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A thousand years ago, I had a birthday party at Farthy.
My mother had hired an expensive band and caterers. My school friends were all dressed up and all came from the best and richest of families. We had the movie in our private theater. At the time I thought it was the greatest party I had ever seen.
But here in Winnerrow with these simple mountain people singing about their dreams, or singing funny songs about their mountain heritage, I felt even happier. No one could put on airs here. I felt at home, at ease, comfortable.
Of course, I saw how many of the mountain girls looked longingly at Luke, for dressed up he was as handsome as a movie star. One girl, Sarah Williams, flashed her green eyes at me when she did get him to dance. She practically pulled him onto the dance floor, and kept looking my way and smiling. She had fire-red hair and was almost as tall as Luke. She clung to him very tightly and I couldn't help being jealous because she was a pretty girl with a slim figure and a belly sticking out like mine. As soon as the dance ended, he returned to me, literally breaking out of Sarah's grasp.
"Sarah's a pretty girl, Luke," I said looking away.
"Maybe so, Angel, but I have eyes only for you," he said and turned me around so I could look into his dark eyes, eyes full of love and hope and pride. "I shouldn't a let her pull me out to the dance floor," he added, reproaching himself. "It's the moonshine creepin' up on me, just like you warned me it would."
"I don't mean to sound like some old nag, Luke."
"You ain't. No way." He shook his head when one of the other girls called to him.
"Oh Luke, I feel like I'm stealing you away sometimes by making you the father of my child."
"Hush now," he whispered putting his finger on his lips. "That's our child and you ain't stealing me away from nothin' I don't want to get away from myself
"You look tired, Angel," he added. "Let's go on home. I had enough to eat and drink."
"But you're having so much fun, Luke."
"I'd rather be home alone with my Angel," he said.
My heart was full again. When we returned to the cabin that night, we were all laughing and talking excitedly until we went to sleep. Luke and I crawled under our quilt and hugged each other. I never felt more secure or happier. Once in a while the baby would kick and Luke, who was pressed up beside me, would feel it too.
"Don't know if it's a boy or a girl," he said, "but whatever it is, it's got your pride and courage, Angel," Luke said. "I'll never forget the way you stared down them rich folk today."
"And I'll never forget how handsome you were and how many girls made eyes at you, Luke Casteel."
"Oh, come on, now." With his cheek to mine, I could feel him blush.
"Looks like we'll have plenty to tell our child when he or she is old enough to listen and understand, huh, Luke?"
"Oh, that's for sure," he said. He kissed me and held me and we closed our eyes and drifted off to sleep.
It snowed late in November in the Willies. With the night came the smothering cold to settle down on the mountains like an ice blanket. The wind would blow through the cabin mercilessly at times, and I would wrap myself up in our quilt and sit beside Old Smokey, the coal stove. When Luke came home at night, he would hug and rub me, cursing the cold. Ma and I crocheted new quilts and Luke bought me long johns to wear. I was a sight with my stomach out and we had a good laugh about it.
On Christmas Eve we had the best meal we could afford. Pa had gotten a turkey from Simon Burl. It cost him a full day's work, but he was proud of it. Ma and I had knit gloves and sweaters for Pa and Luke, and Luke brought home presents for everyone: new combs for Ma, a real corncob pipe for Pa and something so special for me, he wanted me to unwrap it with him behind the tattered curtain that served as a wall for our bedroom.
I sat on the bed and carefully undid the ribbon. Then I lifted the box cover off and peeled away the tissue paper to find the most beautiful doll's clothes I had ever seen, clothes for Angel. He had bought her a wedding outfit: a wedding veil with the filmy mist flowing from a tiny jeweled cap, a long dress made of white lace, lavishly embroidered with tiny pearls and sparkling beads, white shoes made of lace and white satin, and even sheer stockings that were to be fastened with a tiny garter belt.
"Oh Luke, it's all so beautiful. I can't wait to dress her," I cried.
"You never had a proper wedding in a proper wedding dress, but I thought at least Angel should have one," he said.
"How sweet of you, Luke." I dressed Angel in her new finery and noticed the locket around her neck, the one that said "Love, Tony." I wouldn't let that hateful thing stay on Angel's neck. I ripped it off and threw it out the window as far as I could. Then we brought her out to show Ma and Pa.
Afterward, while Ma and I were cleaning up the dishes, she leaned over and whispered to me.
"I never thought my Luke would turn out this way, Angel. I was always afraid he'd be just like his brothers, 'cause he likes his nip of the snake, but you keep him from going too far. If he hurts ya, he hurts terrible inside hisself. As long as he has ya, he'll never git inta real trouble. I think it was his lucky day, the day he found ya."
"Thank you, Ma," I said, my eyes tearing. She smiled and hugged me, really hugged me for the first time.
Somehow, even though we were as poor as could be and we lived in a cabin the size of a bathroom at Farthy, I was happy. I was even thinking it had been the best Christmas of my life. Angel's eyes sparkled in the light of the oil lamp. She was happy, too.
The next month was a hard one for us. It snowed almost every day and it was bitter cold. Old Smokey pumped out as much smoke as heat, but we had to keep her stoked continually. Every night Luke would apologize to me for the weather and spend hours rubbing my toes and my fingers, but somehow, we got through it and went into an e
