In the Valley of Hope

by Richard Weirich

  “He doesn’t live here anymore,” said Cilla.

  “And I miss him,” declared Lisa.

  “You look surprised,” said Hannah while pouring a cup of coffee. “Charlie hasn’t lived here for about two weeks.”

  “He didn’t tell you?” asked Cilla. “I feel bad having to be the one to tell you this, but daddy had to fire Charlie.”

  “Cilla, I said that we weren’t going to discuss this in front of your sister. Lisa, go to your room.”

  “Charlie was my friend,” protested Lisa. “Why won’t you tell me why he left?”

  “Charlie left because he stole something from your daddy.”

  “What?” said Mable shocked by the revelation. “I can’t imagine him doing such a thing.”

  “Neither could we,” said Hannah.

  Heavy footsteps could be heard as someone entered the back porch. “That’s Russell. I’ll let him tell you what happened,” said Hannah.

  After proper introductions, Russell sat down at the table. “You’re that girl Charlie was always talking about.”

  “Yes, sir. He was supposed to come by the house yesterday, but he didn’t show and I was afraid something awful might have happened to him. Now, I don’t know what to think.”

  “Lisa, go to your room,” demanded Russell.

  “Why can’t I know what happened to my friend?”

  Russell looked at Hannah for a reaction and then agreed to let Lisa stay. “Sorry to have to tell you this but, Charlie Polk is a thief. Just like his daddy.”

  “I was afraid of that,” said Moses.

  “What did he take?” asked Mable in tears.

  “He stole money from my pay box that we found underneath his bed.”

  “I can’t believe it,” said Mable. “Just can’t believe it.”

  “Didn’t want to believe it myself but Cilla saw him take the money from the pay box and carry it out of the house.”

  “That’s not right,” protested Lisa.

  “Now, Lisa. This conversation is for grownups. Be quiet or you’ll have to go to your room.”

  Lisa persisted. “Where do you keep that money?”

  Russell was uncomfortable sharing information on where he kept his earnings from the farm and Moses understood. “We don’t need to know where you keep your money.”

  “Cilla did it,” blurted Lisa.

  “What are you talking about?” objected Cilla. “Daddy, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She doesn’t even know where you keep that box.”

  Lisa got up from the table and walked to the pantry. “I do now,” as she opened the door and retrieved the box. “Is this it?”

  “How did you know where we kept the farm money?” asked Hannah.

  “I didn’t until a couple of weeks ago when I saw Cilla sneak in here and …”

  “Daddy, stop her. She’s lying.”

  “Go on.”

  “I saw her take money out of the box. That’s how I knew it was there. Then she put the money in the egg basket, covered it with a towel, and took off outside.”

  “That’s not true,” insisted Cilla.

  “How did you see all this?”

  “I was sitting under the table playing with my dolls. Cilla didn’t know I was here.”

  Russell and Hannah Miller were crushed. For several moments they said nothing and stared at Cilla.

  Cilla refused to give in. “Surely you don’t believe that. Lisa is making it up.”

  It was obvious that Russell was attempting to contain his anger out of respect for his guests. Nonetheless, his message was clear. “You said you saw Charlie take the money.”

  Hannah also had an observation on the incident. “And you did gather eggs that day, of your own accord, without having to be asked. You never do that.”

  Lisa began to cry. “You caused Charlie to leave. Why would you do that Cilla?”

  “That’s what I want to know,” said Russell. “Fess up.”

  “We’re waiting for an answer,” said Hannah as everyone waited for Cilla’s confession.

  When she could take the interrogation no more, Cilla jumped up and angrily ran out of the room.

  “I am so sorry,” said Russell. “I did a terrible thing firing that boy. He left here broken hearted. I feel awful. He trusted me. Trusted me enough to tell me about his plans to marry you.”

  “Where did he go?” asked Mable.

  “I have no idea. Haven’t heard a word about him.”

  Mable was horrified by what she had learned. Charlie was gone and no one knew his condition or his whereabouts. She tried to persuade Moses to take her to Strathmore to see if Frank Wissler could tell them anything but her daddy refused. He concluded that Strathmore was too far to travel over dangerous roads. It was time to put the matter in the hands of God.

  “I wasn’t there when he needed me most,” she said.

  “But God was. We can’t always be with the people we love and when they’re away we look to the Lord to take care of them.”

  “I pray for him every day and then to get bad news like this.”

  “Never known God to be in a hurry. He puts his plan into action and we just have to wait for things to fall into place.”

  “Should have never asked for a sign.”

  “Why not??

  “All I got was a big fat ‘no.’ Like you said, ‘the storm of the century.’”

  “I think you read the sign wrong.”

  “How so? It rained didn’t it?”

  “And by noon the sun was shining. Half a day rain, half a day sunshine.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “Sounds to me that God was telling you to exercise your free will. Go by your instincts. Do what you think is right. Follow your heart.”

  The Answer – June 9, 1919

  Even though Charlie had finally arrived in Mt. Jackson he was still without transportation to his home at Strathmore Farm, so again, he set out on foot. He covered the 3 miles journey in an hour, cleaned himself up, put on in his best suit, and then road on horseback the remaining 7 miles to the Shown home.

  Mable was a basket case, elated that she could accept the marriage proposal, and fearful that something terrible had happened to Charlie. She paced and prayed on the lawn by her favorite oak tree for as long as she could stand the summer heat. Then she sat on the front porch swing for a while and decided it was time for her to stop agonizing and to start believing that God was about to do something amazing. So she marched upstairs, put on her best dress, combed her hair, sprayed on Charlie’s favorite perfume, and sat on the sofa where she always sat with Charlie on his Sunday visits. Over and over she told herself, Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord.

  At 1 o’clock she heard the sound of a galloping horse and when she ran to the window and saw that it was Charlie, she greeted him so loudly that Moses told her, “Not so loud. You’re going to wake up the dead over in the cemetery.”

  Mable flew out the front door, threw open the porch door, jumped over the old hound dog sleeping on the top step, and ran so fast into Charlie’s arms that she almost knocked him over. “Are you alright?”

  “Was till you about ran me over,” said Charlie laughing at her enthusiasm.

  “Been worried sick. You’re all in one piece?”

  “Yep.”

  “Nothing fell on you?”

  “Nope”

  “You didn’t drown.”

  “Nope.”

  “Thank God, you’re here. I missed you so much.”

  “Sorry I’m late. Got stuck at the hospital in Woodstock yesterday and couldn’t get away.”

  “The hospital. What were you doing there?”

  “Long story and I’ll catch you up on that later. But I’ve been through hell and high water to get the answer to my question.”

  “What question was that?” Mable said playfully.

  “Is the moon made out of moldy cheese?”

  “No, that wasn’t it. Maybe it was the one about you wanting me to
be your wife.”

  “Right. That one. And by the way, what was the sign you were looking for?”

  “If it rained yesterday the answer was no and if there was sunshine, then the answer was yes.”

  Charlie stepped back from her embrace and said disappointedly, “Oh, no. It rained.”

  “And we had sunshine which means…” Then she paused and smiled.

  “Help me here. I’m dying.”

  “The Lord left it up to me to follow my heart. And my heart can’t say nothing but, “Yes, I will marry you, Charlie Polk, for as long as we both shall live.”

  After a very long and passionate kiss Mable had more good news for Charlie. “Come on in on the porch where it’s not so hot. Went over to the Miller farm this morning, looking for you.”

  “That could not have been good.”

  “But it was,” said Mable as she sat down beside him on the porch swing.

  “They found out who took that money.”

  “Who?”

  “Cilla. Lisa saw her take it. And then she hid it under your bed. Why would she do something like that?

  “Don’t rightly know but I figure it has something to do with me and you. She was dead set on breaking us up. Told me she was madly in love with me and I let her know, in no uncertain terms, that I didn’t have any feelings for her. Mable Shown is the only girl for me and always will be.”

  Mable hugged Charlie and decided that it was time to announce the good news to her parents. “Come on. Let’s go tell Daddy and Mama.”

  As they walked through the parlor, Mable asked, “Where have you been for the last two weeks?”

  “Strathmore, working for John Wissler.”

  “How about that?”

  They found Moses and Mary in the kitchen. “We’ve got an announcement to make,” said Mable smiling. “Me and Charlie are going to get married.”

  Mary cried and Moses fought back tears at the news that their baby daughter was engaged. While Mary hugged her daughter Moses shook Charlie’s hand. “Mary, we just got us a new son. Welcome to the family.”

  “This calls for cake,” said Mary. “Was planning on having it yesterday but then there was that little rain storm. Mable, go get Pearl and tell her the good news.”

  Mable was surprised when her big sister hugged her. “I’m proud of you, little girl. Maybe someday I’ll get lucky.”

  “No luck to it. I’ve been praying for you. It’s going to happen.”

  Charlie stayed for dinner and didn’t head back to Strathmore until just before dark. As he traveled, he felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders and marveled at how all of his problems had disappeared, one by one in rapid fashion, like a row of falling dominoes. But what he wanted most of all was the knowledge that Mable would be his wife. Nothing could have made him happier.

  New Residents at Strathmore – June 28, 1919

  The following morning Charlie met with John Wissler and told him the good news about his impending wedding plans and, most importantly, his proven innocence. John thanked him again for his attempt to save Buster’s life.

  “Where will you and your wife make your home?” asked John.

  “Her parents said we could live with them until we find a place.”

  John had a meeting to attend and promised to return later in the week so they could continue their conversation. “How about handling Buster’s work until I find somebody to take his place?”

  Charlie agreed to the arrangement and went right to work. Meanwhile, John called a meeting of the Wissler men and discussed candidates for the head foreman position. By the end of the confab, they had trimmed their list to just one name, Charlie Polk.

  On Friday, John and John, Jr. paid Charlie a visit. “We would like you to be our head foreman,” said the senior Wissler. “We believe you have what it takes to oversee the Wissler livestock operation.”

  They made Charlie a generous offer, one that he could not refuse. In addition to a handsome salary, there was also a home on the Strathmore property that came with the deal. “And there’s one more thing that we would like to offer you,” said John, Jr. This was your friend, Frank’s idea. “We want to host your wedding reception at Strathmore House.”

  On Saturday, June 28, Charlie and Mable were married at St. Mary’s Pine Church. The guest list for the affair was considerably more upscale than the customary crowd at the country church. The entire Wissler family was in attendance, Mable’s sisters visited from out of town, the Miller family was there, sans Priscilla, and more Polks showed up than Charlie knew existed. So many, in fact, he suspected some of them were wedding crashers after some free wedding cake. But the most surprising guest of all made a surprise visit to Charlie before the service began.

  Frank Wissler, was doing his job as Charlie’s best man, to keep Charlie away from the growing crowd and to keep the groom’s nervousness under control. While Charlie paced and Frank feebly attempted to tell corny jokes there was a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” said Frank.

  Reverend Beck opened the door and said, “Charlie, there’s someone here who wants to talk to you.”

  When Charlie turned around, he saw a well-dressed, distinguished, and ruggedly handsome gentleman standing in the doorway. “Daddy? I didn’t recognize you.”

  “Your Mama said I cleaned up real good.”

  Reverend Beck motioned for Frank to leave the room.

  “Bet you never figured to see me here.”

  “No, sir.”

  “Been thinking a lot about that little talk we had back at the hospital. Ain’t done no drinking since.”

  “That’s great, Daddy. You look real nice in your suit. Don’t guess I ever saw you dressed up like that.”

  “After you left I thought long and hard about what you said. You believed there was still some good in me and that I could change my ways. It hasn’t been easy, but I’m trying.”

  “Glad to hear that.”

  “Your Mama told me that you’ve done real good for yourself. Gonna have a beautiful wife here in a few minutes and I hear you’ve got you a real outstanding job over at Strathmore. Ain’t never said these words before and I should have said them a long time ago, but I’m real proud of you. Couldn’t be more proud.

  Charlie wiped away tears as his daddy spoke.

  “You asked me a question back then and true to form, like the mean old fool that I am, I refused to give you the answer that you deserved. Should have said it then. Charlie, I do love you. I really do. Don’t want to go to my grave without you knowing that.”

  Reverend Beck again knocked on the door. “Charlie, let’s go. It’s time.”

  Before Charlie left the room, he looked back at his father and smiled. “Thanks, Daddy. Love you too.”

  “Just one more thing. I hope you can find it within your heart to forgive me for all the bad I’ve done.”

  “Forgave you a long time ago. Mable told me that forgiving you was the right thing to do but I didn’t know how that would be possible. She said she would be praying for me every day until it happened, and then one day it was like that burden was lifted from my heart. The malice was gone and you were forgiven. But that’s not all she’s been praying for and I even told her that it wasn’t possible.”

  “What was that?”

  “That God would change your heart.”

  “That’s a powerful woman you’ve got.”

  “More than I realized.”

  “Sorry, your Mama and me couldn’t afford to get you a fancy wedding gift. As usual we’re dirt rich and cash poor.”

  “You already gave me the best gift ever.”

  “Oh, and I nearly forgot. I lied about that will. There ain’t none. Don’t be a stranger. Come see us.”

  Bill reached out to shake Charlie’s hand but Charlie pulled him forward and for the first time ever, the two men embraced.

  “Let’s go, Polk. You’re going to be late,” said Frank while pounding on the door. “If you don�
�t come on, I’m gonna marry Mable myself.”

  “See you, Daddy,” said Charlie as he rushed out the door while straightening his tie.

  Charlie’s discussion with his father was sufficient distraction to calm his nerves, that is, until he stepped into the sanctuary. When he saw the capacity crowd, all the nervous apprehension returned and he wondered why he ever let the Wisslers get involved. Ada had been hard at work hyping the upcoming wedding of the Wissler’s excellent new foreman, his lovely bride, and the gala reception at Strathmore House.

  Reverend Beck led Charlie and his groomsmen to the front of the altar. Standing with Charlie were his best man, Frank Wissler III, his brother, Bill Polk, Jr., and Mable’s brother, Walter. When the congregation saw that the service was about to begin, most of them stopped talking. The lone exception was Moses Shown, who was loudly telling a group of people on the back row about the time that his mother, Teeny Shown, wrestled a bear. “She was doing real good until that baby bear’s mama showed up.” And then he laughed so loud that Mary Shown stood up from her seat on the front row and gave him ‘the look,’ which quickly put an end to his storytelling.

  The pianist began to play a very clunky version of the Bridal March and the bridesmaids started the procession. The wedding party included all of Mable’s sisters: Ella, Lessi, Pearl, and Carrie. Charlie’s 3-year-old sister, Molly, was the flower girl. Mable proudly wore her mother’s wedding gown and carried a bouquet of flowers that she had picked from her garden that morning. Moses took his daughter’s arm and accompanied her down the aisle smiling all the way and when Charlie saw his bride to be it took his breath away.

  The ceremony was a simple, elegant, and traditional Lutheran worship service. Mable’s only request was that the emphasis should be on thanking God for bringing the two of them together. When they said their vows the mother’s wept and the father’s tried to keep their manly composure. Charlie still couldn’t believe that his daddy was sitting next to his mother on the front row. This was without question the greatest day of his life.

  When it came time for Mable to throw her bridal bouquet she threw a strike to her surprised sister, Pearl. Mary Polk was almost as happy about Pearl’s good fortune as she was about Mable’s marriage. “Moses, did you see that?” she shouted but Moses was already engaged in storytelling to John Wissler, Jr.’s boys, Silas and John III.