Chapter 19. A Fortuitous Gathering
Miriam and Dan left the office early Thursday afternoon and sped home. “I’m so excited,” she said, her face alive with anticipation. “I want this weekend to be glorious. Your Mom and I are going to fix a nice dinner for my folks. They’ll get to meet you and her. They’ll love both of you. I’m all wound up! ... but, I think they’ll be late.
“Mom’s been texting me for days,
telling me where they are. She’s in a hurry to get here, but Dad’s a dawdler.
He decided to come here by way of the ‘Erie Canalway National Heritage
Corridor’. For years, he’s been studying the influence of the Erie Canal on
the Westward expansion of the United States. Mom texted, ‘He stops at every
point of interest to collect memorabilia.’ So, they are behind schedule. Probably,
we’re quite early.”
“Don’t fret,” Dan responded in a calming tone. “Your Dad has the right attitude. I’m like him. When I visit an historical site, I want to investigate it fully, not just whisk through so I can say, ‘I’ve been there.’ Anyway, if we have to wait for them, we’ll just sit in the breezeway and chat and sip iced tea.”
Jan and Miriam decided to make supper in Miriam’s kitchen and serve it in her dining room. While they prepared pulled-pork sandwiches, a garden salad, an Amish potato salad, and chips, Dan made enough iced tea to fill a three gallon, glass jug shaped like an old-fashioned keg. Earlier in the day, Jan had baked a double-crusted, peach pie. She retrieved it and a tub of vanilla ice cream from her kitchen. Supper was ready.
The Smithsons arrived about 6 o’clock in a large SUV, packed with luggage and memorabilia. The waiting trio stepped outside to greet them. Instantly, Dan registered some impressions, “Miriam’s Mom is almost as tall as Miriam. She’s quite thin and moves daintily, emitting a peaceful aura. Her face is longer than Miriam’s, but, for sure, she’s the source of Miriam’s large, lovely eyes. Her Dad’s moves are brisk and broad. He’s about my height, with thinning hair, graying at the temples, and he’s a bit overweight, but his physique is subsumed by his expansive persona. He seems to be on full alert, drinking in every sound and smell and sight about him.”
Miriam embraced her Mom and Dad warmly with loving kisses. Then, she whirled, saying, “Mom ... Dad, this is my gracious friend, Jan Diederman. Jan, this is Robert and Elizabeth Smithson ... better known as Bob and Beth.” Pirouetting to Dan, she wrapped his arm in hers, clasped his hand, and continued with a glorious grin, “And, this is my dear friend, Dan.” The Smithsons and the Diedermans shared greetings, smiles and handshakes.
“What a marvelous setting you have here!” Bob exclaimed as he scanned the wooded site.
Beth shared smiles with Jan and Dan as she said, “We can’t thank you enough for letting Miriam stay here. Have the police determined the cause of the string of deaths on campus?”
“Not yet,” Jan replied, “but even if they had, we’d still want Miriam to stay here. She’s a blessing ... always sweet ... Especially, we enjoy sitting in the breezeway, evenings, and eavesdropping as Miriam plays her violin in her back room. Dan reads and I do my craft projects.”
“And,” Dan added, “I love riding to and from work with Miriam and sharing evenings and weekends with her. We’re a happy threesome.”
While Jan and Miriam set supper on the table, Dan helped the Smithsons move
their luggage to the guest bedroom.
The evening meal evoked a chorus of compliments for Jan and Miriam, but the conversations at the table were, primarily, filled with “getting to know you” questions and answers. It was soon apparent that the Diedermans and the Smithsons were fond of each other.
After supper, when the ladies took charge of clearing the table, washing the dishes, and cleaning the kitchen, Dan led Dr. Smithson into the living room. When he flipped the chandelier switch, Bob remarked, “That light fixture is impressive ... truly unique.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Dan responded. As they sank into the cushions of their chairs, Dan continued, “I’m curious. Can you share some details about the Erie Canal. I know very little about it.”
“Well,” Bob expounded, “the Erie Canal was constructed by New York State in the period from 1817 to 1825. Originally, it was about 360 miles long and joined Albany on the Hudson River to Buffalo on Lake Erie. It made it possible to float products and people between New York City and the communities evolving on the shores of the Great Lakes ... even Chicago. The canal includes many locks and raises its cargo nearly 600 feet as it takes it from the Atlantic Ocean to the heartland.
“When the canal was built, there were no railways. Produce and materials from the Midwest were hauled East by pack animals and ox carts. The canal reduced transit times significantly and cut the cost of transporting these goods by at least 90%.
“Also, the canal inspired a population shift. Many settlers moved to Western New York State and regions beyond. Culture followed. I’m especially interested in how the Church followed the people. One early evangelist, Charles Finney, is famous for using the canal to great advantage as he ministered to the towns that grew up along its banks.”
“Neat!” Dan exclaimed, “That must have been the greatest civil engineering project of its time! And, all that work was done without today’s earth-moving machines.”
“It was a truly amazing feat,” Bob concurred.
As the ladies joined the men, Miriam gestured toward the chandelier and said, gleefully, “Look at what Dan made for me! ... Well, not really for me. He made it for his Grandma when he and his Dad built this place.”
“Why didn’t you tell me so?” Bob inquired. “How did you do it? You must have used some very fine metal-working tools to craft it.”
“Yep,” Dan agreed. “We have a rather complete workshop in that large shed next door.”
“Really?” Bob asked. “I’d like to see that.”
“OK. In the morning, when you’re ready, we’ll take a tour of it,” Dan replied.
“And, show him your antique guns and cannons, too,” Miriam added.
“Now, that sounds really interesting,” Bob said.
...
Friday morning, Dan arose early, donned some old, blue jeans and a red tee-shirt and began grooming the lawn for Saturday’s barbecue party. He worked on the shed side of the property, not wanting the roar of his tractor to disturb Miriam and her folks. About 9 o’clock, Dr. Smithson appeared, wearing jeans and a navy-blue tee-shirt boasting an Erie Canal logo. He approached Dan, cupped his hands to both sides of his mouth, and called out, “How about that tour?”
Dan cut off the engine, hopped down from the bright-green tractor, and said, “Let’s do it.”
Bob was highly impressed by the tools in the shop, but he became intensely interested in Dan’s antique guns. Two, in particular, were remarkable pieces: a Charleyville musket, such as was used by Napoleon’s infantrymen and a cannon from the Revolutionary War period. Both were beautifully restored.
“Do these work?” Bob inquired.
“Yep,” Dan replied. “They’re in prime working order. We got them, inexpensively, because they were in poor condition and inoperable, but using these tools, we were able to fix them.”
“Could I see them in action?”
“Sure,” Dan averred. “Let’s set the cannon in firing position right now. And tomorrow, we’ll set up a target for the Charleyville, after we down some barbecue with Dr. Angelo. Then, we men will make some noise with these guns. I’ve been itching to fire the cannon again. In the past, I’ve had trouble locating the cannonballs after I fire them. The other night, I put GPS tags in the hollow of several balls. Supposedly, an app on my smartphone will be able to locate them, wherever they may roll. We’ll find out tomorrow.”
“I can hardly wait!” Bob exclaimed.
Bob helped Dan attach the cannon to a small, red tractor. The gun was mounted on a carriage with wide, cleated, steel wheels. The men hoisted three cannonballs into a tray positioned behind the cannon’s base, and then, Bob followed on foot as Dan slowly pulled the armament to a plateau about 200 feet down the slope behind the houses. Dan unhitched the carriage from the tractor, and he and Bob pushed the rig backward until its wheels abutted a stack of creosoted railroad ties, fastened to the earth by large steel stakes. Dan explained, “These will keep the cannon in place when it recoils after we fire it.”
As Dan took the tractor back to the shed and resumed his yard work, Bob strolled up the hill toward the houses. He wanted to spend time with his beloved daughter. He paused for a moment and surveyed the landscape. The rocky hills and the lush valley below stirred his heart. “I really like Dan,” he mused. “I hope he and Miriam develop a peranent relationship. He’s bright ... talented ... energetic ... sturdy ... and handsome. What’s not to like?”
...
While Knut was visiting with Dr. Angelo, preparing to leave for the airport and his flight home, Vic was alone, in the research office seated at his desk. He was mulling a contradictory assessment of Dan. The devils in his head taunted him, “Why is Miriam with Dan, today? You’re brighter. You’re better-looking. You’ve never failed to possess a girl you’ve desired. You must tear those two apart!”
Vic mused, “I have to show her I’m a Christian. I have to show her my wealth. I have to show her my sparkling personality. I’ll simply outshine Dan, and I’ll enjoy seeing him in misery as he loses Miriam. And, all that begins this afternoon, when I pick up my new sports car, my bright-red ‘Ferrari California’. That will turn Miriam’s head.”
...
About 5:30, the Smithsons and the Diedermans piled into Jan’s car. With Miriam at his side, Dan chauffeured the group to “Homesteaders’ Junction”, a destination restaurant nestled in a large oak grove on a graceful hill overlooking the Missouri River.
When they arrived, Dr. Angelo was waiting for them, sitting on a rough-hewn chair on the front porch of the huge, rustic, log cabin. He rose and rushed out to meet the party in the parking lot, saying, “Bob ... Beth ... it’s so good to see you. You look great.” Laughter, greetings and warm embraces ensued. In his exuberance, Chuck found himself pulling Jan into an embrace. When he saw surprise in her eyes, he relaxed his arms and said, “Forgive me. I guess I got carried away. You look so nice. I’m so glad to see you again ... I ... I ...”
Bob, Beth, Miriam and Dan were amused by Chuck’s chagrin. Jan patted his arm and replied, “I’m glad to see you too.” Then, with a beautiful smile, she added, “And, I’m glad you’re glad to see me.”
Chuck regained his poise and announced, “We have a few minutes before we’re scheduled to be seated. That gives us time to peruse the exhibits inside.”
As the party members entered the cabin, they stepped onto a balcony, overarching and surrounding the serving area below. As they circled the structure, they eyed numerous, elaborate frontier scenes. Most included life-sized manikins of men and women dressed in period attire. One showed a covered wagon with its canvas side pulled back, allowing guests to see its cargo. Another, a cowboy using his lariat to capture a maverick for branding. And, one held cavalrymen firing at a target. Others had Indians hunting bison, a settler plowing prairie soil, and a woman spinning wool into yarn. It was an impressive panorama of 19th century frontier experiences. The men were drawn to the guns. swords, saddles, and Indian spears and bows and arrows on display. The women to a site showing an Indian woman roasting a prairie chicken on a spit, and another, showing a pioneer lady making soap.
Soon, the group descended a staircase and occupied the table Dr. Angelo had reserved. Miriam sat next to her Mother with Dan at her side. Bob sat between Beth and Chuck, so that placed Jan between Chuck and Dan.
After scanning the menu, Miriam declared, “Well, I’m having quail. I’ve often wondered what that would be like.”
“Tender chicken!” Dan retorted, and everyone chuckled. Then, Dan announced, “I’m having chopped buffalo steak. I wonder what that’s like.”
“Tough beef!” Miriam giggled, and all at the table laughed loudly.
The young couple had cast the mold. When the waitress, clad in a full-length, pioneer dress, took the orders, all the women ordered quail and all the men ordered buffalo.
Conversation was plentiful as the happy band enjoyed their homesteader feast. Chuck spent a lot of time conferring with Bob, but repeatedly, he felt impelled to monitor Jan. With sudden awareness, he asked, “Where did you and Miriam find your matching blouses? They’re spiffy!”
“Thank you,” Jan replied. “I made them. Miriam really liked mine, so I made her one.”
“Really?” Chuck gasped. “You did that? That’s amazing.”
Miriam overheard their exchange and added, “You should have seen her go. She measured me this way and that, and shazam ... a little while later, I had this snappy blouse! I was in awe as I watched her work.”
As the group lingered and reminisced, a lot was said about Polly, Dr. Angelo’s daughter. She and Miriam had grown up together. They were still best friends, but now their contact was limited to phone and internet resources.
Jan turned to Chuck and said, “I hope I get to meet Polly some day. Miriam says she’s special.”
“You will,” Chuck replied. “You will ... and, you’ll like her instantly. You remind me of her ... your gestures ... your smile.”
As the group rose to head home, Jan tapped Chuck on the shoulder and said, “Thanks for this wonderful night out. Be sure to be at our place by noon. We’ll have a great barbecue, and I hear the men are going to fire a cannon and have a target shoot with a musket.”
“Wow,” Chuck exclaimed, “that sounds like fun. I wouldn’t miss it for all the world!”
