Gingham Mountain

by Mary Connealy

  When Festus looked around and saw everyone in the town siding against him he quit struggling.

  “Caring for children is a sacred trust.” The parson took his hands off Brewster and pushed Grant aside so he faced the man. Grant, holding Libby tight, gave way.

  “God’s given that trust to you, Mr. Brewster. He’s given you children who can grow up hating like you do or loving as God wants them to.” The parson quoted: “ ‘But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.’ ”

  They were familiar words. The parson’s voice was as clear as a night sky. As pure as God’s Son and His sacrifice of love.

  “You will behave decently tonight or you will be thrown out. Your choice, Brewster.”

  Festus didn’t answer.

  “And from this day on,” the parson added, “if you harm Grant or one of his children or anyone else, you will answer to the whole town.”

  The parson’s voice lost its edge and became softer, kinder. “Festus, please, if you only knew how much God loved you, all the turmoil would be gone from your life. God wants to fill you with His peace.”

  “Peace?” A look of longing shone on Festus’s face so intense and personal that Grant felt he should look away.

  “Yes. Do you stay in peace or leave this building?”

  Grant saw the war inside Brewster and prayed. It was the first time in Grant’s life that he’d ever been able to pray for Festus.

  Finally, into the endless quiet, speaking barely above a whisper, Festus said, “I. . .I’d like to stay.”

  The parson laid his hand on Festus’s head like a baptism. “Good. I’m glad. And later I’ll walk home with you and your family. You’ve got some decisions to make about your life.”

  “Can we have the pageant now?” Libby spoke into the silence, and the exasperation in her voice broke everyone into laughter.

  Into the chaos Hannah spoke, “Let’s get on with it.”

  Everyone filed into the schoolroom and settled into chairs. Grant felt the presence of the Holy Ghost in that room on that warm spring night.

  The children lined up. All of them recited the old familiar story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It sounded fresh coming from childish lips.

  The highlight of the night came near the end.

  It was impossible that Hannah had planned for Libby to have a speaking role. But now, from the place she’d stood in the front row, singing along, Libby stepped forward. Reading from a slate, Hannah must have quickly written up for her, Libby’s voice rang out. “ ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.’ ”

  Grant prayed that he lived up to the Great Commission. He prayed that, in his own small corner of the world, he did teach. He did baptize. He did spread the word, at least to his own children, that God was with them.

  The whole building finished the program with a quiet verse of “Just as I Am.” As the song faded, the parson said a quiet closing prayer.

  When Grant saw Festus Brewster bow his head, Grant realized he couldn’t hold on to the foolish promise he’d made to himself to avoid Hannah. She deserved to be thanked for all her work and the new sense of closeness and community she’d brought to Sour Springs.

  Grant went over and took her hand. “The pageant went perfectly.”

  TWENTY-NINE

  The pageant was a disaster.” Hannah smiled despite the fact that she was dead serious. “What are you talking about?”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Grant objected.

  “We had six little singers who kept running down to sit with their parents. I could barely hear the students saying their parts over the din. Gordy tripped over his robe, landed on Emory, and the two rolled down the risers punching each other. Benny and Libby got into a tug-of-war over the cross and ended up in a slap fight, and—”

  Marilyn rushed up, interrupting Hannah. Grant’s daughter’s face blazed so pink Hannah could see the blush in the part of her white-blond hair. “I can’t believe I pushed that big paper stone, and it started rolling and knocked into Megan holding her baby. If Ian hadn’t moved so fast, I could have hurt them both.”

  Hannah patted her shoulder. “It’s a good lesson to learn.”

  “Why’s that?” Grant asked.

  Hannah grimaced. “I have plans for a Christmas program next winter, and I considered asking Megan if we could use her baby.”

  Marilyn gasped in horror and covered her face with her hands. “No, the poor little thing will never survive!”

  “I’m sure Benny wouldn’t stage a tug-of-war over a real baby like he did with the cross.” Hannah had a brief vision of Benny and Libby doing just that and shuddered. “We’ll think of something.”

  “Those were all little things,” Grant said. “The pageant was perfect.”

  Hannah shook her head.

  “I’m never going to convince Wilbur to marry me now,” Marilyn said. “He’ll be scared to death of what might happen to our children.”

  A young man Hannah thought had better be Wilbur came up behind Marilyn and hooked his arm around her slender waist. “You’re not getting out of marrying me,” he said, talking into the back of her neck. “I think you’re gonna be about the finest mother who ever lived.” He dragged a giggling Marilyn away.

  “I’d better get Marilyn through her books quick.” Hannah turned and smiled at Grant. “I’ve heard Wilbur’s clearing land for his house.”

  Grant stepped just a bit closer to Hannah. “I want you to know—”

  Megan came up beside them. “Thanks so much, Miss Cartwright.” She put her arm around Grant. “Didn’t know if I’d make it here or not, Pa. Ian kicked up a fuss, but I wouldn’t hear of missing it. You know how Ian is.”

  “I know.” Grant nodded. “It won’t be long now.”

  “Till you’re a grandpa again.” Megan started laughing and several others around her joined in. Even Hannah had to laugh at Grant, so young, being a grandpa.

  Grant crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. “This’n’ll be my tenth grandchild. I’m used to it.”

  The whole crowd laughed again.

  Gladys had helped arrange for cookies and cider, and the parson said a heartfelt prayer.

  The party began winding down and the crowd headed for home.

  As they stepped outside, Will held his lantern up to light the way to the hitching post.

  Hannah watched them all leave then closed up the schoolhouse, her heart singing with the success of the Easter pageant, despite the fiasco with that horrible Prudence. Her heart still glowed with the kind words and the many thanks.

  With a smile, she walked through the quiet night. Her pleasure faded as she let herself into her lonely room. Tomorrow was Easter, a day that was the foundation of her faith. But it would just be another lonely day for Hannah.

  Of course Parrish had never made the day memorable. Once she’d escaped Parrish and lived in one hideaway or another with her collection of brothers and sisters, she’d spent Easter focusing on the holiness of the day, but she’d rarely gone to church or had the means to prepare a special meal. At least tomorrow she’d attend services.

  She realized as she prepared for bed that she didn’t even have any food in her room. The diner and mercantile were closed tomorrow because of the holiday, so she couldn’t buy any. The pageant and the Brewsters had claimed all her attention for so long that she’d neglected almost everything else. With a sigh, Hannah realized she’d have to go without food on Easter. Well, she’d done without food before. It wouldn’t kill her.

  The night had cooled and the diner’s heat had burned away and faded. So she’d be cold as well as hungry. After all she’d survived in her life, she didn’t mind her little room and a
n occasional day of cold and hunger. She did mind the loneliness though. She’d never been alone on Easter before.

  Self-pity grew and she indulged herself in it as the loneliness overwhelmed her. She wept into her pillow even as she knew she was being selfish.

  Libby was safe at the Rocking C.

  She prayed for her big sister, Grace, and wondered if she’d ever know what happened to her. After the foolish tears were spent, she settled into her cold little bed.

  As Hannah walked out of church the next morning, Charlie rushed up beside her. “Miss Cartwright, have you made plans for today?”

  Hannah smiled down at him. “No, I haven’t.”

  “We’d like you to come out and celebrate Easter with us at the Rocking C. Joshua bagged himself a huge turkey, and the girls have been baking since dawn. A lot of Pa’s grown children are coming and bringing food along. We’re going to have more food than even all of us can eat. We’d like it very much if you could come.”

  “Well, I don’t know.” Of course the answer was no, but Charlie looked so hopeful. Hannah decided she’d find Grant to turn down the invitation rather than disappoint Charlie.

  The crowd was thinning fast, everyone hurrying home to their Easter dinners. Grant was nowhere in sight. She didn’t see his wagon either, or any other of his children.

  “Do you know the way through the pass?”

  “I know the way.”

  “Then I’ll head back. Put your riding skirt on, and I’ll tell Zeb to have any horse but Rufus saddled up for you and waiting out front of the diner.”

  Hannah nodded but didn’t answer his question. There was no possible way she could spend the day with Grant.

  Charlie headed toward the livery that would, Hannah realized, be closed today. Charlie would figure that out soon enough.

  Hannah hurried around the church, searching for Grant to tell him she couldn’t come. His wagon was nowhere to be found. She hurried toward the livery, but Charlie had vanished and the building was locked up tight.

  Not sure what to do, she walked home to find a quiet, gentle-looking mare standing, bridled and saddled, right outside her door. “Charlie!” Hannah’s voice seemed to echo down the deserted Sour Springs street. Charlie didn’t answer. With a shake of her head, she admitted she was thrilled to not spend the day alone and rushed inside and ran upstairs to change into her riding skirt.

  The horse behaved perfectly and the high trail was clear and dry. When she rode up to the Rocking C, she pulled the reins so abruptly the horse backed up a few paces. Where had Grant’s little cabin gone?

  A sprawling log ranch house stood where the humble home had been. So completely had it been transformed, Hannah could barely remember the other house. The center jutted out nearly twenty feet farther than it had. There were impressive additions on each side and the roof was higher. It wasn’t just bigger, someone had taken the time to make it beautiful. A neat porch with dozens of slender support spindles graced the front. There were shutters on each window, and the land around the house had been leveled with well-rocked paths leading to the barn. It looked like someone had worked himself near to death to make it so lovely.

  And the children were all outside. Hannah remembered that Grant had said the children spent all their time outside, and from the looks of things, it was the absolute truth. Libby ran along, keeping up with Benny, her limp a distant memory. They chased after Charlie, whose sullen scowl was long gone. Joshua rode his horse toward the corral. The two older girls sat on the porch steps visiting.

  Benny yelled, “Miss Cartwright’s here.”

  Joshua tipped his hat at Hannah. “Happy Easter, Miss Cartwright!”

  Hannah noticed that Joshua carried himself with the same assurance as Grant.

  Charlie came over and held her horse. “Glad you could make it, Miss Cartwright.”

  “Hannah!” Libby came running toward her, and Hannah swept her little sister up in her arms and had to swallow back tears at the sound of her voice.

  Marilyn and Sadie got up and walked toward her with all the poise of women. The air fairly rang with “Miss Cartwright” and “Happy Easter,” shouted by six happy children.

  Hannah remembered last Easter, Libby and her alone in a cold, dilapidated shed with only stale bread to eat. The change from last year to this was nothing short of miraculous. She couldn’t remember another time in her life when she’d been welcomed into a family like this.

  Regaining her composure, she thanked Charlie for his help with the horse and headed for the house carrying Libby.

  “Are you going to help us cook, Miss Cartwright?” There was no missing the fear in Sadie’s voice.

  Hannah couldn’t help but laugh. “No, your meal is safe.”

  Hannah would have said for sure that a black person couldn’t blush, but Sadie proved her wrong. Then all the children started laughing and the awkward moment passed.

  The children thronged around her. Even Joshua hurried out of the barn to join them. Hannah and the children headed for the greatly enlarged house, not a cabin at all anymore. “Do all of you have your own rooms now?”

  “Some of us still have to share.” Joshua fell into step beside Sadie. “Pa turned the back room into an entryway like it was supposed to be, although he made it way bigger and stuck two more bedrooms on the back. He tore out the wall to the old bedrooms to make the kitchen bigger and pushed the front wall out a whole bunch. Then he added two bedrooms on one side, plus the loft is three times as wide as it was and twice as high. So we have five bedrooms counting the loft.”

  Hannah noticed Sadie steal a glance at Joshua. Had Grant noticed the attachment between these two?

  “I have my own room,” Benny bragged. “I have the loft to myself, and it’s huge cuz Pa made the kitchen huger’n ever.”

  Hannah’s eyebrows arched. “It sounds like he’s been busy.” He’d never come again after he’d built the risers, until last night. She’d noticed because she’d been wondering if he might steal another kiss. Not that she wanted one, but a girl could wonder. . . couldn’t she?

  “We all helped.” Benny rammed his shoulder into Charlie, and Charlie smiled and slung his arm around his little brother’s neck. The two looked like they’d become best friends in the months since Hannah had found Benny bleeding from Charlie’s assault.

  “Marilyn and I have been sharing a room so we decided to stay together,” Sadie said.

  “Especially since I’m getting married soon,” Marilyn added with a shy smile.

  “You’re planning to finish school first, aren’t you?” Hannah asked with a stern frown.

  Marilyn nodded. “With spring work, Wilbur might be awhile finishing the cabin. I’ll be through all my books by the end of this term.”

  Hannah studied the girl. Marilyn was telling the truth, but Hannah had seen a determined light in Wilbur’s eyes last night. Hannah decided to push Marilyn through her books fast.

  “And I’ve already filed a homestead claim.” Joshua shook his head at the new house. “We’ve got this great big house after all these years. Pa’ll rattle around in it with the two of us gone.” He glanced at Sadie again and the two smiled at each other.

  Hannah subtracted another child from the house very soon because Sadie wanted to be with Joshua, and though she was young, she was a mature young woman who knew her own mind. That left Grant with three children in this sprawling home.

  “I’ve got the biggest room.” Benny puffed out his chest.

  Sadie sniffed and gave her little brother a gentle shove. “You might have the biggest room, but ours is the warmest cuz it’s closer to the fireplace. And it’s the prettiest. It doesn’t matter how crowded it is when we sleep. We never go inside ’cept for bedtime and meals anyway. I think Pa’s gonna need more kids. It’s gonna be lonely with only four of us, plus Pa.”

  “Only four children. . .what a tiny family.” Joshua shook his head and smiled down at Sadie. “I want lots more kids than that.”

  Sadie shov
ed him sideways, and he pretended to stagger and nearly fall.

  The whole group started laughing.

  “It’s a good thing he made the kitchen huge because Will’s family is coming today and a bunch of our other brothers and sisters,” Benny added. “We have the biggest and bestest family get-togethers of anyone.”

  “Ian and Megan can’t come,” Sadie reminded them. “Ian’s too nervous.”

  They all laughed over that. High holiday spirits nearly burst out of them as they dragged Hannah toward their new home.

  Then Grant rode into the yard.

  Hannah only had to look at him for a second to see he had no idea she was coming for dinner.

  She turned a dismayed look on Charlie.

  He smiled at her and held the door open to the ranch house. He leaned close enough to her to whisper, “Trust me.”

  Although it made absolutely no sense, Hannah did.

  THIRTY

  Grant turned away from the celebration in front of him the minute Hannah went in the house surrounded by his children. Riding his horse into the barn, he got down, his movements uncoordinated. He pulled the leather off his horse with unsteady hands and gave it an extra bit of grain to avoid going inside for a little longer.

  “What is she doing here?” He asked the question directly to God.

  With no excuse not to go in, Grant turned toward the house and came to a dead stop, afraid of what he’d say if he had so much as a second alone with her. And he knew what he’d promised God and the desperate need of all the orphaned children in the world.

  “God, why did You let her come here?” Grant heard no thunderous voice. No finger of fire carved answers like commandments on stone. No burning bush spoke to him. No still, small voice whispered to his heart.

  He was so alone in his barn, with his family all surrounding Hannah in his house, that his ears almost echoed with the aloneness. Grant knew that somehow the answer to all his aloneness was in that house and in that woman.