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.