The Seventh Messenger

by Carol Costa

  Evelyn didn"t know one team from another and she didn"t much care, but she liked the looks of Coy and the way his athletic body moved when he threw the ball. She sat there and watched until the practice session was over.

  Coy was heading for the dugout as Evelyn was leaving the stands. He made a quick detour and sprinted over to the railing to talk to her.

  “Hi,” he said pleasantly. “I"m Coy Purnell.”

  Evelyn instantly recognized the name. “As in King Benjamin Purnell?”

  Coy laughed. “He"s my father.”

  “I guess that makes you a prince.”

  Coy laughed again. “And who are you?”

  “Evelyn Warren. My folks joined a few months back.”

  “I"ve been in Chicago recruiting new members for the team,” he said. “I guess that"s why I haven"t seen you before.”

  “We live on one of the farms,” Evelyn told him. “I just walked over from the kitchens after I made my egg delivery today.”

  “I see. So, how are you adjusting to the colony?”

  “You want an honest answer,” she said, looking at him with a pout he found quite appealing.

  “Yes.”

  “I hate it here, especially the farm.”

  “I"m sorry.”

  “Maybe you could use your influence to get me a job here in the park.”

  “Jacob or my father make all the job assignments. I could speak to them about it for you.”

  Evelyn"s smile was dazzling. “Would you do that?” Coy smiled back. “I"ll see what I can do.”

  A young boy ran out of the dugout. “Coy, they need you for the meeting.”

  “Be right there,” Coy called out. Then he turned back to Evelyn. “Are you coming to the game tomorrow.”

  “I wouldn"t miss it,” Evelyn told him.

  “Good. Wait for me after the game and we"ll talk again,” he said.

  Evelyn nodded and waved as Coy went back to join his teammates. She walked back to the farm, taking her time and thinking about Coy Purnell and the way he had looked at her.

  Like most of the boys she met, he was attracted by her physical beauty. Unlike most of the boys she met, Evelyn saw Coy"s interest as an opportunity to improve her life in the colony.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Benjamin purchased a large boat, the manufacturer"s most deluxe model. He named his sailing vessel, The Star of Bethlehem. It had been a mild spring and most sunny days, the boat could be seen cruising back and forth on Lake Michigan between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan.

  There was a nice cabin in the center of the vessel with shaded windows. There were always young girls on the deck, but since it was still rather cool out on the water, the girls were not yet wearing bathing attire.

  When Benjamin was not in the cabin with one or two of the girls, he sat on deck in a lounge chair with the girls gathered around him.

  Jacob was usually at the helm and never strayed from his place at the wheel. Some days when a new girl was brought abroad, there were screams and tears on the water craft, but Jacob kept the boat far enough from shore and far enough away from other boats that he alone could hear the cries.

  Although Benjamin had invited her to sail with him, Mary had refused to step foot on the boat. Like Jacob, she chose to ignore the things that took place on The Star of Bethlehem. In return for her silence, Benjamin chose to ignore her relationship with John Assanti.

  While Coy was at the baseball field talking to Evelyn Warren, Mary was in her suite going over the paperwork generated by her recent trip to Chicago to buy items for the House of David souvenir stands. The resident artists and craftsmen produced lovely artwork and many practical items such as wooden bowls and treasure boxes. John had recently crafted a small clay-based crucifix designed to be hung on a wall. It was sure to be an outstanding seller, and in the past, most of the other items manufactured at the colony were quickly snatched up by the more affluent tourists who could afford to purchase top quality goods. However, many of the people who visited the park were people with large families who wanted a memento to take home but simply did not have the money to pay for the more expensive offerings. This meant that Mary often traveled to the bigger cities to seek out unusual and inexpensive items to be sold at the park.

  As Mary reviewed her recent purchases she thought how getting away from Benjamin and his activities was one thing that allowed her to cope with his reckless behavior. The other thing that helped her turn a blind eye to the Inner Circle was her friendship with John Assanti.

  There was a knock on the door interrupting Mary"s thoughts.

  “You may enter,” Mary called out absently.

  The door opened and Coy, still wearing his practice uniform walked in. “Hello, mother,” he said, coming over to kiss her cheek. “You"re looking well.”

  Mary stood up and embraced her son. “Coy, what a lovely surprise. I was going to come to the field and watch the practice, but I got involved with these orders.”

  Coy sat down on a chair across from the cluttered desk where Mary was working. Most of the time, Mary preferred to work in her suite rather than downstairs in the business offices.

  “What did you order this time?”

  “Lovely silver spoons with our name carved into them and some china thimbles. They should be very popular with the ladies.”

  “I agree.”

  “How was your trip to Chicago?”

  “Mr. Thorpe and I signed up two new players, an outfielder with a good batting average and a first baseman.”

  “Your father will be pleased.”

  “I hope so. I understand he"s out on the boat again today with the Inner Circle. Counseling the girls on the ways of the flesh, I"m sure.”

  “Now, Coy, you know that we don"t.”

  Coy cut her off. “Don"t worry, mother. You"re the only one I talk to about Benjamin"s activities. He thinks he can do whatever he pleases, while he expects the rest of us obey the ridiculous laws he makes up. The best part is his loyal followers seem to enjoy living in poverty, except for the lovely young girl I met today.”

  96 CAROL COSTA “Oh?” Mary said, her voice rising from curiosity. “And who might that be?”

  “Her name is Evelyn Warren. Do you know her?”

  “Only by reputation. My friends in the kitchen say that she is quite pretty, but not very friendly. She comes most weekdays to deliver the eggs from the farm her parents are working.”

  “She is quite pretty and I found her to be very friendly as well.”

  “Did she know who you are?”

  “Yes. Do you think that"s the only reason she was friendly to me?” Coy laughed at the stricken look his question had invoked on his mother"s face.

  “I don"t think that at all,” Mary said quickly. “You are more handsome and better educated than most of our young men here, and you"re a talented athlete too. The girls all compete for your attentions.”

  “Only the ones who are too old for Benjamin"s Inner Circle. Evelyn seems to be in her late teens, probably too old for his tastes.” Mary could not keep the hurt from showing in her eyes and Coy got up and embraced her again. “I"m sorry, Mother. That was insensitive of me.”

  “It"s all right, Coy. Your father and I have been married many years now and though I am concerned about his recent behavior, I know that he will not listen to my objections.”

  Coy sat down again and decided he had better change the subject. “I saw some of the pieces that John has ready for opening weekend. They are marvelous.”

  The mention of John"s name brought a smile to Mary"s face.

  “Yes. He"s very talented.”

  “Are you coming to the game tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Benjamin and I will both be there.”

  “Then you may meet Evelyn Warren. She promised to be there as well.”

  Mary nodded. “I"ll look forward to it.”

  When Coy left, Mary finished up her paperwork and left the Diamond House by the private stairway that led from
her suite to a little-used back door. The door opened onto a path that led directly to John Assanti"s studio.

  Mary knocked softly on the door and after a few minutes, John opened it. He was carrying the towel that he used to wipe clay from his hands. He had obviously been working on the sculpture of an angel guiding a small girl that sat on his worktable across the room.

  After Mary was inside, John bolted the door behind her.

  He opened his muscular arms and she stepped into them. Their embrace lasted for several minutes and Mary drew comfort from his strength and affection for her.

  “Benjamin"s out on the new boat again,” John said, finally releasing her.

  “How did you know?”

  “From the worried look on your sweet face.”

  “I was just talking to Coy, and he is as worried as I am about his father"s indiscretions.”

  “From what I have observed here, there is no need to worry. Benjamin"s followers are blind to his indiscretions. They follow his laws without question and happily give over their young virgins to please him.”

  Mary stiffened and backed away. John"s opinion of Benjamin had never been good, and it had grown steadily worse during the time he had been at the colony.

  “Please, John, don"t talk like that. If anyone were to overhear you, it would get back to Benjamin and he would expel you from the colony.”

  John put his arms around her again. “I"m sorry, Mary. It"s just that I can"t stand seeing you hurt.”

  “Benjamin is making the same mistakes that Michael Mills made all those years ago.”

  “Have you talked to him about it recently?”

  “I"ve tried, but you forget that I am no longer Benjamin"s wife. I am only his sister now.”

  “He is a very foolish man,” John said softly as he bent to kiss her.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  On Saturday afternoon when the House of David team played the LaPorte All Stars the stands were filled to capacity. King Benjamin and Queen Mary had the best seats in the house directly behind first base.

  Some of the boys who worked in the kitchen had gotten to the field early and snagged good seats behind home plate. They were delighted when Evelyn came along and asked if she could sit with them. There were some whispered arguments to decide who would sit on either side of Evelyn, but she didn"t seem to notice. Her attention was focused on Benjamin and Mary. It was the first time she had actually seen them and the girl was immediately envious of the fine clothes they wore and the way everyone seemed to revere them.

  Coy was the starting pitcher and threw four hitless innings, but in the top of the fifth the LaPorte All Stars scored three runs. Coy left the game with All Stars on second and third and only one out. Dutch Johnson came in and struck out the next two batters ending the rally and the inning.

  Once Coy left the game, Evelyn was bored to tears despite the kitchen crew"s attempts to entertain her with their humorous comments about the game.

  “I never figured you for a baseball fan,” the boy named Adam who was seated next to her said. “Did you live in a baseball city before you came here?”

  “No. This is the first game I"ve ever seen. I only came because Coy Purnell invited me.”

  At the mention of Coy"s name, Adam"s eyebrows rose. “You know Coy?”

  “Yes.”

  “No wonder you don"t talk to us when you deliver the eggs.”

  Evelyn looked at him sharply. “I don"t talk to you because you all look at me like you"ve never seen a girl before. It makes me uneasy.”

  “Sorry,” Adam said. “Can we be friends now?”

  “I guess,” Evelyn conceded.

  One of the House of David players got a hit just then and everyone jumped up and cheered. Evelyn waited until everyone sat down again, then she stood and started pushing her way down the row.

  “Where are you going?” one of the other boys asked.

  “Home. I have to go home now,” Evelyn replied.

  Evelyn left the baseball field and walked aimlessly around the upper level of the park. She spent some time in the zoo watching the lion pace back and forth restlessly in his cage. There had been some talk that the colony was thinking of purchasing a lioness to mate with this male. Evelyn thought it was amusing that King Benjamin had forbidden his people to mate but thought it was okay for the lion.

  As the beast continued to pace back and forth in front of her, Evelyn thought she knew exactly how he felt. Although she wasn"t confined to a cage, she was trapped on the farm that was as boring as the empty space the lion inhabited. For the hundredth time since yesterday afternoon, she wished that Coy Purnell would like her enough to help her escape from the life of poverty her parents had chosen for her.

  After most of the fans left the area, Evelyn went back into the stands at the baseball field and sat down again, hoping that Coy would appear. She sat there for more than thirty minutes before he came strolling across the field to where she was seated.

  He was dressed in regular clothes. “Did you enjoy the game?” he asked her.

  “While you were pitching,” she said. “After you left the game I got bored.”

  Coy smiled. “I was hoping to pitch the whole game to impress you, but those All Stars were tough today.”

  “Why would you want to impress me?” Evelyn asked with a hint of annoyance. “I"m a nobody.”

  “A very pretty nobody.” Coy smiled at her.

  “Thank you, but living on that farm is going to make me old and ugly pretty soon.”

  “I saw you sitting behind home plate with all those other guys. It threw my game off.” Coy told her.

  “Those were just some of the boys who work in the kitchen. I see them everyday when I deliver the eggs. They"re all too young and silly for me.”

  “Glad to hear it. Are you hungry?”

  “Not really.”

  “Well, I"m starving. I never eat before I pitch.”

  “Maybe that"s why you were too weak to finish the game.”

  Coy laughed. “Maybe. So, how about going into town with me? There"s a restaurant I like there.”

  “Do we have to walk?” she asked.

  “No. I have a car.”

  Evelyn was impressed. “A motor car?”

  “Yes.”

  “I"ve never ridden in a motor car before.”

  “It"s noisy, but I think you"ll like it.” He held out his hand. “Let"s go.”

  Evelyn took his hand and let him lead her away. Coy"s car was black and shiny and Evelyn climbed into the front seat while he walked around the front of it and cranked up the engine.

  The car was noisy, so they didn"t talk much on the way to Benton Harbor. Coy drove through town to the bridge that connected Benton Harbor with St. Joseph and parked the car.

  “What"s this place?” Evelyn asked.

  “Just down below the bridge is a place that sells seafood. They have shrimp and lobster and fresh fish caught here in Lake Michigan.”

  “I thought House of David members didn"t eat the flesh of any living things?”

  “Some don"t. I do. What about you?”

  “In Illinois, my dad and uncles used to fish and we ate it all the time. It was good.”

  “Then, you"ll love this place,” Coy said putting his arm around her shoulder. “I like you, Evelyn.”

  Evelyn favored him with one of her rare smiles. She would eat a chipmunk if it would help her get off that awful farm.

  *** A few days later, Benjamin walked the empty halls of Jerusalem to the business office located in a quiet corner of the building. There was a storm brewing on the lake making it impractical to go out on the Star of Bethlehem. However, it had not yet begun to rain so most of the residents of this house were across the street working in the park.

  At breakfast, Jacob had mentioned that he was supposed to meet a young woman and her two daughters at Shiloh. They had traveled to Michigan from Indiana to join the colony. Jacob had a cold and had sneezed throughout the morning meal.

 
“You go back to your room and rest,” Benjamin had instructed him. “I will greet the new members.”

  Jacob was surprised and looked across the table at Mary for her opinion. “Yes, Jacob. Benjamin is right. You must rest today. Since Silas and Cora are busy this morning, I can accompany Benjamin.”

  Benjamin looked at his wife and smiled. “That"s not necessary. I know you have much to do with the park opening at the end of next week.”

  Jacob excused himself and Mary turned to Benjamin. “Very well, Benjamin. You haven"t greeted new members for months, but I suppose the fact that this is a young woman with young daughters has aroused you.”

  “Your tongue has grown much too sharp lately.” Benjamin replied. “Perhaps all the time you spend with your artist is having a bad influence on you.”

  “Excuse me,” Mary said as she rose to her feet. “I do have much to attend to this morning.”

  Mary hurried out of the dining room. Her cheeks were flushed with anger. Mary knew that she had provoked Benjamin and he had retaliated by bringing up her relationship with John. With so many eyes watching her every move, it was getting more and more difficult to be discreet.

  Benjamin had watched his wife"s retreating figure and laughed softly. It didn"t take much to make her turn and run. It never had.

  Martha Sullivan and her two little girls were already sitting in the office when Benjamin arrived. She stood and Ben walked forward and took her hand.

  “You are most welcome here,” he said graciously.

  Martha nodded her gratitude. “These are my girls, Lenore is five years old and Alice is four. We are very happy to be here.”

  Benjamin seated himself behind the small desk and smiled at her again. “You have beautiful little girls, Martha. Of course they look very much like you.”

  “Thank you. I"m honored to be greeted by you personally.”

  “When time permits, I like to welcome our new members. Unfortunately, I"m not able to do so often.”

  “I understand and I want you to know how much I appreciate your taking us into the colony.” Martha reached into the bag she was carrying and withdrew an envelope.

  “Perhaps the girls should wait outside while we make our arrangements,” Ben suggested.