by B. K. Birch
He walked up the steps and into the house. Jim was asleep on the davenport and Grandma motioned for him to be quiet.
“Is that where he’s going to sleep?” Willie asked. Heck, they were barely allowed to sit on the first store bought piece of furniture in the house. The long, fabric covered seat could sit three people and Ma kept a careful eye than none of those three people where her boys.
“Your ma’s in the kitchen,” she whispered and went on with her knitting.
“What happened to you?” Ma asked when she saw Jordan’s shirt. “Oh Jordan! You’re a mess. Go clean up. Didn’t anyone tell you Reverend Summey was coming for dinner?”
“Willow just did,” Jordan answered. “Aren’t you going to ask me what happened?”
“Later sweetheart,” she said and poured some clean water into the wash basin. “Now wash up and change your clothes.”
Jordan splashed water in his face and hair. The water turned brown as it dripped back into the basin. He stuck his finger in his ear and dug out a large dirt clod, and started to walk off.
“Dump that water out for me,” Ma said.
Jordan turned around, grabbed the basin, and headed to the back door to dump it out. Selie was sitting on the bottom step, wearing a fresh dress and petting the mama cat. Her hair was neatly braided with dark blue ribbons on each end. Jordan wanted to pretend like he didn’t see her and pour the water on her, but now was not a good time.
“Willow’s boyfriend’s coming to supper,” Selie said and smiled.
“Good for Willow,” Jordan said in a snide tone, poured the water beside the house, and walked back inside. He heard Grandma and Pa in the front room talking in a low voice.
“Can I go change now?” he asked.
“Please do,” Ma said. “And put something nice on.”
“Oh criminy,” Jordan said and stomped off. Ma caught him by the sleeve.
“You will be on your best behavior or you’ll get a whipping,” Ma warned. “Do you hear me?”
“Yes ma’am,” Jordan said and stormed off to change.
He could hear Grandma and Pa whispering and he knew it was about the Reverend’s visit. He couldn’t help but chuckle. Perhaps Ma should be threatening Grandma with the whipping.
Reverend Summey called Grandma a witch once and not behind her back like everyone else did. He called her down right there in church, a few years back. He called Grandma’s claims that she saw into the “Book of Life” blasphemous and if she didn’t recant, she’d go to hell. Well, she didn’t recant and that was the last time she ever set foot into Reverend Summey’s church.
He used to have a sermon every now and again about the potions and spells of the local mountain witch and preached that anyone who sought out her powers was a sinner in the worst way. Afterwards, Grandma’s business would be slow for a month or so, but then her same customers came calling once again.
Wonder how he’s going to feel about his precious Manny having a witch for a grand-mother-in-law? Jordan chuckled.
Jordan changed his clothes and looked for his Sunday best and found them laid out on his bed. Willow must have put them there. He swore under his breath as put them on and would have preferred going off somewhere with Grandma, instead of listening to a sermon of hellfire and brimstone he knew would be the topic at supper.
“I see you’re all dressed,” Gunner said. He was dressed up in Jake’s second pair of Sunday clothes. He looked stiff and uncomfortable.
“You too,” Jordan said.
“Do you think the Reverend’s prayers will help Pa get better?” Gunner asked.
“I don’t know,” Jordan said and saw the sadness in Gunner’s eyes. “But it can’t hurt.”
“Abigail says it won’t do no good,” Gunner said. “I heard her and Finnian whispering.”
“No, you heard them arguing,” Jordan corrected. “There ain’t no love lost between Reverend Summey and Grandma.”
“Why?”
“They both think they have the inside path to God,” Jordan said.
“Who’s right?”
“Won’t know until we get to Heaven,” Jordan said.
“I can wait,” Gunner said.
“Me too,” Jordan said.
Delicious smells of fried chicken and potatoes drifted through the air and Jordan’s stomach growled.
“Guess we’d better go help Bess,” Gunner said.
They walked back into the front room just as Grandma stormed out the front door.
Chapter 13
A cloud of dust on the dirt path announced the arrival of Reverend Elijah Summey and his family. Jordan felt ridiculous as he stood on the front porch waiting for them to reach the house, like of those animal exhibits he saw in Fairmont. Only Grandma, Willow, and Jim were absent.
Grandma had long since retreated to her medicinal stores in the shed over the cellar and her chair looked odd without her knobby walking stick resting against the arm. Jim was too weak and feverish to move and Willow waited inside the house to make her grand entrance to her beloved Emanuel.
Jordan first spotted the silly round derby hat that the Reverend always wore. He’d seen plenty of men in the city wearing them, but it looked odd perched on top of a country preacher’s head.
He was only a Reverend on Sunday or whenever anyone needed a prayer and any other time he was a dirt farmer, just like everyone else who lived on the mountain.
His wife, Lula was also good at putting on airs and was as uppity as they come. She wore only store bought dresses and made sure none of the prints matched the fabric on the feed sacks. Too many women used the empty sacks to make dresses, including Jordan’s ma.
Emanuel was a tall lanky lad, about the same age as Eamon. It seemed as though Willow had swooned over him as long as Jordan could remember. All the girls did, except for Becca, Eamon’s girl. He always had a book handy and had developed quite a memory for poetry. Willow seemed to melt every time he’d recite some flowery verse. He was their only child and both Lula and Elijah doted on the boy.
“I’m glad you could make it,” Pa greeted as the carriage came to a halt. He walked down the steps and held out his hand for Lula.
“Why thank you Finnian,” Lula said as she stepped down and turned her hips just right so her dress would swirl ever so slightly around her hips.
“Can’t deny a sick man of prayer,” Elijah said. “Manny, unhitch the horses and turn them out.”
“I’ll help!” Willow hollered from just inside the doorway and almost ran poor Gunner over in her haste to get down the steps. So much for the grand entrance. Ma gave her a disapproving look, but Willow either didn’t see her or didn’t care.
“Lula, your dress is just lovely,” Ma exclaimed.
“This old thing,” Lula said. “I’ve had it for ages.”
“Do come in and sit down,” Ma said. “Jim’s laid out on the davenport, but we’ve put out plenty of extra chairs.”
“How’s he doing now, the poor thing,” Lula said as she walked up the steps. “I’ve heard about those mines. Elijah had a cousin who worked in one near Charleston. It killed him too. Jim’s been so blessed that his health hasn’t faded before now.”
“My ma, Abigail, has been working on him,” Ma said.
“Well, I’m sure prayer will work wonders nonetheless,” Lula said. “My, is this little Selie?”
Selie smiled at the attention and swished her homemade dress around just like Lula did when she stepped out of the carriage.
“Yes ma’am,” Selie said.
“My, have you grown,” Lula said. “Bess, she is just lovely.”
“Come on in,” Ma said and made Jordan hold the door for all of them.
Pa, Elijah, and Eamon were leaning against the fence watching Manny and Willow unhitch the horses. Jake had slipped away the moment they pulled up and was probably off carving something.
Gunner looked like someone had hit him in the stomach.
“It’s alright,” Jordan whispered. “She don’t
mean nothing by it. She’s just trying to be nice, that’s all.” He patted Gunner on the back.
“Ain’t you going inside?” Gunner asked.
“No,” Jordan answered. “That’s where the women go. Us men stay out here.”
“And do what?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go find Jake.”
Jordan ran off behind the house and Gunner followed him. They found Jake over by the tool shed and sure enough, he was armed with his knife and another small piece of wood.
“Look at the soldier Gunner whittled,” Jake said and held up a nicely carved statue of a man.
“That’s nice,” Jordan said. “Where’d you learn to do that?”
“I don’t know.”
“We’re going to make a whole army, ain’t we Gunner?”
Gunner nodded.
“Can I help?” Jordan asked.
“You can’t whittle anything,” Jake whined.
“Can too.”
“How about if he makes the guns,” Gunner suggested. “Those can’t be too hard.”
“Oh, alright,” Jake said. “But you have to get your own knife.”
“I got one right here,” Jordan said and dug deep into his pocket.
The boys got busy. Jordan went to get some more wood from the woodpile over by the shed, while Gunner picked up a block and started cutting.
“Boys!” Ma hollered. “Come on and wash up for supper!”
“Dang it,” Jake said and folded his blade back into the case.
“I’m starving,” Jordan said as he joined Gunner and Jake on the way back to the house.
“Do you think he’s prayed for Pa yet?” Gunner asked.
“Ain’t you ever been to a praying?” Jordan asked.
“No.”
“Everyone has to be there and sometimes Reverend Summey gets really loud,” Jordan explained.
“Yeah, like the time Uncle Tate got all yellow with the fever,” Jake said.
“What happened?” Gunner asked.
“It went on forever,” Jake said. “All this yelling, hollering, and praying. It scared me.”
“Did it make him better?” Gunner asked.
“Reverend Summey said it did,” Jake said. “But Grandma swears she cured him.”
Jordan waited for his turn at the wash basin. The table was full of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans with fatback, and biscuits with butter, and there was an apple cobbler warming by the fireplace. It smelled wonderful.
Jordan sat down and started to fill his plate. Ma grabbed his hat off his head and cleared her throat. Jordan put down the serving spoon and sat there with his hands in his lap, waiting for everyone to be seated.
Pa and Elijah helped Jim into his seat and then sat down. This was the signal for everyone to bow their heads. Jordan peeked through a slit in his eyes and saw Willow and Manny smiling at each other. He hoped Ma saw her. She’d certainly get a good talking to for fooling around during grace and acting like some floozy.
Jim looked a frail as a newborn lamb and Jordan thought he’d topple over before Elijah was done with his longwinded prayer. At last he was finished blessing the food and they all dug in.
Elijah relaxed on the porch in the evening breeze, smoking his pipe and rocking Grandma’s chair. Pa helped Jim into one of the chairs. He insisted on being outside with the men and ignored Grandma’s warnings about the damp evening air. Pa put a chaw of tobacco in his jaw and sat down on the steps. He handed the block to Eamon who was leaning on the rail behind him, who in turn handed it to Jim. Jim’s hands shook so badly that Eamon had to break off a piece for him.
Jordan chose to stay behind with the men instead of running off with Jake and Gunner. He sat in the corner and tried to remain unnoticed, just in case they started talking about things he shouldn’t be hearing.
“Sure is pretty out here Finnian,” Elijah said. “I always said you had the best land on the mountain.”
“Yours ain’t so bad, Elijah,” Finnian said. “I got a lot of stumps. You ain’t got no stumps.”
“Ah, the old horse made quick work of them,” Elijah said. “Strong as an ox, she is.”
“I’ve seen her,” Finnian said. “She is a thing of beauty.”
“Tate was over to see me the other day,” Elijah said. “Asking for a prayer for his boys. How long they been gone?”
“Nealy left a while back,” Finnian said. “I just heard about Isaac today.”
“Today,” Elijah said. “When was the last time you talked to Tate?”
“Me and the two oldest boys been traveling,” Finnian explained. “Just got back this morning.”
“Yes, I’ve heard all about your traitorous journey north,” Elijah laughed. “Folks are mighty upset about it too. Ain’t much goes on around here without me knowing about it. That Nealy sure has himself in a bind.”
“I’d say,” Finnian laughed. “The girl came by here a few weeks ago asking for Abigail.”
“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Elijah said. “Those who are sinful are bound to seek out the devil sooner or later.”
“You’re sitting in her chair,” Finnian said.
“Ah, but even Lucifer’s chair knows a righteous bottom, eh,” Elijah said. “You know she’s not around anymore.”
“Sure she is,” Finnian said. “She just doesn’t want to be around you, that’s all.”
“I meant Sissy Mae.”
“Oh,” Finnian said. His face turned an unnatural shade of red. “Well, Vance was by here looking for her.”
“He ain’t found her. Her mother’s all worried.”
“She’ll be alright,” Finnian said. “Those Wheelers are pretty sharp folks.”
“How old is Eamon, now?” Elijah asked.
“Sixteen,” Eamon answered.
“Same age as my Manny. I suppose you’ll be running off to join your cousins soon?”
“I suppose,” Eamon said.
“Manny’s been working with Doc McCord down Hillsboro way,” Elijah said. “He’s wanting to be a doctor. Figured he could get some practice with the wounded fellas.”
“Practice?” Finnian asked.
Practice? Somehow that didn’t sound right, but Jordan kept quiet.
“Yes. Doc’s too old to travel much and Manny will soon be old enough to enlist,” Elijah said. “I pray he won’t have to shoot anyone.”
“Hopefully, this whole mess will be over before he has to go,” Finnian said.
“Amen brother Sinclair,” Elijah said and rested his head on the back of the chair.
The crickets announced the end to another pristine spring day, and one by one the stars appeared in the fading blue sky. A peaceful silence surrounded them, interrupted only by Jim’s occasional grunting as he cleared his throat.
“Finnian,” Elijah began. “I don’t like telling folks how they should act,but I got to tell you, folks are a little upset around here.”
“What about?”
“You traveling up north, Eamon not going off with the other boys . . . that sort of nonsense,” Elijah said.
Jordan hunkered down in the corner. If they were going to run him off, now would be the time.
“Manny’s still here,” Finnian said. “Folks mad about that too?”
“No, heavens no,” Elijah said. “They understand us not sending our only son to fight. I’m a man of God.”
“Are you saying it’s fine for Eamon to go off and get killed just because I have Jordan and Jake?”
“Now Finnian, I ain’t saying that at all,” Elijah said. “Folks just wondering where your loyalties are, that’s all. You knew where that wool would go before you even took it, didn’t you? You don’t think our boys need a good wool coat?”
“I figured as much,” Finnian said. “But I did what was best for my family.”
“I understand why you went,” Elijah said. “You wanted the gold. You’re a smart man Finnian. I only wished I’d known what you were up to. I’d sent mine with you, in secret of course
.”
“Glad you understand,” Finnian said.
“Folks aren’t always as understanding as I am. You know this.”
“Lord, don’t I know it,” Finnian said. “That Luke Vander was down at the creek taking target practice at young Jordan today.”
“I see his aim hasn’t gotten any better,” Elijah smiled and winked at Jordan. “If this mess don’t end soon, it’s going to get worse for you. It’s going to get worse for all of us.”
“Ain’t nothing we can’t handle,” Finnian said.
“Jim Sinclair,” Elijah said and stood up. “I believe it time for the Lord to heal you. Praise Jesus!” He threw his arms up in the air.
Pa helped Jim to his feet and Jordan thought he saw a look of dread in Jim’s blue eyes.
The men walked inside where the women, Jake and Gunner were already kneeling in a circle around the davenport. Jordan knelt down beside Gunner and took his hand. Jim sat on the edge of his makeshift bed and bowed his head.
“Lord,” Elijah began. “We humbly stand in your presence this night to ask you for healing of this man, Jim Sinclair. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, cast out the demons that curse this poor man’s body and make him pure once again.”
That was the last word Jordan understood for the entire vigil. He’d heard this before at church meetings. Folks so full of the Holy Spirit they seemed to talk a different language. He heard Jake snicker and open one eye to see what was going on.
Ma was weaving back and forth as if she too, were possessed by some higher being. Manny was supposed to be holding Willow’s hand but his arm was around her waist. Lula too began rambling foreign words. Jordan felt Gunner squeeze his hand.
“It’ll be alright,” Jordan whispered out one side of his mouth.
Jim laid out on the davenport, sweat poured from every pore in his body and his limbs trembled with an intensity which seemed to emulate the octaves of Elijah’s voice.
The air inside the house was electrified with exultation and euphoric fervor that made the hair on the back of Jordan’s neck stand on edge. It was as if he was truly in the presence of God.