by Gail Sattler
“I have a list of things to get. I’ll meet you back here.”
Without waiting for Louise to respond, her mama turned on her heels and nearly ran down the walk.
Louise looked up to see Elliott standing beside her, frozen, his mouth open and one finger in the air.
She pressed her hand to her mouth to muffle her sudden case of the giggles, but she couldn’t control herself.
“You’ll have to excuse Mama,” she said between her fingers. “We’ve never been shopping without Papa before, since he has to drive us. I heard them talking, and he gave her some extra money to spend. She’s very excited. She’s never been shopping alone before.”
“I suppose this will give me more time to buy what I need, then. Do you want to come with me, or do you have a special list, too?”
Louise smiled. She’d never wanted anything more. “Mama has the list, so I’ll go with you.”
Slowly, she directed him through the store to the men’s area, where he began to browse through the selection of razors and other men’s toiletries.
While Elliott compared the different razor handles without speaking, Louise stepped closer to him so other shoppers couldn’t hear her words.
“I suppose this is all very strange for you.”
He let out a very humorless laugh. “You have no idea. I feel like I’m starting all over again, and in a way, I suppose I am.”
“Did you lose everything?”
“What I didn’t sell before I left, I more or less gave to my brother and his family. Except for stuff like my photo album and a few smaller but heavier items, I packed everything I had left into my suitcases and took it with me. I was counting on things working out enough to the point where it would be a permanent move out of Katona Falls. When I was robbed, it all happened so fast. I certainly didn’t expect something like that to happen so close to home. There were at least five men in the group who attacked me. I thought people only got mugged in Toronto.”
Louise shook her head. “These modern times are frightening, especially with so many desperate people out there. I’ve always felt safe around here, but I suppose that will change someday. The important thing is that you weren’t hurt. . .or worse.”
He raised his hand to his throat, then quickly dropped it to his side as he turned to select a comb. “I suppose it’s better to be a live coward than a dead hero.” He turned to her as quickly as he’d just turned away. “I’ve wondered over and over what lesson there was in being robbed like that, and I just can’t figure it out. I like to think that I choose my battles intelligently. I believe in my heart I did the right thing by not fighting back because I was badly outnumbered. Plus, they had a weapon and I didn’t. The contents of those two suitcases were basically all I had left, but they were not worth fighting impossible odds. I don’t think anything but my clothes would be of much value to anyone. Still, I hope that somewhere, someone is reading my Bible and thinking of what the words say, although I suspect that it’s just been thrown in a trash bin somewhere. In the end God provided for me, although it’s in a way I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams—or nightmares. I don’t know what would have happened to me without you and your family.”
Louise’s throat tightened. She couldn’t believe they were having such a conversation beside the men’s deodorants. “We would have done the same for anyone in your situation. It’s what we feel the Lord has called us to do as a family. Now let’s talk about something else. Shopping is supposed to be fun.”
His hesitant smile made Louise’s foolish heart flutter. “I’ve never considered shopping fun. I buy what I need and go home.”
At the same time, they heard her mother approaching and turned in unison. Her mama’s arms were filled with bags, making Louise shake her head and wonder what wonderful bargains she’d found this shopping trip, especially without her papa present to temper her choices.
Louise lowered her voice to a whisper. “Mama normally considers shopping an adventure, today even more so.”
Her mother joined them, smiling from ear to ear. “I never knew they carried yarn here. And such a good price! I’ve never seen these prices, not even in Winnipeg. And such a fine quality cotton! It will take me until Christmas to knit all this, but I look forward to it. Here, Elliott. You can carry these bags for me.” Without waiting for him to respond, she emptied everything she carried into Elliott’s arms, only retaining her purse. “Have you finished here? I still have a few things left to buy, and we have to be home for dinner. It’s a long drive home.”
“I’ve made my selections, but I don’t know where they are under everything I’m carrying.”
Her mama led Elliott to the counter, where Louise helped him put all the bags down neatly. He then paid for his own items, and they continued on.
Every time they stopped at another store and her mama made another purchase, Elliott ended up with more packages to carry. He never complained, even though Louise didn’t know how he managed to hold everything without dropping something. She did notice his sigh of relief when her mama suggested they return to the car before they continued with the last of their shopping, which was for groceries.
The entire time they were in the grocery store, instead of carrying it or walking to the counter, her mama handed everything to Elliott, who made many trips to pile everything on the counter as they shopped. The entire time, Elliott behaved as a perfect gentleman, being very good-natured and teasing her mama that at least he didn’t have to carry everything at once.
By the time they had bought everything on her mama’s list, when added to the bags containing Elliott’s purchases, the trunk compartment was filled to overflowing. Elliott struggled with some creative rearranging, tucked a few items under the seat, then pressed down on her mama’s cotton yarn with considerable force, still barely managing to close the trunk.
He shook his head as he started the engine. “If you can’t tell, I’ve never shopped with women before, and I don’t think I will again. This also reminds me, I want to pay for my share of the groceries.”
“Hush, Elliott. You are doing work worth more than the cost of feeding you by helping John. I don’t know what we would do without you. Right, Louise?”
This time, Louise got the window seat, and her mother sat in the middle. She missed sitting beside Elliott, and her mother’s words interrupted her thoughts contemplating how she could ask if perhaps the next time their family needed goods, if she could take the list and go alone with Elliott.
She turned away from the window, nodding as she spoke. “Yes. Especially on the stairs. I don’t think Papa would accept our help, but he doesn’t question or complain when you make sure he goes slowly and doesn’t fall.”
“I’m glad to be of help.”
“I hope everyone has worked up an appetite shopping, because when we get home, there is a pot of stew simmering. I hope John has been able to put more wood in the stove like I asked him to. Shopping always makes me hungry. What about you, Elliott? Are you hungry?”
“I’ll never turn down your good cooking, Mrs. Demchuck.”
“Unfortunately, since we’ve been out all day, Louise and I haven’t made a dessert. Can you believe this is the first time since you’ve been staying with us that we won’t have dessert?”
“But Mama, there are still cookies left from yesterday.”
“Yes, I suppose they will have to do.”
“You ladies are spoiling me, but I am not going to complain.”
Louise watched Elliott smile, and he made no further comments as he continued to drive. The lines on his face weren’t so prominent as they had been a week ago, which meant that, despite the hard work, all the extra treats were doing what they were meant to do. She tried to imagine what he would look like by the time he left, with his thin frame more filled out than at present.
And that reminded Louise that the next seven weeks were going to go by much too fast.
Rather than allow herself to dwell on him leaving, she cho
se to enjoy the rest of the day. Today, she would participate in the conversation inside the car and not dwell on things she couldn’t change.
Her mama gasped and pointed out the window. “Look! Another deer! Did anyone see it?”
❧
“Amen,” Elliott said aloud with the rest of the congregation at the close of the service.
He stood at the same time as the rest of the people present but didn’t file outside. Instead, he waited at the end of the pew for Louise to return from the organ.
In the past week, he’d never once had the opportunity to hear her play. Every evening, a delicious dinner along with a delectable dessert had been ready as soon as he and John arrived back to the house after the day’s work was done. Immediately following dinner, he spent at least two hours with John at the desk, learning as much as he could about the specific duties of the section foreman as well as background information and history of the railroad. The knowledge gave him a greater understanding of what happened beyond John’s thirty miles of track. As well, it showed him the magnitude of the details the district office had to oversee in order to ensure everything was in perfect order to keep the trains running every minute of every day.
While this was far from his choice of the ideal job, Elliott was grateful beyond thoughts or words to have it. A week ago he’d sent a letter to Ike to advise him of the delay in his planned arrival to the West Coast. He’d asked Ike to locate Edward’s address and forward a second letter he’d enclosed. So far he had not heard from Edward, but considering what Ike had to do to forward his letter on its way, he knew he couldn’t expect a reply yet. All he could do was hope that when his time working for the railroad was over, he still had the opportunity for employment in the logging industry, which wasn’t his ideal choice, either. However, at this point in his life, like countless other men, he would take anything he was offered to provide an income, permanent or temporary.
A pause in the music brought Elliott’s thoughts back to Louise and where he was, but she turned the page and played another hymn, filling time until most of the congregation dispersed.
Elliott smiled as he listened to the music. Louise played the organ beautifully, even more outstanding than her mother had promised. He also knew from standing beside her during the service last week that Louise sang as well as she played, despite her protests and denials.
While the music continued, a deep male voice sounded behind him.
“Greetings! Louise tells me you’re new on the section gang. I’m Nicholas Sabinski, but everyone calls me Nick. I couldn’t help but hear you sing. My daughter Minnie tells me that where you come from you were part of a barbershop quartet. I’ve always wanted to do something like that, and I was wondering if you would consider helping us start such a group here in Pineridge.”
Elliott recognized him as the man in the congregation who sang the bold bass harmony, and he recognized the name as the man who owned the town’s general store, if he could call this burg of eight buildings a town.
He stiffened and tucked his hands into his pockets. “I’d love to, Nick, but I’m only going to be here for seven more weeks, until John is out of the cast. And then I’ll be on my way to British Columbia. Otherwise, I’d be glad to.”
“Would you consider helping us get such a group started until you leave? I’ve spoken to a few of the men here, and they are interested in doing both hymns for the Sunday service, as well as other numbers just for fun. And as far as a quartet, there are actually five of us if we count you. We’d like to meet every second or third Saturday afternoon.”
Elliott couldn’t help his smile. What Nick was explaining was exactly what his group back home was like. They had seven permanent members, and a few other men who dropped in and out as time and energy permitted. He glanced over at Louise, who now was slipping her hymnal and some loose music into the bench. He had been looking forward to spending as much of his remaining time as possible with her, especially since so far the only time he’d spent with her was when they sat together at church. While he’d enjoyed their shopping trip yesterday, they’d been far from alone.
Since Nick indicated that only a few hours of his time would be needed, and not every week, the suggestion gained more appeal. “That does sound like it could be fun. Do you have a place to meet? I don’t have transportation.”
“Pastor Galbraith says we can use this church building, since it’s central and has the organ.”
“That’s great.”
As Louise joined them, Nick nodded a greeting but kept speaking to Elliott. “You don’t happen to play the organ or piano, do you?”
“I’m afraid I don’t.”
Nick frowned and crossed his arms. “That’s one thing that has been keeping us from doing this. I’m the only one who can read music, and none of us can play an instrument.”
Elliott nodded. “I can also read music, but I can’t play an instrument, either.”
Louise’s eyebrows scrunched in the middle, something Elliott so far hadn’t seen. He figured she looked absolutely adorable. “What are you planning that you need an organist? Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Sabinski?”
Nick turned to Elliott. “Mildred Johnstone and Louise are the only ones in our congregation who can play the organ or piano.” His smile softened, and he turned to Louise. “I couldn’t help but be impressed with Elliott’s fine voice in church. I’m trying to convince this young man to help us start a men’s singing group. We’ve got use of the organ, but I think a group singing in harmony would require at least someone who can read music enough to show us the notes we’re supposed to be singing.” Nick returned his gaze to Elliott. “I don’t suppose you would happen to have any music with you? Although I would think we would start on the hymns, which of course we have access to. As if we could read anything besides the words.” He turned to grin at Elliott.
“Sorry, but I didn’t bring anything like that with me.” He didn’t want to tell Mr. Sabinski the full extent of what he hadn’t arrived with into their community.
Louise turned her head and looked at the organ as she spoke. “I could probably help you. There are quite a few songs for groups in the pile of music in the bench. I don’t know why, because I don’t think our church has ever had a choir. But I suppose we could make some changes so they could be for men only.”
Nick smiled, then reached to shake Elliott’s hand. “Great. Can we start next Saturday at two o’clock?”
Elliott nodded. It wasn’t like he had anything else to do or anywhere else to go. Also, now that Louise had agreed to help, this was a good way to spend time with her in a pleasant environment away from her parents’ house, even if they wouldn’t be alone. “I think that’s a good time. Louise?”
At her answering smile, something funny happened in his stomach, making him wonder if he was hungry.
“Yes, that sounds good. I’ll see you then, Mr. Sabinski. I only ask for one thing.”
“Anything. Name it.”
“Please do not think of singing ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.’ ”
Eleven
Louise sat on a comfortably flat rock as she carefully selected the largest and plumpest strawberries and dropped them into her pail. As she picked, she kept Elliott in view out of the corner of her eye.
Elliott had also chosen to sit while he picked. Never in her life had Louise ever seen her papa pick berries with her mama, but when Mama suggested Elliott join her, he had accompanied her without hesitation.
The first time she’d seen Elliott he had been eating strawberries from this same patch. She didn’t know what kind of berries grew near Katona Falls, but these strawberries were among the best early berries she’d ever seen. Apparently, Elliott felt the same, because for every one strawberry that made it into Elliott’s pail, at least two went into his mouth.
She studied him in silence. She couldn’t help but compare the unkempt and bedraggled man of barely over a week ago to the man before her now. Knowing now what she
didn’t know then, she could only guess at how hungry he must have been. So far he had successfully avoided saying much about his experiences on the freight trains, but he’d told her much of his life back in Katona Falls.
While she’d come to know him fairly quickly in some ways, in other ways she didn’t know him at all. She had hoped if they could ever spend time together without her parents or a crowd around him, they could talk more freely about things that really mattered. She wanted to know more than his history. She knew he was a man of faith, but she also wanted to know his hopes and his dreams, even if at this point his dreams were all he had left.
Louise settled the strawberries in her pail, which was now half full. She couldn’t see how much Elliott had in his pail, but she suspected it wasn’t much.
“This works better if you eat only one for every other one put in the pail.”
In one quick movement, he dumped the small handful of berries from the pail into his hand, popped the whole handful into his mouth, then held the pail upside down and shook it. “Then I think I’ll have to start over,” he said, doing rather poorly at talking around the berries in his mouth.
Even stuffed with berries, his cheeks were thin but better than they were a week ago. Unfortunately, having cakes and desserts every day was also doing the same for her as it did for him, but she could ill afford to gain much weight. Today, they were going to make a strawberry and rhubarb pie. If she could get enough strawberries.
He turned and began to pick again, and this time, since his mouth was still overstuffed, the entire handful of berries made it into his pail.
“I didn’t want to ask you this in front of Papa at lunchtime, but how did your first solo track inspection go this morning?”
“It went fine.”
Louise continued to pick, not looking up as she spoke. “I mean really. It’s okay. Papa isn’t here to listen to what you say. How are you managing with the section gang? I know it’s hard work. Even when jobs are hard to find, the men tend to come and go.”
