THE PATH TO A PROMISE Chapters 13 & 14

 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 Joplin, Missouri, Thanksgiving Day 1910 

“William, I’m going home,” Henry said. He puffed cigarette smoke into the air. “It being Thanksgiving.”

William Madison crushed his smoke with his shoe. He lounged on the wood railing of the wide front porch. “You sure?”

Henry stared back at his brown-haired, blue-eyed friend sitting with him on the porch. William’s brown tweed coat, linen trousers rolled up one roll to display white socks, set off his brown leather shoes. A fine hat topped William's head in a jaunty display of good fashion. From top to bottom, William Madison had a fashion style to match even the best dressed in Joplin.

Henry marveled at his friend. How could anyone be so suave and debonair in the early in the morning? William Madison could! He was every bit a hard worker and spent his money on the things he valued, which his mother was one. Henry witnessed William caring for his mother every day. He helped her with anything and everything she needed. William was a good son.

Henry burned with shame. He had more than likely made his wife madder than a wet hen and his parents probably disowned him. At least he had his inheritance and owned a parcel of land! What got into him to take off and wander around here and there all the time? This time, being gone, was not a good situation. He was married and Olive was set to have the baby any time now. For all he knew, the baby was already in the world.

He looked at William again. They had been friends for years. They grew up together down in the hills and hollows of Rocky Corners. Even though they shared common interests, William valued men’s fashion as something to behold and mimic and work hard to get. Henry never gave it much thought. And work was drudgery.

“You look like you’re dressed to go somewhere.” Henry’s voice was cool. He wished he had the same style. If he looked nice and smelled even better, Olive might come closer to forgiving him.

William looked down at his attire, scoffing, “These old things? Nah, I just threw them on this morning. Wanted to look nice for the day; you know Mother holds Thanksgiving Day as a sacred time.” His look changed as the color lit his cheeks. “I’m sorry for saying that! I don’t mean to say…”

Henry’s face burned at the truth. He held up his hand. “No offense taken. I’m just wondering if I’m a father yet. I think she told me it was around Thanksgiving. My folks feel the same way your mother does.” He let out a deep breath, “If I start in the next few minutes, I can be home before nightfall.”

“You’ll miss Mother’s good cooking,” William teased. “I know you need to go home, but you’re always welcome here, you hear me? Now get on out of here and tell everyone hello."

Henry stood up, shaking out the stiffness from the early morning chill in the air. “I’ve got quite a bit of money saved up from the jobs I’ve done.” He stuck his hand out to his friend, “Thank you for putting me up. I left a little cash on the table for your mother.”

William stood alongside his friend. “Let me know when you’re a daddy.” His eyes clouded over, and he glanced down at the porch floor. Without looking up, he asked, “Will you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” Henry answered. At this point, he knew he owed his friend a lot of favors. He had an idea what the favor was but waited for William to speak.

“When you see Lizzie tell her that I miss her. Ask her if she might write to me and I’ll write her back. I’ll get down to see her as soon as I can.”

Henry grinned and slapped William’s shoulder. “I’ll surely do that. You got eyes for Lizzie, don’t ya?”

William admitted, “She makes my heart do strange things. No girl has ever made me feel like she does. I want to see her more.”

“I’ll tell her that.”

“No!” William came off the porch railing as if his pants were set afire. “Don’t tell her anything like that!”

Henry reared back laughing. “You told me to tell her…”

William’s brow went up in defense and his square jaw tensed. He stepped toward Henry.Promise me you won’t…”

Henry brought up an arm. “You know I’m just ribbin’ you. I’ll keep it low key. Why don’t you come with me? See Lizzie yourself.”

William thought for a minute, then declined the invitation. “I’ll come another time. After you make amends with your family.”

He watched his best friend leave. 

***

It was early evening when Henry approached the Johnson farm and tied his horse to the post. The November sun was sinking fast, lighting the western sky afire. Looking about the yard, no one appeared. Lights were a soft glow in the windows of the house. The old cur dog, aged into sleepiness, lay on the front porch beating his tail on the wood floor.

Henry made his way to the porch, and mid-step, he stopped.

Bud came around the corner of the chicken coop. “What in tarnation are you doing here?”

Yep, there it was. Anger. Henry thought before he spoke. “I’ve come to talk to my wife.” He stood tall, feet apart, hands by his side. Determination fueled him.

Bud’s voice was steady and low. “She wants nothing to do with you.” His hands balled into fists.

An owl whooped a lonesome hoot somewhere in the cedar grove. The evening light was fading fast, and darkness would invade the hollow. With the coming of night, the air grew chillier, a whisper of rain swept through the grove of trees.

“I want to hear it from her.”

“You’ll be real smart to get on your horse and get outta here.”

Henry shook his black head. “Not going anywhere old man.”

Ben came up beside his father. “Watch your mouth, Henry.”

Bud drew himself up to his full six feet two inches, his eyes like the fire in the sky. To Ben, he said, “I can handle this. Maybe you oughta go inside and check on the women folk.”

But Ben stayed where he was.

Bud continued. “You’re going to play by Olive’s rules now. No more running in and out of her life with nary a care for what it’s doing to her. You’re going to give my daughter a divorce, or you’ll be deep in misery.”

Henry looked at the house and saw a shadow at the front window. His insides felt like a Missouri thunderstorm. “Is that a threat?”

“Not a threat, but a promise.”

Both men stared at each other.

“You’ve caused my girl a heap of misery, Winters. Now it’s your turn.”

Henry huffed, pulled his shoulders back, and held his ground. The old man had no idea how he felt. And Bud’s anger didn’t bother him. He thought it comical as the older man’s bushy brows rose high like the bluffs at Horseshoe Bend. He saw complete contempt.

“We gave our consent so you could marry our daughter. And ever since that day, you’ve made me wish otherwise. She wants a divorce and you’re going to tuck your tail and run for the hills.”

Henry started to answer, but Bud held up his hand. “No more talk. Get out of here before I throw you off this land. I don’t want to ever see your face or hear your voice again. I’m gonna make sure my daughter and grandson are safe.”

The front door opened, and Lizzie came out to stand on the porch. She yelled, “Olive wants to know why you’re here.”

Henry slumped in relief. The baby! He was a father! "I’ve been working in Joplin with William and the boys.” At that moment he saw his chance and used William to buffer the chaos that threatened. “William sends his regards. He said to tell you hello and that he and Mary Jane might come soon for a visit.”

Lizzie didn’t have time to answer. Olive pushed through the door, standing beside her sister. She held a bundle of white in her arms.

A lump grew in Henry’s throat when he saw Olive holding the baby. His son. An infant child. His.

“Why are you here?” Olive cried out. A thin wrapper covered her nightgown and a long dark braid hung over one plump shoulder.

Henry noted she wasn’t smiling, and her lips thinned to a firm line. But what did he expect? Shouts of happiness? He took a step toward her, his arms outstretched in defense, his body at ease. “I’ve come home.”

Olive opened her mouth to say something, but Henry threw up his right hand. “If we can just sit down together, I’ll explain. Please.” As he spoke, his steps drew him nearer to the porch. He felt his eyes spark with regret and tears threatened to take over. His gut churned with guilt. She had to let him stay. He had to see his boy!

A grumble of thunder sounded in the distance as daylight continued to fade. If the storm brought rain, it might quickly turn to snow by morning.

“How can I believe your story?” At that moment, the baby let out a cry.

Henry came to the bottom of the steps. “My son.” He grinned, the smile crinkling his eyes and bunching his cheeks. “Can I see him?” He put a hand on the railing and a foot on the bottom step.

Behind him, he heard Bud’s growl. “Watch your step. It might be your last.”

Ben moved with his father and stood to the left.

Henry whirled and faced the man. “I’ve come home to my family! We’re married and you can’t change that!” He whirled back to face Olive.

Olive blinked back tears but didn’t look away. A sob escaped. She hid her face in the baby’s blanket to catch the tears.

Nancy stepped onto the porch. A white apron encircled her front side and tied in the back. Her black hair pulled into the familiar tight bun. She had listened to the argument. Following behind her was Pearl with Clara Mae. “Olive, take the baby and get back to your bed, you’ll hurt yourself being up and about.”

Lightning lit the night sky and thunder again warned the storm was growing close. Clara Mae let out a whoop of fear and hid herself in Pearl’s dress. The wind picked up, scattering dried leaves across the yard.

Henry made his way up the steps, his footfalls light, his shoulders at attention. He moved near Olive and touched her shoulder. When she looked up, he saw the remnants of his actions written all over her face. He’d been gone too long. She was clearly upset at his absence. And it was all his fault.

Olive looked back at her father and then her mother.

Nancy heard the approaching storm from the kitchen where she was preparing supper from the leftovers of dinner. Her arthritic bones told her the storm might be a gully-washer. She always trusted her aches and pains when it came to forecasting the weather. “Storm’s getting close now,” she said. “I won’t turn away someone when the weather gets bad.” She looked at her husband.

Bud agreed, but anger boiled over his face. "Go in. But if I say out, you're gone. Understand?"

Henry nodded and thanked everyone as they all moved inside just before the first of the raindrops punched the ground and the wind swooshed through the treetops. While the storm seized the November night, another storm ballooned inside. 

***

Lizzie came into the kitchen, standing at the sink. “Olive says it’s time to talk. And you may see the baby.”

“I’m ready.” Henry stood and followed Lizzie into the bedroom, entered the room, and Lizzie closed the door. Henry stood still and waited. for Olive’s reaction.

Olive sat up in bed, the colorful quilt pulled tight around her. Peter lay by her side. For months she had worried and fretted over Henry’s absence. And now, as quick as that, he was back. She tried to sort her feelings out, but it was hard. How did she feel now that he was truly there in the same house with her? Did she want a divorce? To carry that socially unacceptable weight around with her? How would Nellie Bly feel? What would she do? Olive truly wished she had the answers.

“Sit down and I’ll give him to you.” She eyeballed Henry as he sat on the edge of the bed. He pulled the thin blanket away from Peter’s face.

Peter was sleeping; his eyes closed tightly, his pink delicate mouth pursed into a pout. Downy dark hair covered his head, and his round pert nose was like a little brown button.

“What time was he born?” Henry asked softly.

“Just after midnight.”

“What are we going to name him?”

“I named him Peter Gresham,” Olive said the name aloud and liked how it sounded.

Henry’s face fell. “I thought we might name him after me or Father.”

Olive explained the reason for the baby’s name and watched Henry’s reaction. When she saw his eyes darken, she knew he was not fond of the name she had chosen.

“Let’s give him mine. We can always have another son someday and name him Peter.”

She stiffened, thinking of a way to say what needed to be said. From this remark, she had her answer. Henry was all about himself. She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to punch him in the face. How dare he abandon her and be gone for months, then show up and demand she do things his way! Taking a deep breath, which made her stomach hurt, she lied.

“Mother already recorded his birth. The name stays. He is Peter Gresham Winters. And you better be happy that I gave him your last name; I thought about naming him Johnson.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Henry's face told the truth. Contempt washed over his cheeks and his voice held authority.

Olive’s face grew warm, as her body stiffened. The months of unease fell over her like the rain against the windowpane. Her voice quivered, but she swallowed the fear and spoke from her heart. A heart that was broken.

“You’re lucky that I let you in this house, after what you’ve put all of us through! For a time, the whole countryside believed you were dead before we found out you were in Joplin. I kept the faith that you were working and would return home to finish our house.” Her eyes felt hot like the blazing coals in the fireplace. “But my faith died weeks ago. There’s nothing left here for you.”

Henry stood up, holding the baby in his arms. The jostling stirred the sleeping infant, and he whimpered. Henry ignored the baby and his stare drilled into her.

“Give him to me,” Olive held out her arms.

“He’s my son and you can’t take him from me. Bud said you want a divorce…”

“Give my son to me now!”

“Do you? Do you want to divorce me? Answer me!" His demands held her in a burning glare.

The door banged against the wall. Bud was in the room. “Do it,” Bud demanded.

Henry looked down into Peter’s face. He handed his son over, then backed away from the bed.

“Yes, I want a divorce,” Olive explained. “Your folks know about it. We’ve talked and they are not happy with you, either. From here on out, you don’t worry about me and Peter. I never want to see you again. You stole my innocence, you took my dreams, and you destroyed my faith and hope for us.”

“Seems there’s been a lot of talk.” Henry raised his chin. His accusing voice held anger and bitterness.

Olive’s face spoke without words. Her brow rose high.

“What will you do?” Henry continued.

“Don't worry about it now! I can make it without you for the rest of my life. Don’t bother coming round to see us. Won’t do you any good. When he grows up if he wants to see you, that’ll be his decision.”

Henry was speechless. He never looked back as he charged out of the bedroom door, through the house and outside in the pouring rain.

Olive slid down under the quilt, holding Pete close. She weighed the options of divorcing Henry. If they stayed married, would he change and take care of her and Peter? Probably not. His true colors showed like the sun with this latest scandal. How could she trust him ever again? The minute he set out to go to work, the old feelings of abandonment would surely eat her up.

Shaking her head, she watched the rain running in rivulets against the windowpane, cold as ice. Like her heart. She recalled Christina’s cautionary warnings. And the jinx when he saw her in the wedding dress. It was coming true. Now with a child to raise, that added decision upon decision. She hated making them! The decision to go to Cottey College faded. To learn to write like Nellie Bly and have a career faded. Swallowing the sadness, she let her dream die.

She pulled the quilt up close and decided to nap and let the choices she just made dance in her head for now. Tomorrow would come. God would see that she and Peter were taken care of.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Henry rode home to his parents’ house. His gut felt like it hit the ground and bounced back into his mouth. An ache ran across his forehead and gouged his ears. His wife’s stinging words played over and over. Just when guilt wrenched through him, his pompous attitude filled his thoughts. How dare Olive speak to him like that? A woman with a mouth filled with strife and anger was not a woman for him!

He was determined to show her and her family what he was made of. His chest puffed out as the rain hit his face. He breathed the coolness of the late autumn night. He did what he wanted, and he was a success at it. No one would talk to him like Olive just did ever again! He would count on that. And what was wrong with this situation? He had what he truly wanted. His inheritance! Once he and Olive told his parents they were getting married his inheritance dropped in his lap.

He got the land promised to him. That was what he was after all along. He just didn’t figure having a wife and son into the equation. And the fact that he had to work all of the time to make a living left his mouth dry. He enjoyed his free and easy lifestyle. Freedom to come and go, and return to his father and mother. They were always there, ready to help. He admitted he missed them. Especially his mama. She was the queen of all mothers. No woman on earth could ever measure up like her.

He recalled his brothers and sisters accusing him of being Mama’s Boy, but he didn’t care. They were all jealous. He couldn’t help it if he was the baby of the big family. And that’s what they accused him of. Being the baby, they said he got away with anything and everything.

The good news now was that he didn't have to support a wife and child! Once again, he was free to do as he pleased and go as he pleased. He'd finish the house on his land with the money he'd saved while working in Joplin. Life would be good again!

Putting his horse away in the barn, Henry ran to the house. Lights from the windows were a welcoming sight. The cold had eaten through him, and he needed a fire to thaw out. He pounded on the door and entered the house, apologizing for causing so much worry. “Father, Mama, I’m home!” When he stepped into the warm room, he grinned bigger than the moon hidden behind the clouds. He sat down on the hearth to warm himself before changing out of wet clothes.

“You’ve done it, this time, son." David sat in the rocking chair. “You’ve caused a great deal of trouble between the Johnsons and us.”

Henry's face grew warm, and it wasn't from the fire crackling in the fireplace. He was immediately offended by his father's words. Not even a welcome from his folks! “I’ve done nothing of the kind.” He looked in his father's face. “Ellie’s at fault!” He outright accused her of the misdeeds.

Christina sat in a winged-back chair and lay her mending aside. “I never want to hear you accuse that poor girl again!"

“But Mama…" He watched her dark brown eyes crease and felt the twitch of shame.

“It’s time that you straighten yourself out! Take responsibility! You abandoned your wife! You caused this mess and now you’ll endure it.”

“Has my own family has turned against me?” Henry asked his father.

“If you deny what you’ve done, we can’t help you.” David’s voice was steady. "A person won't change until they want to. I can't make you do something that you don't want to do! Our family is connected to the Johnson family, and that will not change. I’ll not lose Lizzie and Olive and Clara Mae and your son because of your shenanigans! And a word of advice: you better help Olive take care of your boy."

Henry shook his head. “I’m going to bed.”

David stated, “There’s nothing left here for you.”

Henry lowered his head, arms at his side. His parents sided with his wife. Surprise climbed up his back and settled on his shoulders. He had not expected this turn of events. He knew one thing: he wouldn't stay around his parents and take their chewing out. Without looking at them, he said, “I’ll be leaving in the morning. I’m going back to Joplin.”

Christina sniffed into her handkerchief, and David nodded his head. It was finished. 

                                                                   ***

The winter in Southwest Missouri was normal. Cold winds blew in small snow storms every few days, littering the barren and frozen ground. It wasn't enough for building snowmen or making snow ice cream, and it kept the daytime temperatures cold. For three straight days in February, the thermometer registered bitter nights. That made travel dangerous. Church attendance was down for two weeks, and no one attended school. The mail delivery stopped, and very few people were out and about. Eventually, the cold days gave way to warmer spring temperatures, and spring hit the Ozarks as the trees budded and leafed out. Colorful blossoms filled the orchards, white, pink, and yellow from the fruit trees.

Olive healed from the birth, and Peter grew quickly. With each passing month, she was surprised to see progress in him. His dark hair grew from tufts into curls, and his nose upturned in the sweetest way. Soon, he rolled over on his blanket and onto the floor. He laughed and gurgled all sorts of sounds, his chubby arms batting the air.

Clara Mae helped out by allowing Peter to play with her toys. She talked to him and sang songs. He gurgled with laughter. Sometimes, jealousy made her run and hide under her bed, where she fell asleep.

Olive was in the process of getting a divorce from Henry. The lawyer told her she had to prove he abandoned her and asked if she wanted Henry to pay alimony. The money would help her take care of Peter. Proving abandonment was easy enough. The entire countryside knew what he had put his family through. If she needed witnesses, she had them. She waited on a court date at Pine Hills. Soon, the marriage would be put to rest.

Bitterness settled in her bones, preventing her from having second thoughts. She could never, would never forgive him. There was a problem, however. How would she keep him from seeing Pete? Especially if he was with David and Christina. Would she let him go with his grandparents? She had to stop worrying about the future. It was enough to worry about here and now. She had to get a job. The weather was warming up, and travel was easier. She planned to talk to her parents about going to town and asking for available jobs. She would pray about it and knew that God would answer. Smiling, she hoped to pay her father back the money she owed for the divorce, then buy a typewriter at the mercantile in Rocky Corner.

Clara Mae turned six years old on a warm spring day in April. She helped her mother make a cake for the evening supper. Lizzie stoked the fire to warm the oven enough to bake and pumped water from the hand pump at the sink. Water flowed into a granite dishpan to wash dishes after the meal.

When Lizzie wasn’t looking, Clara Mae put the long wooden spoon covered with bits of cake batter to Peter’s lips. He licked the spoon and tried to grab it from her hands, but Clara Mae pulled back quickly. Peter smacked his lips and puckered his face in protest. He wanted the spoon.

Lizzie turned to see what her daughter was doing and laughed until tears came. “Clara Mae, you ornery little imp! See what you’ve done. He’s mad at you now.”

“It tastes good,” Clara Mae said, giggling. She whirled the spoon in the glass bowl to coated it again with bits of batter, then put it to Peter’s waiting lips. His chubby hands grasped it and pulled it from Clara Mae's grip.

Olive entered the kitchen holding something behind her back. “What are you up to now, my silly niece?” she asked, eyeing Clara Mae. Then she spied Peter sitting on the floor, holding the wooden spoon, and licking it with gusto.

Olive looked at Lizzie. They both burst out laughing. With one hand, Olive took the now-cleaned spoon from Peter’s grasp as he protested. “That’s enough, son. I don’t want your belly to hurt.”

Lizzie smiled as her nephew let out a squall that nearly shook the rafters. “Now, see what you’ve done?” she said. “You’re spoiling him!”

Olive ignored his cries and brought out a gift for Clara Mae. Clara Mae’s eyes bugged out, her chubby cheeks turned red, and she jumped up and down near the kitchen table.

Olive placed the long box wrapped in newspaper on the table and said, “Happy birthday!”

Clara Mae giggled, clapping her hands as she danced about the floor, singing, “It’s my birthday, it’s my birthday! Happy birthday to me!”

Peter’s cries stopped abruptly to stare at the girl dancing around him. His eyes followed her as she whirled and twirled, then lost his balance. His forehead hit the floor with a thud. That brought on more tears, and he squalled even louder.

Olive rushed to pick him up and dry his face.

The front door slammed, and Bud burst into the kitchen. “I heard him wailing plumb outside!” He chewed on his tobacco, saw the ruckus, and sat at the table. Taking Peter from Olive, he rocked him back and forth while patting his back with his large hand. Peter stopped crying. With a mischievous wink, Bud smiled and said, “There now, Big Boy, I’m here to take care of you.”

“Oh, Pa!” Olive exclaimed. “You’re spoiling him rotten!”

“That’s what grandchildren are for,” he said, rocking Peter to sleep.

“Pa, pray, and then we’ll let Clara Mae see her gifts before we eat.”

After the prayer, Clara Mae clapped and giggled over her gifts. Bud fashioned her a new rocking chair. She screamed with happiness when she saw it. “I can sit with you on the porch, Papa!”

A China head doll was nestled inside when she opened Olive’s gift. Clara Mae lifted the doll from the box and hugged it. “My dolly, my dolly!”

Olive made a soft cloth body for the doll, attaching it to the China head. Black-painted boots covered the doll’s feet. The doll’s smile curved graciously on a beautiful porcelain face. She was dressed in a long lace dress with matching underthings.

After the gifts were cleared away, they sat at the long kitchen table to eat supper. Olive took a tray of food to an ailing Pearl. Afterward, Lizzie served slices of birthday cake. Ben joined them and claimed a spot at the table when he smelled cake.

Eight months later, Olive’s petition for divorce from Henry was complete. On court day, the Brooming County courthouse filled with folks, each there for different matters pertaining to the law. Olive slowed when she approached the courthouse, remembering the day of Daniel’s murder trial. She had never been in a courthouse, so this was a memorable day. She took her turn, seated before the judge, with her lawyer. Swallowing what felt like a stack of pancakes in her throat, she answered the questions from the judge. She told the judge what transpired and why she asked for a divorce.

The judge banged the gavel and quietly told her lawyer to sign all necessary paperwork to undo the marriage vows forever. Abandonment was a serious issue and one that was never taken lightly. Henry’s behavior was certainly frowned upon by all involved. Most community members knew what he had done. The judge declared Olive a free, single woman with the restoration of her maiden name. She had custody of Peter, and Henry was ordered to pay her ten dollars a month.

That did not lighten Olive’s sorrow. She fretted and frowned. “I feel betrayed.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“And you should,” Lizzie answered. “He’s a skunk and if anyone ever trusts him again, they’ll play the fool!”

“What if he comes round to see Pete?”

“It’s up to you. If he does want to see him, maybe that’s a good thing.” Lizzie batted her lashes and shrugged.

“Decisions. I hate making them!” A whoosh of air came out of Olive as she lay back on her bed.

“Then don’t. Wait until it happens, and then you can decide. Like Pa says, ‘Don’t go borrowing trouble!”

 

THE PATH TO A PROMISE CHAPTERS 11 & 12

 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

April 1910 

The months after Olive’s wedding flew by, and it was springtime in a new year. Henry worked on the house when he had time, but it was still unfinished. When Olive compared living with Henry's parents to living with her parents, she decided it was like living at home, except privacy was nil. Olive got to know David and Christina better. And she loved them.

Olive tried not to complain, but her patience with Henry was tested at every turn. For weeks, she was moody and withdrawn. Wherever she was, she was quiet. Worry etched her puffy face. Warmer weather took her outdoors where she worked in Christina's yard and gardens. But she missed her family as she hadn’t seen them for over a month.  

She knew she needed to pay them a visit. She had a secret.

One stormy afternoon, Lizzie went to see her. During their conversation, Lizzie’s concern grew. “Something is going on. Tell me!” Lizzie’s voice was deep. Untying her bonnet, she planted her fists on her narrow hips. “Mama and I are worried. You’re not yourself! We’ve not seen you for a while and she sent me over.”

Lizzie sat beside her and grabbed Olive’s hands, tugging on them to emphasize her words. She lowered her voice, and it grew soft and gentle.

Olive looked down at her dress, picking at a button. It wiggled in her fingers, and she made a mental note to stitch it later. Her stomach rumbled and tossed. Quickly, she asked God to calm her belly. She was afraid she would have to race for the door any minute. Her nose stung from the threat of tears. She held them back, but it was hard to breathe. Gasping for air, she started talking while the tears fell away. She wanted to hide her disappointment. When she stopped babbling, she blew her nose.

“You’re going to have a baby…why haven’t you told us? It’s nothing to hide.”

Wiping her eyes, Olive answered, “Henry won’t be happy.”

Screwing her face into a frown, Lizzie replied, “What? I can’t imagine that! If he’s like his brother, he will be!”

“Henry’s not like Dan.”

Olive watched Lizzie’s face. Bud and Nancy brought up their children by the Good Book. Lizzie was comparing brothers, so she couldn’t possibly think Henry would be unhappy with this new revelation. Besides, babies usually follow marriage. It was certainly not a surprise to hear the news.

“Henry has changed, Lizzie.” Olive choked out, “He’s not happy anymore.”

Lizzie chuckled and wrapped her arms around her sister. “A new marriage's first months can be hard on a couple. Lord knows me and my Dan had those days. But you have to take one day at a time."

She patted Olive’s back. “Marriage is hard work! You don’t just get married and live happily ever after. And living here and not having your own house makes it harder."

“When I tell him a baby is coming, what if he doesn’t want it?” Olive’s fears came to life. Worry etched her brow. She was in a pickle.

“Now there you go, borrowing trouble!” Lizzie scolded her, patting her arm. “Give him the benefit of the doubt. It might cheer him up!”

Olive was not convinced. She kept visiting the past when Henry saw her in the wedding dress. That jinxed everything! She felt her cheeks warm. “I feel fat; I’ve gained a few pounds.”

Lizzie looked at Olive’s belly. “You're barely showing. Mother would have figured it out soon. Let’s see, how far along are you?”

“I figure in November.”

“Do you feel sick?”

Olive nodded. “Every morning. Smells bother me. I’m surprised Henry didn’t notice me running outside constantly.”

“Eat a soda cracker if you’ve got a tin of them because they help.” Lizzie hugged Olive. "I've got to get on home now. Have Henry bring you to visit."

After her sister left, relief melted over her for getting the secret out. For a couple of weeks, she felt like she might burst while she kept the secret. Now, everyone would soon know and once the news got out, the talk would fly faster than flies buzzing the honey jar. Surely, Henry would welcome the baby.

Lizzie was right; she was worrying about nothing. 

                                             ***

 That night, Olive told Henry the news. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

“I’ve got something to tell you.” He spoke.

They looked at each other, quiet for a moment, then smiles crinkled their faces.

“You go first."

She quirked her brow, took a deep breath, and blew it out. “We’re going to have a baby sometime in late October or November.”

She watched the smile on Henry's mouth disappear, as his face changed like the stone foundation on the house. He stared at her, his face a blank slate. His eyes moved back and forth, then lit up with surprise. He swallowed. His voice went up a note. “I didn’t expect to hear that.”

“Are you happy?” Was hesitation good when asked a question like that? She wasn’t sure because he lay still and quiet.

“I don’t know; I think I’m more scared.”

“So am I.”

“Being a father is a big job. I never thought about having children. It was enough just thinking about taking care of us.” What he really wanted to do was run out the door and never come back!

She noticed his eyes darkened. A pang punched her heart and dread once again spread over her. "I told you my news; now it’s your turn.”

Breathing deep, he pushed the words out, “Uncle Cornelius needs help on his farm. His main helper moved to Arkansas, so he offered me a job. We’ll rent the farmhand’s house. We’re moving over at Sunrise in Bartlett County.”

She said nothing for a few moments, contemplating his words. Bartlett County was the next county over. It was close enough that she could visit her parents when she wanted. She knew his Uncle Cornelius and his wife, Louisa. Louisa was a sweet and Godly woman.

“If that’s what you want to do. But what about working on our house?"

He stared at her, his eyes as round as the moon outside. “I have to have money to finish the house!" His words were clipped and condemning. He apologized quickly, "I'm sorry, that came out wrong. You agree to move?”

She nodded, placing her hand over her stomach.

“I'll get the house done soon; I promise!”

A new adventure awaited in their future 

                                                      ***

The weeks drew on and as Henry worked with his uncle and the other helpers, Olive set about putting the little one-bedroom house in order. The morning sickness subsided, and her appetite increased. She learned to make a variety of sweet treats and always had a cake or a pie cooling on the counter. As her stomach grew, so did her hope. She missed seeing her family and attending the church where most of her friends gathered. But Louisa made visits every few days to make sure Olive was well.

Henry seemed at ease with the pregnancy. There were no more outbursts from him. He worked during the day and in the evenings, he was quiet and rested. He didn't talk much, which left Olive wondering sometimes what his thoughts centered on. But she refused to ask and cause his moodiness to flair.

“The census taker came by today,” Olive said, greeting Henry when he returned home from work.

“What’d they want?” he grumbled, pulling off his boots and setting them by the door. Plopping into a chair, he sighed, clearly showing his frustration.

Frowning, she answered, “It’s the count, you know, of how many people live in each home in the county.” She placed a pot of pinto beans on the table. “Supper’s ready.”

Henry slumped deeper into the chair and rubbed his lower back. “I know what the census is! Did you talk to them?”

She banged the oven door shut and brought the pan of cornbread to the table. She plopped the pan on a folded tea towel and took a chair. “Of course I did. We’re supposed to talk to them when they come around.”

The aroma of fresh cornbread hot from the oven forced Henry to the table. He cut the cornbread with a spoon, placing the chunks on his plate. “If it was me, I’d run ‘em off. I don’t hanker to anyone coming around asking questions.” He glanced around the table. “Where’s the butter?”

Olive spooned beans onto her plate, looking at him. “You used it all this morning.”

Throwing the spoon down, he rolled his eyes and huffed. “Cornbread ain’t no good without it!” Sighing again, he shook his head and reached for the bean pot.

“We’re supposed to talk to the census people when they come around.” She hesitated, then threw the words at him, “Besides, I’m not you!”

Henry spooned beans into his mouth, chewed, and gulped a mouthful of water. “You don’t have to tell me that; I've done figured you out.” He avoided looking at her.

“There’s sorghum in the pantry if you want it.” Olive put her fork down. “What in the world’s the matter with you? You’re mood’s as sour as clabbered milk.”

Raising ocean-blue eyes to her, he answered. “I’m tired! I worked hard today. Uncle Corny's planting tomatoes in the back section down by Shoal Creek. All that bending over has my back hurting something awful.” He went back to his plate of food.

Olive watched Henry eat his supper. His blue eyes softened her heart. She remembered the day of Dan’s trial and Henry helped her with Clara Mae. From that time on, their friendship blossomed. Since her sister had married his brother, she figured he would be a good match for her. But since they married, It didn't take her long to realize he was not Dan, and she was not Lizzie. Lizzie was right, marriage was hard work!

She rubbed her belly and continued to eat. “Aunt Louisa said the strawberries are almost ready for picking. I’m going over tomorrow to help. I’ll get some money and make you a strawberry cake.”

She saw the harshness melt from his face at her words. Money and food. She had learned quite a bit about him in the short time they were married. He liked money but he didn’t like working to get it. And when it came to food, Henry was ready to eat. She wished they had been born rich, but no such luck.

“We got a letter from your mother. They’re coming to visit next week.” The lilt in her voice relayed her excitement about the news. She said to tell Cornelius and Louisa to expect them. I wish Mama and Papa would come see me."

Henry's eyes clouded. "Why? I'll be working! Like I always do! And don’t go hurting yourself picking those berries. No heavy lifting, you hear?” He looked at her swollen stomach.

She ignored his outburst. “I’m careful. Pearl used to eat more berries than she picked, and Mama would send her out of the patch to keep her from eating all the sweetest and biggest ones.” Her throat burned at the thought of her family. She missed them every day. Although they wrote letters often, letters did not take the place of seeing someone face-to-face.

“It’d be nice if you made some strawberry jam. Maybe I’ll buy a sack of sugar over at Wheatland when Uncle pays me.”

“I’ve got a partial sack in the cupboard. I can make up a small batch,” Olive answered, rising from the table to clear the dishes.

“Did you know Ben’s working in the mines in Joplin with Edward and William? Uncle Corny wanted Ben to help with the planting, but he's not around. The boys said they spotted Joe Tanner around town, too.”

Olive snorted, frowning. “Ben's in Joplin? In that wicked and sinful place running with Joe Tanner?”

Henry nodded. "Ben's asking for trouble running with him!" Rising from the table, he told her, “I’m going to put some liniment on my back, and lay down. We’re getting an early start tomorrow morning. Uncle Corny’s going to have to hire more help. Ten acres is too much for a handful of men to manage.”

After doing the dishes, Olive sat in her favorite chair, an unopened book lay on her lap. Instead of reading, her mind was on what Henry said about working. She realized that Henry hated working. That's why he had lived with his parents for so long. What did he expect a person to do? To have anything you had to work for it.

With each day, she felt her dream slipping farther away. Now with a baby coming, that dream was not about to manifest. What had she gotten herself into? Had Henry realized his dream of getting his land? If he had to get married to get it, then yes, he had claimed his dream! With a sinking heart and pain in her throat, she realized that she had helped him achieve his dream at the expense of her own. 

*** 

Henry had been gone for over a week. Olive had not heard from him since he left for work on the fifteenth. Cornelius had no idea where Henry was, either. The last time he saw him, he was headed for Wheatland to buy sugar after they had quit the fields early.

Olive tried not to worry, but it was useless. Worrying mounted each day until David and Christina arrived for their visit. Olive melted down in front of them. Christina held Olive and rocked her, shushing her tears and patting her back. David had seen his uncle before their visit to Olive’s, so he knew what was going on. He walked the floor and talked it over with them.

“I think something’s happened to him.” Olive hiccupped a couple of times and buried her face in her hands.

“No, this isn’t the first time he’s left and been gone for weeks,” David admitted. “There were times we wouldn’t see him for over a month or more. We never thought much about it because he always came home.”

Christina shook her graying head and clucked her tongue. “He’s married now and has more responsibilities! I was worried about this, David. What has he done?” She kissed the top of Olive’s tightly coiled hair.

A knock sounded on the front door. David opened it to see Cornelius standing there with droopy shoulders sagging under white suspenders that plunged into baggy dusty pants, he wore a frown. As Cornelius entered, David clapped him on the back. “I'm glad you're here. We've got to talk about what to do.”

When Cornelius saw Christina consoling Olive, his frown deepened. “Henry hasn’t worked since he left. I’ve hired a man to replace him.” He looked at Olive and apologized. “I’m sorry; I hope you understand." Rubbing his whiskered jaw, he continued. “I hate to say this. But you’re going to have to move out. The new family is coming, and he’s agreed to stay here and work for me through the winter. They’ve got eight kids and need a place to live.”

Olive nodded, as tears trickled down her plump cheeks. “I want to go home.”

Christina sat up straight. “Well, David and I will take her home with us.” Looking at David, she smiled and nodded. Rising from her seat, she guided Olive to the bedroom. “Come, Darling, I’ll help you get packed.”

David spoke up, "Olive, do you want to go to our place or Bud's?"

"Mama and Pa's, please."

Cornelius said, “I didn’t mean she needs to be out this very day. But, as soon as she can. I'm sorry, David. But I gotta do what I gotta do."

David raised his hand and shook his head. “I understand. We’ll come for the furniture tomorrow. She doesn’t need to be alone.”

“What if Henry shows up?”

David’s face bore the anger that gouged his gut. “Send him to me.”

 

THE PATH TO A PROMISE CHAPTERS 9 & 10

CHAPTER NINE

At noontime, Nancy and Bud Johnson sat at their long kitchen table laden with brown beans with ham, zucchini squash, and yellow cornbread. When Olive and Henry arrived, they sat beside each other as Bud talked about the morning at the logging camp. “Old Gray is just about to give out. I’ve got to find another mule before he does.” Eyeing Henry, he asked, “Does your Uncle Zimri have any quality mules for sale?”

Henry chewed on a forkful of beans and almost choked when Bud gave him the eye. He coughed and swallowed, taking a drink to help wash it down. “I'll ask Father.”

Bud gave a slight nod. “Good mules sell fast.”

Olive put her fork down and looked at her mother's bird-like face, drawn with the lines deepening with pain. She worked long and hard through the years and now bore the brunt of pain and suffering. Her long black hair, parted in the middle, was coiled into a tight knot at the back of her neck. Although her face portrayed the look of someone angry, her personality was just the opposite. No woman was meeker and milder than Nancy. Even though her bodily features were stark and harsh, her spirit was sweet. “We’ve come to talk to you about something that’s important.”

Her parents stopped eating and looked at her. Olive’s heart thumped so loud that she just knew they all could hear it—and worse, maybe they saw it chugging in her chest. She sat frozen in the chair and couldn’t squeak out a word.

“Well, what is it?” Nancy's head bent slightly, looking at her daughter.

Olive managed to look at Henry, but she immediately knew he would be of no help. He looked like he’d just stepped in front of a bobcat. She was on her own. “Well,” her tongue moistened her lips. “We want to get married in September.” Olive tensed like a fish waiting for a turtle to snap it up. Instead, the silence was intense and disturbing.

Nancy's eyes bore into her husband like a hawk pouncing on a mouse. Her dark eyes looked like the intense Missouri thunderstorms that gathered in the west. Her mouth set in a grim expression. “I knew it was a bad idea for you to allow him to court our daughter.” The words hung in the air like a loaded gun.

Bud shot back. “We talked about this, and you know what we decided. Now you’re turning the tables and blaming me?”

“I am.” Nancy's head bobbed up and down.

“You know what she would have done if we hadn’t allowed them to see each other!” His voice rose.

Olive saw Henry’s face turn red like his mother’s Sunday bonnet as he looked down at the flowered tablecloth. She stood up, hands dropped to her sides. “You’re talking as if we’re not here!”

Nancy raised her right hand to her mouth and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“When you asked us to let you court Henry," Bud cleared his throat. “We didn’t want you seeing any boy. But we know about the birds and the bees, so we agreed. As we’ve watched you two, we realized it made you happy."

“And we know marriage is coming next,” Nancy intervened. “We went through the same thing with my mama. When I met Bud, we went to Mama and asked her blessing on us getting married.”

“Whooee!” Bud thundered, “Did that ever cause a stink!” He laughed and slapped his bony knee. He stood up and left the table to hack and spit.

“Mama called him every name in the book and forbade us to see one another.”

“Do you think that stopped us?” Bud asked, returning to the table. A mischievous grin ran across his face.

“Well, you’re married, so it didn’t,” Olive spoke up. Suddenly, hope bloomed in her heart. A warm feeling spread through her. Her life was changing forever on this day.

“I threatened to run away and never see her again! I was mean and called her names that now I'm ashamed of. When she admitted that she didn't want to be left alone, we compromised. If she'd give consent to the marriage, she could live with us. We got married and it took Mama a while to simmer down. Later she admitted she liked Bud,” Nancy’s voice was soft, and a smile lit her eyes with contentment and gratitude.

Bud nodded. “We became good friends. Your grandma was a forgiving woman."

“That's why Grandma lived with us?” Olive asked, understanding written on her face.

Nancy nodded. “I couldn’t leave her alone. And Bud was kind enough to welcome her into our home. We’re telling you this because we'll consent to you marrying Henry if he’s the man you think you can live with for the rest of your life.”

Olive’s eyes widened as she inhaled a breath. She looked at Henry, saw his expression, and laughed. He looked like he was about to either throw up or faint.

Henry drew a breath. The moment arrived. If they allowed him to marry her, his land was his! Guilt bubbled up next to his elation. Was he going through with this? He had to! No doubt about it! Ignoring the misgivings and holding out his hand to Bud, he replied, “Thank you for your blessing.”

Bud eyed them both, holding up his hands. “Just hold on, we’ve got more to say to you two. This is serious business. Marriage is a sacred vow between two people. Your mother and I don’t take it lightly. Where will you live? How will you feed your family? What if one of you gets sick?”

Henry plunked into his chair, clearing his throat. “Well…Father and Mother gave me ten acres over by the bluff above their place. I’ve started building a house. Father told me that Uncle Cornelius over in Bartlett County has lots of connections for jobs. I’ll go over and talk to Uncle about it. And, well, if we get sick, we’ll take care of one another!” He looked at Olive, questions ripe in his eyes. Had he given the right answers to her father's inquiry? "William Madison told us that the Joplin mines are hiring daily. Joplin has jobs a plenty up there.”

Olive sucked in her breath and glared at him. He couldn’t talk about going to Joplin! Taking a drink, she held her tongue and allowed Henry to finish.

Bud nodded, his mustache bobbing with the motion. “Sounds like you’re making some good, solid plans, Son. Glad to hear it.”

“Have you set a time to get married?” Nancy asked.

“September,” Olive answered.

“Gives you four months to build a house,” Bud said, caution lacing the words.

“By September, we should be ready.” Henry was confident.

Olive finished her meal as her father and Henry talked about the mules. Now that the marriage issue was settled, a heaviness swept through her. Wasn't she supposed to be ecstatic? Thrilled? She didn't feel it. Instead, her heartbeat continued to raise a ruckus. She was marrying the most handsome man in all of Brooming County. She knew the hesitation was due to her wish for a career. To go to school and do something with her life. She pushed the anguish away. She would get married, go to college, and find a job. It would give them a chance to find financial freedom. One thing was sure: her life would forever change.

***

Throughout the summer, Henry worked on the house when he wasn't busy with odd jobs. One day, despite his promise to Olive, he left early in the morning and traveled to Redings Mill, south of Joplin, to visit the Madison family. There he saw mining companies in operation. He stayed a week, and each evening, when he and William came home, their clothing was covered in grime. Mary Jane stopped them at the door, promptly taking a corn broom to their clothing, trying to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.

The grit and grime certainly did not appeal to Henry. He realized that William worked hard as a jig man, operating the jig that pulled the ore from the mine shaft. All day long, William worked the heavy contraption. The horror stories he told of mines collapsing or miners losing a body part due to clumsiness on the job struck fear inside Henry. The mining life was not for him. He returned home, content with what he had always been doing.

When Henry went to Joplin, Olive protested, but he quickly reminded her he needed a job. When Olive talked to Lizzie about it, Lizzie advised her not to quarrel because he wanted to spend time with friends and, more than that, to better himself by looking at job prospects. Olive accepted her advice, even though she did not like it.

While Henry was away, wedding plans were made for Sunday afternoon, September 5. After church services, Reverend Akehurst would marry the couple. Olive asked Lizzie to be her witness, and William Madison would stand beside Henry during the ceremony. Both parties accepted the honor of helping the couple complete their wedding details.

On an August morning, Nancy drove to Lizzie’s farm. Tying the horse to the rail fence, she lifted an old trunk from the wagon bed. Olive helped her mother place the trunk on the living room rug. Olive, Lizzie, and little Clara Mae gathered beside the older woman as she lifted the lid. Musty smells rose from the trunk, but their eyes were on the contents. Nancy brought out a cream wedding dress, unfolding it to its length.

Clara Mae’s eyes grew round as the moon. She clapped her chubby hands and cried, “Dreth.”

Lizzie smiled. “Yes, Aunt Olive’s getting married.” It was the wedding dress Lizzie had worn when she married Daniel Winters.

Olive sucked in a breath as she touched the cream delight. The gown’s bodice was damask with an overlay of lace covering the cotton full skirt. A cream ribbon secured the high neck, and lace sleeves plunged to the wrists. Covered buttons fell in a row down the back of the dress.

Nancy’s eyes misted as she touched the dress and told the story behind it. “It was originally made for my great-grandmother, who sailed from Scotland. It's been in the family all these years. Mama wanted me to wear it when I married your father, but I was too short. That’s why Lizzie wore it; she’s tall like my mother was. Now you will wear it, Olive Francis."

Olive and the dress disappeared into the bedroom. It was like a dream come true to wear a beautiful gown. Lizzie hurried after her and helped her button it. The dress fit just right. Olive walked to the living room to her mother. She turned this way and that, a smile tipping her lips as the softness swished against her bare legs.

Lizzie clapped her hands. “I’ll clean it, Mother, and freshen it up.”

Nancy lifted another piece from the trunk. “Here’s the veil. It's a bit mashed up, you might not want to wear it.” She brushed Olive’s dark hair into a sweeping coif and placed the mesh atop her curls.

Clara Mae laughed at the sight. Clapping her chubby hands, she twirled and mimicked her aunt. She dropped on her bottom and puckered up. When the women laughed, she laughed with them, gathering herself upright to do it again.

“I truly feel beautiful,” Olive said, running her long fingers over the lace.

“You’ll need flowers.”

“Let’s cut flowers from the garden,” Olive announced.

Nancy said. “Okay, I'll fix your bouquet the morning of the wedding, so they’ll be fresh.”

Just then, the front door opened, and Henry strode inside. He had arrived home the night before. Calling out, “Hello, ladies! I got back last night!” he appeared in the living room, a wide grin covering his face.

“Oh my!” Olive tried to move before he saw her in the gown.

“Get out! Go! Shooo!” Lizzie let out a whoop that rattled the rafters.

“Yes, get out, get out!” Nancy moved to help hide Olive and the dress.

Henry stood like a soldier, watching the scene unfold as a white blur left the room. “What’s the shouting about?” he declared, looking at them.

Olive’s wails frightened Clara Mae. The child's face grew red and puckered like a prune, and then the screams started.

Lizzie spun and headed toward Henry, her arms waving frantically and almost knocking him down. “You can’t be here! It’s bad luck, now go!”

Laughing, Henry replied, “I didn’t know my appearance was that scary!” Then he realized what was happening. The white blur was Olive! "I didn't see a thing!" He ducked his head, holding up his hands, he backed out of the room and went out the front door.

Lizzie slammed the door and put a hand to her heaving chest. “He’s out.” She picked up the baby and consoled her.

“But it’s too late! He saw me in the dress,” Olive shrieked from the bedroom. She came out with a frown, sputtering about bad luck and being jinxed.

“There, there, dear,” Nancy consoled Olive. “You know it’s just superstition.”

"Then why were you telling him to get out?" Olive’s tears fell harder than a rainstorm in the middle of a summer day. Nothing would appease her.

Lizzie laughed. “The way we were yelling at the poor man, it’s a wonder he didn’t drop dead with fright!”

“That’s the truth!” Nancy let out a chuckle. “He looked like a bear was attacking him!”

“I’m getting back to the farm.” Nancy folded the dress, placed it in the trunk and said goodbye.

Olive said nothing more about her fears, but a cold shiver sliced through her. This was a sign.

Henry had jinxed their marriage.

CHAPTER TEN

The August days moved quickly. The summer harvest was at a peak. The men were busy in the hayfields, and the women spent time outdoors in a shady reprieve canning the bounty from the gardens. Unlike most August summers in the Ozarks, rain was plentiful, and nature kept its green colors as the summer continued. Flower gardens were especially pretty, with their colorful heads bouncing in the breezes. Trees in the orchard boasted lots of fruit in their canopies.

On her birthday, Olive slipped out early in the morning to think. She would get married in just a few days and start a new life. She looked out over the green fields of fescue. There were no fields where Henry was building their house. The acreage was heavily wooded. Unless Henry cleared off the land, there would be no growing hay or a garden and no room for an orchard, barn, or chicken houses.

She heaved with trepidation, and her nose prickled with a burn. Life with Henry would not be the same as living here at home. She tried to imagine what it would be like, just the two of them. Was she going to be happy? She hadn't told Henry about her dream of going to college. He knew she owned a camera and wished for a typewriter, but he had never asked her why she wanted them. He always talked about working here and there, and his daddy had to keep at him to remember to work on their house.

The ball of fear grew a bit larger. A bluejay landed on a branch; its raucous chatter brought her out of heavy thinking. "I won't see my dream come true, bluejay." Her voice gave away her sadness. She shook her head. The bird's loud chatter rang through the air again, and it flew away. "I wish I could fly off like you."

There were ten days until the wedding. She could call it off. Tell everyone she wasn't ready to marry. If she did, she'd hurt Henry's feelings and possibly cause ill feelings between the families. And what about college? Cottey Girls College was over one hundred miles away. And with no money to travel, let alone start classes, how could she expect her folks to help her? A slight headache threatened her. Worry did that. She swallowed and swung down from the tree on the knotted rope Pa had fixed on the tree limb.

Today she was fourteen years old. It was time to face her future and pray that all would be well. God would help her get through the troubled times when they came. Surely, there wouldn't be too many troubles and problems to face. She stumped her toe on one of the tree roots. Was that a forewarning from the universe?

 

***

The morning of the wedding, sunshine filled the afternoon air with heavy humidity. The old fence that marked off the garden patch was adorned with sweet peas and morning glory vines. The vining flowers had gone wild in the late summer days, the blue, purple, pink, and white flowers dotted the wood rails. Bees worked the blooms, their hum whirring summer tune music. A rainbow of color from marigolds, zinnias, cleome, and other assorted wildflowers drew attention to the garden’s middle. Nancy loved flowers and placing them amongst the vegetables helped keep the bugs away.

The vegetable garden was across the way from where the wedding guests sat. Straight rows of green beans, lettuce, and onions were plentiful. Here and there, weeds grew in the strawberry patch. Olive made a mental note to help her mother weed the garden in a few days. The slight breeze shook the corn. During the harvest, the stalks would be cut down for animal fodder.

The white tops of Bud's beehives were close to the smokehouse, and the bees made their way flying in and out. Papa would rob the hives in the coming days. Behind the hives, the apple trees were laden with ripening fruit. Pieces of fallen apples littered the ground. Ripe, pungent fruit smells floated on the breeze.

What was planned as a quiet afternoon near her mother's gardens turned into a different affair. The promise of a lovely reception caused folks from everywhere to attend. The Johnsons and the Winters families were highly regarded in Rocky Corners, Pine Hills, and beyond. The church Ladies' Society took over the reception and spread the word. Anytime people could get away from their farm chores and hardworking lives, they took advantage of it.

Bud and Ben had lots of help assembling tables and benches and arranging them in a semicircle for the ceremony.

As the wedding guests arrived, horses were hitched to makeshift rails near the barn. Guests filled the benches and sat at the tables. Children’s laughter rang through the air, along with the drone of late-summer locusts in the trees and woods.

Olive pulled the lace curtain aside and peeked out the window. Drawing a quick breath, she put her hand to her mouth. “I thought this was going to be quick and simple!” Turning to her mother, Lizzie, and Pearl. “There must be fifty or more people out there already!”

“I heard people in church talking about not missing the party,” Pearl added, her heavy dark brows rising with her voice. “There’s not been a wedding for a while, and people are hankerin’ for one.”

Olive rolled her dark eyes. “It would have to be mine!” Her throat was dry like the dirt road in front of their house. She pushed the fear away and said a quick prayer that it would all be okay. She needed the Lord if she was to get through this.

Nancy clucked her tongue, "Now stop worrying. It'll be over in a flash anyway."

A knock sounded on the bedroom door. The women looked at each other, and Olive shrank back, trying to hide from view, fearing it would be Henry again. The doorknob jiggled, and a shrill voice cried, “It’s me, Christina!”

Nancy opened the door, smiling at her friend. “Come in.”

Henry’s mother breezed through the door. “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but I had to see you before the ceremony starts.” Christina smiled. Her church clothes were replaced with a satin suit of emerald green. Her shirtwaist was cream lace with gold buttons down the front. She wanted to be the height of fashionable dress and impeccable taste.

“It’s good to see you,” Olive said politely.

Nancy took control. “Well, please hurry, I'm getting my husband so he can start this wedding.” She put her hand behind Pearl's backside, and with Lizzie, they closed the door.

Christina took Olive’s right hand in hers as the door drifted shut and they were alone. “You know how much you mean to me, Dear.” She squeezed Olive’s hand.

Olive nodded, her eyes shining with bright wonderment. She liked Henry’s mother.

“If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. I mean it. Henry has a way of, well, I know he means well, but he's spoiled. Sometimes, he only thinks about himself… “

Olive’s eyes darkened. “What do you mean?”

Christina ducked her head, a frown crossing her face. “I just don’t want him to act irresponsibly. He’s already failed in one attempt – getting the house finished. We told him you could live with us while he finishes it. I hope he doesn't fail in anything else. He drifts from job to job. But you know we’ll always come to your aid.”

The door swung wide at that moment, and her parents joined them.

Christina patted Olive’s hand, smiling, “Remember.” She left the room.

Olive swallowed the seeds of worry, took a breath, and looked at her mother. Nancy handed her the bouquet on top of a Bible. Bud took Olive’s arm and went to the waiting guests.

Olive hid her qualms, but her mind spun faster and faster. She willed them away, but they charged at her again. First, Henry hadn’t finished the house as he promised. Second, he saw the wedding dress. That was a jinx, for sure! Third, his mother warned her of his behavior.

By the time she reached the guests, shudders ran up her legs, and she wobbled in her shoes. Should she turn and run? Should she find a tree and climb as high as she could? Stifling a giggle, she remembered she was in a long wedding gown. Climbing the tree was out.

“You alright?” Bud asked.

“Just jitters, Papa.” But she was thinking, “just jinxed.”

With a few steps, she and her father were in front of Preacher Akehurst, Henry, Lizzie, and William. Bud looked at her with a small smile before he turned and went to sit beside his wife in the front row. The Reverend opened the ceremony by discussing love as described in the Bible. After Henry and Olive repeated their vows, he pronounced they were married. A big shout went up from Henry’s brothers, and everyone cheered along. Just like that, the ceremony ended.

Olive and Henry sat at the head of a long table while the women and older girls served the food and drinks. Meat platters along with big crock bowls filled with different kinds of vegetables and fruit were prepared.

“I don’t know about you, but I was as nervous as a turkey on Thanksgiving,” Henry wiped his forehead with a white handkerchief. A puff of laughter filled the air. “I’m glad it’s over!”

Olive punched his arm. “If you were nervous, you did a great job covering it up.”

“When I saw you, I thought I would throw up!”

A frown creased her face. “That’s what I thought!”

The pair opened the wedding gifts and sat in the shade, watching everyone chatter. Shortly, they were interrupted.

"There you are!" Casting a delighted exclamation, Margaret Jane Knight walked towards them, her elegant gown gracefully sweeping the ground. “Oh, how happy I am to see you again, my dearest niece!”

Henry got up and went to find his brothers, letting Olive talk with the women.

Olive smiled at her father’s sister, who lived in Rocky Corners. Her dark hair was swept up on her head and held with a jeweled comb, making her look taller. Her lanky frame reminded Olive of her father’s shape. Margaret Jane looked like a model stepping right out of a fancy New York magazine. The shimmery blue taffeta dress with a cinched waist and high collar bodice was beautiful.

She grabbed Olive’s hands and pulled her up into a close embrace. “I’m so happy for you! You look lovely!”

Another woman stepped up. Her figure was broader, but she also wore a dress like Margaret's.

“Aunt Martha!” Olive held out her arms to embrace her aunt. She watched as Henry took off toward a group of men.

“Olive, you’re a vision in that gown!” Martha kissed her cheek. Sniffing, she drew back and pulled a hanky from the pocket of her dress. “I can’t help it; weddings make me bawl like a baby!”

Margaret Jane took her sister’s arm in hers. “We'll get some refreshments now. Take care of yourself.”

All the women chattered, laughed, and talked at once. Olive shook her head and forced a smile. In the late afternoon light, she was tired. So much had happened over the last few days. She wanted to lie down and take a nap. She looked for Henry and saw him standing by the carriage, talking with his brothers.

As she approached, she overheard the conversation. Tom Winters joked with his younger brother about the wedding night. They were having a good time with their baby brother.

“If you think I’m telling you where we’re going, you’ve got another think coming!” Henry shouted, rolling his eyes. But he laughed along with them.

George spoke up, “We need to know so we can give you and your gal a good chivalry!”

“You’re not putting beans in my bed and pouring flour all over the place!” Henry shouted again. “Banging pots and pans all night and shooting your guns. ‘Sides, you better get on home 'cause Myrtle’s about to have that baby!”

George whistled low, the tips of his ears turning red. “She’s got a couple more weeks to go or thereabouts.”

The laughter and joking continued as Olive approached.

“Looky, here comes your gal now.” Tom Winters pointed. A grin covered his broad face. “At least you finally got married and got your inheritance! Daddy's a happy fellow now."

"Shut it, Tommy!" Henry kept his voice low. She noted that his face looked as white as a flour sack in the millinery.

“Are you ready to leave?” Henry hurried to her, grabbing her arm.

Olive’s mouth set in a firm line. Some of the men had tied tin cans, old pots and pans, and old boots and shoes to the back end of the carriage. A ‘Just Married’ sign graced the back end of the buggy. The guests gathered to send the couple off with best wishes. As the couple passed through the crowd, family and friends threw rice, hitting their faces, hair, and clothing. Cheers, whistles, and shouts filled the air as they drove off.

The carriage jostled along, and a clanging ring filled the air and blended in the roiling dust. Henry set the horses to a fair clip and moved down the road.

 

THE PATH TO A PROMISE CHAPTERS 8 AND 9

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

Henry drove the buggy toward Lizzie's farm as the storm rumbled behind them. As he guided the horses around a sharp turn, he listened to William, but trying to outrun the storm and keep them all safe was uppermost on his mind.

Lizzie’s voice twittered like a bluebird in spring. She had a sunny disposition and talked with anyone about anything. Her smile was as bright as a summer morning. “Tell us more about Joplin! I’ve never been that far away. Are there electric lights there? Are the streets full of traffic? Where do Mary Jane and your sisters shop?”

William chuckled at her questions. “Joplin is a fine big city with newfangled electric lighting. If you want to have fun, Joplin’s the place for it! We take the streetcar to the Crystal Cave right there in town! People can take a tour or dance on a big dance floor in the third chamber of the Cave. And at the Club Theatre, you can see a Vaudeville show. Have you tasted the new Coca-Cola yet? My, it’ll wet your whistle!”

He looked at Lizzie, his voice soft and charming, and whispered in her ear, “Your eyes are round as the moon on a warm summer night." He quickly continued, "They’re opening the Electric Park soon. That’s the place to have a good time! They plan to offer music in the park, singing shows, a merry-go-round, and a Ferris wheel. People picnic there.” He took a breath, “Mother and the girls shop at Christman’s Dry Goods. Joplin’s even got a fire and a police station!”

“It sounds like fun, fun, fun!” Lizzie squealed. Clara Mae wiggled on her lap but stayed asleep. Lizzie clutched the child as the buggy jolted over the road, splashing mud along the way.

Henry spoke up. “Uncle Zim says it’s a den for trouble with saloons on every corner. That gets Pa and everybody at church worked up, and Preacher Akehurst starts preaching temperance!”

William agreed. “If you want trouble, you can find it in Joplin. But we can find trouble in the hills and hollers! Pine Hills and Rocky Corners are known for all kinds of troubles with drinking and fighting. Joplin’s just a bigger place, that’s all.” He laughed again and looked at Lizzie, who listened to every word he said.

“Trouble. We don’t need any more of it!” Olive cried out. Her face was drawn and pinched as she sat straight on the buggy seat, holding hard to Henry’s arm.

“Watch it, Ellie. You’re about to pull my arm off!” Henry released her grip, as he spurred the horse onward.

“Now, Sister,” Lizzie admonished. “Didn’t you hear what William just said? There’s trouble everywhere you go! And don't we know it since Joe Tanner shot my husband!"

The buggy bounced into a hole in the road and lurched to the right. Olive slammed into Henry and she held tight to his arm.

“Joplin’s not as bad as Baxter Springs, Kansas. That cow town is full of rough and ready fighters, especially on a Saturday night. But Joplin is what you want it to be. If you want fun, you can find it. If you want trouble, you can get it. If you need a job, you can get one. Why don’t you come up to visit, Henry? Have a look around, you might like it. And I can guarantee you’ll get a job in no time. The mines hire every day. ‘Sides, Mother would love for you to stay with us for a while.”

“I might just do that,” Henry answered. Glancing at Olive, he smirked and quickly added. “I’ll have to think about it. I’ve been looking for a good job!”

Olive curled her lip as she thought about the stories of the mines and the dangerous jobs the miners performed. She asked, “Yes, but William, how safe is it? Going down into the ground to work must be dangerous!” She shivered at the thought just as thunder rolled again.

William laughed. “It’s as safe as driving this buggy down a steep hill, Olive.”

Olive drew a sharp breath. “What?”

Henry was quick to explain that William meant anyone could be killed doing anything at any time. When it was a person’s time to go, nothing would stop death. “I don’t plan to go to work in the mines, so stop worrying, Olive.”

A clap of thunder shook the sky. Was it a warning of things to come?

 

***

When they reached Lizzie’s farm, William carried Clara Mae into the house, and Lizzie trailed behind through the pouring rain. Olive sat still on the buggy seat. Her face was sober, and she picked at a string from her wet dress.

“You going in or sitting here in the storm?” Henry asked.

She said nothing, just hunched her shoulders. “I don’t want you to go to Joplin.” She did not look at him. Fear seized her heart, and she wanted to cry but batted the tears away. She worried about things that had not even taken place.

Henry chuckled when he saw her face. She looked like an angel who had fallen and scraped her knee on Heaven’s golden sidewalks. He wanted to gather her in his arms, hold her tight, and wipe away the fear on her face. He made his move. He leaned to her, pulling her close, and held her tight against his chest.

“I won’t go if you don’t want me to," he whispered into her dark hair.

She whispered back, “I don’t want you to.”

“Then I won’t. While we’re sitting here, when do you want to get married? I don’t want to wait much longer.”

The rain continued to fall, but the lightning had stopped. Now and then, a groan of thunder broke the quiet. The tree limbs were heavy and dripping with water.

“We can't get married yet; the cabin's not done." Her words were void of emotion.

He scratched his head, his face wrinkling with thought. “I’m working on it, but it takes time and money! If we have to, we can stay with Mama and Dad until it's finished. " He changed the subject. “What about getting married in the fall? September’s a good month."

She thought about it, her shoulders held at attention, her neck long and thin. Her fourteenth birthday was the month before; her parents would have to give permission for her to marry Henry. Would they? Her mind was whirling with thoughts of a wedding. She remembered Lizzie and Daniel’s wedding was a nice affair at the schoolhouse. After their wedding that night, sometime around midnight, family and friends gathered to give them a chivari. Oh, the noise they made, banging on pots and pans! David Winters’ band played "When the Saints Go Marching In." Everyone had a gay time playing pranks on the newlyweds.

“I think September will do,” she relented.

He nodded. “I’ll get the cabin built by then, I promise."

Olive pulled away, an odd expression marking her face.

“What’s wrong?” he questioned.

“Someone is standing in the way,” she said, “and he stands six feet tall with a long droopy mustache.”

Henry’s shoulders drooped in defeat. “You’re not eighteen; we have to ask your father’s permission.”

***

That night, when the house was quiet, and Henry and William had gone, Olive and Lizzie talked. The storm had left a chill in the house, and Lizzie had a nice fire in the fireplace. The warmth spread throughout the house. Lizzie sat in the wicker rocker, holding Clara Mae. The child was asleep, but Lizzie had not put her to bed yet.

“Henry and I want to get married in September. But…” Olive frowned. “We have to tell Mama and Papa.” Dread filled her belly, and she sighed. It was another hurdle to get over. Why did love have to be so complicated?

Lizzie laughed. “You worry too much, Sister! Remember, Mama had to sign for me to marry Dan.” She wrinkled up her nose. “Course they thought there was a baby on the way.”

“I remember the hushed conversations,” Olive nodded.

“People judge others by such harsh circumstances. When you want to marry a man, many think you are in the family way. Never mind that love may be the real reason!” She rolled her eyes and waved her hands through the air.

“Have you thought of marrying again?”

Lizzie shrugged. “I haven’t entertained the idea until now, I think of Dan a lot.”

“Even when William escorted you home?”

Olive noted the blush on Lizzie’s cheeks. “He is handsome, isn’t he?”

“I think William Madison’s more than handsome; he’s as cute as a bug’s ear!” Olive rolled her eyes and lay back against the padded chair. “We’ve known the family a long time. And Mary Jane’s a wonderful woman. She’d make a good mother-in-law."

“He told me more about the city. That’s where St. John’s Hospital is, and I can get medical care for my back."

Olive’s face changed at the mention of Joplin. The rumors about the big city terrified her, and she wanted no part of it. The hills and hollows of Rocky Corners were home. She had no desire to see the lights of Joplin.

Lizzie continued, happily animated. “If my back continues to give me fits, the hospital is close to their house. Several doctors and nurses practice good medicine, of course.” Her eyes brightened. " William told me there’s so much to do in the city and that it’s nothing like down here in this forlorn place.”

“Lizzie! You love our hills!” Olive admonished her.

“It’s getting tiresome living here on this old farm! William invited me to visit them, and I promised I’d go.” She looked sharply at Olive, waiting for her outburst, which was sure to come.

Olive kept her calm and thought about what she should say. After all, it was her sister's decision, and she didn't walk in Lizzie’s shoes. Her poor sister had lost her husband to murder and was raising a child. Olive didn’t know the first thing about heartache and loss. How could she condemn her sister when she didn’t understand her feelings?

“You should go,” Olive said quietly. She saw the surprise in Lizzie’s eyes, and she smiled. “See Joplin firsthand. Experience big-city life and get the needed treatments for your back.”

Lizzie’s smile faded away. “I was going to wait to tell you… I told William I'd go for a visit as soon as I got the money for a train ticket, but he gave me the money. Mary Jane told me I was welcome, and I'll get to see Lydia!”

Clara Mae whined and fussed against her mother.

“It’s time to put her to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” She struggled to get off the sofa. Grabbing her lower back, she grimaced.

Olive lifted Clara Mae and carried her to the bedroom. “She’s getting heavy,” Lizzie complained, padding to the bed.

Olive did not go to bed right away. Instead, she sat in the chair by the fire, staring into the fireplace at the glow of the wood coals in the firebox. Thoughts of the day’s activities whirled in her mind. She was happy to see the Madison family again. It had been months since they sold their farm in the hills and moved to the city. Mary Jane was as spry and happy as she always was.

Now that she and Herny agreed to get married in September, the next step was to tell her folks. Her chest tightened with dread. Just telling Pa that she wanted Henry Winters to court her raised a ruckus. What would he do when he found out they intended to marry?

 

CHAPTER NINE

At noontime, Nancy and Bud Johnson sat at their long kitchen table laden with brown beans with ham, zucchini squash, and yellow cornbread. When Olive and Henry arrived, they sat beside each other as Bud talked about the morning at the logging camp. “Old Gray is just about to give out. I’ve got to find another mule before he does.” Eyeing Henry, he asked, “Does your Uncle Zimri have any quality mules for sale?”

Henry chewed on a forkful of beans and almost choked when Bud gave him the eye. He coughed and swallowed, taking a drink to help wash it down. “I'll ask Father.”

Bud gave a slight nod. “Good mules sell fast.”

Olive put her fork down and looked at her mother's bird-like face, drawn with the lines deepening with pain. She worked long and hard through the years and now bore the brunt of pain and suffering. Her long black hair, parted in the middle, was coiled into a tight knot at the back of her neck. Although her face portrayed the look of someone angry, her personality was just the opposite. No woman was meeker and milder than Nancy. Even though her bodily features were stark and harsh, her spirit was sweet. “We’ve come to talk to you about something that’s important.”

Her parents stopped eating and looked at her. Olive’s heart thumped so loud that she just knew they all could hear it—and worse, maybe they saw it chugging in her chest. She sat frozen in the chair and couldn’t squeak out a word.

“Well, what is it?” Nancy's head bent slightly, looking at her daughter.

Olive managed to look at Henry, but she immediately knew he would be of no help. He looked like he’d just stepped in front of a bobcat. She was on her own. “Well,” her tongue moistened her lips. “We want to get married in September.” Olive’s body tensed like a fish waiting for a turtle to snap it up. Instead, the silence was intense and disturbing.

Nancy's eyes bore into her husband like a hawk pouncing on a mouse. Her dark eyes looked like the intense Missouri thunderstorms that gathered in the west. Her mouth set in a grim expression. “I knew it was a bad idea for you to allow him to court our daughter.” The words hung in the air like a loaded gun.

Bud shot back. “We talked about this, and you know what we decided. Now you’re turning the tables and blaming me?”

“I am.” Nancy's head bobbed up and down.

“You know what she would have done if we hadn’t allowed them to see each other!” His voice rose.

Olive saw Henry’s face turn red like his mother’s Sunday bonnet as he looked down at the flowered tablecloth. She stood up, hands dropped to her sides. “You’re talking as if we’re not here!”

Nancy raised her right hand to her mouth and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“When you asked us to let you court Henry," Bud cleared his throat. “We didn’t want you seeing any boy. But we know about the birds and the bees, so we agreed. As we’ve watched you two, we realized it made you happy."

“And we know marriage is coming next,” Nancy intervened. “We went through the same thing with my mama. When I met Bud, we went to mama and asked her blessing on us getting married.”

“Whooee!” Bud thundered, “Did that ever cause a stink!” He laughed and slapped his bony knee. He stood up and left the table to hack and spit.

“Mama called him every name in the book and forbade us to see one another.”

“Do you think that stopped us?” Bud asked, returning to the table. A mischievous grin ran across his face.

“Well, you’re married, so it didn’t,” Olive spoke up. Suddenly, hope bloomed in her heart. A warm feeling spread through her. Her life was changing forever on this day.

“I threatened to run away and never see her again! I was mean and called her names that now I'm ashamed of. When she admitted that she didn't want to be left alone, we compromised. If she'd give consent to the marriage, she could live with us. We got married and it took Mama a while to simmer down. Later she admitted she liked Bud,” Nancy’s voice was soft, and a smile lit her eyes with contentment and gratitude.

Bud nodded. “We became good friends. Your grandma was a forgiving woman."

“That's why Grandma lived with us?” Olive asked, understanding written on her face.

Nancy nodded. “I couldn’t leave her alone. And Bud was kind enough to welcome her into our home. We’re telling you this because we'll consent to you marrying Henry if he’s the man you think you can live with for the rest of your life.”

Olive’s eyes widened as she inhaled a breath. She looked at Henry, saw his expression, and laughed. He looked like he was about to either throw up or faint.

Henry drew a breath. The moment arrived. If they allowed him to marry her, his land was his! Guilt bubbled up next to his elation. Was he going through with this? He had to! No doubt about it! Ignoring the misgivings and holding out his hand to Bud, he replied, “Thank you for your blessing.”

Bud eyed them both, holding up his hands. “Just hold on, we’ve got more to say to you two. This is serious business. Marriage is a sacred vow between two people. Your mother and I don’t take it lightly. Where will you live? How will you feed your family? What if one of you gets sick?”

Henry plunked into his chair, clearing his throat. “Well…Father and Mother gave me ten acres over by the bluff above their place. I’ve started building a house. Father told me that Uncle Cornelius over in Bartlett County has lots of connections for jobs. I’ll go over and talk to Uncle about it. And, well, if we get sick, we’ll take care of one another!” He looked at Olive, questions ripe in his eyes. Had he given the right answers to her father's inquiry? "William Madison told us that the Joplin mines are hiring daily. Joplin has jobs a plenty up there.”

Olive sucked in her breath and glared at him. He couldn’t talk about going to Joplin! Taking a drink, she held her tongue and allowed Henry to finish.

Bud nodded, his mustache bobbing with the motion. “Sounds like you’re making some good, solid plans, Son. Glad to hear it.”

“Have you set a time to get married?” Nancy asked.

“September,” Olive answered.

“Gives you four months to build a house,” Bud said, caution lacing the words.

“By September, we should be ready.” Henry was confident.

Olive finished her meal as her father and Henry talked about the mules. Now that the marriage issue was settled, a heaviness swept through her. Wasn't she supposed to be ecstatic? Thrilled? She didn't feel it. Instead, her heartbeat continued to raise a ruckus. She was marrying the most handsome man in all of Brooming County. She knew the hesitation was due to her wish for a career. To go to school and do something with her life. She pushed the anguish away. She would get married, go to college, and find a job. It would give them a chance to find financial freedom. One thing was sure: her life would forever change.

***

Throughout the summer, Henry worked on the house when he wasn't busy with odd jobs. One day, despite his promise to Olive, he left early in the morning and traveled to Redings Mill, south of Joplin, to visit the Madison family. There he saw mining companies in operation. He stayed a week, and each evening, when he and William came home, their clothing was covered in grime. Mary Jane stopped them at the door, promptly taking a corn broom to their clothing, trying to remove as much dirt and dust as possible.

The grit and grime certainly did not appeal to Henry. He realized that William worked hard as a jig man, operating the jig that pulled the ore from the mine shaft. All day long, William worked the heavy contraption. The horror stories he told of mines collapsing or miners losing a body part due to clumsiness on the job struck fear inside Henry. The mining life was not for him. He returned home, content with what he had always been doing.

When Henry went to Joplin, Olive protested, but he quickly reminded her he needed a job. When Olive talked to Lizzie about it, Lizzie advised her not to quarrel because he wanted to spend time with friends and, more than that, to better himself by looking at job prospects. Olive accepted her advice, even though she did not like it.

While Henry was away, wedding plans were made for Sunday afternoon, September 5. After church services, Reverend Akehurst would marry the couple. Olive asked Lizzie to be her witness, and William Madison would stand beside Henry during the ceremony. Both parties accepted the honor of helping the couple complete their wedding details.

On an August morning, Nancy drove to Lizzie’s farm. Tying the horse to the rail fence, she lifted an old trunk from the wagon bed. Olive helped her mother place the trunk on the living room rug. Olive, Lizzie, and little Clara Mae gathered beside the older woman as she lifted the lid. Musty smells rose from the trunk, but their eyes were on the contents. Nancy brought out a cream wedding dress, unfolding it to its length.

Clara Mae’s eyes grew round as the moon. She clapped her chubby hands and cried, “Dreth.”

Lizzie smiled. “Yes, Aunt Olive’s getting married.” It was the wedding dress Lizzie had worn when she married Daniel Winters.

Olive sucked in a breath as she touched the cream delight. The gown’s bodice was damask with an overlay of lace covering the cotton full skirt. A cream ribbon secured the high neck, and lace sleeves plunged to the wrists of the sleeves. Covered buttons fell in a row down the back of the dress.

Nancy’s eyes misted as she touched the dress and told the story behind it. “It was originally made for my great-grandmother, who sailed from Scotland. It's been in the family all these years. Mama wanted me to wear it when I married your father, but I was too short. That’s why Lizzie wore it; she’s tall like my mother was. Now you will wear it, Olive Francis."

Olive and the dress disappeared into the bedroom. It was like a dream come true to wear a beautiful gown. Lizzie hurried after her and helped her button it. The dress fit just right. Olive walked to the living room to her mother. She turned this way and that, a smile tipping her lips as the softness swished against her bare legs.

Lizzie clapped her hands. “I’ll clean it, Mother, and freshen it up.”

Nancy lifted another piece from the trunk. “Here’s the veil. It's a bit mashed up, you might not want to wear it.” She brushed Olive’s dark hair into a sweeping coif and placed the mesh atop her curls.

Clara Mae laughed at the sight. Clapping her chubby hands, she twirled and mimicked her aunt. She dropped on her bottom and puckered up. When the women laughed, she laughed with them, gathering herself upright to do it again.

“I truly feel beautiful,” Olive said, running her long fingers over the lace.

“You’ll need flowers.”

“Let’s cut flowers from the garden,” Olive announced.

Nancy said. “Okay, I'll fix your bouquet the morning of the wedding, so they’ll be fresh.”

Just then, the front door opened, and Henry strode inside. He had arrived home the night before. Calling out, “Hello, ladies! I got back last night!” he appeared in the living room, a wide grin covering his face.

“Oh my!” Olive tried to move before he saw her in the gown.

“Get out! Go! Shooo!” Lizzie let out a whoop that rattled the rafters.

“Yes, get out, get out!” Nancy moved to help hide Olive and the dress.

Henry stood like a soldier, watching the scene unfold as a white blur left the room. “What’s the shouting about?” he declared, looking at them.

Olive’s wails frightened Clara Mae. The child's face grew red and puckered like a prune, and then the screams started.

Lizzie spun and headed toward Henry, her arms waving frantically and almost knocking him down. “You can’t be here! It’s bad luck, now go!”

Laughing, Henry replied, “I didn’t know my appearance was that scary!” Then he realized what was happening. The white blur was Olive! "I didn't see a thing!" He ducked his head, holding up his hands, he backed out of the room and went out the front door.

Lizzie slammed the door and put a hand to her heaving chest. “He’s out.” She picked up the baby and consoled her.

“But it’s too late! He saw me in the dress,” Olive shrieked from the bedroom. She came out with a frown, sputtering about bad luck and being jinxed.

“There, there, dear,” Nancy consoled Olive. “You know it’s just superstition.”

"Then why were you telling him to get out?" Olive’s tears fell harder than a rainstorm in the middle of a summer day. Nothing would appease her.

Lizzie laughed. “The way we were yelling at the poor man, it’s a wonder he didn’t drop dead with fright!”

“That’s the truth!” Nancy let out a chuckle. “He looked like a bear was attacking him!”

“I’m getting back to the farm.” Nancy folded the dress, placed it in the trunk, and said goodbye.

Olive said nothing more about her fears, but a cold shiver sliced through her. This was a sign.

Henry had jinxed their marriage.