The Barn Raising

by Christine Sterling

  Rosalie came out and joined him on the porch. “Shoo,” she said to the goats as she tried to maneuver around them. She handed him a cup of coffee and sat down in the chair next to him.

  “Where’s Paps?” he asked. His father-in-law had come over for dinner that evening. Since they couldn’t travel anywhere, having a visitor was a treat.

  “He had to head out back.”

  Even walking to the privy was a luxury Martin couldn’t participate in right now.

  “The barn is falling down.”

  Rosalie looked. “It has always been falling down. But it hasn’t completely fallen … yet.”

  “I wish I had listened to you and built the new barn instead of trying to squeeze everything I could out of that shack.”

  “It’s fine. The goats like it.” She made kissy sounds at the two goats on the porch. “Don’t you, Darling. And you too, Lovey.”

  “Meh-eh-eh.”

  Rosalie laughed. It went right to Martin’s gut. He hadn’t heard her laugh in a while. He vowed to do whatever he could to keep hearing that sound.

  “Move, critters,” Paps said, waving the goats from the porch.

  The goats grunted their displeasure and walked from the steps to Rosalie’s flower bed and began to eat the tops from all the flowers.

  “Oh, no!” she cried. She ran down and fluttered her apron, sending the goats running back towards the field. She returned and looked at her flowers. “It looks like they enjoyed them.” She picked up one of the stems. “All of them are like this. Flower-less.”

  “Once I get better, I’ll build a pen they can’t get out of.”

  Paps looked at him. “Didn’t you purchase a bunch of wood at one point?”

  “Yeah. It is behind the house in the lean-to.” Martin looked at Paps. “What about it?”

  “Nothing,” Paps said. “I was just thinking.”

  Rosalie returned to her seat and picked her cup back up. The three of them sat in silence looking at Belle River rushing by their house.”

  Rosalie watched Audrey twirl her hair. It was a habit she had when she was deep in thought. “You need to convince Martin to get help to build the new barn.”

  Rosie ate a spoonful of the soup in front of her. When Audrey and Eden came to snatch her away from the house, she didn’t want to leave. Paps insisted she spend some time with her friends, and he would stay with Martin until she got back from her visit. Savoring the tomato bisque in front of her, she was glad she joined her friends.

  “I don’t know how I’ll do that. He just sits on the porch staring where the barn should be. Besides, hiring men costs money. Heaven knows we don’t have much extra now since the fall.”

  “You should threaten him,” Eden said.

  “Threaten him? Oh goodness, I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Why not? It worked for Audrey. She and Hunter can’t stop making lovey eyes at each other.”

  “Stop that, Eden,” Audrey said. “Do you want everyone to hear you?”

  Rosalie laughed. “For one who wasn’t concerned about her reputation before, you certainly are concerned about it now.”

  Audrey ignored her. “I'll talk to Hunter. He should be able to do something. They are friends after all.”

  “I just wish…” Rosalie started.

  Her friends leaned in to listen to her. “Just wish what?” Eden prompted.

  “I wish there was a way to just get it done and there would be nothing he could do about it.”

  “Maybe there is,” Audrey said.

  “I know in some communities the community gets together and builds a barn for a couple in need. It is called a barn raising.”

  Rosalie looked at her friend. “How would you know that?”

  Audrey shrugged her shoulders. “It was in that book you told me to read. The Young Wives Guide. There is a whole section about food to take to a barn raising. Why I had never heard of such a thing until I read it.”

  “I wonder what it would entail.”

  Audrey looked at her friend. “You get as many tables as you can and put them outside. I’ll handle the rest.”

  “Tables?”

  “Yes. And let’s plan on next Friday.” That was just over a week away. Audrey looked at her friend. “Are you going to do it or not?”

  “I don’t think I have that many tables or chairs.”

  “How about the ones from the picnic?” Charity offered. She filled the cups with more coffee. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but hear.”

  “That’s right,” Eden chimed in. “Paps has those tables and chairs in the livery.”

  “It might work.”

  “That is all you have to do. Put everything out by Friday and we’ll handle the rest.”

  Rosalie nodded, thinking how lucky she was to have friends such as these.

  When she got home, Martin was already in bed. Rosalie said goodnight to Paps and then went into the bedroom to see her husband.

  “I was waiting for you,” he said to her. “I was just very tired.”

  Rosalie quickly undressed and put on her nightgown before sliding into the bed next to Martin. “You are going to be tired for a while. You are still recovering.”

  Martin kissed the top of her head. “Did you have a nice supper with your friends?”

  Rosalie looked up at him “I did. It was nice to get out for a bit.”

  “I’m sorry I keep you tied to the house.”

  “Don’t you ever think that, Martin. I’m right where I want to be.”

  “Sometimes I think you should go and find another man. Someone who is whole and can support you.”

  She leaned up on her arm. “I have a husband who is whole. We have enough in the bank to keep us going for a while. I don’t want anyone else, Martin Davis. I just want you.”

  He pulled her close.

  “Ah, wife. I really do love you.”

  “I love you too, husband,” she said, leaning up for a kiss.

  He kissed her like he did the first time he kissed her. Rosalie wanted to be swept back to that simpler place and time. When he finally broke the kiss she noticed his eyes were back to their soft brown with gold flecks.

  She snuggled into his arms and allowed his warmth to envelop her. She felt him kiss her head again as she fell asleep in his arms. She knew that they could get through anything.

  Chapter 10

  Friday arrived rather quickly. Paps helped Rosalie set up the tables behind the house where Martin wouldn’t see them. When she voiced her concern over not having enough supplies to finish the barn, Paps told her not to worry.

  It was now her job to keep Martin as distracted as possible. They were playing dominos at the kitchen table. Rosalie had already won two games, Martin one. She suspected he was letting her win on purpose.

  “One more?” he asked.

  “Of course. I relish the chance to beat the pants off you,” she said saucily.

  “You aren’t going to win that easily, Mrs. Davis.”

  Rosalie laughed. She went to pour another cup of coffee from the pot on the stove when the smell of bacon grease overcame her. She quickly dropped her cup and ran to the porch with her hand over her mouth.

  She heard Martin wheel himself behind her. He was getting rather proficient with the chair. “Are you alright?” he asked.

  Rosalie nodded and retched again. This time into the flower bed that contained just stems and no flowers.

  “You don’t sound alright.”

  Rosalie wiped her mouth on her apron. “I’ll be alright. It was just the smell of bacon grease. I couldn’t help myself.”

  “You look pale. I think we should send for Doc Mason.”

  “I'm fine. Truly, there is no need.” She attempted to move past him, but his hand was quick. He pulled her down onto his lap and pushed her head down until it was resting on his shoulder.

  “I’m just worried about you, Rosie.”

  Rosalie looked up. “There is nothing to be worried about. Eva said I might be sick for a f
ew more weeks.”

  “Eva? What does Eva Beck know about your sickness?”

  “I didn’t want to bring it up because I wasn’t sure, and I wanted you to concentrate on your recovery.”

  Martin raised his eyebrow. “What didn’t you want to bring up?”

  Rosalie leaned back and took his hand, pressing it against her belly. “We are going to have a family,” she whispered.

  Martin’s eyes flew open wide. “Really? When?”

  “I think next Spring.”

  Martin started counting backwards. “Must have been the picnic.”

  Rosalie looked at him. “Are you happy?”

  “Incredibly so.” He leaned to kiss her, but Rosalie hopped up from his lap.

  “Not yet. I’ll be right back.” She ran inside to rinse her mouth and chew a few peppermint leaves from the garden.

  “What’s this?” she heard Martin call from the porch.

  “What’s what?” Rosalie went out to join him. Coming from around the bend were a line of wagons carrying families, supplies and food. “Oh my,” she said, putting her fingers to her mouth.

  Leading the way were Paps and Nettie.

  “What do you suppose all these people are doing here?”

  “It looks like they are coming to visit,” she said jumping down the steps.

  “Wait for me,” Martin yelled. He inched his chair down the ramp that Paps had installed for him.

  Rosalie met him at the bottom of the ramp and stood there holding his hand as the wagons passed them and went into the field behind the house.

  Paps gave them a wave as he walked back to the house. “What do you think?”

  “I can’t believe everyone came.”

  “That is all on Audrey and Charity. They organized everything.”

  “What is this?” Martin asked.

  Paps slapped him on the back. “We are building you a barn, son.”

  “A barn?”

  “Did I stutter? Yes, a barn.” He waved at the people still pulling in. “Everyone came out to help.”

  The women and children climbed down from the wagons with platters of food that they put out on the waiting tables. The men started unloading the building supplies and putting them on the ground.

  “Where did all this come from?” Martin asked.

  “We ordered it a few weeks ago. It just happened to come in.”

  “I can’t take this,” Martin said. “I have no way of paying for it right now.”

  Rosalie squeezed his shoulder.

  Paps scratched his head. “That’s a right shame. I figured you wouldn’t owe anything because this was your share from the sale of all those horses.” He gave Rosalie a quick wink. “The rest has already been deposited at the bank in town.”

  “I’m speechless,” he said.

  “Come on. Let’s go say hello to everyone and get this barn built.”

  Rosalie laughed and pushed Martin’s chair over the hard ground to where the barn was going to be built. Men were already placing boards next to each other to construct the frame.

  Someone placed a hammer in Martin’s hand. “You have to do the first nail, Martin,” another called.

  Paps moved Martin over to where two boards were laying perpendicular over some sawhorses. Martin took the nail Paps offered him and lined it up to connect the corner of the two boards. He eyed it before pounding it with the hammer.

  Applause flew up all around them. “Let’s begin!” someone yelled.

  The children played in the meadow closer to the river, while the ladies sat around on blankets watching them and chatting.

  Rosalie found out that the Ellerman’s had been run out of town, and she was pleased since they were responsible for nearly destroying her friend. Joe at the café had promised never to serve mutton soup again, as there were very few folks that ate it. His tomato bisque soup, however, was now the café’s favorite.

  He even brought a pot to share for supper. It didn’t take long for the structure of the barn to be put in place. It was simply four framed walls, a door and a roof. The men made sure the roof was complete before they finished for the evening.

  They promised to come back as they could to place the boards up to close in the barn. Once everyone had their fill of the delicious food the ladies brought, Mr. Stewart went back to his wagon and pulled out his fiddle case.

  Several cheers went up as some of the ranch hands pulled out their instruments and started tuning them.

  “I think this is yours,” Paps said, placing a stone jug on Martin’s lap. Martin smiled and gave a low kiss to the jug. The sound of the air passing through the tapered vessel filled the air.

  “Today is absolutely perfect,” Rosalie said.

  Martin looked at her. “Yes it is.” He pulled her close to his chair. “You need to tell Paps.”

  “Tell Paps what?” the older man asked, turning and looking at Martin and Rosalie.

  “You are going to be a grandfather,” Rosalie said, holding Martin’s hand tightly.

  Paps looked at her and then pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. “Well, that is something to celebrate,” he finally said.

  Paps made the announcement to the town about becoming a grandfather and it was met with cheers and cries of joy. “Let’s have a barn dance!” he shouted.

  The musicians crowded in around Martin’s chair and began to play. The ladies and children started to dance to the tempo.

  Rosalie looked out at the sight of all her friends. Belle was truly an incredible place to live. The people, the food, the generous outpouring of love. She watched as the sun started to set in the west. It was becoming twilight.

  She looked over at her husband happily blowing on the jug as the men laughed and played around him. In the distance Bessie gave a low cry, Thunder pranced around the field and she could see her two goats leaping for joy.

  Life was perfect.

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