Early Harvest: Prairie Preacher #28

By PJ Hoge

EARLY HARVEST
28th of the Prairie Preacher Series
Darrell and Jeannie had a wonderful marriage and were looking forward to the arrival of their first child later this summer. However, this summer so far had been miserable. They had lost one of their best friends, Diane Harrington, who died from a fall while expecting their first baby. Diane died, but the baby, though premature, survived. The little girl, Dana, had recently come home from the hospital. Jeannie would babysit both babies while the men worked in the fields. Dana and her daddy, Matt, lived in the same yard with Darrell and Jeannie.
It had been an extremely dry year with miserly rains in the spring. The crops were drying up in the fields. Farmers had been gathering every bit of hay or grain they could find. The men were hurrying to finish the last field before the long awaited rains began. It was supposed to be heavy and last a while, so the hay or crops would be ruined if left in the field. There was a rush to get it in.
All was going well, and then in early afternoon, life took another tragic turn. In a matter of minutes, life at the Jessup place would change forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796046526

PJ Hoge

P J HOGE grew up in Washington state and North Dakota. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, PJ worked as a Cytotechnologist for many years. PJ’s family farmed in central North Dakota until the mid-1980”s when they relocated to Nevada, where she still resides. PJ is the author of the Prairie Preacher series.

Book preview

1

The early summer of ’73 in the northern prairies had been a conundrum for the farmers. The previous summer’s late rains had damaged much of the harvest that year and ruined some of the hay crop. That was followed by an ‘open winter’, meaning there was little snow cover. Spring came early and the farmers went out to plant as usual.

However, the spring rains didn’t come, but high temperatures and dry winds did. Now it was late June. The farmers of the Engelmann Clan in central North Dakota had met together and discussed the situation. The crops were sparse and the fields had bare areas that were becoming victims of some wind erosion. Since there was no rain to sprout the plants, there was no root formation to hold the soil in place. This left the dry top soil vulnerable to the winds. Some of the hay fields were quickly becoming overgrazed, and a few were developing bare spots. The farmers knew they had to take quick measures to correct the problem. The land concerned was not irrigated and depended solely on the rain.

The men had a meeting and pooled their recourses. They culled their herds and sent some range cattle down south for summer pasturing, hoping that maybe late summer rains would replenish the pastures at home. However, for the most part, they culled their herds to the bare bones. Since all farmers were in the same predicament, cattle prices bottomed out quickly. Even though they had to accept low prices, healthy critters still sold higher than starving ones. Some of the cattle were butchered by the farmers, so that their families would at least have their freezers filled.

Then they set about salvaging what they could of the crops and making haylage, a ground hay, or silage out of everything else. They leased the land along the county roads to hay or graze, and moved the cattle onto grain fields that never grew enough to even begin to head out to graze.

They burned off the older hay fields and pastures to kill the weeds and prepare them for any rains that would come. With all this care, they hoped to make it through the year. They had hay and grain from the year before, and made deals to buy or trade for hay from Nebraska where it was abundant. Now, all they could do is wait. So far, the promised rains had not come. They were not even in the forecast yet. Every day, the weather forecast was the same: Above average temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity.

Thirty-three year old Matt Harrington opened the door to the Jessup home and shouted, Good morning! The Harringtons are here!

Darrell Jessup chuckled as he met him at the door, Let me take Butterfly, before you drop her.

Thanks. Matt said, I never realized a tiny baby required so much luggage!

Darrell, the young man in his twenties with mahogany hair and freckles nodded, took the tiny little Dana from her daddy. Matt followed with the diaper bag slung over his arm.

Jeannie, Darrell’s wife, smiled a good morning and said, Coffee’s ready. Want a cup?

Yes, Matt nodded. Sounds good. Where do you want me to put the diaper bag?

Anywhere. I’ll put it in the nursery. Twenty-four year old Jeannie said, How was our little girl last night?

Good, Matt said, She only woke up for her two feedings, I burped her, changed her diaper, and she went right back to sleep. I’m beginning to think that I bore her to tears. She has never stayed awake and paid as much attention to me as she did to Joseph.

Darrell sat down still holding the sleeping baby, Well, she isn’t even waking up for me!

Jeannie giggled, You two. If she was awake and crying, you’d pout about that.

Why are those the only two choices? She was awake, but didn’t cry when Joseph held her, Darrell reiterated.

That is true, for the three minutes he held her. And Joseph is more interesting that you two; even you have to admit that! He always sang to her, Jeannie sat down with her coffee, Matt. He has called here every other day since he returned to the Reservation, to check on her. Isn’t that something?

Matt’s blue eyes twinkled with delight, He takes it seriously that he is the elder of our little band of clanners. We are his tiyospaye for certain, and Dana is the youngest.

Isn’t it funny? Darrell said, That old Sioux was such a toad about not liking white folks, and now his new extended family is filled with them!

And don’t forget, a few Vietnamese and a thin black man, Jeannie laughed. Autumn told me that he told Willie to call and check in with him, so he has. I guess he or Dick call every other day or so, from their tour, so he can talk to them. Dick said that he wants a blow by blow account of what they do on the tour of their jazz band, as well as check on how much Willie is eating!’

Matt chuckled, Has Willie gained any weight?

No, Jeannie explained, Dick says that Willie has always eaten like a horse. He is just naturally thin.

Darrell laughed, Yes, he does eat like a horse. Remember the fit Joseph had about him eating those greens? Ye gads! How old is Joseph anyway?

Seventy-eight, I think. Matt answered. Can you imagine all he has seen in his lifetime? Wow! The entire lifestyle of the Sioux nation changed in those years. And he grew up under the early reservation system. Actually, I’m surprised that he is as open-minded as he is.

He loves his family, and I don’t think they would have let him get away without at least trying to have a relationship with his son, Johnny, even if he was going to marry a white woman.

Ah, the Wasichu! Darrell chuckled, I don’t think I ever heard him call Wednesday anything but Wasichu (wah-zee’-chew) in all the time I was around him. But Wednesday seems to take it in stride. What is it that means again?

One who eats the fat—or someone who is extremely greedy and only thinks of their own self. Matt explained. Actually fits a lot of folks.

In fact, Wednesday and Joseph get along pretty well. Jeannie interjected, And don’t forget how much Joseph likes Quinn.

I know, Darrell said as he moved the baby in his arms so he could take a drink from his coffee. He thought Quinn should be Sioux instead of Vietnamese.

They all chuckled, He is quite the Joseph; I’ll give him that! Matt chuckled, But I think he did have a good time on his stay up here. It may not have gone as well if they hadn’t come early because of the standoff at Wounded Knee. He had time to get to know us in those weeks. Had he only come for the wedding, it might not have worked out so well.

How are things in Wounded Knee, anyway? I don’t know if I have heard anything more about it after the standoff was over.

Most of the news has been on the Watergate fiasco and the ending of the Vietnam War. Sadly, Joseph is right. Most folks, except those living on the Pine Ridge Reservation, don’t care what was going on. I guess that Wilson is still in charge, although he has had to pull in his horns since some of his actions have been revealed.

At any rate, I’m glad we got to meet Johnny’s entire family. And Father Ben’s family, for that matter. Dick is such a nice person, and even though they are identical twins, he and Ben are quite different.

Well, Dick is a jazz musician, raised by a black family in the deep South, and Ben is a Roman Catholic priest who was raised by nuns in an orphanage in the southeast. I guess they should be different. Jeannie observed, It is a miracle they were ever reunited at all.

True. Anyway, there are a lot of things that are the same, Darrell said. Many of their mannerisms and stuff. The funny thing is that even though Willie is not related by blood at all, since they were surrogate brothers, he and Dick share a lot of the same mannerisms, too.

Matt watched his friend, Makes sense. Folks have said we are a lot alike.

I know. You’ve been copying me, Darrell chuckled. But you still look like a Harrington. And well, I could be a matinee idol, but then who would take care of my little Jeannie?

Jeannie crossed her hazel eyes, Oh, I don’t know. How about Paul Newman?

Nah, Darrell teased, You would have to give up this life of luxury!

Silly me, Jeannie bobbed brunette curls bounced as she giggled, How could I forget that!

Speaking of our life of luxury, Matt became serious, What’s our plan for today?

Darrell answered, We are finishing Heinrich’s today. Dick said his corn is nothing but tinder, but he does have some hay to bring in. Some of the guys are helping Chatterbox with some oats that he put in early. He wants to get that in before it is ruined. It is only about six inches tall and some has headed out already, but most of it is just stalk. Then I guess that we only have our north hayfield to get finished before it rains. After milking, Clarence and his buddy Gabe are going to move our range cattle down to our low pasture.

Is anyone going to help the kids?

Yah, Carl and that guy, Pete, who is visiting there. Carl said he will be staying all week and then heading off to Minnesota to visit his sons. Seems like a nice guy. It is great to have him around the dairy, since he ran one for so many years.

Has he decided what he is going to do?

No. His sons want him to live in Minnesota with them, but he doesn’t like living in a concrete parking lot as he calls Minneapolis. Guess the boys live in a high-rise apartment. His brother and sister-in-law want him to join them in Arizona, but he thinks 110° degrees is too hot for his northern blood. He said he will go back to his condo in Florida and think about it. He isn’t very keen on staying there now that his wife has passed on; but before he does anything, he needs to sell it. He told Carl that he is thinking about moving up this way.

I imagine it would be lonely for him in Florida without his wife, but I think the climate would be nice there. At least it rains there, not like Arizona.

Did you hear the forecast for here this morning?

No, Matt replied, I figured Joey might tell us when we milk. Ah, which we probably should get down there to do!

Right, Darrell said as he looked to his wife, Jeannie, Can you take Dana now, so we can go milk?

Jeannie picked up the premature baby to take her to the nursery, while the men headed down to the barn.

That evening the men worked as late as they could before breaking up to go home to do their chores. Ten-year old Clarence, his friend Gabe, Pete, and Carl, Matt’s stepfather, moved the range cattle out of Darrell’s north pasture and down to the lower pasture, but that meant they would have to start feeding. The other men had begun moving their haying machinery to Darrell’s field of brome grass.

Clarence Grey Hawk was a neighbor kid who worked as Darrell’s hired hand. He had a room at their place, so he slept there much of the time. Matt Harrington and his infant daughter lived on the Jessup Dairy farmstead, in a small cabin about forty feet southwest of Darrell and Jeannie’s house, in the same yard.

Matt was widowed a couple months earlier when his wife Diane died after a fall off a stepladder. The doctors were able to save baby Dana, but not Diane. Dana was almost two months premature, and it was touch and go for a while. Matt had just brought her home from the hospital a week or so before. He brought her to the cabin at night, but Jeannie babysat for the little girl during the day.

Darrell and Jeannie had been married about four years, and had a happy, sound marriage. They were now expecting their first child, in late July. Diane and Jeannie had been very close friends, as were Darrell and Matt. Even though Diane and Matt were older than the Jessups, the couples were together all the time and shared many interests. The four were almost inseparable, often sharing meals.

Matt was a math and Latin teacher at the public school system in Merton, but lived in the cabin near the dairy, since he helped Darrell milk the nearly 120 head of milk cows and goats twice a day. Matt’s stepfather was Darrell’s business partner in the dairy, which provided milk for a local cheese factory. Diane had taught English and Literature at Merton Public before her death. Jeannie Jessup was the third grade teacher at Merton Public as well. As for Darrell, he farmed and was in charge of the dairy full time, although in the winter he worked some days at the Schroeder Cheese Factory.

The dairy had several others that helped milk on a regular basis. Joallyn was Jeannie’s sister, and her husband, Josh Perkins, usually helped milk twice a day. They lived just a stone’s throw from Jessups.

Joey Jessup, Darrell’s brother, lived across the road from the dairy and helped milk whenever he could. He was also an operator at a power plant; but in his heart, he was a farmer. He and his wife of less than a year, Beth, who worked for the weather bureau, also helped out George Jessup, Darrell and Joey’s father. George’s place was on the other side of Joey’s, so they were all nearby.

Vance Edmunds lived with George and his wife Alma, with his family. He too was newly married to Amanda Devante and in the process of adopting her two children, Arianna and Gabriel, who was Clarence’s best friend. Vance and Amanda, known also as Friday, worked for Crandair, a small private charter airline that headquartered in the Caymans, but had a secondary headquarters in Merton, North Dakota.

Although a pilot, Vance had grown up on a farm in Nebraska, so he loved it there. He was buying the home place from George and Alma, although the older couple would continue to live there. Vance and George had only chickens on their place, and some horses. The main business, since George’s battle with cancer, was the hold-over station for a local cattle buyer. They moved cattle and horses in and out on their way to sales rings, and also pastured some horses for city folks. Vance and Joey had gone together to buy the farmland from George. Since both worked, neither could handle it all alone. This way, they could maintain their jobs and handle the farm work for George.

They helped milk and provided eggs to Darrell and Jeannie, who provided milk and cream to their families. It all worked out well. This spring because of the drought, the group; Carl, Darrell, Matt, Josh, Joey, and Vance formed a loose partnership, more of a cooperative, but Darrell was the managing partner of the dairy.

At milking, Joey announced that the rain they all had been waiting for was only a day or so out. Then it was supposed to rain off and on for a couple weeks. All they had left to bring in was Darrell’s brome grass. After that, they would burn off the pasture and field of brome grass, if the winds allowed.

The rains would come and hopefully regenerate the pastures and refurbish the moisture in the ground. With any luck, some guys were hoping to bring in quick growing crops of barley or rye before winter.

2

Man, how hot did it get today? Josh asked as he put a milk machine on one of the goats. Must have been 100° at least.

104°, Joey stated, Beth said it will be about the same tomorrow, but the humidity will be higher with the storms coming in. So, it will feel hotter.

Storms? Josh asked, Lightning and the whole bit?

I guess so. The whole enchilada. Then it is supposed to be heavy to intermittent rains for about three weeks. Wish it had done that two months ago when it was supposed to. Then Joey caught himself, That’s wrong. I should be thanking the good Lord that he is sending it at all.

Amen, Josh nodded.

Matt had been looking at Darrell who winced and then grabbed the edge of the stanchion for support. He went to his friend, You okay? You look peaked.

No. I guess I got too hot today or something didn’t set right. I feel like I might upchuck and sorta faint.

You better get to the house.

No, I want to help.

Joey was concerned and said, We have plenty of help. You’re coming to the house with me, Hotshot, and no back talk!

Boy, it is a good thing you don’t have kids. You’re a mean one, Darrell groaned, but went with his brother.

After the brothers left, Vance frowned, I noticed he looked pale this afternoon for a bit. Hope he doesn’t have the flu or something. He is so dedicated to this dairy. Jeannie would have to tie him up to keep him inside.

He might have to sit this one out. You know, his old ticker isn’t the best. He had to have valve surgery when he was still in high school. He can’t ramrod himself like the rest of us do, Matt said.

Hm, Vance teased, I must have missed that day that you ramrodded yourself.

Nah, I was just so fast that your slow mind couldn’t grasp it.

Oh, that must be it.

After chores, Matt took the milk container up to the house to be pasteurized as he did every night. He would join the Jessups for dinner and then take his little Dana home for the night. That had become his new life since his wife died. He ate most of his meals up there. He still hated the loneliness of the cabin, but it bothered him most at mealtime. Darrell and Jeannie seemed to understand this and simply set the table for him at every meal. He deeply appreciated the inclusion. He wondered if they knew how much it meant to him to have someone to discuss the events of the day with and share in the news of the day. It meant more than even Matt had imagined himself before his Diane had died

This evening when Matt came in with the milk pail, Jeannie was on the phone and Joey was sitting at the table next to Darrell, who was looking a lot better now. However, he wasn’t very happy.

Joey motioned for Matt to sit down after he set the milk on the counter and washed his hands. He took the cup of coffee Joey offered and listened to Jeannie’s part of the conversation.

Darrell says just today. Only a little chest pain, but he’s clammy and feels lightheaded. Tonight at the barn, he felt dizzy, faint, and queasy.

She listened and then turned to Darrell, Dr. Horst wants to know how you felt this last week.

Okay. I said I felt okay. Darrell said, It was hot out, and stuff, but okay.

Darrell, please tell me the truth, his wife said.

It is the truth. Oh, I guess yesterday I felt dizzy for a bit, but I hadn’t had any water and was thirsty. After I got some water, I felt better.

Jeannie repeated it to Dr. Horst and then the conversation turned to a series of okays and yeses. Then she repeated, Eight-thirty then. See you then.

As she was saying thank you to Dr. Horst, Darrell was already objecting to the eight-thirty comment. When Jeannie hung up and returned to the table, the young husband said, I’m not going to no dang doctor tomorrow at eight-thirty. So call him right back and change it.

The appointment isn’t for tomorrow, but the next day. He has back to back surgeries tomorrow, so you got a reprieve. However, you have to stay inside, rest, and keep calm. If you have any more of those symptoms, I am supposed to bring you right in.

That’s silly. I just have a touch of the flu. You guys are making a mountain out of a molehill. You make me mad, he rambled on. I have to get that last field in before it rains… don’t you understand? I’m responsible for this dairy and for you. I can’t be off resting and keeping calm when there are things to do.

Darrell, you are not going to make me responsible for you getting sicker! Jeannie declared. I want you to rest and keep well until Dr. Horst can check you out. The whole county isn’t going to collapse simply because you rested one day.

Joey put his hand on his brother’s arm, She’s right, you know. Your ticker has had one surgery already, so you can’t play around with it. None of us want you to.

Darrell replied, But Carl is counting on me to keep the dairy afloat.

Matt jumped in, Carl would never have you go out to work when you were feeling sick! You know better. If you don’t believe me, I will call him. He can tell you himself. Trust me, you don’t want to go there with him.

This just makes me mad. If anyone else had a belly ache, you guys would expect him to work.

That’s hogwash, and you know it, Joey snapped. I will call Mom and Dad. I warn you, it won’t be pretty.

Darrell dropped his head into his hands and sat a few minutes. Then he finally said, I guess you’re right, but I think I could help. It is just the flu. I am going to take a shower and get some rest. You guys will see that I’ll be top notch tomorrow.

Jeannie put her arm around his shoulder, Do you need me to help you?

Heavens no! I am just going to take a quick shower. I can do that.

Jeannie watched him as he headed to their bathroom, and shook her head to her brother-in-law. I’m worried about him. He is one of the most honest people I know, but he’d never tell me if he had chest pain no matter what. I hope he is right and it is just the flu.

He may be, Joey agreed, But I remembered how he looked when he went to the hospital with his heart before. Looked very similar to this.

Jeannie set the casserole on the table, sat down, and Matt said grace. As they began to fill their plates, Matt asked, What sort of surgery did he have? I don’t know if I have ever heard.

He has congenital valve disease which often involves pulmonary or aortic valves that don’t form properly. His mitral valve did not have enough tissue flaps or something and lacked a large enough opening so the blood could flow properly. They did a valve replacement surgery. Jeannie went on, He almost croaked on us then. But he has watched it and taken care of himself as best he can. So, he has done very well. He should know when to push the emergency button, but he’s so bent about this summer’s crops that it’s driving him crazy!

Dad would be very upset about that. I’ll talk to him tonight and ask him to come over tomorrow morning to have a talk with Darrell. Dad thinks the sun rises and sets on him. He certainly wouldn’t want to have him risk surgery over some old field. Matt continued, You know, Dad had his bout with his heart and would know how Darrell feels. I’ll call him when I get home, or sooner if you think I should.

I will talk to him again before I go home, so tomorrow morning would be good, Joey thought aloud. Carl might be able to handcuff him to the chair if he gets any crazy ideas about helping tomorrow.

Jeannie shrugged, I should be the one that he listens to. Why doesn’t he?

Because he wants you lean on him and know that he can support his family.

I do lean on him.

Matt said, It’s a macho thing, Jeannie.

After eating, Joey went up to the bedroom and had a long talk with his younger brother. Matt helped Jeannie do the dishes and then asked, How are you feeling?

Pretty good. I don’t like it being so hot, but I’m feeling well. On our last visit to Dr. Cohen, he said the baby is right on schedule and everything is going well.

Has Darrell had any problems that you haven’t told me about?

No, honest, Matt. I wouldn’t lie to you. I haven’t noticed anything except that he has been worried sick about the dairy. But then a lot of the guys are feeling that same anxiety.

Don’t hesitate to tell me, Matt reiterated. Do you want me to call Mom to watch Dana tomorrow? Then you will have more time with Darrell.

No. He likes to hold her. It will give him something to do. But if you could take her over to your Mom’s the next day, when I take him in, that would be good.

I’ll do that. Did you remember that Clarence is sleeping over at Gabe’s tonight so they can practice the three-legged race? He will be back tomorrow at milking time.

I did remember.

Well, I’m going take my bundle of joy and head to the cabin. You need anything, call me.

I will.

That night after Matt had Dana settled in her crib, he called his folks and told Carl the situation. Carl assured him that he would come over to talk to Darrell early the next morning. I know how useless that heart business makes you feel. He is such a hard worker and dedicated partner, I can’t believe it. And yes, Mo and I will watch little Dana while they go to the doc the next day. Thanks for calling, Matt.

3

The birds were chirping so loudly outside his window, that Matt was awake before his alarm went off. There was a gorgeous sunrise to the east, but the western horizon revealed a band of black clouds hanging just above the horizon. Apparently, the forecast was right. It was likely they would get rain that day.

After dressing and caring for his little Dana, he began packing her diaper bag. The baby was still tiny, just barely five pounds. She had dark brown hair and blue eyes like her daddy, but her smile was definitely from her mother. She was a good baby, but still demanding more attention than most babies because of her premature birth. Most of those issues were behind them now, but she still needed more attention.

Matt wrapped his little daughter in her blanket and the two with their loyal Labrador-mix dog, Skipper, headed to the house. It was only a minute before they were at the door. Darrell opened it and that surprised Matt. I thought you were resting.

It isn’t work to open the door. Sheesh! Besides, I slept well last night and feel like a million bucks this morning. I think I had indigestion from eating too many vegetables yesterday.

Whatever, Jessup.

Jeannie smiled toward the door, Will you tell this chicken head that he is not going out in the field this morning?

I thought that was settled last night, Darrell. Matt said seriously. You can’t do it, man. Just take a day off.

The phone rang and Jeannie answered, Darrell, it is your mom.

Oh boy, he grimaced, I suppose old Joey had his big lips flapping and now I’ll catch hell.

Did you expect any less? Matt asked. You know what you need to do.

Yah, yah. Darrell grumbled as he took the phone and began talking to his mother.

Jeannie told Matt to grab a cup of coffee while she took the sleeping Dana to the nursery. When she returned, Darrell was now saying, I know, Dad.

Jeannie smiled and said quietly to Matt, Alma turned the big guns loose on him now. George won’t put up with any baloney.

He’s just being silly. We have plenty of help. Oh, Mom will babysit tomorrow and Dad is coming over this morning. In fact, he said he is bringing Pete with him, so they should be driving in at any minute. He took his cup to the counter, I better get out there, or Dad will give me hell.

Darrell turned and waved to Matt, who waved back.

As Matt walked to the barn, he saw that some of the men were already beginning to burn a firebreak around the pastures edge, so they could get that burned off. He had always been amazed how well the group known as the Engelmann Clan worked together. They were an eclectic group from all ages, vocations, nationalities, and backgrounds. But they were devoted to each other and