Together they went to the edge of the clearing. Drew lifted the tether out of the ground, and they led the goat to the stanchion. It was a perfect fit.
“Get a bucket,” Grace instructed.
Drew did so and also brought her the T-shaped stool he’d made. Grace situated herself beside the goat, just as she’d done for weeks. She firmly grasped the teats and began to pull. “Drew, it works like a charm!”
Streams of milk flowed into the bucket as Annabelle stood still. For once, they weren’t losing quarts of milk because of Annabelle’s hooves bumping the bucket. Even quiet Drew grew excited.
“Deanna,” he called out, “come and see! The stanchion works!”
After Deanna and the children had watched Grace and Drew take turns milking Annabelle, Grace turned to Deanna and asked, “Annabelle is giving so much milk; do you think we could make some goat’s cheese?”
“What a fine idea,” Deanna said. “I know just where my cheesecloths and wheels are packed away.”
“Deanna!” Grace called as the young woman turned toward the house.
“Yes?” Deanna asked.
“Could we keep this a secret from my parents? I’d like to surprise them.”
Deanna smiled. “Of course, Grace. Now let’s get to work.”
Several days later, the cheese-making process was complete. Grace insisted that Deanna keep part of it for her own family. Deanna wrapped the remainder of the cheese in some cloth and placed it in a stone jar for Grace to carry home.
Later, when Mama and Papa tasted the soft cheese spread on some cornbread, Grace studied their faces.
“Mmm,” Papa said as he set his cornbread down. “That’s about the best cheese I’ve ever tasted in my life. What do you think, Lavina?”
Grace was surprised to see tears brimming in Mama’s eyes. “I do believe Gracie is growing up, Thad. It’s a big job to care for a goat, then milk her and make cheese, as well.”
What beautiful words to Grace’s ears. She ran to Mama’s side and gave her a hearty hug.
A few days later, the Tates’ buckboard came rumbling up the street in front of the Morgan home, and Grace ran out the front door to greet them.
Their wagon was laden with bags and barrels. A wicker basket held a fat watermelon, along with a few cucumbers, carrots, and turnips. In a crate were two cackling chickens. Thoughts of tasty chicken and dumplings made Grace’s mouth water. Finally, something to eat other than salt pork!
CHAPTER 14
A Summer Feast
Annabelle’s giving lots of milk!” Grace cried out as she ran around to Samantha’s side of the wagon. “We’ve even made cheese.”
Owen secured the brake on the wagon. Laughing, he said, “Well, well. Hello to you, Grace. Good to see you.”
“Grace Morgan,” Mama corrected, “what an improper greeting.” To Owen and Samantha she said, “I dare say this child has totally lost all decorum this summer. Everything has been at loose ends.”
“Please, Lavina,” Samantha said, “don’t apologize. We love Grace’s exuberance.” She patted her large tummy. “I hope our little one is made of the same cloth.”
Owen jumped down and came around to assist his wife. While Papa helped Owen unload the wagons, the women went inside to catch up on all the latest news.
Luke and Camille, as well as Carter, Deanna, and the children, were invited for Sunday dinner. It would be a celebration. A summer feast! Grace was ecstatic.
Later that evening, Samantha went along with Grace to Drew’s house. When they arrived, Drew had just brought the goat in from her tether. Deanna and the children came out to greet Samantha, and together they all went out back so Samantha could see Annabelle.
Samantha could hardly believe how well the goat looked. “I don’t believe Josie is this big,” she said, petting Annabelle’s head and rubbing her ears. “You’ve taken such good care of her, Grace. I’m so proud of you.”
“Mama didn’t think I could do it,” Grace said, stretching to stand a little taller.
Samantha nodded. “Sometimes mamas are the last ones to realize their babies are growing up.” She smiled. “I’ll probably be the same way.”
“But I didn’t do it all by myself.” Grace reached out and grabbed Drew’s arm, pulling him forward from where he’d been standing behind them. “Drew helped a lot.”
“I’m guessing he built the enclosure and the stanchion.”
“You guessed right,” Grace said.
Samantha ran her hands over the wooden stanchion. “What splendid workmanship,” she said.
Deanna agreed. “Drew’s a good worker, and he’s a gifted carpenter.”
Then they all laughed as Drew blushed and ducked his head.
On Saturday, Owen wanted to see the steamboats, so the men left to go to the boatworks. The women butchered chickens and set them to boiling. Pies were baked and turnips stewed. The kitchen was unbearably hot, but no one seemed to mind.
Seeing and smelling all the scrumptious food made Grace think about Amy in her crowded cabin. How she wished Amy and her family could share in this feast. The more she thought about it, the better she liked the idea. But since this was a family gathering, she wasn’t at all sure Mama would agree.
Mama, however, did agree. “Why, Gracie, what a kind heart you have,” she said. Mama dumped a basket of dried apples into an iron kettle of boiling water. Later those sweet apples would be the filling for a juicy apple pie. Setting the basket down, Mama said, “We have more than enough food for the Coppocks to join us. You and Drew run over to Amy’s and extend the invitation.”
“Drew’s gone off with Carter, Mama. But I can go by myself.”
Mama hesitated. She reached up to take her large stirring spoon down from its hook and stirred the apples thoughtfully.
“If I don’t go, how will they ever know they’re invited?” Grace reasoned.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Grace’s heart skipped a beat. At last Mama was beginning to trust her. “I’ll fetch my bonnet,” she said.
“Tell them we’ll expect them at three,” Mama said.
“I’ll tell them.” Grabbing her bonnet and tying it beneath her chin, she said, “I’ll be back before supper.”
“See that you are,” Mama answered. “Don’t dillydally.”
The look on Mrs. Coppock’s face when Grace offered the invitation was a sight to behold. Amy, too, fairly fluttered with excitement.
“There’s plenty, and we want you to come and be with us,” Grace assured them.
“I don’t know how to thank you.” Mrs. Coppock stood at her doorway with the baby resting on her hip. She’d invited Grace inside, but Grace declined the offer. She had to hurry back home.
“Your family has been more than kind to us,” Mrs. Coppock went on. “Jason and Mr. Coppock are grateful, as well. We’ll come along to your home directly from church.”
“We’ll be expecting you around three.” With a wave, Grace turned back down the path. At last she and Amy would have a few minutes alone to talk.
The air was steamy hot, and Grace was grateful for the shade from her bonnet. How she wished she had a fancy dress with a matching parasol to ward off the hot sun.
When she arrived back in town, she made sure her path led past the boardinghouse. There on the front porch sat Sadie Rose! Grace could hardly believe her good fortune. Sadie Rose was dressed in a pink ruffled frock with billowy sleeves and no bonnet. In her hand she held an ivory fan, which she waved slowly back and forth.
Grace nearly ran in Sadie Rose’s direction. “Hello!” she called out. “Hello, Sadie Rose!”
Sadie Rose’s lovely face broke into a smile that warmed Grace’s heart. “Hello to you, Grace. Come set a spell. How have you been?”
Grace bounded up the steps to the porch and sat down in the wicker chair beside Sadie Rose. “I’m quite well, thank you. I stopped by to see you one day, but Mrs. Kingsley said you were sleeping.”
Sadie Rose laughed l
ightly. “Ah yes, sleep. Something I do when others are awake.”
“Are you still singing at Mr. Dunne’s tavern?”
“That I am. Mr. Dunne, it turns out, is as fair an employer as I’ve had in quite a spell.”
“I’m pleased to hear that.”
“He appreciates my singing and my piano music.”
“I’m sure you’re excellent.” Grace had so many questions to ask. “Sadie Rose, how did you learn to play the piano? Did you take lessons?”
Sadie Rose adjusted her ruffled skirts and gave a little sigh. “It was my dear ma who taught me. Before she died.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Grace said.
“No need to be sorry. It was such a long time ago.”
“Sadie Rose, would it be too much to ask …? I mean, well, I was supposed to have a piano. It was ordered, but the bank failures and the dried-up river slowed everything down.”
Sadie Rose closed her fan and leaned forward. “Yes, Grace? What is it you want to ask?”
“Could you teach me a little bit about the piano? Just a little? I wouldn’t take up much of your time.”
Sadie Rose relaxed into her chair. “Why, of course I could teach you. At least a couple of songs anyway. Meet me at the tavern early next Saturday morning. No one will be there then. Can you make it?”
“But I thought you slept late.”
“Grace, for you I’d sacrifice my sleep.”
For a moment Grace thought her heart would beat right out of her chest. “Thank you, Sadie Rose. I’ll be there next Saturday morning.”
Grace ran the rest of the way home and barely made it before the family sat down to supper.
Sunday’s feast was a magnificent affair. Because Mama’s table wasn’t nearly big enough, makeshift tables were set up in the dining room by placing long boards over sawhorses. Jason and Drew took their plates out in the dooryard to eat. Matthew, Adah, and Amy’s sister Leah, were fed in the kitchen. But Grace and Amy were allowed to eat with the grown-ups.
The men talked of better times and how wise banking practices could prevent such disasters from ever hitting Cincinnati again. At one point during the meal, Grace was surprised to hear Carter say to Papa, “Thad, I want you to know I’ve changed my mind about working at the boatworks with you and Luke.”
Papa’s bushy eyebrows went up, but he waited for Carter to have his say.
“I’ve been doing a good deal of thinking this summer,” Carter went on. “It always seemed to me a man could make a go of things by himself. Well, I’ve tried that, and I’ve seen my family go without the things they need.”
“We’ve all seen our families go without,” came Papa’s gentle reply.
“That’s true,” Carter said. “The difference is, you have something to go back to. I don’t. I know the economy will turn around and the river won’t be dry forever. I’d have to be blind not to see that steamboats are the coming thing.” He paused a moment, and Grace knew that Carter was struggling to say what his heart felt. “If the offer’s still good, I’m ready to take you up on it.”
It was Luke who answered. “The offer’s as good as the day it was given.”
Carter nodded. “Thank you, Luke. As soon as you can take me on, let me know, and I’ll be there.”
After dinner, Papa took down his fiddle, and Grace stood up a few steps on the stairway in the hall and sang for everyone. Soon she had them all clapping their hands and laughing and joining in on the choruses. Hearts that had been heavy with worry and fear were made lighter for having a few hours of fun
Because Grace and Amy were put in charge of all the little ones while the women cleared the tables and washed dishes, there still was no time for quiet talk. But Grace realized she wasn’t quite ready to tell Amy about Sadie Rose. Instead they talked about the opening of school, which was set for the next week.
Amy said she didn’t care that she didn’t have pretty dresses for the new school term. “I’m just anxious to get back to studying,” she said. “Mama and Papa and Jason and I have all agreed that things aren’t nearly as important as having one another.”
Grace thought about that a moment and realized she agreed. Even though she still longed to have her own piano, she knew a piano could never replace the love of her family.
Owen and Samantha left before dawn the next morning. As the empty wagon rattled noisily down the street, Grace waved and hollered her good-byes, remembering especially to say thank you over and over again. She wondered what her family would have done without the generosity of the Tates.
With the new stock of foodstuffs in the larder, Papa was sure they could make it through until things turned around, which he believed would be very soon.
Mama and Deanna continued to make cheese with the extra milk, and of course there was plenty for everyone to drink. Even Luke and Camille took a share.
All week, Grace stewed about in her mind, trying to think of a way she could meet Sadie Rose at the tavern on Saturday morning. In the end, the problem took care of itself. It was Mama who suggested that Grace take a jar of goat’s milk to the dressmaker to see if she could trade for ribbon and lace.
Mama had been rummaging in the chest of clothing in the attic. Out of it she’d pulled two of her own cast-off dresses. “I believe,” she said to Grace, “there’s enough cloth here to make you a proper school dress. All we need is new ribbon and lace.” She gave Grace small snippets of the fabric to match the colors.
Grace could hardly believe her good fortune. If it were not for balancing the full jar of milk, she would have skipped all the way to the dressmaker’s shop.
Mrs. Cragle was pleased to be paid with fresh milk. Soon Grace had the silky ribbon and delicate lace tucked away in her pocket, and, bidding Mrs. Cragle good day, she made her way down the hill to Dunne’s Tavern. As she did, she kept glancing around, hoping no one watching knew her or Papa.
Before she approached the tavern, she heard the enchanting sound of lilting piano music and the clear, full tones of Sadie Rose’s singing. She stopped outside to listen, not wanting to break the spell. It was a hauntingly sad ballad about love being lost. Grace stood entranced, wanting the song to go on forever. When the last note died away, she tapped on the door.
“Is that you, Grace?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s me.”
“The door’s open. Come in.”
Pushing open the door, Grace wrinkled her nose at the heavy odor of beer that hung in the air. She’d often caught the aromas outside a tavern, but inside they were a hundred times worse. She hoped it wouldn’t make her sick. Across the darkened room, she could see Sadie Rose sitting at the piano.
A little shiver ran up Grace’s spine as she entered the forbidden tavern. She knew if Mama and Papa ever found out, they would never understand.
CHAPTER 15
Piano Lessons
Come on over here and have a seat,” Sadie Rose invited. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Sadie Rose pulled a chair next to the piano stool. Sitting so close to Sadie Rose, Grace could catch whiffs of the fragrance of roses. Roses smelled much better than beer.
Pointing to a key in the center of the keyboard, Sadie Rose told her it was called middle C. Then she explained the octaves and taught her the eight notes in each octave.
“What about the black keys?” Grace wanted to know.
“We call them sharps and flats,” she said. “I’ll tell you more about them in your next lesson.”
Next lesson! What beautiful words to Grace’s ears.
“Do you recognize this melody?” Sadie Rose asked. She placed her right hand on the keys and picked out a simple tune.
“Why, that’s A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’ My favorite hymn.”
“Is it now? It’s my favorite, too. It’s one of the first songs my ma ever taught me. Look how easy it is. It begins on this C up here and ends on middle C down here.” Patiently, Sadie Rose pointed out the notes and then let Grace follow her. Within minutes, Grace had t
he first few bars down pat.
“I don’t play this song very often anymore.”
“Why not?” Grace asked. “It’s so beautiful.”
“It brings back too many painful memories,” Sadie Rose said wistfully.
“About your ma?”
Sadie Rose nodded. “When Ma and Pa died, my baby brother and I were given to an orphanage in Philadelphia. It wasn’t a very nice place, Grace. I did my best to look out for little Patrick, but I had a difficult time of it.”
“Drew’s an orphan,” Grace offered. “He came here from Boston to live with his older brother. I’m sure glad he didn’t have to live in an orphanage.”
“Yes, be very thankful,” Sadie Rose replied, giving Grace’s shoulder a gentle pat. “Before Ma and Pa died, I gave them my word that I would always look after Patrick.” Sadie Rose paused and pulled a hankie from out of the sleeve of her blue organdy dress.
“What happened, Sadie Rose? What happened to Patrick?”
“People came,” she said in the barest whisper. “Came and adopted him. They—they didn’t want me. I said I could take care of him myself, but they laughed at me.”
Grace squeezed her eyes tight to blink back hot tears. “That’s so terrible,” she said. “But you couldn’t help what happened!”
“But I promised. I promised Ma and Pa. Now I can’t even get their forgiveness.”
“No,” Grace agreed, “but you can surely get God’s forgiveness if you just ask. And that’s even better.”
As though she hadn’t heard, Sadie Rose went on. “The couple who took Patrick away said they were coming out West. I’ve traveled from town to town, looking for him. That’s why I sing in taverns.” Sadie Rose dabbed gently at the corners of her eyes. “It earns me enough money to keep on going.”
“Why not pray and ask God to help? God knows where your brother is.”
American Challenge Page 41
