from Granny’s well for scrubbing, laundry and baths—not to mention all of Granny’s cooking and baking, and Aunt Kate’s sewing and fitting and sewing some more. Even Holly Jean got in on the act as Aunt Kate showed her how to hem the skirts with dainty, hard-to-see stitches. Finally both dresses were ready.
When Holly Jean tried hers on, she squealed with delight and gave her great-aunt a big hug. The yellow-flowered dress sparkled like a summer day. Why, it looked as if it came straight from the newest Sears catalog, or even from one of the big department stores back in Cincinnati. “I love it! Oh, Aunt Kate, you did it! How can I ever thank you?”
Her great-aunt hugged her back. “My pleasure, child, my pleasure!”
Was Saturday never going to get here? Holly Jean wanted the party to start right then! And then, almost before she knew it, it did!
As soon as breakfast was over that Saturday morning, Granny Nanny started in on her last-minute cooking. Holly Jean and Aunt Kate hurried out to the barn to milk old Star and feed all the animals, including the barn cats and kittens. Little Domino even rubbed against Holly Jean’s ankle and purred! But he still wouldn’t let her touch him.
Then came the mad rush for everyone to get bathed, dressed, and hair done just right. Holly Jean’s new yellow dress was absolutely perfect! So was Aunt Kate’s. She had even sewn a new bonnet for herself to match her new blue dress. Whee!
Finally, they packed up all the yummy food Granny Nanny and Aunt Kate were bringing to the potluck. Everything smelled so good Holly Jean was ready to eat lunch right then!
In fact, she felt so good she was ready to bubble over. Oh, I just love parties! Thank You, dear God, for bringing Moon’s father back home to him and his mother after all those years! They’ll be so happy, and I’m so happy too!
Then she remembered that her own Papa Joe was still far away in the Army. Maybe he’d be gone for years too. Suddenly she didn’t feel happy anymore. Not fair, God! I want my papa home too!
But as quickly as she thought the words, she was ashamed. Instead, she sent God a quick prayer, asking Him to forgive her and keep both Papa Joe and Uncle Tom’s son, Cousin Willie, safe in this awful war.
Suddenly, a strange sound came from around the bend where the little dirt road emerged from the forest.
“Must be Tom’s pickup already!” Granny Nanny shouted. “Okay, gals, I’ll need you to help me carry all these vittles out to the truck!”
But instead of a motor, they heard horses, wheels, and a loud, “Yee-haw!”
What in the world was THAT?
Chapter 3
“Here They Come!”
By now Bear was barking wildly.
And then they saw it—a very old, but polished-like-new, buggy for two with an elegant leather top, drawn by two gorgeous horses. The driver was none other than Pastor Jake himself! But what a change! Instead of the old, much-patched work shirt and overalls he wore during the week, he now wore a very proper, glistening-black, preacher-man’s suit, and on this blistering hot day! He even sported a black hat and tie! But best of all, he wore a smile from ear to ear.
“Whoa!” he called, as he reined in his mounts. “Hey, folks!” he shouted. “See what Brother Max ’n me found ’way back in Max’s old barn—Pa’s carriage—the one me and sweet Miss Kate was going to ride in to that pie social so long ago—the night Pa’s barns burnt down. Remember, Kate?”
Then he leapt right down from the carriage seat and bowed grandly to Holly Jean’s great-aunt.
Granny Nanny laughed. “Why, Pastor Jake! You did that as spry as a spring chicken!”
“Well, Miss Kate,” he said, “guess I done kept you waitin’ over 40 years now. Ain’t meaning to keep you waitin’ one second more! Me ’n Max done cleaned up the old buggy, and he loaned me some horses, so now I’m fired up and itchin’ to go. Ready to come along with me to welcome Daisy’s man home?”
“Reckon so,” she replied primly. “Thankee very much for asking.” Holly Jean’s great-aunt fairly glowed, and so did her new blue print dress.
Their pastor placed Aunt Kate’s basket of food in the carriage, then helped her up. Not that he needed to; she practically jumped up to the seat herself—bad knees and all! And her smile was even broader than Pastor Jake’s!
“See you folks up at Max’s!” she gushed.
Then he cracked the whip, the horses whinnied, and off they trotted.
Holly Jean turned to her grandmother. “Well, now, wasn’t that something, Granny?” She stopped in alarm. “Oh, dear! Are you crying?”
Granny Nanny was both grinning and sniffling at the same time. “Never you mind, girl. Listen, that motor I hear must be Tom’s truck for real. Just you and me now. Ready to go?”
A moment later Uncle Tom’s old pickup rumbled up in front of the cabin—with half of Morgan Mills in the back, it seemed! Everyone was laughing, waving, and holding baskets of food for the big potluck.
“Howdy, folks!” Aunt Tillie called from the open pickup bed. “Would you believe Tom here closed his store down today for this trip—on a Saturday, no less! First time in 15 years! He’s going back there to open it, of course, after he drops us all off.”
Grinning, her burly husband stepped out of the cab. “Not afore I hug Daisy’s husband, though,” he retorted. “And not afore I take my ma, Holly Jean and Aunt Kate and—”
Looking around, “Whar’s Kate? Confound that woman! We gotta git goin’!”
Then Granny and Holly Jean told them all about Pastor Jake and the carriage. And everyone clapped and cheered!
A few minutes later, the truck headed up the hill. Granny Nanny sat in the cab with Uncle Tom and all the food she’d been preparing for the big party. Holly Jean squeezed in the open back of the truck between a pretty black-haired young woman with twin black-haired boys, another young woman with a little girl and a baby, some elderly men and women she didn’t remember meeting, Holly Jean’s Aunt Tillie, and (oh, no!) Bob Anderson’s catty granddaughter, Tootsie! Not to mention all the boxes and baskets of food they’d all brought!
Fortunately, Aunt Tillie had covered the truck bed with a thick old quilt, so their dress-up clothes and food could stay clean.
“Howdy, Miss Red Hair!” chimed one of the boys. “Ain’t never seed you afore. What they call you?”
She grinned. “Holly Jean. What’s your name?”
“Jim and,” pointing to his brother, “him’s Tim. Jim and Tim McCollough. That’s our ma. Ain’t she purty?”
Their mother blushed. “Now, boys!” She reached out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Miss Holly Jean. Ain’t never seen you around these parts before. I’m Minnie McCollough. We’re new here. My boys will be fourth-graders in Miss Linda’s school. My husband, Freddie, is in the Army. Sure be glad when he’s back home with us.”
“And I’m Steve Mitchell,” offered one of the older men. “Where you all from, gal?” he asked Holly Jean.
Tootsie gave a hard laugh. “Well, you can sure tell she ain’t from around here, can’t you, Mr. Steve? That’s why I call her ‘Cincinnati Catty.’ She ain’t got no nice drawl a-tall, like us folks got here in God’s country.”
Now Holly Jean blushed. Come on, Tootsie, why can’t you ever say anything nice?
But the elderly gentleman frowned. “Now, that weren’t very kind, Miss Tootsie.” Patting Holly Jean on the hand, “Right pleased to meet you, dear. I understand you’re Joe Roberts’ gal. We’re all praying for your pa, child, and for all the rest of them brave servicemen like Miss Minnie’s husband and Miss Tillie’s son.