Jared said nothing but waited for the pot to boil. He then began mixing some corn pone in an iron skillet coated with lard. “I’ll get you food real soon, Uncle. Then you’ll feel better.” He did not realize his uncle had been staring at him until he turned to pour water onto the herb mixture, letting it steep.
“How’ve you been, boy?”
Jared looked up in a start. He couldn’t believe the question after all the heartache they had suffered, including his uncle’s abandonment. “Doing all right, Uncle,” he said softly.
“Need you to help plow the rest of the field there,” Dwight added, shifting about in the worn blanket. “Won’t have no crop come up lessen it gits plowed some more.”
“Be glad to, Uncle.” Jared pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. “I’ve got some news, Uncle. Good news, I think.”
Dwight raised his eyebrow. “Ain’t been no good news around here since the day your aunt surprised me for my last birthday. Made me that fine shirt, remember? And cooked me the best fixin’s I ever had. Turnip greens and her fried chicken. We laughed and. . .” He paused. Tears filmed his eyes. “I miss her a heap. If only you could know what love is, boy. You’d understand everything I’m going through.”
Jared looked down at his intertwined fingers. How could he tell his uncle that he was trying to understand—but through a woman his uncle would consider an enemy? Instead, he changed the subject. “I’ve been doing some talking, Uncle. With a gal. . .that is, with someone who works at the cave. And it looks like the doctor is ready to listen. They want to talk things out.”
A light of hope flickered in his uncle’s bloodshot eyes. His crusty lips turned upward into the form of a shaky smile. “They do?”
“That’s what Susanna, I mean, Miss Barnett, told me when she brought over the invitation.” He pulled out the paper. “The doctor wants us to come to dinner tomorrow night so we can talk.”
Dwight coughed again. “Can’t do it. Can’t hardly get myself out to do my business. Maybe you can ask Higgins to go.”
“The invitation only asks for us. I figured that at least I could go. This is what we’ve been waiting for, Uncle Dwight. I’m sure of it. A sign that could bring some changes.”
“The only change I want to see is that cave sealed shut.” He took a long drink of the tea. “Tastes mighty good.” He closed his eyes for a moment and swallowed, then leveled his gaze at Jared. “You go to that fancy meal, Jared. Tell ’em what we want. Tell ’em they gotta do what’s right for all our sakes.” Dwight leaned over, his bloodshot eyes staring at him. “You tell them we don’t want no more of their talk or they’re asking for it. You tell ’em that.”
“I’ll do what I can, Uncle.”
Dwight sat back. “You do more than that. You can make Mattie proud—proud that she has a nephew she can depend on. Make us both proud of you again. It’s up to you. You know that, don’t you?”
Little did his uncle realize, but Jared had struggled with these very thoughts since the loss of his aunt and his separation with Uncle Dwight. He always wondered if he was doing the right thing, such as when he told those fine people from Philadelphia about the deaths in the cave or even if he was right in asking for Susanna’s understanding. He’d spent many nights thinking and praying. He believed the cave was a danger and that he needed to do what he must to see it closed. He wanted to make Uncle Dwight proud of him.
If only he could reconcile that desire with his feelings for Susanna. How he wished the cave didn’t have such a hold on her. Why did she have to believe that a wonder existed beneath the ground and value the cave as some mysterious yet living place that displayed God’s creation?
He felt pulled in two different directions by those he thought of most.
“You’d better get that corn pone ’fore it burns.”
Jared hurried to rescue the skillet from the fire. He had other things to rescue, too, like the kinship he once had with his uncle. Here was an open door back into Uncle’s Dwight’s favor. Yet things could easily tumble out of control like a runaway wagon careening from atop a hillside. He could only pray God remained at the reins to lead him safely through these strange circumstances.
❧
Jared stared down at his only decent set of clothes, the clothes he had worked in to plow his uncle’s field that morning. He had no go-for-meeting clothes to wear to a fancy dinner at a hotel. He never thought he would need such attire, being a simple farmer in these parts. But now, heading for this meeting at the Mammoth Cave Hotel, he found himself wishing for a proper suit. A fine shirt. A coat with glistening buttons. Good leather boots. He had cleaned off the mud and taken a rag to his old boots to shine them up as best he could. A bit of grease helped to hold down the wild look of his hair. Even so, he was far from being presentable to men of wealth and power and especially to the beautiful Susanna in all her finery. There was little he could do about it. He had a task to accomplish. He was going for the sake of his aunt and uncle to see if the impossible might be made possible. And yes, to see Susanna once again.
Along the way he came upon wagons bearing visitors, all dressed in fine traveling clothes and with an eagerness to see and learn about the cave. He wanted to stop them, to warn them, to keep them away. But now he must think about this dinner. He exhaled a sigh, trying to steady his nerves. He prayed a lot and sang a hymn or two. He wished the traveling minister would come back—the one who led him to the Lord. Or his pa, wherever he was. They would know the words to say to men of power. They would have the wisdom Jared needed.
Nearing the hotel, he saw several men armed with guns, parading about as if expecting some rampage to invade these grounds from the night shadows. As he rode up, one of the men accosted him, demanding to know why he was here. Jared fished inside his pocket for the invitation, wrinkled and dirty.
“You look like a no-good varmint to me,” the man growled. “What are you doing sneaking around here?”
“Miss Barnett gave me this invitation.” He handed it to the man. “If you don’t believe me, send for her.”
The man looked as if he would rather hang Jared from the nearest tree. He mumbled something unintelligible, then asked his friend to go find Susanna. Jared waited, still and silent, until he saw her appear in the doorway of the hotel. The sight of her left him weak-kneed. Her smile warmed him all the way to his toes.
“Please come in, Jared. We’ve been expecting you.”
He said no more to the men who continued to glare at him in suspicion. He entered the hallway of the hotel, illuminated by lard-oil lamps. In the soft glow, Susanna appeared all the more beautiful to him. She wore a dress that dropped slightly off her shoulders, the neckline decorated with flowers similar to the ones she gave to him at his aunt’s burial. Again, he wished he had better clothes to wear. He would look more like a suitor to her rather than a simple farmer. For now, he forced himself not to dwell on all this but rather on the meeting at hand.
“Your uncle isn’t here?” she asked in a soft voice.
“He’s ill.”
She immediately turned, her concern evident in the way her eyebrows drew together and her red lips parted. “I’m so sorry. I hope it isn’t serious.”
“I don’t think so.” He wanted to say more, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he gazed at the fine interiors of the hotel—chairs and sofas of wood with the finest carvings he had ever seen and window lights every few steps that made the place seem even larger.
Presently they came upon a huge room and a long dining table. Several men in coats talked boisterously with each other but turned grim and silent when he and Susanna entered the room. “Dr. Croghan, I’d like to present Mr. Jared Edwards,” Susanna said. “Sadly, his uncle is ill and unable to come.”
Dr. Croghan stepped forward, impeccably dressed, and much shorter in stature than Jared would have thought. His face portrayed a certain youthfulness with large expressive eyes and a head of thinning red hair. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Edwar
ds. I trust your uncle is not too ill?”
“He sends his regrets.”
Dr. Croghan acknowledged the other men in the room. “May I also present Archibald Miller, who manages our affairs here at the hotel, and his assistant, Hiram Barnett, Miss Barnett’s father.”
Jared slowly shook the hand of each man. In turn, they each examined him carefully. Susanna’s father gave Jared particular scrutiny.
They all took seats around the table. Jared noted the fine tableware and silver that sparkled in the candlelight. He felt small and insignificant in such a setting. What he could possibly say or do to change these men’s minds, he had no idea.
Dinner was served and everyone began to eat. The conversation centered on the activities of the cave, the rise in the number of visitors, the difficulty with supplies, and the need for better roads. Jared wondered as he ate when they would come to the matter at hand. Surely he had not been invited to hear only of their business. Or perhaps they meant for the chatter to unnerve him and make him feel even more insignificant, as if anything he had to say would serve no purpose. At times, he glanced at Susanna, wondering what she was thinking. Her gaze remained fixed on her plate, using her utensil with a delicate air, wiping her lips carefully on a linen napkin. For some reason the mere sight of her gave him confidence. When she flashed him a small smile, he felt even more emboldened.
“I’m sorry to hear of your uncle’s ill health, Mr. Edwards,” Mr. Barnett said at last.
Jared looked up at the sudden comment directed his way. “Yes, sir. He felt too weak to come to this meeting, but he thanks you for the invitation.”
Dr. Croghan sat back in his seat. “No doubt you realize why we have invited you here to dine with us, Mr. Edwards.”
“No, sir. Not really.”
Croghan raised his eyebrow, casting a glance toward Susanna’s father and the others present. He straightened in his chair. “We are concerned about the rumors that some wish ill toward our endeavors here at the cave. That, of course, is not in keeping with the common good or with decent men.”
“I know there are people grieved by broken promises, sir. I am one of them.” He caught Susanna’s eye as she looked at him before averting her attention to the doctor.
“And what promise might that be, young man?”
Jared cleared his throat, even as it began to constrict. “That your cave has ‘given proof of its magical qualities,’ as you once said. It preserved those from long ago. It has good air. And you offered to cure the sick with something far better than any medicine.”
Croghan flushed with a color to match his hair. “You remember well. I’m impressed.”
“It was with those words that I convinced my uncle to part with the only person he ever truly loved, the woman who had been by his side for years, and place her in your care. But because your words were false, she’s now dead. And I’ve lost my uncle’s respect.”
The men looked at each other. Mr. Miller whispered to Dr. Croghan. “Surely you are aware of the papers that were signed upon your aunt’s admission to the sick cave,” Croghan continued. “They stated that I would not be held responsible for the outcome of this experiment. And the sick cave was just that. An experiment.”
“Yes, I know.” The emotion rose within him so that he could barely contain himself. “But such things really do fall on deaf ears when promises are boldly stated before the crowds. And you, sir, don’t have a miracle cave. You know that. Your cave has brought nothing but death and money to fill the pockets of the greedy.”
The atmosphere in the room turned rancorous. Faces flushed. “I daresay the young man wishes only to bring threats tonight and not a willingness to talk reason,” Mr. Miller uttered in a throaty growl.
“I’m not threatening anyone,” Jared countered. “I’m only speaking what’s in the heart of my uncle.”
“And yours as well,” finished the doctor. “We know that for certain.”
Jared could not deny the fire that had been sparked here this night. Susanna must see the flame, as well. She remained still in her seat, twisting the linen napkin in her hands. But he couldn’t worry about her opinion of him at the moment.
Croghan set down his fork and folded his hands. “Mr. Edwards, whether you choose to believe it or not, I do understand. Like you, I once had a farm to tend and a hard life to lead. Of course, other matters led to the path of doctoring and to this business enterprise. But I know how difficult it is to make a living here. And desperation leads to decisions one believes are the right decisions. But you cannot allow your guilt to overshadow the good we are trying to accomplish. Helping the sick and depraved. And offering the cave as a means by which people might seek refuge and enjoy a wondrous sight not made by man.”
Jared said nothing. The food he ate turned to stone inside his stomach. Maybe he had allowed his guilt to add kindling to the burning fire. But a life was still gone. A family snuffed out of existence. And a proud doctor who still believed in his wonder of wonders, his hand outstretched to accept money, even when staring grief and disappointment in the face.
The doctor continued. “I had hoped that your uncle might come so we could share more about this. It’s obvious that you both are angry over what happened. I do hope you understand my sincerity in that I wish all of this laid to rest as the dearly departed rest. I only had the welfare of the sick in mind. If my words brought forth ideas of some miracle to be found, it was not meant to be.” He sighed. “Therefore, I am willing to offer your uncle a small compensation to help in this time of need, a token of sympathy for what you both have endured.”
Jared looked up, startled. “You mean money?”
“From my personal coffer, young man.”
He could not believe it. Money in exchange for peace, to rid them of the pestilence of his uncle, himself, and the others. “You don’t mean it. You can’t mean it.”
Miller began to cough. Croghan flushed. “Of course I do. It is but a small token, I understand that.”
“Sir, I don’t think you understand at all.” Jared came to his feet. “None of you do. Can your money bring back my aunt? Can it heal the grief? Can it change anything at all?” He threw down his napkin and left, striding down for the hall, the anger burning within him. It had been a trap, as he feared, an evil device, a linen bandage slapped over a festering wound. And Susanna sat there, saying nothing to the contrary.
He heard a soft voice then and whirled to find Susanna behind him. She was beautiful to the eye but, to his dismay, a mere product of this place. He realized that now more than ever.
She came forward tentatively. “I hope we can meet again, Jared.”
“No,” he said quickly. “This is the end. I don’t see how I can come back here after this.”
Her face disintegrated into a picture of distress. “I’m sorry for tonight, Jared. I wish it had gone better for you.”
He looked at her, trying to believe her words. She seemed sincere, yet he couldn’t help but remember her words from the past, words that spoke of her bond to this place no matter the circumstance.
“The doctor is trying to make the best out of a difficult situation,” she continued. “He doesn’t like to see people angry and hurt. He wants to help. That’s all he’s ever wanted to do. Help.”
“So you agree with him? That his money is the help we need? It doesn’t help, Susanna. The love of money is the root of all evil. I thought you were starting to understand that. But I guess you don’t.”
She bristled. “You know nothing of what I believe, Jared. You only presume to know, as you have done all along. I know I need to see with my heart instead of my eyes. I am trying to listen, to allow my heart to see. I wish you would, too, and not let your guilt blind you to everything.”
When she turned and left, a part of his heart disappeared with her. What could buy him his peace? Erase this guilt? Calm his soul? If only he didn’t feel so confused and so alone.
Ten
Jared took the long way home that n
ight, over the rolling hills and the sunken ground illuminated by the rising moon. What did he expect from the dinner after all? Did he really think the doctor would change his mind and close down the place he had put all his time and money into perfecting? Did he presume any of them would change their minds, even though he held out a hope that Susanna might? She would never change. Nothing would change. Her family needed the cave for their livelihood. The doctor needed it for whatever suited him. The more Jared thought about it, the more he realized that closing the cave would never happen. The cave was here to stay, as was the river bend or the dark line of trees that framed the horizon. Something else would have to change. Maybe his way of thinking. Calming his mind with the act of forgiveness. Pursuing other thoughts and dreams—of what, he didn’t know. At one time, his thoughts and dreams were turning to Susanna. But after tonight, he knew his hopes of love were as foolish as the idea of shutting up Mammoth Cave. Neither was meant to be.
Jared eased his horse to a stop, allowing the animal to drink its fill from a nearby stream. If he went home and shared the confessions of the evening, he knew what his uncle’s reaction would be. Unrestrained anger. And maybe a rifle pointed once more in his direction. He would have to convince Uncle Dwight to release his burden in some other way, to find comfort in knowing Mattie was in a better place and to forgive as the Lord would want. But his uncle had no relationship with the Lord. He hadn’t experienced the forgiveness of Jesus in his heart nor did he have the faith to believe there was more to life than what one saw in this world. It would be like trying to convince a mule to change its ornery ways. But Jared did serve a God of impossibility—a God strong enough to cut through the pride and open his uncle’s eyes. And yes, a God able to erase his guilt and renew his heart.
Jared ushered the horse back to the main road. He was glad the moon was high, or he likely would have needed to bed down in the woods somewhere until it was light enough to see. He bypassed his uncle’s place and headed straight for his small cabin. He thought of Susanna living within the spaciousness of a fine hotel with its fancy furniture and chairs of intricate carvings. How could he ever think she would leave all that for his place in the backwoods? She had embraced the hotel life and the cave to escape such an existence. He had to stop thinking that God had brought Susanna to him for a special reason. He had to cease considering that she might be the one he could know and love like the woman Uncle Dwight said he needed. As Jared told her, it was over.
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