A Cherished Gift

by Vicki Hunt Budge

  Later that evening when Jake and his brother showed up at the schoolhouse for the Saturday night dance, Jake took off his suit coat and hung it on a peg. He left his deep-red jacquard vest on and rolled up his shirt sleeves. He had made up his mind to act like everything was wonderful. Besides, he had learned some new dance steps at the Boise dances and he thought he’d like to try them now.

  It didn’t take long for Jake to realize that Dusty had been right about his need for a new and nicer set of clothing. Within twenty minutes, his bright vest and new dance steps became the most popular conversation piece of the evening.

  “Oh, don’t you look fancy,” Mrs. Stribling said when Jake walked near the place where she and the older generation sat to watch the dancers. “And where did you learn to dance like that?”

  “I’d better order in a whole slew of vests for the mercantile,” Mrs. Jepson added, raising her brows. “All the young men in town are going to want a colorful vest like yours.”

  Everyone from the youngest teenagers to the oldest in attendance commented about Jake’s vest and how splendid he looked. The attention took Jake by surprise. His family had led a very simple life, barely able to provide for themselves with their small newspaper business. Jake had never had fine clothes before, nor had he been treated like he was someone special in the community. He rather liked the attention. It almost compensated for the disappointment of not escorting Alice to the dance.

  The fiddle and organ music played by Ruby, one of Alice’s older sisters, and her husband was as lively as any music Jake had encountered in Boise. He had so much fun dancing that he decided to walk over and compliment the musicians when they stopped for a refreshment break.

  Besides, Alice and Frank had just walked over to talk to the musicians too. It won’t hurt to remind Frank that Alice promised the next dance to me, Jake thought, chuckling.

  “Look who’s stealing the show,” Ruby said when Jake joined the group standing by the musicians. “You’ve picked up some new dance steps over in the big city.”

  “And a swank new look,” Ruby’s husband added, holding his hands out to put emphasis on Jake and his flamboyant vest.

  Jake laughed.

  Frank Baldwin frowned.

  Everyone except Frank bantered light-heartedly until the musicians excused themselves to take up their music again.

  “You’re the fanciest dancer here,” Alice said when Jake and she walk out to the middle of the dance floor. “All the girls want to dance with you. And all the boys are jealous.”

  Jake shook his head, although it pleased him to see Frank Baldwin standing along the sideline scowling. He swung Alice to the beat of the two-step. “I only want to dance with you,” he said.

  Alice blushed and they danced on until the music ended. They didn’t even make it to the side of the schoolroom before Frank strutted up to claim the next dance with Alice.

  For all the fun he was having, it tore at Jake’s heart to watch them dance away when the musicians started a slow waltz. Frank Baldwin struck a powerful pose as he glided Alice around the room.

  “How’s Boise?” Mr. Jepson asked as Jake stood at the refreshment table and sipped on a glass of apple cider. Mr. Jepson was the owner of the mercantile, but he also called the line dances, the square dances, and the contra dances.

  “Boise’s exciting,” Jake answered. “A lot going on. I love working for the newspaper there.”

  “Well, good,” Mr. Jepson said. “I know your father’s right proud of you for all that you’re learning and for your success. Your mother and brother, too. They brag about you every time they come into the mercantile.”

  Jake felt heat creeping into his neck and face. He didn’t realize his parents or Milton felt that way about him. He kept visiting with Mr. Jepson, but his eyes darted to Alice waltzing with Frank Baldwin. He couldn’t stop the longing that took hold of his heart.

  By the end of the evening, Jake had had an enjoyable time. Thanks to his new vest and his new dance steps, he had been the most popular young person at the dance. He found it interesting what new clothes could do for a man. But tomorrow he was returning to Boise; what would happen then?

  Frank Baldwin and Reed Browning would be here in Clover Creek doing whatever they could to steal his girl. He was determined to finish his apprenticeship with his uncle and become a newspaper man, but what if Alice didn’t wait for him. He had to figure out a way to marry her and take her to Boise before it was too late.

  An idea came to him like a bolt of lightning, turning his stomach rock hard. He struggled to breathe and looked around, wondering if anyone could read the dubious thoughts his mind entertained.

  Dusty was making so much money passing his counterfeit bills, he was talking about buying an automobile. If Jake could make half that kind of money, he could afford to marry Alice and take her to Boise with him.

  Maybe even take her to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis for a wedding gift.

  And if he started using counterfeit money, it would help the nation’s economy, wouldn’t it?

  7

  The following morning after church, Alice carried a large pot of stew into the dining area and placed it in the middle of the massive table. Fern and Beth carried baskets of warm bread. The extended Gardner family and Jake congregated around the table, and everyone was in a jovial mood. Mr. Gardner and his son-in-law, Evan Howell, had shown up toward the end of the dance the night before on a quick visit home.

  The only family members missing were Belle and her family, who were still in Salt Lake City; Belle taking classes at the university, and George practicing medicine under the guidance of a respected Utah doctor. They balanced their time between work, school, and caring for their two-year-old daughter.

  Mrs. Stribling, practically a member of the family, was helping in the kitchen. She raised her brows and nodded approvingly when Alice stopped to show her and Zina the broach that Jake had brought her.

  Zina, Alice’s closest sister and best friend, had come into town with Nellie and her family, and she now shadowed Alice’s every move, trying to catch up on Alice’s social life. “I envy you,” Zina whispered as they walked back into the kitchen to help Mrs. Gardner with the final preparations.

  “Why?” Alice asked.

  “Because Jake writes romantic letters and gives you romantic gifts. It’s just like the heroes in the books I read. You’re the luckiest girl in Clover Creek.”

  Alice looked to make sure that Jake was still in the dining area talking to one of her brothers-in-law and well out of hearing distance. “I won’t feel very lucky when he goes back to Boise, and I’m stuck here,” she said quietly.

  Zina sighed. “And he brought candy today, enough for the whole family.”

  Alice raised her brows. “Well, if you’d go to the dances once in a while, you’d have a string of young men writing love letters to you and bringing gifts to you.”

  Zina ran her fingers over a red mark on the side of her face and neck. “If I went to the dances, I’d be sitting on the sidelines wishing I were home curled up with a good book.”

  Alice hugged her sister. “I don’t think so,” she said.

  When the kitchen workers finally joined the guests and the rest of the family around the table, Mrs. Gardner directed the seating arrangements. Charlie offered a blessing on the food, and after the prayer, noisy conversation and the passing of food started in earnest. Toward the end of the meal, Mr. Gardner brought all the conversation to a halt when he asked Jake about his newspaper job in Boise.

  “It’s exciting. I’m learning so much,” Jake said, rubbing his neck and then his chin. He cleared his throat before continuing, and Alice wondered if her father’s attention had unnerved him.

  “The office is not an ordinary country printing office like our family’s here in Clover Creek,” Jake said, continuing. “The machinery’s all the latest and most improved. We even have a typewriter and a second one has been ordered.”

  Having said
all that, Jake rubbed his neck again.

  “Can you type on the typewriter?” Nellie asked.

  Jake’s laugh was part choke. “One finger at a time; plink, plink, plink.” He demonstrated with his fingers. “But I practice whenever someone else isn’t using the typewriter.”

  “What’s the most exciting news you’ve reported? Mrs. Stribling asked.

  “The bank robbery two weeks ago!” Jake leaned forward as though he’d much rather talk about the robbery than himself. “I didn’t actually write the robbery article, but I went along with my friend and helped gather the facts. It seems two rough-looking men walked into the bank and claimed they were sheep men wanting to cash a check. But after the only other customer walked out the door, they pulled out their revolvers. They grabbed over two thousand in gold and greenbacks, but the banker pushed an alarm that was connected by wire to the building across the street.”

  Jake paused and Alice could see the fervor in his eyes. “The robbers took off and three men from town gave chase. About five miles out of town there was a shootout. One of the robbers got shot in the arm and one of the men from town got shot in the thigh. But the robbers were captured and put in jail. The whole thing was quite the talk of everyone in town.”

  “Oh, my!” Mrs. Stribling said as everyone at the table started talking excitedly about the robbery. “What’s the silliest news item you’ve written about?” she asked.

  Jake grimaced and closed his eyes for a moment. “‘Mrs. Drummond was hostess at a prettily appointed luncheon on Tuesday.’ Mrs. Drummond insisted that I write the opening line with those exact words for the Local News.”

  Everyone laughed except Mrs. Stribling. “I don’t consider that one bit silly,” she said, raising her chin. “That’s what women of my generation want to read about. Your father’s newspaper here in town has a Local News section, and it stays quite up to date on fashions, trends, and gatherings!”

  Jake’s eyes roamed around the table and he smiled as though he was beginning to enjoy everyone’s questions. “My uncle owns the paper in Boise, and he tells me that people are curious. They want the news, but we have to add a sense of excitement or they won’t read it. They want all the juicy tidbits and gossipy prattle enhanced. My pa agrees with him.”

  “The Local News in your father’s newspaper is not gossip,” Mrs. Stribling said, touching her napkin to her lips. “It keeps us informed about what’s going on in our town, and it’s the first thing I want to read.”

  “I’m happy to hear that,” Jake said, his smile causing Alice’s heart to flutter, “because that keeps my pa’s newspaper in business.”

  “Do they have automobiles in Boise?” Cora, one of Alice’s older sisters, asked.

  “I’ve seen a few. Not too many, thankfully. They frighten the horses and cause all kinds of havoc.”

  “In a few more years, there will be more automobiles than horses.” Cora’s husband smiled at her and slipped his hand over hers.

  “How about electric lights?” Fern asked. “Pa says we’ll get electric lights here before too much longer.”

  “Lots of buildings have electric lights,” Jake answered. “There’s a big celebration and a writeup in the paper whenever another building installs electricity. Coming from a small town like Clover Creek, it’s really exciting to see so many houses and business with electricity.”

  “That’s enough questions,” Mrs. Gardner said, placing her napkin on the table. “We need to let Jake and Alice have some time to visit before he has to leave to catch his train.” While the men in the family helped Mr. Gardner clean the kitchen, most of the women and children went into the parlor.

  Alice pulled Jake toward her father’s office. The room had a shelf lined with books and a massive desk near the window, where sunlight poured in. Four wingback chairs of ginger orange and gold faced each other around a sturdy low table. Mrs. Gardner’s book of Hamlet lay on the table along with some of Mr. Gardner’s survey periodicals and newspapers. Alice left the door open while they visited, but any of the grandchildren who tried to come in received a stern look that made them change their mind.

  “Are you still reading Hamlet?” Jake asked, picking up the well-thumbed leather-bound book and holding it to his nose.

  Alice laughed. “It’s funny to see you sniffing Ma’s book. I do the same thing every time I sit down to read. It has a vanilla smell, I think. Smelling the book gives me a relaxed feeling, like I know my work is done and now I have a few moments to myself.”

  “Will you read again for me?” Jake asked, a smile playing about his lips. “Then whenever I see a book, I’ll hear your voice in my mind and think of you.”

  Warmth crept into Alice’s cheeks as she reached out to take the book from him. When their fingers touched, their eyes met, and neither of them moved for what seemed like forever. Alice was in no hurry to break the small connection, knowing that Jake was leaving in a short time. She didn’t know when she’d see him again. Finally, Jake released the book and they sat side-by-side in two of the chairs, Alice choosing to stay seated this time as she read from Shakespeare’s play.

  While Alice read, Jake leaned back and closed his eyes. She wondered if he truly appreciated Shakespeare or if he was simply napping. She didn’t really care. This intimate feeling of sitting close to him and enjoying Hamlet together felt precious to her.

  After a while, Alice paused and looked at Jake. He opened his eyes and smiled, reaching out for her hand.

  “Is Hamlet only about murder and revenge?” he asked.

  Alice shrugged and giggled. “Shakespeare can be depressing,” she said. “But he had such a beautiful way with words that, somehow, most of his words are uplifting.”

  She closed the book and placed it on the table. “So, tell me about Boise,” she said, turning to face him. Her family had peppered him with questions, but Alice had questions of her own.

  “Honestly, I love the place. I’m starting to think of working for my uncle permanently and letting Milton help run the Clover Creek Weekly.”

  “What?” Alice gasped.

  Jake gave her hand a gentle squeeze, running his thumb gently over her fingers. “Even if our paper grows, it won’t support three families,” he said. “Pa and I have talked about the possibility of me staying in Boise and working with my uncle. He only needs one son to help run his business. And by me working for a bigger operation, I’d be in a position to help him and Milton stay in the forefront of the newspaper business.”

  “But then you’d never move back to Clover Creek,” Alice said, her eyes filling with worry.

  “I know. That’s where my biggest concern lies. Until I moved to Boise, I never thought I’d want to live anywhere but here.” Jake leaned forward, excitement etched in his face. “You’d love the bigger city too, Alice. I promise. My friend Dusty has taken me all over town and shown me where young people like to go. There are dance clubs and moving pictures, foothills where you can hike and see mountains in the distance. You can see the whole valley from some of the places we’ve hiked to.”

  “But Boise’s so far away.” Alice couldn’t stop her chin from trembling just thinking about what this could mean.

  Jake reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, causing a wave of tenderness to sweep through her.

  “Please don’t let what I’ve said worry you, Alice. I wouldn’t make any decision without you. You mean everything to me, and whatever my future holds, I hope you’ll be beside me. The possibility of settling in Boise is just something to consider. It only takes a few hours on the train to travel back and forth from here.”

  Then as if Jake were trying to sell her on the possibility of living in Boise, he kept emphasizing how much she’d like the city. “There are some caves near Boise where it’s cool and eerie. I know you’d like them. Anybody who likes the drama of Shakespeare would like those caves. And anybody who likes Shakespeare would like the theater productions in Boise.”

  A fluttery feeling filled Alice simpl
y thinking about the possibility of watching one of Shakespeare’s plays. The fluttery feeling also had to do with Jake stroking her face as he talked. And that he referred to them enjoying Boise together.

  The thought of moving away from Clover Creek terrified Alice and excited her at the same time. After all, if it came to moving, she’d be married to Jake. Hadn’t that been exactly what she’d been longing for? “What are the dances like?” she asked, feeling a sudden loss because Jake removed his hand from her face. “You were the star of the dance last night. You must go to dances all the time.”

  “Not all the time. Only on Friday and Saturday nights.”

  Alice’s eyes widened. “Friday and Saturday nights?”

  Jake grinned. “I know it seems like a lot, but trust me; when I’m dancing with those Boise girls, I’m thinking about you.”

  Alice narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.

  “Really and truly, I am,” he said. “I’m always missing you and thinking about you. That’s why I’m writing more often, and sending gifts. When you look at your gloves or use them, I hope you’ll think of me. When you wear your broach, I hope you’ll think of me. I’m always thinking of you, Alice.”

  Alice looked down, but her lips curled into a smile. “I miss you, Jake, and think of you all the time too. When you first left, I didn’t go to any of the dances or socials. I just stayed home and longed for you. Honestly, that’s the only reason I accepted Frank’s friendship. I was just so lonely for you.”

  Jake scooted to the edge of his chair and took both of Alice’s hands in his. He rubbed his fingers over hers, causing an electrical charge to pulse through her.

  “I guess we’re both just trying to make the time go faster until I’m through with this apprenticeship, or until I can take you back to Boise with me.”

  “Oh, Jake . . .”

  Suddenly Jake slipped from the chair and knelt on one knee before her. He continued to hold one of her hands. “I hadn’t planned on doing this, Alice, but I’m so in love with you, I can’t stop myself. I’ve loved you for years and we’ve been best friends for years. Would you promise to marry me when I finish my apprenticeship, or before if I can figure out a way to support us?”