Rescuing Barnabas

by Elissa Strati

  “And, yet, there is something very special about him. I don't think I could settle back into the kind of marriage I had with Reggie, as wonderful as it was. With him gone, I have grown in ways I never would have expected. So I truly don't know whether I will be encouraging Barnabas or will continue to explore the world on my own.”

  “That is a very interesting perspective,” said Abigail. “I have been discovering exactly what you mean about being in a family with an inward perspective. All of my closest friends have become so focused on their families that they’ve lost sight of anyone outside of the immediate family circle.

  “Oh, it is so unbelievably refreshing to talk with you,” responded Dorothy. “I so much want to get to know you better now that we are grown women. I do hope you decide to stay in Green River!”

  “Yes,” agreed Abigail, “you are a great deal more interesting than when we were children. But I am fortunate that several of my best friends in Texas, although most are now married, still wish to include me in their group.”

  She laughed. “And of course they are the ones playing Matchmaker. They do try very hard, but some of the young men are unbelievably ineligible as human beings. Or at least for me. They might be delightful for some other young lady.”

  Dorothy had to laugh at the description. While the concept was completely new to her own understanding, she could just picture it. The number of eligible men in Green River, until recently, had been small enough that no one was trying to force her to consider changing her marital status. She was accepted as a widow and left alone.

  And, as a widow, she had the status to have her own business. Which brought back the question of whether marriage would take away that option.

  The women embraced as Abigail got up to leave, and promised to spend more time together, starting with their pageant contributions.

  Mrs. Henderson had cleverly made each person feel personally responsible for a small portion of the pageant. There were very few in town who didn't contribute at least something. As her assistant this year, Abigail was paying close attention to her techniques in working with people. This trip back home was proving eye-opening in more ways than one.

  ~~~

  An Honest Discussion

  Dorothy realized her dithering was causing more problems than a decision would. She liked Barnabas. She trusted Barnabas. Barnabas had actually invited her for a buggy ride after church, but the weather proved too cold for them to be able to enjoy outing.

  She then invited him over for a discussion while her daughters were visiting with other friends.

  Laying her cards on the table, she explained her concerns and what she had on her mind.

  “You do not know how much I admire you, Mrs. Cooper, Dorothy, for I believe that despite the way you have been avoiding me the past few weeks, we are at a first name phase in our relationship. Many women I know would have found a husband within a six-month were they widowed with young children. My own fiancée elected to marry my brother rather than try to act as a woman alone. In her case, I believe her actions were fully justified, and I have no resentments. And, in fact, at this stage of my life, I am rather relieved to be free of the responsibilities I would have had otherwise. But you and your sister each carried on, as if you were men. That suffragette, Mrs. Nichols, might excoriate me for phrasing it that way, but believe me I mean it as high praise.

  “You put the needs and desires of your families ahead of your own. Now that you have achieved a certain stability, you should be able to pursue your own goals. I rather like the idea of a woman in my life who is an equal and not fully dependent upon me for everything.

  “Of course,” he added ruefully, “you have not given me permission to address you or even to court you. It is not my goal in life to change you, but to enjoy the beautiful and accomplished woman you are.

  “Whether you wish to step out with me or not, I still offer you my full friendship and support in your endeavors. I would like to consider you as much a friend as I do the rest of your Cohort.”

  He smiled at her startled expression. “Yes, Charles told me about the ‘Queen Kway,’” he laughed.

  “Tell me honestly,” asked Dorothy, “if I were to tell you no, would you have any interest at all in Charles’ sister Abigail?”

  “I am very fond of Abigail and think well of her. I also think well Suzanne and Ms. Emilene, but I have no desire to be married to any of them.”

  She blushed at his frankness, but thanked him.

  “I guess another concern I have,” she admitted, “is the fact that our families are pushing us together so hard. I fear that I am trying to please them and not necessarily looking out for my own interest.”

  “I can understand that concern.” he replied, “but I think you should be able to follow your heart. However, should it tell you I am not the one for you, I trust you will let me know first before you share with others. Because I must be honest. I do not think I could remain in Green River should you allow your affections to fall upon another.

  “Please know I would never interfere in your choice, and in any case would wish you all happiness in the future. But I believe you have captured my heart, and I wish to explore with you whether my feelings are true and if yours might someday match mine.”

  “Then I will accept your offer of courtship.”

  Barnabas stood up and bowed, kissing her hand.

  “You do me great honor,” he replied.

  CHAPTER 14 – A Christmas Wedding

  Arrival of Guests

  “I'm so glad to see you made it here safely,” Barnabas said, as he reached out to embrace Rebecca and shake hands with Lance. “Especially since it started snowing yesterday afternoon.”

  “We'd already made it to shelter by the time the snow started,” commented Lance.

  “Yes,” added Rebecca, “and all those folks you had stopped to visit were on the lookout for us. Fortunately you had explained to each of them that we would want to go as far as we could while it was daylight to minimize our second day's journey. So as we approached the first house, the family joined us and went with us to the second house, and then both families joined us on our way to the third house, where we ended up spending the night. Everyone had brought food with them and we had a delightful party. The neighbors talked about getting together more often. Being isolated like that can be rough, especially in the Christmas season. We made some wonderful new friends, and I'm sure Lance will be kept busy writing letters to them.”

  They all laughed, teasing Lance about his epistolary proclivities.

  Melody had wandered up as they were talking and mumbled out, “Epistle proclamations?”

  Lance repeated the words, “Epistolary proclivities. That means,” he explained, “that I like to write letters. A proclivity is something somebody likes to do. Pro means for. An epistle is just the same word as the Epistles in the Bible. Which means things that are written down, specifically, letters.”

  Melody’s eyes widened. “You mean Reverend Joe is reading someone’s letters to us in church? But aren’t they private?”

  Chuckling inwardly, Lance assured her that some letters are meant to be shared. “When your parents get letters, don’t they sometimes read them aloud?”

  Turning sad eyes first at Lance, then at Barnabas, she said softly, “Mother used to read Papa’s letters to us when I was just a baby. Her eyes would get all sparkly and she’d have to wipe them with her handkerchief, but she would be smiling, too. Usually it was him saying how much he loved us and missed us.”

  Barnabas cleared his throat and murmured to Lance, “Melody is one of Major Cooper’s daughters.”

  Looking slightly aghast, Lance turned back to Melody and put out his arms. “Would a hug help?”

  She nodded solemnly and, bypassing Lance, flung herself into a startled Barnabas’ arms. He staggered back a step, and then swept her up and drew her head to his shoulder, patting her back as she hugged him tightly about the neck, legs wrapped around his middle. After
a moment or so she released her strangle-hold and leaned back, lifting suspiciously dry eyes to his, saying “Unca Zeus, will you help me find my Mother? There’s so many people here!”

  “You’re a conniving little cat, minx, but I want to introduce Sergeant Jenkins and his wife to your mother anyway. Where was she when you saw her last?”

  “In the kitchen with Aunt Mary.” She made no effort to get down.

  “And why is your Aunt Mary in the kitchen?”

  “She’s tasting something Aunt Abby made.”

  Lance lifted an eyebrow. “Uncle Zeus?”

  “At least it has the children reading their classics. Not all have the advantages of your septet.”

  Rebecca was giggling silently. Lance had been right when he’d said Zeus’ last letter sounded as if he were smitten.

  “I take it you were greeted as you pulled up?” Barnabas continued.

  “Yes, a young man called Billy Stuart took the horse and buggy and said he’d see our bags were brought to the house.”

  “You’ll be staying at the main house with me and Charles and his family from Texas. Of course once they are married, Charles is taking Mary to Kansas City for a wedding trip, so we won’t be in the way of the newlyweds.”

  “Surely you won’t be staying there after they get back?” asked Rebecca, with a glance at Melody, who was listening avidly.

  Barnabas chuckled. “I’ll be moving into a room at the Cooper stables to provide a bit of protection for the ladies,” he explained, dropping his hand to lightly swat at Melody’s bottom. “With Mary moving out, Dorothy and the girls will be there on their own.”

  “And I’m taking care of Chrissy in my room!” announced Melody, wriggling to get down. Placing his hands firmly about her waist, Barnabas lifted his little princess down and placed her lightly back on terra firma.

  “Chrissy? That would be your cousin?” asked Rebecca.

  “Yes,” said Melody self-importantly. “Her real name is Christmas Noelle because she was born last Christmas. She’s too little to be a flower girl but I’m supposed to carry her to the pew and watch her during the wedding.”

  “That’s a mighty important job, indeed,” agreed Rebecca. Getting a one-year old to sit still the length of a wedding might prove problematic.

  ~~~

  Christmas Eve

  The day of the pageant had finally arrived and all the hard work would be on display for the whole town to see. Since this year it was the turn of St. Mary's of the Hill to host the pageant, following their Christmas Eve service the Green River Church congregation clambered into buggies and headed for the Catholic church.

  A few parts had been added to accommodate additional children who had moved to Green River in the past year, but the pageant went off flawlessly, with the exception of one costume failure, when a Bedouin robe made from a bed sheet became trampled upon. The costume had rapidly been repaired and the play went on.

  Dorothy added the wise men to her list of costumes to make the next year. Most parents enjoyed contributing their own child's wardrobe, but she helped out where there was need.

  Good-byes and plans to meet again on the morrow were more complex this year, since the congregants from St Mary's would be joining those at Green River Church, after their Christmas services, for the Wedding of the Year. While not everyone would be attending services beforehand, especially those who had attended the Christmas Eve services, very few had plans not to attend Charles’ and Mary's wedding. Both were popular were popular in their own right, as well as being from founder families.

  Because the couple would be taking off immediately after the wedding to catch the northbound train, destination unknown to any but the groom, it had been announced in advance that the normal wedding party would be postponed to more clement weather and would be held as a barbecue in July. While some regretted they wouldn't be able to host a shivaree for the couple, most were well satisfied with the anticipated treat.

  ~~~

  Farewells

  The snow had started falling during the wedding, and by the time the bridal couple had caught their train, it was coming down heavily. People headed for home and shelter. Rachel and Lance Jenkins had originally planned to leave the next day for home, but agreed to stay until the snows stopped and the roads had cleared a bit. Rachel's only concern was that the families with whom they had stayed previously would be on the lookout for them and might not have had the same weather.

  In fact, after several hours of heavy snowfall, the storm moved away that evening, and under bright sunny skies the Jenkins set out for home the next morning after all, promising to write upon arrival. Fortunately the worst of the storm had followed the river so once they got further east the road became clear and they made good time, to the delight of the families they had befriended. This time the families trekked east for more good fellowship, and all agreed to stay in contact in the New Year.

  ~~~

  Abigail returned to Texas with her Aunt Flo and Uncle Gerhard. She had confided to Dorothy that Billy's brother, who had come to visit for the wedding, was one of her suitors. He had been very polite, but had not pressed his suit while in Kansas. Since he was not actively courting her, they have been able disregard the strictures under which they had previously operated and have some very pleasant discussions. She found herself liking him more and more.

  Somehow things seemed more relaxed in Kansas and she was able to speak privately with him while remaining in plain sight, with no concern for compromise. As much as she loved her brother and as close a friendship as she had formed with Dorothy, Green Spring really wasn’t home any more. Even if she remained a spinster, Abigail knew she’d be happier in Texas. Dorothy had wished her well and invited her to return at any time. Abigail had returned the invitation, including Barnabas, with a sly wink.

  CHAPTER 15 – Spring

  Over the winter there were very few occasions for proper courtship. It was too cold to go about in a buggy and there were limited places to visit and maintain the appropriate visibility and distancing necessary to protect their reputations, so Dorothy and Barnabas mostly met at the Cohort’s various houses as well as attending Sunday services together. Snows kept them apart some weeks, and as spring broke through, Barnabas became exceptionally busy with readying the fields for crops and then with planting.

  Finally the crops were in and, and it was time for Nature to take her course.

  ~~~

  Jeff had been moved into the room in Dorothy’s stables as soon as Barnabas announced his intentions to court her to his boss. Charles invited him to stay in his room as the house plan allowed privacy for the master’s bedroom on one end of the house and the other bedrooms at the other. The bath room could be accessed from either hall or from the outside via a hall leading from a mudroom adjacent to the garden.

  That garden exit was convenient for Mary who used it to take Chrissy for morning sunbaths. Mary also delighted in the convenience of washing up her messy toddler without tracking dirt into the rest of the house.

  “Are you sure she doesn’t make too much noise or waken you in the morning?”

  “I’m a farmer. We’re always up early! Besides, we’ve become quite good friends.”

  In fact, although Chrissy couldn’t yet open her bedroom door, she had discovered if she went to her wall she could summon “Zh-zh-sh” by chanting his name. She had a favorite book he would read to her until she fell back asleep. “But that’s our little secret, Princess,” he would say as he kissed the top of her head.

  ~~~

  Then news came of the Orphan Brides who were coming to town. This was a group of young city orphans who were looking to make more of their lives than to become house servants. In a scheme hatched Reverend Joe and Father Francis, were providing mail-order wives for the various new hands populating not only Tri Brand but other ranches and farms springing up in the area. The town was experiencing significant growth and an uptick in rowdy and occasionally inappropriate behavior. Wives, had dec
ided the clergy, were the answer.

  It turned out a number of the men were, in fact, craving feminine companionship, and most were looking for the same traditional relationships their parents had. Father Francis’ own brother, it seemed, had acquired a mail-order bride and was quite happy. Barnabas had his own plan for happiness.

  ~~~

  One afternoon, Barnabas came in from the fields early and locked himself in the bathroom for a full hour. Coming out dressed in his Sunday clothes, with new hat and shirt, he stopped by Charles’ office. Well, Boss, I’m off. We’ll either be celebrating when I return or you will be pouring me onto a train headed for the gold fields.

  “I need you to promise to stop calling me “Boss,” whatever the outcome.”

  “He only does it to annoy, because he knows it teases,” replied Barnabas.

  “You can just Jabberwocky your way out of here!” and Charles offered his hand to wish him good luck.

  ~~~

  Billy had groomed Thunderbolt to a high gloss. He’d been corresponding with one of the mail-order brides and believed himself to be in love. He, too, offered a handshake for luck.

  Climbing lightly into the saddle, Barnabas saluted Billy and trotted off toward Dorothy’s house. With all the craziness coming down the pike, he wanted his own future settled here and now.

  He loved Dorothy and was equally enamored of her daughters. Soon, he hoped, to be his daughters. He loved the dresses she made and how the townswomen looked up to her for her talent and skill, but also her good nature and inner beauty. That she was also the most naturally beautiful woman he’d ever seen still overwhelmed him, but it was she, herself, who sparkled from within and had captured his soul at first sight.