The Land (31 page)

During those weeks I spent alone, I thought often on Caroline Perry. I liked the way she thought, I liked the way she looked, and I liked the way she stood up for herself. She had touched me deeply, and by the time I returned to Vicksburg to get Nathan, I had made up my mind. I figured to ask Sam Perry if I could court his daughter. But before I headed out to the Perry farm, I went to see Luke Sawyer. I took him two small tables I had finished during the evening hours on the forty, and he was pleased. “Now, I know you got it in your mind to farm, Paul,” he said, “but I tell you the truth. You got a gift with wood, and if you settled down to just doing that, I could have more orders for you than you could take.”

“I thank you,” I returned. “But you know my thinking on this. Long as I can do some pieces I can work on at the place, I can sure use the cash money. Thing is, though, I've got to put this land first.”

Luke Sawyer nodded to that. He'd heard it before. “Just want you to know, it don't work out, then you always got a place here.”

I thanked Luke Sawyer again, took my payment for the tables, and took on two more orders. I got the wood for the orders, then bought some of Luke Sawyer's tools I would need to do the work. Luke Sawyer said I could just take his tools; he trusted me to bring them back. But I preferred to buy the tools. I felt the same way I had when I had rented Thunder from him. I couldn't be beholden to Luke Sawyer.

I left Luke Sawyer after that and set off for the Perry farm. When I arrived, I learned that Nathan wasn't there, and neither was Caroline.

“Sorry, but Nathan's out with Caroline and their mama deliverin' pies,” explained Sam Perry. “They be back 'fore time to fix supper.” I didn't say anything, and he went on. “Ain't knowed the 'xact day you was comin', else I'd a done had Nathan here and ready t' go.”

“It's no problem,” I assured him, though I was disappointed about Caroline. “We can get started when he comes in.”

“Naw. Be too late by then. Best y'all spend the night here, start out early mornin'.”

I agreed to that.

“ 'Sides, I know for a fact, Nathan's mama gonna wanna keep him close long's she can.” Sam Perry smiled at that.

“Well, that'll work out fine,” I said. “I've got a friend I want to see who works in a lumber camp south of here.”

Mr. Perry looked around at me. “Camp over by Mud Creek?”

“Yes, that's the one.”

“Say you got a friend there?”

“That's right. Want him to help me work this forty acres I've taken on, but I haven't heard from him in a while. Figured maybe I could swing by there before heading back toward Strawberry.”

“Ya do, maybe ya see my family on the way. They deliverin' some of their pies down along that way.”

“That a fact?”

Sam Perry laughed. “Them men at that camp, they get one taste of my wife's pies and cakes and they can't seem t' get enough. Every pie and cake my womenfolks make, they buys.”

“Well, I can't say that I blame them. Your wife's an excellent cook.”

“My girls too!” proclaimed Sam Perry, then laughed loudly at his bragging. “Even if I do say so myself!”

I smiled. “Well, it is the truth.”

“Yeah . . . these young men love my daughters' cookin'! S'pose that's one reason why they get spoke for so quick!” He laughed again. “Callie's and Risten's husbands, they already enjoyin' good cookin' and pretty soon now, Caroline gonna have a husband enjoyin' hers too.”

The smile left my face. “What's that?”

Sam Perry nodded proudly. “Said they all gonna be married ladies soon. My Caroline, she jus' done give her heart to a fella she met not too long ago. Fact to business, he work at that same camp as yo' friend. I don't know that much 'bout him. Seem nice 'nough, but he got no family round here. Told Caroline she wanna marry this man, she gonna hafta pray on it 'til next summer. After that, the boy still round and he done proved hisself t' be a good worker, then I figure him t' be serious 'bout this thing. For young folks, near a year's a long time, and it's hard on 'em and they got t' keep theyselves in check, but for a lifetime of livin', it's worth it to pair right. My Caroline's a strong-willed girl, and I know she gonna keep that boy in check. She agreed t' what her mama and me said, and he done too, so she official spoke for.”

I was numbed by the news. Yet something nagged at the back of my mind. “I think I'll go see my friend,” I said abruptly, needing suddenly to be off alone. “I'll most likely spend the night and come back for Nathan in the morning first thing.”

“Suit yo'self, but ya know ya welcome t' spend the night here.”

“I know,” I said, “and I thank you for that. You don't mind, though, I'll just take one of the mules and leave the wagon and the others here with you, along with my dog.”

“Nothin' t' mind. You jus' be sure and be here time for breakfast come mornin'. My wife, I know she gonna have a few words for you.”

I left with nothing more to say, and went about unhitching the mules. I put three of the mules out to graze, and mounted the fourth. With directions from Sam Perry on how to reach the lumber camp, I set out to find Mitchell. As I rode, I pondered on the fact that Caroline was now spoken for, and I kept thinking on Mitchell's words about the pretty girls who'd come to the camp. I hadn't figured on Mitchell to settle and marry, and Mitchell surely hadn't either, but Caroline Perry was the kind of girl who could change a man's mind about a thing like that, even a man as set against settling as Mitchell. I thought on them both all the way to the camp, and before I reached it, I had no more doubts. I knew it within my bones. I suppose I had known as soon as Sam Perry had told me the news; maybe that's why I hadn't even asked the name of the fellow who had spoken for Caroline. I didn't really want to know. But I did. It was Mitchell who was going to marry Caroline Perry.

 

“'Ey, Paul!” exclaimed Mitchell when he saw me. “Man, whatcha doin' here?”

“Come to see about you,” I said. “It's been a while.”

“That's sure the truth.”

We slapped each other on the shoulders, then Mitchell led me over to a space where we could talk, away from the other loggers.

“Where'd you go off to?” I asked when we were alone.

“How'd ya know I was gone?”

“Came by. Didn't anybody tell you?”

“Ya know they ain't, else I'd've been up t' Vicksburg by now! What ya want when ya come by?”

I noted Mitchell hadn't answered my first question yet about where he'd been, but I answered his. “Same as now,” I said. “I've got some news for you.”

“What's that?”

“I've got myself some land.”

Mitchell laughed in congratulations. “Ya don't say! That land you was talkin' 'bout?”

“No, I'm still waiting on that.”

“Well, what land you got?”

“Forty acres near to the land I want. I made a deal didn't call for any money.”

“How'd you pull that off?”

“I clear forty acres of trees sixteen inches across or more in two years for the man who owns the place, and the forty acres are deeded over to me.”

Mitchell looked skeptical. “I s'pose the trees on the place is Mississippi thick?”

I smiled. “You're right about that.”

“And you figuring you can clear forty acres in two years?”

“I'm figurin' I can . . .” I met Mitchell's eyes. “With your help.”

Mitchell smiled. “Now, how my name get into this? I don't recall sayin' anythin' 'bout any land. You the one wanted land.”

“Well, to my figuring, if you came in and helped me on this, we could split the acreage. You take twenty, I take twenty.”

“What I'm gonna do with twenty acres?”

“Farm it.”

Mitchell considered. “You gonna do the same?”

“For a spell. Figure, though, to sell the timber on it for cash money eventually and buy a better piece.”

“You mean that land you been wantin'.”

“Yeah . . . that land.”

“What 'bout supplies? You got everything you need?”

I nodded. “I bought four mules, wagon, axes, saws, rope, food. Yes, I think I've got everything we'll need.”

Mitchell turned his back on me and stepped away, considering. Then he turned again to face me. “'Fore I decide on that, there's some news I gotta tell you.”

“I think I know,” I said.

“What's that?”

“You're getting married.”

Mitchell looked at me in silence, his lips slightly agape.

“So it's true.”

Mitchell made a hissing sound, expressing his surprise that I already knew. “How'd you find out? Who told you?”

“Well, just so happens I was doing some business with the family of the young lady you proposed to. Her daddy told me.”

Mitchell shook his head and let out an embarrassed laugh. “Who'd've figured, huh? Me? Fella wasn't never gonna get tied down.”

I smiled at his predicament.

He became suddenly serious. “But this one, Paul, she special.”

“I know,” I said. “I've met her.”

“Did?”

“Met her whole family. Her daddy came in one day up to Luke Sawyer's place wanting me to make a rocker for her mama, and I met the young lady then. She's a fine young woman.”

“Ain't she, though?” Mitchell grinned at his good fortune. “I first seen her back last summer when she come t' the camp with her mama selling pies, but I ain't started 'changing many words wit' her 'til the spring.” He laughed. “I s'pose she kinda scairt me!”

“Is that why you went off?”

“Ain't ya heard? My daddy was low sick.”

“Uh-huh.”

Mitchell laughed again. “Ya right, Paul. I was tryin' t' get her off my mind. She's young, but she's sure got a woman's hold on me. I figured t' take up my time with somebody else and put some distance between us, but it ain't helped. All I could think 'bout was her.” He looked at me a bit sheepishly as he confessed that. Then he said, “So, ya seen her, huh? Ain't she somethin'?”

I nodded and was honest with my friend. “I was on the verge of asking her daddy if I could court her myself when he went and told me she was spoken for.”

“That a fact?”

“It's a fact, all right. I reckon I was just too slow getting up my nerve to try and court her.”

“Reckon you was,” said Mitchell; then he hesitated. “You liked her that much, huh? I got reason t' worry?” Mitchell studied me close, no longer laughing. “You got any problem 'bout me and her? You do, you tell me now.”

I shook my head. “You spoke for her. She accepted. Whatever feelings I had, or I've got, I'm letting them go. I've got no part in it now, except as your friend.” I said that, and I meant what I said, though I was feeling a hurt I'd never felt before.

Mitchell looked at me long, accepted my words, and sighed. “Who'd've thought it, Paul? Me, with a fine young lady like that? I don't know if her daddy care much for me, but I promised him he got no cause to doubt me. I'm gonna take care of Caroline. I'm gonna take care of her fine.”

“I expect you will,” I said. “Especially if you've got yourself twenty acres of good farmland.”

Mitchell let go a raucous laugh. “You really tryin' t' get me 'bout this thing, ain't ya?”

“You going to turn me down?”

Mitchell was silent. “You know I done had my share of the womenfolks, Paul, and you know jus' 'xactly where I come from and where I been, so I 'spect you know what I mean when I say Caroline Perry the best thing ever come into my life.” He looked at me, and I answered him with a nod.

“You just make sure you take care of her,” I said. “She's too fine to be thrown away.”

“Don't worry,” said Mitchell. “I know that. I know you've seen how I've done before, but you can believe this, Paul. I won't ever do that t' Caroline.”

I accepted my friend's words and went on. “So, what about the land? Are you going to work it with me?”

“Wouldn't be able to work it with you for another few weeks. I'm flat broke and I need me some cash money from this camp. Soon as I leave from here, I'm even plannin' on sellin' my gun t' put some money in my pocket.”

“But you'll come in with me on this?”

Mitchell grunted. “You asked me and I need it.” He extended his hand. “You're a true brother to me, Paul. Always done been.”

I took Mitchell's hand. “And you know, you're more a brother to me than any of my blood.” We shook hands, and the deal was sealed. That night I wrote out the terms of our agreement even though Mitchell didn't want any part of any written paper. We had shaken hands on the deal, and that was enough for him. But I figured it was the fair thing to do, for if anything happened to me before our two years were up and there was any question about the forty, Mitchell would need some written word about our agreement. I wrote it and signed it, and against his objections, Mitchell signed it too.

 

That next morning I left the camp early while it was still dark in order to reach the Perry farm in time for breakfast. When I got there, I found my heart racing upon seeing Caroline. She looked even prettier than I remembered. As we sat down to breakfast, I said, “I've just come back from the lumber camp over by Mud Creek. I was visiting a friend of mine there. Turns out the two of you know each other.”