“You did good, Ash.”
“Fanny. Keep your eye on the mountain. Are you listening to me? It doesn’t look or feel right. Promise me. Birch senses something. Look at him.”
“I noticed, Ash. Right now his head is full of memories. I promise. We’re going to drink a toast to you when we go indoors. Sunny and Ruby just wanted a champagne breakfast. Sunny said it was classy. Thanks, Ash.”
“Remember your promise.”
“Did I ever break a promise where you were concerned?”
“No, and that’s why I’m counting on you.”
“Champagne, everyone,” Sunny called happily. “We need to make toasts this morning. Happy New Year!”
The sound carried over the mountain, ringing in everyone’s ears as toast after toast was made.
“Ruby and I saved the best one till last,” Sunny said holding her glass high, her hand trembling. “To my dad, the man who’s responsible for me being here today!”
“To my grandfather!” Jake bellowed, tears streaming down his chubby cheeks.
“To my brother, Ash,” Ruby said, tears puddling in her eyes.
“Boisterous would be good right now, Ash.”
“You got it!”
The chandelier over the dining room table swayed, the crystal teardrops tinkling as they touched each other. The sound was light, melodious, and happy.
“Someone must have opened the kitchen door,” Birch said. “The wind is really whipping up out there.”
The two new brides, the two new grooms, and the assembled guests smiled.
And smiled.
“That was hardly boisterous, Ash,” Fanny said, a giggle in her voice.
“Cut me a little slack, Fanny. I didn’t have a lot to work with. Those fried-egg sandwiches look good. I bet this wedding breakfast is a first. Julia Child probably wouldn’t approve. Remember when she did that cook off thing? I saw those ninety-nine bottles of beer on the kitchen counter.”
“Sunny needed to do that. I think she did it for you. They aren’t for consumption.”
“Pay attention to the wind, Fanny.”
Fanny looked out the dining-room window. “Do you think it will snow, Marcus? There’s usually some snow by Christmas and New Year’s. I wonder why it’s so different this year.”
“It’s too warm for snow. It is getting windy.”
Fanny’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Ash said to watch the mountain and just now he said to pay attention to the wind.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“You aren’t humoring me, are you, Marcus?”
“I would never do that, Fanny.”
“Miss Fanny, may I speak with you in the kitchen?”
“Of course, Chue. Are you getting excited about your trip?” Fanny asked as she excused herself from the table.
“Miss Fanny, I do not wish to make the trip. I do not want to go. I spoke with my wife about this, and she understands. Please do not be angry with me.”
“Oh, Chue, it’s all right. We all thought . . . of course you don’t have to go. Is there a particular reason?”
“It doesn’t feel right. I feel a coward, but I cannot do it. I don’t wish to leave the mountain.”
“You know what, Chue, that’s good enough for me. I understand completely. To all of us you are the mountain’s protector. I know what you mean about it not feeling right. I sensed it earlier myself.”
“You are not angry with me?”
“Never in a million years. I’m angry with myself that we cajoled you into thinking you wanted to take this trip. At our age, Chue, we are too old to do things we don’t want to do. Life is too short to be miserable. I’ll tell the others. We were going to give you a royal send-off.”
“I know this. I am very sorry.”
“Guess what, Chue. I’m glad you aren’t going for purely selfish reasons. It bothered me that my mountain would be unprotected while you were gone. It would be the first time in more years than I want to count. What about Akia?”
“She is going to Chak-ago.”
“Chicago? Why?”
“To buy stuff, she said. There is a cousin there also. I will leave now and unpack my satchels. I wish to watch the wind. The wind bothers me.”
Fanny hugged the old Chinese. “I know. Ash told me to pay attention to it. He said he doesn’t like the way our mountain looks or feels.”
“Yes, he has said this to me also.”
“Truly, Chue?”
“I will go now. It was a fine wedding. Thank you for inviting my family.”
“Our family, Chue.”
The old Chinese smiled. “Yes, our family.”
“Happy New Year,” Fanny said as she went to each of her children to kiss and hug them. “It’s a whole new year for you, Billie. I know you will persevere and prevail as well. Call me anytime things start to overwhelm you.”
“I couldn’t do it without you. Thanks for being my mother.”
“Sunny, I hope this New Year will bring you all the happiness you and Harry can handle. If you need me, call.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“And I love you.”
“Happy New Year, Mom,” Sage said wrapping her in his arms. “I love you, too, but you already know that. If you and Marcus need help with the chickens, we’re available on the weekends. I think Jake might like going out there with you guys. He knows Dad worked there for years. You’d be surprised at what that kid knows about chickens and all because Dad used to tell him about trooping through the chicken poop with those damn boots.”
“Thanks for telling me that, Sage. Of course I’ll have him come out. He’ll love the baby chicks.”
“I’ve got to get going, Mom. Happy New Year. The first weekend you have free, think about coming to Atlantic City. I know Uncle Daniel and Uncle Brad are dying to show off their work. Thanks for being my mother, too. I’m going to try to keep an open mind about . . . Dad. Who knows, I might get comfortable with it one of these days. I’ll call on the weekend. I promise.”
“Guess it’s our turn,” Ruby said, her eyes moist.
“Promise to write and call,” Fanny said, her own eyes moist. “Are you going on a honeymoon or isn’t that something I should be asking?”
“In a week or so. Metaxas has some business he wants to clear up. And he has to make a thousand or so phone calls to get him and Sage off the hook with that unauthorized airport landing in Vermont. Every agency and organization that has anything to do with flying or airplanes is after his hide. Sage’s, too. It’s a given that they’ll lose their licenses. Metaxas said he’s a horse trader from way back. Translated that means he’ll make it come out right. He said not to worry, so we aren’t going to worry. It’s behind us. I wish you and Marcus the very best for this New Year and all the years to come. I love you, Fanny Reed, and I couldn’t wish for a more wonderful sister-in-law. The next time you talk to Ash, tell him I love him so much I can’t see straight. I don’t care if people think we’re crazy or not. I know we’re not, and that’s all that matters.”
“I’ll do that, Ruby. You take care of her, Metaxas, or you’ll have me to deal with. You hear?”
“I hear you. I love this mountain. What say we buy us a mountain, sweet baby?”
“It wouldn’t be the same. This is a family mountain, and as such you now have a share in it, right, Fanny?”
“What is ours is yours, Metaxas. We’ll carve your name on one of the trees. That means you’ll live forever on the mountain. Old Chinese proverb. That means you belong. Chue started the custom years ago. The moment this family takes you under their wing, Chue is on the mountain with his hammer and chisel.”
Metaxas beamed. “I swear, that’s one of the nicest, kindest things anyone ever said to me. Thanks, Fanny.”
“Will you promise to call before you leave? I always like to know where my family is.”
“Of course we’ll call. As I said, it’s going to be at least a week. I’m so happy, Fanny. I wish I was a wri
ter, so I could put into words the happiness I feel.”
“Ruby, you don’t have to do that. It shows on your face, in your voice. Your happiness is oozing out of your pores. Guess that doesn’t sound so poetic, huh?”
“Oh, hell, who cares. I want you to remember something, Fanny. Under no circumstances can you give back that chicken business. We’re clear on that, aren’t we?”
“Absolutely.”
“We’re going to say good-bye and head down the mountain.”
“Ruby, what is going to happen to your plane and the one Metaxas flew into Vermont?”
“Do you want my best guess?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I think that’s part of the horse-trading business. The state will get to keep them. Tell Sage and Birch I’ll buy them another one.”
“Please don’t, Ruby.”
“You’re the boss. Be happy, Fanny.”
“You too, Ruby.”
Fanny’s voice was groggy when she said, “Marcus, what time is it? It’s still dark outside. Why are you getting up now?”
“We’re in business now, Fanny. That means we have to get up with the chickens.” He slapped at her rump, laughing so hard he dropped to his knees.
Fanny rolled out of bed, laughter bubbling in her throat. “You want to hear the roosters crow. Admit it, Marcus. Okay, I’m up. I think this is going to be the ultimate challenge in our lives.”
“The best part is we’re up to it. I’ll put the coffee on and get our boots ready. I bought you a present when I was in town yesterday. It’s one of those His and Her gifts. Actually, I got three of them. One for Jake, too. What do you think?” Marcus said tossing her a tissue-wrapped package.
“A baseball cap that says Thornton Chickens. This is great, Marcus.”
“That’s not all it says. Look under the brim.”
“How sweet. It says ‘Fanny.’ Jake is going to love his.”
“Gift-wise it hardly compares to the island paradise Metaxas is buying Ruby. Are you going to wear it?”
“Of course I’m going to wear it. Proudly. Jake is coming down this weekend to help. We’re paying him a dollar an hour. Sage said he spent the money seven different times already. God, I love that little boy. It’s hard to believe it’s a week since the wedding.”
“Uh-huh. Time is money, Fanny. The chickens are waiting for us.”
“Go!”
When the bedroom door closed, Fanny dropped to her knees at the side of the bed. “Thank You, God.” She bowed her head and offered up a short prayer.
As the day wore on Fanny did her best to hide her smiles when Marcus kept saying things like, I really like this. This is great. I’m having the time of my life. I do love chickens. At four o’clock, he called time out, and said, “This sucks, Fanny. I stink and so do you. How could we have been so stupid that neither one of us cared that the help here consists of day workers who come by when the mood strikes them? Did Ruby tell you the workforce was nonexistent?”
“No. I knew that, though. We’re committed, Marcus. Ruby said under no circumstances are we allowed to give back the business. This is just our first day.”
“Oh, God!”
“Don’t ever offer me chicken for dinner, Marcus. I hate these creatures. There has to be a better way.”
“Yeah, you hire people to do this and we sit in the office.”
“Isn’t that cheating?”
“Who cares? I say we call every agricultural school in the country and ask for resumes from their graduating class. If we throw in these goddamn boots, they’ll probably knock our doors down applying for jobs. We could offer throwaway clothes for the day workers. Bonuses. Something!”
“Marcus, there isn’t enough money in the world to pay someone to do this. That’s why this business has stayed in the family. We can do this. I know we can.”
“I don’t want to do this, Fanny. You don’t either. I’m sorry I bought these hats.”
“I love mine,” Fanny said, pushing hers farther back on her head. “God, it stinks!”
“We’ll have to throw away our clothes because we’ll never get the smell out of them,” Marcus said.
“What time are you getting up tomorrow, honey?” Fanny asked, tongue in cheek.
“I’m not.”
“I hate to keep using the word committed, Marcus.”
“Stop saying that, Fanny, I don’t want to hear it.”
“Something’s wrong, Marcus.”
“You’re telling me.”
“No. Watch the chickens. They’re clustering. Hovering.”
“You said they get restless when there is a full moon. They do look kind of skittish now that you mention it.”
“We’re not due for another full moon for a few weeks. We have to check for snakes or some wild animal. Even with all the protectors in place it’s possible for something to slip through. Philip always played music when something like this happened. He even installed a stereo system for just this reason. I know how to work it, so you check for stray animals. Don’t take too long, Marcus. The more restless the chickens get, the more prone they are to fighting.”
“Now I’ve heard everything. No damn wonder you can’t give this business away,” Marcus muttered as he stomped his way through the pens.
Fanny slipped out of the yellow boots to enter the office. She crossed her fingers that she would remember how everything worked. She pressed buttons, turned knobs, and within minutes soft, restful, music invaded her ears. She ran to the window to see what effect it was having on the chickens. To her eye it looked like they were still clustering, still hovering near the edges of the pens. “Damn.” She turned up the volume just as the phone rang. She stretched her arms to snag the receiver, her eyes never leaving the chickens. “Yes, hello. Fanny Reed speaking. Slowly, Chue, I can’t make out what you’re saying. Stop, take a deep breath. Now, tell me what is wrong.”
Fanny listened, her face draining. “We’ll be right there, Chue.”
“Marcus!”
“Fanny, what is wrong? Why are you looking like that? Talk to me, Fanny. What is wrong?”
“That was Chue on the phone. The mountain’s on fire!”
“Jesus! Let’s go!”
“What about the chickens? Call the kids, the fire department, everyone you can think of. The mountain can’t burn, Marcus. It just can’t.”
“Move, Fanny. Don’t just stand there babbling. You know what to do. Do it!”
Fanny raced from the building, out the door and up the winding, flower-bordered walkway to the main part of the ranch. She didn’t take time to appreciate the lush shrubbery, the softly whirring sprinklers, the velvet lawns and the pristine white veranda complete with padded rocking chairs and pitchers of frosty lemonade. Instead she bellowed at the top of her lungs. “Arletta! Arletta!”
Arletta Vandercomb was a vision of beauty with her perfectly made up face, her elaborate hairdo, and her costly afternoon dress that fussed and flirted about her ankles as she rose from one of the rockers.
“Mercy, Miz Reed, what is all the fuss?”
“I’ll tell you what all the fuss is, Miss Vandercomb. My mountain is on fire, and I need you and your . . . ah . . . ladies to help with the chickens. It’s a messy job. You probably know that. Now, Miss Vandercomb! Hustle, hustle. Time is of the essence.”
“I don’t think we’re equipped . . . my girls don’t know the first thing . . .”
Something snapped in Fanny. “Cut the crap, Arletta. It’s time those girls learn how to shake their asses doing real work. That means you, too. The schedule is posted on the door of the office. I’m counting on you and I’m depending on you. If you let me down, or if those chickens suffer, you’ll be peddling your asses out on the highway for two bits a night. There is only one game in town, and it has my name on it. Now move it!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Fanny glanced toward the porch to see Arletta’s girls lined up against the banister, their faces full of shock. Her own face burni
ng with shame, she snarled, “I want to see your asses wiggling down this path right now. Now means this instant, and if you don’t understand what I just said, your new home is the highway.”
The mad scurry left a trail of wind that swirled around Fanny. “Man, I love it when you kick ass, Fanny. Head for the mountain. The chickens can smell the smoke. That’s why they’re so restless.”
“Oh, Ash, am I going to lose the mountain?”
“I don’t know, Fanny. Get going.”
“I’m going, I’m going. This is crazy, Ash. What can I do except be there? Fires are dangerous. Oh, God, how did this happen?”
“I told you years ago to post NO TRESPASSING signs. Did you listen to me? No, you did not. Somebody trespassing left a fire burning or a cigarette wasn’t completely crushed out. A camper who thought his fire was out and it wasn’t, which would make it an accident. The why of it doesn’t matter, Fanny. It is. You have to deal with it. Make a call. You know the number. You’re going to need all the water in town.”
“I’ll call from the truck.”
Marcus’s Jeep Cherokee was running when Fanny hopped into the passenger side of the truck. She took a moment to notice the shock on her husband’s face as she reached for the phone. “What do you call those things the ladies are decked out in?”
Fanny looked over her shoulder. “Teddies, and those fancy things on their feet are feathered mules. Their perfume alone will knock the chickens out. It is what it is, Marcus. C’mon, c’mon, burn rubber,” she said, hysteria ringing in her voice.
“There is no answer, Marcus,” Fanny said, her face full of dismay. “They always answer. Sallie swore to me that there would always be a voice at the other end of the line. She swore to me, Marcus.”
“Always can’t be forever, Fanny. I made all the calls. Things are under way.”
“Do you know if the houses are safe?”
“For now.”
Word spread faster on the Big White Way than the fire on the mountain. Loudspeakers blasted from one end of town to the other announcing the closing of all casinos and hotels in the next ninety minutes due to an impending water shortage. Accommodations to transport all guests to Reno would be complimentary.
Vegas Sunrise Page 43