“I guess so,” Jeff muttered. The sight of the city depressed him. Still, he agreed with Royal. “Things look pretty bad, but they’ll make it.”
“Sure they will,” Tom said cheerfully and clapped him on the back. “So will we. Now then, let’s get on with it.”
Royal slapped the backs of the horses with the lines. “We’ll be all right,” he said, “as soon as we get home.”
The campfire crackled pleasantly, and its yellow flame was a warming dot in the darkness beside the creek. The smell of frying bacon was in the air as Leah and Eileen cooked supper.
Jeff and Tom were at the small stream that formed an elbow around the campsite. The two were gathering more dried wood. It was not cold, but a fire made a cheerful sight in the gloom that gathered under the tall oak trees.
“I’m glad to be going home, Tom.”
Tom did not answer for a moment, and Jeff was surprised. “You’re glad, aren’t you?”
“Well, of course, I am, but things are pretty much confused.”
Jeff knew his brother well. “You’re thinking about Sarah, aren’t you?”
Tom looked at him. A half-moon was overhead, throwing down silver beams, illuminating his face. “Can’t hide anything from you, can I? Yes, I’ve been thinking about Sarah.”
“She loves you, Tom.”
“She loves what I used to be.”
The reply was gloomy, and Jeff knew Tom was thinking about his missing leg. “You’re not worrying about that again? You don’t have to worry.”
“I still do. Sarah could marry anybody. A beautiful girl like her. Why should she want half a man?”
“You’re not half a man!” Jeff said shortly. “You’re the same as you always were. Why, you can ride, and walk, and work. That artificial leg, it’s almost as good as a real leg.”
“‘Almost’ isn’t the same thing. I’m not what I used to be. I’ll always be a step behind other fellows.”
“Tom, you’ve got to stop thinking like this.” Jeff picked up another piece of dead wood. “God’s been so good to bring us all through. You could’ve been dead, or Pa, or me!”
Tom suddenly laughed. “You’re right, Jeff. Of course, you’re right. But a fellow can’t help thinking about it. Come on, let’s go back to the fire.”
They were at the top of a high hill, and the horses were tired from the climb.
“Well, there it is,” Nelson said to Eileen, gesturing down at the placid valley that lay between two sections of rising, rolling hills.
“Oh, it’s beautiful, Nelson!”
He looked out over the valley for a while, then said, “It’s home—at least it used to be.”
Eileen held onto his arm. “It will be again. You’ll see.” She knew that he was worried about their reception back in Pineville and tried to cheer him up as the carriage and wagons started downhill. “We’ll get a place, and then the baby will come, and Tom will marry Sarah.”
“And I suppose someday Jeff and Leah will get married.” Nelson nodded.
“I bet they do.”
“They’ll have to wait a while. It’s going to be hard for boys like Tom and Jeff and the others, starting from nothing. We don’t even have a farm to work.”
“God will take care of us.”
“You always believe that, don’t you?”
“So do you,” Eileen said. “You’re just grumpy. Come on now, let’s think of names for the baby.”
Nelson turned to her. “I’ve got a good one.”
“What is it?”
“Hezekiah. We could call him Hezzie.”
“What if it’s a girl?” Eileen’s dimples suddenly appeared. “Would you want to call her Hezzie?”
“It’d be better than Hydrangea, wouldn’t it?”
Eileen was happy. She had succeeded in taking Nelson’s mind off his worries.
As they moved along the twisting road that led down the mountain, he pointed out spots that he had known. Cabins where old friends lived. And then he said, “There it is. There’s the Carter place. I bet Leah and Royal are about to jump out and run.”
When the caravan got closer to the Carter house, Leah did suddenly jump out of the carriage, crying, “Ma! Pa! We’re home!”
The door opened, and three people burst out of the house.
Dan Carter led the way. He caught up Leah in his arms, exclaiming, “Well, now, daughter. You’re back again! Back home!”
“Yes, I am, Pa!” Leah cried, kissing him. She embraced her mother, then her sister Sarah. “We’re all here—Royal and Jeff and Tom and their father and the new Mrs. Majors and Rosie and Drake … “
By now Royal had leaped out of the second wagon and was running forward to greet his folks. He hugged them all and then looked around eagerly. “Where’s Lori—and Charlie?”—the two girls who had fled the war in Tennessee to wait in Pineville.
“Those brides-to-be have gone to town. If they’d only known you were coming …” Mrs. Carter said. She hugged her son again. “You’re looking fine, and you’ve picked a fine wife. We all love Lori.”
As soon as Nelson had introduced Eileen, Rosie came forward, his eyes gleaming. “You haven’t seen a young heifer around here named Charlie, have you?”
“Rosie, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!” Sarah exclaimed. “You don’t speak of your fiancée like that!”
“Well, I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to get married. It seems like I been havin’ lots of ailments lately.”
No one wanted to hear about Rosie’s imaginary ailments.
And now Sarah was turning to face Tom, who got slowly down from the wagon and approached her.
Leah expected Tom to take Sarah in his arms, but he simply pulled his hat off and stood there, saying, “Hello, Sarah.”
If Sarah was disappointed at the sparseness of his greeting, she tried not to show it. “Hello, Tom,” she said. She hesitated and put out her hand.
He took it, then stepped back. “I guess I’d better get these horses unhitched. They’re pretty tired.”
Sarah turned away, tears in her eyes, and Leah whispered, “He’ll be all right, Sarah. You’ll see.”
At that moment Ezra Payne appeared. He let out a whoop, for he had been good friends with Leah and Jeff. After he shook hands with everybody and nearly everyone had started toward the house, Ezra turned to Leah. “I don’t guess you heard about me, did you?”
“Heard what, Ezra?”
“I’m courtin’ Helen McGee down the road a piece.”
“Why, I think that’s wonderful, Ezra! She’s a fine girl. Are you going to get married?”
“If she’ll ever have me, I will. I guess there’s going to be a lot of marrying going on. Rosie marrying up with Miss Charlene, and Royal marrying Lori Jenkins. And then, of course, there’s Miss Sarah and Dewitt Falor.”
Tom was unhitching the horses, and he turned and looked at Ezra. “What’s this about Dewitt Falor?”
“You don’t know about him?” Ezra asked innocently. “He’s been courtin’ her for up to a year now. His pa’s the richest man in the valley, you know. I reckon he’d be quite a catch for Sarah.”
Tom stared at the tall, young hired man and said through stiff lips. “I guess it would be.” He limped away, leading the horses off toward the barn.
Instantly Leah turned to Ezra. “I wish you hadn’t said that!”
He was astonished. “But everybody knows it. Dewitt’s been talkin’ for a long time now about how he intends to marry Sarah.”
“What does Sarah say?”
Ezra shrugged. “She doesn’t talk about it, but, of course, most people around here know that Dewitt Falor gets pretty much anything he wants.”
“I’ll bet he won’t get Sarah,” Leah said with an angry light in her eyes as Ezra headed toward the barn.
She went over to Jeff. “Did you hear what Ezra said?”
“I sure did. I didn’t like it. Tom feels bad as it is.”
“It won’t come to anything. Sara
h doesn’t love anybody but Tom.”
Jeff, however, seemed not so sure. “I don’t know, Leah. A lot’s happened since we left. Sarah may have changed her mind.”
“I don’t believe it!”
Inside the house, she quickly found a time to whisper to Sarah, “What’s Ezra talking about—you and Dewitt Falor?”
Sarah’s cheeks flushed. “I wish he hadn’t said that. I haven’t done a thing to encourage Dewitt.”
“He thinks he’s going to marry you.”
“I know he does, but he’s wrong.”
“Why don’t you just tell him so?”
“I have told him so, and I’ll tell him again,” Sarah said. “But you know Dewitt. He’s bullheaded, and he’s always gotten everything he wanted. Now he’s got his mind set on me.”
“How about Tom?” Leah asked abruptly.
Sarah turned and looked at her younger sister. Quietly she said, “I’ve always loved Tom. Ever since we were sixteen years old. I still do—and I always will.”
Leah threw her arms around Sarah, whispering, “Oh, I’m so glad!” Then she drew back and frowned. “But Tom feels bad about not having any money. And he’s back to worrying about losing his leg.”
“I know, and he won’t let me show how I feel about him.”
“We’ll find a way,” Leah said.
Sarah smiled. “You’re quite a little matchmaker, aren’t you?”
“Well, somebody has to do it!”
Supper was a feast. The crops had been good, and Ezra slaughtered a yearling so that they could have a barbecue. The delicious smell of roasting meat filled the Carters’ yard, and a festive air was about the place.
When they all were gathered around the dining room table, Dan Carter asked a long and earnest— and excited—blessing over the food. He ended by saying, “And God, we’re glad that our friends and neighbors are back home again. In the name of Jesus we thank You. Amen.”
Every place at the table was filled, and extra chairs had been brought in. The table seemed to groan under the weight of the meat and vegetables and glasses of tea and cider.
There was happy laughter—and talk, not the least of which was between Rosie and his fiancée, Charlie Satterfield. She was a tall girl from the hills of Georgia. She had fallen in love with Drake at first, but it was Rosie who had finally won her heart. She sat beside him, her curly hair framing her face, and she smiled shyly as Drake teased her about becoming a bride.
Across the table, Lori Jenkins sat as close as she could to Royal. These two had had a long courtship. Lori was a small girl with auburn hair, brown eyes, and an oval face. She was very pretty and very much in love.
At the foot of the table sat Nelson with Uncle Silas on his right and Eileen on his left. After the babble had died down somewhat, he said, “Dan, you’re looking at a man who doesn’t have one single idea in his head about what to do next.”
Mr. Carter, who loved the Majorses as if they were his own flesh and blood, said, “Let God make the plans. You just wait until He tells you what they are.”
Nelson grinned abruptly and looked at Eileen. “There’s our theology. We just wait on God.”
Eileen took his hand. “I can’t think of a better way to live.”
The former colonel looked about the table. “I thank God for bringing us back here, but I don’t want to be a burden on anybody.”
“God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He owns all the hills,” Uncle Silas said suddenly. “Don’t ever sell God short, Nelson.”
“That’s right.” Dan Carter nodded. “He’s going to provide for His own, and you’re His own.” He looked around the crowded room then. “Don’t anybody eat too much. I think I smelled some peach pie cookin’ earlier in the day!”
Rosie said dolefully, “That’s good. My stomach’s been actin’ up, and I reckon peach pie’s just the thing to calm it down some.”
And Leah looked across at Jeff, thinking, When he was fourteen, I thought he was the handsomest boy I ever saw—and now he’s the handsomest man.
From across the table, Jeff was looking at Leah. He appreciated her green eyes and blonde hair and the smoothness of her skin. There’s gonna be lots of fellas come courting Leah. He remembered the old days when they had hunted birds’ eggs together. I reckon courting’s a little bit different from hunting birds’ eggs.
Studying her more closely as she laughed and her white teeth flashed, he thought, But she’s pretty enough to fight for, and that’s what I aim to do!
8
“Go Home, Rebel!”
Finding a place to live proved to be both complicated and simple.
Although the Carters would have been glad to put up the three Majors men and Mrs. Majors, Nelson was almost frantic with anxiety to be in his own house.
“I appreciate your offer, Dan,” he said the morning after they arrived, “but you know how it is. A man just needs his own place.”
Dan Carter nodded slowly. “Ordinarily I’d agree with you, Nelson, but situations change. Right now you’re in kind of a bind. It looks to me like the best thing for your wife would be to stay here and let us kind of take care of her.” He scratched his thinning hair and shook his head. “She doesn’t seem too pert, does she?”
“No, she’s not well. She had trouble with her first child, and that worries me.” Nelson shuffled his feet. The two men were standing in the yard, and Nelson had just saddled a horse. “I’m going to ride around and look. There’s bound to be some kind of house I can get around here. It’s just that I don’t have any money to pay for it. I may have to work it off.”
“You can always count on me for a loan.”
“No, you’ve done enough, Dan. Taking care of my daughter during the war—and now welcoming us back. I’ve got to do something on my own.”
He mounted and rode away to spend the better part of the day covering the roads. He was greeted by many with warm smiles—people who had been sympathetic to the Confederacy. Others slammed their doors in his face. After one such encounter, he said to himself, I knew to expect this, but it’s hard from old friends. Still, I can’t blame them.
He returned to the Carter place just at twilight, and as he stepped down from the horse, Eileen came to meet him. “Did you find anything, Nelson?”
“Not a thing, but I’ll try again tomorrow.”
“Come on in the house. We kept supper warm for you.”
“What have you been doing all day?”
“Sewing baby clothes. Mary’s such a wonderful seamstress. I’ll show you the nightgowns that I made for Hezekiah.”
“You’re not really going to name a helpless baby Hezekiah?”
“It was your suggestion.” She smiled, humor glowing in her eyes. “Unless you can come up with something better, I think it’ll be Hezekiah.”
“Anything would be better.”
They went inside. The meal was already over, and only Dan and Uncle Silas still remained at the table. The others had all scattered.
“Hello, Nelson,” Silas said cheerfully. “Sit down and get on the outside of some of this good food that Mary and Sarah made up for you.”
“I can use it. Hungry work riding the roads.”
He sat and listened as Dan and Silas talked about the farm. Neither of them mentioned the war, and he was grateful for that.
Then Mary Carter brought in a plateful of food and gave him a big smile. She was a compassionate woman with the same blonde hair and green eyes as could be seen in her daughter Leah. She fixed herself a cup of tea and sat down as Nelson ate.
“I couldn’t find anything—that we could afford,” Nelson said, in answer to her question. When the others all looked at him, he grinned wryly. “Of course, I can’t afford much of anything.”
Mrs. Carter got up to bring him a cup of tea. At his words she paused and said, “I wasn’t going to say anything about it, Nelson, but there’s always the old Turner place.”
“Aren’t the Turners still there?”
&nb
sp; “Oh, no,” she said. “They moved out two years ago. Nobody’s lived in the old house since.”
“Did Turner sell out?”
“I don’t think he sold out,” Dan Carter said. “The bank foreclosed on the place. Now, that’s an idea, wife. That old place is just sitting vacant. Of course, it’s a mess. It wasn’t much when the Turners had it, and it’s worse now.”
“I’ll stop in the bank tomorrow and see if they’ll let me rent it.”
“I should think they would. Anything they get out of it is profit. Nobody wants that old place. It was wore out when Turner bought it, and he finished it off. Only about ten acres, I think, but the house—at least it’s a roof.”
Nelson sipped the tea that Mary had brought for him. “I’ll go in tomorrow morning.”
After he and Eileen had gone to bed, they lay talking quietly.
“I hope we get that house, Nelson.”
“You may not be after you see it. It always was pretty much a wreck. I’m surprised it’s still standing.”
“Anything will do.”
Nelson took her hand. “I didn’t bring you much, Eileen.”
She squeezed his hand tightly, and moonlight illuminated her smile. “You brought me yourself, and that’s the best gift of all.”
Pineville had not changed greatly, Nelson saw as he rode down the main street. It never had been a large town, although it was the county seat. He saw that several new stores had been added during the years he had been gone, but mostly the place looked about the same as when he’d left it. He was greeted several times by old friends—and ignored by others, who gave him one hard look and then turned away.
He drew up in front of the bank, a frame building wedged between a dry goods store and a hardware, and tied the horse to the rail. The assistant manager, a tall, gaunt man named Robert Squires, greeted him with merely a grunt and a nod. Squires had been strongly Union, Nelson remembered, and had been hateful to the Majors family even before he had left for the South.
“Why, hello, Mr. Squires. Is Dave in?”
“Mr. Pimberly is in,” Squires said stiffly, “but I don’t know if he’ll see you.”
“Would you mind asking?”
Bring the Boys Home Page 5
