By: Heidi L. Lane
“How old is she anyway?” J.D. asked pointing over at Winnie. The little girl was “observing the behavior of insects,” as she called it. Most of the seven just called it “playing with bugs.” Unlike most children observing insect life, however, Winnie didn’t touch them. She would merely place obstacles, such as sticks and rocks, in their paths and watch their reactions.
“Mira said she was goin’ ta be six,” Vin replied as he looked over at his daughter. Smiling he said, “Darlin’, leave them bugs a minute an’ come over here.”
“They’re insects, Papa, bugs only got four legs, sometimes less; they have six,” Winnie explained as she walked over. “They get lost if you put somethin’ in their way. They try an’ crawl under it, or over it, but they have trouble figurin’ where they were goin’ before you put it there. Why, is that, Papa? Are they trackin’ like you?”
“Maybe, Winnie,” Vin answered. The little girl was so inquisitive, always wanting to know how things worked and why, just like her mother. Picking her up and setting her on his lap he asked, “When is your birthday, Darlin’?”
“Next month, the twentifirst. Mama said it was the Autumnal Equinnox. What does that mean, Papa?”
“I don’t rightly know, Winnie. Maybe, when school starts up ag’in, you can ask the teacher. You like school, don’t ya?”
“Oh, yes. I love learnin’. Why isn’t school goin’ on now?”
“‘Cause it’s still summer,” Vin explained. “But in the Fall school’ll start up an’ you’ll go jus’ ‘bout ev’ry day.”
“Yea!” Winnie cheered; jumping down from Vin’s lap she went back over where she’d been watching the ants scurry through the dirt.
“Her birthday’s in scarcely a month,” Ezra pointed out.
“Maybe we should plan something,” Josiah added.
“Somethin’ small,” Vin agreed, “She don’t – doesn’t know many folks yet.”
“Us seven… Mary… Who else?” Chris asked.
“Nettie an’ Casey,” Vin answered, “An’ Mrs. Potter an’ her family. Mrs. Potter’s given Winnie some clothes that her daughter grew out of an’ school books too. It would be a nice thank you an’ then there’d be kids her own age there.”
“Incidentally, my mother is coming for a visit at around that time. She wrote me a letter saying to expect her,” Ezra said.
“She c’n come if she wants ta,” Vin said with a sigh. He didn’t want to overwhelm Winnie with too many strange adults.
“What about the Judge?” Chris asked.
“If he’s in town, he c’n come,” Vin said, resigned to the fact that by the time the day arrived half the town would be there. “Where are we gonna have it? I surely ain’t got any room.”
“You really need a house, Vin,” Chris said chuckling.
“Don’t start in on that now,”
“Alright, I won’t. We can hold it at my place. It isn’t too far out of town,” Chris offered.
“Alright. Thanks, Chris.” As the others left the porch, presumably to begin arranging the party, Vin sat thinking about what he should get his daughter and wondering what the others would get for her.
***
“Whatcha makin’, Papa?” Winnie asked, climbing up on a chair next to him.
“Moccasins for you.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause you insist on walkin’ around outside after I got ya changed for bed an’ I don’t want ya stepin’ on somethin’.”
“That makes sense,” Winnie agreed, “Today I’m six.”
“I know,” Vin said, pulling the lacing through the buckskin, so that the moccasin he was making would fit snuggly around her ankle. “Mrs. Potter wanted ta know what kind of cake you liked.”
“I jus’ like cake, Papa,” Winnie answered, bouncing a couple times.
“That’s what I told her. Ya writin’ in yer journal there, Winnie?”
“Yes, Teacher says I write well,” Winnie replied, “Wanna see?”
“Sure,” Vin said, putting down the moccasin he was working on and peering over her shoulder. Several words were spelled wrong and the handwriting was very large and all in capital letters; but it was legible and neatly written. “That’s right nice, Winnie. I jus’ learned readin’ an’ writin’ a little while ago so I know how hard it can be ta write so neat.”
“Did you learn ‘rithmetic, Papa?” Winnie asked.
“No, not yet,” Vin replied. Some people might have felt embarrassed about admitting this lack to their children; but Vin wanted Winnie to understand why learning was so important. If he could save her the difficulties he’d faced in life, then it was worth a little embarrassment.
“I c’n teach you, as I learn,” Winnie offered.
“Alright then. That sounds good ta me,” Vin replied grinning at her.
“Let me get my slate,” Winnie said, sliding off the chair. Several moments later she returned with her slate, some chalk and her abacus. She climbed back onto the chair and began to show her father the basics of arithmetic.
Chris found them still huddled around her slate a couple hours later. “Vin,” he said, “it’s time to go… um, to my ranch.”
“We’re goin’ to Mr. Chris’s ranch for supper, Papa?” Winnie asked.
“Yup. Put your things away, get your shawl an’ let’s go,” Vin replied.
***
“Surprise!” everyone called as Vin, Chris and Winnie entered the building. First Winnie was so startled she hid behind Vin; but soon she giggled and bounded out to look at all the people gathered.
“It’s a party!” she exclaimed. “For me?” she asked Vin.
“Yup, for your birthday.”
“Thank you!” She bounded over to the buffet table and peered over the edge. “Is that my cake?” she asked Mrs. Potter.
“Yes, Dear, but it’s for after supper.”
“We’re all eating supper?” she asked Mary.
“Yes, Winnie,” Mary replied, “then we’ll have cake and you’ll open your gifts.” Winnie giggled and bounded over to her father to give him a hug. Vin grinned and blushing slightly picked her up. He was never comfortable around a lot of people; but Winnie seemed more excited than anything else.
***
When all the plates had been cleared and everyone had had their cake, Vin whispered something to his daughter and she looked up at him in confusion. He whispered again and she nodded. Looking over at Inez she said, “Thank you for dinner, Miss Inez. It was delicious.”
“You’re welcome, Winnie,” she replied.
Vin cocked his head at Winnie then looked meaningfully at Mrs. Potter, “Thank you for the cake, Mrs. Potter,” The little girl said beaming at the woman.
“You’re very welcome. Dear.”
“Now presents?” Winnie asked in a stage whisper. At Vin’s nod, she bounced a couple of times and shouted, “yea!”
“Here they are, Winnie,” Chris said, pulling a sheet off of a table that was laden with gifts. Vin’s eyes got wide and he looked significantly at Chris, who shrugged.
“Wow, are they all for me?” she asked. Vin nodded and she said, “Oh thank you all so much!”
“Which one do you want to open first?” J.D. asked.
“Yours?” Winnie replied.
“All right, here you go,” he said, handing her a round flat object wrapped in brown paper.
“Looks like a window, Kid,” Buck said, looking at the package.
“Let her open it, Buck,” he replied. Winnie tore the paper off to reveal a hoop and small stick.
“Thank you for the… What is it, Mr. J.D.?” she asked.
“It’s a game, Winnie. I’ll show you how to play tomorrow,” J.D. grinned at Buck and said, “What free time I had growin’ up was spent playin’ with one of those.”
Soon Winnie had unwrapped all but a few presents. Picking up an ornately wrapped package, Winnie said, “It’s too pretty, Papa.”
“Do ya want help with that’un, Darlin’?” he asked. She nodded and Vin set to work untying the ribbons. “Who’s this from?” he asked, as he helped Winnie carefully remove the paper.
“I brought that gift, Mr. Tanner,” Maude said coming up to stand beside Ezra. Vin pulled the wrapping away to reveal a black leather satchel. “It’s for your school things, my dear,” Maude explained to Winnie.
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Standish,” the little girl replied, setting it among the other gifts she’d received. “Is this little one from you, Mr. J’saih?”
“Big things come in small packages, Winnie,” the large man replied with a nod.
Winnie grinned at him and opened the small paper sack. She reached inside and pulled out a small cross pendent made of two nails soldered together. “Wow, Mr. J’siah, it’s beautiful!” she exclaimed, “Did you make it?”
“Yes. Now you have something to wear on Sunday with that pretty dress Mrs. Travis gave you.”
“Thank you. Now I’ll open Papa’s present,” she announced. She trotted over to a large box shape covered in paper. Starting from one corner she ripped the paper off and looked at what lay beneath. She looked at the gift, then up at Vin, then back at the gift and said, “It’s a box?”
“It’s a trunk, to put things in.” Winnie grinned at him and opening the trunk, began to look around inside, admiring the patterns in the wood. In an undertone Vin added, “Considerin’ you now have five dresses, four blouses, a jumper, two skirts and four pinafores, not to mention all the other little things-”
“My unmentionables, Papa?” Winnie asked ingenuously.
“Yup, them; you’re gonna need a place ta put all them clothes.”
As most of the adults chuckled at this J.D. said, “Wow, she’s getting’ to be like Ezra with all that clothes.”
“Ain’t my fault,” Vin murmured, “I’ve only bought her two outfits.”
“I haven’t give her any clothes,” Chris pointed out. Then turning to Winnie he asked, “Did you enjoy the party?”
“Yes, an’ the presents,” she replied.
“What’s you favorite?” Buck asked.
“I like them all; I like the coat you got me, ‘cause it looks like Papa’s. I like the dress, an’ blouse an’ pinafore that Mrs. Travis, Mr. Ezra and’ Miss Inez gave me. I love yellow; it’s my favorite color.”
“I know, Winnie, that’s why I chose that particular blouse,” Ezra interjected.
Winnie giggled, then continued, “I like the book satchel from Mrs. Standish an’ the quilt from Mr. Chris an’ the hobby horse from Mr. Nathan. I love the necklace Mr. J’siah gave me an’ Bunny is so pretty,” she said, referring to the stuffed rabbit Nettie had made out of old napkins and scraps of cloth. “The cake Mrs. Potter made was delicious an’ the trunk Papa gave me is nice too. I cain’t decide which I like best.”
“That’s fine, Winnie,” Vin said. “I have one more thing for you.”
“What?” Winnie asked, bouncing.
“Tomorrow, after breakfast,” he said, kneeling down in front of her, “would you like to go ridin’ with me?”
“Riding? On a horse?! Oh, yes, Papa, I would,” Winnie replied climbing into his lap. “And can we – may we bring a picnic too and eat it outside on the ground like Sundays.”
“Sure, if you’d like.”
Winnie climbed back down and bounded over to her gifts. She pulled out the stuffed rabbit and asked, “Can Bunny come too?”
Vin chuckled and nodded, “If she wants ta,” he managed to say with a nearly straight face. “How about we put all these gifts in this here trunk, so they’re easier ta get home,” he suggested.
Still giggling and bouncing Winnie nodded and began packing her trunk. Standing up, Vin whispered to Chris, “She’s tired.”
“She seems pretty lively to me,” he opined.
“That’s ‘cause she’s over-tired. She didn’t get a nap this afternoon, like she usu’lly does. She’ll sleep on the way back, most like.”
Chris nodded and asked, “Did she mention her Mama?”
“Mira sent a telegram wishin’ her a happy birthday. The Book was an early birthday present, Mira copied it for her.”
“What’s in that book, anyway?”
“Mostly family history an’ their studies. They’re all like Mira an’ study things.”
He looked over at Winnie, who was holding a serious discussion with J.D. “Maybe when we get back from our ride,” she said.
J.D. nodded and replied, “That’s alright, Winnie. I hope you have a good time. I know you’re excited about goin’ for a ride. Looks like your Papa’s ready to go.” Winnie nodded and bounded over to Vin’s side.
Vin nodded and took her hand, saying, “It’s gonna be dark ‘fore we get back ta town if we don’t head out soon,” Smiling at Chris he added, “Thanks for lettin’ us use your place, Cowboy.”
“No problem. Looks like you aren’t the only one getting’ ready to leave. Mary an’ Mrs. Potter are too.”
Soon farewells were said and the little family was headed back to town. Vin looked over at his daughter curled up in the quilt she’d just received, cuddling her new rabbit. “G’night, Darlin’,” he said thinking about the exciting day he had planned for tomorrow.