SECRET IN THE CELLAR

by Ruby Jackson

  “I’m glad I have friends like you. The coffee is ready,” Sammie said, getting up. “It can be lonely out like this. I’m not used to it. I’m so happy you came by to check on me. Now I know my church family is real.”

  Pouring the coffee, Sammie smiled. “Yes, I feel at home with friends like you. Thank you.”

  The back door opened just as Sammie put the pot back on the stove. Cecil came through.

  “Sammie, I saw a car out fr…. Hello, ladies,” Cecil said staring at the two women. A question was on his face.

  Sammie quickly came to his rescue.

  “This is Mary and Pearl. They go to church with us. They are the wonderful women I sit with. Mary is the Bowden housekeeper.”

  “Oh, I see,” Cecil said with a slow nod. “I guess I’ll go back to the barn and let you ladies visit.”

  “Wait, I have cake and coffee ready. Wouldn’t you like a piece of cake and a hot cup of coffee?”

  Looking around the table, Cecil swallowed then cleared his throat.

  “I’ll get a piece later when Danny gets home. I will take that coffee.”

  Sammie poured his coffee.

  “Can I do anything else for you?” Sammie asked as she handed the cup to him.

  “No, no I’ll be out in the barn if you need me,” Cecil said as he headed toward the door.

  As the door closed, the women giggled.

  “Men. They get so flustered if something changes their thoughts,” Sammie said aloud.

  “You can say that again!” Mary piped in. “Last week, one of the boys was acting up and Mr. Bowden said he was going to straighten him out. He went to the bedroom to get his belt and when he got in there the kids had left his birthday present on the bed. You should have seen his face when he came out. He forgot all about what he went in there for.”

  All three women laughed.

  Sammie felt warm and comfortable toward the ladies at the table. They were company. They were someone to talk to besides Danny and sometimes Cecil. Sammie smiled.

  “Goodness, gracious, we need to be leaving. That bus will be coming down the road soon. I need to drop Mary off before it gets to their house and then get home myself. Sammie, it has been nice to visit with you,” Pearl said as she looked at the clock.

  “I’m glad we came by,” Mary added. “I enjoyed our visit. You will have to visit sometime.”

  “I…I don’t have a vehicle or know how to drive,” Sammie said, “but I have enjoyed the visit. I hope you come back again soon.”

  “We’ll have to see how the weather holds out. God bless you, Sammie. Take care of these fellers,” Mary told her.

  “Is it clear?” Cecil asked, sticking his head in a little later.

  Sammie laughed.

  “Yes, they’re gone,”

  “I didn’t know who was here. I’m sorry I barged in.”

  “You didn’t barge in! This is your house,” Sammie shot back. “You didn’t mind me having company did you?”

  “I’m glad you had company. I hope they visit again. It’s nice to see you so happy,” Cecil said as he poured another cup of coffee.

  Sammie blushed. He noticed the change.

  “Maybe you’d like to visit them sometime,” he said between sips.

  “I don’t know how to drive,” she carefully said. “And, I don’t have a car.”

  “I have a wagon and team if you want to take them over there sometime,” Cecil replied.

  “I don’t know anything about horses!” Sammie shouted. “I’ve never been around any!”

  “How did you get around in Fort Worth?”

  “I walked. I didn’t go more than a couple miles from the house.” Suddenly, Sammie’s face dropped. How did he know she lived in Fort Worth?

  “I guess I can teach you how to drive the team or I…I guess I could show you how to drive the truck,” Cecil said as he rubbed his neck.

  “Drive the truck? Oh, I couldn’t do that! I can’t leave you here without transportation.” Sammie answered. A startled look widened Sammie’s eyes. Get your mind back on track, Sammie.

  “Well, you need to learn how to drive one of them. Let me know when you’re ready.” Cecil said, putting his cup on the table.

  Sammie stood with her mouth open. She watched as he went through the door to the front room. Cecil was offering to let her drive the truck. He wanted to teach her.

  “Tomorrow,” Sammie said at the breakfast table. “That is, if the weather holds up.”

  “Tomorrow?” Cecil asked with a frown. “What about tomorrow?”

  Sammie was taken aback, but then realized she hadn’t made sense.

  “I would like to learn how to drive the truck tomorrow,” she clarified.

  “Are you sure you want to drive the truck? It can be a handful at times.”

  “I…I think I can handle the truck better than the horses. I’ve never been around horses. People in the city quit using horses a long time ago.”

  Cecil laughed. “Lots of people in the country still use wagons to get around. Are you saying we are behind times?”

  “Oh, no! I just meant that I don’t feel safe around horses.” Sammie could feel the blood rushing up her neck.

  Cecil laughed again.

  “Tomorrow it is,” he said with another snicker. Getting up he headed to the barn.

  Sammie’s knees shook as she waited beside the truck for Cecil. She watched as he walked toward her.

  “Okay, let’s take our first lesson,” he said as he passed her.

  “First lesson? You mean it’s that hard to learn to drive?”

  Cecil turned around and smiled at her.

  “We’ll see.”

  Motioning for her to follow, Sammie walked behind him to the front of the truck.

  “Sometimes you have to put some muscle behind making this old crank turn. The first time you drive it in the morning, you may have to do this.”

  Sammie looked at the crank. She watched as Cecil put it into a hole and turned it.

  “There’s a button inside that we have to push. Let’s see if this old girl is going to start.”

  Getting in, Cecil pointed to the button then pushed it. The truck started with a whir.

  “Okay, this is the gear stick. This is first gear, second gear, and third gear. I put the stick here for reverse. Each time I change a gear, I have to push this petal in and then let it out so the truck will move. This petal here is the brake. If I push it, the truck stops.”

  Cecil looked at Sammie’s puzzled face.

  “You got that?”

  Sammie shook her head. “There’s so much to learn. I thought you just got in and moved that stick and off you go. I don’t know…I don’t know if I’ll ever learn this.”

  “You’ll learn,” Cecil told her. “Come on, get in. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

  Sammie sat behind the steering wheel and gritted her teeth. Cold shivers ran up her spine. Sweat sparkled on her hands.

  Listening to each direction, Sammie soon felt comfortable pushing the clutch in, changing the gear, then letting the clutch out. The movements became less jerky.

  “It’s time to start the truck and give the gears a try,” Cecil told her. “I think you have that down.”

  Sammie slowly pushed the button. She heard the motor start.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” Cecil said, beside her.

  Sammie’s knee wobbled as she placed her foot on the clutch. Pushing it down, she moved the gear to the first position. The old truck jerked and died when she released the clutch.

  Cecil laughed.

  Tears streamed down Sammie’s cheeks.

  “I’m sorry, Sammie. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He said as he touched her cheek.

  “It’s not you. I’m just so nervous!”

  “It’s okay, you’ll do fine the next time you try,” he answered.

  A few days later, Sammie smoothly changed the gears as she drove down the road. Cecil smiled and nodded.

  “I did
it,” she screamed as she ran around the truck. “I did it! Thank you so much,” she said as she hugged him.

  Quickly she let go and looked at the ground.

  “I’m so sorry. I…I just got excited. I didn’t mean…I didn’t mean to do that. It only meant that you…uh…I am so grateful,” she sputtered.

  “It’s all right,” Cecil said. Redness crept into his face. “I know you were thanking me.”

  Clearing his throat, he hurried toward the barn.

  Sammie rushed to the house.

  Chapter 15

  “Will you come to my Christmas play, Sammie?” Danny asked through his fork and johnnycake. “We’re gonna have cookies afterwards. Then we’ll be out of school until January or maybe even February.”

  “I’ll have to ask your father if he’s going,” Sammie answered as she placed more johnnycakes on a plate for Cecil.

  She placed the plate on the table just as Cecil came through the back door. Turning, she poured his coffee and put it on the table beside the plate.

  “Pa, are you coming to my play?”

  Cecil ruffled Danny’s hair. “You know it. I’ll be there with bells on.”

  “I don’t want you to have bells on,” Danny answered. “The other kids might think you’re in the play.”

  Sammie and Cecil laughed.

  “All right, son, I won’t wear bells.”

  “Can Sammie come, too?” Danny asked.

  “I don’t see why not. That is, if she wants to go.”

  “Of course, I want to go!” Sammie chimed in.

  “Then it’s settled, the whole family will be there.”

  Sammie gave Cecil a quick look. Did he say the whole family? Suddenly her knees felt weak.

  “I’ll make sure your aunt Linda and Granny know about the play so they can be there, too,” Cecil continued.

  A tear slipped from Sammie’s eye. Yes, he would include Linda and Granny. They were the family he was talking about. Not her. She wasn’t family.

  Cecil watched Sammie after Danny had left for the bus. Her hands were busy washing the dishes. He looked at her worn dress.

  “Sammie…Sammie, I have clothes in my room that belonged to Lydia. I have no need for them. Would you like to have them?”

  Sammie turned around and looked at Cecil.

  “Some are winter dresses while others are summer house dresses. You’re welcome to them.”

  “Thank you,” she answered softly. “I do need some clothes. This is the best dress I have.”

  Mentally, Sammie was thinking of the skirt and blouse she had already taken. She didn’t wear them often, only to church a couple of times. She was afraid Cecil would recognize them as being Lydia’s.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t think about it before now. I guess I’m just not very observant. They’re hanging in my room and some are in the top two drawers of the chest. You go ahead and see what you want. I’m heading to the barn to feed.”

  Sammie looked through the dresses. Happily, she saw some were wool.

  “These will be so much warmer than what I’m wearing.” Laughing, she looked at the dress she had on. “In fact, anything would be warmer than what I have on.”

  Taking the dresses, Sammie moved them from Cecil’s bedroom to hers. The light winter coat was still on the nail. Lifting it off, she took it also.

  Closing the door, her heart ached for Cecil. This had to hurt him. He was closing a door on his life.

  “Sammie, can you bake some cookies for the play?” Danny asked at supper.

  “I can. What kind would you like for me to bake?” “Oatmeal! It’s the best way to have oats!”

  “Oh, we’re back on my lumpy oats, uh?” Cecil said with a fake frown.

  “Pa!” Danny answered with a squeal.

  “Just wait ‘til I get my hands on you!”

  Danny ran from the kitchen and into the livingroom, squealing. Cecil was right behind him.

  Sammie smiled. What a home. A home of laughter and fun. A home with no screaming and drinking. A home of love.

  The box sat on the cabinet while everyone ate breakfast.

  “Are you sure you baked enough cookies?” Danny asked, eyeing the box.

  “I’m sure,” she answered.

  “Did you bake an extra one just to see if they’re good?”

  “You know what, I did. I forgot to eat it last night when I baked the cookies. I guess someone does need to eat one so we will know if they are good or not. Afterall, we don’t want anyone hating them.”

  Danny’s eyes lit up. Looking at Sammie, he smiled a toothless smile.

  “Let me guess, you want to be the one who tries the cookie,” she smirked as she reached for a cookie.

  “Mmmm, these are good, Sammie. I could eat them all with a glass of milk.”

  “Well, you don’t have time for more milk and the cookies go to school,” Sammie said as she touched the end of Danny’s nose. “Now get your coat. Your pa and I will be in town before the play starts.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Danny answered, heading to retrieve his coat.

  Sammie waited patiently for Cecil to finish in the barn. It was almost two and they hadn’t left yet.

  “I can’t go,” he said as he came in the back door. “You go without me. Mr. Brown’s cow is having problems. I need to go help him.”

  “But, how will I get there?” Sammie asked with a worried look.

  “You take the truck. I’ll go back to the Brown’s with their son. He came over in their wagon. I’ll just have to miss the play.”

  “But---.”

  “It will be okay. You can drive by yourself. It won’t take you long to get there.”

  “But, Cecil, I haven’t been to town. I don’t know how to get there,” Sammie was terrified.

  “Just stay on the road. When you get to the fork, stay left. The road will take you to the highway. Turn left again on the highway. That road will take you into town. You’ll see the school on the right before you get to the grocery. Tell Danny I hate that I have to miss the play. I’ll make it up to him, somehow.”

  Sammie nodded. Hurrying, she wrote down the directions.

  Lord, let these be the right directions.

  Sammie was relieved when the old pickup truck started. She put it into gear and stepped on the gas a little hard. Jerking, it sped down the road.

  The school house was where Cecil had said it would be. The old wooden structure had two chimneys. It looked weathered. The rows of windows were dusty.

  Sammie saw people going in the front door. Gathering the box of cookies, she headed for the door.

  “What a surprise to see you here,” a voice said from another vehicle. “Where’s Cecil?”

  Sammie looked in that direction. Linda and Granny were approaching.

  “He couldn’t make it. A neighbor needed him, so he told me to come without him.”

  “What have you got there?” Linda asked.

  “I…I brought cookies. Danny asked me to bring them,” she sputtered.

  “I think it’s very nice of you to bring the cookies,” Catherine Bryan said, touching Sammie’s arm.

  Sammie instantly felt calm. The old woman had a genuine smile.

  “Danny said he liked oatmeal. I found the recipe in the safe’s drawer.”

  “Must have been Lydia’s,” Catherine answered with a nod. “Danny did like his mother’s cookies.”

  “Granny, we need to go inside. It’s cold out here and you don’t need to catch a death of cold just standing and talking.”

  Linda took Catherine’s arm and led the elderly woman up the stairs to the entrance.

  Sammie stood for a moment then followed.

  She found Mary and Pearl and sat with them. The women smiled and pointed at the makeshift stage.

  Danny gave a little short wave as he came onto the stage. Sammie watched as he repeated his lines. Mouthing each word, she repeated them. They had rehearsed together for several nights and Sammie knew the lines as well as he did.
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  “Where’s Pa?” Danny asked when the play was over.

  “He had to help Mr. Brown,” Sammie answered a little apprehensively. Catherine and Linda were making their way to Danny’s side.

  “Here’s our actor,” Linda said, as she hugged Danny.

  “You did a fine job,” his granny said with another big hug.

  “Danny, would you like for me to take you home? I have to take Granny home, anyway,” Linda offered looking at Sammie.

  “No thank you. I’ll ride home with Sammie. We have to eat cookies first. She made oatmeal. Granny, you’ve got to eat one. They’re good!”

  “Well, of course, I’ll eat one,” she answered with a smile. “Why don’t you go get one for me?”

  “I’ll get everybody one,” Danny yelled as he ran off.

  “You’re doing a fine job, Sammie. The boy is healthy and growing like a weed,” Catherine told her. “I was worried about Cecil and Danny, but you’re making sure they eat and that’s good. They are adjusting well.”

  Sammie blushed. The older woman was complimenting her!

  “Yes, well, they do have each other to depend on. Cecil is a very sensible man and he knows what his son needs. In no time, the two of them will be able to take care of themselves without anyone’s help,” Linda put in, eyebrow raised.

  Sammie felt deflated. Why was this woman so against her?

  The air was getting colder as the pickup chugged onto the dirt road. Rain, mixed with sleet was falling. Sammie was nervous. Both hands gripped the steering wheel.

  “Why didn’t you sit with Granny and Aunt Linda?” Danny asked.

  “I…I saw Mary and Pearl sitting together and so I decided to sit with them.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Sammie straightened the blanket over Danny. How could she tell such a sweet boy that she didn’t feel welcome by Linda?

  The wind was blowing as they pulled into the yard. Danny bounded from the truck. Sammie was soon behind him.

  “I missed you at the play! Guess who I was?” Danny jabbered.

  “Whoa! One thing at a time. I hate that I wasn’t there, too. Mr. Brown needed me. It was important that I go. Now, let me guess who you were in the play. HMmmm, was it one of the wisemen?”

  “No! Guess again,” Danny squealed with glee.