“You and your Cohort have been big supporters since you were children yourselves,” replied Reverend Joe.
Dorothy colored slightly. It had been a long time since she’d heard that phrase used to refer to her childhood friends.
Tom strolled over, offering his hand to Barnabas. “I see the good Reverend is already strong-arming you into joining in pageant production.”
“I gather you’re going to explain to me why I’ve just been volunteered?”
Tom stroke his chin thoughtfully and started his tale.
“This story pretty much goes back to the beginning of Green River. The territory was part of the United States by virtue of the Louisiana Purchase, and had not even been officially named. There were only a handful of families that had secured some fertile acreage along the river, but among them they had enough children to ask for a teacher to be sent out. It was the usual arrangement of room and board plus a very small stipend in exchange for teaching the children.
“The first school room was a barn belonging to the Sacketts, the family with the largest number of children. That is also where the school teacher stayed. That teacher was a very young woman named Rachel Sampson. She was fresh out of normal school but the oldest in her own family, so she already had experience with wrangling children. That has probably always been the largest requirement for any teacher. You can't get them to learn if they're not sitting still and listening.
“She was happy with the kids, happy with her room, happy enough with the food, and made do with the pay, but the one thing that made her really miserable was the fact that there were no preachers. Green River was lucky to get an itinerant every two to three months. So she took it upon herself to include Sunday school in her job description and started teaching these children about our Lord.
“Most of these families had at least a nodding acquaintance with churches from their hometowns but some had gotten out of the way of maintaining the Lord's Day. Of course with a farm or ranch, if you have animals you never truly have a day off. They need to eat and be taken care of regardless.
“Some of the families did still adhere to reading the Bible and praying with meals. My grandparents were among that group and so my father and his siblings were able to help Miss Sampson with the Bible lessons. Her first Christmas in Green River was approaching and Miss Sampson got it into her head that the children should perform a Christmas Pageant, focusing on the birth of the Christ Child.
“Each of the students was to have a part, and the children would perform it on Christmas Eve for all of the families. My father was selected to be the first Joseph, and Genevieve Sackett played Mary. I am sure the descendants of the other players all know what parts their ancestors played.”
As he had been talking, a crowd had gathered around them, with lots of nods and smiles.
“Everyone worked hard on the play and the children performed magnificently, I am told. Keep in mind I was told that by my grandfather.”
A few chuckles could be heard.
“As the town grew, the number of children increased, and a barn raising was held to build a schoolhouse. Most thought a single small room would do, but a few had the foresight to realize what a crossroad Green Rivers is and the two room schoolhouse we now have is what was built.
“The second year the pageant was even bigger, and some of the parents made costumes for their children. They were just simple robes made from worn bedding, but the children felt very professional and did an even better job telling the tale of the birth of the Christ Child.
“That summer a new hand named Nate Henderson started courting the school teacher. Most of you may not realize, but in other towns the contract calls for the school teacher to be a single woman. Some thought blocking the courtship would be in order but others were more sensible and struck the condition from her contract, allowing Mrs. Henderson to continue teaching once she married. This town usually recognizes quality and tries not to let it slip away.”
This sally was greeted with smiles and appreciative nods as the crowd drew in and newcomers were hushed as they approached.
“Word had gotten out about the pageant, and by the third year some people attended from nearby farmsteads and even towns within a day's ride, anxious to share the Christmas spirit.
“Those of you not from Green River realize that Christmas has not long been celebrated as a major holiday, although it has always been a high holy day. I understand in the cities some folks are decorating trees—some new-fangled notion Queen Victoria got from her German husband, I’m told. But forty years ago it was very rare to tell the Christmas story outside of the pulpit.
“News of the town that celebrated Christmas with a pageant had leaked out, and into our midst rode a new preacher, just graduated from the seminary, who was looking to make his mark on the world. He arrived in town full of wonderful ideas and goodwill, and with an ability to preach which I have seldom heard equaled.”
Looking around, Tom saw Reverend Joe had joined the throng and was blushing a beet red. Tom smiled and nodded and then turned back to Barnabas, who was as spellbound as the rest.
“Summertime in that fourth year, the aging itinerant priest decided to create a building in which to host Mass, that is, a church, and a place to stay between trips. Green River, he felt, was central to all of his travels and would make a good base of operations.
“Thanks to Mrs. Henderson, this town had enough faith to support two churches when so many towns cannot maintain even one. Both churches wanted to take on the pageant but Mrs. Henderson was not having any children excluded because they belonged to the wrong church, or no church at all. So she has kept the pageant as the purview of the school, with both churches supporting it. I suspect the slight competition has been good for all involved.”
Barnabas nodded thoughtfully. “So the whole town pulls together for almost a third of a year to produce a tribute to the birth of Christ. Of course I’ll help!”
Spontaneous applause broke out and folks started chattering about which of their ancestors had taken what parts. Pastor Joe came over and shook Tom’s hand.
“That was the finest telling of the pageant story I’ve ever heard. And it was because of the pageant that Father Francis and I became such firm friends when we realized our underlying beliefs were the same.” Turning to Barnabas, he added, “Thank you for joining us in our efforts this year.”
CHAPTER 13 – Decisions
Abigail
As soon as Charles had written of his impending marriage, Abigail became determined to return home. With the house burned down, she had not bothered to come back after the war, knowing she would only be in the way. But now the house was finished and she wanted some time to visit with her brother before he was married.
Aunt Florence agreed she would like to visit her old home again, too, although the house was now gone. But the old barn was still there, modified, expanded, and improved but still the Old Stone Barn. Gerhard's son had agreed to keep an eye on the business so Flo's husband could go with them to Green River for an extended visit. He’d been helping his father run the bank since he’d returned from college back east and would be as careful with the money as if it were his own. As much of it was!
They arrived in mid-November and the two ladies basically took over the household from the men. Charles tried to protest that they were house guests and he had a housekeeper to manage things. Aunt Flo was perfectly content to allow the housekeeper to continue to handle the cleaning chores and basic baking. She had a housekeeper of her own back in Texas. But as the oldest female in the family, she felt it was incumbent upon herself to be in charge.
Abigail, who had run the house for her brother after their folks had died, felt oddly redundant herself, she confided in her brother, laughing. And here she didn’t have the rounds of visits and shopping and ladies club projects with which she’d been involved.
“There’s always the pageant,” Charles had suggested
Mrs. Henderson was more than happy for he
r assistance. Somehow she felt less out of place and almost as if she had returned home, after being away more than five years.
But she sighed, thinking of the people she’d left behind in Texas, the women who’d befriended her and made her feel part of the community, and even the beaux who’d escorted her. She missed them all, although one, perhaps, a bit more than the others.
~~~
Barnabas
Using the pageant as an excuse, Barnabas was finding every opportunity to spend time with Dorothy. In this he was aided and abetted by her daughters. Having decided he’d make a better father than husband, Melody was actively campaigning for her mother to accept him as a suitor, dropping less than subtle hints that “it sure is nice when Unca Zeus comes over!”
On his part, recognizing the handful Melody could be, Barnabas suggested gently that her mother should be allowed to decide for herself when and whether she wished to have visitors.
“Well, that’s easy, Unca Zeus! If you became my papa you could live here all the time and you wouldn’t have to visit at all!”
The more reserved Harmony, older by “more than two years, Uncle Zeus!” had also decided he’d make a good father. But other than welcoming his visits almost as exuberantly as her sister, she studiously avoided saying anything to her mother. When Mother was ready to act, she would.
Both girls adored their “Unca Charles” and “Unca Tom” as well, but Dorothy was aware of the difference with which they greeted “Unca Zeus.” Still, if she were to allow him to court her, it was her own heart, traitor that it was, that must be consulted.
~~~
Dorothy
Dorothy had adored Reggie since they were children and he’d felt the same about her. She couldn’t really remember when they’d gone from playmates to intended life-mates, just that he’d shown a sensitivity and vulnerability to her that he largely hid from the others. It was that same sensitivity that had driven him join the Union forces and go to war.
That he’d excelled came as no surprise. Mrs. Henderson had reinforced in all of the children the concept that they were capable of great deeds, and his own parents had ensured his self-reliance by offering their trust in him. While Dr. Cooper would have loved for young Reginald to follow in his footsteps, he permitted Reggie to go his own way.
It was Charles who had taken to visiting and assisting the doctor when he could get away from his own chores. But Charles had been needed at home and hidden any resentment at not being able to follow his fancy and study medicine.
Dorothy sighed deeply. She’d adored being a wife and mother—she still treasured motherhood—but her pleasure in fabric and design would have been limited to the occasional costume for herself had things gone differently. And she would have been deeply content with that life.
“But now,” she told Suzanne over coffee, “I have a new life opening up before me. My share of the Tri Brand chores only takes a few hours a day, and I have been approached by a number of women wanting special Christmas dresses this year.”
“Yes, the wedding is providing a number of people with an opportunity and excuse to splurge a bit. Most folks largely just make do most of the time. I was thinking of asking you to do a dress for me, myself.”
“Oh, Suzanne, I should have offered! But Ma Kenner does lovely work.”
“Lovely plain work, you mean. She admitted she’d like something a bit fancier, herself.”
Dorothy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “If I cut and pinned the fabric, she could do the basic dress and we could work together on the draping and details. We could be sure to include those amazing ribbons you weave and tat to make something with a bit of flair for each of you!”
And then her eyes clouded. “But if I remarried I would be expected to give up working.”
Suzanne sat back, pondering.
“You know, as the Tri Brand has streamlined things and begun to prosper, I’ve seen changes at the Bar K, too. Once they got their heads around the idea it was possible to do things in a way other than what had been done for generations, Charles and Tom began innovating and trying new things. Not all of them have worked, of course.” They both laughed, thinking of the hair-brained scheme with the chickens that had resulted in no eggs for a week.
“I don’t know what Barnabas was like before the war, but I am guessing that, as they did for Charles, the events profoundly changed the man and made him more receptive to new ideas. He’s certainly thrown himself into the work and come up with suggestions of his own for improvements.
“In a way, he sort of reminds me of Reggie,” she mused. “Not the part about new ideas. Once Reggie had decided on a course of action he was nearly impossible to deflect.” Seeing the glint of mischief in Dorothy’s eyes she laughed. “Oh, I know you had your ways, but you have to admit he could be stubborn.
“No, what I meant is his whole-hearted delight in family and friends. Actually, that is a trait Tom and Charles share as well.
“But here’s a surprising thing, back to our original topic: when I suggested I wanted to do more with my ribbon-making, perhaps even offer it for sale, Tom encouraged me. He wasn’t worried about what people would think but about what would make me happy. But I wouldn’t have known that if the subject hadn’t been brought up and discussed. I might be feeling a bit frustrated instead.”
Dorothy nodded in understanding.
“Yes, you’ve given me a great deal to think about.” And then she added, “So did you bring some of this new ribbon you’ve created?”
As Suzanne drew out some deep green silk ribbon, she exclaimed, “Oh, my dear Suzanne, this is exquisite! The picot on the edges is beyond beautiful!” Looking up, she added, “Can you do this in ivory for me? It would accent beautifully the lace Charlie Sue is making for Mary’s gown.”
“Charles convinced her to do white, after all?”
“Not white, but a rich ivory. It might be her second wedding and he honored her desire not to wear white, as a widow, but he reminded her this was his wedding, too, and he had no plans for another. He didn’t pressure her, but allowed her time to think things through, and she agreed.”
“The man has a future in politics,” mumbled Suzanne, thinking of their current mayor who had, perhaps, more charm than necessary. He’d even offered to take over the pageant fund. Mrs. Henderson had sniffed and declined.
~~~
On the Nature of Men
A few days later, Abigail came over to Dorothy’s house for a visit. She had been a year or two ahead of the Cohort, although Mrs. Henderson had frequently combined subjects among multiple grades to ensure the younger children had the benefit of the older children's additional knowledge, but they had always been friendly.
Abigail had returned to discover all of her special friends married and with families and far less in common than they had once had. All each really wanted to talk about was her husband and children and how the new crop was doing and whether the pig might win again at the fair next year. All important topics, but no longer terribly gratifying to Abigail.
She had smiled and made polite comments about the children, accepting compliments on her own gown which was perhaps a little more stylish than most of what was worn around in Green River. It had surprised her a bit when she got home. Although she had been staying in a fairly small town in Texas, it seemed to be more of an up-and-coming metropolis with a larger variety of activities than Green River.
At least Dorothy clearly had a sense of style and, it seemed, was going to be bringing said style to the local populace now that she had decided to branch out into dressmaking. But that wasn't why Abigail had dropped by.
“Tell me about this fellow they call Zeus,” she said.
“Well, I'm sure you are aware that he and your brother Charles became fast friends while fighting in the war. It seems he was actually with Charles when Reggie died and heard him promise to take care of me. Fortunately, he agreed to do so as an uncle rather than offering to marry me himself.”
She smi
led wryly. “The two of us would never have suited as man and wife, although I love him as a brother. But that's the problem. I've always thought of him that way and couldn't possibly think of him as a suitor. So, really, it's a very good thing that he is in love with Mary and she with him.”
“Yes,” chuckled Abigail, “else I might not have had the excuse to come home. Aunt Flo has put a great deal of pressure on me to stay in Texas.”
“Is that what you want?”
“To be honest, I am not sure. For a while I thought perhaps one of my flirtations might be becoming serious, but when I told him I was coming to Kansas for my brother's wedding, and that I might stay, he didn't say anything. Although he did get a funny look in his eyes.” Abigail gave herself a mental shake and returned to the present. “And this is, after all, my home. But I am getting on for a spinster.”
“So,” queried Dorothy, “you are asking my advice on whether to encourage Barnabas to court you?”
“Perhaps, but I was more interested in knowing whether he was already courting you.”
Abigail paused, gathering her thoughts, and went on.
“I have had that happened to me and it is not pleasant. I realize it is up to the young man to make up his mind which woman he wishes to court, but it is painful to let it be known to others that you might have interest only to be ignored. It was clear to the world that you and Reggie were fated to be together, so you never went through those insecurities that most of the rest of us did.
“In fact, Charles was the only one of your Cohort who was at loose ends, and I think he was already half in love with Mary back then. Isn't it funny how a few years age difference is so important for children and how it becomes less and less important as we gain years?”
“May I be honest with you, Abigail?” Dorothy asked. “I have been pondering similar thoughts of late, unsure of whether to encourage Barnabas. On the one hand, he makes me feel special in a way even Reggie didn't. With Reggie it was like having the other half of me by my side. But with Barnabas I remain an individual person.
Rescuing Barnabas Page 6
