Discovering Treasure

by Crystal Mary Lindsey

  “No! And whom shall I say called to see him?”

  Treasure was perplexed for a moment. The girl knew quite well who she was but wished to act superior and make Treasure feel an interloper. Cheeky, cheeky. She took a deep breath and disciplined herself.– “Don’t you doit—, no! However, before she could stop herself, her mouth opened and words ran out of their own accord. “Ne vousembêtez pas vous-même. Je plus tard. Et je vous assume qu’il sera heureux de me voir. Bonne journe’e. Turning on her heel after witnessing the girl’s astonished look, Treasure walked through the door and onto the wooden siding, just as Connor appeared crossing the road from apparently being at the hardware.

  “To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek in a familiar manner. “I’ve just been over to see the vet, got papers signed and visited with some tiny creatures that are the talk of the town.” He opened his front door, and ushered her back inside looking toward his receptionist to see if there was something she needed to tell him.

  The girl looked much more subdued, smiled sweetly at him and informed him that Miss Gilroy had called but seemed in a rush not to wait for him.

  So that’s how the land lies does it? Yes her name was known, as suspected, but why the rudeness? Unless perhaps this Miss Cosgrove had tabs on him for herself. With a frown, Treasure looked sternly at the girl. “That’s not quite what transpired, Miss Cosgrove, but we shan’t spoil Mr. Latham’s afternoon by informing him of your bad manners, shall we?”

  As Connor held the door to his office open for her to pass by, Treasure walked in using her best model glide and seated herself in a chair in front of his desk. Connor apologized while quietly closing the door. “I gather I am going to have to speak sternly to that spoilt miss. To tell the truth I only need someone here to answer calls and take messages. Her father is at the end of his tether with her and asked me to take her on with the hope of teaching her some propriety by working in a professional capacity.”

  Treasure took this bit of news in and thought about it. Not having grown up in the country herself but realizing the rebellion of a young heart, she decided not to be so hard on the girl after all. And then she had an idea. “Does this girl’s family attend church here in the valley?”

  “Yes they do but not on a regular basis. Why?” Treasure told him the reason for her visit to him today, besides the fact she hadn’t seen him for a few days and she actually missed him. She wanted him to know about her prayer for the missing child, and then how God had made it known to her where Jason was.

  “So much has been happening Connor, and besides yourself, Nellie has been giving me answers. Then when I read God’s Word in Corinthians where Nellie told me to read, I got an even bigger understanding.” She paused for breath, she’d been talking flat out and must have sounded like a nut case, but he sat patiently listening with that same tender expression for her that melted her heart.

  “The strangest part of all this is, I was just understanding about the bad things God doesn’t give to us, and the good things he does give to us, when I looked at a picture on my grandmother’s wall, and all of a sudden I realized, she understood the faith as a believer!” Tears now sprang to Treasure’s eyes. Fumbling in her Boule’s bag, she pulled her handkerchief free. “What I can’t understand is why she didn’t share it with her daughters and me! Yet the maddening thing in this modern age is that no one talks about their beliefs enough. It’s like they are embarrassed to declare their faith.” She dabbed her eyes.

  “Now – I have almost forgotten what I came to tell you. Reverend has given me permission to give my testimony on Sunday, and I am hoping you will be there to give me courage.” There, she had said it, and now if he couldn’t come that would be all right, but she hoped he would.

  He sat listening to her patiently and although some of what she’d said was a bit of a jumble, he got the gist of her explanation. “So why would you like my secretary to be present when you give your testimony? And what makes you think I wouldn’t be there?” He would be, no matter what else might come along to try and pull him away. He did need to make another trip to Melbourne but that could wait until early Monday morning. He wanted to hear her testimony and be there to support her.

  As far as young Miss Cosgrove was concerned, he was sure a phone call to her father requesting the family join church on Sunday for a special event, would be enough to inspire the family to attend. “I’m very proud of you, you know, you’ve come a long way from your roaming the world days. I am enjoying getting to know you more and more. Now there is one thing you simply must do.”

  She looked at him perplexed, wondering if there was something she had forgotten. She stood up and he, the good-mannered man he was, did the same. “Write a letter to your uncle and tell him everything. I have a feeling he is going to be very happy for you. He will be sorry to miss being here with us all on Sunday, but please request him to be here at the end of next week as soon as he can make it. I want to give you your mother’s other letter at that time.” Looking at her kindly he finished.

  “I believe it will be a help to you to have him here then as well as for Christmas to New Year. And I am sure he can manage to get away. You might put your heads together and think about two baptisms, since he was talking of it when last here. Now that would be a celebration!”

  Connor placed his arm around her waist as he escorted her out. He acted polite, but there was nothing the least bit romantic in his actions, which Treasure regretted. Perhaps that was due to the amount of people roaming the town. Or was it that he was cooling toward her? There were never any improper overtures, but his eyes used to watch her closely. There was that magnetism, between them and she felt very strongly drawn to him. She suspected he felt the same, but his wall of protection seemed erected again. Now all she knew was confusion.

  14

  Dealing with fear.

  For God has not given me a spirit of fear. She now declared this again in her mind while hurrying down the street. Get lost you old spirit of fear…. Be gone! So intent was she telling the devil off that she didn’t notice the strange vehicle driving slowly past until the driver honked his horn. A horse-driven sulky, rear-up and bolted down the street, an elderly lady gripped the reins while bouncing in her seat. Oh goodness, goodness, what to do? Treasure covered her ears and screamed! She screamed so loudly that Connor ran from his office. By this time, Jeb from the hardware had jumped on a horse tethered to his front rail, and raced off after the sulky. Before long all was under control again, yet that couldn’t pacify Treasure, she was furious. How inconsideration was that car driver! Seeing red! Her temper flared. As she got ready to march over and give the driver a piece of her mind, her eyes riveted to Connor, noticing for the first time, his unsteady gait. What was wrong with his movement? Yes he had told her something about his leg in Melbourne but she’d never noticed his walk so pronounced. But then, she’d never seen him move as fast toward her as he was now doing.

  “Darling!” He reached for her. “What happened, did that car almost hit you?” Taking her into his arms, he held her so close and safe. He was at least, six inches taller and she fit so well into the curve of his arm that she didn’t wish to move. Then realizing eyes were on them, they drew apart, but not before his eyes looked down into hers and she saw the terror displayed in their depths.

  “I thought you didn’t care,” her voice a husky whisper. Her hands trembled as her head swayed from dizziness.

  “Not care, why I fell in love with you before I’d ever met you from all the pictures your grandmother shared. Then when I saw you I could hardly keep from grabbing you up and running off with you. But why would you want me, a cripple, a man with limitations, one who might not be able to protect you if need be. I’m not good enough for you my dearest one. My heart cries out for you but my logic tells me I’d bore you in a week.” He sounded so exasperated with himself.

  So that was it. She didn’t understand his feelings. How could she, she was the wea
ker sex and he was supposed to be the stronger one. If she was in his place, would she feel the same? She didn’t know, but then that scripture resounded in her mind again and she spoke it out aloud to him. “For God has not given me or you, a spirit of fear! – Go away fear, get away from Connor, it’s a lie that you are telling him!! He is good enough for me, in fact very much so, because God has given both of us, a spirit of power, a spirit of love and a spirit of a sound mind.” She looked up into his beautiful face, and kissed each of his cheeks. With her arms wandering around his neck and drawing his head lower, she kissed him long and hard on the mouth.

  “Now let all the old biddies talk about that!” she laughed when finished. Both of them looked around, aware they were a spectacle. The first person Treasure set eyes on was Kelvin, who had the widest smile on his face. He began to clap and then everyone else took him up on it and clapped also.

  Connor took her hand in his and walked her down the road toward her home. “I love you so much, you’ll never know just how much. I hate to be so busy but on Monday I’m off to Melbourne again for the week. I’ve got a court case coming up. But I’ll be home again by Saturday so keep that day reserved just for us, because I’ve got some explaining to do.”

  She wasn’t going to harass him and ask why or what it was about. It was enough to know that he loved her. The one thing she was very sure of, there would be no doing anything improper. Their relationship must be above board. On reaching the house they entered knowing Nellie should be home from her sewing class at the school. Ella would be either out in the garden, on the swing or talking to Paris. They were wrong on the last one. Ella was making afternoon tea and had just taken scones from the oven, the kettle was whistling and it was a good time to sit at the table and enjoy one another’s company.

  “Well, everything is set for Sunday, and I will be given time enough to give a short testimony. I’m no longer concerned about people knowing who I was, that’s now in the past. Hopefully everyone will be discrete and not go gossiping about it to the outside world – meaning the press. We don’t need strangers spoiling the tranquility of our town. I know it’s not our usual Sunday for a church picnic but do you suppose we can make some nice things and have a picnic of our own, with the usual six of us of course?”

  They all knew who that six consisted of, as they all got on so well together. Ellen pointed her finger to indicate her actions. “Oh, there are a couple of huge boxes that came while you’ve been away. I have them put into the spare bedroom, but I’m wondering what on earth you saw fit to buy in Melbourne that could be that size. That’s a puzzle?” She looked quizzically at her friend, while pouring the tea. Treasure made herself useful cutting open the warm scones and spreading them with strawberry jelly. A tub of cream in the middle of the table with a spoon sitting up inside, let everyone apply as much as they liked to the top of the scone before devouring it.

  “This is heaven to the taste buds I’m sure,” Connor nodded his satisfaction.

  Kelvin stomped into the kitchen door in his stocking feet. He knew better than to dirty up the floor with his work boots. “Me nose is pulling me in, I can’t seem to help myself, and my stomach tells me we are having Devonshire tea. Now how did you be know in’ it was me birthday?” He was kidding as usual, hoping to eat more than everyone else, because they’d feel guilty at not letting him make a glutton of himself on his special day.

  Nellie swatted him over the head with a tea towel. “I seem to remember you said it was your birthday when I made that big chocolate cake three weeks ago. Now if you were a Catholic, like mi old Da was, you would have had to go sit alone, and say umpteen prayers for telling fibbers. Since you’re not, you’ll suffer with your nose growing a little longer every time you tell another story.”

  They roared laughing with Kelvin the loudest of all. In fact they were making so much noise it took Paris barking before they realized they had a guest. The talking stopped. Hearing his voice and recognizing it was none other than the minister, Ella raced out to pull him into the gathering. She sat Thomas next to her, placing all the goodies within his easy reach for the pretend party. Then Treasure realized it was a sort of happiness celebration. With the good things always seeming to happen, excitement was stimulated in the air. She didn’t know how to spring her next surprise on all of them, Ella most of all.

  Should she say it now in front of everyone, or wait until just she and her friend were alone? While Treasure debating this in her mind, Nellie made the decision for her. “You know, I was sort of wondering, Ella, if you could put some paint in this old graying hair of mine and kind of fashion it nice for church on Sunday. No cutting it off, mind you, or perhaps just trim the ends. It might look nice with a double bun at the back, one of those fancy kind you see the la-di-da ladies wear. What about it, lass? I’d pay you of course.”

  Ella’s face brightened. Looked around to see if anyone was in disagreement, she jumped to her feet and ran around the table to hug Nellie with such enthusiasm, Treasure had her answer. Then the smile faded, and Ella screeched. “But I haven’t got my stuff yet.” She looked bewildered. “Treasure, remember how you were going to buy some hair dressing goods for me on your trip to Melbourne? When you came home without them, I knew you’d forgotten, so I didn’t have the heart, to mention it to you. I didn’t think it was important because no one has been interested in having their hair done until now. Oh! What will I do? I’m so sorry, Nellie. What if we forget the color and just give you a new style that would be some help.”

  Ella’s face looked so down- trodden and disappointed, that Treasure could not contain herself any longer. “How on earth would you ever think I’d forgotten something so important? I didn’t forget at all, I just didn’t have the room to bring them all back in Connor’s small plane. I actually took it on myself to buy other needs as well, but I wanted to wait until these articles arrived before making a big suggestion to you.”

  Ella looked from Treasure to Nellie, while the three men looked on mystified. “I bet what you’re talking about has something to do with those two large box kinda crates I put in the spare room! Am I right?” An eager anticipation filled the air. Treasure turned her head slightly so only Kelvin was in on the scheme, and gave a wink. She needed to explain herself before letting the boxes get opened. Getting up from her she wound an arm around Ella’s shoulders.

  “You have never said you missed dressing hair. Yet at times I see you sitting outside with Paris and there is a faraway look in your eyes. I didn’t think it was for living in Paris or for working with Monsieur Marcel, it seemed something else, and I wondered if it was to do with designing hair. Ella there is absolutely no need for you to work or make a living for yourself. I want you to know that.” She lovingly looked at Ella to try and explain further. “So, if this is not what you want, then you don’t have to be a party to it. I am talking about you having your very own little salon here at the house.”

  Looking at Kelvin now, she needed his help to bring this to fruition. “I have spoken about this to Kelvin and he believes it is possible. What we thought to do, with your permission of course, would be to enclose a section of the verandah at the front, and side say about ten foot by twelve foot in an L-shape where clients could be attended without entering the main house. A special footpath would be designed from the front fence to direct the steps of where the customers are to enter.”

  Treasure stopped at this point of her explanation to let what was said, sink in. But from the exuberance on Ella’s face, she knew the idea was very alluring.

  Ella clapped her hands. “And I know just what I can call it!” Announced Ella, ‘Hair Visions’ Oh! This is so thrilling! You are just like your aunt”…. She paused and shook her head. “Sorry! just like your mother, always coming up with the best hair-brained ideas, and to think, my very own salon, I can’t believe it. Quick, I want to see what you have in those boxes; Nellie will have her beautiful hair after all.”

  She was on her way almost running to see the
surprises hidden from view. Treasure sent Kelvin to get his tools; these wooden crates would not open easily. She directed him to the large crate first. It contained two beautiful walnut-polished chairs with armrests, and two gilded wall mirrors. Smaller boxes inside, contained hair dyes, curling rollers, clips, and a hair dryer. Everything possible to set up shop in a professional manner was included. Ella’s eyes shone with each new article withdrawn, she couldn’t believe her good fortune.

  “Oh Treasure, you are a gem you truly are, just like your mother always used to say you were.” The other box crate almost got forgotten, and with contents strewn all over the room it was no wonder it got lost in the jumble. “Don’t you want to see what I have in the other container?”

  Treasure was in her element now; the men looked on but not with the exuberance of the women. Treasure got help from Connor to move all the hair products back to the large box, and then Kelvin set about opening the other one. He withdrew, two life sized mannequins all curled up, bolts of materials, laces, buttons, elastics dressmaker’s scissors and everything possible for making ladies clothing.

  “But what are we going to do with these?” Nellie questioned.

  Treasure just laughed at Nellie’s bewilderment. “Why, Nellie, you’re as good as any dressmaker. Many of those girls in your sewing class are going to be thrilled to make themselves a dress with your teaching. And, I learned from Connor’s housekeeper, Matilda, that she has a knack for painting beautiful designs. It’s time that talent was put to good use. We can’t take her away from Connor, but for one day a week he can do without her, and I propose she teach her own people’s children the art of sketch and layout. Why I believe we will put this town on the map with all the clever people living here.”