Moon over Dryden

By Patricia Schmidt Jameson

Out of the Blue and Into the Light are stories about the six sons of Maudie and Paul Perkins. Moon over Dryden is actually the first book in the Dryden series. In it, the reader will meet Maudie and Paul and watch them from the start, putting into practice the faith they so strongly believe in.

It is a story of faiththe faith of young Maudie as she calls her aunt back from deaths door after childbirth and the faith of young Paul Perkins and how he wins the hand of Maudie Geibel even though her father was against their marriage. It is a story of faith when their two-year-old daughter is found floating face down in the pond. Throughout their lives, Paul and Maudie prove Gods faithfulness and pass that faith on to not only their six sons and their niece, Sally Anne, whom they raised after her parents were killed in an accident, but they also witnessed and won their neighbors in the small town of Dryden, New York.

It is a story of hope. No matter how dismal things look, God always has a plan. They prove in their lifetime that all things do work together for good for those who love the Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543460414

Patricia Schmidt Jameson

Patricia Schmidt Jameson was born and raised in Rochester, NY. She was married to John Schmidt for thirty-seven years until he went home to be with the Lord in 1991. The couple have five children and seven grandchildren, plus one great granddaughter. Pat taught Sunday school for several years at the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, and also worked for eighteen years as bookkeeper for 3WG radio station. She lives with her son, John, in Henrietta, NY, a suburb of Rochester.

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Copyright © 2017 by Patricia Schmidt Jameson.

Library of Congress Control Number:           2017916440

ISBN:                   Hardcover                                 978-1-5434-6043-8

                             Softcover                                   978-1-5434-6042-1

                            eBook                                          978-1-5434-6041-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, 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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/31/2017

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1 1966

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

CHAPTER 1

1966

I promise you, Maudie, if you marry me, I’ll build you the biggest house this side of the New York state line and give you lots of babies to fill lit. Nineteen-year-old Paul Perkins was very persuasive. She almost believed him although she knew he was a dreamer.

Sixteen-year-old Maude Geibel was smitten. She loved this tall young man standing before her. Even though she knew he was spinning daydreams, she loved him enough to follow him to the end of the earth if the choice were hers. But it wasn’t. Maude’s father had forbidden her to see Paul Perkins. It was for her own good, or so he said. Actually, her father wanted her to marry Phillip Grayson, the son of the town banker. Phillip would give her security, a nice home, and good standing with the town’s people.

To her father’s way of thinking, Paul probably would fulfill his promise to give her lots of babies, but she’d have to raise them in a shack at the edge of town.

I don’t know, Paul. My father would be furious if I agreed to marry you, she told him.

It’s because he wants you to marry that Phillip Grayson, isn’t it?

I’m afraid so.

Do you love him? Do you even like him? Paul demanded.

Oh, I like him all right, but you know I don’t love anyone but you, Paul Perkins, she responded.

So what are you going to do about it?

Her blonde braids hung low as she bent her head and wrote, Maudie loves Paul in the dirt.

You see how permanent that can be, he said as he smoothed the dirt with his shoe. Anything written in dirt will not last the test of time, Maudie. My love for you is written in cement on my heart. Is your love for me that strong? he asked.

A tear that had rolled down her cheek fell to the ground. "It is that strong, Paul Perkins! Who are you to judge the strength of my love?"

If you loved me enough, you’d marry me, he responded angrily.

Just tell me how I’m going to do that, will you? If my father doesn’t agree, how can we get married? Who would marry us?

Paul put his long arms around the sobbing girl. Don’t cry, Maudie. I just wanted to be sure you cared enough to go against your pa’s wishes. If we can find someone willing to marry us, will you do it? he asked.

She was silent. Was she willing to go against her pa’s wishes? What would that do to her mom or her sisters, Fanny Sue and Grace? Would they ever forgive her?

Do you have a plan, Paul? she asked fearfully.

Not right now, but I will have one soon. Just don’t agree to marry someone else in the meantime, okay?

You aren’t thinking of me lying about my age, are you?

"Well, it is a thought," he said.

No, Paul. A marriage built on a lie would never survive. We need to have God’s approval, and starting out with a lie is not the way to get it.

I guess you’re right

We’ll just have to trust the Lord to send us help. I don’t see any other way. If it’s God’s will that we get married, then He’ll send someone to help us, she said half-heartedly. She wasn’t at all sure it was God’s will. The only scripture she could think of was the one that said children should obey their parents.

Her father would never change his mind even if she were twenty. How old does a child have to be before she can make up her own mind about her life? she wondered. Tonight, I’ll pray especially hard about this. If this is God’s will, I know He’ll show us. We want to be sure, don’t we, Paul? she asked.

Yeah, I guess, he said only half convinced.

Okay then, you pray too. I’d hate to have my pa mad at me, but I don’t want to lose you.

You won’t lose me, Maudie. Even if you don’t agree to marry me now, I’ll still love you. I just want to be sure you marry me, and not Phillip Grayson, that’s all.

Just last evening, she had overheard her pa talking to her mom about getting together with the Graysons.

I’ve got to go now, she said. You pray, promise?

I promise, he replied. He held her tightly and kissed her. I love you, Maudie, he said as he walked away.

CHAPTER 2

P aul Perkins lived with his brother Carl and his wife on the farm their father had left them in Horseheads, New York. Carl and Clara were good to him, but he yearned to have his own place with Maudie.

As Paul sat at the supper table playing with his food one evening, Carl put an arm around his brother’s shoulders. If you’re so dead set on marrying Maudie and getting your own place, why don’t you sell your share of this place to me? Then you and Maudie can start your own life.

You mean it? You’d buy my share of the land? Paul asked hopefully.

For a reasonable price.

What’s reasonable?

Whatever is the going rate per acre, his brother answered.

Wow! That takes care of one of my problems. Now all I have to do is get Maudie to marry me.

She is underage, Paul, Clara said. How can she get married without her pa’s consent?

I don’t know. That’s the problem. Maybe I can persuade her to run away with me.

Still, there’s the problem of marriage. You aren’t expecting to just live with her without getting married, are you? his sister-in-law asked.

Nah, she’d never go for that, he said dejectedly.

"She’d never go for that? What about you? Would you be willing to start out your life like that?"

No, of course not. It’s just at the moment, I can’t think of what to do.

I know in Mississippi a girl can marry without her parents’ consent at fifteen, Clara said.

How do you know that?

I read about it just the other day. They’re trying to get the age raised, but right now, it stands at fifteen.

Wow! If I could get Maudie to go to Mississippi with me, that would solve all our problems, Paul said excitedly.

And just how are you going to do that?

Well, it’s as Maudie says, if God is in it, He’ll make a way.

Good thinking, boy. I’m sure He’ll show you. I just wonder though, why you can’t wait another year or so. Why do you have to get married right now?

Maudie’s pa is pushing her to allow Phillip Grayson to court her. He wants to marry her. I know her pa would have no objection to them getting married this year. As the banker’s son, he can provide nicely for her. I can’t wait around for that to happen. And besides, her pa has forbidden her to see me. We’ve got to do it soon.

How can she leave her pa’s house without him coming after her?

I don’t know. I’ll have to talk it over with Maudie. Maybe she can come up with an idea.

If it weren’t for her pa wanting her to marry that other guy, would you be so fired up to get married right away?

I guess we could wait if no one else was wanting to marry her. Paul sighed. What’s the difference? Even if no one else wanted her, her pa still wouldn’t let her marry me.

Why in the world not?

Because he says I’m a dreamer.

There’s nothing wrong with that. A man has to dream in order to get anywhere in this world. Why would that bother him so much?

He says I’m not practical and would never be able to support his daughter.

But your dream is to farm, isn’t it? He’s a farmer. Why wouldn’t he understand that?

Paul sighed. I don’t know. Maybe he wants something more for his daughter. The banker’s son could give her everything. All I can give her right now is my love.

Clara grinned. With some women, love is all they need.

Carl put his arm around his wife. "Ah, my darlin’, you got a good provider and a good lover!"

Indeed I did. She laughed. Hopefully that will suffice for Maudie too.

Yeah, if her pa gives us the chance, Paul said disgruntled.

Maybe you need to show him you can make a living for his daughter. What do you intend to do with the money I give you for this farm? Carl asked.

Well, I aim to buy my own farm and gradually add more land.

That’s a good idea. Where are you planning on looking?

Not around here, that’s for sure.

Why not? Don’t you want to be neighbors with your brother? Clara asked.

I intend, in the future, to have a farm larger than this one. I don’t want to be in competition with my own brother, he said with a grin.

Carl smiled. Hmm, you could be right, little brother. So when are you going to start looking?

Just as soon as I have the money in hand and I get a chance to talk to Maudie.

How do you plan on doing that since her pa won’t let her talk to you?

I’ll send word by her little brother. He’s a good kid, and she trusts him to keep a secret.

I wish you well, Paul, Clara said. Carl, would you pray for him before he leaves to talk to her?

Sure, let’s pray now, he said as he bowed his head. "Father in heaven, we know You love Your children and You want them to be happy. We also know that finding Your will is the only way we can find happiness. So we ask right now that You give Paul wisdom in talking to Maudie and in finding the right place to start his farm. Give him favor with her pa, Lord. We trust You. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for caring for us and working all things out for our good. Amen.

I’ll go down to the bank in the morning so you can have your money, Carl said.

I wouldn’t ask for it so fast if it weren’t so important, Paul said. I do appreciate what you’re doing for me.

CHAPTER 3

M audie Geibel hurried into the house. She knew her ma would be looking for her.

Where have you been, girl? I’ve been waiting for you almost an hour. If your pa finds out you left without finishing your chores, you’ll be in a peck of trouble. You know that, don’t you?

Maudie nodded. Are you going to tell on me, Ma? she asked fearfully.

No, Maudie, I’m not. I was young once. I know how it feels to see your future all planned out before you, and you’re just standing on the sidelines watching it.

Do you, Ma? Did your pa plan your future too?

Yes, he did! That’s the way it’s done. A girl needs to listen to her pa. He has a lot of wisdom.

Wisdom is a good thing, but what about love? the girl asked wistfully.

Love? Her mother sighed. Love is a feeling that doesn’t always last through hard times. A girl needs more than a man who loves her, Maudie. She needs a man who can afford to take care of her and her little ones in hard times.

Didn’t you love pa when you married him?

I didn’t even know your pa when I married him. His pa and mine decided our fate for us.

But you love him now, don’t you?

The older woman smiled. Yes, I do. I love your pa with all my heart. He’s a wise and loving man. That’s why it bothers me to see you longing for something other than what he wants for you.

Did you ever love anyone before pa came into the picture, Ma?

Her mother got a faraway look in her eyes. There was a boy I took a liking to, but he was a no account. My pa was right in arranging the marriage between your pa and me. I would have ended up living in a shack with a ton of kids at my feet if I had married the other boy.

"What’s a no account?"

That’s someone who has no dreams for his future. He’s content going with the wind.

Paul has dreams, Ma. He wants to buy me the biggest house this side of the New York state line.

Paul has dreams all right, but that’s all they are. Where is he going to get all this money to buy you a house like that?

I don’t know, but he’s planning on it.

Well, what good are his plans if your pa marries you off to someone else?

That’s what bothers me. I don’t want to marry someone else. I want to marry Paul.

Well, child, I don’t see how that’s going to happen. As a matter of fact, your pa told me he was going to town this afternoon and invite Phillip Grayson for Saturday evening dinner.

What! Oh no, Ma! He can’t do that! Phillip will think that’s his cue to court me.

That’s exactly what he’ll think and rightly so. That’s what your pa has in mind.

Do you like Phillip Grayson, Ma? the girl asked tearfully.

I don’t like him or dislike him. I don’t even know him, but your pa says he’ll make a good husband for you.

Timidly she asked, What was your wedding night like, Ma?

Her mother looked up sharply. We don’t talk about things like that. You know that.

I know, but if I’ve got to marry someone I don’t love, someone I don’t even know, I’m just wondering what my wedding night would be like. Would he be kind or rough? Would he love me or just use me? I need to know these things ahead of time, Ma.

Why? I didn’t know them, and no one else I know knew them either. Those are the sorts of things you leave with God, Maudie. Leave the unknown with Him. Just trust Him to work it all out for you. The Bible says, ‘All things work together for good for those who love the Lord.’ You love the Lord, don’t you, Maudie?

Yes, Ma.

All right then. Trust Him. He knows your heart. He’ll work it out for your good.

I suppose, the young woman said softly as she looked down at the ground. She did love the Lord, but it was hard to see how marrying someone like Phillip Grayson could work out for her good, especially when her heart belonged to Paul Perkins.

Her mother picked up the receiver.

Jake! How are you? Is everything all right at home?

Phone rates were high, and Anna Geibel knew her brother would not be spending the money on a call if it weren’t important.

He sounded distressed. No, things aren’t all right, Anna. Laura has had some problems, and the doctor has ordered her to bed if we want to keep the baby.

Oh dear! I’m sorry to hear that. Of course you don’t want to lose that baby. What can I do to help?

Do you think it would be possible that you and Maudie could come for a couple of weeks just to help out here? Little Jake is starting to walk now and seems to be getting into everything. We really do need some help, Anna, her brother said.

How long will she have to stay off her feet?

Jake sighed. The doctor says for the duration.

Oh my! How many months along is she?

Seven and a half. He says if she can carry it for another two weeks, it will have a fighting chance.

Two weeks? Well, I think we can work something out. I’ll talk it over with Charles. If he has no objections, Maudie and I can leave here Thursday morning. We’ll take the eight-o’clock bus. That should get us to Lewisburg around eleven thirty. I’ll call you back if Charles can’t see his way clear to let us go, okay?

Thanks so much, Anna. I knew I could count on you. Tell Charles, I’ll sure appreciate it.

Well, you get some rest and give our love to Laura. Hopefully, we’ll see you on Thursday. Bye now.

Well, Maudie, it looks like you and me are going for a visit to your Uncle Jake’s.

Is Aunt Laura sick? she asked.

Yes, the doctor wants her to stay off her feet until the baby comes.

Another baby! Little Jake is only two years old!

That’s their business, Maudie. Some may shake their head, but I think it’s nice. If I could have had more babies, I would have. When two people love each other like Jake and Laura do, babies are a natural product of that love.

But Little Jake is barely walking!

Yes, he is. Jake says he’s into everything. What a little dickens he must be! I can’t wait to see him.

How long do we have to stay? Maude asked, thinking of how hard it would be to be away from Paul for any length of time.

I’ll probably stay only a couple of days. You’ll have to stay for the duration. She has another six weeks to go, but Jake says the doctor isn’t sure she’ll go that long. If she can stay off her feet for another two weeks, she’ll deliver a healthy baby. If she has it sooner, its chances of survival are iffy. That’s why you need to be there to keep an eye on Little Jake. I’ll need to talk this over with your pa, but I’m sure he’ll be okay with it. Think of it this way, she said when she saw the look of dismay on her daughter’s face, at least you won’t have to think about Phillip Grayson coming to court you for a while.

That much is true, the girl said, sorry and glad at the same time. When would we leave?

Thursday, I expect. He needs us as soon as possible. Your pa will be in in a little while. We’ll see what he says.

CHAPTER 4

M audie’s heart was racing. She considered her uncle’s call a reprieve but for how long? Well, at least she wouldn’t have to see Phillip on Saturday. How would she get word to Paul that she was leaving? Would Ma let her go to him? How selfish you are, her inner voice screamed . You are only thinking of yourself. What about Aunt Laura? What must she be going through right now?

By the time her father came in for supper, Maudie’s mind was going in circles. She was a wreck. She knew her mother wouldn’t speak to her father about the trip until after supper, so she most likely wouldn’t know the final plans until the next morning. However, she was totally surprised when her mother brought up the subject as soon as he came in the house.

Did you speak to Clarence Grayson? she asked.

Yes, I did, and he was right keen on the idea of his son courting our Maudie. He wasn’t sure about Saturday night though. He and Phillip have plans to go to Rochester Saturday morning on some business, and he wasn’t sure they’d be back in time.

That’s a blessing, his wife said. I got a call from Jake this afternoon. Seems Laura is in a bad way. That baby is giving her a hard time. The doctor said she needs complete bed rest until it’s born. Jake wanted to know if Maudie and I could come for a couple of weeks and help out.

A couple of weeks! What does he think we’ll do here without you all that time?

I know. I thought about that too, but we’re really needed, and you know God will take care of things around here while I’m gone. Maybe I would only have to stay a couple of days. Maudie could stay and help out through the duration. What do you think about that?

Charles Geibel sank his six-foot frame onto the kitchen chair beside his petite wife who was peeling potatoes. He sighed. A couple of days, huh? Well, I guess we could manage that long, but Maudie being gone for the duration might give Phillip Grayson a chance to rethink the whole idea of courting her.

I know, his wife said, but it can’t be helped. Laura needs help. If the marriage is of God, they’ll wait for her to get back. Otherwise, God has something else planned for our Maudie.

I guess you’re right about that. How soon do you plan on leaving?

I thought Maudie and I might take the bus Thursday morning. That will give us the rest of today and all day tomorrow to get things taken care of here, and to get all Maudie’s things together for however long she has to stay.

Charles rose from his chair and kissed the top of his wife’s head. Do what you need to do, my Anna. I’ll sure miss you those couple of days.

Don’t forget to tell Clarence Grayson about the delay, his wife said.

Yeah, I’ll drop in at the bank tomorrow. Like I said, Saturday might not have worked out for them anyway. Where is Maudie? he asked, looking around.

I sent her upstairs to check out her clothes. If I need to do a wash before we leave, I should do it tonight.

Charles made the announcement at the supper table. Your ma and Maudie will be going to Lewisburg Thursday morning for a couple of days. That means that you, Grace, will be in charge of things around here for a while. Do you think you can handle it?

Fourteen-year-old Grace looked up surprised. She was the image of her sister except for the darker hair. Why can’t I go too?

Because I need you here, her father replied, and I doubt if you’d be much help when that baby decides to come. Maudie and your ma will handle it nicely. And, Peter, he said, eying his towhead twelve-year-old son, I want you to help Grace with Maudie’s chores. Understood?

The blue-eyed boy grinned from ear to ear. Sure, no problem as long as it’s only for a couple of days.

Well, that’s not exactly the whole story. Your ma will be gone a couple of days, but Maudie will be gone a couple of weeks!

Peter gave his older sister a sidelong glance. Two weeks!

Yes, and I don’t want to hear any complaining, do you hear me? Family’s got to stick together. Your Uncle Jake and Aunt Laura need her help. It’s our duty to do all we can. You and Grace will be doing your share of helping by seeing to it that Maudie’s chores get done.

Later, as they were clearing up the dinner dishes, Anna spoke quietly to her daughter. I suppose there are some loose ends you may want to take care of, Maudie?

It was a question. Her mother seemed to see what lay in the heart of her middle daughter. I’ll be busy tomorrow morning, she continued offhandedly. If you were out of my sight for an hour or so, I might not even notice.

Maudie dropped the towel she was using to dry the dishes and hugged her mother. Thanks, Ma, she said. Running outside, she caught Peter playing with his dog in the yard.

Would you ran an errand for me please? she asked.

Peter grinned. "I