Hearts Aglow (8 page)

“Friends, we’re so glad to have ya’ll here today,” her mother told everyone. The crowd quieted down immediately. “Thank you so much for sharing your time and energy to help a neighbor. Arjan and my boys will direct you in what we’re hoping to accomplish.” She stepped aside to let Arjan take over, then held up her hand. “Oh, and of course the ladies and I will put together a wonderful lunch for you.”

The men gave affirming comments and some even smiled. Perhaps they could put aside their troubled thoughts and disagreements for this one day. Deborah joined her mother to the side of the porch while her uncle took charge.

“We’re thankful for the good weather and hopeful that we can raise the entire addition and roof it in one day. It’s a big task, but I believe we Texans have always been up to big tasks.”

This time the men raised an affirming cheer. In the distance, Deborah heard the logging train whistle. It would bring the last of the needed lumber and building supplies.

“Uncle Arjan seems to have a good way with organizing these kind of things,” Lizzie whispered to Deborah.

She smiled and nodded. “Father used to say his brother could have been President of the United States with his ability to coordinate efforts.”

Lizzie put her hand to her growing abdomen. “I’m sure the men in this family could be anything they set their minds to. G.W. has taken to reading to me at night. Sometimes I have to help him, but he isn’t letting his pride keep him from the task. I have you to thank for that, Deborah. It’s given him something to live for since being injured.”

Deborah considered her friend for a moment. “It always saddened me that my brothers held little value in book learning. Now it seems that both of them have a new interest, for Rob has actually begun to spend time reading, as well. I’d love to see the town’s attitude toward schooling change . . . so many of the people are illiterate.”

The men were beginning to break into teams as the logging train came to a stop. Arjan directed one of the teams to unload the new supplies, while the others immediately went to work framing up the walls.

“I suppose we’d better head to the kitchen,” Mother said, joining them.

Mrs. Perkins approached and offered a basket. “I’ve brought three pies and five dozen cookies. I know they won’t last long, but I figured it was a start.”

Mother laughed. “We’ve been hard at it for days. We knew we’d have our loggers helping, and they can eat like an army. But what a pleasant surprise to have so many of our friends and neighbors join us.”

“Your family is one of the most admired in the county.” Mrs. Perkins lowered the basket. “Despite the recent troubles, I’m hopeful that perhaps this will afford us a coming together of hearts.”

“That would be wonderful,” Mother agreed. “Perhaps if there were more positive things to dwell on, folks would be less likely to cause harm.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking that very thing,” Mrs. Perkins replied.

“Oh, who’s that with Pastor Shattuck?” Lizzie said, leaning toward Deborah. “She looks like she could be your relation.”

Deborah followed Lizzie’s gaze and saw the young woman at the preacher’s side. She was nearly the same size and had dark black hair like Deborah, but unlike her, the stranger had arranged her tresses in a bevy of curls that gently draped her neck and shoulders. The young stranger carried herself in a very elegant manner, appearing to float across the yard on the pastor’s arm, a sort of teasing smile upon her lips.

Looking back at Lizzie, Deborah leaned in to whisper. “I’m guessing it might be the pastor’s daughter. He has two children who, as I heard it, lived elsewhere with their grandmother.”

“Mrs. Vandermark, Miss Vandermark,” Pastor Shattuck said as he approached and tipped his hat. He looked beyond them. “Mrs. Perkins, Mrs. Vandermark.”

Mother stepped from the porch and extended her hand. “How are you, Pastor?”

He shook her hand, then stepped aside. “This is my daughter, Mara. Mara, these are the Vandermark women.” He paused and smiled. “Of course, you’ve already met Mrs. Perkins.”

“I’m delighted to make your acquaintances,” Mara Shattuck said, offering a brilliant smile. “My father has spoken so highly of you.”

Mother took charge. “Well, we are quite pleased to finally meet you. I understand you’ve been living in New Orleans with your grandmother.”

She nodded. “But now it’s time to help Father with God’s work.”

The comment surprised Deborah. She had thought Pastor Shattuck rather negative when it came to women. He never wished to discuss the Bible with her, at least, always making some excuse when Deborah asked him about certain Bible verses.

“I’m certain you will be an asset to him,” Deborah’s mother declared. “You must excuse us just now. We need to start putting together the noon meal.”

“Truly? It’s only just past dawn,” Mara said, looking surprised.

Mother laughed. “True enough, but we will need to ready the food, nevertheless. The men will work hard and need coffee and doughnuts to sustain them until lunch. If you’d like to help, we’d be glad for the extra hands.”

Mara looked to her father, who nodded. She looked down at her stylish suit. “Do you suppose I could borrow an apron?”

“Of course,” Mother assured. “We have plenty. In fact, if you’re worried about your clothes, Deborah would surely be able to loan you something.”

Mara met Deborah’s gaze and smiled. “I’m sure an apron will be sufficient. I wouldn’t want to put anyone out.”

“You wouldn’t,” Deborah replied.

The dark-haired woman smiled. “Then perhaps I will take you up on the offer. This suit isn’t all that comfortable. Grandmother told me it was the height of fashion, but I find it less than serviceable for everyday.”

Deborah’s mother chuckled. “We’ll fix you right up. Thank you for coming today, Pastor Shattuck. Perhaps you will offer grace at dinner?”

He nodded. “For now, though, I’ll set aside my coat and roll up my sleeves. I’m quite good with a hammer.”

Mother reached out to Mara. “Come along, ladies. We shall find something suitable for Miss Shattuck to wear.”

“Oh, please call me Mara. I should like very much to be a good friend to each of you.”

Deborah liked her immediately. She appeared so stylish and refined, but at the same time, Mara Shattuck held no pretense of airs.

“Mother!” Rob crossed the yard carrying a large lidded pot. “Miz Huebner asked me to fetch in this pot of chicken and dumplings.”

He stopped at the sight of Mara. His eyes widened slightly as a grin spread across his face. “I don’t reckon we’ve met.”

“This is Mara Shattuck, the pastor’s daughter,” his mother introduced. “Mara, this is my youngest son, Rob.”

She smiled and nodded. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr.

Vandermark.”

“Not nearly as pleased as I am.” He stood fixed in place and might have remained there had Mother not broken the spell.

“Rob, Arjan is going to need you, so just go ahead and deliver the food to the kitchen.”

“Maybe Mara could help me,” Rob said in his smooth, practiced manner. His blue-eyed gaze was fixed on the younger woman.

“Help you carry the pot?” Deborah teased.

Rob looked almost confused for a moment. “No, silly,” he finally managed. “I only figured maybe she could hold the door for me.”

“I’d be happy to help, Mr. Vandermark.” Mara climbed the steps and cast a quick glance over her shoulder. “Is this the door of which you were speaking?”

He quickly bounded onto the porch as if the heavy load weighed nothing at all. “That’s the one, and please . . . call me Rob.”

Deborah rolled her eyes and looked to Lizzie. “My brother can move fast when he needs to.”

“To be sure,” Lizzie whispered in reply.

They followed after the others, smiling at their exchange. Deborah knew her brother could be quite charming when he wanted to be. He’d paid visits to most of the eligible young women in the area, checking the potential of each with the same thoroughness he might use to select a tool with which to work. It wasn’t surprising that he’d noticed Mara, although Deborah found the timing quite incredible – even for her brother.

The lunch hour approached and the men were signaled to stop work. Deborah was amazed at how much they’d already accomplished. The main framework of the first floor was completed and a good portion of the second floor was in place, as well. An entire team of men even worked on setting the interior walls in place.

Pastor Shattuck shared a blessing for the food and for the safety of the workers. So far the worst of the injuries had been when one of the children had fallen off the scaffolding. He looked to be sporting some bruises and a few scrapes but otherwise had been unharmed. Still, Deborah was glad to see Dr. Clayton show up just as the eating commenced.

Deborah went to where he secured his horse under the shade of a hickory tree. “Just in time for dinner.”

He grinned. “That was the plan. Have you ever known me to pass up a meal cooked by the Vandermark women?”

She laughed. “Well, this meal happens to have been cooked by the entire community. We Vandermarks did plenty, but the ladies of Perkinsville have been most generous.”

“I’m glad,” he said, looking toward the new structure. “Looks like the men have been, as well.”

Deborah followed his gaze. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? I remember when we raised the church in a day. . . . Of course, back then the entire town turned out. Here, not so much. We have a good number, don’t get me wrong – but the tension at first was thick enough to cut with a knife. I figure there are still a good number of people here who don’t agree with our thoughts on racial matters and stayed away.”

Christopher looked back to her and nodded. “I just made the rounds in town, and believe me, there were plenty of folks more than happy to speak their minds.” His expression darkened. “I’ve witnessed the damage that occurs when hatred and prejudice grows.”

“Was it between blacks and whites?”

For a moment he said nothing, and Deborah thought perhaps he would refuse to continue their conversation.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, putting her hand on his arm. “You don’t have to tell me.”

He shook his head. “It’s not that. It’s just sad to remember. And I see it all happening here again. There were battles in Kansas City between the black and whites, of course. And there were white folks during the war who were proslavery, as well as against it. They fought amongst themselves almost more than they fought in the war.”

“We had a lot of that here, as well,” Deborah admitted. “Father called them guerillas. They were forever causing problems.”

“Well, the same was true up north. They didn’t call Kansas ‘Bleeding’ without due cause. Kansas and Missouri very nearly had their own little war within the war. But there were other problems, as well.”

“Such as?”

He looked at her for a moment. “There were great prejudices among the whites toward other whites. For instance . . . the Irish. A great many folks take strong stands against the Irish. They dislike them for their fighting and drinking, not to mention their religious views. They dislike them for their culture – the way they speak – the things they love to eat. It doesn’t seem to matter. They feel that the Irish take jobs away from others who were there first.”

“But aren’t the same problems true for the Italians and Polish?”

Deborah questioned. “I know in Philadelphia, there were problems also with those of Jewish descent. It was sometimes quite ugly.”

He nodded, then looked up at the canopy of trees toward the cloudless sky.

“Well, are you going to let the doctor come and eat?” Deborah’s mother interrupted.

Deborah hadn’t even heard her mother approach. “I’m sorry, Christopher. I didn’t mean to keep you from dinner.”

He laughed and gave a brief bow to Mrs. Vandermark. “I don’t miss too many meals, as you can see.” He patted his stomach.

“Nonsense,” Mother declared. “You are the very image of health. Fit as a fiddle, my mother would say. Can you stay for long?”

“I can. I finished my rounds, and now I’m yours for the day. I figured that a house raising would be the perfect place for a doctor. One can never tell what might happen.”