A buggy and two buck boards approached. Clara, her parents and the Irish maid, Eva, sitting proudly in the buggy. There was a small army of men gathered to load their belongings onto the train. There were a few chairs of great quality and a cherry table. There was a mass of wood work stacked up which appeared to be a very elegant bed. There were several trunks in the buckboards.
Gilbert wanted to be seen by Clara, so she would know he was there. He hoped her parents would not recognize him. He figured the girl in the buggy wearing a white veil was Clara. Mr Groober climbed out of the buggy and tied the horse up, before he assisted his family. First his wife, then Clara. Eva had to remove herself from the buggy.
Gilbert moved himself against a post to make himself more visible to Clara. It was a fine balance to try to be visible to Clara and invisible to all others.
The Groober’s walked proudly and quietly from the buggy toward the train dock. Gilbert made no attempt to wave or acknowledge Clara. He just watched her intently as his eyes filled with tears. She was wearing a long, beautiful, white dress with pink lace. She wore a white bonnet with the veil over her face. She carried a white handkerchief in her right hand. As she approached, he could see enough through the veil, that her nose was bandaged. He thought she was looking his way, but he wasn’t sure.
Clara saw Gilbert standing ten feet from her leaning on the post. As she passed, she continued to keep her eyes on him without turning her head. Her father gave him a stare as a warning to keep his distance. Gilbert did not notice the stare, because his eyes were solely fixed on Clara. Clara did not move her head as she slowed her pace, but her eyes remained fixed on Gilbert. She did not blink even as her eyes filled with tears.
Her father stopped at the door to the passengers’ car of the train to assist his wife into the car. Mr. Williams had moved over to the steps and Mrs. Groober paused to listen to Mr. Williams as he spoke to her. She smiled, patted him on the shoulder. Mr. Williams and Mr. Groober assisted her aboard.
Clara took the first step up assisted by the two men, then she glanced back to see Gilbert one last time. She raised her hand slightly and waved. He could see the sun reflect streaming tears from her eyes. Mr. Williams noticed the quick look back and followed her gaze to see Gilbert. Clara turned took two steps up and disappeared into the train.
Gilbert watched the windows hoping to get one last glimpse of Clara. He moved to his right to help eliminate the glare of the morning sun in the windows of the train. He saw her in a window briefly. He saw her lean forward her hands over her face. She appeared to be in obvious emotional torture, her body shaking with heavy sobs. Then her mother closed the curtain to the cabin window.
He stayed transfixed watching the train until it slowly pulled away spouting out steam to an increasing chugging tempo. He slowly began to walk back toward downtown Independence, not sure what he was going to do. The attempt to blend into the population of Independence seemed to be working. He wanted so badly to stay in Independence. It was the only place he had ever lived. He thought if his mother ever did come back, he wanted to be here.
“Mr. Fenny,” a man’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
Gilbert turned to see Mr. Williams addressing him, “Sir.”
“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”
Gilbert had to think a moment, “No, I have no particular place to go.”
“Ride with me to my barn. I need your opinion on some things.”
“Well sure.”
Mr. Williams gestured, “My carriage is over here.” They walked over to a smart looking carriage. Gilbert recognized the horse Lou hitched up to it. “Gilbert isn’t it?”
Gilbert saw the Sheriff coming toward them. Gilbert looked at Mr. Williams who also saw the sheriff, obviously putting two and two together.
“I want to talk to you, get in quickly.”
Mr. Williams noticed Gilbert looking back toward the sheriff who was nearly close enough to call to them. “Are you running from the law?” He asked as he shifted to his right while Gilbert boarded the buggy. Mr. Williams with the slightest flap on the reins, started the horse on a very distinguished trot. As they approached the sheriff, he gestured weakly for Mr. Williams to stop. Mr. Williams nodded curtly and continued on past him, without delay. Gilbert watched as the sheriff stared after them making no further attempt to stop them.
The city he had lived in for so many years appeared different to him as he rode in the carriage of Mr. Williams. He felt more prestige in himself, although he knew it would be for just a short time. He was riding in a fine buggy with a distinguished man of town.
There was a man coming out of his store with a white apron and his shirt sleeves rolled up. He waved calling out to Mr. Williams, “Morning Charles.”
“Morning to you Stewart.” The man took a second look noticing his passenger.
There was a couple, walking along on the boardwalk in front of the businesses in the front of stores. They noticed Mr. Williams, so they raised their hands to wave at him. Mr. Williams waved back and hollered out, “Good Morning.”
Lou was putting on a spectacular show of pride in her step. The sound of her hoofs on the dirt street had a marvelous steady beat. Gilbert felt uncomfortable being in this situation. He noticed a group of ladies looking at them, gabbing among themselves with distasteful looks on their faces.
Gilbert was in a daze for a few moments before he spoke. He didn’t know what to say. He knew the sheriff would eventually catch up with him. All he could blurt out was, “Why?”
Mr. Williams chuckled, “I have a business proposition to offer you.”
Gilbert was surprised Mr. Williams would include him in any business of his. He felt unworthy of his attention. “What can I do for you?”
“I have several horses, that need someone I can trust to take care of them. Take proper care of them.” Mr. Williams went on. “I will pay you twenty dollars a month to be a groom for my horses. You must continue in school and if you don’t mind staying with us in our home, you are certainly welcome.”
Gilbert was stunned. He couldn’t comprehend what Mr. Williams had just told him. “I, I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, let’s ride to the fairgrounds and take a look around.”
Gilbert was excited to work for Mr. Williams. He wasn’t sure about living with him in his house. “I’ve been sleeping alone for the last few days.”
“You will sleep better in a nice room with a fine soft, warm bed.”
Gilbert was uncomfortable thinking he would be intrusively sleeping in his home. He didn’t want to sleep in their home, but would he be allowed to work for Mr. Williams if he didn’t. “But Mr. Williams sir, they are going to take me to an orphanage or something.”
“Let me take care of that. I already have my lawyer working with the court to allow me to be your temporary guardian, at least for now,”
“Huh.” He wasn’t sure what that meant. This opportunity presented itself as more than he had ever dreamed of under his wishing tree. He could not believe this was happening. Mr. Williams continued to talk, but Gilbert was lost in his thoughts and did not comprehend any of it until he said, “Here is an advance on your wages for this month.” Mr. Williams handed him a ten-dollar note. “You will be paid a full month’s wages on the first of each month unless it arrives on a Sunday, then it will be on the second day of the month.”
“Then I will get a ten-dollar balance this Tuesday on the first?”
“You will get your full month’s wages on Tuesday of twenty dollars. This is for the rest of this month.”
“But there is only a few days left in the month.”
“That’s right.” Gilbert thought he understood, but was afraid to ask too many questions. “You will give basic care for the horses on Sunday’s, but no training or extra work. Sunday is the Sabbath. You should devote your time to God and family. Do you go to church, G
ilbert?” Mr. Williams turned the buggy off Chatham and headed west on Main Street.
He hadn’t been going to church in the recent past like he had before. He felt a bit guilty and ashamed to say, “Not lately, sir.”
“You are welcome to join my wife and I, for services tomorrow. We attend services at the Congregational Church downtown.” They continued down main-street over the iron main street bridge. Then as they passed the large Wapsipinicon Mill on the west side of the bridge. There were several men, busy loading wagons with feed and seed products from the mills loading docks.
“Thank you sir, but I have nothing appropriate to wear to church.”
“God’s interest is in your heart, not in the clothes you wear. If it will make you feel better, I would suggest you purchase some clothes with your advanced wages.” Mr. Williams stopped the buggy outside his home on Main Street a few blocks from the large mill along the river. “I want you to meet Mrs. Williams and stay for lunch.”
It was a pleasant time at the home. Gilbert couldn’t have been treated better. He felt very welcome in their home. Mr. Hussey soon joined them for the simple lunch. He was very kind and greeted Gilbert as a welcome addition to the family of workers.
Gilbert hadn’t had a square meal, since his mother had left, he found the lunch a meal fit for a king. It was a fine beef stew, full of vegetables. There were biscuits and bread which Gilbert spread apple butter on several slices. He hungrily, without noticing the others were watching him gobble down his food quickly. This did not dishearten Mrs. Williams in the least. She was pleased to feed the hungry young Gilbert. He was very polite between mouthfuls. Mrs. Williams looked to her husband, who shook his head telling her they could forgo saying grace this one time.
Gilbert noticed they had not said grace and there was something amiss. “I am terribly sorry. Should we have grace?”
“Do you wish to give thanks?” Mr. Williams asked him.
“Sure,” Gilbert meekly responded. He had no idea what to say, but he realized he had a lot to be thankful for.
“I can do it,” Mrs. Williams spoke up. She gave a fine short thankful prayer, that included the addition of Gilbert to the close friends and family.
A conversation led by Mr. Williams, soon went to horses. “I believe Gussie has a better blood line then Lou does. Gussie was born of Mambrino Boy and Dora Wilkes. Lou was born of Mambrino Boy and Bird Mitchell. Mambrino Boy has a mile track time record of two minutes twenty-six and a half-seconds. That is a great time, but I think we can get a colt that will do better with the right type of training. Of course the Wilkes bloodline is unbeatable.”
Mr. Williams went on about his thoughts of training and breeding as Gilbert listened intently to his new boss and mentor.
“Goodness Charles, let the boy eat in peace,” Nellie suggested. “You, certainly are not eating while your gabbing away at him.” Mr. Williams did slow his conversation enough to eat a few bites, before he continued to inform Gilbert of his plans.
When they had finished up with lunch, Mr. Williams took Gilbert upstairs to show him the room he will be staying in. There were nice laced curtains blowing lazily from the open window. There was a nice soft looking bed with a dresser to match. On the dresser was a steel water pitcher and bowl. A ceramic oil lamp set on a night table next to the bed and it was full of oil. There was a large cupboard in the corner. The hard wood floor was clean and shiny. The walls had a flowery wall paper of blues, purples and greens. “Wow,” Gilbert said quietly.
Mrs. Williams smiled at his response. “Do you like it dear?”
“It is very nice, Ma’am.” He responded. He thought it really was very nice, but somehow he knew he could never be comfortable there.
The three men then continued the journey to the fairgrounds in Mr. Williams buggy. When they reached one of the larger barns at the fairgrounds, Mr. Williams drove the buggy right into the barn. He quickly jumped off and began to unhitch the horse.
Gilbert felt if he had been paid to work for Mr. Williams he should start working for him right away. “Let me do that, sir,” Gilbert moved between the horse and Mr. Williams. Mr. Williams stepped back away to allow the boy to unhitch the horse. Gilbert recognized Gussie Wilkes in one of the stalls at the end of the barn. “I’ll give Lou some grain, water, and a rub before I go back into town to get some clothes. When I get back, I’ll clean out the stalls.” Gilbert then looked around the stalls. “Lou is a fine horse, sir.”
“Yes, she is,” Mr. Williams said, “I really need some extra help getting Gussie ready for breeding.”
“She’s on the end stable, isn’t she?” As Gilbert glanced down to the last stable.
“Yes, she is.”
“I’ll give her an extra bit of grain before I leave.” Gilbert had Lou unhitched from the buggy and lead her to a stall. After that, he searched the barn for a bucket.
“How did you know which stall was hers?” He asked him curiously.
“She told me,” Gilbert explained as if it were obvious.
Mr. Hussey asked, “How did she tell you?”
“She leaned into it as we approached it.”
Mr. Williams began to look over Gussie Wilkes.
Gilbert noticed a large stall at the end of the eighty-foot barn. With some work he thought it would be a great place to make a place to sleep. “Mr. Williams,” he addressed, “I really appreciate what you have done for me. I think it would be great to live in your home with your wife, but I think it would be best to be closer to the animals. If they see me all the time, they will respond to me better.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Well,” Gilbert thoughtfully continued, “that stall at the end of the barn, could make a nice little bunk room.” The two of them walked to the back of the barn to look at the stall. The stall was clean of manure, hay or straw. It had a small window on the east side of the barn and a small window on the south side. “A few boards, some clean hay, a couple of blankets, it would be great.”
Mr. Williams caught on to what Gilbert was getting after. “There is a pile of boards out back you can use to put up walls as you wish. I can get a stove for you.”
Gilbert looked at the stall as if it were a palace. He had lived in a broken down house realistically was nicer then this, but not nearly as loved by Gilbert as this stall was his. He thought this was his personal place. “This is great.”
“I will get you some other things to make this better. John and I can help you put things together.”
“It’s all right sir, I can do it.”
Mr. Williams smiled, “I will inform the lumber yard that you have an account of up to twenty dollars. You may request any materials you need to make this suitable to your liking. They can deliver it here for you or you may take the buckboard. If you need some help, tell Mr. Hussey or I. I’m sorry it isn’t better then it is, but with some work it could be very nice. The out house is just out back here.” He pointed out the south window. “I’ll have Nellie gather up some blankets for you.” He started to turn away, but turned back, “Are you sure you don’t want to be in the house. You are certainly welcome to change your mind anytime.”
“This will be just fine, sir.” He looked at Mr. Williams who nodded then started to leave, “Mr. Williams,” he called out, “I will never be able to repay you.”
“No son, you don’t pay me,” Mr. Williams said with a smile, “It is I who will be paying you.” He started to leave again then turned around, “You may want to avoid the sheriff when you go back to town. It may take a few days to get this legalized.”
Gilbert took an hour to care for the horses, as he promised. He straightened himself up a bit before walking to town. He decided to go to the stores first and get some of his other things later.
He thought he would start with Mr. Willard’s clothing store, where he could get some nice clothes for church.
Mr. Willard noticed Gilbert when he entered the front door. He happened to be assisting another customer, so he whispered to one of his nearby male clerks to watch Gilbert closely. It didn’t surprise Gilbert to be hawked while browsing through the shirts. He was often treated that way by many establishments around town.
“What are you doing here?” The clerk asked sternly.
“I need to buy some clothes.”
“Buy, clothes?” The clerk said questioningly. “You need money to do that. Now get out of here.”
“I got money,” Gilbert said with some sarcasm.
Mr. Willard finished up with his customer and came over to find out what was going on. “You don’t have any money. Now get out!” Mr. Willard sternly commanded. Gilbert was too angry to speak, but he reached into his pocket and pulled out his ten-dollar bill that Mr. Williams had given him. Mr. Willard grabbed Gilbert, “Where did you get that?” He grabbed the bill from Gilbert’s twisted hand.
“Mr. Williams gave it to me.” Gilbert said, “I work for him.”
Mr. Willard and the clerk both laughed out loud. Gilbert tried to squirm away. The clerk grabbed Gilbert’s other arm and twisted it. Mr. Willard called to his daughter who was straightening displays, “Edith, go get the sheriff.”
Gilbert’s heart sank with the thought of the sheriff getting involved. The two men locked Gilbert up in a small closet. Ten minutes later a Sheriffs’ deputy opened up the door. The light blinded Gilbert a bit, since it had been very dark in the closet.
“Well son, let’s go to the jail and have a little talk with the sheriff.” The deputy chuckled. “He’s looking for you and here you are with stolen money trying to steal more.”
“I didn’t steal anything.” Gilbert said defiantly.
“Where would you get that kind of money?”
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