Carl paced back and forth. News had come that many of the soldiers were breaking up from their camps and heading home. Speculation of Chief Paul’s appearance at the farm ran hopefully in his mind. Every little sound from outside had him hurry to the window or door. The afternoon brought clear skies for a change, and temperatures rose above freezing. That meant nothing would hold a traveler from getting to the farm. At least that’s what Carl surmised.
At least the work out in the barn was a little more comfortable now that Carl had become more familiar with what had to be done. The weather gave Thomas a chance, with the help from Carl, to clean out the stalls and put fresh hay down. Not an easy chore when it was cold and snowing. The horses were let out in the corral to bathe in the morning sun that would soon be gone with the clouds moving across the sky. The men took care of the work of cleaning out the stalls while they were unoccupied.
With breakfast far behind and not yet time for something to eat for lunch, Carl took up a vigil at the window, anticipating the sight of the one Indian he so wanted to see.
“Come have a little rum,” Thomas told him as he sat at the table, a tin cup in hand. “You’ll beat yourself up looking for Chief Paul. He may not get around to this place for some time.”
“Why do you say that?” Carl asked as he came to the table. “Word had it that they’re breaking up and heading for home. He has to come by here, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, true, he does usually come by here, but that may take some time.” He poured some rum in a cup and handed it to Carl. “Don’t fuss over it. I think he’ll show up soon. For now, just relax. We had a busy morning and need to take the rest of the afternoon with ease.” He held his cup to his mouth for a healthy drink of rum, and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Later we must take care of cutting wood for the fireplace and setting feed out for the livestock. It never ends.”
“Yeah, I know it. I don’t know how you folks do it. This is a lot more work than the farming I know of. That is, back in the future. You’d be surprised at how things progress from this time to my time. I’m sure you won’t believe it if I told you.” He took a drink of the rum and set the cup down.
Beth walked up to him. “Take it easy with the rum. We don’t need you falling down drunk again. You’re not used to it like Thomas is.” A sound from outside had her looking toward the window while Carl sprang to his feet to take a look. To her disappointment, Carl reported it was just the wind. She, too, wanted more than anything to see Chief Paul ride in. If Carl is right, she thought, we might have a chance with him to get back, but back to what? Will the cottage still be there, and what about the cat; is Tabitha all right? Then the sudden thought of her parents and Carl’s family.
It hit her with a start. They had to be worried by now. We have to get back.
Helen came to the table with bowls and spoons. A large kettle on the stove, hot with steam climbing from the rim of it, offered a soup she made from yams and corn. She looked at Beth who stared out into space. “You look so lost today. Is something wrong?”
Beth turned to her and said softly, “No, nothing, it’s nothing. Can I help you?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind, would you please get Annie from the bedroom? She has been napping, and I want her to eat some soup.” She smiled at Beth. “That little one loves to get up on the big bed in there every chance she gets.” She laughed and went on setting the table for the afternoon meal.
Beth had grown fond of the child and knew she would miss her. That is, if she ever returned to her own time. The mere thought of not getting back sent a shudder down her spine.
The little girl was on the bed, curled up like a baby. Beth touched her shoulder lightly and gave it a soft push. “Come on, Annie, Mommy wants you to come eat your lunch.”
Little eyes stared up at Beth and a smile appeared on the child’s face. She sat up and rubbed her small fists gently over her eyes with a long yawn.
As they gathered at the table, the front door opened to find a tall man standing there, an Indian blanket around his shoulders and boots high to his knees. Thomas rose and held up his hands. “Chief Paul,” he shouted. “You’re here at last. Come in and have something to eat. We have guests who have been waiting for you.” The door closed behind the worn-looking warrior as he stood so gallantly in the sights of the waiting lost couple who were now standing staring at him.
Nothing could have been more enlightening than to set eyes on the man they had waited so long to see. Carl left his place at the table to meet the chief as he came closer to them. He extended a hand to the tall man, and Chief Paul responded with a generous handshake.
“I am so glad to see you. My wife and I need to talk to you about something you may not understand, but it can wait until…”
Thomas walked up to them. “We are always happy to see the chief, but I think it would be a good idea to let him come in and eat, maybe rest awhile before getting into this, Carl.” He then held out a hand to usher the chief to the table. “We were just about to have lunch. Won’t you please join us?”
The man spoke well, with a bit of English accent, to Carl’s surprise. “You always have food for me, and I am grateful. It’s nice to meet your guests. I will be happy to talk later.” The tall chief removed the blanket and set it on the floor near the door then came to the table.
When the door opened again, a soldier came in with a bag over his arm. He stomped his feet on the small rug at the entrance and closed the door behind him. The chief waved to him to come over to the table. “Bring the bag with you,” he ordered.
“I see you’ve brought us something again. You always do, and what is it this time?” Helen asked, her curious eyes wide with wonder.
The chief laughed. “I think you’ll like this one. I was happy to have it given to us at a farm we visited on our way to the fort. I immediately thought of you, Helen.”
She was like a child on Christmas morning when she graciously took the bag handed to her. Helen loved receiving gifts, and this one couldn’t have come at a better time. With winter at their doorstep, she knew it meant being cooped up in the cabin for many months.
Everyone sat and watched her open the bag with curious eyes. She sat at the table, the burlap container straddled between her legs. She slowly untied the string holding it together and peeked inside. “Oh, will you all look at this?” She removed a brightly colored shawl and spread it out on the table. “It’s beautiful.”
The men laughed with joy at her happy response to the well-made knitted garment. Helen stood to remove her short brown one and glided the new one over her shoulders and around her chest. It hung down past her waist and covered her with all its glory.
“It truly is beautiful, Helen. You wear it well,” Beth told her as she admired the workmanship that went into making it.
The chief stood and offered a toast with his cup of rum. “Here’s to one of our wonderful homemakers who has helped so many and never complains.” He held the cup up to her. They all followed his lead in the toast and drank from their cups.
Food, drink, and most importantly, rest, had the chief and his companion settled in for the duration, until it was time to be on their way again. Helen made sure they had everything she could provide for them, including a warm and robust fire in the fireplace.
Carl had only a short conversation with the chief. “I’d like to talk to you about helping my wife and I get back to our home. It’s a place in the future. I know you’re tired, but if it’s possible when you’ve rested a bit, could we talk?”
“Of course, I will be ready to listen once I’ve eaten and rested,” the chief told him.
Accommodations were difficult, but Helen and Tom were used to offering their humble home to tired, worn travelers. It meant sleeping sitting up in their evening chairs, or lying on the wool rug like they had been since the lost couple arrived. But they never worried about their own comfort. They only wanted their guests to be taken care of.
The chief lowered himself down on the large wool rug in front of the burning logs and covered his legs with his blanket. His soldier friend put his head down, wrapped up in his arms, on the surface of the long wood table and sat there with no problem closing his eyes and drifting off. The dark of night fell with little chance for anything more to do but rest.
Beth and Carl retired to the bedroom behind a closed door. “I’m happy we have this room to sleep in. I couldn’t stay out there with all those people,” Beth told him as she climbed on to the soft feathered mattress.
“Don’t knock it; we finally have the chief in our midst, and I’m waiting to see how he will help us get back to the future.” Carl sat on the bed and removed his boots. “He doesn’t look like any Indian medicine man who performs miracles. In fact he has more of an English look about him, and he talks like he’s English.”
“I thought we were told he spent years in England.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
Beth rolled over and hugged the blanket up around her neck. “I hope we find out in the morning how he can help us. I hate not knowing.”
Carl slipped in under the blankets and kissed her cheek. “I do too.”