Still, the fiddler never smiled.
2
Later that night, Nathan sat at the table in the teacherage attached to the schoolhouse. The room was dark and quiet, and Nathan’s fingers tapped out the tunes he had played earlier with the surveyor’s daughter. He was so wound up from fiddling that sleep wouldn’t come for hours. It was always this way after the Saturday night dances, but more so tonight with the image of Ruby Gardner in his head.
Nathan groaned as he thought about church in only a few hours. The schoolhouse also served as the community chapel and the schoolteacher was expected to attend. Nathan had been devout until two years ago when God let him down. Now, church was simply a duty, and he would have greatly preferred to sleep in.
Nathan’s cat, Bo, jumped onto his lap, and Nathan stroked the cat’s back with his long, slim fingers. Bo expressed his appreciation by curling his silky gray body into Nathan’s arms and purring. The cat had somehow come with the school when Nathan had first moved to town as the new schoolteacher. At first Bo had been standoffish, as if he was trying to decide if he liked this new person. But after only two days, Bo was sleeping on Nathan’s chest or curled up next to him on the bed. Nathan wasn’t sure if Bo trusted him, or if he simply liked the warmth from Nathan’s body.
Bo was Nathan’s only family in Idaho. Nathan could never go back to Tennessee to see his family there. Seeing the town and the people where he grew up, and where he suffered his greatest humiliation, was too painful to even contemplate. He wrote to his parents every month, and treasured the letters from his mother, but he could never go back to his hometown.
“Why didn’t I know the surveyor’s daughter could play the organ so well?” Nathan asked Bo. He didn’t really expect Bo to answer, but it was nice when the cat looked up at him with his big eyes and snub face, as if he too was curious about the answer.
The answer was quite simple. Nathan had come to Clover Creek nearly two years ago a brokenhearted man. It was no wonder he and Bo had taken to each other so quickly. Two lonely bachelors finding peace with each other. Nathan had never tried to learn about the people in Clover Creek except to teach their children. He had lost confidence in himself and in people, withdrawing from society except for church and his fiddle playing. No matter how withdrawn Nathan had become, he could never give up his fiddle. Playing the fiddle comforted him in a way that he couldn’t explain.
Nathan desperately wanted to avoid the sympathetic looks he had suffered in Tennessee, so he kept to himself most of the time, seldom talking to anyone outside of school or after the dances. He had not only been left standing at the altar in front of the whole community where he grew up, but his supposed sweetheart had taken off that very night with the banjo player from Nathan’s band.
“Emmeline was nearly nineteen by the time we were to marry,” Nathan told Bo, “eight years younger than me. We grew up on adjoining farms, and I loved her from the first time she was old enough to climb trees with me and my siblings. I waited patiently for her to grow into a young lady. We courted, and I, as well as the whole town, assumed we would marry someday. When she accepted my proposal, the whole town looked forward to our wedding. Why did she wait so long to change her mind?”
Bo narrowed his eyes as though Nathan was the most brainless man he’d ever met.
“Did I suffocate her with my attentions?”
When Bo didn’t answer, Nathan went on with his pitiful story. “After Emmeline didn’t show, I felt obligated to play for the wedding crowd anyway, without my bride, and without my banjo player. After all, the folks didn’t just come to witness our marriage. They came to dance.”
Bo dropped his head back against Nathan’s chest as though bored with the story he’d endured numerous times.
“A few weeks after that wretched night, I couldn’t take the woeful looks of the townsfolk anymore.”
Nathan fled almost as far from Tennessee as he could go without leaving the country. He would have gone on to Oregon as planned if he hadn’t seen a notice in the train station in Pocatello, Idaho. The notice told of a friendly community less than two hours away by horse that was in need of a schoolteacher. Nathan, fully qualified, had ripped the notice off the wall, and hired someone to take him to Clover Creek.
It had been easy to assume the role of a quiet bachelor after the citizens of Clover Creek hired him. The community had a good-sized schoolhouse, but for some time, they hadn’t had a fiddler or anyone willing to step forward and organize a Saturday night dance. Everyone was thrilled when he offered to organize the dances, and play for them as well. After all, he had lost so much; he couldn’t give up his fiddling too. Once the townsfolk heard him fiddle, they didn’t care that he never danced or talked much with anyone. They loved his music and only wanted to hear him play.
“Some people in this community ask why I fiddle so passionately, but never smile.” Nathan lifted Bo for a moment in order to bury his face in the feline’s fur. When Bo squirmed, Nathan lowered the cat back to his chest and whispered. “I would never tell anyone else but you. But I play so passionately to drive away the memory of that last dance in Tennessee. And who can smile when a memory like that returns every time they fiddle?”
The cat pawed against Nathan’s chest.
Nathan sighed, strumming his fingers across Bo’s back. “You’re a good friend, Bo. I don’t have any friends except for you. Most people in town don’t mind my odd ways. They like the way I teach their children and the way I play the fiddle.”
Bo yawned and snuggled in closer to Nathan’s chest.
“There is that eccentric older lady here in Clover Creek that worries me, Bo. Mrs. Stribling. Mrs. Stribling gives me the impression that she sees inside of me. She knows I’m determined to guard my heart against the whims of fickle females. She’s always after me to let the older men hambone along with Mr. Jones for a few dances and force me out onto the dance floor.”
Nathan clenched his jaw at the thought, and Bo leaned forward as though he felt the tension in his person’s body. When Nathan finally drew in a softening breath, the cat settled back as though trying to comfort him.
Back in Tennessee Nathan had loved to dance as well as fiddle. He had often taken time away from fiddling to dance with the girl he loved. Nowadays, he never cared to dance again, and especially not with Ruby Gardner. Now that he’d heard Ruby play, and paid attention to her enchanting smile, he definitely didn’t want to dance with her. He couldn’t afford to take another chance with his heart.
When Nathan’s eyes finally closed sometime early in the morning, he was worn out from his night of fiddling and his troubling thoughts. He hoped Mr. Jones felt better during the following week. Nathan couldn’t play music with the surveyor’s daughter again. He had to stay away from her. Their music last night had been beguiling, possessing the power to cast a spell over him. There was no denying it. But Nathan would never give his heart to another woman. He couldn’t bear to have his heart crushed again.
A few hours later, Bo woke Nathan, and Nathan fed them both. He made sure Bo had plenty of water. “Today’s the day you stay here all morning by yourself,” Nathan said. The cat gave him a disgruntled look. “I know. It’s lonely by yourself in this tiny room. But can you imagine the screaming that would take place during the sermon, if Mrs. Stribling or any of the older ladies felt you brush up against their legs?”
Nathan chuckled as the scenario crossed his mind. On school days, Bo was free to roam about the schoolroom and sleep in any sunny spot he chose. The children loved Bo to brush up against their legs. They loved to pet him, listen to him purr, and laugh at his antics. And Bo was so patient with them. It was almost as if Bo encouraged the children to come to school and enjoy the work of learning to read and write.
“Now be a good boy,” Nathan said, after making sure Bo’s toys were spread out on the floor. He scratched Bo’s thick fur before he walked to the door adjoining the schoolroom. Looking back at the forlorn cat, he shook his finger at him. “No more
scratching my best chair. You hear?”
Nathan helped Reverend Cary finish setting up the schoolhouse for church services. He wasn’t required to help, but he enjoyed doing so. He always looked forward to seeing his students and their families come through the door. Nathan had wanted a family of his own for years, and at age twenty-two had even taken to praying that when Emmeline grew old enough, she would want to marry him and have a family with him. When the day finally came that Emmeline accepted his proposal, he thought God had answered his prayer. Now, at nearly twenty-nine and with no family of his own, he knew better.
Nathan wasn’t prepared for the intoxicating jolt that surged through him at the sight of Ruby Gardner when she and her family walked into the schoolroom. Her blond curls were neatly arranged under her woven straw hat. A blue silk ribbon attached to the hat accented her eyes. Nathan almost broke into a smile, but nodded stoically instead. He couldn’t, wouldn’t let his heart run away with this woman. He had a good life just as it was, with the companionship of Bo, two lonely bachelors living together in the teacherage. He had been content for the past months since he moved to Idaho. Why did his heart have to race now in the presence of the charming organ player?
Nathan watched with a sharp intake of breath as Ruby made her way to the organ. He smiled inwardly, realizing that she was going to play, once again filling in for Mr. Jones. He wondered how one tiny lady could play the reed organ with such gusto. And Nathan wondered how he could sing the hymns while watching her play them. He soon found out as the congregation sang, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and later Shall We Gather at the River?
He sang heartily while Ruby played. She played the organ with reverence today, but also with the quick tempo popularized by Mr. Jones.
Nathan’s thoughts turned to the older gentleman, finally realizing that Mr. Jones must still be ill since Ruby was filling in for him. Nathan determined to pay a visit to his friend and fellow musician that very afternoon.
After the services, Nathan found that he hadn’t enjoyed church so much for months. Nearly two years to be precise. Perhaps it was the dazzling sight of Ruby Gardner and listening to her play. Perhaps he was finally starting to forgive God for not answering his prayers. Nathan wasn’t sure, but he savored the new feeling. He dared to approach Ruby and compliment her on her playing of the hymns. That seemed like a safe enough subject, and simply a polite thing to do.
“Thank you,” Ruby said in return after Nathan complimented her. Her smile made his heart do strange things.
“I enjoy playing hymns and I enjoyed accompanying you for the dance last night,” Ruby added. “It was a thrill to accompany you, and try to keep up. I’ve loved dancing to your fiddle music since you first came to town.”
She laughed so naturally, as though laughter was as much a part of her being as music.
“You kept up beautifully,” Nathan said, drawing in a breath. His deceitful heart raced all the more, and his eyes pierced hers.
Ruby’s face flushed for a moment, but then her face turned somber as though she thought of something grave. “Have you been over to see how Mr. Jones is doing?”
“I, uh, no. I thought I’d go over today after church.”
“Part of my family is going now,” Ruby said. “Would you like to accompany us? Only Pa, Beth, and I are going. We always bring two wagons when our whole family comes to town. Ma and Charlie are taking the rest of the girls home to start dinner.”
“I’d love to join you,” Nathan said, and he found that he meant every word of it. He intended to go see Mr. Jones anyway. And for some reason, even though he was trying to stay away from the surveyor’s daughter, he couldn’t think of anything more pleasant to do on this beautiful Sabbath day.
He was certainly in no hurry to join Bo for another long boring afternoon.
Since the Jones family didn’t live too far from the schoolhouse, Ruby, her youngest sister, Beth, and Nathan elected to walk. Mr. Gardner’s horses clopped on down the road, but the wagon didn’t reach the Jones’ house much before the young people did.
Mrs. Stribling met them at the door.
“Thank you for coming,” Mrs. Stribling said in her rather loud voice, motioning the visitors inside. “Dr. Williams just left, and Mrs. Jones is sitting with her husband. Mr. Jones is feeling better today, but Dr. Williams told him to take it easy for at least four weeks.” She leaned forward and spoke as softly as possible, which wasn’t very soft at all. “The doctor said it’s his heart.”
Nathan watched as Mrs. Jones emerged from the bedroom, covered her mouth as though to stop her grief, and sat on the sofa.
Ruby quickly sat beside the woman and took her into a gentle hug. Mr. Gardner walked into the bedroom to see the patient.
“Tell me how you’re doing,” Ruby said to the older woman. “This has to be so hard on you.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Mrs. Jones answered. “Just a little worried . . . and . . . a lot scared.”
Mrs. Stribling proceeded to take charge of Mrs. Jones. “I’ll make some tea for you and Mr. Jones,” she said. “A cup of tea will be good for both of you. And I brought dinner. As soon as everyone finishes their visit, I’ll serve it to you.”
Nathan thought Mrs. Stribling was more or less telling the new arrivals to keep their visit short. Apparently, Mr. Gardner felt the same way because he returned to the living room shortly, sat on the other side of Mrs. Jones, and took her hand in his. “My Charlie and I will be back tomorrow afternoon to see what needs to be done around the house,” he said. “And my wife is planning to come with us and bring some of her good food. I suggest you just rest now and let Mrs. Stribling take care of things today.”
Ruby and Beth slipped into the bedroom to see Mr. Jones before they left. Nathan followed them. When Ruby knelt beside Mr. Jones’ bed and took his hand in hers, Mr. Jones smiled at her. “Ah, my dear Ruby,” he said. “I hear you did a right dandy job of covering for me at the dance last night.”
“Well, I tried,” Ruby said, softly, smiling at the older man, and then up at Nathan. “Everyone missed your organ music though.”
“I, for one, missed your organ music,” Mrs. Stribling said. She filled the doorframe behind Nathan. “But this young lady was amazing. Whoever taught her how to play the organ deserves another piece of pie.”
“I taught her,” Mr. Jones said, raising his hand and grinning slyly. “At least, I encouraged her. She taught herself.”
“Well, this young lady and Nathan here are quite the talented duo.” Mrs. Stribling wiggled her brows at Nathan when she spoke. “It’s almost as if they were born to play fiddle and organ together. I look forward to them playing for the dance next Saturday night.”
“Oh, no,” Ruby said. “I’m sure Mr. Jones will feel like playing by Saturday.”
“Whether he does, or whether he doesn’t, he can’t play for at least four weeks,” Mrs. Stribling said, her double chin wiggling about as she spoke. “Doctor’s orders.”
Mrs. Stribling looked back into the living room at Mrs. Jones who nodded her head in agreement.
“But I might feel well enough to come out and hear you two play.” Mr. Jones smiled, his eyes crinkling. “Especially if there’s pie involved.”
“Humph,” Mrs. Jones said from the living room. “Maybe a small piece, and only if you stay at the dance for a short time.”
“So, it looks like you two have a Saturday night date for the next four weeks,” Mrs. Stribling said. She grinned as though she had made the arrangement herself. “And I think it’s about time we got the old-timers to do some hambone so you two can get out on that floor and dance. I’ll make sure that happens.”
“What’s hambone?” Beth asked, once they’d said their goodbyes left the Jones’ home.
“Hambone is music made without instruments,” Mr. Gardner said. “There’s a lot of lively hand slapping and patting on your legs, arms, chest, and cheeks. I used to be pretty good at it when I was Charlie’s age.” He winked at Ruby and Beth and grin
ned. “At least, your ma thought I was pretty good.”
“Can you do this hamboning?” Ruby asked, looking at Nathan.
Nathan nodded. “Of course,” he said. “I’m from Tennessee.”
“Do people dance to hamboning?” Beth asked.
“Absolutely,” Mr. Gardner said.
“Music is music and people dance,” Nathan added. Part of him wanted to give Ruby and her youngest sister a demonstration and show off for them. Another part of him tensed with fear. He couldn’t let Mrs. Stribling force he and Ruby onto the dance floor while the old-timers hamboned. It would be a swell time in other circumstances, but not now. Not after what happened in Tennessee.
As they stood by the wagon, a gentle breeze swished through the cottonwood trees nearby, causing Ruby’s loose curls to float softly in the air. A few yellow and orange tree leaves fell to the ground and swirled about, reminding Nathan that he wasn’t a young man anymore. His heart had been broken beyond repair, and he could not risk becoming enamored with a young lady again. Especially someone as young and attractive as Ruby Gardner. Hadn’t his age been a factor in Emmeline’s change of affection? He felt sure it had been so. The banjo player had been a young buck, barely over twenty.
“Excuse me, what was that?” Nathan asked when he realized that Mr. Gardner had spoken to him.
“Would you care to join our family for dinner?” Mr. Gardner said. “I don’t believe we’ve had you out to our place for months. That’s a real shame because our daughters who attend your schoolroom idolize you. It’s always, ‘Mr. Banks says this and Mr. Banks says that.’”
Beth covered her face as though thoroughly embarrassed by her father.
Nathan couldn’t believe anyone idolized him. His first instinct was to politely decline the invitation, but his traitorous heart leaped within him when Ruby smiled after her father’s offer.
Ruby’s Rhapsody Page 2
