Sunset in Kentucky

Abbott Press

Chapter One

It was a cloudy Sunday morning—dreary actually—and a light rain was coming down. Anna Marie had made sausage and gravy to eat with yesterday's leftover biscuits for breakfast. She and her husband were wearing their Sunday clothes and were almost ready to head out the door. Brady held his green-eyed, lovely wife close and kissed her on her cheek. He was aware by the size of her fully rounded midsection that her time was nearing. Soon she would deliver their first child. Brady and Anna Marie were married in Reeds Crossing, Kentucky on Christmas Eve, December 1833.

"My sweet Anna, I'm so lucky to have you for my wife. You are all that I will ever need. Now here we are about to become a father and a mother. We have so much to be thankful for. No man could want more than this."

Brady kissed his wife passionately and caressed her hair. She kept her head tilted up toward him and gazed into the gentleness he showed her with his eyes. "I felt a connection with you from the time we met at the barn warming dance over at Sara and Peter's place," Brady said. "You were standing by yourself watching Carter Riley as he played the fiddle. He was smiling and tapping his toes, truly enjoying himself, and you were smiling and tapping your toes, both of you lost in the music."

"I wasn't really watching Carter," said Anna. "I was watching him play that instrument ... the connection that was there between the player and the fiddle. He was lost in the sounds he created, and so was I. Music is just in a person. I can't imagine what this world would be like without music. Thank goodness God created songbirds. Their music can fill your soul with peace and happiness."

"I don't know anyone who can sing as lovely as you," he said softly. "Music is in your soul. You are by far the best singer in the church choir."

"Such sweet talk," she said flirtatiously. "Thanks for the compliment. Speaking of the church choir, don't you think maybe we should start for church soon?"

Brady walked with his wife to the cabin door and helped her step out into the misty day. In the distance there was a little rumbling of thunder, a promise of more to come. He had already hitched the horse to the buggy and had tied it up close to the front of the cabin. She struggled getting into the buggy. Even with Brady's strong grip on her arm, the added weight of the baby made it difficult. The buggy was covered, so they would be somewhat protected from the rain today. Brady placed a blanket over Anna Marie's lap to insure her warmth. "That should help," he said. He walked over to the driver's side of the buggy and climbed up with ease. Gathering the reins, he clicked his tongue, and they were on their way as the horse fell into an easy trot down the path to the road. They wound around a grove of trees, most of which were either in full bloom or had already dropped their blooms and were covered now with leaves that were nearly full sized.

Now on the road they started up the first small hill. As the horse trotted along, they saw a doe and her fawn off to the side. The deer stopped their grazing for a short while, checked for danger as they watched the horse and buggy pass by, and then continued their morning fare. Over the hill and down along the meadow, the buggy made its way to the river. Muddy River it was called. The nearby farmers had been busy keeping the beaver population under control. Big Al would go down to the creek and fish often. If he saw those pesky beavers working on a dam upstream, he would take a trap up to where they were working and set it nearby. He would continue to trap the beavers until he had enough pelts to take to town with hopes of selling them for a tidy sum. The pelt money filled a need for Al and his family. Brady slowed the horse down and forded the river with ease. He made a mental note to get back to that crossing soon and add some stones where the riverbed had washed so the crossing would remain safe to travel over. As soon as they made the crossing he urged the horse back up to speed. They passed Big Al and Lucy's place. They were only two miles—about twenty-five minutes—from town and just another short ride to the church. They should arrive in good time.

Anna Marie said, "Look over there. I saw lightning." Right away the thunder rolled overhead and rain sprinkles started falling. "We may get to the church just in time before it rains harder."

"Do you think you would be all right if we trotted along a little faster?" Brady asked.

"Go ahead; I think I'll be okay." Anna Marie gripped the seat a little tighter as their speed increased.

The lightning came quicker now, and the thunder was almost a continuous roll above their heads. The rain had picked up to a steady pace. They pulled up to the church along with some of the townspeople. Brady jumped down off of the buggy and quickly tied the horse to the hitching post. He rushed around to Anna's side and helped her down. She clung to his strong arms, and they were soon inside where it was dry. They felt much calmer and safer than they had only a few moments ago.

Several of the women were at Anna's side. "Are you all right?" "Do you feel okay?" "Can I help you?" "Do you need a towel to dry yourself?"

"I'll be just fine," Anna Marie answered. "We had to hurry Mandy along a little faster. She did a good job bringing us here safe and sound."

"You must be especially careful now considering your condition," the minister's wife said. "No one here wants you to have any problems."

The lightning and thunder continued roaring along during the entire church service. It wasn't good weather for anyone to be out and about. Some of the little children were crying and clinging to their mothers. It was difficult for the older members to keep their attention on the message the preacher was bringing that morning as the lightning, rolling thunder, rattling doors and windows, crying babies, gusts of wind. Everyone watched the flashes of lightning, what else could they do? At last, the final hymn was sung. "Amen" murmured the congregation.

One woman's comment echoed the sentiments of all those present: "Now what can we do? It's too stormy to go outside."

The women and children huddled together and the men looked outside. Everyone decided that they all must stay in the church until the storm played out its fury. Full acceptance of the circumstances that held them hostage replaced the anxious moments of just a short time ago. Rain had blown in over the windowsills and under the main church door. The children naturally were drawn to the minipuddles. They flipped water drops at each other with their hands, and giggles soon replaced tears. The mamas and papas talked about the weather and what they were planning to do in the week ahead. After what seemed like a long stretch of time—actually only an hour or so—the storm had passed through on its way to other farms, hills, and valleys. The men pushed the door open, and the families began to make their way out. Tree branches, leaves, stray weeds, and bits and pieces of wood covered the walkway as well as the buggies. The horses were soaked, and drops of water fell from tree leaves and buggy coverings.

Big Al and Lucy gathered their five children as the families headed to their buggies. "Follow us home. We should stick together—no telling what the road will be like," Al hollered to Brady and Anna Marie.

"Sure thing," Brady replied. "Lead on." He turned to...