The Outsider (8 page)

“I went to their meeting today.”

“They told me in town they only let folks come during the summer months.”

“I didn’t exactly get invited,” Brice said.

“What’d you think of it, Doc? Did they dance the way they say, like as how they were having some sort of fits?” Hope leaned over closer to Brice.

“They danced. I guess you might say it was sort of like folk dancing and sort of like I’ve seen the Indians dance, and yet it wasn’t like either one.”

“You’re talking in riddles, Doc.” Hope leaned back in his chair and drew on his pipe.

“Maybe so. I guess that’s because it was like nothing I ever saw before. They sang and danced, and I didn’t doubt they were worshiping.”

“Worshiping what? That’s the question.” Hope didn’t wait to see if Brice had an answer before he went on. “And my girl? Was she part of all this?”

The clear voice of the young sister ringing out of the meetinghouse and pulling him inside echoed in his head. And in his heart. “The young sister took part. She sings like an angel.” Brice fell silent for a moment. He was remembering how the others had clustered around her when she was singing her song. “I think the Shakers believe the angels sing through her.”

“And did you think that too?” Hope asked sharply.

“No, but there is something different about her. Something that sets her apart from the others. Something that makes them guard her carefully. I’ve heard their founder, this Mother Ann they pray to, that she had visions and prophetic dreams.”

“My girl ain’t no different than any other.” The words were a little too quick out of Hope’s mouth and a little too loud, as though the first person Hope had to convince was himself.

Brice looked around at him steadily. “Did you know she could see the future?”

“Nobody can tell the future.” Hope shifted his eyes away from Brice.

“I’m not on a witch hunt, Hope. You’ve no need to be so jumpy.”

Hope knocked the last of his tobacco out of the pipe into the ash bucket beside the fire. Then he put it back in his mouth and sucked air through it for a spell before he said, “I reckon it did always make me a little jumpy. The way she was and all. So pretty and smart and yet marked by this curse of knowing things no mortal should know.”

“A curse? I think the Shakers consider it a gift.”

“It’s a curse to know death is coming while there’s still life in the air. I used to hear her crying in the night. The first time was when Martha was ready to birth our boy. When I asked Gabrielle what was wrong, she said she could see the baby wrapped all in white and laying in a box and he didn’t cry.” Hope looked down at the pipe in his hands. “I told her it was all a bad dream and to go on back to sleep.”

Brice waited for him to go on, but when he didn’t, Brice said, “But it wasn’t, was it?”

“The boy never took a breath. My mother wrapped him in white and put him in a box and he never made the first whimper. Gabrielle didn’t either. Not then when he died. She was just a little tyke. Four, the best I recall. Martha thought she should cry for her brother, but Gabrielle told her that the babe was happy. She’d seen him laughing with the angels.” Hope looked up at Brice. “I heard her crying in the night after that, but I never asked her why again. If there’s grief waiting down the road for me, I’d just as soon not know it till the morrow gets here.”

For a long time the two men didn’t speak. The fire popped and Hope leaned forward to shove a chunk of wood into the flames. Brice turned back to grinding his medicines.

He had another batch of powders ready when Hope said, “This mean you’ve give up trying to talk to my girl?”

“I didn’t say that. Though I doubt they’ll even let me tip my hat at her now. But I’ll talk to her. I just don’t know when or how.”

“I may be moving on soon.”

Brice frowned over at him. “I thought you’d come back to take care of your daughter.”

“I did, but from what you say, there’s not much chance of her coming away from there. And even if she did, she’s well past marrying age. I ’spect she wouldn’t have no trouble finding a younger man than her pa to put a roof over her head.” Hope paused and gave Brice a long look before he went on. “But fact is, I hear there’s a war brewing up in the North, and I ain’t about to miss the chance to run them redcoats clear back to England. Maybe make Canada ours. Open up some good hunting grounds. So soon as they call for volunteers to form a Kentucky unit, I reckon I’ll be on my way.”

“Then the young sister would be better off among the Shakers.”

Hope smiled and shook his head. “I never claimed to be no great shakes as a pa. I just wanted to see her free the way I’ve always been. If I knowed that she stayed there with them Shakers ’cause she wanted to and not just because my crazy old wife took her there, then I could go off with an easier mind even if I don’t hold with the way they do. Don’t you see, Doc?”

Brice didn’t see, but then he wasn’t seeing anything very clearly and hadn’t been since he’d heard Gabrielle’s beautiful voice ringing out of the meetinghouse at the Shakers’ village. “All I see is that you’ve come to my cabin bringing me trouble.”

Hope smiled. “It can’t be all that much trouble to pass a few words with a pretty girl. And I wouldn’t want you to get me wrong. I still want you to carry the truth about me being alive to my girl. You owe me that much.”

“I told you I’d talk to her. And I will.” But it wouldn’t be because he owed Hope. Not now.

8

Brice waited three days before going back to see Nathan. Then it was just as he’d expected. Before he even got off his horse in front of the Center Family House, Elder Caleb was standing on the steps waiting for him.

“Good day, Dr. Scott. We’ve been expecting you,” he said mildly. There was no censure in his eyes, but neither was there welcome.

“I came to see to the boy. Bates.” Brice squared his shoulders. He’d fight against the elder’s refusal.

But the man didn’t refuse. “Of course,” he said. “You have been instrumental in our young brother’s recovery, and we are grateful. The Eternal Father uses many means to perform his miracles.”

Brice hurried out his next words before the elder could turn away. “I’d also like to speak with the young sister, Gabrielle. I have a message for her from her father.”

The elder showed no surprise even as he said, “Sister Gabrielle has no father in the world.”

“But she does. He came to me and asked me to give her a message from him.”

“You don’t understand our ways, Dr. Scott.” Elder Caleb’s eyes were patient. “Sister Gabrielle believes her father to be dead, and even if that is not so, he remains the same as dead to her now. We’ve shut out the world. A father as you speak of in the worldly way means nothing to us.”

“Then what could it hurt for her to know her father lives?” Brice insisted.

“Sister Gabrielle is not yet old enough to be a full covenant member, so perhaps you are right. Perhaps she should be told. I will consider it.” The elder pursed his lips and stared at Brice. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Meanwhile your presence in our village has been a disturbance to the peace of our family.”

“I’m sorry that you think so.”

“I feel you are a good man, Dr. Scott. Misguided, but with a good heart. If you were to become a Believer, your presence would be a benefit to our society.”

“That could never be, Elder.”

“Nay, I thought not. Ye are not ready to give up the world. Not yet anyway.” Elder Caleb rubbed his chin. “As things stand I fear I must ask you to allow one of the brothers to accompany you at all times while you are in our village.”

“I wish none of you harm. Especially not the young sister. I only desired to speak to her in order to deliver the message from her father.”

“You must realize, Dr. Scott, that Sister Gabrielle has been with us a long time. She and her mother came together with those who formed this society over five years ago. She was hardly more than a child then, but the spirit has always been strong over her. It is our duty as her family to protect her.”

“I told you I intend her no harm.”

“So you say, and I believe you are sincere when you say you would not intend to harm our young sister, Dr. Scott. But just as the Eternal Father can use many means for his miracles, so can the devil for his wickedness.”

“You’re saying I’m God’s workman and the devil’s as well at the same time?” Brice frowned at the elder, whose face stayed impassive.

“As we all are or have been in the past. Except now we here at Harmony Hill have shut out the devil from our lives. We must use diligence to keep him out.”

It would have been easier if Brice could have disliked the elder, but instead he respected the man and his community of Believers for the way they lived their beliefs. He stared at the man a moment before he said, “I will abide by whatever you say, Elder Caleb. But I do need to see to the boy a few more times until he’s able to come to my cabin for treatment.” He had little choice. And he had little chance of catching even a glimpse of the young sister now. Not with them guarding her against him.

Elder Caleb allowed a bit of relief to show in his eyes. “Of course. I will go with you to his room now. He is much improved although he continues to have a great deal of pain.”

The boy was better but quiet. With Elder Caleb in the room, he seemed afraid to talk as he usually did when Brice examined him.

“Well, Bates,” Brice said as he put his things back in his black bag, “you’re doing even better than I thought you would. I might as well be on my way. There are sick people out there who really need doctoring.”

Nathan glanced at the elder and then back at Brice. Puzzlement was mixed with concern on his face. “Am I really better, Doctor?”

“I just told you so.”

“Then I need to get out of this room. I’m going crazy shut up in here.”

“If the weather’s favorable, I don’t see what it would hurt. But you’ll have a struggle up and down the stairs.”

“I can do it,” Nathan said.

Brice smiled and touched the boy’s shoulder. “I’m sure you can. Take care, Bates.”

“You’ll be back?” The boy’s voice sounded worried as he shot another look over at the elder.

Brice tightened his grip until he felt the outline of the boy’s shoulder bone under his hand. “Sure, in a few days.”

Elder Caleb followed Brice outside. Just before Brice started to mount his horse, the elder spoke. “You say that Sister Gabrielle’s father from the world has come to you with a message. Correct?”

“Yes.”

“And that is why you wish to talk to the sister?”

“It is.”

“Very well, Dr. Scott. You tell this man to come to me, and I will arrange for him to see Sister Gabrielle if I judge that he means her no harm. You think we fear to give our young people any freedom, but we do not keep any of our sisters or brethren captive here. If one of them decides to leave us, we let them go, although it is with sadness and much trepidation and concern for their eternal soul.”

Brice looked around at the elder who, in spite of declaring that he’d left the world behind, was nevertheless wise in the ways of the world. He’d easily outfoxed Brice. Now Brice could do nothing but say, “I’ll tell him when next I see him.”

As Brice rode out of the community, he couldn’t keep his eyes from going to the building he knew served as the schoolhouse. Just briefly he caught sight of a face in one of the windows. It was the young sister. He was sure, not because he’d seen her well enough to recognize her, but because of the way she’d jumped back away from his eyes. She was afraid to let him see her, and yet he had the feeling she’d been watching for him.

As he snapped his reins to urge his horse to pick up the pace, Brice felt surer of himself than he had for days. He’d find a way to reach her and convince her she didn’t belong here. The elder may have closed off one way of him talking to her, but there would be other ways. He just had to find them. The young sister wanted him to. He knew that to be true. He didn’t know how he knew it, but he did.

Gabrielle turned from the window back to her classroom. The little girls were all reciting their lessons, and she was glad for the confusion of ten different lessons being spoken aloud at once. It gave her time to calm the blood thumping through her veins.

She had determined in her mind not to let the doctor bother her again, and then there she had been at the window watching for him. She seemed to sense his very nearness and to be pulled toward him as a moth to a flame. Even when he was not near in actual physical presence, his face and being often intruded into her thoughts and dreams.

Gabrielle had asked the Eternal Father to free her from this sin, but though she prayed earnestly and long, the feeling had stayed with her when she rose up off her knees. She couldn’t shut thoughts of the doctor away from her. At times she felt as if her insides were dividing into two people—the person she knew who looked straight down the pathway of her life with the Believers and the other she did not know who was pulling her feet to the side to peek out the window at the doctor. She had no reason to seek him out with her eyes. He had no part in her life. Yet the sight of him made the color rise in her cheeks and stole her breath.

She turned her mind away from her wayward thoughts and concentrated on little Sister Anna’s recitation. She was doing the times table and hesitated only on six times seven. Gabrielle would commend her later for her effort.

Working with the schoolgirls helped ease Gabrielle’s troubled spirit. But that comfort would soon be gone, for the school season ended in a few weeks. Then she would have to apply her energy to other tasks. Those duties would surely keep her hands busy, but they would let her thoughts roam too free. She would have to pray for discipline, for right and proper thoughts.

She said such a prayer now as she walked among the girls, listening to first one recitation and then another. After a few more minutes, she set the older girls to reading silently and brought the younger ones up in a small circle around her.

Gabrielle settled her eyes on each of the children in turn. Suzy with her pretty blonde hair and dimples was a happy child but not gifted in learning. She liked best to talk. Deborah and Malinda were sisters separated by less than a year and so much alike not only in looks but in their ways as well. Whatever one did, the other copied. Together they had adjusted easily to the Believers’ way.

Last she looked at Becca. Dear little Becca who had found a place in Gabrielle’s heart with her tears. Gabrielle wanted to believe the patience and love she was showering on the child was helping, but if anything, Becca seemed more withdrawn than ever.

“Becca,” Gabrielle said softly. “You may read the first page for us.”

Becca’s dark hair fell around her face as she bent her head over the book and began to read. Every word was correct, but the child read with a total absence of feeling. The words held more life while they were yet on the page.

When she had finished, Gabrielle rewarded her with a smile, but Becca kept her eyes on the book. Gabrielle spoke aloud. “That was very good, Becca. You will be ready to go into the next group before long.”

Then while the other girls read, Gabrielle’s eyes kept coming back to Becca. When the children filed out for a brief time of exercise before the evening meal, Gabrielle held Becca back. Gabrielle waited until all the other girls were out of the room before she said, “The sun is feeling warmer today. Spring will be here soon.”

Becca stood perfectly still in front of Gabrielle, staring at the floor.

“Please look at me, Becca. It’s hard to talk to your cap.”

Becca’s eyes came up to Gabrielle’s face obediently. She didn’t say anything, and every word that came to Gabrielle’s mind sounded silly in the face of the child’s profound sadness. Finally she simply reached out and touched Becca’s cheek. “You have learned well, Becca. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you, Sister ’Brielle.” The little girl shot a quick look at the door. “Now may I go outside with the others?”

The child was not worried about missing a game of tag. She wanted to be in the yard in case her mother came to see her there. Gabrielle hoped Sister Esther would find a way to come. It had been three days since she had sought out Becca. Gabrielle feared that very many more days without the sight of her mother and Becca might actually become ill. The child troubled Gabrielle already. Her thoughts of Becca lately were rimmed with dark shadows.

“Remember, Becca, no matter what, I love you.” She pulled the child close against her and held her for a minute before letting her go.

“My mother loves me more,” Becca said before she turned and went out.

With a heavy sigh, Gabrielle followed her. It was a warm day for February. Gabrielle pulled in a deep breath of the air that made her imagine the grass greening and the trees budding even if it was too soon to dream of spring. A few of the children had surely caught the feel of the air and were spinning about in place until they staggered into one another. To the side, other children were playing “Mother Ann in prison,” a game the elders and eldresses encouraged, but one that Gabrielle didn’t like seeing her girls play. Surely there was time enough for the youngsters to learn of persecution without making a game of it, but Sister Mercy said it was good for the children to understand some of the trials Mother Ann had endured in her efforts to do the Eternal Father’s will and establish the Society of Believers when she came across the ocean to America.

And Gabrielle had to admit that the children didn’t seem bothered by the game. Most of them seemed happy. Many of them had shed their family ties as easily as they shed their cloaks in the warm sunshine. Then there were others like dear Becca who could not seem to find a way to adjust to the new.

Becca was sitting off by herself. Sister Esther had not come, and Gabrielle hurt for the lonely little girl. Not that Gabrielle hadn’t expected it to happen. The Believers were very diligent about keeping parents and their children apart when they joined the Society to ease their adjustment to their new life. It had been four years since Gabrielle had seen her own mother other than when they were on the same duty or in meeting. Sometimes it was hard to even remember that Sister Martha had actually given birth to her.

Gabrielle sighed again and turned away from the yard. She needed to straighten the classroom to get it ready for the next day’s lessons. By the time she had finished, it was time for the evening meal. When they were all lined up for their walk to the Center Family House, where they took their meals, Suzy ran up to Gabrielle. “Becca says she don’t feel good. She don’t want to eat.”