Hearts and Harvest

by Amber Stockton

  William could still remember the times he and his father had spent hours at the park near their old house throwing the ball back and forth to each other. Father had taught him and Jacob both how to hit. Not a bad legacy to pass down the line, even if Father spent more time correcting them than participating. William loved the chance today to work with his brother. They didn’t often get the opportunity to make it to the old park and see Jacob’s friends. Maybe once they rebuilt their holdings, they and Father could bat the ball to each other—for old time’s sake.

  “Are you going to throw it or not, Willie? My legs are getting tired from standing like this.”

  William shook his head. It looked as if he had let his thoughts wander. He gripped the ball in his hand and placed two fingers over the top, just like Father had once shown him. He cocked his arm back behind his head and prepared to release. Jacob would never know what hit him.

  “Is this a boy’s-only game, or can I watch as well?”

  William let go of the ball just as Annabelle’s voice reached his ears. He didn’t have time to maintain a hold before it left his hand. His breath caught in his throat as the baseball zipped through the air toward Jacob.

  God! Please let Jacob catch it.

  Wait a minute. Had he just prayed? Yes, he had. And right now he needed the extra help.

  A few seconds later, though, he realized he had no reason to worry. Jacob shifted his stance and caught the ball with ease, his grin beaming from ear to ear.

  “I got it. I got it.” The boy puffed out his chest. “See, Willie? I told you I could catch anything you threw!”

  “Yes, I see that.” William breathed a huge sigh of relief.

  “Hi, Miss Annabelle.” Jacob tossed the ball back and forth between his hands and approached. “When did you get here?”

  Annabelle’s soft laughter added a nice layer to the tense moment her sudden appearance caused. “I only just arrived.” She reached out and ruffled the boy’s fine blond hair. “In time to see you make that amazing catch.”

  Jacob puffed out his chest again. “That catch was amazing, wasn’t it?”

  “You did a fine job, Jacob.” William turned to face Annabelle. “What brings you out to visit us today? You don’t have a water bucket with you.”

  He held back the grimace at how callous his words sounded. Thankfully, Annabelle didn’t seem to notice. Or if she did, she didn’t show it.

  “No, I took a quick break from meal preparations to come extend an invitation to you both.”

  “An invitation?” That sounded intriguing.

  “You mean you want us to come somewhere with you?”

  “Yes, Jacob.” She looked back and forth between them. “And I am quite confident it’s a place you both will love very much.”

  “Tell us! Tell us!” Jacob barely managed to contain his excitement. And he didn’t even know where they might be going yet.

  “Yes,” William added. “By all means. Don’t make us stand here and guess.”

  Instead of answering them, Annabelle reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out several identical items that looked like tickets of some sort.

  “What are those?” He nodded at the items.

  She extended her hand toward William. “Why don’t you take a look and see for yourself?”

  William held them in front of him to read what was printed. He gasped. How had she gotten ahold of these? Better yet, how had she known it would be like a dream come true to go?

  “What are they, Willie?” Jacob took a step closer and craned his neck, trying to get a glimpse beyond William’s hands. “Can I see? Can I? Please?”

  William’s voice caught in his throat. He opened his mouth several times and tried to speak. Nothing but air came out. Clearing his throat, he tried again.

  “They’re—” His voice cracked. He had to get it together. “They’re tickets, Jacob,” he managed, feeling like someone had landed a blow to his head.

  “Tickets to what?”

  “To a baseball game at Boulevard Park.”

  “A game?” Jacob sounded amazed. “A real, honest-to-goodness baseball game? With players and gloves and uniforms and everything?”

  Annabelle laughed. “And everything, Jacob.”

  The sound of her voice broke through the cloud of disbelief surrounding William. “How did you manage this?”

  “My father has a few connections with some rather influential people.”

  She spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal. Then again, she likely had no idea just how important something like this was.

  “I heard that the Western League had reorganized this year and that there was a club in the city that has established themselves as a charter member. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d actually be able to see the team play.”

  Annabelle shrugged. “Well, I remember another visit where you, Jacob, and your father were tossing and hitting the ball back and forth. I could see how much fun you were having and how much you seemed to love it. So I asked my father to make some inquiries. When he came back with the tickets, I could hardly wait to come here and give them to you.”

  “And your father didn’t ask you why you had this sudden interest in baseball or why you needed three tickets?”

  “Five, actually,” she corrected.

  “Five?” Who else was coming?

  “Yes. In order to get these tickets I’ve given you, I also had to agree to bring my brother and sister as well.”

  “Oh.” That didn’t sound so bad. William figured it was more so she would have a chaperone. After all, he had yet to officially meet her parents, even if he was certain they knew about him. And that brought back the question about her father and the number of tickets. “You didn’t say whether your father asked about the number of tickets.”

  “Yes, about that.” She ducked her head, and a becoming blush spread across her cheeks. “He and my mother were rather curious when I gave your names, but I assured them the tickets were for two friends.” She looked up at him, a pleading expression in her eyes. “I hope that was all right.”

  “We’re your friends, Miss Annabelle,” Jacob piped in before William could reply. “Of course it’s all right.”

  William grinned and jerked a thumb toward his brother. “What he said.”

  “So you’ll go then?”

  As if he’d turn down an opportunity like this. He’d be daft to refuse. “Of course.”

  “Excellent.” She took two steps backward. “Very well.I can’t tarry much longer. I only came to make sure you wanted to come and to give you the tickets.” Annabelle pointed toward the tent and tables off yonder. “Lunch will be served soon.” She stepped away and turned.

  “Will we meet you there?” The park was quite a ways from where they worked, but if they left early enough, they could make it in time.

  “Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.” She glanced over her shoulder, pressed her lips into a thin line, and tilted her head. The way one corner of her mouth quirked, it made a dimple appear in her left cheek, giving her a pixieish quality. “Since we have to pass by here on our way, we’ll take you in our carriage. Otherwise you’ll have to walk quite a distance. And you might not make it in time.”

  A carriage. He hoped it wouldn’t be enclosed. An open one suited them just fine. Dressed the way they’d be, the plainer the transportation the better. He didn’t need to tell her that, though. Whatever carriage she sent would be fine with him.

  “That sounds good.”

  “Very well.” She nodded. “It appears to be all settled, then.”

  “Are we really going to a baseball game, Willie?”

  “Yes, Jacob. And we have Miss Annabelle to thank.”

  “Thank you, lots and lots, Miss Annabelle. Willie talks about games all the time. We’re going to have a great time. I just know it.”

  Annabelle ruffled the boy’s hair again. “I certainly hope you do, Jacob. I hope you do.”

  Just before she turned to leave, Wil
liam caught her eye and held her gaze. “Thank you,” he said with all the sincerity he could muster. “You have no idea how much this means. . .to both of us.”

  A soft smile formed on her lips. “I believe I have some idea.”

  And with that, she left.

  Four days. How in the world would he manage to wait that long?

  ❧

  The park at the corner of East Lafayette and Helen was even larger than he imagined it would be for a team just getting on their feet again. Nothing like when the team in the city was the Wolverines, but every charter had to start somewhere. From what he’d heard, the owner was determined to make this team stick. They’d been without a professional team for almost six years. It was high time another one came back.

  “Would you look at all the people, Willie!” Jacob ran ahead of them but not too far. “And the field. It’s so big.”

  Annabelle walked right next to him. Matthew and Victoria ambled alongside her on her left. The carriage had arrived right after lunch. And just as he’d hoped, it wasn’t enclosed. But another surprise came when the carriage deposited them at the nearest trolley stop and Matthew paid for their fares. He could accept that better than if Annabelle had covered them. From there they followed Jefferson to Helen and Helen to Lafayette.

  “Annabelle tells me you and your brother really love the game of baseball.” Matthew craned his neck forward to speak to him as they made their way to their seats. “Same here.”

  “Yes. A few years back, I followed everything I could read about the Wolverines, including the National League pennant and the exhibition championship they won seven years ago. Then the team disbanded, and Detroit has been minor league ever since. Until this year, that is.”

  “No kidding?” Matthew paused and moved to William’s other side, no doubt to avoid talking around Annabelle and her sister. “Does this mean they’re back at major league status again?”

  “Not yet. They’re only a charter member this year. But I have no doubt they’ll be major league before too long. From what I’ve heard of their owner, George Vanderbeck, it’s only a matter of time.”

  “Here we are,” Annabelle announced as they reached the wooden benches where they’d sit.

  William looked out at the playing field where the two teams were practicing and warming up for the game. It wasn’t the best vantage point, but he couldn’t complain. Just being here was the best gift he’d received in a long time. He ushered Jacob in first and made sure he got the seat closest to his brother. Matthew followed with Victoria and Annabelle bringing up the rear. The two girls immediately lapsed into a conversation all their own.

  “So,” Matthew continued once they were seated, “it appears you know far more than I about this game. What else do you know about this particular team?”

  William almost laughed. He knew just about everything there was to know, short of being an actual member of the team. “What do you want to know?”

  “Well, how about the players? Are any of them the same as when the Wolverines played in the city?”

  “Not as far as I know. But then again, this is the first game I’ve attended, and this club is just getting started. I haven’t heard much about who is playing on the team.” Hethought back to when the major league was there. “I do know that there was a high percentage of turnover during the eight years they played as the Wolverines. Only one member made it through all eight seasons, and that was Ned Hanlon.”

  “Hmm, I believe I heard his name once or twice.”

  “Well, you might not have heard much about baseball when it was here last. At least when it was worthy of front-page news.”

  Matthew nodded. “You’ve got a point there.” He paused and looked out at the field. “What made them disband?”

  “They didn’t have enough fans to remain a major league team.”

  “Yes, I remember reading that Detroit was actually one of the smallest cities in the National League to have a baseball team.”

  “Right.” William ticked off other cities on his fingers. “Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and St. Louis all had thousands more fans than Detroit did. And since they couldn’t keep up, they had to quit.” He searched his memory for some other tidbits. “There were two attempts a few years ago to revive the team through the International League and the old Northwestern League.”

  Matthew chimed in. “But both ended after one season.”

  Annabelle’s brother obviously had more than a rudimentary knowledge of the game. Perhaps they could have a rousing discussion today.

  “Willie, look.” Jacob tugged on his arm and pointed out at the field. “They’re about to start. Come on. Let’s watch.”

  William chuckled. “That’s why we’re here, Jacob. To watch. It would be hard not to.”

  His brother was so fixated on the field, he hadn’t picked up on William’s teasing. And that was just as well. The more enamored the lad was in the game, the less he’d have to be concerned with keeping an eye on him. He wouldn’t likely get into too much trouble if he didn’t take his eyes off the players.

  Once the game began, the five of them watched everything with unabashed interest. William managed to glance out the corner of his eye to find Annabelle appearing to enjoy herself as well. At least the tickets proved worthwhile. He’d hate it if she went to all the trouble to get them and then didn’t have a good time.

  At several points in the game, Matthew demonstrated a true interest in baseball that almost mirrored William’s. But he also had a lot of questions. William answered them all amid their banter on what they each knew. If he didn’t miss his mark, he figured Matthew would become even more of a fan by the end of the day.

  “You weren’t kidding when you said you knew a lot about this game.” Matthew shook his head. “I don’t think it’s possible to stump you.”

  William grinned. “Well, can I help it if I used to come to every game they played in town?”

  “Wow! Every game? I only managed to make it to oneor two.”

  “Well, you see, my father knew the owner, and our family had a standing invitation to the games. Since I loved it so much, we came.”

  He shifted his gaze to find Annabelle staring at him, her mouth parted slightly and her eyes registering surprise. Had he said something wrong? He tried to retrace his words. She spoke before he could put his finger on what caused her shock.

  “Your father used to know the owner of the Wolverines?”

  Ah, so that was what caught her attention. And she’d paid attention earlier when he had stated the old name of the team when they played at the major league level. Yes, he could see why such an admission would garner that type of reaction.

  “Yes. They were good friends, in fact.” No sense lying about it. She might as well know a bit more about his family’s past. “Baseball has always been a favorite pastime of mine. When my father saw this, he managed to persuade the owner of the old team to allow us access to every game. We came every chance we could get.”

  “So what happened?” Annabelle leaned forward, her attention focused intently on him.

  William shifted on the hard bench. A moment ago he thought it might be wise to share some details about his past. Now he wasn’t so sure. It only brought back memories he’d much rather see remain buried. He’d been the one to open Pandora’s box, though. Talking more about what his family once had wouldn’t exactly unleash a swarm of evils upon them, but it would make him dwell on all they had lost.

  “I’m not really sure,” he finally managed. “Once the Wolverines disbanded, the owner seemed to disappear with them. A few others came and went with the attempts to start a team again during the years when we only had minor league status. But I never saw Mr. Stearns again.”

  “Do you think he might have left and moved to another city?” Matthew asked. “Maybe he switched to another team somewhere.”

  William hadn’t thought of that, as it didn’t happen too often with owners. “I suppose that’s possible. All I know is my father n
ever spoke of it, and I soon came to realize it was a mystery that wouldn’t likely be solved anytime soon.”

  “That’s so sad.” Victoria sighed. “To think that a friendship like that could just fall apart. I mean, it sounds like he was an important person in your life when you were younger.”

  “Yes, he was.” William had almost come to see him as part of the family. And then he was gone.

  “It makes you wonder if there had been a disagreement of some sort.” Annabelle tapped a finger to her lips as she often did when she became contemplative. “Or it’s possible the disbanding of the team hit the owner really hard, and he wasn’t able to handle it all.”

  “Well, whatever the reason, I only know I spent a lot of years wondering and waiting, hoping one day to see the return of a major league team.” William extended his right arm toward the field. “Now it looks like I’ll finally get that chance again.”

  Annabelle paused and licked her lips. She opened her mouth to speak then closed it, sitting back on the bench. “It does seem like that’s a strong possibility.”

  Had she been about to say something else? William wasn’t sure. But her remark seemed to put a period on that topic of conversation. No one else offered anything more, and their attention focused again on the game.

  It was just as well. Talking about the past had made William a bit melancholy. Remembering what once was only made him question the reasons why again. They’d had everything.

  Oh well. He didn’t want to spoil a good thing by dwelling on the negatives today. Being at this game was a dream come true. And he intended to enjoy it.

  EIGHT

  For several weeks following the baseball game, Annabelle devoted all of her spare time to assisting the farming families. So many of them had endeared themselves to her and found a special place in her heart. Most of all, she’d come to love the time she spent with the children.