Choosing One Moment

by Marja McGraw

  “Maybe she’s jealous of Carrie,” I said. “It would make sense, although it also tells me she’s a nut case. I can’t imagine what she might be jealous of, and why would a friend kill someone out of jealousy?”

  My aunt continued to rub her ankle. “Ruth is certainly one possibility, but anyone could have followed the girls down here without them knowing it.”

  She tried to stand but fell back to the ground.

  “Don’t move yet, and later I want to know what a ‘nut case’ is.” Nathaniel said. He picked up a large stick and dug the knife out of the ground. Pulling a hankie out of his pocket, he wrapped it and held on to it. The knife might be a clue, and he wasn’t letting go of it.

  Having second thoughts, he unwrapped the knife and showed it to Elsbeth. “Have you ever seen this before? Could it have come from your house?”

  “I’ve never paid attention to the knives in our kitchen, and I haven’t been here that long.”

  He nodded at his brother.

  Daniel helped Elsbeth stand before picking her up and walking toward the house with her.

  She glanced back at me over his shoulder and said, “Papa’s not going to be happy about this.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  We returned to the house and Daniel carefully set Elsbeth on the sofa. Mama had seen us coming and waited for us.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Oh, Mama, I tripped and fell. I think I might have sprained my ankle.”

  While mother tended to daughter, Nathaniel motioned to Papa to meet the brothers outside.

  I distracted Mama by making a big fuss over Elsbeth. “Do we have some strips of cloth? I’ve seen Doc wrap someone’s foot before and I know how to do it.”

  She looked skeptical, but excused herself and went in search of something we could use, returning with scissors and an old white shirt. She cut it into shreds while I started wrapping my aunt’s ankle.

  For just a moment I wished I could have been a fly on the wall so I could hear what the men were talking about.

  Mama took over and finished wrapping Elsbeth’s ankle.

  I glanced out the front door and saw Nathaniel showing the knife to Papa. I cringed, inwardly, expecting an explosion. I heard Papa’s voice raise for a fraction of a second, but Daniel said something and he quieted down.

  My suspicion was that they didn’t want Mama to know what was going on. Truthfully, I thought they should tell her. It would mean one extra set of eyes to watch out for us.

  “I’ll make you a cup of hot tea,” Mama said, patting Elsbeth’s hand.

  She left the room and I made a beeline for the porch. The sun was setting, but I could still see the men.

  The veins on Papa’s neck were standing out and he was scowling. “Why is this happening to my family? My girls wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “I don’t know, Sir.” Nathaniel looked directly into his eyes with his arms folded across his chest. He leaned back a little and puffed his chest out, or so it appeared. “But I aim to find out. I’ve done police work for some time, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this – me and Daniel, that is.”

  “Yes, yes.” Papa began to calm down, only slightly. “But did you ever have to find someone with plans to harm a woman?”

  “Yes, Sir, I did.” Nathaniel surprised me with his answer. “We had four women killed by the same man, and I found him. I followed the clues he left behind and we had a showdown. He tried to kill me and I had to shoot him dead.” He looked upset.

  “You did?” I asked. This didn’t sound like the gentle, funny man I was getting to know. Maybe that’s why he’d left his job as a lawman. His stance looked every bit the picture of a cop.

  He glanced at me but didn’t reply.

  So did Papa. “What’re you doing out here? You go inside and help your mama.”

  “But – “

  “You heard your father. We’ll talk later.” Nathaniel gave me a gentle shove toward the door.

  They didn’t know who they were dealing with, so I opened the door and entered the house, but made a point of leaving the door open a little and I stood aside, listening.

  Daniel was in apparent agreement with me. “I think we need to tell Jane about what’s happening. She’s already suspicioning something, and we need all the help we can get.”

  Papa was very quiet for a minute. He ran his fingers through his graying hair.

  The brothers waited quietly.

  “I’ll tell her tonight, when we’re alone.” Papa looked deflated, from what little I could see as I peeked around the doorway. “And I’ll tell her to keep her mouth shut. We don’t want this weasel, whoever he is, to catch on that we’re looking for him.”

  Someone walked by the house and waved at Papa. He didn’t wave back. “That was Willy Rhodes. He’s been wantin’ Elsbeth for his own for as long as I can recall. He finds excuses to come by the house more than necessary. He’s a bad one, always pickin’ fights and such. I don’t want him near my girls.”

  The brothers glanced at each other. That name had rolled off of Mother Possum’s tongue earlier in the day. I gathered that Nathaniel had already mentioned him to his brother.

  I leaned far forward and saw that the veins in Papa’s neck were now pulsating.

  That’s when my hand slipped off of the door frame and I fell flat on my face.

  Nathaniel started to laugh. “Well, now, isn’t Carrie just about the most graceful creature you ever saw?”

  “Nosey, too,” Daniel said.

  “Ahhh.” I tried to stand, but my foot got caught in the hem of my skirt and I fell back down. The long skirts were a pain in the…

  Papa started to laugh. “That’s my girl. Nosey and clumsy.”

  Nathaniel bent down and took hold of my arm. “Let me help you.”

  I would have shaken his hand off, but with Papa standing and watching I had a feeling I should try to act more demure.

  I stood and brushed dirt off my skirt before turning and stomping my way into the house.

  “What’s going on out there?” Elsbeth asked.

  “It’s just men thinking they’re… Nothing.”

  Mama sat next to Elsbeth. “Really, Carrie, what are they up to?” She pushed a wisp of brown hair back and tucked it into the bun on her head.

  “Mama, trust me and don’t ask questions until later. Papa is going to explain everything to you later tonight.”

  She raised her eyebrows at me but didn’t ask any more questions. “Well, call them in and let’s eat supper. It’s probably cold by now.”

  I almost mentioned using a microwave oven, but caught myself in time.

  ~ * ~

  Supper was over and Mama had just served cobbler when Nathaniel cleared his throat and turned to Papa. “Uh, Sir, I’ve been wanting to see one of those moving pictures people talk about and I’d like to take Carrie with me, if I have your permission. They just opened a theater in Vancouver.”

  “Excuse me,” I said. “Shouldn’t you be asking me if I want to go? I’m not a teenager, you know.”

  “Your young man knows his manners, daughter. Hush now.” Mama took a bite of cobbler, but I could see she was listening intently for Papa’s reply.

  I lowered my head and smiled, trying to think of something smart to say.

  Elsbeth kicked me under the table with her good foot.

  I closed my mouth, but not willingly.

  Papa folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, dabbing at his mouth with a cloth napkin. “Well, now. Are you saying you want to court my daughter?” His expression exuded something akin to seriousness with a twist of teasing mixed in.

  “Yes, sir.” Nathaniel looked uncomfortable.

  I wanted to laugh. It seemed he’d entered into new territory. I wondered what his life had been like before he moved to Little Creek and got tangled up with my family.

  “I think that would be a good idea, Clayton. It would do Carrie good to get out and do something social.” Mama seemed quit
e taken with the idea.

  Papa smiled at her. “Yes, Jane. You’re probably right.”

  He turned to Nathaniel, looking at him through narrowed eyes. “I expect nothing less than your best behavior, though. You treat my daughter like a fine lady and we’ll get along good.”

  “I’ll do that.” Nathaniel’s chipmunk cheeks reddened, but he smiled.

  Daniel was grinning as he watched his brother’s discomfort. “Say, if Elsbeth and me went with you, I know Fred Tuttle would loan me his Tin Lizzy.”

  “You can drive one of those things?” Mama sounded surprised, but looked at Daniel with a new found respect.

  “I can, and he owes me a favor.”

  Nathaniel took a deep breath before nodding.

  Mama smiled. “You youngsters are going to have an adventure.” She turned to Papa. “I’d like to see one of those moving pictures one day, too.”

  He looked like a mouse being cornered by a cat.

  Mama laughed. “We have to be social once in a while, too.”

  Our plans to talk to Mother Possum had to be postponed.

  The brothers offered to take her some cobbler, and Mama agreed, dishing up a bowlful. “She should still be up, but don’t you boys stick around and bother her.”

  “We wouldn’t think of it,” Daniel said, trying to sound innocent. “Just a snack for her and we’ll get out of her hair.”

  “When are you going to the moving pictures?” Papa asked.

  “Tomorrow, if that’s a good time for everyone.” Daniel pointed at Elsbeth’s wrapped ankle.

  “I’m made of sturdy stuff. I’ll be fine.” She looked up from under long lashes, flirting with her fiancé.

  I forked a last bite of cobbler and tried to give Nathaniel the same look. Unfortunately, I poked myself in the nose with the fork.

  I didn’t think anyone saw me until I heard Nathaniel snicker.

  The brothers helped Elsbeth out to the porch and got her settled in a chair before taking the cobbler and heading for Mother Possum’s house. I followed behind carrying two cups of hot tea.

  We heard the old woman laugh and exclaim with delight when the brothers settled themselves on her steps. Obviously, she was delighted with the dessert.

  “Are you really going to be okay tomorrow?” I asked, sitting down near my aunt. “You’ve seen those cars drive by. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

  “If you repeat this, Carrie, I’ll deny it, but I’m actually feeling pretty good now. I think my ankle is more bruised than anything else. I just kinda like the attention I’m getting. Besides, it should get me out of doing a few chores.”

  “Huh. That means I’ll have double duty with chores.”

  “Live with it. I’m your elderly great-aunt, remember? I’m not really your young sister.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Oh, brother. Now I’ve heard it all. At this point in time you’re no more my elderly aunt than I’m your baby niece.”

  Suddenly more serious, my aunt nodded toward Daniel and Nathaniel, where they sat on Mother Possum’s steps. “You know, they’re putting their livelihood on hold while all of this is going on. Although, Daniel told me they have some money set aside for emergencies that will get them through.”

  We heard someone clear their throat and discovered Papa standing in the semi-dark at the end of the porch.

  My eyes widened perceptibly. “Papa! How long have you been standing there?”

  “Just long enough to hear Elsbeth make a funny remark about being your elderly aunt. What did that mean?”

  “Oh, I was just teasing her, Papa. I am the older sister, you know.”

  He replied without a pause. “And not getting any younger. Did you and your man pick a wedding date yet? When I talk to your Mama tonight, maybe it will soften the blow if I can tell her about the wedding.”

  “You can tell her we’re getting married in May,” Elsbeth said. “May 8th to be exact. We’ll profess our undying love for each other and it will be a grand day.”

  Papa made a funny noise, kind of like choking, and sounded like he’d swallowed down the wrong pipe.

  Elsbeth’s comment had been too sappy for a man without much of a demonstrative side.

  He cleared his throat. “You need to think about tying the knot, too, Carrie. Your Nathaniel might be… Well, you know what I mean.”

  “He’s not my man, Papa. We’re just getting to know each other.”

  “Time waits for no man. Or woman.” I heard Papa clear his throat again.

  When old Carrie came back she might be in for a rude awakening. I was acting differently, and Nathaniel was showing his intentions. Her whole life, as she knew it, was about to change. Mine would, too, when I had to go back to reality where there was no Nathaniel.

  Time travel could be a bit depressing. All of our lives were about to change.

  “Time to go inside, girls. I need to talk to your mother and get some sleep.” I could hear Papa’s footsteps walking away from the porch.

  He’d been watching out for us.

  My aunt motioned me over and I helped her stand. She used me like a crutch, leaning heavily. Thankfully she was so small that it didn’t matter.

  “Somehow I don’t think Mama is going to let him get much sleep,” she said.

  “She might not let us get any sleep, either.”

  Elsbeth stopped and studied the road. “Who’s that standing under the tree across the street?”

  “Daniel,” I said. “He left Mother Possum’s and took up residence under that tree. I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Nathaniel work in shifts to watch this house tonight.”

  I helped her up the stairs and realized that she was in more pain than she was willing to admit, but she wasn’t about to let anything slow her down.

  After changing into my nightgown, I hid the cell phone under the mattress again. I had to stop doing that and find a good hiding place.

  I climbed into bed and pulled up the sheet. Once again, the croaking frogs sang me to sleep.

  ~ * ~

  I couldn’t imagine what Papa had said to Mama, but she didn’t come barreling into our rooms to make a fuss the night before. My aunt and I had expected the worst.

  Mama was very quiet during breakfast.

  I’d never get used to eating my first meal at five o’clock in the morning.

  Papa finished his breakfast and gave Mama a peck on the cheek. “Don’t forget what we talked about, Jane.”

  “Yes, Clayton, I’ll remember.”

  He walked outside and headed for the barn.

  She spoke softly. “Hmm. I’ll remember for about five minutes.”

  “Mama?” Elsbeth knew it was coming.

  “What’s the matter with you girls? Why didn’t you tell me what was going on? We’ll have no more of this. I want nothing but honesty from now on. If someone hurts either one of you, I swear I’ll take Papa’s shotgun and chase them down.”

  Mama was seething. Her face bore a scary expression with tight, white lips, her jaws clenching and unclenching, and her eyes had kind of a wild look in them. I wouldn’t want her truly angry with me. I had a feeling she wasn’t joking about taking out after someone with a shotgun.

  Were we still in the Old West in 1909? Mama made me think so.

  Elsbeth reached out tentatively and patted Mama’s hand, which was a fist resting on the table. “We’ll be fine, Mama. I promise. Today we’ll be with Daniel and Nathaniel all day, and – “

  Our mother, or really our far in the past grandmother, raised her eyebrows and settled down. “Daniel. Yes, Daniel. So you’ve set a date.” She unclenched her fist. “We have to start working on a wedding dress right now. There’s not a lot of time until the wedding. I still have my wedding dress.” She turned a loving glance on her eldest daughter. “If you want to wear it, all it would take would be some fixing. A tuck here and there, and maybe shorten it. What do you think?”

  “I’d be honored, Mama. I can’t think of anything I’d like
more.” Elsbeth returned the loving look she’d been given.

  “Of course, we’ll have to think what Carrie should wear.”

  “Oh, Mama,” I said. “Shouldn’t we just have a small wedding?”

  “It wouldn’t be fitting. Your Papa is well-known around the area. We need to put on a real do. You and Tess will both be in the wedding. Tess can spread flower pedals in front of the bride, and you can be her Maid of Honor.”

  Mama had big plans. I hadn’t realized that Papa was the so-called Big Man on Campus around Little Creek.

  Our mother’s lips turned up at the corners. “Maybe we’ll make this a two-bride wedding.” She turned to me. “What do you think, Carrie?”

  I took a long drink of that horrid milk, stalling, and willed myself not to gag. “I think you need to hold your horses. Nathaniel and I are a new couple. Give us a little time before you plan the wedding.”

  Mama started to laugh. “Well, my, my. My little girl has never talked like that before. You’re changing, young lady, and I kind of like it. You’re not so wishy washy anymore. And you seem to have a hold on your temper.”

  Uh oh. I was giving myself away, for the umpteenth time. I didn’t respond, afraid I’d say the wrong thing again.

  Elsbeth groaned, taking the spotlight off of me. “Oh, my ankle is so sore.”

  “Then maybe you’d best stay home today.” Mama had my aunt’s number.

  “Oh, no, Mama. I’m okay to go to the theater.” She stood and grimaced. “See? I’m fit as a fiddle.”

  “The only reason you’re going to the moving pictures today, at least in my opinion, is so I’ll know you’re safe with those brothers.” She stood and began clearing the table.

  I watched.

  “Carrie, are you going to help me?” Now she sounded annoyed.

  “Yes, Ma’am. Right now.” I jumped up and started clearing the rest of the dishes, grabbed a hand towel and stood, ready to dry dishes.

  After the dishes were done I hurried out to the hen house and collected eggs without being reminded.

  When I brought them back inside, Mama had left the room and Elsbeth sat in her chair staring at me. “I kind of like the changes in you, too.”