Today I'll be interviewing Jeremiah Gant--"Captain Gant"--from my historical Amish series, The Riverhaven Years. First, though, for those of you who aren't yet familiar with the residents of Riverhaven, I thought I'd introduce a few folks from this Old Order Amish settlement that's grown up near the Ohio River in southern Ohio.
Rachel Brenneman--a young widow with a secret--a secret threatened by the arrival of a stranger who bursts into the remote Amish community like a torrential storm off the river, needing a safe place to recuperate from a wound inflicted by a ruthless enemy.
Jeremiah Gant--"Captain Gant"--a suspicious, perhaps even dangerous, "outsider" to the Amish, who brings his own secrets and conflict to the unsuspecting settlement. The Amish know nothing of this "Underground Railroad" of which he's a part--nor do they want anything to do with the wounded stranger who threatens their peace-loving community with the consequences of a violent past ... and his forbidden love for their own Rachel.
Dr. David Sebastian--friend and family doctor to the entire Riverhaven community. Over the years, this transplanted British physician has grown to love and respect the People, especially the one woman he can never have.
Susan Kanagy--Rachel's mother and a woman devoted to her Amish faith--yet torn between that faith and her desire to help the wounded outsider who befriends her and the People of Riverhaven, even as he falls in love with Susan's daughter.
Asa--freed slave, friend and co-conductor, along with Jeremiah Gant, on the Underground Railroad. A devout follower of Christ who lives his faith by leading others out of their chains into freedom.
Gideon Kanagy--Rachel's brother, who disputes the Amish belief in nonresistance and vows to put an end to the persecution that has plagued his people for generations.
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What follows is an interview with Jeremiah Gant--"Captain Gant--" from The Riverhaven Years. For some of you, this may be the first time you've met him. For others who know him from reading the series, perhaps you'll get to know him a little better through this interview.
Some brief background information on him:
An Irish-born riverboat captain who's been in the States since he was a boy, Gant first appears in Riverhaven with a serious gunshot wound, desperately needing medical attention and a place to heal. With the help of his friend, Asa, he makes his way to the home of Rachel Brenneman, a young Amish widow who at first resists offering them shelter. Given his critical condition, however, she relents and takes both men under her roof--an act that soon brings her under the scrutiny and disapproval of the Amish leadership and some of her neighbors.
I met with Captain Gant at his recently acquired carpentry shop in Riverhaven. He's a tall man with a head of rather unruly dark hair, a dangerous-looking mustache, and a surprisingly quiet voice in which his Irish accent is still distinct, despite his being a citizen of the United States for several years. He's probably in his mid-thirties. An unmistakably keen, mercurial intelligence simmers about the man, as well as an unpredictable sense of humor. I soon learned that he seldom makes a move without the big, sturdy black dog he calls "Mac" at his side. Mac seemed harmless enough, but something in his manner let me know he would tolerate me only so long as I didn't create a problem for his owner.
Gant himself seemed friendly enough, but as was the case with his dog, I caught a sense of a complex nature that could turn dark in an instant. In other words, a man one might not want to provoke. He seems to possess a certain confidence that doesn't approach arrogance, but instead is more the demeanor of a man comfortable with who he is but not overly impressed with himself. It soon became clear that he's not given to revealing much in the way of personal information, so you may find his replies to my questions brief, even abrupt, in places.
But that's enough introduction. I'll let him speak for himself from here ...
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BJ: So, Captain Gant--my research tells me you're considered a 'master carpenter' in addition to having been a highly capable riverboat pilot. Are you devoting yourself altogether to your carpentry trade now, or do you still spend some time on the river?JG: I'm pretty much settled in with the shop these days. A bum leg is no good on the river.
BJ: (I was embarrassed that I'd forgotten that Gant is severely lame, due to the damage done to his leg by a gunshot wound.)
You're originally from Ireland, isn't that so? (He nodded) What brought you to America?
JG: A need for survival.
(I must have looked puzzled, because he went on.) Ireland was starving at the time, you see. Most likely still is. I left to stay alive.
BJ: (He was nothing if not direct.) And what made you decide to settle here, later on, in such a small area--and in one that's predominantly Amish?
JG: (With a shrug and a somewhat evasive glance) I was here quite some time while recuperating from an injury, long enough to get to like the place and the people. So I stayed.
BJ: But an Amish community? I've always thought the Amish an insular, even clannish sort of people. Have they actually accepted you into their midst?
JG: The Amish community isn't the town of Riverhaven, but a neighboring settlement. And, no, I'm not a part of the community, but they've treated me well enough. I have a few close friends among them, and for the most part, they're friendly folks.
BJ: You like them, then?
JG: (With a nod) I do. They're good people.
BJ: Any interest in joining their faith--becoming Amish yourself?
(Gant's reply came with a slight narrowing of the eyes. For a moment I thought I might have offended him, but apparently that wasn't the case.)
JG: I'm not a great one for looking too far ahead. And if you don't mind my asking: what, exactly, is this 'interview' for anyway? Why did you want to talk with me?
BJ: Your story seems to fascinate many of my readers. They want to know more about you. They're especially interested in your...relationship with Rachel Brenneman. Would you like to comment on that?
JG: I would not.
BJ: Not at all?
JG: Not at all. (This said with one raised eyebrow and a distinctly challenging look. Needless to say, I didn't press the issue.)
BJ: Well, then, how about talking a little about your work with the Underground Railroad?
(This brought a look that would have withered a cactus, accompanied by a slight thickening of his Irish accent.)
JG: What would that be, this--'Underground Railroad?'
BJ: Captain Gant, there are rumors that--
JG: (With a shake of his head and a thin smile) You'd do well to pay no heed to rumors. They're not worth the air in your hand.
BJ: Really, sir, your name is often associated with the work being done with that particular organization--the 'Freedom Train,' as some refer to it.
JG: Is that so? Well, as I said--rumors aren't worth much.
BJ: So you're not associated with it at all?
JG: (Again that thin, rather unpleasant smile) Did I say that? I thought you did.
BJ: (At this point I was reaching for a question that he might at least answer.) Would you like to comment on the trouble the Amish have been experiencing in this area? No doubt you know something of the harassment and ill-treatment they've endured.
JG: (He leaned back in his chair at this point, crossed his arms over his chest, and studied me until I grew more than a little uncomfortable.) You already seem to know a great deal about me. So why all these questions, I wonder?
BJ: As I explained, my readers are curious about you. I'm really doing this interview for them.
JG: Curious about me, eh?
BJ: (I nodded, trying not to appear too hopeful that finally he might be about to open up about himself.) Yes, that's right. Very curious.
(At this point, he got to his feet, looked down the length of the table at me, and cracked a much friendlier--if somewhat wicked--smile, and said:)
JG: Then it seems to me that what you should do, ma'am, is simply recommend that the lot of them read those books you're writing about me. When it comes down to it, I wouldn't mind a copy or two myself.
That was, as you might imagine, the end of the interview.
BJ
*For other character interviews, go to the "Character" section of Grace Notes.
