Katie held out her hand to Tim, "I'm Katie Ellis, Mattie's sister."
"Katie, this is Tim Carpenter. Lawyer, judge, and part time Good Samaritan." Cas introduced him, glad to see him smiling and looking his usual good natured self again after their talk.
"And you must be Cas and Connie Larkin. I've heard so much about you from our cousins, I feel like we're all old friends already." Katie smiled and glanced at Mattie who smiled back at them.
Miss Mayme and Miss Minnie had reached the porch and were talking to Mattie when the others caught up with them and trooped into the house.
"I'm glad to see you," Mattie smiled at Tim. "And hearing all those good titles and good things, I know my word processor will be in good hands. I wasn't going to unplug it until I felt sure it would be safe to take it with me instead of the typewriter."
"I don't blame you," Tim agreed.
"It was good of all of you to come and help us with all of this," Mattie glanced around her at all of them. "Have you had breakfast? How about some coffee?"
"We've had breakfast and we're fine," Cas assured Mattie.
"We're ready to get started. Since this word processor is the most important thing, what do you say we take it down and get it settled safely in the van and put one of those blankets around it to protect it. Then we can put everything else in wherever there's room and load things the way you want them since you know what you will want first. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good to me. Sort of establishes some priority, so the last to be loaded will be the least missed in case we want to leave something behind." Mattie stepped over to the stack of linens and handed him a soft velour blanket.
"Use this, and tuck it in good around the word processor."
Mattie promptly got started prioritizing, taking advantage of the wealth of good help.
Cas and Tim were unplugging the word processor when Katie's voice floated up to them. The pleased tone was about an eleven on a scale of one to ten.
"Eugene," Katie trilled happily.
Cas noticed Mattie's irritated frown before she turned away to hide it.
Eugene came in wearing his company uniform and cap, was introduced to everyone, and lent a willing hand until he had to return to work. Cas noticed he obeyed orders as if Mattie and Katie had him well trained and smiled to himself Eugene was so eager to please. He was a good worker and managed to help get all the heaviest things into one of the vehicles without even removing his cap with the company logo on it, like the cowboys in the movies who could fight several rustlers all at once without losing their ten gallon hats. He then kissed Katie on the cheek and moved toward the door to get back to his job.
"I'll walk out with you, Eugene," Katie took his arm.
Surreptitiously observing the scene, Cas had kept an eye on Mattie as he worked. He had the feeling it must have hurt when she managed to express her appreciation. "Thank you for coming to help, Eugene." Mattie's voice was civil as she turned away to check on something.
"You're welcome," Eugene smiled as if he thought she meant it, and Katie took his arm to walk out to his work van with him.
"Oh," Mattie's voice caught Katie who turned to listen. "Since we're so blessed with help and space, why don't I just take the crockpot too, then you can put a new one on our account Monday?"
"Good idea. We'll do it." Katie sounded like anything suggested would be a good idea as long as she held Eugene's arm.
When they finally had everything loaded and left for the lake, Katie and Mattie led the way. Their little car was filled mostly with clothing. Mattie sat beside Katie with the real estate agent's written directions in her hand. She looked resolutely ahead as if there had never been any doubt in her mind they would get all this done and done efficiently. Katie smiled to herself glancing at her from the corner of her eye.
Next came Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme in the van carrying the precious word processor and whatever of Mattie's writing supplies could be packed in around it. This included the electric typewriter she'd decided at the last minute to take anyway, and a floor lamp which looked like it might lose part of it's gangling anatomy if there were any sudden stops along the way.
Bringing up the rear in the truck were Cas, Connie, and Tim with the halogen lamp, a platform rocker Mattie thought she might as well have since there was room, and other odds and ends, including the couple of boxes of groceries.
Thanks to Mattie's helpers taking her instructions properly, they made it to the crossroads with no mishaps or anything falling out or off any part of the caravan.
Fortunately, Mattie couldn't hear Miss Minnie's observations about the odds she would have given on that impressive accomplishment.
"Is that the store? The larger building just past the small one with the flag on it?" Katie stuck her head out the window and looked it over.
"Evidently. The small one looks like the post office the agent told me was here. Signal to the others so they'll know we're going to stop."
"All right. I forgot to tell them we were going to," Katie said, feeling a twinge from her conscience.
Katie waited for the others to stop as Mattie went on into the store to look around and check on whether or not they still delivered groceries.
"It's good to get out and stretch," Cas raised both arms as he and Tim got out of the truck.
Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme joined them, looking around as they came.
"There's about everything the people around here would need," Miss Minnie observed, eyeing the neat brick building with the flag on it. "I didn't realize that little post office was here."
"I don't think it's been there long, they used to take their mail to the store over there," Cas told her. "The store and the drug store both have been remodeled recently, my deputies tell me. I haven't been out here very much lately."
The grocer's looked neat and well stocked with some produce and fruit displayed just outside the double doors.
"They've got to have something drinkable and cold in there," Miss Mayme started toward the store.
"I'm with you." Tim joined her and the others followed.
"That drugstore used to be smaller, if I remember right, but they had good ice cream," Connie commented. "Oh, and speaking of improvements, I do believe I see a gift shop in there!"
Cas quickly took the hand Connie had pointed with and herded her into the grocery store with the others.
"Party pooper," she hissed for his ears only.
"Katie, while the others look around and get something to wet their whistles, I'm going to run over to the drugstore for a minute."
Mattie was moving as she spoke and was already gone before Katie could object or ask her to wait for her.
By the time the others had refreshed themselves and got one for the road in Miss Mayme's case, Mattie was seated again in the car with Katie as if the others were holding up the parade. No one but Miss Mayme was in a position to notice Miss Minnie's reaction to that.
Katie had looked at the directions again and they were back on the road, safely seat-belted and making good time when Miss Mayme spoke to her sister.
"How did you like our break? And isn't it just like Mattie? She should have said something or planned to stop somewhere to have a bite or a cup of coffee. And failing that, it just really galled me to come out and see her waiting as if we were the holdup! I could tell it was a good thing you weren't close enough to her to say anything, so just don't bother trying to deny it."
Miss Minnie's eyes twinkled. "I was ticked off as our students used to call it. But think about it, Mayme. Mattie didn't know what to expect up here, and it's natural she wanted to see the store and the drug store too. I know I'd want to know about the place where I was ordering my food and essentials. And waiting in the car is just pure Mattie. That's the way she's always been. She'd seen what she wanted to see and done what she wanted to do, so she was ready to go," Miss Minnie shrugged.
"There's a lot of truth in what you say. I'm sure I'd have wanted to see the store and d
rugstore too," Miss Mayme admitted. "It was the way her attitude struck me after getting Cas and Connie to help us, I guess. I'm beginning to recall why we haven't been all that close. It wasn't all a matter of mileage."
"I know, but it won't hurt us to help her out. She is our cousin, in spite of having, I guess you'd call it, a slightly abrasive personality?"
Miss Mayme hooted merrily at that understatement.
"She is good hearted."
"Oh, I know it. And poor little Katie minds so well, Mattie more than likely forgets the rest of the world may not always agree with her. Speaking of Katie, she's mentioned several times going to check on Mattie. That may get old by the end of summer, or whenever Mattie finishes her book."
"I noticed those hints, too. But I didn't say anything or commit us to anything." Miss Minnie looked concerned. "Somehow, taking all this stuff to the cabin, the stop at the store, the visits and the checking on Mattie, and the other preparations for her to work on her cookbook well," her voice trailed off.
"The whole thing's beginning to sound like a recipe for trouble, isn't it?"
Miss Mayme's pleasant features weren't programmed for frowning, but she didn't look her usual happy self, either.
"That's exactly what I mean. But it's not going to be forever, we'll make it. Try not to let her get on your nerves."
"I'll pray for grace," Miss Mayme promised piously, trying to stifle a laugh.
Their laughter was cut short by the sudden bounce as they left the pavement. Miss Minnie sneezed as she rolled up the window.
"Are we still on the road?"
"According to the county, we are. It's not so bad, it's the dust that's the worst problem."
"Don't you wish we could tiptoe over this rough gravel with our new tires?"
In only a few minutes the caravan slowed down. "They're turning off," Miss Minnie said, sounding relieved they didn't have to go any farther on the gravel road. "We've arrived."
The little caravan stopped on and beside the drive. Everyone got out and stood admiring the cabin. It was a nice roomy log structure with a fireplace and a long front porch that went all the way across the front. You could see the lake from the front porch. Cas wondered briefly how much it had cost to lease it till the end of summer.
Mattie opened the cabin door with her key and approved the necessary furnished things and what she could see of the cabin from the door. She pushed the door wide so they could start work.
All of them began bringing in whatever was easiest to get out and could be carried by one person. Now, as when they loaded her things, they carefully put everything exactly where Mattie wanted it. Only the chair and the floor lamp had to be moved from where she had first put them.
When the word processor and other electric things were brought in, the first considerations became the placement near a plug.
Considering all they had brought it didn't take all that long to get everything into the cabin and shifted around to where anything that needed one had an electric plug and was where Mattie could make the best use of it.
Gratitude softened Mattie's gaunt features as she looked around approvingly and again expressed her gratitude for their good work and help. "I'm looking forward to this, I feel like I'll be able to work well here. And I'm sure everyone is as empty as I am after all this work."
She looked around at everybody as she spoke. "I asked the real estate agent about a place to eat, and she recommended that new truck stop out here. I'm going to take you to lunch. I do hope the food is as good as she said it is."
"Well, you don't see many undernourished truck drivers," Cas grinned, setting her mind at ease.
"Let's go in the van. Cas, you can drive and Mattie and I can give you directions," Miss Minnie handed him the keys.
He took them, "I know where it is, I checked it out on a recent run out here. Before they left, he took Mattie with him on a tour of the cabin as he examined window and door locks.
"The truck stop, grocery, and drugstore will keep you in things you need. The truck stop was needed here," he told Miss Minnie as he locked the front door of the cabin. "When I came out here not long ago with Rhodes we stopped to have coffee there."
The meal at the truck stop was pleasant, the food good, and conversation lively. Cas warned Mattie about precautions she should take and Mattie gave Katie instructions enough to last all summer at home.
Katie assured Mattie she and Eugene would be back soon.
"Humpf," was Mattie's grumpy comment on that.
Chapter 7
Arriving home, Katie dutifully parked properly in the garage and went in the back door.
The phone was ringing. She hurried to answer it, afraid it was Mattie but wondering how she could have possibly forgotten anything when she took everything that was loose with her.
In her rush, she nearly slipped on the new floor as she grabbed for the phone.
"Katie? You're out of breath, are you all right?"
"Oh, Eugene," Katie breathed into the phone. "Of course I'm all right," she trilled happily losing the concerned expression. "I just this minute got in the door and heard the phone. I ran to answer it."
Eugene's voice dropped an octave. "Thinking maybe Mattie might have forgotten something she needs or you think she needs, no doubt."
"Well, yes. Though I don't know what that could be, considering there's not a scrap left in the house that has anything to do with typing or her book!" She giggled remembering the three vehicles in their caravan. "All it needed was to be bundled onto camels. Would have made a great Travelogue! So I'm glad it wasn't her calling to say she'd forgotten something."
"Disappointed?" Eugene's voice softened and dropped again into a suggestive tone.
"I think you know better than that," Katie's heart skipped a beat.
"I only wanted to hear you say it. I felt guilty about not being able to go with you. I wanted to see that you got home all right."
"Oh yes, fine. It was really not bad at all, I don't know why I had been dreading it so. We had so much help, everything went just fine. And Mattie has her word processor and all the things she wanted to take with her as I said. So it really turned out better than either one of us hoped. And Eugene, Mattie really likes the cabin!"
"Did she break down and say so?" His voice was skeptical.
"Yes, she did, and shame on you, Eugene!"
He laughed. "Why don't I go by and get us a pizza? We can enjoy some time to ourselves without a chaperone." He paused. "If you're not too tired after all that moving?"
"No, I'm not tired at all and pizza sounds wonderful. I missed you. I'm glad we had plenty of help, but I missed you."
"I missed you too," Eugene spoke softly into the phone. "See you in a few minutes."
Katie stood holding the silent phone to her breast. She felt like a sophomore again. "I'll brush my hair and put on some fresh make up before he gets here!"
* * *
On the way back to Maryvale, Tim had the comfortable feeling of having accomplished something useful. That and the session with Cas about his problems, whether real or imagined, lifted his spirits and brought back his usual good humor.
They turned off for home, honking at Katie as she continued on to Fort Craig.
Watching Katie's car dwindle in the distance Cas observed, "I hate to rain on your parade, folks. But you know we're going to have to do all this again only in reverse when Mattie goes back. Our work is only half done."
"With all this experience under our belts we'll be so good at it we won't mind," Tim predicted. "And speaking of work, Connie," he hesitated, looking wistful. "Do you think you might want to work full time again if the job is right here in Maryvale?"
Cas stole a sideways look at Connie, but said nothing.
"I don't think so, Tim. I've gotten spoiled being home and able to plan my time the way I want to. And it's nice to be around when Cas has some time off. Seldom as that is," she smiled at her husband.
Cas smiled back, no need to comment. Her an
swer had been what he wanted to hear and she was aware of that.
"Well, you can't blame me for trying, can you?"
"Offering someone a job is not ever going to generate any hard feelings. But you've got plenty of help," Connie protested. "And if there's an emergency or anything extra you need, I'm available to help you."
"I know. But it pays to be prepared. If Muriel decides to retire, I'll sure need someone with experience and good skills. Hopefully, that won't be for quite a while."
"You're getting paranoid about Muriel leaving. Want to schedule a session to talk about it?" Cas tried to look solemnly professional around a grin.
"Nope, Dr. Larkin, I've had all your help I can afford this week!"
Connie laughed, "Save your money. You don't need to worry yet. Muriel more than likely won't want to retire until her sister, Margaret, retires from teaching. That won't be for a couple of years so you've got lots of time to sort of look around, if that will make you feel better about it. And you won't have to schedule a session anywhere. Why, my own advice, even if it is just secretarial," she gave her competition a defiant look, "is cheaper than anything but a good cry."
"I'm inclined to think you're right, too, all things considered. Sister or not, Margaret won't retire from teaching until she has to, as much as she enjoys it. But I'm still glad you're around to call on."
"I'm glad you're glad." She touched Cas's leg beside her. "I don't think I'll ever go back to working full-time unless there's some calamity and I have to."
Cas let go of the steering wheel with one hand long enough to knock on the wood paneled dash.
"Superstitious!" It was Tim's turn to laugh, "Our sheriff is superstitious!"
* * *
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Katie ran to pick up the phone again.
"Katie?"
"Mattie! Are you all right? Is there something wrong?"
"Yes, yes. Of course I'm all right, unless you count being feebleminded," she grumbled impatiently. "I've forgotten something I need. I left my cosmetic case. The blue one that matches my luggage."
Recipe for Trouble Page 10