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THE NEXT WEEKS FLEW by. Flinty, good as his word, brought in a small crew to make the repairs and improvements Joy requested. The first additions were new, reinforced doors, front and back. Flinty himself installed the keyed locks, the new “dead bolt” type, he called them.
Carpenters repaired the leaks in the roof and, after consulting Joy’s plans, stripped off all of the old shingles, rolled out and tacked down new tar paper, laid down a second layer of wood, and replaced the shingles with sheets of heavy metal.
As the workers re-roofed, some of them sectioned the attic into three bedrooms, a tiny office for Joy, a storage room, and a small sitting room they would share. The workers nailed tar paper to the ceiling of the attic and the exterior walls to hold in heat. Then they lath-and-plastered the ceilings and all the walls to reduce noise and nicely finish the rooms. For heat, Flinty installed a small oil-burning stove in the sitting room.
The men also repaired the second story balcony and replaced the weathered door to it. Two of their crew began work to add a wide porch that would wrap around one side of the lodge. “We will need some sturdy all-weather chairs for our guests to sit in and watch the sunset,” Joy announced one afternoon.
Flinty retired to his shop to craft half a dozen he declared would be “jest what th’ doctor ordered.”
Joy also requested that they add a small balcony and a door that would open from the attic under the ridgepole, the highest beam of the roof.
Almost like a widow’s watch, she thought with a wry grimace.
The view from the attic balcony would be unparalleled. In addition to the mountain vista, they would have a bird’s eye view of the siding and be able to keep watch on the comings and goings of the trains—and those who disembarked in Corinth.
David lent a hand in the kitchen and pantry. He repaired cupboards, added shelves, and then sanded, stained, and oiled the wooden-planked floor. Breona and Marit scrubbed the pantry and all its shelves with boiling water and lye soap. When the room came up to Breona’s exacting standards, they applied a coat of strong whitewash to the ceiling, walls, shelves, and floor.
The carpenters worked with an eye to the changeable weather. Fall was short-lived in these mountains; any day a winter snow could halt their progress and the lodge was in no way ready for severe weather.
Uli had questioned Joy about the wisdom of opening Corinth Mountain Lodge just as winter was setting in.
Joy had shrugged and replied, “I sense in my spirit that we cannot wait for good weather, Uli. The girls and I need a place now, and if we have only a few visitors during the cold season, well, that will give us time to fully ready the lodge for the spring and summer season.
“In the meantime, we will sell Marit’s goods at the siding and live from my savings. More importantly, we will prepare ourselves to receive a harvest of young women who may need the quiet of the lodge this winter.”
Uli had still frowned with a tiny bit of concern so Joy had provided a more serious answer.
“It is not the best business plan—I acknowledge this. But I was praying, and the Lord showed me a passage of scripture that seemed to settle my heart. It comes from the book of Ecclesiastes. Just listen to this.
“He that observeth the wind shall not sow;
and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit,
nor how the bones do grow in the womb
of her that is with child:
even so thou knowest not
the works of God who maketh all.”
It was the second reference to birthing children that especially spoke to Joy, but she kept that precious bit to herself. Instead she told Uli, “I figured that if Solomon, the wisest man in the world, understood that God’s ways are often not our ways, then I could trust the Lord a little, too.”
Uli relented. “Well then, Joy, we will pray with you for a harvest to grow in the snow!”
Joy also received a response from Arnie and Anna. Arnie had at last located Billy: He was digging ditches for the city of Omaha. With winter coming on, Billy was more than happy to become a shop keeper again.
Two weeks later Joy received a wire from Arnie. It was short and mysterious, and she laughed aloud.
Expect B within week. A
She showed it to Breona and Marit. “My cousin Arnie is taking care that snooping eyes here in Corinth have nothing of note to report,” she surmised.
“Aye. Flinty says naught happens in Cor’th a man bein’ called Morgan do not know ’bout,” replied Breona, lifting one eyebrow.
“Morgan? Hmm.” Joy was distracted by a letter that had arrived from RiverBend at the same time as the wire from Arnie. A letter from home! She tore it open in her eagerness.
Dear Joy,
I am so stirred in my soul by the work you have undertaken. Just as some of the brave missionaries we read of who have sailed to the far-off lands of China or India, you have “sailed” to your mission field. Papa and I pray for you every day that the Lord will lead you, guide you, and make you fruitful for him.
Joy read several tidbits of news from her extended family and the community of RiverBend, some happy, some needing prayer. However, she was unprepared for her mother’s closing paragraphs.
I do not mean to overly concern you, Joy, but Papa is not doing as well as I would hope. He has had some pains in his chest and difficulties breathing. Today he seems well enough, although I notice that he is not often out of his chair.
Please do not come running home at this time. You have important work in your hands that should not be interrupted. Søren visits us each evening and helps Papa to bed. If things change, I will wire you immediately. Joy, I know you are praying for Papa, and I want you to know that I trust the Lord in all things.
Love,
Mama
Stunned, Joy tried to digest her mama’s words. What would life be without her papa? What would Mama do if Papa passed away? Joy bowed her head and prayed in earnest for both of her parents.
—
ON FRIDAY FLINTY JOGGED to the lodge from his smithy near the siding bringing good news. “Yer friends hev arrived, they hev!” He was out of breath but grinning as usual from ear to ear.
“Friends? More than one?” Joy was puzzled. She smoothed her hair and dress while Marit and Breona made haste to load a basket with foods to sell to passengers. They donned sweaters or cloaks, and Flinty walked them toward the siding.
A plume of coal smoke billowed into the sky from the engine as it idled down the track a piece. A light haze of gritty soot fell from the plume and wafted in the chilly breeze. Along the tracks small clusters of passengers stretched their legs while the crew topped off the engine’s water tank and coal bin.
“I sint a boy on over t’ yer cousin’s place t’ git th’ wagon,” Flinty puffed as they walked.
“You are a good friend, Flinty,” Joy said sincerely. As they came closer to the platform, Flinty strode out a little ahead of them. Joy saw why. The two sleek black motorcars and a group of men waited on a trio of elegantly dressed male arrivals. Joy and the girls slowed down until the cars pulled away.
Relieved to avoid a possible confrontation, they made their way to the siding platform. Marit introduced herself and her wares to passengers, several of whom gathered around to make purchases. Breona stayed close to Marit and kept an eye out for trouble.
Joy, on the other hand, searched down the tracks for a very large young man. There he was! She waved and grinned at Billy who was standing in front of an open box car. He grinned back, his face alight with the same fun and laughter she knew so well. What a welcome sight! With him were two others.
“Arnie!” Joy flew down the track to her cousin. Arnie turned toward her voice—and so did the third man in their party, his gray hair standing up in tufts around the crown of his head.
“Mr. Wheatley!”
His faced creased into a happy smile. “Now that is a sight for sore eyes,” he declared, shaking her hand, his eyes growing a little misty.
Joy could not restrain herself. She hugged Arnie and barely refrained from hugging Billy and Mr. Wheatley. “I am so happy to see all of you—and so surprised!” Oh, how she had missed them all.
“I could not talk him out of it, Joy,” Arnie declared, pointing his chin at Mr. Wheatley. “When he heard from Billy where you were and what you were about, he insisted on coming along. He told me, ‘I will just make myself so useful she will have to take me on.’” Arnie chuckled. “Not much I could do to stop him from buying a ticket.”
Mr. Wheatley looked a little abashed, and perhaps a tiny bit worried, but Joy reassured him at once. “I would be proud to have you join us, Mr. Wheatley. We can talk later about how to best employ you, but we have so much to do!” She added in a more serious tone. “You will always have a place with me as long as I am in business. I am honored that you came, too.”
A real tear formed in his eye then, and Joy remembered that he had no family. “But Arnie!” she added to change the subject, “What are you doing here? Are you looking for a job, too?”
Arnie just put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her again. “Anna insisted I come and make sure all was well with you. Believe me, it took an act of Congress to keep Petter and Willem at home and at their studies. You can imagine how they are chafing right about now.
“Anna had to stay home and keep their noses to the grindstone, so she sent me along with Billy and Wheatley. I am fairly certain I will be required to submit a report in triplicate when I return to Omaha. Oh, and your old employee, Mr. Taub, sends his warm greetings. He is doing well.”
Billy had watched the greetings from the sidelines, his cap in his hand. Joy smiled and addressed him personally. “Billy, I cannot tell you how delighted I am that you have come. I could not think of anyone I wanted more to oversee the inventory and to come help me.”
She took a breath and included Mr. Wheatley in her next words. “We are walking a fine line here in Corinth. Perhaps when you learn all about it, you may wish to return to Omaha.”
Billy, grinning, just shook his head. “Mr. Arnie filled us in on our way here, Mrs. Michaels. I am in for the long haul.”
Joy looked him up and down. He had been head and shoulders over most men when she had seen him last, but he had also had the lankiness and sometimes clumsiness of youth. Six months of digging ditches in the city had filled him out in hard muscle. Gone was the gangly and ungainly young man she had known; now he seemed solid and grounded. Moreover, Joy knew he was quick-witted and loyal. She nodded in approval.
“You are all, as our dear Flinty says, ‘just what the doctor ordered’. I could not be happier.” She saw Marit and Breona waiting not far off and waved them over. “I would like you to meet the other members of our little household.”
As she introduced everyone around, she spied David and Uli’s wagon coming toward them. “Good. We can start moving the inventory right away. It will be getting dark soon, and if you think this nip in the air is bracing, wait until the sun drops behind those mountains!”
Joy gestured toward the panorama in the near distance and laughed as the three newcomers gaped. When had she last laughed so freely, so spontaneously? She smiled again. “And wait until you see the view from upstairs at the lodge.”
Uli was just as amazed to see her brother as Joy had been. Greetings, hugs, and handshakes took several more minutes. At last Joy had to urge them into action.
“It truly will be dark soon. We should hurry along.”
The men began to unload the freight car onto the siding platform, knowing that they would have to make many trips with the wagon. The women walked together back to the lodge to put on fresh coffee and add more potatoes to the stew.
The shifting of the goods from the siding to the lodge took until long after dark. When the last crate was stacked in the great room, Marit had supper and fresh bread waiting. Breona, Joy, and Uli had busied themselves making up beds for Arnie, Billy, and Mr. Wheatley.
The great room was crammed with boxes and crates, so they shared the meal in the kitchen around the rickety table. The men had to employ small boxes as chairs, but the mood was cheerful and companionable.
At Joy’s request Arnie prayed. “Bless this food, O Lord, and the hands that prepared it.”
Joy smiled as everyone dug into the hearty stew Marit had made.
~~**~~
