The Christmas Child: Chapter Seven
[Evening on Shiloh]
All afternoon Josie and Jamie showed Lottie around Shiloh and got her acquainted with everything and everyone on it. Before they knew it, darkness was falling and it was suppertime. I've had a wonderful day here. Thank you, Josie, Jamie. You're welcome, Lottie. We were glad to keep company with a pretty little thing like you, Lottie. Really, Jamie? True as gospel, Lottie. I can't believe its evening already, Jamie. Will you stay to supper with us, Jamie? I'd be pleased to, Josie. And tell the Virginian he's welcome, too. Sure, Josie. I'll go get washed up. Let's go up to the house, Lottie. You can help me with supper. Did you two have a nice day? Oh, yes, Uncle Henry. I asked Jamie and the Virginian to supper, too. That's good, Josie. It will be good to have them. And the Virginian can meet Lottie. I'll call you when its ready. Let me know when they're here. I will, Josie. Now, Lottie, the silverware and napkins are right here in this drawer. Can you put them out for me? Sure, Josie. And when supper's ready, I'll finish laying the table. Is there anything else I can do?, Lottie asked a while later. You can scrub these vegetables for me. Sure, Josie. ''This little girl will be easy to raise'', Josie thought. And a little while later she had super finished. Supper's ready, everyone. Hello, Virginian. Hi, Josie. And you must be little Lottie. The Judge told me all about you. I'm pleased to meet you, sir. Please, call me the Virginian. Everyone does. And you can call me Lottie. Do sit down everyone, before it gets cold. Bless us O Lord, and bless the food on this table. Amen. Dig in, everyone. Here you go, Lottie. It smells good, Josie. Thank you, Jamie. So, Lottie, the Judge tells me you were born in Texas. I was, Virginian. Do you like Shiloh? Oh, yes. In fact, I love it. And I want to stay, too. That's wonderful news. In fact, Virginian I'm going to look into adopting Lottie. That's good news, Judge. We'll all be pleased to have you, Lottie. Thank you. Have you found your cousin yet, Jamie? Not yet, Virginian. But I will. I hope you find her, Jamie. So, how did you like Medicine Bow, Lottie? It's a nice town as far as I could see. I've always liked it. Where are you from in Virginia? Fairfax County, originally. A long time ago and a lot of miles away. When I met Randy, I could tell he's from the South, too. You're right, Lottie. He came from the Carolina's originally. I would've thought Texas because he sounded like a Texan to me. You've got a good ear for accents, Lottie. How did you pick it up? Me and my daddy traveled through a lot of different states and we met a lot of different people. And some of them were Southerners. Were they all nice, Lottie? Some of them were, Jamie. And some were rude, too. Some of them I liked and some I did'nt. But people are like that everywhere, I suppose. You're right about that, Lottie. People can choose to be nice and they can choose to be rude, too. They definitely can, Josie. But people are people anywhere, North or South. You're right, Uncle Henry. And people can choose to live by the law or live outside of it, too. It was the same in Texas too, Josie. I'm sure it was, Jamie. That was a wonderful dinner, Josie. Thank you, Virginian. Well, I'd better be getting this cleaned up. We'll help you wont we, Jamie? Sure we will, Lottie. Thank you, Jamie. I had a good time tonight, Josie. I'm glad, Jamie. Would you come into the study a moment, Virginian? Of course, Judge. I need to talk to you about something. What is it, Judge? I suspect that Jamie's cousin and Lottie are one and the same. Are you sure, Judge? I don't have any solid proof yet, but some of the things Lottie has told me are identical to what Jamie has said. Would you keep this to yourself until I'm sure? Of course, Judge. Now, lets finish our coffee. Thank you for helping me with the dishes, Jamie. You're welcome, Josie. Please come into the front room with us. We're finished, Uncle Henry. Well, we'd better be going, Jamie. We've all got a big day tomorrow. Goodnight, Judge. Goodnight, Virginian. Goodnight, Josie. Thanks for supper. You're welcome, Virginian. Goodnight. Night, Josie. See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Jamie. Goodnight, little lady. Goodnight, Virginian. Night, Lottie. Goodnight, Jamie. I'll teach you to ride tomorrow if you'd like. I'd like that. We're going to go to bed now. Goodnight, Uncle Henry. Goodnight, Josie. Goodnight, Lottie. Goodnight, Judge. Come, Lottie, lets get you into your nightie. Alright, now say your prayers. I'm all done, Josie. Alright, hop into bed now. Goonight, Josie. Goodnight, Lottie, dear. See you in the morning. And then she turned out the light and left.