Authors: Karen Noland
“I’m so sorry, Nana, I’ll never
do it again,” Jo cried. “Just please get me down, I’m so scared!”
“Jolene, hold on, don’t move,
Momma’s here now. Luke’s coming.” Kate called.
“I’m sorry, Miz Shaughnessey,
it’s all my fault,” Jeremy cried, tugging at her skirt.
“Jeremy, what happened?” Kate
asked, her gaze fastened on Jo.
“We was just playin’, but I
beat her racing, and she said she could climb a tree faster’n me, so I said bet
I could climb all the way to the top of the windmill, but she said she could go
higher and faster. Then before I knew it she was above me, but now she can’t
get down. Every time she tried, her skirts went all gollywampus and she kept
getting her foot caught, and she got scared,” he paused for a breath, tears
streaming down his ruddy cheeks. “Ah, gee, I’m so sorry!”
“Jeremy, it’s going to be all
right, Luke’s coming, he’ll get her down, I know he will.” She knelt before the
trembling boy and gathered him in her arms. “It’s not your fault, Jeremy, do
you hear me?”
He nodded, sniffing, his blue
eyes swimming with tears.
Kate’s heart went out to him,
even as she turned her gaze back to her stranded daughter.
Lord, protect
these children. They are wholly Yours, take them in Your hand right now, and
protect them with Your love and grace,
she prayed silently.
***
“Kate, what’s going on?” Luke’s
angry tone rose above the hum of voices. He strode into the yard followed
closely by Matt Johnson, Mike Hall and Jonathan.
“Oh, Luke, thank God you’re
here,” she cried, her eyes pleading with him. “You’ve got to get her down. I
don’t know how much longer she can hold on.”
The look on Kate’s face tore at
his heart. Wresting his eyes from hers, he glanced up to where Jo clung to the
tower. Fear tried to overwhelm him, but he fought it down, knowing that he
would need to stay calm in order to get her down.
“Jo, honey, you hold on tight.
I’m coming to get you,” he called to the frightened girl.
“I’m trying, please hurry.”
Jo cried, fear and exhaustion evident in her faint voice.
“Jake, get me that rope from the
barn, the long one we were using last week. Jon, get that wagon and team over
here. Mike, clear everyone away from this area.” Luke barked the orders and the
men jumped to respond.
“Just exactly what do you think
you are doing?” Matt asked in a steely voice.
“I’m going to get that little
girl down. What do you think you’re doing?” Luke returned evenly. “If you have
any ideas, let me hear them. Otherwise, stay out of my way.”
Johnson gazed at him with flinty
eyes, pausing for an instant, he turned and strode away to stand near Kate. At
the sight of the two of them together, Luke closed his heart and turned to the
task at hand.
Jake returned with a long,
coiled rope. Gauging the height of the tower with a practiced eye, Luke could
see Jo clinging to the structure about fifty feet from the ground. He cut off a
length that was just less than twice the distance. One end was tied securely to
the wagon, the other end he tucked through his belt. “Mike, you and Jon are
going to take the team out till the rope is just about taut, as I climb up,
back the wagon with me to feed it. I’m going to take it up there, throw it over
the beam, and tie it around her. As we start down, keep backing the team as we
go. That way if she should slip, the rope’ll keep her from falling on down.”
“Got it. Jon, you drive, I’ll
give you the cues,” Mike said.
“Hold on just a little longer,
Jo, I’m coming up.” Luke called as the wagon lurched forward, taking out the
slack.
Grabbing the rough timbers, Luke
tested the first cross beam with a booted foot. It gave slightly, but held his
weight. Taking a deep breath, he began the long climb up, hand over hand,
testing each foothold as he went. Keeping his eyes fixed on Jo, he was soon
beside her.
“Oh, Mr. Josey, I’m so scared!”
She clung tightly to the splintered boards, her eyes shut tightly against the
dizzying height. Luke could hear the creak of the blades turning lazily only a
few feet above their heads.
“Jo, listen to me. I’m going to
put a rope around this beam and tie it under your arms. Hold on just as tight
as you can while I do that. Do you understand?”
She nodded.
Tossing the rope lightly over the
timber with one hand, he caught it and pulled his weight against the beam, it
creaked but held fast. With his right arm hooked over a cross bar, and his legs
wrapped securely around one leg of the tower, he passed the end of the rope
around Jo’s small chest and knotted it fast beneath her arms.
Finding a footing as close
to her as he could, he grasped her firmly about the waist with one arm, “All
right Jo, I want you to let go of the tower and put your arms around my neck.”
Her lip trembled, her arms
quivered, “I can’t,” she gasped, “I can’t let go.”
“Yes you can, Jo, you’ve got to!”
he commanded sternly.
“I can’t, my arms won’t move,” she
wailed as tears began to stream freely down her cheeks.
“Jo, listen to me. With this rope
on, you can’t fall. C’mon now, let’s get down from here.” Luke watched her
fingers intently, finally they twitched, then in one enormous burst she was
wrapped around him, clinging with arms and legs, nearly throwing him from his
precarious perch.
Regaining his balance, he grabbed
the tower again with both hands. Slowly he began the descent, searching blindly
for each step below, checking the rope for tautness. He could make out the
wagon, moving slowly back with his descent, one agonizing step at a time. Jo
clung to his neck, burying her small face in his shirt. He began to pray
fervently for their safety. Looking down he realized there was less than twenty
feet to the ground. Breathing a sigh of relief, he picked up his speed, longing
to feel the earth beneath his feet.
The relentless rays of the
of the burning sun sent sweat streaming into his eyes, the salt stung,
momentarily blinding him. His hand moved instinctively to wipe away the
irritation, giving up the secure hold. Even as his foot found the next rail,
the sound of splintering wood filled his ears and he felt himself falling,
reaching out in desperation to grab the tower, but finding only air. Jo screamed
as he was torn from her tight grasp.
Red pain raced through him as he
landed on his back in the dry dust at the base of the tower. Gasping for
breath, a moment of panic seized him before the air rushed back into his lungs.
Gulping in great drafts of air filled his throat with dust. Coughing it out, he
rose to his elbow slowly, the pain retreating as he searched for Jo. She was
dangling above the ground slowly descending as the mules backed the wagon a
step at a time under Jon’s careful guidance. He tried to rise, but Kate was
beside him, her eyes filled with fear.
“I’m all right, get Jo,” He
managed to gasp, waving her away. Kate nodded, turning just in time to reach up
and ease the girl into her arms.
“Momma, oh Momma,” Jo cried.
“Hush, it’s okay, now, Jo, you’re
safe,” Kate crooned to the girl, stroking her hair and rocking her gently.
“Luke’s dead and it’s all my
fault,” Jo continued to wail.
“Well, for a dead man, I’d say I
was feeling pretty good,” laughed Luke, standing and patting the distraught
child on the back. “A little sore, but all in all, not bad for someone who’s
dead.”
“Luke! Oh, Luke, you’re not
dead. I was sure you were dead. You fell so far. I’m so sorry I did that, I’ll
never do it again, never.” Jo, still held firmly in Kate’s grasp, reached over
and threw her arms around her hero. Luke returned the embrace, including Kate
within the circle of his arms. He could feel the tension leave her body as she
rested her head against his shoulder. Glancing over Kate’s head he met the hate
filled gaze of Matt Johnson.
***
“Well, what a cozy tableau this
is, my fiancé in the arms of another man.”
Kate could feel the rage rising
within her at the insinuation in Matt’s words. Handing Jo to Luke, she squared
her shoulders and faced him. “Mr. Johnson, I am not now nor have I ever been
your fiancé. I’m sorry if you had that mistaken impression.” Kate spoke calmly
but clearly. She was keenly aware of the gathered crowd, and thankful for their
presence. “I appreciate the kindness you have shown to me and my family in the
past, and your concern for my present and future wellbeing, but I cannot marry
you,” she continued.
Matt’s countenance grew dark; he
took a step forward, “I would urge you to reconsider that position, ma’am,” he
said in a low voice.
A murmur rose among the
crowd, tension filled the air. She felt Luke’s hand on her arm as he stepped
beside her. She glanced at him, her eyes pleading silently with him to allow
her to finish this. He nodded. Their friends and neighbors gathered behind
them, leaving Matt Johnson alone and unprotected.
“No,” she shook her head firmly.
“My home is here, this is my family and my land. The Lord has provided for us,
and I have full faith that He will continue.”
“Kate, you don’t know what you’re
doing.” Matt’s tone was threatening.
“I believe she does,” spoke the
normally taciturn Lars. Kate glanced at him in surprise and flashed him a
grateful look. Others voices spoke up in agreement.
“I’m thinkin’ perhaps it would be
best if you left about now,” suggested Mike Hall.
Matt glared at Lars and Mike,
then turned his venom on Luke, “I’d watch my step if I were you.” With a final
dark look at Kate, he strode past them and mounted. Spurring his horse roughly,
he disappeared quickly from their view.
“Well, good riddance, is what I
say!” Nana pronounced sternly.
Kate sighed as the tension began
to melt. Taking Jo’s hand, she turned to Martha, “Let’s feed these hungry
people, shall we?”
The table was set and women
carried heaping platters from the kitchen and the roasting pit, while the men
took turns at the well sloshing water over dust grimed faces. Children scurried
about chasing dogs away from the food, and laughing at the antics of their
elders that day. Soon all were gathered around the large plank table in the
yard, waiting expectantly for Jake to ask the blessing on the meal. The old man
walked to the head of the table, hats were removed and hands folded, a hush
descended upon the gathering.
“Our Father, we come humbly this
day in thanks and praising Your name. We thank You for the bounty You have
provided, the friends You have blessed us with, and most especially, Father,
for returning Jo to us safely. Bless, now this gathering and this food so
lovingly prepared. It is in Jesus’ name I ask this, Amen”
The amen was echoed quietly about
the table. Kate looked up in time to see a tear slip silently down Jake’s
leathery cheek. Excusing herself from the group of women gathered about her,
she hurried to him, slipping her hand into his as she had so many times in the
past. Then she was seeking his comfort, now she longed to comfort him. “It’s
been a long day, Jake.”
“That it has, that it has,” he
sighed.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really,” he replied shaking
his head.
“Then will you sit with me a while
in the shade?” she asked.
He nodded, and they wandered over
to sit in the shadows of a spreading oak. The grass was cool and thick beneath
the boughs thick with leaves that sighed in the gentle breeze. Kate spread her
skirt about her as she sank to her knees in the welcome shade.
Jake sat slowly with a
grimace. “I guess these old bones are getting a might creaky on me,” he said.
“It wouldn’t hurt you any to slow
down a bit, you know,” Kate admonished him gently.
“Ha, slowing down these last few
days is what caused these creaky joints! I need to keep working, keep
everything tuned up, or this old body’ll just up and quit on me.”
“Oh, Jake, sometimes I wish I
could just build you and Nana a big house and give you everything you deserve
in life,” Kate sighed. “But you know, I believe you’re right. I don’t think
either one of you would last six months if you had to live a life a leisure.”
They laughed together with a feeling of camaraderie that Kate realized had been
missing these past weeks.
Sitting together in companionable
silence, they watched people heaping plates of food and juggling cups filled
with water or lemonade as they found seats together in small groups. The drone
of conversations punctuated by guffaws of laughter floated lazily on the warm
summer air. The scent of smoke from the roasting fire clung to Jake’s clothes.
The aroma made Kate’s stomach growl, but glancing at Jake, she decided staying
by him was more important than food just now.
“Are you going to marry Luke?”
Jake asked presently.
“He hasn’t asked me to.”
“He will.”
“Perhaps,” Kate mused, plucking a
fat blade of grass and examining it closely.
“Well?”
“Well, what?”