Page 23 of Hope’s Enduring Echo
Jennie
After Jennie finished the shopping, she and Mama attended the scheduled Independence Day festivities. They went from the parade to the picnic, then watched a baseball tournament with teams from various churches playing one another, all in good-natured fun. Then, after supper at the hotel, they returned to the park and stayed for the fireworks display.
Everywhere Jennie went, she searched the crowds for Leo, but she never saw him. Maybe he’d gone out to hunt fossils and wasn’t in town at all. Or maybe the swell of people hid him from her. She saw lots of young people roving the grounds in groups from small to large. She pointed out some she thought she remembered from when she attended the grammar school. Mama encouraged her to go over and reintroduce herself, but Jennie resisted. Even though Mama had told her repeatedly she’d be living in Canon City with Aunt Delia and Uncle Prime by the end of the summer, she wasn’t ready to believe it. As it said in Proverbs, hope deferred makes the heart sick. She didn’t need more reasons to feel heartsick.
After such a full, exciting day, she thought she’d fall asleep the moment she dropped into bed at her aunt and uncle’s. But long after Mama’s even breathing from the other side of the comfortable feather tick proved she was sleeping, Jennie lay awake. On her side with her cheek resting on her hands, she stared at the lace curtain hiding the starry sky from full view and sent her mind backward. To when she was ten years old. To the last Independence Day celebration before they moved out to the cabin.
She remembered partnering with Daddy for a three-legged race. She was so much shorter, his stride so much longer, they first went in a circle. Throughout the entire race, both of them laughed so hard they could barely stay upright. They’d come in dead last but they didn’t care because they had so much fun. The memory of their joyous laughter brought a sting of tears now.
Back then, she thought the sun rose and set on her daddy. Oh, she loved Mama. She’d always loved Mama. But she and Daddy…they had something special. When her folks sat her down and explained that Daddy had a new job and they’d be moving from town to the cabin, she hadn’t fussed a bit, because she’d still be with Daddy. Back then, he called her his little shadow, always with a twinkle in his eye that spoke of pride and affection. Now his eyes always seemed empty. Like he was dead inside. Where’d that twinkle gone?
Mama said they should hold on to hope. Leo said it, too. Jennie was trying. If she was alone on the pipeline right now, she might scream the word again to the cliff and stand in its echo. But she couldn’t scream to the ceiling. She’d wake up the whole household. And if she didn’t get some sleep, she’d be crankier tomorrow than Daddy on his worst day.
She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into the soft, clean-smelling pillow. One last thought trailed through her mind before sleep claimed her.
I wonder where Leo’s going to church tomorrow?
Leo
Leo strode up the sidewalk in the direction of the First Presbyterian Church. He should be attending the First Christian Church instead. It was the last one in town he hadn’t yet visited. But he’d gotten a late start after staying up for the fireworks show. The Christian church was the farthest from the hotel of any church in town. He’d never make it on time. He loathed entering a service late—probably because Father said late arrival signified laziness or disrespectfulness. Neither quality was acceptable in his home. Childhood lessons, whether positive or not, always lingered. The First Presbyterian Church was a shorter walk. He could make it there on time, and he’d visit First Christian next Sunday instead.
As he turned the final corner, he spotted Jennie, her mother, and the Flankstons crossing the lawn toward the front door. Of its own volition, his pace quickened to a jog, and he drew up behind them at the base of the concrete steps leading to the sanctuary.
Mr. Flankston glanced at him, then tapped Jennie’s shoulder. “Look who’s here.”
Jennie turned, and the delight that burst over her face sent Leo’s heart flopping like a rainbow trout on a riverbank. She silently mouthed his name, as if she couldn’t believe it was really him. Then her expression instantly shuttered, and her bearing became as formal as the Sunday blouse and skirt she wore. She touched her mother’s arm. “Mama, would you like to say hello to Leo?”
Mrs. Ward paused on the first step, angling sideways. She held her hand out to him. “Of course I would. How good to see you, Leo.”
“It’s good to see you, too.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze, then stepped back. He probably shouldn’t have approached them. Mr. Ward wouldn’t approve, and even though the man wasn’t there to witness them talking, Leo should honor his preference. “I don’t want to keep you from going in to worship. I’ll…” He eased to the side of the steps.
Mrs. Ward gazed intently into his face. “Leo, would you be kind enough to meet me here when the worship service is over? I’d like a”—she sent a sideways peek at Jennie—“private word with you.”
Jennie’s puzzled expression matched the curiosity writhing in Leo’s mind. But she didn’t say anything. Leo nodded. “Of course, ma’am.” They all went inside.
Jennie and her family sat in the same pew as they had during his first time here. Temptation to join them tugged hard, but he chose a seat at the back near a frazzled young couple with three squirmy children who distracted him during the entire service. Then again, maybe it wasn’t the children’s fault. The wavy curtain of Jennie’s light-brown hair, drawn back and secured with a wide mint-green ribbon, drew his attention like a magnet. The image of her joyful face when she laid eyes on him danced in his memory. Their time apart had been hard on her, too. He couldn’t decide if the realization more greatly pleased him or crushed him.
He also couldn’t stop wondering what Mrs. Ward wanted to tell him. Had Jennie’s father decided Leo could visit the cabin again? Would Jennie be allowed to guide him? He didn’t want to presume and then be disappointed, but he couldn’t help entertaining the possibilities. At the close of the service, he hoped no one asked him about the sermon, because he’d have to embarrass himself and admit he hadn’t listened. But he was ready to listen to whatever Jennie’s mama planned to say.
The woman guided him well away from gathered clusters of chatting folks on the lawn. Well away from Jennie and the Flankstons, too. Worry began to nibble at Leo. The message must not be a good one if she exercised such caution about it being overheard.
In the shade of a flowering shrub the size of a hippopotamus, she stopped and faced him. Her blue eyes held a sheen of moisture, increasing Leo’s angst. He blurted, “Ma’am, has something happened to Jennie’s daddy?” Despite their recent difficulties, Jennie adored the man. She’d be devastated if—
“No, no.” Mrs. Ward patted Leo’s coat sleeve with her gloved hand. “Mr. Ward was fine when Jennie and I left for town Friday evening. Well”—her lips formed a sad smile—“as fine as he ever is these days.”
Leo blew out a breath of relief. But should he be happy to hear that Mr. Ward was unchanged? It removed any possibility of him allowing Leo to spend time with Jennie again.
“You said in your letter you’d be willing to help if it was needed.” Suddenly Mrs. Ward seemed shy. “Did you mean that?”
“Of course I did.” He pushed aside his own disappointment and focused on the woman standing timid yet hopeful before him. “What can I do for you?”
“I talked to Dr. Whiteside yesterday.” Tears glistened in her eyes but didn’t flow as she shared the doctor’s inability to make a diagnosis. “He promised to consult a doctor from the…the insane asylum in Pueblo”—she whisked her fingertips across her eyelashes and erased the tears—“and garner his opinion and suggestions. We have no idea when a response will come, but obviously I’m praying it will be quickly. I beg your forgiveness for not gaining your agreement first. I suppose urgency prompted me to tell Dr. Whiteside that you would be able to deliver the information to me when it arrives. Are you…willing to do so?”
Leo nodded, humbled that she trusted him enough to ask. “Of course I will. I presume you told the doctor where to reach me?”
“At the hotel.” A teasing glint suddenly entered her eyes. “Or wandering the hills beyond the pipeline. But I suppose you’d be a little hard to track there.”
Leo laughed, more out of gratitude for her indomitable spirit than in response to her humor. “You’re right about that. I will check my mail cubby every day for the information from”—he gulped back the name she’d used for the institution—“the doctor in Pueblo and will bring it out right away.”
“Thank you, Leo. Now…” She bit the corner of her lip, glancing across the yard. “Would you care to join us for dinner at the hotel?” The query came out in a rush, as if she was afraid she’d change her mind if she didn’t ask quickly. “I think that with three chaperones in attendance, Claude couldn’t disapprove of you and Jennie enjoying a short chat.”
Leo wanted to join them so much it made him ache. Mrs. Ward had given her permission, but worry about her husband finding out and becoming enraged held him back. “I, um…”
“If you have other plans, you won’t hurt our feelings.”
Leo arched one brow. “Not even Jennie’s?”
“Since she has no idea I invited you, she won’t be hurt.” She tilted her head, squinting as a little ray of sunlight sneaked between branches from the shrub and landed on her face. “Do you have other plans?”
He had to be honest. “No, ma’am, I don’t.”
She slipped her hand through the bend of his elbow and gave a little tug. “Then come eat with us.”
How could he refuse? He smiled. “All right. Thank you.”
They moved away from the bush, and full sunlight splashed over them. Mrs. Ward lifted her face and sighed. “Ahh, the sun feels good. I hope it’s shining through the window of our cabin right now and blessing Claude with its warmth and light.”
Leo hoped so, too. He also hoped Mrs. Ward wouldn’t come to regret the invitation.
Jennie
Jennie stared across the lawn, her mouth slightly open. Was Mama escorting Leo to her and her aunt and uncle? Daddy would have a fit if he knew. She held her breath, expecting the two of them to part and Leo to go another way. But they made steady progress directly to the sidewalk where Aunt Delia, Uncle Prime, and Jennie waited for Mama to finish talking to Leo.
Mama stopped and beamed at Aunt Delia and Uncle Prime. “Leo has agreed to join us for dinner.” Her gaze shifted to Jennie and she winked. “Jennie, why don’t you and Leo lead the way? You can chat on the walk to the hotel.” Then she leaned close and whispered, “We’ll have our eyes on you the whole way so Daddy won’t have need to worry.”
Jennie swallowed a giggle. “Yes, Mama.” Bashfulness struck, an odd feeling considering how often in the past three weeks she’d yearned for the chance to talk to Leo again. “W-would you escort me, please?”
Leo took a wide step forward and offered his elbow. She took hold, and then they fell in step on the sidewalk. Her silly pinching shoes slowed her progress, but she didn’t mind. It would prolong her time with Leo. For the first block, they walked in silence, Mama and Aunt Delia’s soft conversation and occasional interjections from Uncle Prime providing accompaniment to the light pats of their soles against the pavement. As pleasant as it was to simply walk with Leo, she was wasting precious time. One of them needed to say something.
She sent a shy smile up at him. “Tell me, how is it going with your new guide? Do you like him as much as you like me?” Her cheeks flamed. Had she really asked such a bold question?
He threw back his head and laughed—a hearty laugh that held not even an ounce of ridicule or embarrassment. “Jennie, Mr. DeWeece is a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable about the land and various types of fossils. I’m grateful he is willing to assist in the hunt, and I’m learning a great deal from him that will benefit me as I continue my studies. But if I might be perfectly frank, no guide, not even Georges Cuvier himself, could top Jennie Ward.”
Her face was as hot as if she’d stuck her head in an oven, but she had to ask. “Why?”
“Well, for one thing, he doesn’t make drawings of the discoveries and gift me with them.” He bounced his elbow, pressing her fingers to his rib cage. “And for another, he doesn’t have braids that catch the wind, or freckles that decorate his nose. How could he possibly compete?”
She dipped her head and swallowed a delighted chortle. Then she squinted up at him. “Who is…” What was the name again? “Jaw-jizz Coov-ee-ah?”
He didn’t smirk even a bit. “A man many consider to be the father of paleontology. He lived in the late 1700s to the early 1800s and was inarguably one of the finest minds in history. His research established the fact of extinctive life-forms by comparing recently decomposed skeletons of animals to fossilized skeletons and citing their vast differences. Cuvier didn’t believe in organic evolution. Do you know how he proved his theory?”
Jennie, enthralled, shook her head.
“By studying the mummified remains of cats from Egypt.”
She gaped at him. “You’re making that up.”
He held up his palm. “I promise, I’m not. When Napoleon invaded Egypt, his soldiers scavenged graves and brought back, among other things, mummified cats. Their skeletons, although purported to be thousands of years old, were identical to cat skeletons found in the Jura Mountains. That the skeletons were exactly the same proved in Cuvier’s mind that once a cat, always a cat.”
She pondered this information for a moment. “If Cuvier is considered the father of paleontology and he didn’t believe in the evolution of living beings, why do your current professors teach the theory of evolution?”
Leo sighed. “Ah, Jennie, that’s a question I’m not able to answer. But I remind myself frequently that they are teaching a theory, not a fact. And I keep praying for discoveries that will prove without scientific doubt that God created living beings the way He wanted to craft them.” He fell silent for a few seconds, as if he drifted away into thought, and then he gave a little jerk. “Oh, you might find this interesting, too. Do you know why cats today ignore you when you call for them?”
She searched her mind for a reason. “No, I don’t. Why?”
“Because their Egyptian ancestors lived in palaces like royalty and they’ve never forgotten it. They are the ones who beckon. They do not heed commands.”
It took a bit for her to recognize mischief sparkling in his eyes. She laughed and playfully swatted his arm. “Leo, that’s not nice. I thought you were being serious.”
Immediately, the humor faded to something else. He pressed her fingers to his ribs again. “I was being serious. When I said I like you as my guide better than Mr. DeWeece, I was being very serious. Remember that, will you?”
She nodded, battling a wave of emotion she couldn’t define.
He gestured ahead of them. “Here we are, safe and sound at the hotel. Are you ready to eat?”
No, she wasn’t, because when they finished their dinner, they would part company and she might never have another opportunity to talk with him again. But she would always remember his words— “I like you as my guide” —and the way he looked at her when he said them. She would remember and treasure the moment.
Mama, Aunt Delia, and Uncle Prime closed the distance between them. Mama eased between Leo and Jennie. “Let’s get our dinner, honey. Remember, we have a train to catch.”
Something else she couldn’t forget. Jennie tore her gaze from Leo and sighed. “Yes, Mama.”