Christmas at Stoney Creek

by Martha Rogers

  “Who was that, and what was he doing with Tom Whiteman?” She waved a hand in front of her nose. “Phew, I can still smell him.”

  “His name is Joe. Tom met him on the train and invited him to visit Stoney Creek. I don’t know anything else, but Mrs. Whiteman invited him to her house to clean up.”

  “Well now, isn’t that just like that sweet lady to take in a stranger like that.” She dusted her hands together. “Now, let’s look at what we need to do tonight.”

  Faith reached for an apron. This would be a long night and one she’d much rather be spending with Tom than up to her elbows in flour and sugar. She strode to the window for one last look up Main Street in the direction of the Whiteman house. For late afternoon the town certainly had its share of people milling around, which made it impossible to tell if Tom and his new friend were still about.

  With a sigh she tied the apron strings about her waist and hastened to join her mother in the kitchen. With Aunt Ruby not feeling well, this evening Ma and Faith would tackle the baking alone. Papa stayed out of the kitchen except to sample a bit here and again. He took care of ordering supplies and kept the books.

  Curiosity nibbled at Faith as she measured and poured. Who was Joe? Something didn’t add up, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Although he tried to speak like a vagrant, he sometimes slipped into more formal speech, and his teeth and manners all spoke of someone with more refinement than a hobo wandering around on the railroad.

  Stoney Creek was a fine town with friendly people. It’d be interesting in the next few days to see how others in town accepted Joe. Most people probably would be nice, but certainly some would complain and ask all kinds of questions. She punched down a large mound of dough and sighed. Best get her mind off the old man and onto the sweets for the party hosted by the mayor’s wife.

  CHAPTER 2

  TOM SHOWED JOE where he could clean up before supper. When asked, he said he did have one pair of good pants and a shirt in his knapsack, so Tom left Joe to himself and sauntered back downstairs. In the parlor he found his youngest sisters, Alice and Juliet, engrossed in a jigsaw puzzle.

  Juliet glanced up from the table and wrinkled her nose. “Is that man staying for supper?”

  Tom placed his hand on her shoulder. “Yes, he is, and I expect you to be nice to him. I don’t know how long he traveled on that train, but I think he was there when I boarded it in Austin. So he’s probably tired from the journey.”

  Alice shivered and shook her head. “I hope he cleans up good. He stinks.”

  Tom frowned, but Alice had always been one to speak her mind. At age fourteen, with chestnut hair and brown eyes, she stood on the threshold of becoming a most attractive young woman. Papa would have his hands full when the boys started calling on her.

  His sister Clara pushed through the swinging door from the kitchen and addressed the girls. “Supper’s ready to put on the table. We need your help setting the places.”

  Juliet hopped up and headed to help, but Alice looked toward the ceiling and sighed. “I suppose I have to, but I’d rather work on the puzzle.”

  Tom chuckled as she trudged her way across the room as though headed for the worst thing in her life. With four girls in the family, there was usually plenty of help in the kitchen. Clara, two years behind him, had taken over most of the chores since Molly’s marriage.

  Tom raised an eyebrow at Clara. “Alice has never liked helping around the house. It makes me wonder what she plans to do with her life.”

  “No telling with the way things are changing for women. By the time she’s our age, there’ll be even more opportunities.” Clara glanced toward the hallway. “Joe hasn’t come down yet?”

  “No, and I didn’t want to bother him.” Tom furrowed his brow and started to mention the strange feeling he had about the man but clamped his mouth shut. Telling Clara would be like telling the whole town. Keeping secrets was not one of her virtues.

  Behind him footsteps pounded the staircase accompanied by two male voices.

  “I think that’s him coming down now. Daniel must be with him.”

  “You greet him. I’m heading back to finish helping Mama.” She turned on her heel and strode across the parlor and through the dining room to the kitchen.

  Daniel’s laughter preceded his appearance with Joe. Tom sucked in a breath at the change in his new friend. His clothes were still worn and threadbare, but the odor had disappeared, his hair was neatly combed, and his mustache had been trimmed.

  “Well, I must say you look a sight different from when I met you on the train.”

  Joe beamed and shook Tom’s hand. “I do thank you for the bath and fine hospitality. Does make a man feel better.”

  Ma clapped her hands. “Time for supper.” She beckoned the family to gather around the table. Alice and Juliet had a difficult time keeping their eyes off Joe, disbelief in their eyes at the transformation rendering them speechless.

  Pa joined the group. “All our patients gone for the day, and I’m ready for a good meal.” He grinned at Joe. “I’m sorry I couldn’t say hello earlier; I saw you come in but was busy with patients.” He held out his hand. “I’m Doctor Whiteman, and you’re welcome to our table. I say, you’re a different man than I saw come through our door a bit ago.”

  “That I am. Your family has been very nice to this stranger.” His gaze traveled around the group assembled at the dining table.

  Pa nodded and took his seat with the others following suit. “Now we thank the Lord for this bounty and our guest.” He bowed his head and extended his hands to those on either side of him.

  When Joe clutched Tom’s hand, Tom noted how Joe’s hand bore the strength of one who knew hard work but a certain softness of a man who had known easier times. Everything he’d seen in Joe since the train ride contradicted what he’d seen in an hour or so on the train. That only served to intensify Tom’s natural curiosity.

  After the blessing the girls began chattering and Daniel reached for the bowl of potatoes. At Mama’s frown, he turned and offered it to Joe. “Here, help yourself.”

  As Joe did so, Pa leaned forward. “Joe, do you have a last name to go with your first?”

  Joe hesitated and glanced around the table where all conversation had stopped. “It’s Joe Fitzgerald. My last stop was Chicago, and I was a carpenter and builder by trade.”

  Tom smothered his chuckle. Smart man. He’d answered three questions to the one asked. That should satisfy Papa.

  Ma beamed and passed him the ham. “Like I said earlier today, we can always use someone with those skills around here. Oh, and I stopped by the boardinghouse, and Mrs. Hutchins said she had a room available if you’d care to have it.”

  Red crept up Joe’s face. “That’s mighty nice of you, ma’am, but I’m not sure how I’m going to pay for it.”

  “I told her that, but she said if you’d do some odd jobs for her, she’d provide the room for free. She’s another of Stoney Creek’s fine cooks, so you’ll do well with both food and a good room.”

  Joe swallowed hard. “I do appreciate that, Mrs. Whiteman.” He held up his hands. “I’m not sure how much these old hands can still do, but I’d be pleased if I can be of service to Mrs. Hutchins.”

  Once again, everything about this man belied the first impression of Joe being a homeless, penniless drifter. Something else lurked beneath the surface, and Tom would search until he found it.

  Joe savored the creamy potatoes and smoked ham and listened to the conversation around him. It’d been awhile since he’d had a meal like this or met such friendly people. Maybe he’d said too much with his name and what he did, but he didn’t want to lie to them. At least his middle name sounded like a surname, so he could get by with that for now.

  By the prayer Joe deduced Dr. Whiteman and his family to be Christians. That would account for their initial hospitality. So far the people of Stoney Creek had been friendly and welcomed him despite his appearance. He’d found the same in a few oth
er towns, but it hadn’t lasted long. It’d be interesting to see how long these nice folks accepted him for who he was now without trying to change him to fit their ways.

  He’d have to be careful around Tom though. If he had realized before getting off the train that Tom worked for the newspaper, Joe would have avoided Tom completely. The young man had a reporter’s natural instinct and curiosity, and it wouldn’t do for him to find out who Joe really was. He’d have to be extra careful around Tom, for sure.

  The family sitting around the table reminded him of happier days many years ago when he’d been a young lad. The three girls were all pretty but very different in their personalities, and their parents were warm, gracious people. He hoped he’d get a chance to know them much better in the days ahead.

  Mrs. Whiteman spoke his name, and Joe blinked. “Excuse me, my mind was elsewhere for a moment.”

  Her laughter rang in the room. “That happens all the time around here, but I did ask if you’d like to attend church with us Sunday morning. We have two churches now, and if you’d prefer to attend the other one instead of ours, that’s fine with us.”

  Church hadn’t been on his agenda in recent months, but maybe it should. “I’d be delighted to attend church with your family.”

  “Wonderful, and then you can come and have dinner with us and meet more of our family. My sister and her husband have a ranch not far from town, and my daughter Molly and her husband live in their own home on another part of the ranch.”

  More family to meet meant he’d have to be careful about answering questions, but then the more people he met, the better he’d get to know the town. “Thank you, Mrs. Whiteman. You are indeed a generous woman.”

  He cut a sidewise glance in Tom’s direction, and the expression on his face caused Joe to catch his breath. Those eyes missed nothing. What had he done to warrant such scrutiny from the young reporter? If anyone could ferret out the truth, it would be Tom. More thought needed to be given as to what Joe would do in the days ahead. If Joe didn’t take extra precautions, Tom might indeed uncover the secrets Joe wanted to hide.

  Faith helped her mother clear the table after supper. Family meals hadn’t been the same since her brother Andrew had married Clarissa Elliot and moved away from home to set up practice in New Orleans. At times like this she missed her brother more than she had ever imagined.

  They still had two cakes and two batches of cookies to bake. She’d take care of the cookies while her mother mixed up the cakes. She dried the last of the dishes and stacked them in the cupboard in the dining area. Pa patted her shoulder before draping his arm around Ma’s shoulders.

  “Do you need my help down in the bakery this evening?”

  Mama grinned and leaned into Pa’s embrace. “No, Faith and I can handle it. Ruby is down with her back again, but we don’t have much left to do. Besides, you’d want to sample everything, and you don’t need the extra sweets.” She patted his chest and stepped back. “Don’t forget you’ll need to go down to the ice house and pick up a block of ice for the punch bowl tomorrow.”

  “I won’t, and I’ll have it all chopped up for you too.” He kissed her cheek. “Since you don’t need me tonight, I’ll work on the books and bring them up to date. This looks like it will be a good month for the bakery.”

  “Wonderful, because after tonight Faith and I will need to stock up on supplies for our regular baking next week.” Mama dried her hands and hung the towel on a hook by the sink. She nodded toward Faith. “Are you all ready for a few hours of mixing and stirring?”

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.” Saturday would be a long day with the last-minute preparations and then the setting up at the town hall. Mrs. Gladstone’s servants would take care of the rest, much to the relief of both Faith and her mother. Mrs. Gladstone had even invited Faith to attend as a guest.

  She followed her mother downstairs to the bakery and checked the stove to make sure it would be hot enough for the cakes and cookies to bake. The old stove had become less reliable in the past few weeks. Faith tied an apron around her waist then reached up for the biggest crockery bowl to make her cookie dough. “Mama, what did you think of the old man Tom brought into the store?”

  Her mother measured flour and sugar into a large bowl. “I’m not really sure what to think. I’ve seen some dirty men in my time, but not quite like him. Sallie Whiteman has such a big heart. I’m sure she treated him to a nice meal.”

  Probably so. Everyone in town turned to the doctor and his wife for help when they needed it, whether it was for their health or some other reason.

  Faith cracked eggs into the lard and sugar mixed in her bowl. How she longed to be a part of that family. They had so much fun together, and there never seemed to be a dull moment around their house. With Andrew her only sibling, her family seemed rather dull in comparison.

  She and Clara Whiteman had been friends since they were little, but Faith’s childhood crush on Tom had turned into much more as they had grown older. What she had hoped would develop into a lasting relationship with Tom now stood at a standstill. Especially since Angela had come to town.

  CHAPTER 3

  JOE TURNED OVER on the soft feather mattress and sighed. It’d been awhile since he’d had such comfortable sleeping conditions. Opening his eyes, he found sunlight streaming through the window to his second-floor room. It was later than he’d thought! His feet hit the floor, and he grabbed for his pants, hoping he hadn’t missed breakfast.

  Mrs. Hutchins had been gracious and hospitable last evening when Tom had escorted Joe to the boardinghouse and introduced him to the landlady. She couldn’t have fussed over him more if he’d been a lost child. However, she had warned him that breakfast on Saturday was served promptly at eight, and if he missed it, he wouldn’t eat until noon.

  The aroma of frying bacon wafted up the stairwell, arousing a grumble in Joe’s stomach. He didn’t want to miss out on the breakfast feast one of the other boarders had assured him was the best of the week. After washing his face and deciding he didn’t need another shave this morning, he tucked in his shirt and headed downstairs.

  As soon as he stepped through the door of the dining room, conversation stopped. The eyes of all four lodgers centered on Joe. Heat crept up his neck, but he sat and nodded to the others. No doubt they’d been discussing their newest resident.

  Joe had met the women last evening when he’d arrived. “Good morning, ladies.” Joe smiled and reached for his napkin.

  Mrs. Rivers, the tall, slender woman with a pinched look on her face, said nothing, but the attractive younger woman beside her smiled and bobbed her head, sending her golden curls to shaking.

  “Good morning, Joe. We’re glad you made it in time for breakfast.”

  Joe remembered her as Ethel Simmons, one of the teachers at Stoney Creek school. The other one was Josie Rivers, a widow and the town librarian. Joe hoped her sour expression didn’t reflect the way she dealt with patrons of the library.

  The younger of the two men extended his hand across the table to Joe. “And I’m Herbert Spooner, a teller at the bank in town, and I believe you met this gent beside me, Zachariah Morton. He owns the tailor shop in town and makes fine-looking clothes for gentlemen. Sorry I wasn’t here when you came in last night.”

  Joe shook the man’s hand, surprised at his firm grip. “Glad to make your acquaintance.” A tailor, a teller, a teacher, and a librarian: now that was as diverse a group as he’d ever seen. It made the side trip into this town all the more interesting. Already he had concluded that Stoney Creek had a leg up on the other towns he’d visited in the past few months.

  Mrs. Hutchins swished into the dining room with one platter heaped with bacon and the other with eggs. She set them on the table and turned back to the kitchen. “Ah, glad to see you made it in time, Joe. Biscuits will be right out. Go ahead with the blessing, and then I’ll bring in the coffee too.”

  Mr. Spooner took the lead with the blessing. “Shall we thank the good Lord for
our bountiful breakfast?” Without waiting for answer, he bowed his head and offered thanks for the meal.

  Joe sat next to Miss Simmons, and his nose wrinkled in pleasure at the scent of lavender surrounding her. She had a kind look about her, which he’d found in the people he’d met thus far in Stoney Creek. Couldn’t quite say the same for Mrs. Rivers. No smile had crossed the woman’s features yet.

  At the conclusion of the prayer Herbert and Ethel picked up platters and began passing them around. Herbert handed Joe the bacon. “How long you planning to stay in town, Mr. Fitzgerald?”

  While serving himself from the platter, Joe had a moment to consider what answer he should give. Might as well tell the truth since it wouldn’t reveal anything about his plans. “I don’t know. It depends on the amount of work I’m able to find.” As well as how the townspeople accepted him.

  Mr. Morton eyed Joe with a raised eyebrow, his partially bald pate shining in the light. “When Mrs. Hutchins told us about you this morning, she mentioned you once did carpentry work. There’s a need for a man with carpentry skills around here. In fact, if you’ll build me some more racks and shelves for my store, I could tailor you up a fine suit of clothes.”

  Joe swallowed the chuckle that bubbled in his throat. Trust the tailor to notice the condition of his clothes and suggest new ones. “That sounds like a fine idea.” A new suit wouldn’t be a bad thing to have, especially if Joe planned to stay around any length of time and attend church with the Whiteman family.

  Back from the kitchen, Mrs. Hutchins passed the platter of biscuits to Joe. “I hope you like buttermilk biscuits. They’re my specialty.” Before Joe could reply, she continued. “Didn’t Tom say you came in on the train with him yesterday? Where’s your home?”

  The flaky biscuit split apart into two perfect halves which he slathered with butter. “Yes, I met Tom on the train. I came from Austin.” Which, while true for the train trip, Austin was not his home. He wouldn’t reveal that bit of information just yet, but then he remembered he’d told the Whiteman family he came from Chicago even though that wasn’t his home. It had simply been his last stop. Best to make notes and keep his stories straight if he didn’t want Tom breathing down his neck.