Buckeye Dreams

by Jennifer A. Davids

  “Why couldn’t I take Pa’s rifle, Ma?” Jacob asked. She looked at him, hating that her son was in such close contact with a gun every day. When would Jonah let go of it? She especially disliked the thought that Jacob would one day learn to use one.

  “How did things go in town yesterday?” she asked.

  He looked at her for a moment. “I saw Dr. Kelly.”

  “He was in town?”

  “He sure was. Uncle Jonah got to meet him.”

  Adele bit her lip. She hadn’t realized Dr. Kelly would be coming to Ostrander so soon. She thought he still had another week or two of lecturing at Ohio Wesleyan. Her heart sank as she realized she had not been there to introduce Jonah to the doctor herself. “Did they seem to like one another?”

  Jacob shrugged. “I don’t know. Uncle Jonah told me to go inside and watch Mr. Morgan.”

  Adele only half listened as her son went on about how Cyrus had gotten a good price for his furs from Mr. Decker. No wonder Jonah had seemed more out of sorts than usual yesterday evening. She had put it down to being concerned about the rabid animal on the loose. What had Dr. Kelly said to him?

  Fred Decker was tying up his horse when they arrived at church. “Hello.” He waved as they walked up. “Jonah forgot to take these while he was in town yesterday.” He handed Adele several letters.

  “Thank you, Mr. Decker,” she said as she looked through them. She frowned. “I cannot imagine who this is from.” It was simply addressed to the Kirby Farm.

  Jacob strained to see it as she showed it to Mr. Decker. “Yes,” the shopkeeper said, “I wondered about that myself.”

  “Well, I will open it when I get home. Perhaps it was misdirected.” She put it and the others in her reticule.

  “If it is, just bring it into town, and I’ll take care of it,” he said as he opened the church doors for her.

  When they stepped inside the sanctuary, Adele saw Dr. Kelly sitting with the Williamses near the front. He half stood and smiled broadly at her, and she responded with a small smile and a nod.

  “Can we sit with him, Ma?” Jacob asked.

  “Let us just sit here, mein Liebe,” she said, indicating the third pew from the back. “Reverend Warren is ready to start.”

  The lesson that morning was very good, although Adele did notice Will looking at Clara Williams, the schoolteacher, several times. She was strategically seated next to Dr. Kelly, no doubt at the insistence of her mother, who sat right behind them. Adele couldn’t help but give a small smile. If the right number of people sat in that particular pew, two people would have to share a hymnal. She and Nathaniel had often sat there, and Jonah had always been willing to sit with them so they could share one.

  As the body of believers rose for the last song, she didn’t fail to notice Clara and the doctor politely sharing a songbook. She glanced at Will, who looked none too happy. Much to his dismay, Jacob immediately dragged him over to meet Dr. Kelly once services ended. But on their way by, he was able to give Clara a nod and a smile before she was escorted out by her parents. In turn, the young lady kept looking back at the young Scot as she made her way toward the church door.

  Adele watched her son and Will talk to Dr. Kelly. As he spoke, the doctor glanced over at her several times as if inviting her to join them. She sighed, wishing, for his sake, they had never met. As much as she liked him, she knew she could never have loved him. True, he was kind and handsome, and on a more practical level, his profession would mean a more stable life. But she knew their temperaments did not match, and she had always preferred life on a farm. Adele had missed it all the years she had lived in town after Nathaniel died.

  Just then Minnie Warren came up to talk to her, and she was grateful to direct her attention elsewhere. “Hello, dear,” she said as she embraced Adele. The older woman held her at arm’s length and gazed at her with concern. “How are you and Jonah?”

  Adele half smiled at her. Minnie and her husband were the only ones in Ostrander who knew the true circumstances surrounding their marriage. Adele and Jonah had allowed the rest of the town to think what they liked. Most hadn’t been surprised, seeing how Jonah had been Nathaniel’s best friend. That he should marry Adele seemed only natural.

  “Jonah …” She wanted to confide in the woman, but at the same time, it wouldn’t do to worry her. “Pray for him.”

  Understanding flowered in Minnie’s eyes. “Paul and I do. Every night.”

  “Thank you.” Adele squeezed her hands. “I have something to ask you. Do you know if there is a family in the area with a little girl about three years old?”

  Minnie thought for a moment. “I can’t think of any. Why?”

  Adele told her about Sweet Pea. “Jonah thinks she may belong to refugees from the war. I could not believe that anyone would come so far north.”

  “They could be on their way to Canada.”

  “I suppose.” Adele chewed on her bottom lip. “I worry about her with this rabid animal on the loose. Did Henry Porter tell you about it?”

  “Did Henry Porter tell you about what?” The two women turned to see that Dr. Kelly had joined them. He nodded to Minnie. “I don’t think we’ve met.” He glanced at Adele.

  “Minnie, this is Dr. Noah Kelly. He is friends with Daniel and Katherine,” Adele said. “This is Minnie Warren, Reverend Warren’s wife.” The two smiled and greeted each other.

  “Are you married, Dr. Kelly?” Minnie asked.

  Adele noticed a slight hesitation in the doctor’s answer. “No. Sadly not.”

  “Well, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, we have several eligible young ladies in the congregation.” Minnie smiled. “You won’t lack invitations to Sunday dinner over the next several weeks.”

  “I’m sure I won’t.”

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Minnie said, “I need to see Mrs. Perry before she leaves.”

  Mrs. Warren stepped out the door, and Adele turned back to Dr. Kelly. The look in his face and eyes was unmistakable. She looked around. They were the only ones left in the church. The weather was so fine that everyone else had gone outside to fellowship. Giving him a small smile, she gathered her Bible and started for the door. She paused when he called out to her.

  “Let me walk you out.”

  She continued on more slowly to allow him to walk beside her and noticed he was leaning heavily on his cane.

  “What were you and Mrs. Warren talking about?” he asked.

  “Henry Porter believes there is a rabid bear or bobcat in the area.”

  The doctor looked at her with grave concern. “I hope you’re taking every precaution.”

  “Jonah will take care of us,” Adele replied.

  He looked away.

  “Your leg is hurting you today.”

  Dr. Kelly glanced back at her. “A little more than usual,” he said. He paused for a moment. “How is the farm?”

  “Fine,” Adele said, giving him a sidelong glance. His voice hadn’t sounded quite right. “Jonah says the planting is going very well. I did the kitchen garden this week. I had just finished planting the carrots the other day when …” She was going to tell him about Sweet Pea, hoping he might have heard something about refugees in the area. But just as they reached the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the corner.

  “Dr. Kelly, what are you doing?”

  “What are you doing?” He had pulled her quite close to him. Adele could see the flecks of gray in his blue eyes.

  She pulled her arm free and backed away. “I am married, Noah.”

  “I know, but why?”

  “I told you why. I could not let him be sent away.”

  He stared at her. “I love you, Adele,” he said finally.

  She shook her head.

  “I was ready to marry you.”

  “But I was never ready to marry you.” Adele looked down and said a small prayer. “Jonah is my husband now. Nothing will change that.” She backed away and grasped the door handle. “And please call me Mrs.
Kirby. Even in private.” Opening the door, she left.

  Jonah walked in from the barn later on Sunday afternoon, irritated. Just after lunch, as he was making his way out to hitch Babe up to the plow, Ben Carr rode up the drive.

  He dismounted and tied his horse to the fence outside the house. “Good afternoon,” the young man called as he walked up to him. “Do you have some time to talk, Mr. Kirby? I was just on my way back from church in Ostrander and saw you.”

  He stopped short when he noticed Jonah was in work clothes. “You’re working? Today?”

  Jonah narrowed his eyes at him. “Yes. So I don’t have time to talk to you right now. As I said before, when I’m ready to talk with you, I’ll let you know.” He started to move off when Ben spoke once more.

  “Well, if you’re set on working today, could I lend you a hand? You would get more work done and—” He stopped as Jonah swung around and glared at him.

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Get a look at my fields and my barn to try to see how much they’re worth, and then offer me next to nothing for them. You’re no different than your uncle.”

  Ben stared at him as his eyes grew dark with anger. “And you’re just like what Uncle Eli said about you. He said you and your family were a pain in the neck. Ma and I took what he said about people with a grain of salt because he tended to exaggerate. But I guess he wasn’t exaggerating about you.” Ben turned and left.

  But his words were as irritating as a sliver of wood under the skin. A pain in the neck? Like Elijah Carr had any room to talk. He’d been constantly trying to figure out a way of buying up the Kirby farm. Neither Pa’s nor his repeated refusals seemed to have any effect on him. Once, after a confrontation with the man, Jonah had vented his frustration to his mother, only to have her remind him that Elijah Carr was a hurting man and they should pray for him.

  “He was brought up to believe a man’s worth lies in what he can obtain,” she’d said, looking up from her mending. “He needs our compassion. If we show him Christ’s love, he might yet change.”

  But Jonah had never been able to bring himself to do that. And he knew for a fact that Carr had died just as he lived.

  Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he went out to the fields and tried to get some work done. But nothing seemed to go right the rest of the afternoon. The plow stuck just about every other row he worked, and Babe was uncharacteristically antsy and shy. Jonah gave up on the field and tried working on a few things in the barn, but nothing turned out right.

  Disgusted, he strode up to the house. When he went in, he was greeted by a sob coming from the parlor.

  Adele stood in front of the fireplace, quickly trying to wipe her face off with a handkerchief. A letter lay on the mantel.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping into the room.

  She looked at him and then the letter. “I have had news,” she said softly. “About Erich.”

  Frowning, Jonah walked in and took the letter. What disaster had God brought down on them now?

  Dear Sir,

  My name is Silas Benton. You don’t know me, but I’m writing to you about Erich Braun, the brother of Adele Stephens. He was a miner with our company near Virginia City, Nevada. I am sorry to disturb you with such sad news, but her brother died several months ago in an accident. I’m sorry to be telling you this so late, but I only recently took charge of the mine in this area, and I was not aware he had any kin back East until now. I would send his body home to her, but he’s been buried for quite some time. I found several letters from Mrs. Stephens, and some had different addresses. Her most recent one was sent from this address. If she is there, could you please tell her what happened to Mr. Braun and let me know where I can send his things? And please extend our sincere condolances on the loss of her brother.

  Yours truly,

  Silas Benton

  Silver Hills Mining Co.

  Jonah stared at the letter. Erich had gone west after Nate and Adele had married, always having had a heart for wandering. He’d only stayed in Ostrander when they were younger for his sister’s sake. Once she married Nate, he felt free to do as he liked.

  He’d written faithfully at first, but Adele hadn’t heard from him in over a year and had indeed written to her brother just after they married, hoping against hope he wasn’t dead. So many went west and were never heard from again that it was a familiar scenario.

  Jonah looked at her.

  “I knew in my heart he was not alive,” Adele said. “But I did not want to believe it.”

  More than anything, Jonah wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. Instead, he grasped her elbow and settled her into the nearby high-backed chair while he took a seat on the sofa. Each tear she shed was like a knife sticking him in the back. He clenched his teeth and looked away, trying not to allow the anger inside him to burn through and show in his eyes. How could He do this to her?

  Once he had collected himself, he glanced up. “I’m sorry, Addie.”

  “I will write Mr. Benton and tell him to send Erich’s things here,” she said softly.

  “Do you want me to see if we could bring his body back? I know this Mr. Benton said otherwise, but it might be possible. Seems only proper to have him buried here.”

  She gave him a teary smile. “He would not have wanted me to go to so much trouble. Let him rest in peace. He is with the Lord now.”

  Jonah stood abruptly and strode over to the window. “He should still be here with you.”

  Didn’t God have enough souls with Him now? Hadn’t four years of war made heaven a bit too crowded?

  A soft hand gently grasped his arm, and he looked to see Adele standing there close to him. Too close. “I wish he was still here, too,” she said. “We could talk about him, about the good times we had while he was still with us.”

  Her blue eyes, while somewhat faded by her tears, almost convinced him. Would it be so bad to talk a little? It would be a comfort to Adele for him to sit with her awhile.

  He clenched his teeth. No. She would somehow point the conversation in a direction he didn’t want to go. So he pushed the thought and her hand away and headed for the door. There must be something he could find to do in the barn.

  Chapter 5

  Late July 1866

  Adele awoke to the sound of boots going downstairs. She sighed and, flinging back the sheets, rose and walked to the window. She watched as Jonah stepped out into the courtyard and looked at the moon. Then he strode into the orchard and disappeared from view. She turned from the window and slowly made her way to her bed and lay back down.

  For the past four months, two or three nights a week, she had woken up every time he left. Even though Adele slept in what had been his parents’ room and he just next door in his own, she still heard him. He was always very quiet, but something in her knew he was awake. She would go to the window to watch him walk away, to make sure he was all right.

  Adele caught a glimpse of his face before he walked off this time. He looked as if his soul was weary of this odd ritual. As always, she prayed before going back to sleep. Father, he has been home for over a year now. When will he have peace from this war?

  She was always given the same answer. If he would turn to Me, I would heal him.

  She sat up in bed. “How, Father?” she softly asked in the darkness. “He will not listen to me. I have been patient, and I have tried to be kind and understanding, but still he will not listen.”

  Since the news came of Erich’s death, he’d been even more close-lipped. Oh, he talked about farm matters and more mundane details, but nothing beyond that. Every night when he came into the parlor after evening chores, Adele tried to get him to open up, tried to get over the wall he had built. But she might as well be trying to scale it with sewing thread. Her every attempt was quickly and effectively snipped by a cross answer or silence. She hugged her knees and wrestled with what to do until she had to get up and start breakfast.

  “Be sure you ask Fred Decker about
that plow head,” Jonah told her at breakfast. “You’ll have to go into town by yourself today.”

  “Why?”Adele looked at Jonah, who was looking at her son. Jacob had become somewhat belligerent toward his stepfather over the last few weeks. Any good report Will gave Jonah about her son was shrugged off, and Jonah was forever harping about what he should know about farming at his age. She understood her son’s frustration. As much as both had been praying, nothing about Jonah seemed to be changing. But even so, she would not put up with Jacob being disrespectful. She frowned. “What has happened?”

  “He was shirking his chores this morning,” Jonah replied.

  “It wasn’t like that, Ma. I was just taking a peek at a book for a second before Will and I started on the cows… .”

  “And you’ll stay home today and make up for the time you lost this morning,” Jonah said.

  Jacob looked at him angrily. “It wasn’t more than a second.”

  “Jacob Nathaniel, you will not talk back,” Adele said.

  “But …” He glanced over at Will, who looked away uncomfortably. The boy’s shoulders slumped a little. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And Will,” Jonah said. “I don’t pay you to work on your own property. You need to be on time.”

  Adele pressed her lips together as she listened to Jonah go on about the young man’s tardiness. Will was working hard to make her old home livable again. From the looks he and Clara Williams shared at church, it was not hard to understand why. And it couldn’t be an easy task, considering he worked at their farm from sunup until sundown. Nathaniel had worked for the Kirbys until they were married and was often late when he was building the place. As far as she knew, neither Jonah nor his mother had ever taken him to task for it. “Jonah …”

  “No, ma’am, it’s all right,” Will said. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll try to be on time from now on.”

  Later Will brought the buggy around for Adele. She started to apologize for Jonah’s behavior, but he waved it away. “No, ma’am, I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

  “It is very understandable why you must be late sometimes.”