Moonshine, Coal, and Hope

by Richard Allen Evans

  “Ye got a head for business boy,” Elmer said.

  “We’re gonna have to bring on some more men to run the stills. I think we got enough people to deliver it,” Ed said.

  Mae, who was sitting at the table across from Ed, spoke up.

  “You know, we might ought to get a couple of more cows. We’re sellin’ butter, cream, and milk like you wouldn’t believe,” she said.

  Ed looked up.

  “That’s not a bad idea. We are making a little money on actual milk and butter. We get a couple of more jersey cows and it will make the business look more legit,” he said.

  Elmer shook his head.

  “Why hell, why don’t we get a bunch of hens and sell eggs too?” He said sarcastically.

  Ed and Mae looked at each other.

  “Can you sell eggs?” Ed asked her.

  “With the way butter and cream goes? We’ll sell out of eggs every day,” Mae said.

  “You spendin’ a lot of money outside the business,” Elmer fretted.

  “No, it’s part of the business too. It’s a good front and besides, if it makes money, it makes money. Never forget that’s why we’re doin’ all of this,” Ed said.

  “You gonna have the boys milkin’ cows and churnin’ butter too?” Elmer asked.

  “No, we can hire somebody for that. They can feed the chickens and gather the eggs too,” Ed said. “In fact, we can use milk, butter, and eggs as part of their pay,” Ed said.

  “Well...that does make sense,” Elmer said.

  “I’ll tell you somethin’ else we need — automobiles,” Ed said.

  “We can’t afford that!” Elmer said.

  Ed patted one of the stacks on the table.

  “We can get a new Ford for about five hundred dollars. Enough in this here stack to buy two,” he said.

  “Two? You want to buy two?” Elmer asked as his voice went up a couple of octaves.

  Ed laughed.

  “No Uncle Elmer, I want to buy four trucks. I want each of them painted with a sign that says ‘Elkins Dairy Farm’ on the side of it. I saw some trucks like that in New York and later in Louisville. We can haul just as much but a whole lot faster and that means we can sell even more,” Ed said.

  “How much more?” Elmer asked.

  “What’s on the table is a drop in the bucket to what we’ll make,” Ed said.

  Elmer offered a mostly toothless grin.

  “Get some automo-biles boy...and some more cows,” Elmer said.

  ***

  John rode the train from Crystal Springs to Silver Point. December brought cold air and snow flurries to Southeastern Kentucky. The fall semester was over and Cat sent him home for a few days to enjoy Christmas with his family. He carried his medical bag with him. Among his baggage was a suitcase and a canvas bag full of books for Bob.

  It was his first trip home since October. He had been busy between school and the practice. Cat started allowing him to assist in minor surgeries after his last visit home. He had a great deal to talk to Bob about.

  John was finally able to make arrangements to get Bob enrolled in college and live with him in the dorm. He still hadn’t managed to find him a job but John had some money coming in. He wasn’t rich by any means but he wasn’t starving and he wasn’t doing without decent clothes.

  John stepped off the train and onto the platform. He figured he’d have to wait an hour so until Matthew finished up everything and got there to pick him up in the wagon. As he started to carry his bags inside the little depot, a familiar voice called out.

  “Hey John!” Ed yelled across the platform and started walking toward his friend with a big grin.

  John watched him. Ed wore a pinstripe suit with polished shoes and a white straw boater.

  “Good Lord Ed, you look like a Republican,” John said.

  “Ha! I do? Good! They’re some of our best customers,” Ed said with a chuckle.

  “I have to say you look like you’re doin’ well,” John said.

  “Well, I can say the same for you,” a smiling Ed said. “C’mon, let’s get out of this cold air. Let me buy you a cup of coffee in the depot.”

  Ed grabbed the suitcase and John took the other two bags and followed him to the little diner inside.

  After they settled at the counter, Ed held up two fingers and pointed to the upside down coffee cups on the countertop.

  “Dr. Fulton. How’s school?” Ed asked.

  “I like it just fine. I’m learnin’ a lot between the classroom and Cat — Dr. Carter,” John said as a waitress filled their cups. “In fact, I’m gonna take my brother Bob back to Crystal Springs with me and get him started in school.”

  Ed nodded.

  “That sounds like a fine idea,” he said as he sipped the coffee.

  “You know, if you wanted to, I could get you in down there pretty easy,” John said as he raised his cup.

  Ed chuckled.

  “I appreciate that John but I ain’t altogether shore I’m the college type. ‘Sides, I’m runnin’ a successful dairy business now,” he said with a crooked grin.

  John looked at him in disbelief.

  “Dairy business?” He asked.

  “Yep. We sell milk, cream, butter, and eggs to folks from Harlan to Middlesboro and everywhere in between. The mine camps are our biggest customers. We even sell in a couple of commissaries — we can thank Mae for that,” Ed said.

  John took a sip of coffee and shook his head.

  “The dairy business,” he said quietly.

  Ed laughed.

  “And it’s boomin’ right now. We own dairies in Middlesboro, Harlan, Barbourville, and we just opened one in Williamsburg. I’m gettin’ ready to buy the one in Crystal Springs too,” Ed said.

  “From the Church family?” John asked.

  “You know them?” Ed asked.

  “I know of them,” John said.

  “Well, Mr. Church is willin’ to sell and I’m willin’ to buy,” Ed said.

  “And you and Mae are sellin’ milk?” John asked.

  “Ain’t just us. Hill Dunlap and a few of the boys that went to France with us. They all workin’ for Elkins Dairy now,” Ed said with pride.

  “And what does Elmer think of it?” John asked.

  “He’s happier than a hog in slop with the money we’re makin,” Ed said again with a knowing grin.

  “What is it you ain’t tellin’ me?” John asked.

  “Tell you what. Let’s finish our coffee and I’ll give you a ride home. We can talk on the way,” Ed said.

  “Alright,” John said as he picked up his cup.

  A few minutes later the two of them walked outside as Ed carried the suitcase for his friend.

  John let out a deep breath and a trail of steam escaped his lips.

  “Where’s your wagon Ed?” He asked.

  Ed chuckled.

  “Right here,” he said as put the suitcase in the backseat of a 1919 Ford Model T.

  “Yours?” John asked.

  “Bought and paid for,” Ed said as he walked to the front of the car and turned the crank.

  “Milk must be popular these days,” John said as he opened the passenger door.

  Ed got behind the wheel and hit the ignition button and the engine fired up. He put the car in gear and pulled out.

  “Let me tell you, this beats the hell out of smellin’ a fartin’ mule for seven miles. And it’s faster too,” Ed said as they headed for the city limits.

  “So you was gonna tell me about the milk business,” John said.

  Ed grinned.

  “Well, there’s milk...and there’s milk — the kind cooked in a still and sold in whitewashed jars by the quart and by the gallon,” he said.

  John nodded.

  “And Elkins Dairy is just a front,” he said.

  Ed shook his head.

  “No, the dairy is real. It started out as a front and we still use it to help sell the shine but we’re actually makin’ money off of milk and butter.
As a matter of fact, I’m gettin’ to enter a bid on a state contract to supply fresh butter and milk for the work farm in Fuson County,” Ed said. “Plus we’re sellin’ most of our shine up north now.”

  “Up north?” John asked.

  “Yeah, we made a few deliveries to Middlesboro to friends at the diner in the train depot. Turns out there was a feller in there from New York that liked our liquor. He wanted to meet with me and we cut a deal. We’re sendin’ a lot of it up there now and they pay more’an we could get here,” Ed explained.

  “How are you sendin’ it?” John asked.

  “By truck. We’re sendin’ out at least ten truckloads a week headed north,” Ed said.

  “You got trucks for that?” John asked.

  Ed shook his head.

  “No. Al and the people he works for do though. They’ve got trucks and drivers too. And they’ve got money. They pay cash for each load. Good folks to deal with,” he said.

  “Who’s Al?” John asked.

  “That’s the feller from New York. Nice guy. You’d like him. Funny as hell but don’t put up with shit,” Ed said.

  “I’ll hand it to you Ed: It’s a smooth set—up. Smart, real smart,” John said as he shook his head.

  “How long are you gonna be home?” Ed asked.

  John started rolling a cigarette.

  “I’ll go back after Christmas. Like I said, I’m takin’ Bob with me. I got him in school,” John said.

  Ed nodded.

  “That’s good. Bob’s a hard worker and sharp as a tack. He’s wastin’ his life in that damn Milner mine,” Ed said.

  “I think so too. That’s why I want him to go to school,” John said.

  “Got a job lined up for him?” Ed asked.

  “Not yet. But I’m hoping somethin’ll turn up when we get back,” John said.

  “You know, if I’m able to buy that dairy ‘fore the end of the year I’ll be needin’ some help,” Ed said.

  “No offense Ed, but I don’t want Bob tied up in sellin’ shine,” John said.

  “No, I mean I’ll need somebody to take care of the milkin’ and gatherin’ eggs and the like. And I pay a fair wage,” Ed said.

  As John considered the offer, he pursed his lips.

  “That sounds fine. I’d appreciate you givin’ him a chance,” John said.

  “He’d be helpin’ me out,” Ed said.

  ***

  Bob sat on the front porch of the Colford house just down the road from the house he had lived in his whole life. Daisy sat next to him. Even though it was cold outside and the familiar smell of burning wood and coal filled the air around them.

  It was Christmas and Bob came over for Christmas dinner with the Colfords. He liked the family and they liked him; of course he had known them his entire life.

  “So you’re goin’ away with John,” Daisy said sadly.

  Bob’s tone matched hers.

  “Yeah. Don’t hardly see how I can’t. I told him I’d go to college and he’s done gone to all of the trouble of helpin’ to get me in — even got a job lined up for me,” he said.

  “I don’t blame you a bit for goin’...I just hate to see you go,” she said.

  He turned his head and looked off in the distance.

  “I hate to go. To tell you the gospel truth, I don’t want to,” he said.

  “I know,” she said softly.

  “But I’ll come back here every chance I get. John’s told me that I can take the train back to Silver Point at least once a month and shoot, I can walk here from there,” Bob said.

  “You don’t think you’ll get to Crystal Springs and forget about the people here? You might just find some pretty city girl,” Daisy said.

  Bob turned and looked her in the eye.

  “I won’t forget nobody here and I ain’t lookin’ for a city girl or any other girl when I got one right here in front of me,” he said.

  Even though she had tears in her eyes, she smiled.

  “I’m gonna marry you one day Daisy Colford. Don’t you doubt it for a minute or ever forget it,” Bob said.

  Again she smiled softly.

  “You ain’t even asked me yet,” Daisy said.

  “And I ain’t gonna until I have a ring in my pocket either,” he said. “But I will, one day I will. Mark my word.”

  ***

  With the change of the calendar on January 1st the “Roaring Twenties” began – at least that’s the newspapers said.

  True to his word, Ed acquired the dairy in Crystal Springs and made Bob his first employee. The Church family agreed to stay on and manage the day-to-day operations and they welcomed the new hand. It meant long days for Bob, up at four o’clock every morning to help milk cows and then to gather eggs. He worked hard and fast to finish by seven—thirty, have a quick breakfast — usually just a biscuit or two with sausage or bacon. From the farm he hustled his way back to town and up the hill to the college in class by eight o’clock.

  It was hard work but it paid well. Bob made double what he made digging coal and didn’t have to work nearly as long — or hard. John was around to help him if he struggled with a class — and he did in general science.

  John was also instrumental in helping Ed get a contract to supply fresh dairy products to the college. In gratitude, Ed bartered the bulk of the milk to the school to cover the tuition of both John and Bob.

  By May the semester was winding down but Bob still put in the hours at the dairy; even on Saturday and Sunday.

  Adam Church, the former owner of the dairy, was a good and decent man. Bob enjoyed his company. When he showed up on Saturday morning he found Adam in the barn as usual.

  “Mornin’ Adam,” Bob said as he walked over and picked up a milking stool.

  “Mornin’ Bob,” the older man said. Bob noticed Adam coughing.

  “You still got that cold?” He asked.

  Adam’s face contorted as tried to catch his breath.

  “Don’t rightly know what is. It started about a week ago and don’t seem to be gettin’ better. Feels like it’s gettin’ worse. I can’t hardly get around without bein out of breath,” he said.

  “Why don’t you let my brother come and take a look at you? Just call Dr. Carter’s office and he’ll be here as soon as he can. It beats sufferin’ when you don’t have to,” Bob said.

  About hour later John arrived and followed Adam into the house. While he conducted his examination in back bedroom, Adam’s wife Marlene called for Bob to come in for breakfast.

  “Good mornin’ Bob,” said Rachel Church, the only child of the Church’s.

  A beautiful 20— year old woman with jade green eyes, platinum blonde hair, and a lovely hour glass figure. Outgoing and friendly, Rachel worked as hard as anyone on the family farm.

  “Good mornin’ Miss Rachel, Miss Marlene,” Bob called both by the prefix “miss” although Marlene was obviously married.

  “Wash up and eat before your eggs get cold,” Marlene said. Although she hadn’t known him long, she treated him like a son.

  While Bob was washing up, John walked into the kitchen followed by Adam.

  “I appreciate what you’re saying Doc but I can’t be laid up that long,” Adam said.

  “What is it?” Marlene asked.

  “Mrs. Church, your husband has pneumonia,” John said.

  “Are you sure?” Marlene asked.

  “Yes ma’am. Dr. Carter and I have treated folks with it hereabouts all spring. I’ve got pretty used to seein’ it,” John said.

  “You gave me medicine, shorely that ought to be enough,” Adam said.

  “You need rest to go with it. If you don’t get plenty of rest, it’ll only get worse,” John said.

  “How much rest?” Marlene asked.

  “At least a week — maybe ten days,” John said.

  “Work still has to get done around here,” Adam argued.

  “Mr. Church, the semester is almost over and I got more free time. I don’t care a bit to help out wi
th any chores that need doin’,” Bob said.

  “Daddy, I can do whatever needs to be done,” Rachel said.

  For the first time, John took notice of her. He was struck by her beauty.

  “And I can help too,” Marlene said.

  “I ain’t gonna have women doin’ my job,” Adam insisted.

  “Mr. Church, you have to rest. If you don’t, you’ll only get worse,” John said.

  Before he could respond, John cut him off.

  “Listen, I understand. And I’ll make a deal with you. If you’ll take a few days, get some rest, and take your medicine, I’ll help Bob with the chores. I’m pretty certain Dr. Carter will give me the time to do that,” John said.

  “I can’t ask you to do that Doc,” Adam said.

  “You ain’t askin’, I’m offerin’. Don’t let stubbornness kill you,” John said.

  “Listen to the Doctor dear,” Marlene said.

  “I ain’t the best farmer in the world but I do know which end of a mule to walk behind to plow. Listen, just rest for five days and let me reexamine you. It could be you’ll be well enough to get back to it then,” John said.

  “Five days?” Adam asked.

  “Five days and we’ll see what happens,” John said.

  “Okay, I’ll try it,” Adam said.

  “Good. Go ahead and have breakfast and get back in bed. And don’t forget to take your medicine — one this mornin’ and one at bedtime,” John said.

  “What do I owe you?” Adam asked.

  “Nothin’, not a penny. It really wasn’t any trouble to come out, but you will have to get some more medicine from the drug store before the week is up,” John said.

  “You can at least join us for breakfast,” Rachel said.

  “That’s a good idea. Please Dr. Fulton, join us,” Marlene said.

  John looked at the two of them and to Adam, who gestured for him to sit down. Bob, who was sitting at the table waiting to eat, simply shrugged. He reached over and pulled a chair out.

  “Thank you. But please, all of you, just call me John,” he said.

  True to his word, John came by the farm each day and worked no less than six hours each time. With Bob putting in even more time there than normal the farm functioned as if Adam was working full time.

  John examined his patient after five days and determined he still needed two more days to be sufficiently recovered to go back to work. He had just finished feeding the cows when Rachel came out of the house carrying a glass of cold lemonade.