by Stalter, D
“Hey, William,” he said.
William looked over.
“The younger one a girl?”
William’s eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“Well, the disguise is passable, but she seemed a little too interested in a hot bath for any boy her age. Once I saw that, it was easy to see that it was a girl. Just the way she moved. Not much you can do about that except notice it and point it out to her. Tell her how a boy would act.”
William nodded. “Okay. Thanks for pointing that out.”
They reached the driveway and waited at the alarm for Phil to motion them in.
“Who’s this?” he asked.
Will grinned. “Phil, I’d like you to meet a cousin of mine, William Mead and his family.”
Phil’s mouth dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me! You never told me you had a cousin with the same name.”
“I didn’t know til just now.”
“Come in. Come in.” Phil motioned, holding the door open. “Just wipe your feet on the rug. Oh, maybe you should take your shoes off.”
William shot a look at Will who nodded. “It’s okay,” he said. “Phil’s a good guy.”
The family removed their shoes and Phil ushered them to the chair in front of the fireplace where a fire burned brightly. “You kids can sit on the floor or on my bed if you want. Here, let me get a throw to put on the bed first.” He disappeared into the kitchen returning with a multicolored quilt which he threw on the bed. The kids were already settled on the floor in front of the fire.
Riley walked to the desk, where he pulled out the chair and sat. “Okay, let’s do introductions all around. You guys already know Will. I’m Riley. This nice man is Phil.”
He looked at William. “Your turn.”
William said, “You already know that my name is William Mead. My friends call me Will or Wee. This is my wife, Carmen. My son, Rocky, and my daughter Megan.”
“Why do your friends call you Wee?”
“I owned a business in St. Paul, ‘W.I. Mead Consulting’. I signed documents WI Mead. People thought it was funny that a game system also went by Wii and started calling me Wee Mead. I know, it’s not that funny. But, it kind of stuck.”
Phil raised his hand. “What kind of consulting?”
“Energy. Mostly solar and wind power.”
“Cool!” Phil squealed. “Can you help me with my system? I’ve got a bunch of solar panels and a couple inverters and a few charge controllers, but I only have a couple panels hooked up because I wasn’t sure how to do it.”
William shook his head. “We are only stopping for lunch – if you’ll have us. But troubleshooting a large system will take days at the minimum. I can probably take a quick look before we leave, but we need to be out of here in time to find a safe place to sleep tonight.”
“You can stay here!” Phil exclaimed. “I have a warm house. It’s safe. I promise. I have lots of food.”
William looked at his wife who looked back at him with hope in her eyes. “Do you think you could offer my family hot baths?” he asked.
“I can! I can!” Phil was actually jumping up and down. “And, if it takes a couple days, there’s plenty of room here. I got more beds. And there are bedrooms upstairs but they get kinda cold at night. Not freezing or anything but cold enough to make you sleep with the covers over your head.”
“Actually, that sounds like heaven.” Carmen spoke for the first time. “If you would like to show me around your kitchen, I can cook lunch while you guys go over your solar system.”
“Really?” Phil started bouncing again. Riley wondered if he even knew he looked like a six-year-old when he did it. “I’m not a very good cook. If you like to cook, come on. I have everything you need.” He literally ran to the kitchen.
Carmen grinned at her husband and followed Phil.
Will looked at Riley. “We really should be getting back to the farm.”
“You don’t live here?” William asked.
“No, we live down the road. We just stopped to check on Phil this morning. He’s a good guy. A little crazy and wild, but his heart is in the right place. If he invites you to stay, I’d suggest you consider it – unless you are trying to get somewhere. The weather isn’t going to get any warmer for months. You might want to consider staying put for a few months until spring gets here. Have Phil tell you about the HAM radio conversation he had this morning. If you are just going south to be in warmer climate, you might want to reconsider.”
William nodded. “Actually, we didn’t have a place in mind to move to. We just wanted it to be warm enough that we’d have a chance to get through this. I’ll see what Phil has to say. I’m a good hunter and I know I can put his solar panels to good use. Maybe we should stay the night and see what happens tomorrow.”
“Good idea,” Will said. He walked to the kitchen doorway. “Carmen, it was nice to meet you. Good luck and I hope we see you again.”
“You’re not staying for lunch? I’m a great cook.”
“Can’t. Have to get home.”
“Okay then. Thanks for introducing us to Phil.”
With a wave, Riley and Will started back down the drive.
Chapter 10
Allison turned the kitchen over to Mary after she’d cleaned up from lunch. Before she left, she leaned over and whispered. “Don’t let Jaden help. This is her birthday. She already does way too much. But today we have an excuse to make her take a break. I’m going to the house to find something to give her for a gift tonight.”
She pointed at Bella and said “Stay” and then crossed the yard to the house without grabbing her jacket. The cool October air sent a shiver across her arms.
The spare bedroom was used to store items they seldom used. The closet held assorted gifts Allison had purchased throughout the year - things she found on sale that she knew would make a great Christmas present for one of her nieces or nephews. She went straight to that closet.
Two blouses she’d purchased for her niece were perfect for Jaden. She pulled a box full of small stocking stuffer items she’d purchased and found a nice bracelet as well as a pair of leather gloves. Another box netted a game called Guesstures.
She found a box that would hold all the chosen gifts and dug the wrapping paper out from the drawer in the bottom of the dresser. Once done, she carried the box to the kitchen and set it on the counter.
She heard a noise, like the creak of a door, from the back of the house.
“Hello?” She had thought she was alone. The security guys on duty slept in the basement, but this late in the day, they were usually all up and gone. And, there was no reason for anyone to be by the bedrooms.
She moved her hand to the holster on her hip before realizing that she wasn’t carrying her Ladysmith. Damn! It was back in the bedroom. She’d neglected to put it on. And, she’d made Bella stay in the bunkhouse. I’m such an idiot, she thought.
She could slip out the door and go to the barn to get help. But, that wasn’t who Allison was.
She padded to the fireplace and gripped the heavy metal poker they used for adjusting burning logs. Holding it like a baseball bat, she crept down the hall to the bedrooms. She’d just been in the spare room so the person or whatever it was must be in the master bedroom. Her bedroom. Her sanctuary.
She paused at the open doorway to her bedroom. She took a breath, then turned and filled the doorway with her body. The room was empty. She crept across the room to the bathroom. That too was empty. She lowered the poker and sighed. It must have been her imagination.
As she walked past the closet, the soft jingle of clothes hangers moving reached her ears. She stopped, heart pounding. She brought the poker up, placed her hand on the closet door, and swung it open.
“Kim!” She dropped the poker and brought her hand to her throat. “I could have killed you. What the hell are you doing hiding in my closet?”
Kim offered her a weak grin, her eyes downcast.
“Get out of my
closet, please.”
Kim stepped out.
Allison sniffed the air. “You’re wearing my perfume.”
Kim shook her head. “I was just smelling it. It smells so good. I miss smelling good.”
“What were you doing in my bedroom? What were you even doing in my house? This is my private space.”
“No, it’s not,” Kim argued. “You let the security guys sleep here every night.”
“They sleep here when they are on night duty. The bunkhouse is too active and they get much better sleep here – in a private space.”
“Well, I’m low on clothes and I was hoping to find something that might fit me.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
“You’re always so busy.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to go shopping in my closet. Please go back to the bunkhouse. And check with Mary to see if she has anything for you to do. If you really need some clothes, I’ve got some in the basement that will probably fit you. I can bring them over.”
Kim looked at the bed.
“That’s a nice bed you get to sleep in every night. Must be nice when you make everyone else sleep on cheap foam mattresses.”
Allison felt her face go warm. She opened and closed her mouth several times. “Please go back to the bunkhouse. And remember, no one is forcing you to stay here. Do your share of the work and don’t complain. I will bring some clothes over in a few minutes.”
Allison stood in the bedroom until she heard the back door close. Then she went to the basement and sorted through a box of clothes that were a little too tight and had been put away. She placed them in a bag and carried them, along with Jaden’s gift, to the bunkhouse.
Mary looked up when Allison stepped in to the bunkhouse balancing the bag of clothes on top of the wrapped gift for Jaden. A large mixing bowl sat on the counter and Mary was measuring flour into it.
“What’s in the bag?” she asked.
Allison lifted the sack. “A few clothes for Kim. They don’t fit me anymore.” She looked around. “Where is she, by the way?”
Mary frowned and picked up a large spoon. “She’s in her room. She stomped in here about ten minutes ago, slammed the door, and went straight up to her room.”
Allison stared. “She didn’t stop and ask you if you had anything for her to do?”
Mary shook her head.
Allison sighed.
“I know you don’t want to hear this.” Mary set the spoon on the counter and faced Allison squarely. “That girl is trouble. I’m not sure what it is with her, but everywhere she goes, she leaves pissed off people in her wake. I hate to judge people. You can’t possibly know what they are going through, but with so many people living in such close quarters, it doesn’t take much to stir the pot.”
Allison looked up towards Kim’s bedroom door. “I can’t ask her to leave. That would be a death sentence. And, even if Kim isn’t a good fit, little Kelly is friends with everyone and has no problem helping when extra help is needed. I can’t do that to her.”
Mary picked up the spoon and used it to point at the bag of clothes. “Well, take her the clothes then. I’ve got a couple cakes to bake.”
Allison tapped on Kim’s door before opening it and stepping in with the bag. “Hi, Kim. I’ve got the clothes. They’re mostly sweatshirts and jeans. I thought you might be short on warm clothes and it’s getting colder.”
Kim looked up, her eyes red. She used the back of her hand to wipe tears from her eyes. “I don’t like handouts,” she muttered.
“Then earn them. You’ve been given plenty of chances to earn your keep. Why didn’t you stop at the kitchen to see if Mary needed help?”
“I couldn’t. I knew I was going to cry and didn’t want anyone to see me.”
Allison felt her heart soften. “I understand. I’ve been there. Can I ask you to help with dinner? It will be ready in a few hours and we have extra people. If you could come down just before dinner and help set up and serve food, it would be great help.”
Kim sniffed and nodded her head.
“Thanks,” said Allison as she backed out of the room and closed the door.
Chapter 11 Allison
The sound of ATVs coming across the pasture at five that afternoon caused Allison to open the door and peek out. Don and his wife Jean rode in the two-seater, their two sons, Peter and Paul, along with their wives, rode in the four-seater. All wore their best clothes. The women wearing dresses. Allison smiled.
Don helped his wife to the door and then turned back to lift boxes from the back of the ATV. His sons stepped up to help.
Allison held the door open to let them pass. The rich, smoky aroma of ham made her stomach growl. She smiled.
Mary set the plate of ham to the back of the wood burning stove where it would stay warm until it was time to serve. She reached into the box Don had set on the counter and made a happy sound, like a puppy who’d just found his mother.
“Is this butter?”
Jean beamed. “Fresh made today.”
“How?”
“Butter is one of the easiest things to make. It didn’t occur to me until today that you guys might not have butter.”
“You were right. I’d love for you to show me how to make it.”
“There’s actually nothing to it. Just a mason jar half-filled with heavy cream and a little salt. Shake for ten minutes and you have your butter. And a bonus is, the liquid that you strain off is buttermilk. We have to take turns on who gets the buttermilk. It’s a real treat at our place.”
“It will be here, too. I’ve been using powdered butter, but fresh butter will be such a treat,” Mary said. She slid a pan of sliced roast beef out of the oven and set it on the counter. Allison had to use two bowls to set out the green beans. There was no shortage of mashed potatoes either.
The common room was getting noisy as people gathered for the meal. Allison gazed across the room noticing that people migrated to the tables they always ate at. Like a high school lunch cafeteria, the large group separated into smaller groups who had more in common with each other.
Allison clapped her hands and the room became silent, all eyes turning to Alison.
She smiled. “As some of you know,” she began, “today is Jaden’s birthday and tonight we celebrate.”
“Happy birthday, Jaden,” someone called out.
“Happy Birthday,” others chimed in.
Jaden stood off to the side. “Thank you!” The grin on her face was lopsided and just a little awkward.
“All right,” Allison continued. “Don and his family are joining us for the celebration and they’ve brought food. We’ve got so much food tonight!”
“Thank you, Don!” someone called out.
“Thank you!” came the chorus.
Allison waited until the group quieted. “Instead of carrying around the plates of food, let’s eat buffet style. I’ve set the plates and silverware at the end of the counter. Let’s form a line and help yourself. If Kim gets down here, she will be going around with a pitcher of water so you don’t have to worry about something to drink. Let’s let Jaden go first. Then the security detail that has to report for duty in a little bit. Then our guests can follow.”
“Come on, birthday girl.” It was Bill Gordon, Jaden’s father.
She shyly stepped forward, picked up a plate, and looked at Allison. “I can have both beef and ham?” she asked Allison.
“You can.”
Allison was making sure the napkins were set at the end of the counter when she heard a woman’s voice. “Oh, good Lord.”
She looked up and saw Kim coming down the stairs. She wore a miniskirt and a thin silky top that clearly showed her erect nipples. Her legs were bare, her feet wrapped in leather heels. Allison stared as Kim made her way down the stairs. When she looked back at the group, all eyes were on her.
They’re waiting for me to say something, she thought. I don’t know how to deal with this.
Kim walked to
the counter and smiled at Allison. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
Allison tried biting her tongue. She meant to ask Kim to take the pitcher and start filling glasses. Instead, she said, “Go upstairs and put some clothes on.”
Kim’s eyes got hard. “I have clothes on. I thought we were having a party.”
“Not that kind of party, go change your clothes. I’ll take care of drinks.” She turned her back on Kim and reached for the pitcher. It was then that she noticed the metal tub filled with ice. Buried in the ice were bottles of beer. And… was she seeing right? Were there a couple bottles of wine in there? She looked at Don who grinned.
“Mary!” she called. “Can you bring some glasses in? We can’t drink wine out of plastic.”
“Wine? Praise the Lord!” Mary bustled to the store room.
After the meal, Riley’s sister, Denise, and Denise’s ex-sister-in-law, Sherrie, helped Allison gather and wash the dirty dishes. Tables had been pushed together and Don and his sons were sitting on the sofas in the corner playing guitars. Solar garden lights hung from ropes above the tables and the room was bathed in a soft glow. The security crew that had just come off duty were finishing up their plates when a door on the second floor opened.
Kim stepped out onto the narrow balcony that ran around the second floor. She held a ball of rolled up clothes. “Keep your damn clothes,” she screamed hurdling the ball towards Allison.
The ball missed Allison by five feet. It hit the window closest to the stove - the window that the herbs sat. The parsley toppled over, hitting the counter and bouncing to the stove. The chives and basil fell on top of it. The large pot of ginger teetered for a moment before tumbling down and landing on top of the valuable herbs.
The music stopped. Allison, Denise and Sherrie stared at the mess. The slamming door brought them to their senses.
Allison hurried over to rescue the herbs. Sherrie jumped in to help.
“I swear. If Karma doesn’t set that bitch straight, I will.”
Allison paused from brushing dirt off the top of the hot stove. “Isn’t that the tattoo on your left arm?”