The Baron’S Nephew—Oliver Olsen: A Sailor, Horseman, Emigrant, Wagon Master, Banker, and Builder; a Man Who Wore Many Hats. Book No. 9 of the Wolde Family Saga

By Bill Conner

Oliver Olsen and Jack Strickland planned to leave on their journey to western Kentucky as soon as it got light enough for the horses to see.

Monday morning came too soon. They all picked at their breakfast and fought to keep a straight face. Patrick, Lucy, and Martha Sawyer had spent the night with the Woldes; as did Jack Strickland. Paul arrived suddenly, it seemed, to say the surrey was at the end of the driveway and it was time to go.

Mister Olsen, sir, Julian said, his voice trembling, youve said nothing about Lady or her puppies. Do I dare ask what you mean to do?

Julian, its been on my mind ever since I got here. Lady has followed me everywhere Id let her go, and the puppies are too precious for words. I cant decide whats best to do. By the way, I havent seen Lady this morning. I wonder where she is.

Pardon me, Mister Olsen, Paul Interrupted, but I happened to overhear what you said. I think the decision has already been made for you. Ladys outside, sitting in the buggy seat, waiting for you and Jack.

With tears in his eyes, Julian asked, Please, Mister Olsen, Id like to tell her good-bye. May I walk out with you, sir?

Of course, you may, Julian, Oliver replied, hugging the man and fighting tears himself. You will keep one of her puppies, wont you?

Oh yes, sir, I will keep the little girl and do my best to raise her to be like her mother. Ill call her Tina.

Halfway down the driveway, Oliver spoke to Jack, When you get to the pike, stop for a minute. I want to take a last look behind us.

A few minutes later, Jack stopped. Oliver and Lady got out and stood in the roadway a few minutes. He shed tears while the beautiful red Labrador whined for her puppies. We cant have this, Lady, Oliver said to his dog. If we stand here any longer, well both change our mind. Come on, girl. Lets go home to Kentucky.

Bill Conner
Author

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524529994

Bill Conner

I retired on the last day of the year 2008. I was seventy-eight years old, and it was a sad day; I found it very hard to let go. After several weeks of listening to my growling and complaining about having nothing to do, my wife gave me a challenge I could not refuse. I had talked for years about writing a book but claimed I never had time to do it. My wife said I now had plenty of time so I should get to it, and that’s what I did. I had no idea how to begin, but somehow I managed, and The Last Good Year is my eighth book to be published. I am halfway through writing the ninth and promised myself I would write a total of ten before I quit and retire again. It’s a pretty lofty goal for a man now eighty-four years old.

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Copyright © 2016 by Bill Conner.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016912510

ISBN:  Hardcover  978-1-5245-3001-3

Softcover      978-1-5245-3000-6

eBook       978-1-5245-2999-4

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without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Rev. date: 07/29/2016

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DEDICATION

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Oliver Olsen, the great-great-great-grandson of Geraldine, was a true descendant of the Mactavish clan. However, his relationship had remained unknown to the rest of the family for three generations. Book 9 is about Oliver; it’s time he was recognized as a member of the clan. It’s time for me to recognize someone else too: my wife, Peggy Hope Conner.

When I retired at the end of 2008, it wasn’t long until I realized that not going to work every day wasn’t as great as I’d thought it would be; I was soon bored and grumbling about having nothing to do. Then Peggy, who’d grown tired of listening to me moan and groan, solved my problem.

You’ve complained for years, she said, about how you’d like to write a book, but could never find time enough to do it. Well, you’ve got the time now, she continued, so hop to it.

So far, I have written 9 books, but could not have done it without her love and support. So, Peggy, this one’s for you.

I dedicate this book to my loving wife, Peggy Hope Conner.

Bill Conner

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Contents

Cast of Characters

Author’s Note

Prologue

Chapter One

A Parting of Friends

Chapter Two

Roy Wolde Makes a Deal

Chapter Three

Oliver Returns to Kentucky

Chapter Four

Oliver Olsen and Jack Strickland

Chapter Five

Lexington, Kentucky

Chapter Six

The Road to Cadiz, Kentucky

Chapter Seven

Thornhill Farms

Chapter Eight

On the Road Again

Chapter Nine

Elk Lodge, Territory of Wyoming

Chapter Ten

Cadiz, Kentucky, January 1858

Chapter Eleven

Dr. Andrew Cannady

Chapter Twelve

Thornton Kingsley and Wolf Moon

Chapter Thirteen

Susan Kingsley

Chapter Fourteen

The Gold

Chapter Fifteen

Hans Stottelmeyer’s Brickyard

Chapter Sixteen

George Dawson Arrives

Chapter Seventeen

Clive Hobson Buys the Bank

Chapter Eighteen

Wolf Moon Returns

Chapter Nineteen

Boyd Macclellen Takes Charge

Chapter Twenty

When It’s All Done but the Leaving

Epilogue

The Baron’s Nephew

OLIVER OLSEN

First Mate, the Catherine Ross,

a China clipper

Cast of Characters

The Wolde Family

Nathan Wolde – preacher, statesman, chaplain

Mary Catherine Wolde – wife, Baroness Mactavish

Roy Wolde – son, head of Mactavish Enterprises, married Megan O’Connor, moved to Wyoming, partner of Michael O’Connor

Charles Raleigh Wolde (Riley) – Baronet, Dundee, Scotland

Martha Jane Wolde – daughter, married Michael O’Connor, lived in New York City

Sarah Wolde – daughter, succumbed to diphtheria at age thirteen

Lucy Wolde – daughter, moved to Scotland to study nursing

Close friends

Patrick O’Connor – Nathan’s closest friend and partner

Lucy O’Connor – wife of Patrick

Sean O’Connor – son, worked for B & O railroad

Michael O’Connor – financial whiz, treasurer of Mactavish, New York City

Megan O’Connor – daughter, married Roy Wolde

Martha Sawyer – wealthy widow of Albert; Mary Catherine’s best friend

John Wilson Sr. – banker and mine owner

Elizabeth Wilson – wife of John Sr., DuPont heiress

John Wilson Jr. – land developer, partner of David Sullivan

Anna Rothchild – widow of Laurence, financial advisor to Roy Wolde, Michael O’Connor, and David Sullivan

David Sullivan – good friend of the Wolde family, partner of John Wilson Jr., replaced Roy as head of New York City division when he moved to Wyoming

George Gray – owner of feed and seed store, big landowner

Roger Shelton – managed Nathan and Patrick’s real estate company

James Marsden – retired, former superintendent of B & O railroad

Mildred Marsden – wife of James, mother of teenage twins Sally and Suzy

Mactavish Shipping and Trading, Dundee, Scotland

Miguel Cardosa – Head of division

Rachael Cardosa nee Rabinawitz – keeper of accounts

Baron Ian Mactavish – retired to family estate in Jamaica

Ruth Mactavish nee Rabinawitz – wife of Ian

Sean Culbertson – Manager of Mactavish Shipyard, Newport, Scotland

Esther Culbertson nee Rabinawitz – wife of Sean

Mactavish Western Division, Cadiz, Kentucky

Oliver Olsen – Head of western division

Kristina Olsen – wife of Oliver (deceased)

Gilbert (Gil) Wells – purchasing manager

Sally Wells – manager of Oliver’s store

Jack Wells – son of Gil & Sally

Mary Campbell nee Buchanan – Oliver’s former office manager, married Sam Jensen

Sam Jensen - Oliver’s attorney, later appointed circuit court judge, married Mary Campbell, died suddenly from a heart attack

Liam O’Casey – manager of Oliver’s bank, nephew of Patrick O’Connor, married Alietta Chamberlain

Boyd MacCallen – Oliver’s construction superintendent

Trey Smythe – carpenter

Bennie Smythe – carpenter

Allan Gailbreath – master carpenter and framer

Wesley Grainger – owner of stage line, married Shannon MacCallen

Harold Stone – managed livery stable and feed lot

Persons of note in Cadiz

Hans Stottelmeyer – makes brick for Oliver

Giles Lee Stedman – doctor

Andrew Cannady – doctor, recovered alcoholic

Shannon MacCallen – nurse, married Wesley Grainger

Jessie MacCallen – wife of Boyd; former nurse in South Carolina

Brittany MacCallen – daughter of Boyd and Jessie, sister of Shannon; trained in nursing by mother and sister

Donald Buchahan – Presbyterian preacher, father of Mary Campbell, preached in church built by Oliver

Herman Blevins – former mayor of Cadiz; an honest man

Henrietta Blevins – wife of Herman; opened restaurant in Cadiz

Walter Clemmons (Ozzie) – Oliver’s good friend, managed his farm, married Monique Chamberlain; succumbed to pneumonia

Monique Chamberlain – Oliver and Kristina’s former cook and housekeeper, widow of Ozzie Clemmons

Alietta Chamberlain – daughter of Monique, worked in store with Sally Wells, married Liam O’Casey, died in flu epidemic

Guy Rorick O’Casey – deceased infant son of Liam and Alietta

Buck Daniels – Sheriff of Trigg County, Kentucky

Oliver and Jack’s Journey from Fairmont to Cadiz

Oliver Olsen – manager of Mactavish western division

Jack Strickland - joined Oliver in Virginia and planned to accompany him to Wyoming; brother of Jason, father of Hank, already in Wyoming; married Alva Mae Duncan

Jeffery Hylton – farmer, Glenville, Kentucky; brought family to Cadiz and joined wagon train; wife Marie, son James

Madge Dalton – housewife, Morehead, Kentucky; gave son to Oliver and Jack so he would have a chance to make something of his life

Timmy Dalton – son; in answer to his mother’s request, joined Oliver and Jack

Leeland Creighton – owner of thoroughbred horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky; formerly of Kilbride Farms, Glasgow, Scotland

Fiona Creighton – estranged wife of Leeland; lived in Scotland

Mary Elizabeth Creighton – called Beth, thirteen-year-old daughter

Bruce Anderson – veterinarian for Creighton Farms

Callie Anderson – wife of Bruce, housekeeper for Leeland

Alva Mae Duncan – managed Creighton Farm Store

Thornhill Farms, Adair County, Kentucky

Calvin Weir – owner

Hope Weir – wife of Calvin, sister of Thornton Kingsley

Thornton Kingsley – overseer of Thornhill Farms, married Mary Bell, sister of Wolf Moon

Amy, Susan, Josephine, Emmaline – daughters of Thornton and Mary Bell

Clark Agnew – business partner of Calvin in C & C Heavy Haulers, Nashville, Tennessee

John Stevenson – employee of Thornhill Farms

Ross Burton – employee of Thornhill Farms

elk Lodge, Territory of Wyoming

Roy Wolde – head of Mactavish Enterprises; owned sheep ranch and Midwest stage coach lines; held deeds to almost thirty thousand acres of land in Wyoming; partner of Michael O’Connor in several investments back east; married Megan O’Connor, sister of Michael

Megan O’Connor – daughter of Patrick O’Connor, sister of Michael and Sean; married Roy Wolde; mistress of Elk Lodge in Wyoming

Penny Olsen nee Mactavish – widow of David, daughter of Baron Robert Mactavish, sister of Baroness Mary Catherine Wolde nee Mactavish; lived at Elk Lodge with her two young sons

David Olsen Jr. – age three years, son of David and Penny

Robert Steven Olsen – age eighteen months, son of David and Penny

Bob Johnson – overseer of all Roy’s property except the sheep ranch

Mary Alice Johnson – overseer of the household at Elk Lodge

Jack Wells – son of Gilbert and Sally; handled special projects for Roy; a man very handy with weapons

Rebecca Wells nee O’Shaunessy – wife of Jack, sister of John at Davidson, cousin of Liam, Oliver’s banker.

James Randall Wells – age six months, son of Jack and Becky

Roy’s Sheep Ranch And Homestead

Alexio Hernandez – Basque, overseer of sheep ranch

Benedita Hernandez – lived in bunkhouse with Alexio and family in charge of purchasing, cooking, cleaning, and laundry for the homestead

Marcelino Hernandez – age thirty-two, supervised onsite herders

Fausto Hernandez – age twenty-eight, worked with brother tending to the needs of the herders and their families

Davi Hernandez – age twenty-five, supplied the needs of the sheep herders and families, worked closely with his father

Caterino Hernandez – age twenty, helped his mother

Leticia Hernandez – age seventeen, helped her mother

Notables at Davidson, Southwest Territory of Wyoming

Henry Gustaffson – captain of David’s wagon train; appointed overseer of Davidson by Penny Olsen

Gracie Gustaffson – wife of Henry, generally regarded as the camp’s doctor and midwife

Foster, Gunther, Daniel, Luther, and Lennie – sons of Henry and Gracie

Daughters of Henry and Grace:

Geraldine – married Blair Underwood, a former Cavalry trooper Genieva – married Joey Strickland

Daniella – married Hank Strickland

Jason Strickland – father of Joey; Hank’s uncle

Jesse Gray – son of George Gray, brother of Robert

Kathleen Gray nee Hightower – wife of Jesse, daughter of Captain William Hightower, commander of Fort Riley, Kansas

Robert Gray – brother of Jesse, highly skilled with pistols

John O’Shaunessy – brother of Rebecca, pal of Robert, another pistoleer

Joshua – a giant of a man, a blacksmith who can fix anything

Sawmill people

Elmer Dickerson – Sawmill owner, banker, land investor, financial advisor, lived in Chicago

Lester Tuttle, Roger Gentry, Paul Bletcher, and Eddie Simms – these men had all worked at sawmills for Elmer Dickerson in Ohio and Tennessee

Author’s Note

I have taken some liberties with the dates of certain happenings in order for them to fit the flow of a completely fictitious tale, but no changes were made to the event or occurrence itself. The characters’ names were made up by the author, and any resemblance to that of any actual person is purely coincidental and unintentional. I have treated my characters with the same love, kindness, respect, and honor as I do my real family, which, in a sense, they are. I have also taken special care not to write anything I feel would embarrass a reader. I hope you enjoy my book.

Bill Conner

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Prologue

This book continues the Wolde family saga from my previous book, The Last Good Year, and mostly concerns the exploits of the baron’s nephew, Oliver Olsen. It is also a book of coincidences.

Shortly before his death, Robert Mactavish surprised clan members attending a formal dinner at the barony with this announcement: I’ve asked Oliver Olsen, our newly-discovered family member, to be a standard bearer to carry our clan colors deep into the heart of the American west and establish a stronghold in a place of his choosing.

************

The Mactavish clipper ship Catherine Ross, left Glasgow, Scotland, on the first day of September 1857. In addition to her cargo, she had three important passengers aboard: the baroness Mary Catherine Wolde nee Mactavish; Martha Sawyer, widow of Albert, a wealthy friend of the baroness; and Oliver Olsen, the great-great-great-grandson of Geraldine Mactavish. The clipper ship docked at Southport Harbour, New York City, on the seventeenth day of September, and the three people were met at the pier by Michael O’Connor and David Sullivan. David sadly told Oliver his wife Kristina, still in England with their son Steven, had taken her own life a few days after the Catherine Ross had sailed from Scotland.

************

On the seventeenth day of September that same year, Capt. Henry Gustaffson led his wagon train into a little community called Cheyenne, Territory of Wyoming. Aboard one wagon was Penny Olsen nee Mactavish, daughter of Baron Robert Mactavish and sister of Baroness Mary Catherine Wolde. Penny was the young widow of David Olsen, son of Oliver Olsen; their two young sons were also on the wagon. David was slain by a shot fired from ambush as the wagon train neared the Kansas/Missouri border, a few miles east of Nevada, Missouri.

************

The next day, September 18, the members of the wagon train met with Roy Wolde, son of the baroness, and his wife, Megan O’Connor, sister of Michael O’Connor. Michael was Roy’s business partner and married to his sister, Martha Jane. Roy and Megan lived in a huge lodge built of native pine logs, and located in the foothills of Elk Mountain, near Medicine Bow, Territory of Wyoming.

************

Mary Catherine, Martha, and Oliver spent three days resting and shopping in New York City. On the twenty-first of September, Michael O’Connor and David Sullivan went with them to the Pennsylvania Railroad Station and saw them off to Baltimore. Michael explained that Nathan planned to meet them there at the Belmont Hotel on the twenty-fifth, and they must not leave without seeing him. If Nathan had not showed up by then, they were to telegraph him, Michael, for instructions. Nathan’s luck was good; on the twenty-fifth, they all boarded a B & O train headed for the mountains, expecting to arrive at Fairmont, Virginia, on the first day of October.

************

David and Michael returned to their office after having seen their friends off. Michael immediately sent a telegram to Roy Wolde in care of the telegraph office at Omaha, Nebraska. He told Roy about Kristina’s death, and that his mother, Martha, and Oliver caught a train to Baltimore and planned to spend two days there visiting before continuing on to Fairmont. Michael stated his telegram was to be held at the Omaha office until called for by Mr. Wolde.

************

About three weeks later, the sixteenth of October, Roy Wolde, Jack Wells, and Jesse Gray left Fort Laramie, Wyoming, for Omaha, Nebraska. Roy had plans to begin operating a stage line between the two locations as soon as he could get things up and running.

When the three of them arrived in Omaha, Roy went directly to the telegraph office, meaning to send a wire to his partner. Before he could do that, he was handed the wire they had been holding for him from Michael. Roy read the news about Kristina Olsen’s death and was saddened. He worried briefly about how this news was going to affect Penny. However, he was five hundred miles away from home, and Penny would not learn of her mother-in-law’s death for another month.

************

David Sullivan, a kind and caring young man, returned to New York from Virginia to manage Mactavish Enterprises while Roy was away. During a conversation between himself and Oliver Olsen, he’d asked the man about his plans. Oliver told David he wanted to spend two weeks or so in Virginia, resting with the Wolde family and Patrick O’Connor. He especially wanted to see John Wilson Jr., who’d been a close friend of his son David. Following that, he would climb aboard a horse and head west to Kentucky, expecting to arrive at Cadiz around the first of November.

David thought it best Sam Jensen and Liam O’Casey be made aware of Kristina’s death, as well as Oliver’s impending arrival, so he wrote a letter stating these facts and put it in the next mail pouch to Liam, who managed Oliver’s bank in Cadiz.

************

In the telegram he sent to Michael from Omaha that day, Roy asked his partner to get in touch with Arthur Stanley and find out where he, Roy, could buy sawmills and traction steam engines. Arthur was head of the family’s timber business and presently operated four sawmills in western Virginia and two in eastern Ohio.

************

Lorne Campbell’s association with Henry Gustaffson’s wagon train began at the end of April 1857 at Fort Scott, Kansas, two weeks after David Olsen’s death. He and twelve troopers had been sent from Fort Riley, Kansas, to close the fort, to salvage and bring back anything usable, and burn the rest. They had almost completed their assignment when the wagon train showed up.

Kansas was a dangerous place to be in those days, so the lieutenant agreed Henry and his wagon train could follow the troopers to Fort Riley. They arrived there on the twenty-eighth day of May, and when the wagons left for Nebraska on June 18, the handsome young lieutenant was hopelessly in love with Penny Olsen, who still mourned her husband’s death.

************

Lieutenant Campbell became Captain Campbell on the first of September 1857, and was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He arrived there a week later and received orders to proceed at once to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, with a squad of troopers and make a thorough inspection of the fort’s condition. The army desired to increase the fort’s strength by a full platoon, and needed to know whether or not the fort could house and feed the additional troopers and their mounts.

On his way back to Fort Leavenworth, Captain Campbell stopped at the land office in Cheyenne and made inquiries about Henry Gustaffson’s wagon train. He missed seeing Henry and Roy by one day, but he didn’t know that. However, what he did know, was where to find Captain Henry and she of the yellow hair and blue, blue eyes.

************

On the sixteenth day of October 1857, sixty-five-year-old Sam Jensen was behind the judge’s bench in the Trigg County Courthouse, talking casually with the bailiff, an old fellow named Jonas Parker. It had been an unusually trying day, and Sam was happy to see it come to a close. He slowly leaned over to pick up some documents that had slid to the floor, gasped once, and fell to the floor with a loud thump. Jonas, suspecting what had happened, left in a gallop for Dr. Stedman’s office two blocks away. Dr. Stedman, a portly fellow himself, did his best to hurry but could just as well have walked slowly; Sam Jensen was already dead from a massive heart attack.

************

Two days after the funeral, Mary Jensen, widowed daughter of Rev. Donald Buchanan, and Oliver Olsen’s former secretary, came to see Dr. Giles Stedman. Mary, he said, I am terribly saddened by your loss; Sam was a much loved man in these parts. I’ve always heard the Lord knows best, and who can say he didn’t have a hand in this? I’m sure you’ve heard Oliver plans to rejoin us here in Cadiz and will likely arrive in a week or so. Did he know, do you think?

No, I’m positive he didn’t, Doctor. Of course Sam did, but it didn’t matter to him; he loved me and the baby as much as any man could. You were the only other person who knew the truth. It never caused Sam to waver in his friendship with Oliver; he knew I was trapped by a stern preacher on one hand and Oliver and his wife on the other. Poor Oliver; now he’s lost a son, a wife, and a good friend. I hardly know what to say to him.

Mary, as your doctor and your friend, please heed my advice and say nothing; just let things happen as they will. Sam knew for years he couldn’t father a child, so in a sense he deceived you too.

No, Doctor, you’re right about the first part, and that’s what I’ll do, but you’re wrong about the last. Sam and I told each other the truth, and it worked out just fine. Pray for me and little Sam, Doctor.

************

Fate stepped in and raised the ante; Oliver was delayed in leaving Fairmont. He’d received an urgent message from Ed Barlow, manager of John Wilson Sr.’s bank, saying John must speak to him before he departed for Kentucky. When he and Jack Strickland went to the bank, Ed told them John had gone to Grafton to a meeting with B & O Railroad officials and would likely be away for three days. Next, he told them of Sam Jensen’s death, and said he suspected that was why Mr. Wilson needed to talk to him.

Oliver, Jack said, it’s not much out of our way. Why not ride on over to Grafton, see John, and we can get back on the turnpike at Clarksburg? At most, we’ll only be about three days later than what we planned.

All right, Jack, Oliver replied, I agree with you; let’s do it.

************

At this point in their journey, neither man had given much thought to the kind of weather they might encounter on down the road.

************

Over on Yellow Creek, Southwestern Territory of Wyoming, Jason, Joshua, the Kenneday brothers, and Henry Gustaffson’s sons were visited by six Native Americans, who showed the men how to build shelters that would protect them and the animals from the terrible cold, thereby saving their lives.

************

In April of the year 1858, Capt. Henry Gustaffson loaded up the rest of the men and women and the wagon train headed west. They would rejoin the eleven men who had gone there almost a year earlier to establish a town site and have some sort of temporary housing ready for the others when they arrived. They would call the town Davidson.

Roy Wolde insisted Penny Olsen, as well as Jack and Rebecca Wells, would remain at Elk Lodge. Under no circumstances would he allow his aunt to leave, and he had other plans for Jack Wells. Bob Johnson had already been appointed his overseer and Bob’s wife, Mary Alice, became Megan’s helper in running the household. Rebecca helped Roy in his office as needed.

Roy’s decree suited Penny just fine; she admired and respected both Capt. Henry Gustaffson and his wife Gracie, so she placed him in charge of all her property in the west. She also entrusted the building of David’s town to Captain Henry. Penny put it all in a letter, and had it witnessed by Roy and Bob Johnson; Jason Strickland could see to the ranch. Perhaps someday she would make the journey westward, but right now she was content to stay with Roy and Megan.

************

Chapter One

A Parting of Friends

Nathan slowly climbed out of bed, showing no enthusiasm for the coming day. It was the tenth day of September, and it had just occurred to him that at least another week would pass before his wife’s ship would dock at South Pier, New York City. In a way, he wished he could delay the ship’s arrival for a while, but for how long, he wondered. Yes, pray tell, how long a time would be needed before it would be easier to tell my good friend, Oliver, the awful news?

He stopped, was putting on his pants—one foot already through a pant leg—and sat there quietly on the side of the big old bed. Lord knows I ought to be the one to tell him, Nathan was thinking. Riley said his momma went back to England and told them about David’s death, and now she is going to be with Oliver when he hears that Kristina’s gone. Suddenly he heard a soft tapping on the door, and Julien stuck his head inside the room.

Breakfast’s on the table in fifteen minutes, Reverend Wolde, he said, then left as quietly as he’d come.

************

Nathan went and sat alone at the big table, picking at his food, and occasionally sipping coffee from a steaming mug. This was an indication of how low in spirit he’d fallen. Reverend Nathaniel Wolde was well known to have a voracious appetite.

It crossed his mind that Mary Catherine had been away since the middle of May, and the thought made him cringe. My wife will be home in two weeks or so, but my friend will never see his lovely Kristina again. Then he caught a glimpse of movement through the window and turned to stare outside. There was a man on horseback coming down the lane.

What on earth is that sick old man doing riding a horse? Ain’t it enough I got my brother Oliver to worry about? There’s my other brother, Patrick, done rode a horse near ten miles when he ought to be home in bed. Boy, am I glad to see that old codger. I better eat in a hurry and throw on some clothes.

Julien popped in again. There’s a rider coming down the lane, and I believe it’s your friend Mr. O’Connor. Should I go ahead and fix him a plate, sir, what do you think?

Yeah, ah, no, Julien, maybe we better not. Patrick’s not well, you know, and the doctor from Grafton’s been giving him down the road about his eating habits. I sorta hold a man ought to eat whatever it is he likes; nothing ever seemed to bother me. Let’s wait and see what the man has to say for himself. Tell you what, Julien, I’ll hurry my eating and take my coffee in the library. You send Patrick in there, and I’ll see if he can have some coffee too. How’s that sound to you?

Splendid, sir, good choice. I’ll remove your dishes quickly, and we shall not tempt your friend. No need to hurry your meal, sir. Mr. O’Connor always goes to talk to the puppies before he comes into the house.

************

Patrick came into the room, spoke no word of greeting, walked over to a chair close to the fireplace where he could sit facing Nathan, and plopped himself down.

Are you ill? Nathan growled, having seen the dour look on his friend’s face.

Ye’ll have to be more specific, Reverend, afore I can tell ye. If ye be asking me do I feel ill ’cause Lucy said git out of the house and go sommers, then my answer is no. But if ye be inquiring as to the state of my physical being, I say maybe. But in truth, I’m a little put out because Samantha won’t let me bring the pups in the house.

************

Patrick, you know good and well what pups do; I’m not referring to, ah, piddling, or whatever else you want to call it. What I’m getting at is, them pups will chew on anything they can get their mouth on. Look at this furniture. Why, I bet some of it is a hundred years old. Can’t be having teeth marks all over it, Patrick; it’s priceless.

Nathan, you could claim one a’ them panthers follered old Dan Morgan home one night and snuck in the house where a big ruckus took place ’twixt him and that big cat. Shucks, tell it just right, might make it worth a lot more. Preacher, you got anything important in mind to do today?

Yeah, I do, brother; been thinking on it ever since you come by and lifted my spirits with your sparkling conversation. Reckon I might ride down to the depot and sit on one a’ them new benches awhile. Man can do that, and he can watch the trains go by; them big engines a-huffing and a-puffing.

What fer? Patrick growled.

Oh, I don’t know, brother. I guess I could count all them coal cars and figure out how much money John Wilson’s made today. You wanna go?

May as well; nobody’s offered me anything to eat around this place. Ought to be sitting in yonder eating hot biscuits and gravy. Nah! Fool doctor’s done put his foot down on that. I wouldn’t turn down a cup of coffee, but nobody’s offered me one. That doctor, he wouldn’t like that either. Just go git your coat and hat and we’ll walk on down to the barn.

Brother Patrick, I’ll not have you telling everybody in the country that you wasn’t offered a cup a coffee at the preacher’s house. You just sit right there; I’ll have Julien bring you one. While you enjoy your coffee, I’ll go down to the barn and saddle me a horse.

************

As Nathan walked down the hill toward the barn, he saw his overseer Paul O’Shaunessy and several other men in the feed lot. They were busy harnessing horses and leading them around to the front of the barn where five empty wagons were parked. Nathan stopped, not wanting to interfere with the men’s work, but Paul saw him and waved for him to come on down.

************

Good morning, Paul, don’t let me hold you up. Looks like you’ve got a good crew this morning. Are you all headed for the cornfield? Nathan asked.

Yeah, we are, Nathan, Paul replied. I figure we’ll have all the corn shucked by day after tomorrow, but it’ll take another day or two to get the fodder hauled to the barn. We’ll put most of it in the barn down next to Woodrow’s place and take John a couple a loads of nubbins for the hogs. The two of them will haul in the pumpkins after we’ve taken care of the neighbor’s corn. We sorta help each other back and forth.

************

Paul, I’m ashamed to say it, but I’ve about forgotten what farming’s all about. However, I must say you’re doing a fine job of taking care of things. I’d like to say hello to all these boys since so many of my friends and neighbors are here in a bunch. I promise you, Paul, I’ll make no speech.

That’s fine with me, boss. Say, have you heard anything more from Roy? I was wondering if Becky and Jack have a baby yet.

No, Paul, I haven’t, and to be quite honest, I worry about those folks a lot. Many a time I’ve wished Roy had never bought that land in Wyoming. I have to believe they are all right, Paul, or we’d have heard something from Roy. I’ll go say my hellos to the lads and get out of your way.

************

Nathan rode flame up to where Patrick’s mare, Gray Lady, was tied, and hollered for the old man to come a-running. They rode out the lane to the turnpike without a word having been spoken. All along the way, however, Patrick had been giving his friend curious glances. When they reached the roadway, Nathan turned his horse to the left and Patrick could hold it no longer.

What’s wrong with you this morning, brother? This ain’t gonna git us to no railroad depot. Something’s bothering you mighty fierce and I intend to hear what it is. You got no call to keep nothing secret from me, Patrick stated, firmly.

You’re right, Brother Patrick, but it’s mostly things we’ve talked about many a time before. Didn’t do no good then, and not likely to now.

I hear where you’re coming from, Nathan. It’s about how everything’s changed from them good old days, ain’t it?

You’re right again, but it’s not just that by itself. Look around you; ain’t anybody but us, is there? Where are our families? Why, they’re all scattered here and yon. Riley’s way across that big ocean. You reckon I’ll see him again in this lifetime? Little Lucy grew up too soon, and she’s over there too. Only the Lord knows what she’s a mind to do with herself. Roy’s not much closer, and poor little Sarah is already in the ground. Where’s my wife, brother? I’m not talking about the baroness; I know where she is. I’m talking about my wife.

Brother, you are truly in a bad way. Now you look a-here, Nathan. Your wife is on her way home, and you know it. But poor Oliver’s ain’t; he’s never gonna see his wife again. How are you gonna feel when you meet Mary Catherine at the train and give her a big hug? You gonna tell Oliver you’re sorry he’s got nobody to hug? By the way, what are we going to say to that poor man when he gets here?

I don’t know, Patrick; I’ve thought and thought about it too. What can you say to a man who’s lost both a son and a wife?

Well, there you go, brother; you ought to be rejoicing instead of feeling sorry for yourself. Your boys might not be here, but you know where they are, and your wife’s on her way home. ’Sides, you ain’t always here where you need to be yourself. Between your preaching and politicking, I ’spect she feels about the same way you do sometimes. Where we going?

I sorta had in mind to go visit Papa and Momma’s graves and say a few words to them. Then we could circle around the old home place and take the road through the woods that comes out next to the post office where we first met each other; you do remember that, don’t you? Look over yonder at the feed store, there’s old George sweeping off his front porch. I hear he’s been ailing too; is that true?

Yes, I’m afraid he’s got much the same problems we have; both his boys are gone out yonder with Roy. I heard something else, Nathan, I bet you don’t know.

Patrick, there are times when a man’s better off not knowing something, and since this is coming from you, this just might be one a’ them times. You’re going to tell me anyway, so get on with it. Whoa! Wait a minute; will this cheer me up or not? If it’s going to make me feel worse, you can forget about it.

James Landry made George an offer to buy all his land.

Well, don’t stop there. Is George going to take him up on it? Hold on! Wait a minute, before you answer that, who’s going to look after the feed store? I’ve still got my office in that building. Makes me wonder why George has said nothing to me about this.

’Cause George ain’t decided nothing yet; he’s still trying to figure out how much land he owns and where it’s all at. Patrick smirked.

Nathan stopped his horse. Old man, you’re as bad as them women. Getting anything outta them is like pulling hen’s teeth. Are you going to finish this tale or not?

He ain’t selling the store, Nathan, or the little piece of land it’s setting on. He’s leaving all that to Tom Lewis in his will.

Is that so? Nathan said, returning Patrick’s smirk. And just how would you happen to come by information like that? he asked.

George told me so himself.

Nathan kicked his horse’s flanks with his boot heels, and Flame took off up the road. He pulled the horse to a stop about two hundred yards away, but could still hear Patrick’s laughter ringing in his ears.

Patrick, talking to his horse, said, Well, Missus Gray Lady, I reckon that got the preacher out of his doldrums.

Nathan didn’t say a word as Patrick rode up beside him, but he’d been doing a lot of thinking. Ten minutes later, when they passed a gate with a sign saying Thunderstorm on it, Nathan had figured out a way to get the upper hand on his brother.

"That’s some of your doings over there. I’m talking about that sign. Our brother, Albert, had it made for Mary Catherine a week or two after we’d sold her the farm. You said you couldn’t say the man’s name, Sunderstrom, and always called him Thunderstorm. Mary Catherine heard what you said one day, and she liked it so much she wanted it put on her gate."

Aye, brother that I did. Ain’t nothing wrong with that I can see, is there?

No, but it’s the start of what I’m fixing to tell you, Nathan replied. When I walked down to get my horse earlier this morning, Paul had a bunch of men down there hooking up horses. They were fixing to go work the cornfields. Let me tell you who all I saw.

"One a’ them was Randall Landery. Him, his wife, and little girl, Mary Ann, still live at Thunderstorm which, of course, is now owned by his brother, James. Marlene is John Wilson Jr.’s office manager.

"James’s son, Raymond Landery, was there too. Raymond married Judy Fugate, and is Paul’s brother-in-law. Raymond and Judy live on my old home place, and she works in our real estate office for Roger Shelton.

"I said hello to Woodrow Fugate, one of my own tenant farmers; Woodrow is Paul and Raymond’s father-in-law. John Randall, my other tenant farmer, was there too. Woodrow takes care of the horses and cattle, and John looks after the sheep and hogs.

Jeremy and Thomas Hancock, sons of my former overseer, Herbert, had also come over from their father’s farm to help.

Patrick stopped Gray Lady and pulled her head around till he sat facing Nathan. Just hold on a minute, brother, this is good to know, but all it means is that they help each other during harvest time. Where are you headed with this? he asked.

Well, nowhere really, Nathan responded. I just thought if you put it together with what your good friend, George Gray, told you, you’d have more to brag about.

Nathan, you sure you’re all right? You been acting strange all morning. I can’t rightly see how any of this belongs together.

"No, I’m not all right, Brother Patrick, and the further we go up this road, the more I’m beginning to believe coming this way wasn’t a good idea after all. But I do want to see the little cemetery where I buried Papa and Momma.

When we get a little further on, there’s an old trail that begins angling up the ridge; you know where it is. That way, we can go around where James and Eleanor live, and come out on the top of the knoll where the graves are. Lucy’s husband, Joe, is buried up there too, you know.

It took about half an hour of hard climbing, but the panting horses finally got to the top.

Patrick, if you don’t mind, climb down and hold the horses. I’d like to walk over there by myself. I’ll only be a few minutes.

All right, brother, go ahead. I understand, Patrick replied.

************

"Papa, there are folks who would think me a weak person because there are times when my memories get a tight hold on my heart and mind, but, Momma, you know better, don’t you? You never told Papa about the times I cried at night; I was your little man, and you taught me how to be strong.

A man should not be thought weak for recalling memories of good times long past; sometimes they are all he has left to hold on to. I never want to forget them, or the two wonderful people who raised me. I want you to know I’ll be all right because the things you taught me were good. They made me strong, and I’ll survive this sadness because of you. I thank the Lord for the time we had together and none will ever rend us asunder.

Nathan brushed away the tears, turned, and walked back to where Patrick was holding their horses, only to find the old man crying silently. Unable to stop himself, Nathan put his arms around his good friend and held him tight for a few moments.

Nathan, Patrick sobbed, I could not help but hear what you said, brother, and it struck me you were saying goodbye, if not to your folks, then to somebody else; maybe me.

I know you’ve not felt well for some time now, Patrick, and you’ve got to take better care of yourself so you’ll be around to look after me when I have these spells. Somehow, we’ve got to help Oliver, if only I could think of a way to do it.

Julien’s going to give Oliver one a’ them pups, and that ought to count for something. You do know he’ll go back to Kentucky, don’t you? How’s he gonna get there; you got any ideas, brother?

"By golly, Patrick, you may have hit the nail on the head. See there, that’s what I meant. Every time I feel myself sinking in the mire, you’re always there to reach out and pull me back.

I know you’ve seen that new surrey George took on consignment from some place in Ohio; it’s the kind that has a top you sorta fold back. It’s very lightweight, and good for a horse that likes to trot.

Yeah, I’ve seen that thing; George wanted me to buy it, and I admit I was tempted. It has them new-fangled coil springs and rubber tires too. Old Oliver and his pup could ride back to Kentucky in high style in that surrey.

How much did he ask for it; do you remember? Nathan asked.

Nah, we never got that far, but it don’t matter, does it? Shucks, we both got more money than we know how to spend, and the young-uns got more than we do. Does George know about Kristina’s death, or do you know?

Patrick, I honestly don’t know, but Tom Lewis does, and he sees George about every day. I think we have to believe George knows. What made you ask that?

Because I think when George sees Oliver and finds out he’s going back to Kentucky, he’ll give Oliver that surrey.

I believe you’re right, but, brother, I’m not going to stand still for that. The least he can do is let us split it three ways.

That won’t work either, Nathan. Better make that four ways, because you know John Wilson’s gonna insist he’s made a part of it. Climb on, brother, let’s get off this hill. You know something else?

No, I doubt if I do, and you’re gonna tell me anyway, so let’s have it. Wait a minute, is this going to make me sad again?

Maybe, but it’s the good kind a sad. You remember me, you, and Oliver riding all around the country back in April? You were telling him why we weren’t farmers anymore.

Yeah, brother, I sure do. That’s the time we all got into pitching horseshoes over behind George’s store.

You ain’t gonna like this, Nathan, but I gotta confess anyway.

Well now, I’ve got to hear this, so please, go right ahead, I’m all ears. No, wait a minute, brother. You do realize you’re fixing to confess to a fully ordained minister of the Gospel, don’t you? Is this a new sin or an old one? Nathan asked.

Nathan, I didn’t say anything about sinning. I’m the most God-fearing person you know. ’Sides, we was talking about horseshoes.

All right, go ahead; I just wanted to make sure you knew it would be the reverend you were confessing to. What is it you’ve done now that’s eating on your conscience?

I cheated.

Why you conniving old whiskey-drinking, tobacco-chewing Irisher, I knew it all the time, and you tricked my poor son into going along with it. You just wait till Oliver gets here; me, you, and him are going to pay Mr. George Gray a visit, and it ain’t gonna be about no buggy either.

Ignoring Nathan’s comments, Patrick calmly asked, Where we going now?

Nathan knew it was useless to keep pretending he was angry, Patrick would simply ignore him like he was doing now. He’d wait for a better time.

I wouldn’t mind having a look at the houses Lew Smythe is building for David and Junior on Broad River. They’re calling the community, Pine Grove and it’s on the land you swapped them for doing the work on Bessie’s place. You been up there?

Nope.

Well, wouldn’t you like to go? It couldn’t be much over two miles up the river from where you live. I would have thought you’d like to know what your new neighborhood is going to look like. I don’t understand you, brother.

That may well be, but I understand you, Nathan, Patrick said. And I know how your mind works too. You’ve got it all figured out. He pulled out his watch and gave it a quick glance. It’s half past ten now, and time we get over yonder, it’ll be eleven. Let’s say we look around a bit, howdy the boys a few minutes, and when we mount up it’s going to be close to noon. Where do you reckon our next stop is going to be? My goodness, I believe it’s Bessie’s place, Patrick said, and laughed.

Brother, I consider that the same as an invitation to dinner. Do you happen to remember what Lucy’s got on the menu today? Oh my goodness, I didn’t bring any money with me this morning. I reckon we could pitch a game of horseshoes to see who pays for our dinner, but you’d have to promise me you won’t cheat, Nathan said and began laughing himself.

It ain’t funny, Nathan, Patrick responded, then he tapped Gray Lady’s flanks lightly with his heels and pulled her head to the left.

Where you going now? Nathan exclaimed.

Why, I reckon I’m taking you to dinner. Come on, I know a shortcut. I’m glad there ain’t nobody else along to hear the way we talk to each other. It’s bad enough the horses have to listen to us. Nathan, I been a-thinking, do you reckon the family will have a reunion next year?

Patrick, that’s a hard question for me to answer since I haven’t given it any thought. Right off hand, I have to believe we ought to, don’t you? I mean, we’re scattered all over the country now, and if we don’t have another reunion there’s a whole lot of us might never see each other again. I just can’t abide a thought like that.

I hear you, brother, and that last thing you said is sad but it’s true. Me dotter’s way out yonder with Roy in Wyoming. Michael and your Mary Jane live in New York City. Sean and his sweet wife Felicity are in Baltimore. How’re we all ever gonna git together? It preys on me mind something awful at times. I ain’t talking taters here, Nathan, but it’s a mighty hard row to hoe.

You know something else, Patrick, I’d sorta like to ride out there to Kentucky with Oliver. Shucks, I’d even like to see what’s so great about Wyoming that makes everybody want to go there. Ain’t no way that’s ever going to happen though. Can you imagine me saying to Mary Catherine, ‘Dear, me and you are going to take us a trip to Wyoming to see Roy and Megan?’ Why, she’d hand me my coat and hat and wish me a safe trip.

You’ve made your point, brother, but she might surprise you; feller can’t never tell.

Well, you’re right, of course, but I’m telling you now that while Mary Catherine and Oliver are both here, I am going to insist that a reunion be held, and at a place that can be reached by all the family members and their friends.

Oh my goodness, Patrick, will you look at that. Why, they’ve built a whole town. I’m pretty sure I saw Junior. Hey, them fellers have to eat somewhere; wonder where that is?

Junior loads them up in wagons and they come flying down the river to Bessie’s place, Patrick said, and never cracked a smile.

You knew this all the time, didn’t you, you white-bearded old reprobate, but you never said a word, Nathan exclaimed.

With a look of pure innocence on his face, Patrick calmly said, Ye just now asked me, Nathan.

Nathan proved himself to be intelligent as well as a quick thinker; this was not the time to pick a fuss with Patrick. How many men you figure are working down there for Lew and Junior? he asked.

Twenty-three regulars; some days, a few more, but maybe one or two less.

I’m glad to hear that, Patrick, ’cause now I know what to do.

What’s that?

Me and you are not going down the hill and look at houses; we’re going to cut across that field yonder and make tracks for Bessie’s place. If we let them fellers get there first, there won’t be nothing left for me and you to eat. Now let’s go.

How you planning to cross the river? Patrick muttered softly.

You better figure out a way for us to get to the bridge or you’re going to be swimming across it. Now, let’s git.

************

They had almost finished eating when Nathan heard the wagons pull up outside. He counted the workers as they came through the doorway, and was amazed by the orderly way everything took place. The men formed a line all the way from the door to the kitchen entrance, where they were handed a plate of food by either Lucy or Mary. Eating utensils and a coffee mug were already on the tables. Two younger women, whom Nathan did not know, were bringing coffee, milk, bread, butter, and jelly to the tables. Something else surprised him, but he didn’t know why it should have; Junior Wilson and Lew Smythe came in at the end of the line.

Patrick, although it pains me to do so, I must commend you for what I’ve just seen. I counted twenty-four men as they come through the door; no, make that twenty-six. I forgot to include Junior and Lew. Anyway, what I was about to say, them men came in, got their food, and were eating in no more than fifteen minutes. I think that’s pretty doggone good; is that your doings, brother?

’Fraid not, Nathan, I’ll have to give Junior credit for that. He said that’s the way they did it at West Point. Lew gives them fellers an extra hour fer eating and don’t dock their wages either. That’s how they git good folks to work for them instead of drifters. Tom Lewis just come through the door, Nathan; let’s me and you scoot on around a bit so the three a’ them can sit with us.

Lew, I believe I can tell you who them two riders were we saw on the hill across the river; it was them two old coots sitting across the table. Patrick, I heard you was sick and here you are riding around the country spying on us working men, Junior said, then he laughed. Couldn’t get across the river, could you?

It’s Patrick’s fault, Junior, Nathan said. We were coming down the pike when I mentioned I’d kinda like to have a look at the houses you and Lew were building. He’s the one said he knew a shortcut through the field.

Don’t pay him no mind, Junior, he ought to have known where we were. Me and him own that land, and Arthur Stanley cut and sawed all them big oak trees down close to the river. You do remember that, don’t you, brother?

I reckon you got me on that, Brother Patrick. I was getting hungry; didn’t eat much breakfast, so my mind was mostly set on finding some food. Anyhow, it don’t matter much now. Here comes Tom Lewis. Hey, Tom, come on over here, there’s room enough for you too.

Howdy, Tom, Nathan said. Always glad to see a man who actually works instead of watching somebody else do it for him—no slight to present company. Say, Tom, me and Patrick passed the feed store earlier this morning and George was out sweeping his porch. We’d heard he was ailing. Is he feeling better now, do you know?

Nathan, George has good days and bad days. There ain’t no cure for what ails him, it’s loneliness and old age. If the boys were to come home, I reckon it’d cure one a’ them problems, but I doubt that happening. It’s a shame.

Tom, me and Nathan been talking some along them lines while we was riding down this way. I asked him if the family planned to have their usual reunion come April of next year, and he wasn’t sure. Me and him both think they ought to; if they don’t, how we ever going to see each other again? Everybody’s done scattered all over the country.

It’s odd, Junior said, but we all seem to have the same problem. My brothers will never come here to live, doesn’t matter how much Mother bribes them. Dad has no idea where any of his kin are or if they’re still living. I guess the same is true for you and Sarolin, Lew.

Where would you hold the reunion, Nathan? Tom asked. It would have to be someplace where folks could all get to. And another thing, I don’t think it should just be a reunion for the Mactavish family. There’s a whole lot of friends that would like to take part in it too.

Tom, I agree to what you said, but I’d like to hear some suggestions as to where we could meet, Nathan replied.

Junior spoke up again. Why not have it at Roy’s place in Wyoming? he asked, causing everybody to groan. Then went on. "Hold on now, let’s talk about this. Roy, Michael, and their wives went by train to Omaha, Nebraska, so anybody coming into New York by ship could do the same. Even better, David and Michael could meet them at the dock and they could rent a private railroad car and travel together.

Nathan, you can ride the B & O Railroad to Wheeling, and there must be a simple way to get from there to Pittsburg. Michael and Roy told me they were going from New York to Pittsburg, then go from there somehow, by rail, to Chicago. I remember they changed railroads in Chicago to another one that took them to Omaha. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I feel sure it can be done.

Yeah, Junior, Tom Lewis responded, I think so too, and for sure, you can find out how they did it from Michael or David. Here’s something else for you to think about, Nathan. You all have been holding your reunion in April, how about changing that to a date later in the year? Shucks, make it a year from now. All kinds of things are happening with the railroads every day, so maybe a better route will open up. Same thing is true with the telegraph lines.

Good idea, Tom, Nathan said. Me and Mary Catherine talked about Roy living in Wyoming before she left, and we both agreed Roy would need a way to communicate with Michael in New York. The first thing came to mind was he’d try to get a telegraph wire run from Omaha to Wyoming. I don’t know how long that would take, but seems to me a year ought to do it.

Fellers, Patrick said, ya’ll done beat that horse to death. Ain’t much we can do about it right now, so let’s talk about something we can. We need to figure out what to say or do for poor Oliver Olsen.

Patrick, that’s about as hard as trying to get to Wyoming, Junior said. Nathan, you know him better than the rest of us; what do you think we ought to do?

Nothing, Junior. Oliver is a strong man, smart too. He knows how we feel, and for us to run to him crying sympathy ain’t worth two cents. Oliver’s the one needs to talk, get it all out from inside himself, and he’ll do that one day. When he does, we’ll listen and hopefully learn what we can do to help.

Nathan, talking about Oliver is making us all feel sad, so let me ask you something else, Tom said. I have a hard time remembering you’re our state senator as well as a preacher and friend, so tell me, when do you go back to Richmond and do some work for us? he asked.

That’s funny, Tom, Nathan replied. I have the same difficulty at times. Let me see, what day is this anyhow?

It’s the tenth day of September, Patrick said, rather sharply. You wear too many hats, brother.

I won’t dispute that, Mr. O’Connor, Nathan responded. "That being the case, I’m supposed to be in Washington on, let’s see, ah, it’s the fifteenth. That would be, ah, what? Oh, it’s this coming Monday.

I’m supposed to observe a vote by the United States Senate the next day, on Tuesday. It concerns a proposal to conduct a census of all citizens in the country and would begin on the first Monday in January of next year. Patrick, in case you don’t know what a census is, it means the government will be counting heads, and that includes yours.

What fer? Patrick asked.

I reckon they use it somehow to figure out how much money they will collect in taxes for the next year; in other words, brother, I don’t know.

Nathan, Junior exclaimed, Monday’s not far off; how do you expect to get there in time? Why, you’d have to leave tomorrow at the latest.

Oh I can make it all right, Junior, but I might not show up till Tuesday morning, Nathan calmly responded.

You sure a that? Junior persisted, not quite believing what he’d heard Nathan say.

"Yeah, junior, or at least reasonably so. I have an arrangement with the B & O Railroad, who has been most generous in their treatment of me lately. The railroad allows me to ride in the caboose of the train hauling your daddy’s coal to Baltimore. I’ve done it twice already, and it took most of three days and nights to make the trip. I can either catch a local train or hire a carriage to get me from Baltimore to Washington.

If I rode the passenger train from Fairmont, I wouldn’t get there in time. That train is what the B & O calls a local, and it stops at every town of any size to let people get on or off. But the coal train only makes two stops; one in Grafton to hook on a pusher engine to help the train across cheat mountains, and a second time in Cumberland to unhook it.

Are you not going to Richmond, Nathan? Tom Lewis asked. Seems to me that’s a lot of traveling just to see how the senators vote.

"You’re right about that, Tom, and I ought to know since I’m the one doing the traveling. On the other hand, there’s much more to it than just watching them vote. Soon as it’s all done, I have to catch a train to Richmond and give a report to our legislature. Believe me, they’ll have a lot of questions about what took place.

"In particular, the legislators will want to know who voted against the proposal, because they’re anxious for it to pass. More important, they’ll want to know if any senators teamed up with each