SECRET IN THE CELLAR

by Ruby Jackson

  “Can I have two biscuits?” Danny asked, licking his lips.

  “I don’t know if you’ll have time for two. The bus won’t wait for you,” Cecil answered as he pinched a biscuit into pieces and added gravy on top.

  “Then, can I take one to eat on the bus? It’s a long way to school and I might get hungry.”

  Sammie got up and went to the cupboard.

  “I’ll put one in your lunch pail with your lunch. If you get hungry, you can get it out.”

  “Thank you! Boy, Pa, this is the best!”

  Cecil watched the interaction between his son and Sammie. He put his fork down and heaved a sigh.

  What was I thinking? I should never have agreed to this girl staying here. I should have sent her packing. What will Danny think when I do send her away? What a mess!

  Scraping his chair on the floor, Cecil kissed Danny. Grabbing his coat from the nail near the door, he went out into the yard.

  “I guess Pa needed to get some work done early,” Danny told Sammie as both listened to the slamming door.

  Sammie wasn’t so sure. The look on Cecil’s face was next to hurt or maybe even anger.

  Picking up Danny’s coat, she hurried him into it and handed him his pail.

  “I’ll see you when the bus gets me home,” he said as he hurried out to the road.

  Sammie sat down and stared. What had just happened? One minute they were eating and the next Cecil rushed out of the house.

  “He’s going to send me away,” Sammie said in panic. “He can’t handle another woman being here and he’s going to send me away.”

  Slowly getting up, she washed the dishes and put them away. Methodically moving to the bedrooms, she made the beds and picked up clothes.

  Putting her clothes into her suitcase, she closed it. Sitting down on the bed, she waited for him to come. She was ready for him to send her away.

  The day wore on and Cecil didn’t come into the house. Sammie fidgeted and went toward the kitchen. Looking at the clock as she passed through the living room she noticed it was one o’clock.

  Looking out the window, she could see Cecil in the shed. She couldn’t see what he was doing, but he was there.

  After taking ham out of the icebox, she turned and cut slices of bread. Slipping into her coat, she headed out the back door into the cold air. Shivering, she remembered Lydia’s coat was hanging in Cecil’s bedroom. How she wished she had it on.

  “I brought you a sandwich and coffee,” she said as she appeared in the shed door. “It’s cold. I thought you might need something to eat. I warmed the ham.”

  Cecil stared at her. His stomach wrenched. How could he explain what was going on in him when he didn’t understand it himself?

  “Thank you.” He didn’t move a muscle.

  “You must have loved her very much.”

  “What?” Cecil frowned.

  “Lydia. You must have loved her very much,” Sammie replied looking around the shed. “It must be very hard for you to have someone else in the house. A stranger. And, to hear Danny go on about what I do. It has to be hard.”

  A tear escaped from the corner of Cecil’s eye. It ran down the valley of his nose and onto his lip. The taste was bitter salt.

  Sammie nodded and turned to leave. The kitchen was warm when she entered. Taking off her coat, she hung it by the door.

  What now, she wondered. What now?

  The door opened as Sammie was pouring herself a cup of coffee. Turning around, she saw Cecil stride through the kitchen.

  “You can stay until we go back to town,” he said almost inaudibly.

  Sammie wasn’t sure she heard him, but nodded. A few minutes later, she heard the bedroom door close.

  Supper was quiet. Danny kept looking at his father then at Sammie.

  “Did you two have a fight?”

  “No, son, what made you say that?” Cecil asked.

  “You aren’t talking to each other. Just like when you and Mama…. Are you mad about something? Don’t you like the fried chicken and potatoes?”

  “Yes, Danny, I like them very much. I’m just not hungry, that’s all,” Cecil told his young son. “Besides, the less I eat, the more you’ll have.”

  “I bet Sammie cooked a whole bunch. You can eat all you want. Isn’t that right, Sammie?”

  Sammie smiled, “Yes, Danny, he can eat all he wants. There is plenty. I hope it tastes good. I’m learning to cook. I found a cookbook in that drawer over there. I’ve been reading it so I can become a good cook.”

  “That was Mama’s cookbook! Aunt Linda gave it to her for Christmas one time,” Danny said as he stuffed more chicken into his mouth. “Pa can tell you about Mama’s cooking before I was born. I don’t remember any of that.”

  “Sammie can learn to cook without me telling her anything, Now you need to stop talking and eat,” Cecil gruffly answered.

  “I guess I’ll have to ask Margaret more about their housekeeper,” Danny said as he bit into his chicken leg again.

  “Why do you say that?” Cecil asked looking in his son’s direction.

  “I know the housekeeper eats with the family, but maybe she’s not s’posed to talk to them.”

  Sammie wanted to reach out and pull Danny to her. How could he understand the hurt his father was going through? She bowed her head and looked at her plate. He couldn’t understand. He was a little boy.

  Chapter 8

  Sammie felt the cold in the room before she threw the covers off. Frost decorated the window. Icicles clung to the edge of the roof.

  Putting her feet on the floor, she quickly picked them up and slid them back under the quilts.

  “Sammie, you’ve got to get up,” she scolded herself. “It isn’t going to get warmer in here. The stove is in the other room.”

  The smell of fresh coffee met her as she slipped through her door and headed toward the kitchen. The fire had already been stoked and wood added. Warmth generated through the living room.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized as she entered the kitchen. “I must have overslept.”

  “No problem,” Cecil answered, pouring a cup of the warm liquid on the stove. “Danny won’t be going to school today, so there’s no reason to rush. He’s still asleep.”

  “No school? Why?”

  “Snowed last night. Temperature has dropped to five degrees. Drifts are packed high. Road too dangerous. Bus won’t run.”

  “Oh,” Sammie said as she looked out the window. Disbelief edged onto her face. The chicken house couldn’t be seen.

  “About eighteen inches of snow fell last night.”

  “I can’t believe it! I’ve never seen so much snow! Is this for real? I mean…I know it’s for real, but how could so much fall?”

  “Well, it is the first week of November. Not usual for this early but it can happen. I’m glad the work is done. Looks like winter is going to be vengeful this year.”

  Sammie turned from the window. She looked at Cecil. He was reading a magazine at the table.

  “I’ll get your breakfast ready,” Sammie told him as she hurried to the icebox.

  “No rush. Can’t go anywhere,” Cecil answered, not looking up.

  Sammie placed bacon and eggs in front of Cecil. Hot biscuits and butter were in the middle of the table. A jar of jelly was nearby.

  “Where’s yours?”

  “On the stove. I thought…I thought you might want me to wait and eat with Danny.”

  “No, it’s all right for you to eat with me. No sense in letting your food get cold.”

  Sammie got her plate and sat down at the table opposite Cecil. She was surprised when he reached his hand toward her for prayer. Slowly she joined hers to his.

  “Lord, we thank you for this day. Thank you for the crops all being in and the work being completed for the season. Thank you for the food set before us and our good health. Amen”

  “Amen,” Sammie repeated.

  “Why haven’t you’ve gone to church with us?” Cecil
asked out of the blue.

  Sammie was startled.

  “No one has asked me to go,” she answered after a sip of coffee.

  “Did you go to church back where…? Where did you live?”

  Sammie felt a blow to her chest. What could she say? The truth? Would he believe her?

  “I lived in Fort Worth,” she finally said.

  “Tell me about it. Why did you come here?” Cecil said, staring over his plate.

  “I came here to get away from my life. My mother…. I know my mother loved me, but she didn’t have time for me. She…she passed away a short time before I came here. I left to find a better life.”

  “You sound educated. Did you go to school?”

  “Yes, I did. I had a teacher in school that encouraged me. I finished school because of her.”

  “Why didn’t you find a place to stay in Fort Worth and find a job? Why leave and come here?” Cecil asked with a bewildered look. Why here, he wanted to scream.

  “I had to get away from…from things there. I needed a fresh start. I thought Lydia---.”

  Cecil hit the table. Shaking his head, he started to get up but changed his mind. He placed his head in his hands. Sighing, he rubbed his head with his hands then placed them on the table.

  “I’m sorry, Cecil,” Sammie said quietly.

  “No, it isn’t you. I mean, it is you, but your life sounds so much like what Lydia said her life was before I met her.”

  Sammie sat up straight. It should, she thought. Their lives were the same.

  “I guess being….” Cecil stopped and looked at Sammie. His teeth clenched and unclenched. “I guess being cousins, you could have the same kind of lives.”

  “Y…yes,” she answered slowly.

  “What about church? Did you go to church?”

  “Yes. It was my escape, my solstice. I couldn’t have made it this far without my faith.” Sammie replied.

  Cecil nodded.

  Sammie continued slowly. “And, I believe God has been the only one that could help you through this time. Your pain must be great, but you seem to have control most of the time. I think God is doing that for you. He is beside you and letting you lean on him.”

  “You’re right. I do rely on him. I would be insane right now if it wasn’t for his help.” Cecil said as he rubbed his head again.

  “Would you like more coffee?” Sammie asked as she reached for his cup.

  Cecil placed his hand on top of hers. Looking up, he nodded.

  “Thank you, Sammie. Danny and I needed help when you came along.”

  “I believe God has a reason for everything. I needed help and you needed help. He just put us together when we both needed it.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess so,” Cecil said removing his hand. “I just know we needed help.”

  “Believe me, Cecil, I needed help. Someday I might be able to talk about it. Now, let me get you that coffee.” Sammie answered as she grabbed the cup and poured coffee into it. Turning around, she placed the cup on the table. “While we’re being honest with each other, let me say thank you for rescuing me. If I was still in the cellar in this weather, I don’t know if I could stand it. It was very confining and claustrophobic.”

  Chapter 9

  “I want to play in the snow!”

  “Danny, eat your breakfast and then we’ll see,” Cecil said as he came in from feeding.

  “Sammie, talk to him! I bet you played in the snow when you were a kid.”

  “Well, as a matter of fact, I never played in the snow. We had snow, but I never got to enjoy it.”

  Cecil looked at Sammie. Grinning, he said, “You’ve never played in the snow? No snowman? No angels or sledding?”

  “No. Remember, I lived in the city. Snow was a nuisance.”

  “Pa! We’ve got to go outside and play in the snow. Sammie needs to see snow isn’t a nu---. Whatever that word was! Please, Pa!”

  “All right,” Cecil said, “but you have to finish eating and get bundled up.”

  Sammie felt strange in Cecil’s pants and flannel shirt. Danny insisted she put on two pairs of socks and wear gloves. She put on her old coat and stood by the door.

  Cecil looked at her for a moment and then left the room. When he came back he had a heavy coat over his arm.

  “Lydia had this wool coat in the cedar chest. She said the chest kept moths away. There’s another one on a peg, but it’s not as warm as this one and, besides, it’s a church coat.”

  “Cecil, I….”

  “She would want someone to wear it. It would just go to waste if it stayed in the chest. Lydia wouldn’t like that. Besides, you said she was your cousin. Right? I’m sure she shared a lot of things with you.”

  “Thank you, Cecil. I will wear it with pride,” Sammie whispered with tears mounting.

  Sammie gasped when Cecil and Danny flopped into the snow and began moving legs and arms up and down.

  “What are you doing? That snow will get all over you!” she shouted.

  “We’re making snow angels, Sammie. Haven’t you ever made snow angels?” Danny asked. His face was drawn up into a question.

  “No. I told you, I never played in the snow.”

  Cecil and Danny hurried to her side and grabbed her hands. Tugging at her, they moved to a flat area of snow.

  “Come on. I’ll show you how!” Danny yelled in exhuberance.

  Laughing, Sammie followed Danny and Cecil onto the ground and began moving arms and legs. The waves became larger and larger. Finally she got up. A giant snow angel lay on the ground where she had been.

  “That was wonderful! Can we do it again?”

  “Not now. Let’s make a snowman!” Danny said as he jumped up and down.

  “I have a better idea,” Cecil piped in. “I’ll get the tractor while you two get the old hood. We’ll take a few spins around the field.”

  “Oh, boy! Come on, Sammie, help me get the hood!” Danny yelled.

  “What did he say? Take a spin around the field? What did he mean?”

  “You’ll see,” Danny answered with a grin.

  Hooking the hood to the tractor, Cecil helped Sammie and Danny onto it. Ole Blue, with wet coat, jumped in between them. Sammie grimaced, and moved around him to Danny’s side.

  Slowly the tractor began to move. The hood jerked and moved with the tractor. The snow began to mash under the weight of the hood. A furrow followed them in the snow that was left behind.

  Sammie could feel the hood slide across the field. It waved this way and that as they hit banks of snow. Flakes of ice and snow hit them in the face as they careened over hills of dirt and snow.

  Shrieks of laughter came from Danny. His face shined from the cold.

  Slowly, the tractor pulled back into the yard and stopped. Danny jumped out. Cecil extended his hand to Sammie and pulled her up.

  “I think we all need to go inside for cocoa,” Cecil said. “We need to warm up a bit.”

  “But, what about the snowman?” Danny whined.

  “The snowman can wait, young man,” Sammie answered with a chuck under his chin. “I don’t think the snow is going away anytime soon.”

  Grabbing Sammie’s coat, Danny hugged her. “You sounded just like Mama when you said that!”

  Sammie extended her arms to him and wrapped him in a bear hug. “Well, maybe she used to say that because she loved you very much.”

  Danny held onto her hand as the two of them moved toward the kitchen. Cecil was unhooking the hood and putting the tractor away. Sammie knew he would follow soon.

  “Mama always made us wait to make the snowman. Then, she would make us snow cream. Are you going to make us snow cream?”

  “I guess I don’t know what snow cream is. You’ll have to teach me.”

  “I don’t know how, but Pa will help. He likes snow cream, too.”

  Cecil burst in on a gust of wind.

  “Snowing again. I guess we’ll have fresh snow to play in tomorrow.”

  “Oh, boy!
I can’t wait! Pa, can we have snow cream for dessert tonight? Please!”

  “I don’t mind if Sammie don’t.”

  “I…I was just telling Danny that I don’t know how to make snow cream,” Sammie said, apologetically.

  “No problem. I can make it. After supper, Danny, you can go get clean snow. Make sure it’s clean snow and not on the ground,” Cecil said from the door. His coat was hung on the nail and he was trying to untie his boots.

  “Here, let me help you,” Sammie offered. “Your hands must be almost frozen.” Kneeling down, she unhooked the laces and pulled the boots off. Socks on the inside were wet.

  “Danny, run to your pa’s room and get him some dry socks. And, get you some, too. Neither one of you need to get a cold!”

  Straightening, Sammie washed her hands and continued the cocoa. Looking at the clock she wondered where the day had gone. It was already four o’clock. They had missed dinner. In another hour they would be eating supper. She needed to start preparing the meal.

  “Why don’t we have leftovers tonight,” Cecil said from behind her. “This has been a long day. A fun day, but a long day.”

  “If you don’t mind. We have leftover biscuits, pork chops, and potatoes. I can make gravy to go with them.”

  “That sounds great. Oh, thank you, Danny, for the socks.”

  “And, we can have snow cream. You promised, Pa.”

  “And, snow cream,” Cecil said, through laughter.

  Sammie had the dishes washed and put away by the time Danny returned from the yard with a pot full of white snow.

  “This is new snow. You can’t even tell we were outside today. It has snowed more and more,” Danny said, placing the pot on the table.

  “Wow, you got a lot. Do we need all this?” Sammie asked as she looked at the full pot.

  “Pa knows.”

  “Pa knows what?” Cecil asked as he came from the parlor.

  “Is this too much snow or just enough?” Danny replied.

  “Well, we’ll just have to see. I guess it’s time for me to work my magic and make snow cream.”

  Sammie watched as Cecil got out vanilla, sugar, and cream. Measuring the cream and sugar into a pot, he began to heat the mixture just enough to melt the sugar. Next, he put in the vanilla. When he had the mixture the way he wanted it, he poured it into a bowl and let it set until cool. Finally, he started adding the snow and mixed it thoroughly. After a few minutes, Cecil spooned out luscious creamy ice cream.