“Maybe we should. If you don’t mind us following you along,” Mother teased.
“Mother, how many times do I have to tell you Christopher and I are just friends?”
Katherine’s parents exchanged a look. She decided not to ask what they were thinking.
❧
Christopher and Katherine rode in the buggy headed for home after the last night of the revival. Christopher glimpsed at the church one last time as they left the churchyard. The little chapel lacked the stained glass of fine places of worship in the city, but the church held its weight in inspiration. Looking ahead, he watched the sun, only beginning its descent on the horizon, turn the clouds pink, perhaps clothing itself in a soft blanket as it tucked itself in bed for the night. He held back a chuckle. Being around Katherine was causing him to make poetic observations.
He would miss taking Katherine to and from the meetings. On this night, she looked especially pretty, wearing a dress she told him she had sewn just the past week. She had already worn the dress to Monday night’s meeting, but he didn’t mind seeing it again. None of the women he knew except Miranda could go a whole week without repeating. Besides, mint green went well with Katherine’s dark hair.
“A lot of people went up to the altar tonight, didn’t they?” Christopher mused.
“Yes. I think this week has been a great success. And we can count it a success, too, since we’ve been inspired to increase our prayer life. What did you thank God for today?” Katherine asked.
“I thanked Him for the pink blanket He made for the sun.”
She peered at the sky. “It is pretty, isn’t it?” Then she started. “Why, you didn’t thank Him for that today. We’re looking at it now.”
“I thanked Him just now. Doesn’t that count?”
She twisted her lips and cocked her head. “But what about earlier today? What did you thank Him for?”
He didn’t hesitate. “You.”
“And I thanked Him for you,” she admitted. “What else?”
“For enough food to eat and my family.”
“Same here.”
“We certainly do think alike.”
“Yes, but you know, we need to expand. Both of us need to come up with something more original.”
“Remember, Solomon said there’s nothing new under the sun,” Christopher pointed out.
“There’s nothing new that God hasn’t seen, but we can at least show Him we’re thinking beyond the basics. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes. I accept your challenge. I’ll expand my range of thankfulness tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.” A thought occurred to him. “Don’t I get any credit for my pink blanket idea just now?”
“Yes, that is pretty original. Especially for a man.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying men aren’t supposed to appreciate a good sunset?”
“No, of course not.” She giggled.
Christopher joined her mirth, enjoying their easy rapport.
He brought the team to a stop in front of her house, then after jumping down himself, helped her disembark from the buggy.
Katherine looked at the house and noticed that her parents’ bedroom light shone. Otherwise, the house was dark.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Christopher prompted.
“Do you think they’re worth a penny?” she quipped.
“More than that, I’m sure. So what are you thinking?”
She paused, wondering if she should share. “I’m just speculating on whether Mother will be looking out the window at us shortly.”
He chuckled. “No doubt she will be.”
“Let her look. There’s no place I’d rather be than here with you tonight.” She paused.
“I feel exactly the same way.”
As he took her in his arms, she became aware of the cinnamon aroma of soap that always hung about him, a pleasant but subtle reminder that he was near. His body near hers felt warm, but despite the heat she didn’t mind. As though God read her thoughts, He sent a breeze their way at that moment. The cooling air wafted through her cotton dress.
Christopher grasped her more closely. He gazed into her eyes, and she studied his, lit as they were by the moonlight. He slowly brought his face toward hers. As their lips met, Katherine realized this was a moment she had been waiting for all of her life. She wanted the kiss to last forever.
Twelve
The night of the talent competition arrived. Katherine felt as ready to perform as she ever would be. Not that she could concentrate much on the talent show. Her thoughts lingered time and again on Christopher’s kiss. Every once in a while, she brought her fingers to her lips, remembering the sweet touch of his lips. She wondered if he thought of the kiss, too.
She hadn’t seen Christopher since the night he had kissed her. Her heart pounded with anticipation of seeing him again. She was ready for the show early. Though she tried to appear relaxed, the urge to peer out the window time and again overtook her. Finally, Christopher arrived in his buggy right on time, looking dapper in his dark Sunday suit. She was glad she had decided that night to wear a dress he had said was his favorite—her mint green frock.
Still, for the first time, she felt awkward in his presence. “Are you ready for the show?” Her question sounded weak to her ears, as though she were trying to make conversation where there was none.
“Yes.” His terse response wasn’t characteristic of him, either.
Christopher must have thought the kiss was a mistake. Or is he just feeling awkward? We have been friends for so long. Will romance be easy for us?
As Christopher helped her onto the buggy, Katherine noticed once more how manly his strong hand, roughened from farm work, felt on hers. She wanted him to linger in the touch, but as soon as she was seated, he hastened to take his place beside her. His posture looked stiff rather than shouting the easygoing confidence to which she had become accustomed from him. “I promised Vera I’d take her as well. So we’ll be going by her house next.”
Katherine nodded. Maybe the fact that they planned to pick up Vera on the way would help. Her company would surely ease the awkwardness.
She eyed a boy riding up the driveway on a horse that was black as midnight. “Look! It’s a stable hand from the Sharpe farm.”
Christopher brought the buggy to a halt. “He seems to be in a hurry.”
“Is everything alright?” Katherine asked the stable hand as soon as he drew within earshot.
“I think so. I have a message for you, Miss Jones.” He handed her a missive written on Vera’s ivory-colored stationery.
Nervous, Katherine opened the letter and read aloud:
My dearest Katherine,
Forgive me, but Alice’s time to deliver her baby has come, and I must tend to her. I am so sorry I cannot play the harp with you at the show tonight. I have summoned the midwife, but I don’t expect the baby to arrive before morning. I will send news of the baby’s birth. Please put on your performance without me. I know you are sure to do me proud!
With love from your faithful friend,
Vera
“Oh Christopher, I don’t think we’ll win without her.”
“We’re not there to win. We’re there to be a part of the evening,” Christopher reminded Katherine.
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” She grimaced and folded the missive.
At that moment, Mother and Father hurried out of the house.
“What is it, Katherine?” Mother wanted to know. “Is everything alright?”
“I hope so. Alice’s baby is coming. The midwife should be there by now.” A worried tone entered her voice. “I didn’t think she was due to deliver for another two weeks.”
“Give or take two weeks is perfectly fine,” Mother assured her. “Predicting such things as the birth of a baby isn’t an exact science, you know. The details of life are best left to God.”
“Yes, I have learned that more than ever recently,” Katherine noted. “But I d
o wish the baby had waited a little longer. Just a few hours. Vera’s harp added so much to our song.”
“I doubt the baby knows anything about your harp music,” Father teased.
“True.” Katherine smiled.
“Will you still perform in the show?” Mother asked.
“Yes. We’ll give it out best try,” Christopher answered.
Katherine knew what she needed to do. “Father, will you lead us in prayer for Alice’s baby?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He prayed for Alice’s health, the baby’s safe arrival and future, and for Alice and Elmer as they would become new parents on that night.
A cloak of silence embraced them as they contemplated Father’s prayer.
Mother broke the silence. “If the two of you are planning to be on time for the show, you’ll need to get going!”
“So we shall.” Christopher smiled and tipped his hat in the direction of Katherine’s mother.
“We’ll see you there,” Father said.
“And we’ll be rooting for you,” Mother added.
“Thanks!” Katherine waved at her parents as the buggy left the yard.
The horses trotted well and swiftly. Once they arrived at church, Christopher unharnessed his horses and took a moment to feed the faithful beasts a sugar cube apiece. He patted General Lee on the nose. “There’s more of this where that came from, fella.”
The steed whinnied.
Katherine turned and saw Mrs. Watkins standing near the entrance to the sanctuary. She motioned for them to come closer, using quick little movements that bespoke urgency. “She seems like she wants to see us in a hurry. Let’s go.”
When they met Mrs. Watkins, they could see the expression she wore wasn’t happy.
Christopher tipped his hat at the older woman. “Good evening, Mrs. Watkins.”
After they finished exchanging greetings, Katherine couldn’t stand the suspense. “If I may mention it, you look a bit upset, Mrs. Watkins. Is everything alright?” A terrible thought occurred to her. “You. . .you didn’t hear that anything untoward has happened to Alice, did you?”
Mrs. Watkins’s eyes widened behind her spectacles. “Alice? Alice Sharpe?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, no. Why?”
“She’s delivering her baby tonight,” Katherine informed her.
Mrs. Watkins gasped. “Already? I just can’t believe how time flies.”
“Yes, ma’am. Vera sent us a message. She’ll be with Alice and won’t be performing with us.” Katherine sent Mrs. Watkins a pleading look. “I hope we can still be in the show.”
“Oh, certainly. Certainly.” Mrs. Watkins nodded. “That shouldn’t present a problem. Although Vera is so sweet and talented. I’m sorry she’ll be missing out on this opportunity to perform for us.”
“Me, too.”
“What I have to tell you does concern the show, however,” Mrs. Watkins said. “The chairman looked over the finalized roster of performers and decided at the last minute to make a change in the rules. That change affects you.”
Katherine held her breath, even though she wasn’t surprised by the chairman’s actions. Mr. Perkins was a known grump, and he seemed to take pleasure in creating the greatest amount of uproar over the smallest details.
“When he looked over the roster, Mr. Perkins noted that Otis was participating in two acts. Were you aware of that?”
Both nodded. “We were told that would be fine,” Christopher elaborated.
“It would have been, had I been in charge. But I’m afraid Mr. Perkins sees things differently. When he noticed that Otis was participating in two acts, he ruled that in fairness to the rest of the competition, Otis could only perform once.”
“Does Otis know this?” Katherine asked.
“Yes, and that’s where you come in. I asked him what we should do, and he has chosen not to accompany you but Miss Miranda Henderson.”
“Oh,” was all Katherine could manage to say.
“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Watkins said. “I wish there was something I could do, but I’m afraid my hands are tied.”
“That’s fine, Mrs. Watkins,” Katherine assured her. “We’re glad you told us as soon as you could.”
She smiled, and her posture softened with obvious relief. “Thank you for being so cooperative. Of course, I would expect as much from two of my best Sunday school students.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Christopher and Katherine responded in unison.
“Well, I must be moving along. Lots to do, you know.” She scurried into the social hall.
Left with Christopher, Katherine noticed that although he hadn’t said much to Mrs. Watkins, he wore a dark expression.
He shook his head. “If that doesn’t beat everything I’ve ever seen. Leaving us stranded like that.”
She searched for consolation. “Otis can’t be blamed for his decision.”
Christopher crossed his arms. “Is that so?”
“Not entirely. I concede that perhaps he can be faulted for choosing to perform with Miranda instead of us. After all, he had made a pledge that he would play the piano with our act.” She hurried to add, “But he apparently also made a promise to Miranda. And he was put in an untenable position at the last minute. What could he really do? After all, you and I are performing together, whereas without him, Miranda would be all alone. And he had no way of knowing that Alice’s baby would come tonight so Vera wouldn’t be performing with us.”
“True. But I still say he’s a snake.”
Katherine laughed. The sound of her mirth brought a sideways grin to Christopher’s face.
“I can see it’s just you and me, then.”
Why did that sound so good? “Yes,” Katherine said. “It’s just you and me.”
“And together, we’ll do just fine.”
“Yes. Together, we’ll do just fine.”
“Are we changing our act so that you’re now a parrot?” Christopher teased.
Katherine caught on without hesitation. “Are we changing our act so you’re now a parrot?” She mimicked a squawk. “Polly want a cracker!” She let out two sharp whistles.
Christopher laughed. “That’s pretty good. Maybe we should change our act after all.”
“Unh-uh. I think you should sing instead. I just hope my solo accompaniment can do you justice.”
“Sure it will.”
“Just in case, let’s sneak into the Harvesters classroom and do a quick run-through on the piano. Shall we?”
“We shall.”
After going through the song twice, Katherine was pleased. “Well! That doesn’t sound quite as horrid with my playing alone as I anticipated.
Christopher chuckled. “You always could cheer me up.”
She giggled.
“Now let’s go in there and knock ’em dead.”
“Christopher! I’m not sure that’s what we should really say about a church performance,” she teased.
“At least we’ll all be headed to a good place,” he countered.
She shook her head and sent him a lopsided grin. “You’re incorrigible.”
“From you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“That you may.”
Their mood lightened, Katherine and Christopher were prepared to enjoy the talent show. They sat in the audience near the front along with the other participants. Betsy sat beside them. She twiddled her thumbs and rocked back and forth, a sure sign she was nervous.
Katherine looked for Miranda and Otis but saw neither of them. She decided to concentrate on the notes she would need to play so their act could be a success.
Soon the strong scent of lily of the valley drifted Katherine’s way from behind, a scent that always hung about Miranda. Katherine felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Miranda.
Miranda tightened her lips, and a light of regret emitted from her eyes. “Did Mrs. Watkins see you?”
Katherine nodded.
Miranda sighed. “I�
�m sorry about your act. Otis didn’t want to let you down, but he didn’t feel he had any other choice.”
To confirm Miranda’s proclamation, Katherine caught a glimpse of Otis. Indeed, he looked sheepish and sent her an apologetic shrug. Remembering what she had told Christopher as well as her resolve to act with kindness toward Otis, Katherine made sure no disappointment displayed itself on her features.
“Will you still be performing?” Miranda’s concern seemed genuine.
Katherine nodded. “Don’t worry. Christopher and I can make do, but without Otis, you would have been much worse off than we would, with no accompaniment at all.”
Miranda’s body relaxed with obvious relief. “And besides, you have Vera. Where is she, anyway?”
“Uh, we don’t have Vera. She’s with Alice. The baby is coming soon. Sometime tonight.”
Miranda gasped but followed with an enthusiastic, “Oh, how exciting!” before Mrs. Watkins shushed the audience.
Katherine turned toward the stage and watched the performances. She wasn’t disappointed. All of the acts were entertaining, and many were executed with professional competence.
As the show progressed, Katherine speculated silently on which act might win the blue ribbon and, as an added incentive, a certificate for two free dinners at the Hagerstown Inn. Katherine thought surely four-year-old Mary Lou, with her moppish dash of blond ringlets, was a shoo-in with her ballet performance. But after seeing Jim Bob’s unicycle and juggling act, she decided maybe Mary Lou would have to be content with the red ribbon and bag of penny candy. Surely a little girl would prefer a sack of sweets to a meatloaf dinner, anyway. Then again, who could ignore the outrageously funny skit that several of the high schoolers presented? She was only glad she could sit on the sidelines and not be called upon to judge.
Next followed Betsy and her tap dance. Katherine whispered encouraging words to her before she took her turn. Christopher winked, and she giggled in return.
Dressed in light blue with a large matching bow, her dark hair fashioned in sausage curls, she rivaled Mary Lou in attractiveness. Even better, she performed a flawless rendition of her tap dance, hitting each note just right. Mother was in fine form with her accompaniment as well. After the song, Betsy curtsied prettily, curls falling back into perfect place. Her smile made her look like a seasoned performer. Katherine couldn’t remember a time she had been prouder of her little sister. The audience clapped and whistled.
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