by Marja McGraw
I stood and reached for the empty plate. “I’d best get home. Mama will be wondering if I got lost.”
“I still say there’s something different about you. This is the first time you ever stopped to visit with me, and we talked. You’re usually so daggone quiet and in a hurry to leave. That young man of yours must be bringin’ you around.”
I felt the need to correct her. “He’s not my young man.”
Her aging face took on an all-knowing look. “He will be. Trust the knowings of an old woman. You’re friends now, but he’ll be your Joseph one day. This is something I know.” She crossed her arms with finality.
“We’ll see.”
With plate in hand, I headed back to the house.
I wished for a moment that she could be right about Nathaniel, but I was time traveling. Maybe he and old Carrie would get together one day. In the meantime, I’d settle for friendship.
I almost made it home without mishap, but a horse and wagon came roaring down the road and splashed muddy water all over me.
I could hear the sound of the crackling laughter of Mother Possum come from behind me. It stopped abruptly when she began to cough. I wondered if I could talk her into losing the pipe. I didn’t think so. At her age it probably didn’t matter anyway.
A little girl came running out from the side of our house. I figured it must be Tess. I’d only seen her from a distance earlier.
She smiled and ran to me. “Oh, Carrie, you’re allover covered with mud. I bet you’re as mad as a wet hen.”
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a muddy hug. “And so are you, sweetie. Muddy, that is, not mad.”
She pulled away and looked up at me. “You never hug me. You never call me sweetie, either. Did I do something right for a change?”
Uh oh. I was out of character. “Oh, uh, I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”
Tess grinned and threw her arms around me. “That’s okay. I liked it.”
“Okay, let’s go change clothes before Mama gets upset with us.”
“I felt something in your pocket. What is it?”
I patted my apron pocket. I needed to get rid of the cell phone as soon as I could. “It’s just a pretty rock I found.”
“Can I see it?”
“Later, Tess. I’ll race you to the kitchen door.”
She laughed and took off running. I followed along behind and let her win. She threw open the door and held it for me. We walked through the house toward the stairs.
“Well, what happened to you two?” Mama was descending the stairs. “You’re going to have to clean the floor after walking through in those muddy shoes. You know you’re supposed to take them off before you come inside.”
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Tess said. “I won’t do this again.”
“I won’t, either.” I lifted my feet, one at a time, of course, and took off my shoes.
Mama and Tess seemed too quiet, even though I wasn’t familiar with their habits or demeanor. I looked from one to the other.
Mama had her hands on her hips. “You’re one of the quietest women I know, Carrie, but you always argue with me about having to take your shoes off.”
She seemed to wait for an answer, but I didn’t have one. I shrugged my shoulders and began climbing the stairs.
I could hear whispering behind me between Tess and her mother. I knew I had to ask more questions about old Carrie. Elsbeth needed to fill me in. It sounded as though Carrie was less friendly and more argumentative than I’d realized. A sudden change in personality would probably be appreciated, but it might raise too many questions. I didn’t want to have to explain myself every time I said or did something.
I stopped midway up the stairs. “Mama? Did Elsbeth and Daniel go for a walk, or do you know where she is?”
The whispering abruptly came to an end.
“She’s in her room.” Mama turned and headed for the kitchen with Tess following her.
“I’ll clean up the mud before I change clothes,” Tess said.
When I turned back to the top of the stairs, I saw Elsbeth waiting for me. “I heard you ask where I was. What did you find out?”
“Not much. I’d like to visit the barn and see if anything looks out of place. I’ve never seen it before, so would you go with me? Mother Possum said she heard someone working out there recently, when no one was home.”
“Sure.” She looked me up and down. “After you change your clothes. The neighbor’s cat had kittens in the loft, and Carrie has been climbing up there every day to check on the kittens. Since she’s not here, I’ll do it. Or you can, if you want to.”
“I’m allergic to cats, if you recall, so I’ll stay down on the floor in the barn.”
My aunt shrugged. “I mentioned that Carrie is moody, but somehow those kittens brightened her day.”
“Yeah, I have a few questions about her. When I’m friendly, people seem to think there’s something wrong.”
My aunt chuckled over that one and waited for me downstairs while I changed clothes. I hid the cell phone under my mattress, but decided I’d better find a better place for it. Later. One thing at a time, and a barn was waiting for me.
I changed my clothes and helped Tess finish cleaning the floor before beginning my investigation.
Once in the barn, I took a good look at the homemade ladder that rested against the loft. “That doesn’t look too sturdy.”
“It’s fine. Papa made it and he’s particular about things he makes.”
“Yes, but Mother Possum heard someone sawing and making all kinds of noises out here. You never know what they were doing.”
“Trust me, the ladder is fine.”
“Before you climb up to look at the kittens, take a look around. Does anything look out of place? Or is anything missing?”
My aunt looked around. “I’m not that familiar with the barn, but it does seem like something is missing from Papa’s workbench.” She tipped her head, apparently trying to figure out what was out of place or missing.
“I think… No. Maybe… No. Ah! I know what it is. There’s a hammer missing. It usually sits on the shelf over the workbench.”
She walked to the bench and looked under and on top of it.
“Do you see the hammer?” I asked.
“No, but that doesn’t really mean anything. Papa is always working on something or other. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Mama say, ‘Clayton, put down that hammer and come for supper.’”
I smacked my forehead. “I never thought to ask what their names are, but then if I think about it, I should remember from the stories you’ve told me.” I closed my eyes and thought. “Well, duh. Mama’s name is Jane. How hard is that to remember?”
My aunt rolled her eyes at me. “Give me a minute while I check on the kittens. They’re so cute. I can understand why Carrie goes up there every day.”
“Wait! Let me check the ladder.”
“Don’t be silly. No one is trying to kill Carrie, and she’s the one who goes up there.”
Elsbeth was halfway up the ladder when I heard a crack and she fell from one of the top rungs.
Chapter Eleven
“Oof!” Thankfully, she knocked me down and landed on top of me.
Thankfully for her, that is. Unfortunately, her elbow had smashed into my arm.
It took a moment to catch my breath after she rolled off of me.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes. How about you?”
“At least you didn’t knock me out.” I rubbed my arm.
My aunt sat quite still for a moment. “Okay, Mystery Writer, what does this mean? Is someone after Carrie, too? Is someone after the whole family?”
“It’s one of life’s mysteries that we’ll have to figure out. By the way, in my time my aunt would have had some funny comment to make about what just happened. Have you lost your sense of humor?”
“No, but this is 1909. They don’t think the same things are funny that we u
sed to laugh at. I guess I’ll have to readjust my thinking. By the way, you’d make a lousy pillow.”
“Are you trying to tell me I need to lose weight?”
“No, that was just a lame attempt at humor. I’m losing my skills.”
Standing, I brushed myself off and held out my hand to help Elsbeth up, and then I walked to the ladder and began to study the rungs. I climbed up the first few steps after making sure they were secure. I climbed up a bit farther and examined the broken rung.
“This has definitely been sawed partway through,” I said. “This wasn’t an accident. There are hammer marks on the rung, too. Someone really, really wanted either you or Carrie to fall.”
“We’ve had a snake and a broken ladder. What’s next? I’m half afraid to find out.” My aunt rubbed her arms.
“Not to mention someone attacking you. What day did you say that happened?” I asked.
“That was on Thursday.”
“Did Carrie ever say anything about something happening to her?”
“Now that you mention it, she made a comment about feeling like someone was watching her. I didn’t give it much thought at the time.”
I glanced at the floor and then at the ladder. “Do you remember when she said that?”
“It seems like it was on Friday. Yes, I remember it was Friday because that was the day after my incident. She said she wouldn’t have mentioned it but after me being attacked, it seemed more pertinent to her.”
“Incident? You’re calling being attacked an incident? Are you nuts?”
“Careful, Carrie. I may look young now, but I’m still your great-aunt. Have a little respect.”
“Someone wants to take out you and your sister, and you want respect? Well, they want to knock off Old Elsbeth and Old Carrie, but right now, that’s us.”
“What are you going to do now?” my aunt asked.
“I’m going back to talk to Mother Possum again. I have more questions, especially since she thinks I’m old Carrie. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to tell Daniel what happened. I’m going to tell Nathaniel, too. If someone is after both of us, he needs to know it. I kind of dread telling Daniel though.”
“So don’t tell him. Just casually suggest he keep a closer eye on things, but beat around the bush when he wants to know why.”
“What good will that do? Even if Daniel says okay, Nathaniel is less trusting and he’ll want an explanation.”
“Let me take care of Nathaniel. I think he’s smitten with me and I can probably get around telling him. Funny that I just got here this morning and he’s already interested.”
“Smitten? Now you’re talking like a local. Besides, Nathaniel always knows the right questions to ask. Did he tell you that he was a lawman before he and Daniel moved to Little Creek?”
I shook my head.
“Well, he was, and he’s got a very suspicious nature.”
That was good to know. I’d treat him pretty much the way my protagonist would treat a cop in one of my books. I’d return the suspicion.
“Let me ask you something else, Elsbeth. Were those threatening notes sent to you in the mail?” My investigator’s brain was kicking in.
“No. They were left on my bed.”
“What? What did Papa say? And what did he say about you being attacked?”
She looked sheepish. “He doesn’t know.”
“We have to talk to Papa right away. Remember, there’s a child in the house, too, not to mention Mama.”
“No, I don’t want to.” Her tone sounded like a petulant child.
I took hold of her arm and pulled. “He has to know. We’re in 1909. People don’t even lock their doors, do they?”
“Nooo.” She dragged the word out. “Half the people around here don’t have locks on their doors.”
I pursed my lips, realizing that in 1909 things were a lot calmer and people were more trusting than in my day.
Elsbeth tightened her lips, mimicking me. “I’ll tell him about the ladder, but that’s as far as it goes. He’ll see it was sabotaged and he’ll ask a lot of questions, but I want him to discover what’s going on. Papa is the man of the house and he needs to remain in that position.
“Carrie, things are different from what you’re used to and we’ve got to be careful. Women don’t even have the right to vote in many states yet. If I remember correctly, Washington will pass the vote for women next year.”
“It’s hard to imagine. No wonder the men are so protective. They don’t yet understand how much we’re capable of doing.” I looked her in the eye. “But Daniel and Nathaniel seem to be okay with our taking the lead.”
“They’re forward thinking men. And they’ve spent a lot of time with me.” My aunt smiled. “I’ve also told Daniel all about you. I’m sure he’ll catch his brother up on news about you now that they’ve met you.”
“I’ll go along with you to a point. Let’s go tell Papa about the rung breaking and see what happens.” I walked out of the barn and toward the house.
Elsbeth followed in my steps. “Let me tell him. Remember, Carrie is the quiet one, at least until she loses her temper about something. She’ll use anything as an excuse to yell.” She mumbled her last sentence.
I nodded.
We found Papa sitting in the kitchen talking to Mama.
“I’m telling you, Jane, you make the best stew in the county. I don’t know what you do that’s different, but it’s tastier than any I’ve ever ate before. Better than my mother’s.”
Mama smiled at him. “Oh, Clayton, go on with ya. My stew is just simple stew with meat, potatoes, carrots, celery and a few other things.”
My aunt stepped up to the table. “Papa, would you come out to the barn. I had a little accident out there.”
Mama’s head whipped around and Papa stood, towering over my aunt. “What happened?”
“Just come with me,” she replied, walking toward the kitchen door.
She tipped her head in Mama’s direction while she walked, letting me know she wanted me to keep her busy.
“So, Mama, what are the other ingredients?”
Her hand, holding a knife, stopped in midair. “Why, Carrie, you’ve never been interested in cooking before. What’s come over you today?”
“Nothing, Mama. Honest.” I lowered my head, trying to look embarrassed about speaking up.
She took over the conversation, apparently very happy that I’d asked her about the stew. She explained her process and ingredients to me and I stored the information in the back of my mind. If her stew was as good as her husband said, I might want to try it when I got home to my time.
I stood by the counter and watched her work, trying to stifle a yawn. She didn’t notice.
It had been a long day. I’d arrived in 1909 early in the morning, been to the local park, watched my aunt’s fear of a snake and served as a mattress when she fell off the ladder. I’d spent time on the main street with my aunt, and I’d spent time talking to Mother Possum. I’d met an interesting man. I felt like it was time for sleep, but I knew dinner would come first.
Glancing out the window, I saw Papa and Elsbeth deep in conversation. He didn’t look happy, needless to say. She didn’t look too perky herself. They headed for the house.
“Jane, I’m going to put locks on our doors.” Papa sounded like he’d hear no arguments.
Mama seemed to sense his determination. “If you feel it’s best, Clayton. Can you tell me why?”
“Better to be safe than sorry. I heard there was a robbery across town.” He was lying to her and looked at me as though daring me to say anything.
I didn’t.
“Beth and I are going to find Daniel. He’s a good lad and I’d like him to come over and help me with a few repairs on the barn.”
I raised my eyebrows at my aunt but she shook her head at me, effectively shutting me up.
I watched Papa and Elsbeth leave by the back door again, and saw them head toward the f
ront of the house. I also finally took a long look at the area behind the barn. There were what looked like hundreds of trees. I’d been too busy to look at them before.
“Mama, what kind of trees are those out behind the barn?”
“Carrie, what’s the matter with you today? You know those are fruit trees, mostly apple trees.”
“Umm, Mother Possum told me I need to be more outsp… Uh, she said I need to speak out more. I’m trying to follow her advice. I was just making conversation.”
“Well! It amazes me that you’d never listen to your Mama and Papa, but you’ll listen to her. If it brings you out of hiding inside yourself, then that’s a good thing.”
Mama, almost too casually, asked what had happened in the barn.
“Oh, not much. Elsbeth took a fall, but she’s okay.”
I quickly changed the subject to the kittens in the loft.
Chapter Twelve
The rest of the afternoon was quiet. Mama set the stew on the stove and said she was going to go read her Bible for a few minutes. Tess had gone to a friend’s house to play for a while.
I wandered up to my room and took a short nap.
Papa and Elsbeth returned after an hour or so, but nothing was said about the barn. Papa mentioned in passing that Daniel would help him take care of a few chores the next day.
Elsbeth whispered close to my ear. “We’ll talk later.”
We finally sat down to a dinner of stew and homemade biscuits. Of course, they were homemade. What else could I expect?
Elsbeth, Tess and I washed the dishes, dried them and put them away.
Thankfully, Mama and Papa retired to the sitting room to read, which surprised me. I didn’t think people in 1909 read that much, but Mama had a whole shelf of books and they looked well-cared for, but well-read at the same time. My aunt had mentioned that they liked reading, but I got the feeling this was almost a nightly ritual.
Elsbeth and I excused ourselves and said we were going upstairs.
At the top of the steps, my aunt motioned me to follow her to her room.