I hope any folks who’ve been reading this tale will bear with me here, as this post will be somewhat longer than average. We’re winding the story up and I’m going to tie up a few loose ends.
Church was pretty crowded that morning, with many extra guests and friends in attendance. There were two new babies to ooh and ahh over, and after church a box lunch had already been scheduled, as a fund-raiser for the school. Sally and Jenny were both looking forward to that, hoping that when the men and boys bid on the (supposedly) anonymous lunch boxes, that theirs would be purchased by Mr. Santini.
The families of the two infants sat together. Charley was a little edgy, as he was uncomfortable in church, but Caroline and his new son were worth it. At his side sat Mose, whose presence Caroline had earlier requested, and who’d spoken to him, in low tones, before entering.
The service proceeded normally, hymns, prayers, and the sermon. Then the Reverend Gray stepped forward and beckoned to both sets of parents to bring their children forward.
“Folks, we are privileged today to welcome into our church family this son and this daughter of God.” Then he began the Order of Baptism, and familiar phrases rolled out. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit…I beseech you to call upon God the Father…may they be recieved into Christ’s holy church” There was a faily long prayer, with several petitions, and admonishments to the parents about the upbringing of their children, with the parents responding affirmatively when charged with their nurture in the faith. Reverend Gray quoted Mark 10:15 and then it was time. Taking first the Hastings grandchild he looked at the parents and said “Name this child” and the response was “Alice Elaine Norman”
Pouring a little water on her head he pronounced the words of baptism. Alice was handed back to her folks, and Caroline handed over her son. “Name this child”
Caroline took a fleeting glance at Charley, as she had changed her mind about one of the boy’s names, and had decided to surprise her husband. Then, in a firm voice she responded “Moses Chaska Charles Charging Bear” The length of the name surprised a few folks, but not the reverend, who’d had it explained to him earlier, right before the service. “Moses, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
There was a long closing prayer, and, being Methodist, a few more hymns, then the benediction was pronounced and the service was over.
Due to the weather the box lunch couldn’t be held outdoors, so the crowd made it’s way to the Silverlode Hotel and it’s assembly room. By now folks were hungry so bidding was fast and furious on the box lunches. To the chagrin of Jenny and Sally Mr. Santini ended up purchasing a box that had been put together by Belle, from food prepared earlier by Mrs. Hastings. But their feelings of jealousy were allayed when their boxes were purchased by the Dusierre brothers. Although maybe not as gorgeous as Mr. Santini, they were pretty cute! And brave too.
Caroline sat with Charley and Mose, and Moses Chaska. “Caroline, I thought you weren’t going to name him for me” said her husband, “but I like the Chaska. Eldest Son, it fits him, doesn’t it?” and he proceeded to make silly faces at his boy.
“But speaking of names,” said Mose “I’m glad to give him one of mine, but you didn’t have to do it you know” Caroline looked him right in the eyes. "Yes I did. He might not be here if it wasn’t for you. Oh, and thank you for the other name as well. I wanted Charley to have something from his background too. He told me once he didn’t even have a surname till he went to scout for the Army and he had to give them one, for the papers. So he used his maternal grandfather’s name. "
“I remember him” said Mose. “Anyway, you still up for the naming?”
“Yes I am. Tonight?” “That would be good, it won’t take long, and it’s not all that formal, not like the service.”
As Belle sat with Mr. Santini, eating fried chicken(Belle was just picking at hers), they made plans for another union. Later, in the spring, Belle’s Diablo would service Will’s Daisy. If a really fine part Arab foal resulted, she might see about obtaining a couple more mares, difficult as that might be. She though regretfully it was too bad Daisy wasn’t a stallion instead.
Zeke and the former sheriff Wilson, along with Bertha and an older widow, Hannah Jenkins, and their boxes, joined Belle and Will. Zeke had taken the oath as sheriff shortly after breakfast that morning, when the two new deputies from Denver had arrived late, on the stage. Since someone needed to, they had both stayed to tend the jail, freeing the current and former law officers to attend the festivities. “Belle!” laughed Zeke “you get you boxes mixed up? I saw poor Jesse getting his ear talked off by Mrs. Tuttle. She’s in town with Will Anderson for the will reading later on.”
“Best laid plans” chortled Belle. “but speaking of business, Bertha, I heard you might be selling your place?”
“I’m thinking about it"Bertha replied. " Slim McLeod will be buying the Blackhorse and fixing it up special. Turns out he and his dad, that Ian I just met, have quite a little money socked away. And I think Hank Poole will be going in with them. Seems he and Ian patched up some old feud about a homestead. They all want to have a new kind of place for this town, something fancy, for “special” occasions. Now, folks may not know it, but a long time back I worked in a couple of nice places back East. So I have experience. Besides, it would be easier to let someone else do most of the bookwork.”
“My goodness, it looks like Hank will own a lot of the entertainment in the Gulch” mused Belle."
“No problem” said Hank, as he joined the three couples. “But the Tumbleweed, and the new place, won’t really compete, they’re going to be for different kinds of people.”
At that moment Bill Tidd and Jake Anderson entered the room, looking for the folks who would need to hear the will.