Blue Shadows Farm: A Novel

44. End of an Era—1905

1905 Faith continued doing most of the farmwork, and Abe, although he did manage to plow and plant the fields each spring and do some of the harvesting, kept drinking. His problem had gotten worse, if anything . Faith had recently brought up the situation with her motherin -law. The two of them had become close friends. They shared a cup of coffee several times a week, along with discussions about farming plans, gardening challenges, and the like. Faith had avoided talking about Abe; she knew that he and his mother still talked regularly, which was more than could be said for Silas, who seldom talked to his son at all. When he did, it was usually about some scrape Abe had gotten into in Link Lake on a Saturday night. “What can I do about Abe?” Faith asked quietly. She was holding her cup of coffee with both hands and looking down. Many people had commented on how much Faith had aged since she married Abe. She was now only twenty-one years old, yet some had said she looked forty. Her once bright eyes had lost their sparkle; her beautiful brown hair hung limp. Lines had formed around her eyes, and 256 44 End of an Era 257 End of an Era—1905 the radiant smile that everyone remembered about her had mostly disappeared. “I’ve talked to him,” Sophia said. “Many times. He doesn’t listen.” “It’s as if he has a sickness that has grabbed him and won’t let go. Like a giant snake that’s wrapped its coils around him,” Faith said. “I don’t know what to do,” Sophia said. “I know how hard it is on you. And I know how hard you work to make this a good farm. I want you to know that Silas and I appreciate what you’re doing.” “Thank you,” Faith said. “Thank you so much. Abe never says a word of thanks. In fact he doesn’t say much of anything anymore. Mostly he just mumbles and cusses.” “I’m sorry,” Sophia said. “But remember—whenever you want to talk, just come over.” “Thank you. Thank you.” Tears were running down Faith’s face as she turned to leave the little log cabin and head back to the farmhouse where she and Abe lived. That afternoon, Sophia walked quickly across the short distance to Faith’s house and knocked on the door. “Sophia, come in. Come in,” Faith said. “I am worried about Silas,” Sophia said. “He didn’t come home from the fields this noon for dinner. I’m afraid he may be hurt, or sick. He’s not been feeling well lately.” “Abe,” Faith yelled into the other room. “Your mother is here. She’s worried about your dad.” “Abe,” she yelled again. Finally, a faint “What?” came from the other room. “Your mother is here.” “What the blazes does she want?” “It’s about your father,” Faith said. “What about the old man?” “He didn’t come home for dinner this noon.” “Maybe he ain’t hungry,” Abe said. “Can you come out here?” “I’m taking a nap.” “Your mother is here. Talk to her.” “Tell her I’ll stop over later this afternoon.” “She wants to see you now.” In a few moments the door to the back room opened, and a disheveled Abe appeared, rubbing his eyes. “Whadda you want, Ma?” Abe said. “It’s about your pa. He didn’t come home this noon. Can you go look for him?” “Ah, Ma. It’s hot out there. He probably wanted to set a few more fence posts before he came home for dinner.” “It’s not like him,” Sophia said. “He always comes home for his noon meal.” “It’s too blamed hot for hiking to the back of the farm,” Abe said, scratching himself under the arm. “Would you do it, Abe?” his mother pleaded. He pulled on his well-worn straw hat, pushed open the kitchen screen door, allowing it to bang shut, and slowly headed up the lane toward the back of the farm. As he walked slowly along the path the cows had made in the lane, he stepped around the occasional cow pie covered with big blackflies. He thought about his dad and why the old man insisted on working on his blamed fences no matter how hot and uncomfortable...