by Kit Morgan
“What?”
“Never mind.”
Mr. Dunnigan scratched his head at the remark as Sadie approached. She went directly to Harrison who pushed back his hat, took her in his arms and gave her a quick kiss. Mr. Dunnigan smiled and turned away. “I think I’ll just mosey on over and see what trouble Irene’s causing.”
Harrison laughed. “We’ll see you later!”
“What did I miss?” Sadie asked as she watched Mr. Dunnigan chuckle to himself and leave.
“Nothing of importance, except he knows Colin is courting Belle.”
“Oh, that. Is he going to talk to Mrs. Dunnigan? Otherwise she’ll make things much harder than she already has, especially for Belle.”
“He’ll do his best I’m sure. Speaking of Belle, where is she?”
“I don’t know, I thought she came with the Dunnigans, but come to think of it, I haven’t seen her.”
They automatically looked to the trail that led to the meadow. Lucy White along with her husband Theodore and two small children were coming down followed by two other families. Further up they could see Harvey Brown at the top of the hill, but no sign of Belle.
“I’ve been so busy helping the Mulligans with the planks and crates they brought to set the food on, I hadn’t noticed who else was here,” Sadie said. “Who is she coming with since she didn’t come with the Dunnigan’s?”
Harrison suddenly raised his brow in amusement. “Well, would you look at that?"
Sadie again looked to the trail. Just coming down the hill, not far behind a stumbling Harvey Brown, were Colin and Belle. They heard Colin say something to Harvey and the tinkle of Belle’s laughter as the couple, arm in arm, made their way along the trail.
“I don’t believe it,” Harrison exclaimed. “How did he manage to get out of guard duty and escort Belle to the picnic?”
Sadie also stared in curiosity. “And with out a chaperone.”
“You don’t think they came with Harvey do you?”
Sadie shook her head. “Mrs. Dunnigan allow Belle to come with two unmarried gentlemen?”
“You’re quite right, dear wife,” he said then pulled his hat back into place. “I dare say, I don’t think Mrs. Dunnigan knows.”
“She will the minute she turns around.”
They watched Mrs. Dunnigan, her back to the trail, as she spoke with Fanny Fig under the shade of His Majesty. The townsfolk had placed their blankets, baskets and anything else they’d brought with them around the massive tree trunk until the picnic got fully underway.
Belle’s laughter caught everyone’s attention as she and Colin were now over half way down the trail. Some folks turned and waved at the new comers, others headed over to greet them. Mrs. Dunnigan, a huge smile on her face, also turned to look. Her eyes widened, closed tight, opened, and widened again. She let out a disgusted snort and threw down the serving spoon she held in her hand. She took a few steps forward and squinted at the couple as they reached the bottom of the trail.
Belle and Colin didn’t notice her. They were walking toward Harrison and Sadie, who in turn still had their eyes glued to Mrs. Dunnigan, who in turn, was now quickly glancing this way and that. She took one last look at Belle with Colin before she let out a horrific wail. Belle turned just in time to see her aunt’s hand fly to her forehead and the dramatic faint that followed. If Mrs. Dunnigan had been on the stage, the act would certainly have brought some applause and gasps from the audience. As it was, it brought a gasp from Fanny Fig, who threw up her arms in shock before making her way to her fallen friend.
Harrison would have been running to her as well if he hadn’t noticed Mrs. Dunnigan looking for the best possible place to land. He turned to Sadie who stood with her mouth open in shock. “Oh dear,” he said flatly.
“Auntie!” Belle exclaimed as she extracted herself from Colin and made for her aunt who now lay in the grass on her back. Fanny Fig knelt beside her, fanning the lifeless form with everything she had. In this case her beaded reticule, it’s long thin strings of beads hitting Mrs. Dunnigan’s face each time Fanny moaned her name to the sky above.
Harrison furrowed his brow at the entire scene. “Do you think they rehearsed it?” He asked his wife dryly.
Sadie rolled her eyes at him before she made her way to the gathering crowd. Colin meanwhile watched in exasperation as he stepped over to his brother. He looked at Harrison, then back to Belle who now knelt next to her aunt.
Harrison sighed and smiled at his brother. Colin caught his wide grinned look and gave him one of his own. “Did you see that? I didn’t know Mrs. Dunnigan had it in her.”
“And I didn’t know our little picnic would come with a show.”
They laughed as Harrison put his arm around Colin. “Come along dear brother. Let’s go see what Mrs. Dunnigan does for an encore.”
Colin’s face took on a more serious look. “I’m almost afraid to find out.”
* * *
Aunt Irene’s eyes fluttered open as Fanny Fig continued her furious fanning, the long beaded fringe of her reticule occasionally whipping her aunt’s face when Fanny leaned forward. Belle reached out and grabbed Fanny’s wrist to stop her ministrations, which at this point convinced Belle her aunt really had fainted. Who could possibly lie so still when one’s face was whipped by beaded fringe?
“Doc Waller! Doc Waller!” Fanny cried.
Belle looked up at the faces of the townsfolk who’d gathered round. Doc Waller was not among them. Grandma however, pushed her way through and bent to look at her aunt. “You all right, Irene?”
Belle watched as Aunt Irene’s eyes rolled back and she moaned.
“Someone fetch me a cup of water!” Grandma yelled.
“I don’t think she’s in shape to drink anything,” Harvey Brown commented.
“I’m not going to have her drink it. I’m going to douse her with it. Nothing brings a person around quicker than a cupful of cold creek water thrown in their face.”
Suddenly Aunt Irene’s eyes fluttered once more. Belle closed her own eyes and sighed. Surely her aunt wouldn’t go so far as to...
“Here ya go, Grandma,” Mr. Dunnigan said as he handed her a cup.
“Land sakes, Wilfred. How’d you get this so fast?”
“Done went to the creek the minute I seen her go down.”
Belle looked at her uncle who didn’t seem overly concerned about her aunt’s current state. Oh no auntie, don’t tell me you did this on purpose.
“Belle...” Aunt Irene moaned.
Belle looked to her aunt. Her eyes were now open, the look on her face pitiful. Belle’s stomach knotted.
“You want this?” Grandma asked and shoved the cup at her. Belle reached up and took it.
“If she closes her eyes again, toss it at her. That’ll bring her around.” Grandma said casually. Obviously she suspected Aunt Irene’s faint was nothing more than theatrics as well. But the other townsfolk weren’t as astute.
“I’ll help you take her back to town, Miss Belle.” Harvey Brown offered.
Uncle Wilfred let go a heavy sigh. “That’s mighty neighborly of you Harvey but I’ll take Irene back to town. No sense you missing out on any of the festivities.”
“Oh, well ... if Miss Belle is going to be staying, I’d be happy to look out for her, Wilfred.”
Belle stood, as Harvey looked her up and down and smiled. Maybe she ought to toss the cup of water at him.
“No need, Harvey. Belle will be fine with the Cooke’s to look after her.” Uncle Wilfred told him.
Aunt Irene suddenly moaned.
At this point Doc Waller finally showed up, a fishing pole in one hand, his catch in the other. “What’s all the commotion?”
“Irene’s done fainted.” Wilfred drawled. “Best get her back to town.”
“Belleeeee ....” Aunt Irene wailed. “I need Belle!”
Doc Waller handed his pole and string of fish to Harvey. “Lets have a look.” He knelt next to Aunt Irene and began to exam
ine her. “Any headaches lately, Irene?”
She looked at Belle. “Why yes,” she moaned. “I think Belle should take me home and take care of me.”
Grandma snorted. “A Boston gal taking care of a sick woman? What does she know about doctoring? I’ll take you home myself and give you a good dose of castor oil! Trust me, it’ll fix you right up!”
Aunt Irene moaned again. “Belle! Belle where are you?”
Unable to stand it any longer, Belle threw her face into her hands to keep a straight face. On the one hand, she felt terribly sorry for her aunt to stoop to such antics. On the other hand, she sensed a biting retort making its way to the tip of her tongue. “If castor oil is what she really needs then we’d best get her home and give her some.”
Her aunt perked up at that. “Oh Belle, just take me home, will you? I’ll feel much better after I lie down.”
“You’re already lying down,” Grandma quipped. “Seems to me you should feel better now.”
Aunt Irene scowled. “Don’t tell me how I should feel! You’re not the doctor!”
“She’s more of a doctor than you think,” Uncle Wilfred said with a chuckle. “Now let’s get you up and I’ll take you home.”
“But what about Belle?” Aunt Irene screeched.
“What about her?” Uncle Wilfred drawled.
“She’s going home with us!”
“No she’s not. Harvey, give me a hand will you?” Harvey helped Uncle Wilfred pull her aunt up from the grassy ground. She stood unsteadily and tried to grab Belle for support but Uncle Wilfred, God bless him, was quicker and grabbed her instead. “Belle will be in good hands and Colin can bring her home,” he told her.
Belle couldn’t believe her uncle said it. What she could believe was how quickly Aunt Irene’s face turned red as her whole body shook. The townsfolk backed up as one and watched her aunt’s mounting fury. They knew it was only a matter of time before...
“She will NOT stay with any of the Cookes! Especially Colin!” She turned to Belle in a huff. “You’re coming home with me, young lady! NOW!”
Everyone stood in shock. Everyone but Grandma that is. “Mercy! She’s done gone delusional! Quick! Some of you men get her to Wilfred’s wagon!”
Harrison and Colin, standing off to one side, both held a fist to their mouth to keep from laughing. The battle of wills being played out would be something to tell their children. And their grandchildren, and their great grandchildren...
Harvey Brown, Mr. Turner, Doc, and Theodore White all got a hold of the raving Mrs. Dunnigan and began to haul her away. “Unhand me! I’m not leaving without Belle! You either come home with me this instant young lady or don’t come home at all!”
The Van Cleets, just arrived, watched as Mrs. Dunnigan was escorted across the meadow to the trail leading up to the wagons. “Great Scott! What’s happening?” Mr. Van Cleet exclaimed.
Confusion suddenly assailed Belle. Her aunt’s mental faculties could well be failing. Should she go home with her? Would she be all right by herself? Or would she try something even more drastic to get what she wanted? She turned to Mr. Van Cleet. “She was fine, I think, then fainted. But maybe she didn’t really faint. I’m not sure if I should go.”
Mrs. Van Cleet put an arm around her. “Don’t you worry none about your aunt. We’ve watched her do the same sort of thing to your uncle and he won’t put up with it. Trust me, once he gets her home he’ll have a talk with her. He won’t do it here out in front of everyone and embarrass her.”
Colin came up behind them and put a hand on Belle’s shoulder. “Your aunt will be all right.”
She turned to him and let him put his arms around her, not caring what people thought. “Oh Colin. I don’t know how Uncle Wilfred puts up with it.”
Colin sighed heavily. “Neither do I.” He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to look at him. “Now, let’s have a picnic.”
Thirteen
The afternoon grew warm. After a lunch of fried chicken, biscuits, vegetables, and fruit pies folks settled a bit before the real fun began. And what fun it was! Many of the townsfolk waded in the shallower parts of Clear Creek to cool themselves after some of the more strenuous games. Tommy Turner caught the young pig Harrison brought much to his parents' delight, as whomever caught the animal got to keep him. Grandma won Blind Man’s Bluff and got the quilting squares and a new ladle to take home. Lucy White won the feather dance, able to keep it afloat the longest, and picked the hammer and a tablecloth as her prizes. And just as the game of tug o’ war was to begin, Duncan and Henry Fig showed up.
“About time!” Harrison called. “Come you two, join our team!”
Duncan approached slowly, turned to look up the trail, then back to his brothers. “I was hoping Jefferson would be here by now.”
“I’m not sure he’ll come,” Colin told him. “I asked him about it last night, but ... well, he wasn’t exactly in a talking mood.”
“He’s been going to town quite a lot to play cards. Could be he’ll pass this up and go looking for a game.”
“He won’t find one today. Mulligan’s is closed,” Henry said. “And I think the wagon train camped outside of town moved on.”
“You’re quite right, Henry. Which makes me wonder where he is.” Duncan scanned the area and took everything in. Some of the women were near the creek with the children old enough to go wading. Others lounged on blankets under His Majesty’s shade, including Belle and Sadie who were chatting away with Lucy White. The much younger children, namely the Whites' and Turners', played nearby. Baskets of food had been placed on a table made from a couple of crates and a wide plank. Tommy Turner and several men were still partaking of the food the women prepared. Every one looked happy and contented.
“Harvey!” Colin called as he noted Harvey Brown making his way toward Belle and Sadie. “Come choose your team! We’re about to start.”
Duncan smiled and looked to Colin. “He’s still trying, is he?”
“Of course. Just with the wrong girl.”
“She’s the only girl,” Harrison began. “But I think it’s safe to say, dear brother, that after today the whole town knows she’s your girl.”
“Yes, well, someone needs to inform Harvey.” Colin said rather flatly. “He’s been buzzing around Belle all afternoon.”
“Speaking of buzzing,” Duncan began. “What happened with Mrs. Dunnigan? She and Wilfred came back to town early. We could tell she was angry, but neither of them said a word. Wilfred even offered to stand guard with the new preacher after he unhitched his wagon and put his horses up at the livery.”
Harrison and Colin glanced at one another. “We’ll tell you later,” they both said at once.
Duncan and Henry noted their pained looks and decided to leave it be. Besides, it was time for the game of tug o’ war.
Much to their dismay, Doc took what men wanted to play and split them into two teams then called for the rope. Mr. Berg, who’d come not an hour before Duncan and Henry, brought it with him from the livery stable. Both teams fought to have him on their side but Doc chose the men carefully to keep things balanced and fair. One team crossed the creek where it was shallow and headed up to where the game would be held. Doc called for the women, children and remaining men to follow him and the other team up the creek to where it narrowed.
Here the creek bank was steep on both sides, the water much deeper. And creek water in June was fine for dipping one’s toes in or wading but not for swimming. Neither side relished a loss and subsequent drenching.
Mr. Mulligan tossed one half of the long rope across the water to the opposing team. When ready, the men positioned themselves. Doc stood to one side, raised a gun Harrison had given him, and fired. Screams and shouts rent the air as the women cheered the men’s efforts. Even the children let loose a screech or two as the men fought for control of the rope. Harrison, Duncan, Tommy Turner and Mr. Berg made up one team. The team on the other side of the creek consisted of Colin, Harve
y Brown, Henry Fig, Theodore White and Sheriff Hughes.
The rest of the men, including Mr. Mulligan and Mr. Van Cleet, laughed and heckled both teams as they began to strain with the effort it took to keep their ground. The men grunted as they tugged and pulled, each team in turn looking as if they had the win only to lose ground and come perilously close to falling in. Finally, as if tired of the whole affair, Mr. Berg gave one powerful tug, putting all his weight into it, and the opposing team, or rather Colin, was instantly thrown into the creek. Everyone burst out laughing as Colin gave a whoop of surprise and hit the water headfirst. The men behind him, seeing Colin’s feet leave the ground, wisely let go of the rope before they too were pulled in. Harvey Brown, not as quick as the others, followed in his wake, also headfirst. He grabbed Colin as he fought to get his footing, and pulled him underwater several times.
“Harvey!” Colin sputtered as he popped out of the water for the third time. “What are you doing? Good Lord man, get a hold of yourself before you drown me!”
“What for? He’s got a hold of you hasn’t he?” Mr. Mulligan yelled as he laughed.
“I can’t swim!” Harvey cried.
Colin stood, the water chest deep as Harvey continued to flay one arm in the water and grip Colin around the neck with the other. Harrison and Duncan fell to their knees in hysterics as Colin pried Harvey’s arm off and stood him up. Harvey blinked a few times in shock when he realized the water was only chest high, then sheepishly made his way to the nearest bank as the townsfolk laughed even harder. Including Belle and Sadie, who were laughing so hard they had to hang onto each other for support. And everyone agreed, it was the most fun the townsfolk of Clear Creek had ever had together.
All but one.
Jefferson Cooke stood near the picnic baskets and munched on a piece of chicken as he listened to the roaring laughter coming from up the creek. He helped himself to a piece of pie next and ate it before he turned his back on the whole affair and mounted his horse. From atop the animal he could better see through the trees the people laughing and pointing to the men who’d lost the game of tug o’ war. No one had noticed him when he rode down the trail. No one noticed him now. And no one would notice him leave.