Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles by author Paul Lintern. It is set in 1831 and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of a young girl.
Amelia did not know what to make of Autumn’s father, as he drove the horses and wagon up to the Inn.
Her mother in Boston said that Mr. Zeiters was her father’s best friend growing up. They lived in the same house, although Jacob lived with his parents in the servants’ quarters.
But everything about her father and this man seemed different.
Her father was slight of build, clean-shaven, with shallow cheeks, quiet blue eyes, and fine, blond hair, often covered with an elegant silk hat. Mr. Zeiters was huge, tall and heavy, with eyes that sparkled from the only part of his head not covered with straggly black hair.
Her father dressed impeccably, with fine silk vests and coats, white stockings and shiny leather shoes. Mr. Zeiters had baggy britches, muddy brown boots and a muslin shirt that looked older than Amelia. 11
Her father rarely smiled, and spoke to her only to instruct her. His voice was quiet and deliberate. Mr. Zeiters had not stopped smiling since he came into view and already had let out three “huzzah’s” pulling up.
“Looks like we have a new chicken in the coop,” he said, looking at Amelia. “Although I can see we are going to have to strap on the feed.”
Amelia didn’t like people teasing her about her size, as she was short and thin for her age, something she obviously had inherited from her parents. She gave Autumn, who really was no bigger than her, a perplexed look.
“Get used to it,” Autumn said. “He’s a father. He’s supposed to keep us guessing.”
Jacob climbed down from the wagon, took off his hat and bowed to the girls.
“Ladies, it is a pleasure to greet you,” he said, then looking to Autumn, “to lay eyes on the sunshine of the Oakland Inn and, (turning to Amelia,) to make acquaintance with such a beautiful flower from the east.”
“The pleasure is all yours,” smiled Autumn, and with that, she went to the wagon, and began to roll two small barrels of flour toward the house, which her father had removed from the wagon.
Jacob grabbed some canvas bags and a wooden box to take to the barn. Amelia followed Autumn into the Inn. Elizabeth, Katherine and Peggy were sitting with Charles at one of the tables, sipping some tea that Amelia’s parents had sent along.
Amelia thought it odd that Charles was just sitting there, rather than serving them, but chose not to say anything. Charles had, after all, been very kind and helpful to her as they made their journey here.
Elizabeth motioned Amelia over to the table, as Katherine helped Autumn with the barrels.
“Charles certainly commends you with your character and talents,” Elizabeth said. “He was bragging about your violin playing and your poetry reciting.”
Amelia blushed. She hoped that didn’t mean she would have to perform here.
“We must have you perform here for our guests,” Elizabeth said. “We get many travelers through here, and they are so grateful for a little entertainment to go with the good food.”
Amelia just nodded and smiled politely. Would grandmother not be proud to know all those lessons she has given her will fill the ears of people who haven’t bathed in a month. She quickly admonished herself for such rude thoughts.
About that time, Jacob came in, his large frame making the doorway and the Inn suddenly seem smaller. But his demeanor made things brighter. Charles got up to greet Jacob, and Jacob shook hands so hard, Amelia was afraid Charles’ hand would crumble.
Charles spoke pleasantly to Jacob and seemed quite comfortable with him, something she had never really seen when the servant was talking with her father. They were discussing arrangements for Charles to spend the night, then start back in the morning. Jacob was offering a choice of an upstairs guest room or one of the sleeping cabins.
“You need not make special provisions for me,” Charles was saying. “I can sleep in the barn.”
“The barn,” Jacob said, laughing. “This isn’t the frontier. We have a special place for one who has made such a fine delivery.”
Jacob then turned his attention to Autumn and Amelia and said, “Look at how close you are in size and shape and even beauty,” then instructed them to stand back-to-back to see who was taller.
“I don’t see a lick of difference,” Elizabeth said. “Which one of you is older?”
“I was born in ‘20,” Autumn said. “October first.”
“So was I,” said Amelia. “December 15.”
“That makes you, what, only a few months apart,” Elizabeth said.
“Two and a half, actually,” Katherine said.
She was the one who measured things most carefully in the kitchen.
“And just about exactly the same size,” Jacob said, and suddenly he picked them both up, one in each arm.
“Just like a couple sacks of barley.” And he laughed.
Autumn seemed used to being hoisted like that, but Amelia had not been picked up like that since she had learned to walk, that she could recall. It just was not ladylike. Then, he suddenly started twirling in the room, singing some sort of dance tune that Amelia did not recognize. She found herself holding on for dear life and wondering whether Charles would step in to rescue her.
He just sat there smiling, as did the women. Finally, when Jacob was out of breath, he put the girls down, leaned against a table and laughed, a sort of half chuckle, half pant. Autumn laughed, too, and leaned against her father’s shoulder, while Amelia busied herself with straightening out her dress. She looked at Charles who put down his tea, and stepped over to fold her collar over and adjust her hair ribbons, one of which had fallen on the floor. She noticed a twinkle in Charles’ eye that she had never seen before.
