In the Valley of Hope

by Richard Weirich

  “Who is it?” said a female voice on the other side of the front door.

  “Charlie Polk. May I speak to Mr. Miller, please?”

  “Charlie Polk?”

  Suddenly the door swung open. “Remember me?”

  “Hey, Cilla. Can your daddy talk?”

  “Don't you want to talk to me?”

  “Well, of course, I do. It's kind of important. You reckon I could talk with him for a minute. It won't take long.”

  “Why sure. Come on in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Priscilla yelled out to her daddy. “Daddy, you've got company.”

  “Really hate bothering you all at this late hour.”

  “How you been? Last time I saw you I sneaked my first kiss. You remember that?”

  “Reckon I do. Please excuse my appearance but I've been working all day and ain't had a chance to get cleaned up.”

  Just then Russell Miller walked into the foyer while trying to buckle his belt. “Who wants to see me? Oh, Charlie Polk. Come on in. This old belt's getting tighter every day. What you think might be causing that? Don't make them like they used to. Come on in and sit yourself down.”

  “I was just telling Cilla that I'm a mess. Been working all day. Wonder if I could ask you a favor?”

  “What's on your mind?”

  “I told you what would happen when my daddy found out I took your job offer.”

  “Kicked you out, did he?”

  “Yes, sir. I know I'm not to start until Monday but if you had a place I could bed down I would be mighty obliged. I've slept in the barn many a night so if I could just stay in your barn a few nights until I can get on my feet.”

  “Cilla, run upstairs and fetch some blankets from the cedar chest.”

  “Oh, no sir. I don't want to take your good blankets.”

  “Nonsense. You ain't going to be a bit good to me if you're sick or unrested. Let's stop by the kitchen and find you something to eat.”

  Once settled in for the night it occurred to Charlie that this was the first time he had ever slept anywhere other than on the Polk farm. With the unfortunate events of the day now behind him he actually felt better about his new life, even if it meant sleeping in a barn. In a few moments, he had already experienced better treatment from Russell Miller than ever from his father. He even smiled as he considered his new lease on life.

  Before drifting off to sleep, Charlie again thought about Mable and recalled something she had told him about life's blessings. “We should always thank God for what he's given us,” she told him. Charlie had never prayed, didn't know how but on this night he decided to give it a try. “Thank you, God. I'm well-fed, safe, and warm. I got through this day and I figure you had something to do with it.” Then he fell into a deep and restful slumber.

  Chapter V – New Life

  Home in the Barn – September 25, 1918

  The rooster crowed and Charlie awoke sleepily surveying his surroundings. His first observation was that it was too cold to remove the blankets so he laid there awhile and considered how he might start this first day of his new life.

  A cow bellowed from a stall beneath him and he could hear ducks quacking from a nearby pond. Sounds like home, he thought. Although this was a different time and a different place there was enough familiarity to put him at ease. Like Myrtle told him, “farming is farming.”

  Even though he was still five days away from starting his new job, he decided that he help out with the morning chores to repay the Millers for their kindness. Reluctantly, he threw off the blankets, quickly grabbed his coat, and then descended the ladder from the loft to floor of the barn. As he pushed open the barn door, he had his first good look at the land where he would ply his trade..

  Since the animals on the farm were going to be his responsibility he began to introduce himself to the other inhabitants of the barn. Charlie petted and conversed with each cow making sure that they knew his name and that he was going to take real good care of them.

  He could hear someone talking outside and apparently coming his way. Seconds later Russell Miller arrived in the company of Priscilla and two other companions.

  “Morning, Charlie. Wanted you to meet my family.”

  “Good morning.”

  “This is my wife Hannah, my oldest daughter Roberta but we call her Bobbie, and this is our baby girl, Lisa. Of course you already know Cilla.”

  “I'm not a baby,” said Lisa.

  “I forgot. You're a big girl now,” said Russell.

  “Want to know the cow’s names?” said Lisa as she ran to stand beside of Charlie. “The one you've been petting is Millie.”

  “Pleased to meet all of you and you too, Millie.”

  “Thought you might be hungry,” said Hannah. “It's not much. Just some biscuits and jam.”

  “You didn't have to do that.”

  “Can't have you going hungry. Did you get cold last night?”

  “No, mam. Those blankets you gave me did just fine. Now I know I'm not supposed to start until Monday, but I can help out until then. Just let me know what needs to be done.”

  “Well, I do have something you can do for me today,” said Russell. “How about taking the wagon into Edinburg and picking up some supplies for me.”

  “Sure. I'd be happy to oblige.”

  “Can I go too?” said Priscilla.

  “That wouldn't be proper,” said Hannah.

  “I'm a grown woman,”

  “Precisely, and it's time you act like it. There's plenty of grown woman's work for you to do around here. Today is laundry day.”

  “Oh, well. I tried.”

  “Charlie, it was nice to meet you. I've got to get to work,” said Bobby taking her leave.

  “Bobby's a school teacher at the grade school in Mt. Jackson,” said Russell.

  “She's a whole lot nicer that Miss Beulah,” said Cilla.

  Charlie laughed. “Wouldn't take much.”

  “Well, we're burning daylight. Got to get to work. Charlie, I'll be back in a bit with a list of what we need in town.”

  As Russell, Hannah, and Lisa turned to leave Cilla told them that she had something to tell Charlie and that she would be along in a minute.

  “Frank came to see me a while ago.”

  “Must have been when he recommended me to your daddy.”

  “I put in a good word for you too.”

  “Appreciate that.”

  “Sorry about what your daddy to you.”

  “Been going on for as long as I can remember.”

  “Frank had the idea that the old gang should get together for a picnic.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “I suggested that the four of us go over to Orkney. He said you and Mable have stayed in touch.”

  “Not really. Ran into her at Peoples Drugs and Such a couple of weeks ago but I hadn't seen her since we were kids.”

  “He said the two of you were courtin'.”

  “Nothing like that. I went to church with her and had lunch with her family. That’s255 all. Figured you'd be married off by now.”

  “Been waiting for you,” said Cilla half-heartedly. “Figured after that kiss I laid on you that you'd be back for more but never saw you again, until now. Why didn't you ever stop by?”

  “Always working plus I never knew I was invited.”

  “You turned out mighty handsome.”

  “Really? Didn't know that.”

  “Now you do. How about me? How did I turn out?”

  “Cilla, you're embarrassing me.”

  “Do you think I'm pretty or not?”

  “Well, I expect you are.”

  “But you're not sure.”

  “Yes, you are beautiful but since I'm going to be working here for your daddy, we're going to have to keep our friendship, uh, professional.”

  “What is a professional friendship?”

  “So, what about that picnic you and Frank are cooking up?”

  “Maybe it's not
professional enough for you and we shouldn't go.”

  “Very funny.”

  “We were hoping to get together Saturday a week. Said he would pick us up in his automobile about 10:00 o’clock and have us home before dark. We just need you to get word to Mable and we're all set.”

  “I'll try. Her mama and daddy have her on a short leash.”

  “Me and Frank don't bite.”

  “Don't know about that. I seem to recall Billy Ray Ledbetter would beg to disagree.”

  “He had it coming to him. Pulled my pigtails. You don't mess with my pigtails.”

  “I'll keep that in mind.”

  “You kissed her yet?”

  “Where did you want me to kiss her? In church or at her family's dinner table?”

  “There are ways to sneak a kiss.”

  Russell Miller entered the barn and interrupted their conversation. “You all still jawing in here. Cilla you're mamas fit to be tied. Aren't you supposed to be helping her? Get yourself up there before she has a cow.”

  “Later,” said Cilla as she ran back to the house.

  “Here's your list. You'll find everything you need at the general store and just have Lester put it on my tab. Pick you out some clothes and shaving gear and whatever else you think you'll be needing and add that to the bill too.”

  “I can't do that.”

  “Sure you can. I'll just take it out of your first month's salary. If you want, we don't have to wait until Monday for you to start work. You can start right away.”

  “I'm ready. What about food? Is it alright if I get some groceries?”

  “You can eat from our table. Hannah will make sure you're well-fed.”

  “I don't know what to say. Ain't anybody ever been this good to me before.”

  “Charlie, the whole world isn't like what you grew up in. This is the way we do things around here. We work hard and treat each other with respect. And I hope that if you learn anything from being here is that it's better to give than receive. When you put your focus on giving you'll soon discover that you get far more back than you ever put in.”

  What a difference a day or even a few hours can make. As Charlie rode to town, he marveled at how quickly his fortune had changed. In fact, he was so happy that he clapped his hands while he hummed and whistled a familiar tune. He even talked to the mule pulling the wagon. “See that mountain over there? Been seeing it all my life but I think it's never been more beautiful than today. Maybe you and me can ride over to Mable Shown's house in a couple of days so I can tell her the good news.”

  Happiness quickly turned to sorrow as he pased255 the Polk family farm. Normal folks could stop in and say hello, he thought as he replayed the events of the previous day in his mind. Just looking at that place makes me hurt all over again. Wonder how Mama and the girls are doing?

  In the distance, Charlie could see his daddy working near the barn. Hope my old man is happy now, and he wondered how Bill Polk would be able to keep up the old farm without his help.

  Soon his thoughts returned to the task at hand which involved actually doing some shopping for himself for a change. He worried that he might spend more than his first month's pay since he needed everything; shirts, pants, underwear, shoes, and a warm sweater.

  Then he recalled Russell Miller's words about giving and Charlie was sure that it must be so. It's true, he thought. All that kindness and generosity from the Millers made him want to be the best employee ever on the Miller farm. He promised himself that from that moment on he would always strive to treat others the way the Millers had treated him. He concluded that kindness was the most powerful medicine on earth.

  By 2 o'clock he was back at the Miller farm and Russell wasted no time putting him to work. “Got a sick cow that's been down since Monday and I'm afraid we're gonna lose her.” This was the perfect opportunity to see if Charlie could live up to his billing, as “the best veterinarian in the Valley,” or if Frank Wissler was just stretching the truth to help a friend who needed a job?

  At lunch, Russell had announced his plan to his family so when Charlie and Russell headed out into the pasture, Lisa and Cilla tagged along.

  “What's her name?”

  “Sally,” said Lisa while skipping happily beside of Charlie.

  “Lisa has named all our animals for us,” said Cilla.

  “I named her after my aunt, Sally. They have the same shape,” said Lisa as the others laughed.

  “Your Aunt Sally is shaped like a cow?” said Charlie.

  Lisa waved her arms in a big circle. “Yep. A big fat cow.”

  “Now, Lisa. Don't ever say that in front of your mama and especially not around Aunt Sally,” said Russell as he patted the 8-year-old on her head.

  “You mean she doesn't know she's fat?”

  “I'm sure she does, but it's not polite to remind people of their flaws.”

  Lisa then began to interrogate Charlie. “Do you like to play games? Do you have any little sisters or brothers I could play with? Are you a real doctor? Have you ever doctored an elephant?”

  “She's over there near that tree by the fence,” said Russell pointing to the cow.

  Charlie knelt by the sick animal and looked her over for several minutes without saying a word.

  “How bad is she?” asked Russell.

  “She looks sad,” said Charlie.

  Cilla laughed. “All cows look sad.”

  “She's definitely not sick, but she is upset about something.”

  “I thought she was dying.”

  “Oh, she's got plenty of life left in her. Just real sad.”

  “She ain't had no calf so she's not grieving over losing a calf,” said Russell.

  “Something else,” said Charlie. “What's changed around here in the last few days?”

  “Nothing comes to mind.”

  Charlie patted the cow and scanned the field looking for clues. “Everything's gonna be OK, Sally.”

  Cilla knelt down beside of Charlie. “When Wesley Dingler comes to doctor our animals he gives them medicine.”

  “Sometimes that's what it takes,” said Charlie and then he looked up at Russell. “Where's your bull?”

  “Don't have one. Sold the last one we had at the stockyard Monday.”

  “There's your problem. You broke Sally's heart by selling off her boyfriend.”

  Russell laughed. “You've got to be kidding.”

  “Serious as a heart attack,” said Charlie. “Animals have feelings just like folks. All Sally needs is to know she's still loved.”

  Charlie patted her for a while longer and Lisa joined him. “I love you, Sally.”

  “That's so silly,” said Priscilla and she stood back from the others.

  Minutes later Sally began to move and then rose to her feet to the cheers of everyone except Priscilla. “You just got lucky.”

  “She's eating now. She's gonna be just fine. Just need to visit her regular and talk to her. Animals like to be talked to.”

  “Like they know what you're saying,” complained Priscilla.

  “Sally? You know what we mean, don't you girl? And you know that Cilla's just jealous that you have a boyfriend and she don't,” to which Sally responded with a loud “moo.”

  As they walked back to the barn, Lisa expressed concern over Charlie's living quarters. “I think it's sad you have to live in the barn.”

  “Got a roof over my head, plenty to eat, doing' the work I love, and I'm surrounded by friends. Nothing wrong with that.”

  Welcome Visitor – Saturday, September 28, 1918

  It had been nearly two weeks since Charlie had seen Mable and there was so much to tell her. However, he had a problem. When he said goodbye to his family he also bid farewell to his suit which was required attire for attending Sunday church so he decided to take a chance on a Saturday visit at the Shown residence. When he arrived, Moses was chopping wood in the backyard.

  “Need a hand with that?” said Charlie causing Moses to stop to see who wa
s talking.

  “Charlie Polk. What brings you over this way?”

  “Finally got a break and I didn't want you all to think I fell off the earth.”

  “We were wondering.”

  “Here let me help you with that.”

  Charlie took the ax from Moses’ hands and began cutting firewood as they talked.

  “We figured the rain kept you away on Sunday.”

  “Nah, wouldn't let a little rain stop me. I was in a hurry to get the farm ready for winter because I took a job elsewhere.”

  “What made you do a thing like that? Kind of sudden wasn't it?”

  “Russell Miller offered me a job and I figured that it was time for me to be moving on.”

  “How did your mama and daddy take it?

  “Upset Mama a lot. Daddy did what he always said he would do if I ever left.”

  “What's that?”

  “Kicked me off the farm and I'm not to ever go back.”

  “Kids grow up and they move on. Why would he want to treat his own flesh and blood like that?”

  “Wish I knew. It's always been that way.”

  “He was just mad that you were leaving. He'll get over it.”

  “Not my daddy. Ain't never been a mule more stubborn. Wouldn't even let me take my horse or nothing. All I took with me was the clothes on my back. Anyway, I wanted to come to church tomorrow, as you all said I should, but I don't have a proper Sunday-go-to-meeting suit, which is why I showed up today instead.”

  “Put down that ax and grab an armful of firewood. There's a girl inside that's been worried sick about you.”

  Charlie heard the words that he had hoped to hear. He made it passed Moses, but his next test was peeling potatoes in the kitchen.

  “Look what the cat drug in?” said Moses to his wife Mary while he and Charlie piled wood by the stove.

  “Well, I'll be. Don't much appreciate you upsetting Mable like you did. That's no way to treat a girl.”

  “I'm real sorry about that.”

  “Best thing for both of you is to be on your way before she finds out you're here. You had her so upset I thought we were going to have to get the doctor out here.”