Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES One

Plum Creek Township, Iowa, Spring 1889 Johnny Whalen stood stock still on the front stoop and watched his Pa latch the pasture gate, then look out over the unplowed fields. Pa leaned into the fence, careful to place his arms between the barbed wire spikes, and dropped his head. It seemed to Johnny like forever before Pa raised up to his full six-foot height, squared his broad shoulders, and slowly lifted one of his thick arms to wipe his eyes on the sleeve of his work shirt. Until today, Johnny and Pa watched the sunset together every single night. Theyd do the milking and fill the trough with oats for the horses. Then, theyd race each other to the west gate just in time to see the last sliver of orange disappear before going inside. Supper was always fun when all nine of them were together around the oak table that sat next to the big hearth that Ma used for cooking. Johnny had three older brothers and an older sister, Catherine, all of whom had been born in Wisconsin before the move to Iowa. Johnny was born right after Pa built the log house, followed by four more children. There were twin girls, Agnes and Anne who always wanted to sit on either side of him; and the baby boys then, Ralph and finally little Davey who usually sat on Mas lap. Some nights, especially in summer when the days lasted longer, Ma would tell stories about Ireland. Or Pa would tell one scary story after another about the hardships of traveling by Conestoga wagon from upstate New York to the prairie before the American Civil War.

But everything changed last winter. Ma was sick all the time. She moved through her day more and more slowly doing the indoor chores. By the end of the winter, she spent most days in bed. Johnny worried a lot about Ma. In late March, worry changed to just plain scared when he overheard Pa talking to Uncle George, Mas brother, on the front porch. Pa told Johnny once that he could talk to Uncle George about darn near anything. And Johnny always paid attention when they had

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

a private talk. Every time they had a talk on that front porch, it seemed like something changed for the Whalen family soon after. James, II dont want to pry. Uncle George twirled his mustache, his eyes looking at the floor planks. But are you as concerned about Mary as I am? Pa rocked back and forth on the heels of his heavy boots. Doc says Daveys birth took a lot out of her. Shes weaker and weaker every day. It breaks my heart. He knocked the dust off of the brim of his hat, put it firmly on top of his thick black hair and shook his head. Marys my favorite. Always looked out for me when we were kids. I dont know what more to do. I think you need to prepare for the worst, James. Pa rubbed his forehead and dropped his head. I dont know if Ive got what it takes to raise nine children by myself. Without another word, Uncle George patted my fathers shoulder, then stepped down, tightened the saddle strap, hoisted one leg over his chestnut stallion, and headed back to town.

Two To paradise, may all the angels take you Johnny tried to concentrate while the small church choir sang and Father Kelly prayed over Mas grave. He stood straight and tall wearing his starched, long sleeved, white shirt, scratchy wool pants and school shoes. But the warm June morning made it hard not to fidget. Pa stood at the head of the casket. Little Davey was crying in his arms. Johnny stayed off to one side with the twin girls flanking him. Uncle George moved close to Pa, murmuring from time to time into Pas ear. Johnny wished this were a dream. He looked down the hill toward the farm at the light green shoots of the newly planted corn crop in perfect rows against a cloudless blue sky.

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

Johnny wondered if anything would ever be the same. He felt an emptiness hed never felt before. It wasnt that hed never seen bad things before. Accidents and sickness happened a lot on a farm. Just last summer a tornado ripped through the whole valley leaving terrible damage. When the sky finally cleared, he ran to the barn and found the new foal bleeding under a collapsed beam. The colt lived. But Ma was never coming back. Johnny tried to remember the stories she used to tell him about setting sail with her ma and pa from Dublin to New York in 1850. She had a faraway look in her eyes when she talked about crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a tiny boat and saying goodbye forever to her beloved Carlow Town.

After Mas funeral, Johnny helped Pa hitch the team of horses up to the buckboard. Before his brothers and sisters reached the back of the wagon, Pa took him aside. Youve gotta be brave, son. Pas eyes were red and bloodshot. His shoulders sagged as if he was weighed down by a full pail of fresh milk in each hand. Johnny grabbed his fathers arm. Im scared, Pa. Pa walked around the wagon, picked the eleven-year-old up. I know, son. I know. He hugged him, patted his backside and gently put him back on the ground. Its gonna be all right, lad. Its gonna be alright. ##### But it wasnt all right for Johnny. Every day since the funeral, he woke up with an empty place inside that he just couldnt fill without Ma. She had always made time for young John at the end of the day after the smaller children were put to bed. Thats when she would listen to him recite his lessons or slip him a piece of corn bread, his favorite that she had hidden in the back of the pantry for him. The bigger boys helped Pa in the fields. Johnny tended to the farm animals and all the work around the barn. Catherine lived in nearby Wesley where she held a job as the villages first postmistress. But every morning since Mas death, she would come to the

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

farm just after dawn on her old mare to help Pa get the little ones dressed, cook a big breakfast for all of us, and then ride back to Wesley in time to meet the mail wagon and open the post office at noon. Every Sunday since Ma died, Uncle George and Aunt Mary drove their horse and buggy out to the farm from Algona, the county seat, after Mass. Johnny always looked forward to seeing them come down the gravel path past the Mas vegetable garden and the faded red barn. One Sunday afternoon, Johnny and the rest of the children were inside at the table eating fresh sugar cookies and drinking lemonade that Aunt Mary had brought from town. Johnny could see Pa and Uncle George through the screen door talking in low voices. He knew that meant change but he didnt know if the change would be goodor bad. Johnny, lad, come out here, Pa called. He and Uncle George were sitting in the white rockers, puffing on their pipes. John, my boy, Pa began. How would you like to work in town til school starts in September? What dya mean, Pa? Pa waved Johnny toward them. You tell him, George. Johnny, you know you have always liked being around my livery stable in town? Johnny nodded, his eyes wide. This summer my business has been very good. Uncle George twisted his mustache and squinted. Im gonna buy a couple more horses to breed. And Ill need a groom. The twin girls and little Davey peaked through the screen door, giggling and slamming the door open and shut until Aunt Mary shooed them back into the house. I think youd be good at it. You mean Id be able to stay in town for two whole months? And make money, too?

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

Yup. Thats the sum and substance of it, I suppose. Youll live with your Aunt Mary and me. Weve been lonesome since our lad passed with the awful fever. Johnny opened his mouth but no sound came out. There will be spending money, too. Twenty-five cents a week. Uncle George tamped down the tobacco in his mahogany pipe bowl, then looked up at Johnny, a big grin on his face. Well, what dya think, my boy? Pa, is it OK? Ill miss you and the little kids, but... can I, Pa? Yes, lad, you most certainly can. Ill come fetch you when I can on the weekends so you wont miss your sisters and brothers. He stood up and put his arm on Johnnys boney shoulder. Im expectin big things of you, my boy. Big things. Then, he grabbed Johnny by the neck and pulled him to his big chest in a bear hug. I know youll make your Ma proud. Youre the spittin image of her.

Three Johnny got up before dawn the next day. Without waking Pa or the others, he dressed and put his spare pair of pants and a clean shirt into his rucksack. Hardly breathing, he slid his hand under the bed and reached around until he found a small, tin box and put it into his pants pocket. Johnny tiptoed out of the house and took one last look at the only home hed ever known. It was a small crudely built cabin: one room centered around the table and hearth; the other room crammed full of beds for all of them. The ground was cool on his barefeet as he walked out behind the old barn to Mas vegetable garden. The new birdhouse he made from wood scraps looked handsome on the barn wall. Now there were sparrows nesting there. Hed nailed it up overlooking the garden so Ma could enjoy it while she worked. Johnny sat on the damp earth and thought about how much he loved helping Ma plant. When he was little, before she got so sick, theyd go out together after the morning chores while Davey was napping. Ma would put a shawl around her thin arms, her long blond hair tucked under a plain white sunbonnet.

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

All right now, Johnny, me dear shed say as she tousled his red hair. You do the honors. I tink youre old enough to harvest. Then shed point to the row of carrots. Pull! The first time, Johnny grabbed the green plant tops and yanked so hard he fell backward with six bright orange carrots in his fist and dirt all over his short pants. Then he walked down the rest of the row and grabbed carrot tops with a fierce look on his face until he had harvested every single carrot in the garden.

Sitting there alone in the dawn light, Johnny felt that all too familiar feeling of emptiness hed known since Ma died. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the tin box. Inside were Johnnys treasures--the feather of a red-winged blackbird, a Monarch butterfly wing and a real Sioux arrowhead he found in the pasture. And his most prized possession. His gift from Ma.

One day in the spring before she died, Ma asked Johnny to help her go out to the garden. Come, lad. Lets take a dander. Maybe we can see about some plantin. Together they walked slowly out to the barn, Johnnys arm under his mothers arm to steady her weak legs. While Ma sat on the crude wood bench Pa had made for her on the shady side of the barn and next to her garden, Johnny marked off the planting rows with a spade and some cord. When they were done, theyd planted two rows of pole beans, two rows of beets, and two rows of carrots. Ma waved Johnny over to the bench. Come sit here, lad, and put out your hand. She held a thick golden chain with a fancy hook at one end. It glistened in the sun as she dropped it into his open hand. This watch fob belonged to my Da. He died right after you were born. She patted Johnnys hand. So if somethin should happen to me, youd have this to help you remember me. But I dont want nothin to happen to you, Ma. Want somethin, son. You mean you dont want somethin to happen. Ma smiled and looked out past the garden at the still-fallow fields. Johnny sat on the bench with his head resting on Mas shoulder.

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

Its a little bit of Ireland, Johhny. Ma closed his fingers around the chain. And now its yours. Johnny tried to lick the flood of tears from his cheeks with a flick of his tongue. But it was no use. Come now, Johnny. Youre smart and brave. . I know youll make somethin special of your life. No matter what. He nodded. Thanks, Ma. His voice was just a whisper.

########

Johnny and his father rode into town the following morning. Pa let Johnny ride old Moses, who stood seventeen hands tall and was strong as any ox. Moses was the horse Pa hitched up to the plow in the spring. The big grey horse would heave forward until the thick spiral blades dug deep into the blue-black soil, cracking the winter crust and softening the earth to accept spring plantings of wheat and corn. On the six-mile ride to Algona, they crossed Plum Creek, its banks lined with native trees that flowered pink every year. And every year, the creek went over its banks and flooded the fields for miles around. That was a problem in the entire county. Pa said that the soil was rich from glacier deposits from millions of years ago. That meant bumper crops. But it also meant that there were lots of creeks and rivers in the county with no place for the snow to melt if it was a bad winter. The land was pretty flat, so spring floods could ruin crops and make roadways. Pa said the county supervisors always fought over where to build the next bridge because every community had a spot in their township that was impassable every spring. But by summer, the creeks and rivers were back to normal except for big rains. How many bridges could an Iowa county have?

They crossed the Chicago and Northwestern tracks that near the brand new train station in Wesley. Trains stopped there to load corn and wheat onto boxcars that went all the way to Omaha. They passed Collars Corners named after the first settler who was built a sod house in 1867 with no other houses for miles around. It was along the stage coach route and Mr. Collar took in strangers overnight and got rich doing it.

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

As they reached the edge of town, they stopped at the top of the hill to take a look. They could see the white dome of the county courthouse at the end of Main Street, taller than any other building in town, and the Des Moines River just beyond glistening in the morning sun. Johnny pulled on the reins and said Whoa! Pa pulled in Jaspers reins, frowning. What is it, son? What if I dont like it here, Pa? Pa didnt say a word. He sighed, and rubbed his forehead the same way he did while Ma was sick. Then, Pa made a clicking sound out of the side of his mouth. Jasper started trotting past Johnny down the hill toward town. He raised his hand shoulder height without turning back then pointed straight ahead just like the U.S. Cavalry Captain did when the troops marched through town on Fourth of July. Johnny followed right behind him. He knew it was too late to turn back now.

In town, there were stores lined along one side of Main Street. The county courthouse was the biggest building that stood in the middle of a grassy, tree-lined square and sat at the far end of Main Street the fancy courthouse. Johnny watched people walk from store to store on the wooden sidewalk that was raised up a foot from the dirt road. Men were dressed in Sunday shirts and women wore frilly, bright colored dresses even though it was Monday. Johnny could see Uncle George as they neared the hotel helping a man up onto a beautiful black stallion and tip his hat to him as he rode out of town. Above his head was a big painted sign: G.F. Holloway Livery Overnight Stables and Horses For Hire. Johnny trotted the rest of the way and reached the stables before Pa. Uncle George waved with a big sweep of his arm. Well, boy, youre sure looking fine ridin into town on ole Moses. I think youve got a way with horses, lad. Welcome! He pulled a sugar cube out of his pocket and laid it in the flat of his hand until Moses licked it clean. Pa dismounted and shook Georges hand. Well, you oughta know. Ive never known a man who had more horse sense than you. Sold me every horse I ownall of em fine creatures.

Mary Catherine Bolster

THE DIVING HORSES

The Holloways lived just around the corner from the livery in a two story, white washed clapboard house with lots of fussy trim. At the front of the house was a wide porch with a swing just perfect to watch folks as they came and went in the busy town.
Johnny had never spent even an overnight away from Pa, Ma and all of his brothers and

sisters. He wondered what it would feel like to sleep in a bed all by himself in a separate bed from Davey and the twins.

When Pa left, all three of us stood on the porch and waved goodbye. Come on, you two. Follow me. Aunt Mary led the way to the kitchen that smelled of fresh baked bread. Johnny had seconds of everything from the pot roast and gravy to the sweet potato pie. For the first time since all the sadness began, he felt something close to happiness. .To Be Continued

#####