gray coming in from the window allowed her to see the shadowy objects on the dining table. She went closer for a better look.
Helen gasped. Covering their table were gifts of all sorts. Something for everyone, it seemed. And even the buffalo furs were draped over all the chairs and benches. Her heart beat rapidly. She looked at Gabriel, who slept soundly on his pallet near the fire. Helen reached out to touch some of the items. A warm ladies bonnet, trimmed in ribbon. A porcelain doll for Naomi. Books, at least seven of them. And shoes for the children!
“Oh joy!” Helen shouted, waking the household. “Children, come and see!” she called to them, rushing to their bedside. They sat up dreamily, wiping their eyes. As soon as they saw the table, they scrambled from bed.
“Mama, a doll. Just look at her!” Naomi cried out with delight. She grabbed the curly haired baby and gave her a squeeze.
Chad sat on the bed grinning now, having already known the secret Gabriel had set about doing during the night. Gabriel too, now sat grinning near the hearth.
“Look what Santa brought!” Matthew shouted, grabbing the toy train carved from wood and painted red, yellow and black.
The children looked over the table for more toys. Besides the books, there were slates and chalk, a bag of marbles, three pairs of red mittens, a bag of candy sticks, a harmonica, two brown caps for the boys and a quilted bonnet for Naomi. Helen knew what a sacrifice this had all been for Gabriel to give them instead of giving it to his daughter and her family.
Naomi pulled on the warm bonnet, turning her head to show it off. “Look at me, Papa.”
Little Johnathan began to scribble on the writing slate.
“Let's put some more wood on the fire so we can see all these wonderful gifts,” Chad said, walking toward the hearth.
Helen looked over the table again. Beside the navy blue ladies bonnet rested two new dresses, simple but warm. One was dark blue cotton duck, the second a black wool. She held one up. It was a bit large, but she could take it in. Next to the dresses were ten balls of yarn for knitting. “Oh, we will all have scarves and new socks,” she told them. “Maybe even a new shawl for me and Naomi.” The little girl smiled. Next to the yarn were two men's shirts, a pair of trousers, and some clothing for the oldest two children. Two new dresses for Naomi – a green plaid and a blue striped, both from heavy cotton. For Michael, there were two new cotton duck shirts, a white and a blue, and two new pairs of pants, one in denim, the other brown wool. Near the clothes was a stack of material, red flannel for new long johns, white flannel for new underskirts and drawers, a medium-weight, plum-colored cotton and a heavy gray cotton. She knew the gray cotton could be used to make Johnathan a new set of clothes. Helen fingered the spools of thread sitting next to the material. What fun it would be sewing this winter.
“Did you look in this box?” Chad asked.
Helen peered inside the open container. There were six bars of soap, matches, a kitchen towel, candles, lamp oil, writing paper and a pencil. It was so much. She smiled, but was speechless. She felt as though she were at the mercantile in town, looking over the wonderful merchandise. It was hard to believe this was all for them.
“Mister Davidson, you are an angel of God for sure. May He show you mercy and bless your life abundantly for what you have done. I thank you and praise Him. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Gabriel returned simply with a nod.
Chad and the children joined in, “Merry Christmas!”
June 1876, six months later
“Hey, Papa, someone’s comin’,” Naomi called out. She could easily see the wagon traveling across the prairie from her position in the barn loft. She had been up there for half an hour playing with her pretty porcelain doll which she had lovingly named Elizabeth. They were having an imaginary tea party since Naomi had just turned nine and was wearing her new plum-colored summer dress.
“Can you see who it is?” Chad asked from below. He was trying to fix the handle on his hoe. He had some weeding to do in the vegetable garden. Thankfully, Mister Smart at the trading post in Hoyt had let him trade two buffalo hides, some canning jars, seven fruit pies and six newly captured rabbits for some spring planting seeds. They had a good crop underway and would soon be able to trade for a cow. The rest of the animals would have to come later.
“No, sir. I can’t tell who it is.”
Chad dropped his tools and wiped his hands. “Better go tell your mother we got company.” He walked outside the barn and spotted the wagon coming from the northwest. He did not recognize the driver.
Helen and the boys came out of the house. Helen rubbed the aching muscles in the sides of her swollen abdomen. Four more months and there would be a new person in the family. She and Chad had already agreed on the name. Gabriel if it was a boy and Gabrielle if it was a girl. They had not heard from Mister Davidson since he left the day after Christmas. She hoped all was well and prayed for him every day. “Who is it, Chad?” she asked.
“Not sure, honey. Don’t recognize him.”
The man driving the wagon removed his hat and began to wave it back and forth. Chad saw that it was an older boy, maybe fifteen or so. The Jenkins family watched the wagon come closer and pull into the yard.
“Afternoon to you,” Chad greeted.
The young man nodded. “Good afternoon, sir, ma’am,” he greeted in return. “Might you be the Jenkins family?”
“Yes, we are,” Chad answered for them. “How can we help you?”
He reached down to shake Chad’s hand. “Luke Carter’s the name, sir. I’m Gabriel Davidson’s grandson.”
“Oh, welcome, young man. It’s good to meet you. Glad to hear you are well and safe after the winter,” Chad told him.
“Yes, sir, thank you. I’m working for my grandfather now.”
“That’s wonderful. How is he?” Chad questioned.
“He’s fine, sir. He sends you all his best regards.”
“And your brother and sister and parents, how are they?” Helen wondered.
“My brother and sister and I are all living with grandfather now. My parents are still in Dodge City,” he answered.
“I’m sure your grandfather is pleased to have you staying with him,” Helen spoke.
“Yes, ma’am. Purely pleased. So are we. We get to go to church and school now. We couldn’t do that before. And I get to work for grandfather in the summer time. And that’s why I’m here,” the lad explained.
“Well, come down and come inside,” Chad urged him.
“First things first, sir. Grandfather asked me to deliver these goods to you. He knew he could trust me to find my way,” he said with a little pride. Luke locked the brake on the wagon wheel and jumped down. He quickly untied a canvas covering and pulled it down. Underneath was a crate of four laying hens, a rooster, and a crate with two newly weaned piglets. Beside these was a sack of seed corn and hay seed. “That small box there is for you, ma’am,” Luke said to Helen. “Grandfather says it’s flower seeds to plant
