Bare-Faced Messiah (PDF) - Apologetics Index

Ida had been deeply disturbed by an incident that occurred soon after they moved into their new
house. A negro raped a white woman in the town and while a posse was out looking for him, a
rumour took hold that there was going to be a negro uprising, causing something approaching
panic, particularly in remote outlying areas. At nightfall. Lafe and Ray took guns and went out on
horses to protect the approaches to their property, while the girls waited behind barred windows,
watching flares bounce through the night and listening to the rattle of cartwheels as farmers
shepherded their families into the safety of the town.
Although there was no uprising, both Ida and Lafe were concerned that there might be a 'next time'
and they did not want to feel that their safety depended on their willingness to protect themselves
with guns. In the fall of 1912, the Waterburys once again sold their house, packed up their
belongings and loaded their livestock on to railcars, this time bound for Kalispell, Montana, 1500
miles to the north-west. Long delays at railheads, while waiting with their freight cars to be picked
up by north-bound trains, added days to the journey and it was a week before they were hooked on
to a Great Northern Railway train labouring across the Rocky Mountains through the spectacular
passes that led to Kalispell.
The family reunion was the happiest of occasions and no one received more attention than Ron,
who had learned to take his first faltering steps. 'He was very much the love child of the whole
family,' said Marnie. 'He was adored by everyone. I can still see that mop of red hair running
around.'
Lafe found a small house in Orchard Park, a short walk from May and Hub's home and only a block
from the fairground, where he hoped to find work as a veterinarian. With only two bedrooms, it was
not nearly big enough for the Waterbury tribe, but it had a barn that would accommodate all the
horses and still leave enough room for the long-suffering and widely-travelled Star. Marnie and
June, the two youngest children, were given one of the bedrooms and Lafe built a big wood-frame
tent in the yard for the other four: inside, it was divided by a canvas screen - Ray slept on a bunk on
one side and Midgie, Louise and Hope were on the other. They had a stove to keep them warm in
the winter and were perfectly content. On summer evenings, Marnie and June often heard their
older sisters whispering and tittering in the tent and sometimes they crept outside to join them and
share the cherries they stole almost every night from a neighbouring garden.
The Waterburys were happy in Kalispell: Ida and Lafe made no secret of the pleasure they took in
being able to see their grandson every day; Midgie met her future husband, Bob, in the town; and
Ray developed an impressive talent for training horses. Under his careful tuition, the family ponies
learned tricks like counting by pawing the ground with a hoof and stealing handkerchiefs from his
pocket. The Waterbury 'show horses', ridden by the Waterbury children, became a popular feature
in the town parades and they always competed in the races at the fairground.
Baby Ron remained the centre of the family's attention and the star of the Waterbury photograph
albums - Ron perched in an apple tree, Ron with Liberty Bill, their English bull terrier, on the porch
of the Kalispell house, Ron trying to measure the back yard with a tape. Having clearly inherited
something of his grandfather's showmanship, Ron thoroughly enjoyed being in the family spotlight.
Lafe was walking down Kalispell's main street one day with Marnie and Ron when he bumped into
Samuel Stewart, the governor of Montana, whom he had met several times. 'Hey Sam,' he said, 'I'd
like you to meet my little grandson, Ron.' Stewart stooped, solemnly shook hands with the boy and
stood chatting to Lafe for a few minutes. After he had gone, Marnie, who had been neither
introduced nor acknowledged, turned furiously on her father and snapped, 'Why didn't you