Dinner at the St. James

by Sandra Robbins

  Daniel’s body tensed. What could this man he’d only just met have to talk about with him? With a nod in Dante’s direction, Daniel swiveled in the pew to face forward.

  Next to him, Tave leaned close and whispered in his ear. “I’m glad you’ve already made a friend.”

  He started to reply that this new friend had said something that puzzled him, but Reverend Somers’s voice rang out. “Let’s begin our service today by standing and repeating the Lord’s Prayer together.”

  Daniel rose to his feet with the rest of the congregation and gazed at the small wooden cross on the table in front of the pulpit. An open Bible lay beside it. Peace flowed through him at the sight. He hadn’t been in a church since his mother had taken him when he was a child, but it felt natural to be here.

  He bowed his head and closed his eyes. He didn’t move as the familiar words spoken by the congregation washed over him. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. . . .”

  ❧

  Daniel could hardly believe all the food the ladies of the church had brought, and each one insisted he have some of hers. He’d felt like the guest of honor at a big celebration ever since they’d left the church for the picnic grove.

  He finally escaped all the attention when Tave and Savannah rescued him and led him toward a towering oak tree where they had spread a quilt on the ground. Dante already sat there, his plate piled high with enough food to feed two men. He grinned and motioned Daniel to sit beside him.

  ❧

  Now with his plate empty, Dante set it aside and rubbed his stomach. “I don’t think I’ll be able to eat another bite for a week after that good meal.”

  Savannah arched her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side. “Is that so? Then I assume that means I won’t have to fix you any supper.”

  He grinned, leaned over, and planted a kiss on his wife’s cheek. “I wouldn’t want to deny you the pleasure of cooking for your devoted husband.”

  She swatted at his arm and glanced at Tave. “Do you see what I have to deal with? He’s a charmer, and I’m helpless to resist him.”

  Tave nodded. “I see what you mean.”

  Daniel watched the couple stare into each other’s eyes like there was no one else around. Their feelings for each other were evident for everyone to see, and he thought how fortunate they were to love like that. He glanced at Tave and saw her studying him. She dropped her gaze and reached for the dirty dishes.

  “We’d better get this cleaned up before Martha comes around to find out what’s taking us so long.”

  Savannah pushed to her feet, and Dante handed her their dishes. She smiled down at her husband. “While we’re gone, I think you have something to talk to Daniel about.”

  “I do.”

  Daniel watched Tave and Savannah walk across the picnic area to the table where the ladies were in the process of putting food away and gathering up dirty dishes before he turned back to Dante. “You said something in church about wanting to talk with me. What is it?”

  Dante pushed to his feet. “Do you mind if we walk and talk? I’ve been sitting about as long as I can stand it.”

  “Fine with me. I was about to get stiff from sitting on the ground.”

  They walked toward the front of the church and stopped at the edge of the small cemetery. Dante pointed to a grave. “That’s Savannah’s aunt. I only met her a few weeks before her death, but she was a great lady.”

  Daniel nodded. “She must have had a big influence on Savannah. She’s one of the nicest women I’ve ever met.”

  Dante grinned. “Nicer than Tave?”

  Daniel almost choked on the surprise that clogged his throat. “Wh–what?”

  Dante slapped him on the back and grinned. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist. It’s plain to see how you feel about Tave, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Then what is it?”

  He stared back at the grave. “Savannah’s Aunt Jane was a good friend of Captain Hawkins. When she needed money so badly, he bought her house with the understanding that she could live there until her death. He felt by that time he’d be ready to retire to Willow Bend, and he would take over the house then.”

  “But he never has.”

  Dante nodded. “That’s right. Aunt Jane died seven years ago, but Captain Hawkins can’t leave the river. He will someday, but not yet.” Dante motioned for Daniel to follow him, and they strolled toward the back of the church. “Anyway, when Captain Hawkins came ashore to see you a few weeks ago, he left a letter at Mr. Perkins’s store for me. I had to take care of something before I could tell you what the letter said.”

  Daniel stopped and stared at Dante. “Was it about me?”

  “Yes. He’s very thankful to you for saving his life. Since he’s not going to be coming back for a few months, he wanted to do something to help you.”

  Daniel held up his hands in protest. “He doesn’t owe me anything. He always treated me like I was somebody when I worked for him. He wasn’t like other men I’ve known.”

  Dante’s dark eyes narrowed. “Captain Hawkins treated you like you were somebody because you are. He knows, as I do, that you’re a child of God, and because of that, you have great value.”

  A nervous laugh escaped Daniel’s mouth. “That’s what Tave says.”

  “Well, she’s right. Anyway, Captain Hawkins was worried that you might lose your job in Montgomery if you stayed here too long. He talked to the man who hired you there and told him what had happened. So they’re holding your job for a while, but it won’t be there if you wait too long.”

  “There’s nothing I can do about that right now. I don’t have the money to get to Montgomery. I could walk, but I’m not sure I’m strong enough for that yet.”

  Dante nodded. “That’s what Captain Hawkins thought. So he left me enough money to buy you a horse and saddle and to pay for the horse’s upkeep until you decide to leave. Mr. Jensen at the livery stable found me one last week, and he’s taking care of it for now.”

  Daniel gasped. “Captain Hawkins bought me a horse?”

  Dante chuckled. “Yes. She’s a pretty thing. Chestnut with a white star on her forehead, and gentle. I think you’re going to like her.” Dante reached into his pocket and took out a piece of folded paper. “And there’s money left over for you to have. This is to help you get on your feet.”

  With trembling fingers, Daniel unfolded the paper and stared at the money inside. He’d never seen so much in his life. He struggled to speak, but he was afraid he was going to cry instead. “Th–th–this is too much. Did Captain Hawkins leave all this?”

  Dante glanced down to the ground and kicked at a tuft of grass. “Well, Dr. Spencer and I helped out a little bit, too.”

  Daniel folded the paper back and frowned. “I don’t understand. Why would you do something for me? You don’t even know me.”

  Dante stared past Daniel as if he were remembering something. “When I was young, Daniel, there was a time when I was alone in the world. Just like you. A kind man in Mobile helped me, and because of him, great things happened in my life. This gift we’re giving you is to let you know that there are better things waiting for you, too. You just have to let God lead you to where they are.” He pointed to the money in Daniel’s hand. “Someday you’re going to come across somebody who needs help. When that happens, remember your friends who helped you.”

  Daniel had never known people like those he’d met from Willow Bend. There was something in their lives that was different from what he’d seen in the lives of other people he’d met in his travels. He clutched the money and tried to control his trembling lips. “Thank you, Dante. It’s been a long time since I’ve met anyone like all the friends I’ve made in Willow Bend. I appreciate everything you and Captain Hawkins have done for me. And of course, I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for Dr. Spencer and Tave.”

  Dante laughed. “Speaking of Tave, I think we’d better get back to the ladies before they c
ome searching for us.”

  They ambled back to the picnic grove, and Daniel spied Tave and Savannah coming toward them. His pulse quickened as it did every time he saw Tave. She smiled, and something told him it was for him alone.

  He thought of the people who were making changes in his life—Captain Hawkins, Dr. Spencer, Dante Rinaldi, but most of all Tave. He didn’t want to think about Matthew Chandler and how she might feel about him. At the moment, all he knew was that he loved her. If God really wanted to help him, then maybe Tave wasn’t unattainable to him after all.

  Nine

  With the meal over, the congregation drifted into small groups across the picnic area. Women clustered in the shade of the trees and fanned themselves as the afternoon grew warmer. The men stood in groups discussing the weather and its possible effects on the crops.

  Tave and Daniel drifted from group to group, stopping long enough for Daniel to be introduced to those he hadn’t met. Tave glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as Martha Thompson waddled toward them, her daughter Esther following behind.

  Martha waved in greeting. “Daniel. Come here and meet my daughter Esther. I told you ’bout her. Remember?”

  Daniel stopped in front of Martha and smiled. “Of course I do.” He nodded in Esther’s direction. “I understand I have you to thank for some of that good food I ate while I was recuperating.”

  Esther looked down at the ground and dug the toe of her shoe in the dirt. “Yeah. Me and Ma was glad to help out.”

  Daniel thumped his chest. “Well, it worked. I’m back to good health.”

  Martha nudged her daughter. “Didn’t I tell you he was a smooth talker?” She turned back to Daniel. “What you gonna do now that you’re well? Still going to Montgomery?”

  Tave’s heart raced when he cast a quick glance in her direction. “I’m not sure when that will be,” he said.

  Martha pulled her daughter closer. “Well, don’t you go off without visiting us sometime. You hear?”

  “I won’t.”

  Daniel glanced at her, and Tave almost giggled at the silent plea in his eyes for her to help him. She stepped forward. “It’s good to see you and Esther today, Martha. Now if you’ll excuse us, I want to introduce Daniel to some more of our friends.”

  She took Daniel’s arm and pulled him toward a group that sat near one of the tables. Before they reached them, a whoop sounded from nearby, and the girls from her school ran toward them and surrounded Tave.

  “Miss Spencer,” Sarah Jensen said, “we want you to come play hopscotch with us.”

  Tave laughed. “You’re not serious.”

  Katie Tyler nodded. “Yes, we are. All year at school you said you’d play one day, but you never did. Now we want you to do it.”

  Tave shook her head and tried to back away from the girls surrounding her. “I haven’t played hopscotch since I was a child.”

  Gabby Rinaldi looked up at her with a mischievous grin. A gap where the six-year-old had lost a tooth a few days before flashed behind her smile. “You can do it, Miss Spencer.”

  “Please, please.” The chorus of voices rose on the afternoon air.

  Some of the boys who were chasing one another across the far end of the picnic area stopped and stared in the direction of the girls’ voices. One of them whistled and pointed to Tave. With a shout, they ran forward and converged at the spot where the girls circled Tave.

  “You gonna play hopscotch, Miss Spencer?” Tad Thompson shouted.

  Hoping for an ally, Tave cast a glance at Daniel. “Aren’t you going to help me?”

  He spread his hands in resignation. “Far be it from me to go up against a group of determined children.”

  Tave smiled as her gaze drifted over the children she’d taught for the past year at the Willow Bend School. Bending over, she reached out and cupped Gabby’s chin in her hand. “All right, I’ll play. But if I fall, somebody had better catch me.”

  A shout went up from the group. “We will. We will.”

  Tave glanced at Daniel who ambled along behind the group leading her to the hopscotch course. “A fine friend you turned out to be.”

  Daniel stuck his hands in his pockets and grinned. “I’m enjoying this. Just like you seemed to enjoy my visit with Martha and Esther.”

  She glared at him. “Traitor.”

  Gabby eased up beside Tave and slipped a smooth, flat stone in her hand. “Use this one, Miss Spencer. It’s my lucky marker.”

  They reached the hopscotch course, and the children fanned out around it. Silence descended over the group. Tave glanced over at Daniel, who had walked to a nearby tree and leaned against it. He gave her a small salute, and she frowned at him.

  Stepping to the first square, Tave gazed at the slightly crooked lines of the course that two of the older girls had scratched into the black dirt with a sharp stone. Three single squares lay one on top of another with two lateral squares atop them. Another single square with a double square on top of it completed the course. Stones lay in the first square.

  “Hey, Miss Spencer, you know you can’t jump in the squares that have markers, don’t you?” Tad giggled and punched Johnny Williams in the ribs. Laughter rippled through the assembled group.

  Tave arched an eyebrow and stared at him. “I know, Tad.”

  A hush fell over the children as Tave bent forward at the waist and lobbed her stone to the second square. A puff of dust drifted upward as it plopped to the ground.

  Tave took a deep breath, balanced on one foot, and began her journey by easily hopping over the first two squares. She reached the end and planted both feet in the two squares there, whirled around, and hopped on one foot back toward the beginning.

  When she entered the third box, she stopped and held one arm out to balance herself. With deliberate movements she bent toward the stone resting in the second square, clasped it in her fingers, and looked up with a victory smile. The minute she did she realized her mistake. Her body swayed, and she struggled to keep from falling. It was no use.

  A high-pitched squeal pierced the air as the children scurried back. Tave toppled forward and landed facedown in the dirt, her arms spread out to the side. No one moved. Then a dozen hands pulled at her until she pushed herself up into a sitting position. The girls knelt in a circle around her, and the boys hovered behind.

  “Miss Spencer, are you all right?” Their voices all seemed to speak at once.

  Dust covered the front of the lavender and white dress she’d worn in an attempt to impress Daniel. She blew at a strand of hair that hung in her eye and let her gaze drift over twenty worried faces. “I thought I told you to catch me.”

  Gabby dropped to her knees. “I tried, Miss Spencer, but Tad got in my way.”

  Tave brushed the dirt from the front of her dress and started to get to her feet. A strong hand gripped her arm, and she stared up into the twinkling blue eyes of Daniel. “Allow me.” He bit down on his lip, but he couldn’t suppress the laughter shaking his body.

  She allowed him to pull her up. When she’d regained her balance, she brushed her hair out of her eyes. Unable to help herself, she smiled down at the children clustered around them. “Well, it looks like I’m going to have to practice if I’m going to win at hopscotch.” She bent over and chucked Gabby under the chin. “I tell you what. When school starts, I’m going to challenge all of the girls to a contest. Then we’ll see who the hopscotch champion of Willow Bend School is.”

  The children’s cheers echoed across the picnic grounds. Several adults glanced in their direction, smiled, and turned back to their conversations.

  “Come on. Let’s go play,” Tad cried, and the boys raced after each other toward the tree line at the back of the picnic area.

  Daniel pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to Tave. “You want to use this?”

  She nodded and took it from his hand. “There’s a well in back of the church. Let’s go draw some water so I can wash my face and hands. I’ll worry abou
t my dress later.”

  Tave glanced over her shoulder on the way to the well. The girls had already resumed their game. She glanced at Daniel. “Now you have a small sample of what my day as a teacher is like.”

  He smiled at her. “I wish I’d had a teacher like you when I was a child.”

  They reached the well, and within minutes, Daniel had lowered the bucket and drawn cool water from the dark depths. A dipper hung on a peg at the side of the well, and Tave filled it with water and poured it over Daniel’s handkerchief.

  She wiped at her face then turned to him. “Do I have all the dirt off?”

  He laughed and took the handkerchief from her. “There’s a little bit left on the side of your face. Let me get it for you.”

  He stepped closer and bent forward as he wiped at her face. She closed her eyes and lifted her face. When he drew his hand away, she opened her eyes and stared up at him. His blue eyes stared into her, and in their depths she detected a longing that equaled the one she felt. His gaze went to her lips and lingered there.

  A thrill raced through her at the thought of their lips meeting. She reached up and cupped his face with her hand. “Daniel,” she whispered.

  He pulled her closer, and her heart almost beat out of her chest as she waited for his kiss. Before their lips met, he groaned and backed away. “No, Tave,” he muttered. “I won’t do this.”

  He released her with a slight shove, and a chill raced through her at the anger she detected in his eyes before he whirled and strode toward the far side of the church. Speechless, she stared at Daniel’s back.

  It only took Tave a few seconds to recover and dash after Daniel. She caught up with him at the cemetery and grabbed his arm. “Daniel, what’s the matter with you? You looked at me like you hate me. What have I done?”

  He stopped and whirled to face her. “You haven’t done anything. I did. I almost kissed you. That would have been the biggest mistake of my life.”

  “Mistake?” She shrank from him. How could he say such a terrible thing? She wrapped her arms around her waist and blinked back tears. “Are you telling me you don’t have any feelings for me?”