out for the boy. There was no reply. His skin felt as if it were burning under a scorching desert sun, and he imagined his sweat boiling away as soon as it hit the hot air. Before he ran into the house, he had taken off his shirt and plunged it into a bucket of water. Eli held it up to his face.

  “Noah! Where are you, little man?” he called out. The fire’s roar blotted out his words. His eyes stung and there was a bitter taste in his mouth. As he reached into the sweltering darkness, his hand bumped the edge of Noah’s bed. Eli threw the wet shirt over his shoulder and cried out again as he rushed forward and felt along the top of the mattress. Nothing.

  “Noah!” he yelled louder. The faintest whimper reached him. Eli swept his arms under the bed and felt the boy’s trembling fingers reaching back. He grabbed the tiny hands and pulled Noah into his lap as he leaned against the bed. The boy was crying and coughing.

  “Here, put this on your head,” he said as he spread his dampened shirt over the boy. “Breathe through this and hang on to me. We’re going to be okay, Noah.”

  Eli tried to recall the layout of the room. The darkness was disorienting, but he was sure there must be a window on the wall he was facing. He reached behind him and grabbed a pillow from the boy’s bed. Putting an arm around Noah, he pushed himself up. As he groped the air ahead of him, his hand hit the wall. He felt along its surface, relieved to find the window frame. He pushed the curtain aside and tried to open it, but it stuck.

  Noah clung to him as he placed the pillow against the window and punched through it. He swept the frame with the pillow, knocking the shards loose. Eli pushed the boy out the window and into someone’s receiving arms. As Noah was whisked away to safety, Eli climbed out, desperate to breathe fresh air.

  He coughed and wiped at his watering eyes as he stumbled forward. His arms were streaked with soot. And blood! He must have cut himself when he broke the window. Eli scanned his hand and arm but couldn’t find the wound under all the dirt and ashes. As he walked away from the searing heat, the commotion in front of him was a blur. The only thing he could see was Ada running toward him. She jumped into his arms, knocking him to one knee. He was exhausted and shaky, but he held onto her tightly. He pulled her hair to one side and looked over her shoulder as she pressed her face into his sooty cheek. Isaac and Hannah were doting over their son. Hannah smiled through tears and wiped at Noah’s face with her shawl. Isaac turned his eyes to Eli, and with arms grasping onto his family, he nodded his gratitude. Eli nodded back.

  MARCUS

  Two nights ago, the Webers’ house and barn bur
ned to the ground. Isaac was nursing an injured ankle and a mild concussion, while Noah and Eli, who suffered from smoke inhalation, were already beginning to feel better. Thankfully, these were minor injuries, but the property loss was devastating. Between smoke and fire damage, there was little that could be salvaged.

  Marcus would soon be meeting with a group of men at the church to discuss how to help the Webers in their time of need. First, he walked to the bank, hoping to catch David at his office and consult him on how much money Isaac would need to rebuild. The banker’s assessment would give the men a goal to reach for. When he arrived, David was stepping out of the building.

  “Hey there, Marcus,” he said. “I was just about to head over to the church, but I’m glad you came by. I need to talk with you.”

  “Perfect!” Marcus replied. “I was hoping you could give me a rough estimate on what the Webers will need to get back on their feet. I want to start a collection as soon as possible.”

  David nodded as Marcus explained the reason for his visit. Looking up and down the street, he opened the bank door and ushered Marcus in.

  “Let’s talk in my office,” he said.

  The conversation with David took longer than Marcus had expected, and now the two men were walking at a fast pace toward the church. He didn’t want the men to have to wait for long. This meeting was disrupting their workday, and it was a busy time of year.

  A dry heat lingered in the air. The church doors were propped open, and as he and David scaled the front stairs, Marcus heard a heated argument unfolding within. The voices belonged to John Miller and Eli Gardner. Eli should have been at home recovering; Marcus was surprised to find him there.

  “Listen,” John said with contempt in his voice, “The only way we’re going to help the Webers is if everyone in this room contributes monetarily. That means money, Eli. So stop complaining and start digging into your pockets.”

  “I’m just saying we need to wait for Marcus before discussing this,” Eli insisted. “You want to give that much, fine! But you can’t demand the same amount from the rest of the men here. Each man should decide on his own how he can best help Isaac.”

  “Okay,” John said as Marcus stepped through the door. “If every man here gave only a third of what I’m prepared to give, it would still help Isaac more than playing your ghee-tar while you saunter down the lane. If you worked half as hard as the rest of these men, you could give your neighbor some real help. Come on, Eli, you must have something hoarded away! I bet you have a tin can filled with a few coins buried in your yard somewhere. We live in a community. You’re the one who decided to move here and join the civilized world. It’s time to jump off the gypsy wagon and act like a man.”

  Eli took a step toward John, his fists clenched and jaw set. Marcus didn’t like where this confrontation was headed. John was sneering, and Eli looked ready to strike.

  “Hey,” Marcus said, stepping between them. “I called this meeting; I’ll be leading it. You both need to calm down.”

  The two continued to glare at each other over his shoulder. The other men stood by and watched as the silence clamored with a tension that wouldn’t be ignored.

  David grabbed onto Eli’s arm. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s stand over there.”

  Eli relented and allowed the banker to lead him to the far side of the sanctuary where they leaned against the wall. John snorted through his smirk and sat down.

  “All right, listen,” Marcus said, turning his attention to the entire group. “I appreciate that everyone wants to help, but money isn’t the issue. David just informed me that an anonymous donation has been given to Isaac. It’s more than enough to replace everything they’ve lost.”

  As Marcus explained this, the men turned their astonished faces to the banker and started murmuring. David confirmed the news with a slow nod. Eli peered at the ground, barely shaking his head. He crossed his arms and poked at the ground with the tip of his boot before finally turning his eyes to David as well.

  “What? Who—” John began.

  “He said anonymous,” David pointed out before he could finish.

  “Okay,” Marcus continued, “the Webers are staying with the Gardners, correct?” Eli nodded as his eyes drifted back to the ground, his jaw still clamped shut.

  “That sounds cozy,” John said under his breath.

  “So, lodging is taken care of,” Marcus said, choosing to ignore him. “What the Webers will need, however, is help with the clean-up and with transporting lumber. They have to finish building their home and barn before the weather turns. If you have any skills in that area, we’re going to need you. And of course, they’ll need help picking up some new furniture later on. I know it’s almost time for harvest, and you’re all going to be busy, but we only have a few months to get this done. We’ll have to rotate our manpower. I brought some paper, and I want everyone to write down the days and times you’re available to help. Just list it in the columns I’ve made, and we’ll contact you when we’re more organized.”

  “Yeah, I can help,” Eli said, looking up.

  “You’re quite the hero, Eli,” John mocked. “It’s pretty easy to volunteer when you know the money’s been collected. But everyone heard you balk at having to give, and that’s what we’re all going to remember. You know, Pastor, how about you put me down for one of those nice relaxing lumber runs. Maybe I can get out of some work too.”

  “John, you need to stop…” Marcus began. But before he could finish, Eli walked to the front of the room, scribbled something on the paper, and left the building. “Eli, wait,” he called out.

  Eli shook his head and wouldn’t look back. Marcus glanced at the paper. Eli had scrawled his name at the top of the list. Under the days column he wrote all; under times he wrote any.

  ADA

  It was difficult to watch her neighbors suffer, but Ada was happy to offer her home to Isaac and his family. She had once lost everything also, and she remembered how desperate it made her feel. She wanted to give them the same unconditional love and acceptance that the caravan had given her.

  The Webers kept to themselves in the back room. Ada didn’t mind; she understood their mood and encouraged them to spend as much time alone as needed. It was important to let Noah rest, and their time together would help them heal. She appreciated the solitude as well, needing her own time to process what had happened. The fire was a frightening experience for everyone who had witnessed it.

  Several hours after the fire had begun, the flames died down to a red glow. It was decided that the displaced family would stay with the Gardners. Ada took them to her home and helped the dazed parents clean up their little boy. Evelyn offered to lend a bed since the Gardners didn’t have an extra one. As a handful of men kept the smoldering ruins contained, Marcus and Eli followed the widow to her home and retrieved it. While there, she asked Marcus if it would be better for the Webers to stay with her. He thanked her for the kind offer but suggested Isaac might prefer being closer to his own property once they started the clean-up process. Evelyn nodded and tearfully asked how else she could help. Eli suggested she make one of her delicious meals for the Webers. The woman wasted no time in preparing supper for the next day.

  Now, as Ada sat at her table, fighting the emotions that were threatening to overtake her, she delayed preparing that evening’s meal. With eyes closed, she listened to the silence around her until the back door opened, startling her back into the present. She glanced up and noticed Eli’s expression.

  “How was the meeting?” she asked. “You look upset.”

  He shook his head, dismissing her concern. “There were some differences of opinion, but everything’s fine now.” He sat across from her and picked at his bandaged arm. “Ada,” he said. “I told Marcus I could help with the rebuild. I promised to help every day—until it’s done.”

  “Oh,” she said. “And how does Ray feel about that?”

  “I don’t know; he arrived later. I saw him come in as I was
leaving. I didn’t have a chance to talk with him. Marcus had us write down the days we could help. I was at the top, and I’m sure Ray has seen the list by now. The work I do for him doesn’t have a deadline, so he can manage without me for a while.”

  His eyes drifted to the far end of the kitchen as he grew quiet and chewed on his thumbnail. Ada wanted to talk, but this didn’t seem like a good time. She reached over and unwrapped the bandage on his arm. He had cut himself on Noah’s window, and she wanted to make sure he was healing well.

  When Eli spoke again, he sounded far away. “Do you remember when I told you about my dream? God was asking me to do something for Him. I’m still not sure what it is, but I’m getting closer. I can feel it.”

  Ada lowered her eyes and looked at her tattoo, caressing the smallest of the three flowers as he continued. “The fire made me think of it again. I want to help people. I think I’m supposed to…” he stopped. “Ada, what’s wrong?”

  She tried not to cry, but that one tear wouldn’t stay in her eye. It trickled down her cheek and gave her away.

  “When Mrs. Russell told me you had run into the fire, I was scared. I’ve been afraid in the past, but never like that. You were always with me before, but this time was different. It felt…lonely.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I wasn’t thinking. I shouldn’t have—”

  “No, you did the right thing, Eli,” she interrupted. “It doesn’t matter how it made me feel. If you hadn’t run into that fire, Noah would have died. God used you to save that little boy. How could I possibly let my fear stand in the way of that? And when Noah’s life was saved, Isaac and Hannah were saved from a grief that would have been…” She closed her eyes, losing the fight. “God spared them from a pain they would have felt forever.” She couldn’t stop the tears now. She glanced at him, unable to finish what she was trying to say. She leaned forward and covered her face. “I’m sorry… I think I need to go home. Eli, I miss her,” she whispered under her breath, giving in to her quiet sobs. “I didn’t even get to have her for very long—Oh Lord! I miss our Ruth Ann so much.” Eli put his arm around her as she wept. “Can we please go home for a little while?” she asked, sinking against him.