Shatto (Perry County, Pennsylvania Frontier Series)
Page 10
He had federal dollars for the hiring of men and buying materials. In the cash-short mountains, his ability to pay out large sums would inevitably attract notice, but he wished as much as possible to minimize his apparent affluence. He would bury the coins around his place, to be dug up when needed and dispensed with some frugality.
James Cummens, Junior had initiated the canal investments and Rob found his own interest sparked. When the road took him close to canal construction, he paused to watch the mules scraping dirt from canal beds or workers spreading inches of clay linings where natural soil would not hold water. He wondered if any of the crews were in his employment. If they weren't, some soon would be.
Although anxious to return home, he had left Philadelphia with reluctance. Amy's nose was still giant size and he could not tell how effective his straightening had been. She could not breathe at all through her nose, but that should improve when the swelling went away.
He had carried Amy from the spring to the house. She had claimed she could walk just fine, but he had wished to carry her.
Before they were even close, people came running and they had to shoo them away with clumsy explanations. As it was, they reached the home with a tail of concerned help straggling behind.
Amy was shucked into bed amid manifold sympathies, and Rob was left to face the Cummens men.
Blue Moccasin heard Rob's explanations in silence. He nodded understanding or perhaps approval, Rob could not determine. James, Junior sputtered and rumbled vehement objections that had to do with Rob thinking he knew more than trained physicians and his apparent disdain for parental permission.
When Rob had completed his explanation and description, Blue silenced his indignant son's mumbled remonstrations and settled himself within his cushioned lounge.
He had listened with his ears, but his thoughts had returned to his young manhood when he had traveled far with this man's great-grandfather. He remembered the first Rob Shatto's willingness to act. He recalled old Rob's big-handed delicacy at his gunsmithing bench or at his blacksmith's forge. He saw the same special competence in young Rob's movements. As Rob met him eye-to-eye, without apology, he felt the man's straightforward willingness to attempt what he believed should be done. Blue Moccasin wondered who else among Amy's departed suitors would have possessed the confidence or pluck to break the nose of James Cummens' granddaughter.
He said, "Rob, it is plain that you care for Amy. I think you should now explain your intentions concerning her."
With her father's current approbation, Rob wasn't so sure, but he stated his case as clearly as he could. He said that he loved Ami-ta-chena and wished to ask for her hand in marriage. He said he feared it would have been wrong to gain her commitment before treating her so brutally.
He had not asked their permission to straighten her nose for fear of their refusal. After which, because he believed he could do it, he would have proceeded as he had intended anyway. James, Junior grumbled and shifted about. Rob explained that he had not asked Amy's permission for the same reason and because the anxiety of knowing what was to happen would have been almost as severe as the act.
He asked then for their permission to speak to Amy, to express his love, and to ask her to marry him as soon as he could order his affairs.
The Cummens men agreed.
Amy immediately accepted his plea, and cautious of her painful nose, she kissed him soundly.
Her father appeared resigned to the situation, probably due as much to Rob's prospects as Amy's appreciation of him.
Blue Moccasin wished his old bones would allow dancing. He thanked the old Gods and some of the new ones for turning his granddaughter's life onto a new and promising path. He walked alone by the wide Delaware and spoke in wonder of it to old Rob, now long on the trail to the final hunting grounds. It came to his mind that he was not now unwilling to take that final path himself. All seemed completed here on this land. It would be good to see his old companions. His wife waited there, as did sons. The Cummens women had suffered much and departed early. It had been true of his own mother, Oena. Ami-ta-chena would soon become a Shatto. He prayed her lot would be different.
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A week after Rob's departure, Amy woke to find herself able to breathe through one nostril. Her mirror showed her nose approaching normal size and sniffing pleasurably she studied its new shape.
No one would claim Rob's work was perfect. From the front there was a definite "s" curve, but she had seen worse. Adjusting her mirrors to catch a side view, a definite dip in the middle was plain to see. But, she had a nose, and it ended in a decent point! Her nostrils were no longer mashed flat, and she could feel relief from pressure within her ears.
She rushed about telling of the blessings of breathing and smelling. Her breakfast tasted a thousand times better than she ever recalled, and she found herself wishing to touch her new nose, to become familiar with it and to know its shape.
Rob had recommended a treatment prescribed by crow women for nearly all injuries. They had said, "Two days cold, then warm until well." Amy had applied cold towels for the prescribed two days. She slept sitting up to lessen the pulsing ache that seemed to include all her face and some of her head. Most of the pain eased by the third day and warm, wet cloths soothed and allowed more comfortable sleep.
Her appearance with grossly distorted nose and two hugely black eyes caused Rob to groan in anguish and Blue Moccasin to question the need for war paint so near Philadelphia.
The pipe straws loosened and fell out on the third or fourth day, but nearly two weeks passed before the first blessed rush of air seeped through. For another week she regularly applied warm towels. By then, she could handle and even twist her nose without undo tenderness. Her second nostril only occasionally allowed air passage and the tip of her nose remained numb, but Ami-ta-chena found no complaint.
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She did not ride until her nose healed. In exchange, she spent unusual hours with her grandfather.
James Cummens, Senior went seldom to his offices during Amy's convalescence. He took special pleasure in sharing her admiration for Robbie Shatto and stuffing her with tales of old Rob and their young days. They rediscovered their old closeness when Blue Moccasin had taught tiny Ami-ta-chena the Delaware words, enthralling her with stories of Indian life and wilderness excitement.
As she had grown, their paths had of necessity parted, but the Delaware tongue remained a bond and their own special game. James, Junior had shown no interest in his father's Indian heritage and recognized only a smattering of Delaware words. Ami-ta-chena more than made up for the son's disinterest.
Their conversation often turned to what life would be like in distant Perry County. They hovered over Blue's best map while he picked out points of interest and told stories describing a hundred years of history.
He would say, "Now right here in the loop of Sherman's Creek stood Simon Girty's old cabin. Young Simon joined the British in our war for independence and bad tales are told of him. Rob, old Rob that is, claimed they weren't true, so probably they aren't.
"Right on this spot was old Fort Robinson. Those folks suffered so many Indian raids one lost count of them.
"Rob Shatto lived here on the Little Buffalo, and about here on Sherman's Creek is the cave where our friend Shikee was clawed by a panther." She grew familiar with the lay of the land and the run of the streams. She understood the close-to-the-bone existence of settlers battling wilderness conditions to eke out poor livings in hope of better times ahead.
Because of her heritage, her own life would be free of want. For that, Ami could be eternally grateful. She saw in her mind a strong home with close-lying fields. Rob was there and in due time their children would shout and tumble around them. She hoped she would have friends; Rob had mentioned a Troop family moving in close by.
The horses would take much of their time and they would ride long and hard, toughening and training their mountain horses. Amy looked forward to that.
They bought the land, paying in full and signing the papers. The former owner left town immediately, as though fearful they might change their minds. The transactions were carefully recorded in the county books by Cadwallader's neat hand and they all retired to the rising sun tavern to raise a toast in commemoration.
Elan said, "You're havin' a big year, Robbie, New woman lined up, fine colt gettin' underway Now, good land and a big house with barns to build."
"Hard to believe, isn't it, Jack? A year ago my old Pard had just cashed in and I was laid up along the Missouri. Times are surely better now."
Abel Troop broke in. "I'll have masons on my place this month, Rob. How soon will you start building?"
"Maybe not till spring, Abel. If we decide to marry before then, I'll get started, but as of now, I'm figuring to winter with Jack here."
"Why lose a year, Rob? Start now and let's get things rolling." Troop plainly wanted company along the Little Buffalo.
"Now Abel, you're building a three-story stone house. Your masons will knock off during the cold anyway. My wooden house will go up while you're trimming out, and we'll be in as soon as you are."
"Can't see why you don't put up a proper stone place, or even brick. There's clay along the creek."
"Well, I grew up in old Rob's big house, Abel. You've seen the ruins, but they can't show you too much. Jack can tell you, it was some place for those days.
"Anyway, old Rob had a stone downstairs and a wood second story. Unless the fire was driving you out of the place, the stonewalls were cold, and I swear, the wind blew right through the rocks.
"On the other hand, the log part stayed cool in summer and warm in winter. Like it ought to.
'Then there's a trick I heard of one time that I'm planning to try. Man I met claimed you can make a house stay warm in the winter if you fill your framing with used-up tanbark. With all the tanneries working around here, I'll have all the bark I want. Man said to lay a thick layer under the attic floor, too. I'm planning on doing just that."
Cad Jones went home thoughtful. Two days later he brought home a load of tanbark and spread it a foot thick between his attic ceiling joists. Darned if it didn't work! He tested it a week before he told Rob. Abel Troop said he guessed he would use tanbark in his attic floor, too. Rob suggested under each floor as well, and they settled on that, but they couldn't figure a way to use it in Jack Elan's cabin.
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The mail was steady between Amy and Rob. Blue Moccasin complained that all his time was spent either posting letters to Perry County or receipting for mail from there.
Some letters included drawings of house plans. Those Amy discussed with her family and commented in her letters to Rob. Most letters were very private. She labored over Rob's poor spelling and cramped script. No others shared those treasured documents.
A letter came for Blue Moccasin. Rob had finished the Lewis and Clark journals. He would bring the book on his own return to Philadelphia. He had already borrowed a second book from Cadwallader Jones, who had an extensive library.
In the meantime, he was having land cleared and the first of his irrigation dams put in. Fall was a good working time, but he would take time off and see them all in November.
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Rob came courting amid a wild November snow. Amy saw the horse sliding to a snow-flinging stop and saw the huge fur-covered figure vaulting from the saddle to bound up the porch.
She opened the door as he beat snow from his shoulders with his wide brimmed hat. Her impression was only of a tanned face and white teeth before his huge hands lifted her high and his whoop of pleasure shattered the household serenity,
He released her to doff coat and leggings but his eyes never rested. They devoured her, head to toe. She knew they exchanged words, but she waited for his eyes and thoughts to settle on her nose. She found herself appalled at her own concern. Rob had loved her without a nose. She guessed that she just wished to please him.
Finally, he settled. His strong, dark eyes squinted a little and his broad Shatto mouth pursed in concentration as he studied her nose from the front and used a big paw to move her head into quarter and then to profile. He said, "Waugh!" and his voice held satisfaction.
He drew back a little, examining her whole face and she felt herself blushing with a special sort of pleasure. He nodded and his face turned soft. As they often did, he chose the Delaware. "The maiden is more beautiful than her warrior could have hoped."
He laid aside the seriousness and shook his head ruefully. "Surely the maiden's father will now ask for more ponies and wampum."
Then, gathering her within his arms, he added in English, "Perhaps I can establish myself as Doctor Shatto, specialist in nose shaping."
Amy pummeled his back in mock anger and they forgot her nose for a while.
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Her father desired a formal Philadelphia wedding that would be commensurate with Cummens prominence. It was also plain that he wished to do something special for his daughter, as well as show her before an admiring populace.
Amy would have none of it. Her socializing had terminated following her accident. Former friends had melted away and she felt no need to reclaim their attentions.
James, Junior turned to Rob for support. Rob nodded seriously and reckoned he could get new doeskin pants for such an occasion. The father muttered darkly.
Blue suggested the old settler marriage of stepping over a broom together and received his son's snort of disgust.
Rob thought Reverend Heim could do it up in Perry County, but he'd say the words in German and that would suit no one.
Amy decided on a family ceremony conducted by a local minister. All agreed.
As no special preparations were necessary, an exact date was not set. When old Rob had brought his bride from Carlisle, they had chosen late April. The story had been often told and young Rob suggested they do likewise. He vowed to have their house well underway and Amy could then be present for the finishing. He suggested they camp along the stream until the house was livable, and Amy's father groaned aloud.
Blue felt the idea completely natural and Amy could scarcely wait, Rob thought he'd been given a very special woman.
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Chapter 13
Abel Troop's great stone home was well underway when Rob's foundations were laid. Troop planned and built in grand style. There were five entrances to his new home. Two doorways were on the lower level and gave access to the road and nearby springhouse. The other three entrances served the second floor. One was at ground level, where the hill rose sharply behind the house, and the other two doors opened onto Abel's broad wooden porches.
They were unusual porches in that they had no roofs. Abel called them decks, and as captain of all he surveyed, he could stride along his high-placed decks and study his fields, crops, and horses.
Abel's house would boast three stories and contain nine rooms. They all thought it a fine home.
Rob and Amy planned more modestly. Their home was to be of wood. Yet, two stories tall, it would have eight rooms and an attic with useful under-eave rooms. Liking Abel's arrangement, they too planned sweeping porches that would overlook their meadows. However, the Shatto porches would be solidly roofed.
A carefully engineered central chimney placed a corner fireplace in every Shatto room. The feature appealed to their practical sides. Less solidly reasoned, but justified for its saving of floor space and graceful beauty, was a tightly spiraled staircase. Rob admired it and Amy adored it. Abel Troop claimed it was impossible to get anything up or down. Rob agreed and volunteered to carry everything to be moved out a door and in on another level.
Rob dug a ditch and laid wooden pipe that brought water directly into his house. He kept the flow quite level so that he would not have high water pressure to contend with. A spigot from a beer barrel acted as a faucet and Rob laid a drain beneath the floor to carry away unused water.
The house builders thought it a re
markable innovation and went often for long drinks. Rob was glad he was not building in summer heat; they surely would have drained his spring dry.
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There were two theories about building with wood. The most accepted method was to use only seasoned lumber that would not shift or shrink as it further dried. The other concept used green boards that would "harden in place." Rob combined the two ideas. He framed the house with recently-sawed timbers, but planked the walls, floors, and roof with seasoned, knot-free boards. The seasoned planking would hold the framing while it settled and hardened stress free. The plan seemed to work as the house creaked and groaned less than most homes.
The house was framed like a barn using six-inch-square uprights. True to his plan, Rob stuffed all walls with tanbark. The effect was astonishing. Outside noises became distant and sound was contained within its own room. Even a small fire heated a room quickly and the house stayed warm without cold drafts blowing about.
Not everyone liked the tanbark idea. Some claimed it would draw snakes. Others predicted damp, rats, termites, and self-combusted fires. They were all guessing, of course. Cadwallader Jones had the only experience with a tanbarked house and he noticed that his wood hauling was remarkably reduced and his house stayed warmer. He experienced no rats or other difficulties,
By April, the Shatto house was under roof and ready for finishing. Rob laid a stock of firewood among trees along the creek and put up a sturdy tent. He expected that he and Amy might live there for a month or more,
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Jack Elan had not been well. The sharp winter had treated him harshly. Rob was often gone from the cabin and he worried some about the old frontiersman's failing strength. Rob feared his old friend was simply wearing out.
On a late March day, Rob returned to find the old frontiersman seated against a tree near his porch. They sat for a time and Elan laid his wishes for Rob to plan on.