An Uninvited Guest
Sometimes the truth is not a fact but rather a belief of man
To satisfy the courage lost when living don't go as planned
The rain lasted only an hour. The wind continued to blow at an unusual gust of speed for this time of the year and all I could reckon was that someone south of us was getting a better dose of water on their lands than were we. The sky was still cloudy; the clouds racing north by north east as quick as the wind could carry them and the humidity lowered slightly. In the distance you could still hear low rumbles of thunder. I had dressed and went outside to evaluate the house and storage sheds and picked up some branches from the yard that had blown off the trees. I heard the dogs in the front yard barking vigorously and Boris, who had been at my side, turned and ran towards the front of the house. I knew that something was going on around there and started making my way towards the front yard. It was then that I noticed my bedroom window was once again opened to full extension and the curtains were blowing freely inside. As I rounded the side of the house near the other window I noticed it too was opened. The sounds of the dogs in pursuit of something made me quicken my steps and sprint to the front of the house. As soon as I reached the front yard I heard a voice call to me. "They're across the road behind the trees close to the river."
When I looked I saw Isabella standing on the porch. I had to respond before going on. "Good morning sleepy head."
She smiled the smile only she could smile and only smiled for me. "I'll get my shoes."
"No, stay there. It's probably something across the way on the other side."
She tilted her head and shook it slightly. "I'll get my shoes and meet you there."
"Alright then." With that said she went inside then I went on my way.
By the time I reached the other side of the tree line next to the river Boris had gave up the chase and stood steadfast under the twin oak trees. Stogie and Spike were spriting up the river bank barking with every step they ran. It was there and then I noticed the water levels of the river pushing up and over the sides of the bank.
"What in the world?" I heard myself say out loud.
The river level had dropped dramatically over the summer and had not breached it's banks in over twenty years. Not even the dousing of a weeks worth of rain had moved the water level that high since I had lived there. As I looked around I noticed the ground where I stood was still as dry as bone meal. I nudged the toe of my boot into the soil and gave the dirt a short kick only to watch the dirt underneath turn into dust as I kicked it. That's when I heard it, a boom in the distance, distinctly different than thunder. Boris began barking aggressively again and the hair on his back bristled in a straight line from neck to tip of tail. "Alright boy, stay." He continued barking taking only a few steps away from me. The sound of the wind increased around me and the push of it's rush moved me out of my stance. Somewhere from the back of my mind a memory of my father's face came into view, "if you ever see the water that high again you'll know someone's headed this way. Get in the house and tell your mother." His words from that day.
When I looked I saw Isabella standing on the porch. I had to respond before going on. "Good morning sleepy head."
She smiled the smile only she could smile and only smiled for me. "I'll get my shoes."
"No, stay there. It's probably something across the way on the other side."
She tilted her head and shook it slightly. "I'll get my shoes and meet you there."
"Alright then." With that said she went inside then I went on my way.
By the time I reached the other side of the tree line next to the river Boris had gave up the chase and stood steadfast under the twin oak trees. Stogie and Spike were spriting up the river bank barking with every step they ran. It was there and then I noticed the water levels of the river pushing up and over the sides of the bank.
"What in the world?" I heard myself say out loud.
The river level had dropped dramatically over the summer and had not breached it's banks in over twenty years. Not even the dousing of a weeks worth of rain had moved the water level that high since I had lived there. As I looked around I noticed the ground where I stood was still as dry as bone meal. I nudged the toe of my boot into the soil and gave the dirt a short kick only to watch the dirt underneath turn into dust as I kicked it. That's when I heard it, a boom in the distance, distinctly different than thunder. Boris began barking aggressively again and the hair on his back bristled in a straight line from neck to tip of tail. "Alright boy, stay." He continued barking taking only a few steps away from me. The sound of the wind increased around me and the push of it's rush moved me out of my stance. Somewhere from the back of my mind a memory of my father's face came into view, "if you ever see the water that high again you'll know someone's headed this way. Get in the house and tell your mother." His words from that day.
"Don't tell me all that racket is over another play day with the deers in the field there." Came the cheerful voice behind me. I turned to see Isabella walking towards me coffee cup in hand, dark brown hair braided and laying over her shoulder.
"Get back to the house" I told her.
"What? Why?"
"It's not a field full of deer."
Stogie and Spike were long out of sight and the sound of a large gun fired again in the distance. Boris started to sprint away but heeded my command and stopped when I scolded him, "Boris, no, stay!"
"What was that sound" Isabella asked with a deep look of concern covering her face.
"Sounds like a gun, a really big gun. "You need to get back to the house and lock all the doors and windows! Go on!"
"Not without you" Isabella demanded. Another wave of water pushed up over the side of the river banks and I turned and took the cup from her hand. "Boris! Go home!" The dog turned and made a full sprint back across the small knoll through the trees toward the house. I threw her coffee cup to the ground, grabbed her hand and ran as fast as she could keep up. The wind pushed against us as it rushed on it's way. Her hand, smaller than mine, slipped from my grip only momentarily for her to grasp it tightly and clutch it stronger. Before we reached the front steps to the house several more smaller shots fired through the air and then the sound of the bigger boom finished off the round.
Matilda was standing on the porch with a dazed look on her face.
"What's all the commotion" she asked as we landed on the porch at the same time.
"Get in the house now." I opened the screen door. Boris was the first one through it.
"What? Why?"
"No idea" I said as I took her by the arm and moved her in through the door. Once inside Matilda asked me again. "What is going on?"
"I told you I don't know. Someone and something is going up the river and they don't want an audience." Matilda looked between me and Isabella and tried to get an answer from us again. "Will one of you please explain to me what is going on out there?" The barking sounds of Stogie and Spike were getting closer again. Whatever was on it's way was getting closer.
Isabella looked at me, "What do we do?"
"Do what I said, stay inside, get the garden pistol out of the kitchen drawer and lock all the doors and windows. Matilda, close all the windows and stake them with their prop locks, and make sure to drop the cross board on the back door. Don't open any of them for any one. Boris, stay with Isabella."
"And what are you going to do?" Isabella asked looking at me with worried eyes.
"I'm going out to the well and draw some water for the garden."
"Water for the garden?" The question she asked was reasonable.
"That's what my father would do. Go draw water and talk to anybody if they came in the yard."
"What? Why?"
"It's not a field full of deer."
Stogie and Spike were long out of sight and the sound of a large gun fired again in the distance. Boris started to sprint away but heeded my command and stopped when I scolded him, "Boris, no, stay!"
"What was that sound" Isabella asked with a deep look of concern covering her face.
"Sounds like a gun, a really big gun. "You need to get back to the house and lock all the doors and windows! Go on!"
"Not without you" Isabella demanded. Another wave of water pushed up over the side of the river banks and I turned and took the cup from her hand. "Boris! Go home!" The dog turned and made a full sprint back across the small knoll through the trees toward the house. I threw her coffee cup to the ground, grabbed her hand and ran as fast as she could keep up. The wind pushed against us as it rushed on it's way. Her hand, smaller than mine, slipped from my grip only momentarily for her to grasp it tightly and clutch it stronger. Before we reached the front steps to the house several more smaller shots fired through the air and then the sound of the bigger boom finished off the round.
Matilda was standing on the porch with a dazed look on her face.
"What's all the commotion" she asked as we landed on the porch at the same time.
"Get in the house now." I opened the screen door. Boris was the first one through it.
"What? Why?"
"No idea" I said as I took her by the arm and moved her in through the door. Once inside Matilda asked me again. "What is going on?"
"I told you I don't know. Someone and something is going up the river and they don't want an audience." Matilda looked between me and Isabella and tried to get an answer from us again. "Will one of you please explain to me what is going on out there?" The barking sounds of Stogie and Spike were getting closer again. Whatever was on it's way was getting closer.
Isabella looked at me, "What do we do?"
"Do what I said, stay inside, get the garden pistol out of the kitchen drawer and lock all the doors and windows. Matilda, close all the windows and stake them with their prop locks, and make sure to drop the cross board on the back door. Don't open any of them for any one. Boris, stay with Isabella."
"And what are you going to do?" Isabella asked looking at me with worried eyes.
"I'm going out to the well and draw some water for the garden."
"Water for the garden?" The question she asked was reasonable.
"That's what my father would do. Go draw water and talk to anybody if they came in the yard."
Matilda spoke up. "Honey, not to disappoint you, but you're not your father."
"And ain't you thankful for that" Isabella said with a certain wit that got Matilda's attention and stopped her from speaking again.
"Didn't I tell you to go lock up the windows and doors" I said to Matilda then moved past them both to the bedroom to find the old pistols daddy had gave me before him and momma moved out. I tucked one in my pocket and the other in my pants underneath my shirt in the back.
On my way back out of the bedroom Isabella stopped me at the door. "Be careful."
"And ain't you thankful for that" Isabella said with a certain wit that got Matilda's attention and stopped her from speaking again.
"Didn't I tell you to go lock up the windows and doors" I said to Matilda then moved past them both to the bedroom to find the old pistols daddy had gave me before him and momma moved out. I tucked one in my pocket and the other in my pants underneath my shirt in the back.
On my way back out of the bedroom Isabella stopped me at the door. "Be careful."
"Careful's my middle name." I tried to smile but it didn't work. "Now listen, if anything goes bad and someone tries to get in, go to the kitchen, slide back the cold box from the wall on the right hand side. You'll see a panel slightly smaller than the others, give it a push until it opens. Once you're inside double bolt the hatch behind you. Stay there until someone tells you that, 'the elves clean well here underneath'. If anyone tries to break in without saying that phrase, there's a slide board in the back right hand corner on the floor. Slide it open, take Boris with you on the leash by the door. Tie the leash around your waste and follow him where he goes. It will be dark so hold on to the leash no matter what. If he stops ripple the rope to the left. Don't stop again until he does."
"Is that where you two disappear to when I can't find you" she questioned me.
That made me smile. "Yes, it's good exercise."
She wasn't amused. "Exercise?"
"I'll explain later. Trust Boris, alright. I need to get out there."
The anxiety on her face matched her words perfectly. "I'll be watching from the window behind the tree."
"Alright, just don't get too anxious and let's find out who and what's going on. Anybody does anything to me or the dogs, get yourself to the tunnels. There's a flash light at the bottom of the ladder in a satchel. Take the satchel with you. Use the light if you have to."
"I will." She answered. "Be careful," she said again as I rounded the corner out the bedroom door.
When I got to the front door Matilda was finishing the windows. I spoke to her first. "Lock this door behind me then get in there with her and the dog and stay there, and for the love of Christ be quite. No matter what happens, no screaming or running outside, do you hear me? Stay with her and Boris and do what she tells you. Understood?"
"I understand." The rapid build of anxiety had caused her face to go pale. "Be careful."
"I will. Now lock this door and drop both boards on the inside of the door after I go out and don't open it again until I say so."
She nodded her head in agreement and out the door I went. Across the road in front of the house another boom sounded in the air and mingled in with the thunder rolling overhead. The wind was still blowing steadily mixing an arrangement of green leaves, twigs and dust in the air. An old water pale that was long rusted out blew around the side of the house and clanked against the front fence post. I pulled my jacket on over my clothes, readjusted my shirt and headed toward the water well down in the front yard. Less than thirty feet from the well I saw Stogie and Spike reappear behind the trees near the river. I tried to call them to me but they ignored me all together.
When I got to the well I unlocked the pulley and lowered the bucket until it sank. Then I waited. I looked back towards the house to see how well hid the Isabella and Matilda were. I couldn't see hide nor shadow of them and felt a small comfort for that. I put my hand in my pocket where I had the gun and positioned myself beside the well as I remembered watching my father do on occasion when I was much younger. When I looked around I understood why he chose that particular place. There wasn't one direction where I couldn't see anyone approaching, or a known gun that could reach that level in those winds. My mind wondered back to the day I most remembered about the well. "But what if they try to take you, daddy?"
His weathered face and kind eyes were still fresh in my mind. "Then down the well I go" he smiled. "No one can get me from there but you because only you know the special word."
"Not even mommy?"
"Nope, not even mommy. Do you remember the word?"
"Boris!"
"Yes! Boris, that's it. Now don't forget alright."
"I won't; not ever."
"Good girl, I know you won't."
The wind pushed me against the well and brought me from my memory back to the present moment. When I looked down stream of the river again I could see a large barge floating between the trees. Many a man with a gun sat on the crate covered raft slowly pushing it's way through the waters. Stogie and Spike were steadfast by the barge giving chase and causing a ruckus on the banks of the river. As the large craft came to a slight bend near the plum tree one of the men on the top shouted an order to the others to which they all appeared to respond. Long poles were took in hand and used to push the boat closer to the shore nearer my dogs.
"Don't hurt my dogs" my voice prayed in the wind. Three of the men jumped from the barge to the water then made their way on to the grass line where Stogie and Spike put them in check to stop. One of them pointed a gun aiming it at Stogie and another guy swiped the gun down towards the ground seeming to scold him. After tempting their fate in trying to pass the dogs on their own, I heard a voice call out. But the wind was blowing so stoutly I could not make out what was said. I stood where I was never offering to move. The fellow who hollered the first time, tried again to shout to me. I held my ground. The men then turned and walked back into the water then boarded the boat again. It wasn't a minute later when out of the corner of my eye I saw something approaching from the road. Once it passed the old barn over the hill I could see plainly a long black car approaching the vicinity of my land. The dust behind the car was swepted away quicker than a cloud and the noise of the car rose in the wind as it approached the front of my house. By the time it reached the front gate it came to a complete stop. I looked back to the river and watched momentarily to see what was going on there and then looked back to the car. A man opened the front door of the car on the driver's side and stepped out. He moved to the back door then opened it. A very tall man with broad shoulders and a barrel belly stepped out of the vehicle straightening his coat. The driver offered a hand gesture to escort the man to the front gate and stopped there while the man with the much larger girth made his way up the walk way. Half way up he noticed me watching him and called out to me. "I say there, you, boy! Are you one of the residents of this house or do I look for another?" The wind picked up slightly. I stood fast by the well as I had watched my father do all those years ago refusing to answer him. His voice was louder and more forceful when he called out again. "Young man, I asked if you are the resident of this house?" I declined to answer him at that distance and glanced once more back to the river to make sure no one else had gotten off the boat. Stogie and Spike still gave chase to the barge in the river. I could hear Boris in the house barking. The stranger stood where he was, looking between me and the house. "Steady on," my father's memory spoke to me. I didn't even offer to move. After a few seconds of our continued stand off the stranger put his hands in his coat pockets to gather in his coat around him and began to make his way towards me. As he closed in he took his hands from his pockets and showed me his empty hands. He stopped about five yards in front of me and spoke. "My name is Madison; Madison Longfellow."
The name meant nothing to me.
"Do you live in the house there?" He asked. I nodded a silent yes and kept my eyes on him and the driver of the car still standing at the gate. "I'd like to talk to you a moment if you have the time." I nodded yes again and kept my mouth shut. He walked on a few steps closing the distance between us. As he stood there the wind pushed against my back. "The barge there," he started talking, "belongs to my father and myself. Are you the man of the house?"
I nodded yes again.
"We're transporting several barges of building supplies and logs up river there to Hovington." He reached into the top corner of his over coat and withdrew a piece of paper. "Here's a copy of the permissions stating our business signed by the city council members of Rivertown which is where you are located and the members of Hovington which is where we're going by way of the river. If I am correct this is the residence of Major Porter." I glanced briefly back towards the river to see where my dogs had got to then back to Mr. Longfellow. "Are you Major Porter?" He asked. I shook my head no. "Well then, are you the kinsman of Major Porter? I was told someone would be here of Mr. Porter's household to which I could speak." Still unwilling to speak to him unless absolutely necessary I nodded my head in agreement. "Ah! Excellent, we're getting somewhere now." I didn't like the tone of his voice or the look on his face when he spoke. "I apologize for all the noise you must have heard this morning. To be honest I wasn't quiet expecting it myself. I was suppose to be this way yesterday but my automobile there had a tire go down and I had to wait for it to be repaired until this morning. I do hope you understand."
A strong gust of wind plowed through suddenly and brought with it a plume of dust that caused our visibility to decrease momentarily. He turned his head away from me back towards where his car was parked and waited for the wind to subside. When he looked away I took another step towards the well to secure myself behind it entirely. As the wind began to wind down some he turned back to where I was then stepped forward some more. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience my men there might have caused you today. I see your dogs are well aware that we were moving through. I just wanted you to know that if we cause any damage to your land that needs to be repaired in the future all you need to do is go to your city councilmen and tell them Mr. Longfellow told you to file an order with them to fix any damages that might have occurred. They have a list of the residence there that we were passing through on their lands and as per our agreement if any thing needs repaired we are responsible for those repairs and will gladly make those repairs to your property at absolutely no expense to you and your family." He lifted his double chin off his suit and tie and look at me down his nose. "Do you understand what I'm telling you, boy?" I nodded my head yes again continuing to watch him stand there. "You don't talk much do you, son" he asked with a forced chuckle as if he were trying to win over my speaking to him. I shook my head no allowing him to stand there in the sound of the wind. "By chance is the Major inside there?" He pointed to the house. I shook my head no again then glanced quickly towards the car when I noticed his driver step further into the yard from where he had been standing. My mind was made up. I didn't like this guy. The next few moments of silence stood between us rather awkwardly until he decided he had probably said enough and it was his time to shut up and leave. "Alright, well, I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you what was going on before you and your family took up arms to fight us off your property. We have no intentions of staying or wanting to hurt you, only passing through. Give my best to the Major for me, will you? Longfellow, Madison Longfellow's the name." With that he turned to make his way back towards the direction of the car he had arrived in. As he walked back across the yard I moved slightly back to my original position and watched him go. When he got to the gate to where his driver stood he paused momentarily glancing back over his shoulder looking in my direction. I could hear that my dogs had moved on further down the river now in the wind and Boris had stopped barking. Just as Mr. Longfellow stepped back into his car another loud boom sounded up stream. The driver turned his head in the direction from whence it came then closed the door to the car. He himself climbed back into his driver's door and started the car again. I didn't move one inch from where I stood as I watched the car pull slowly on up the road in front of my house crawling along the old dirt road going toward Hovington. I waited for only a few more breathes of fresh air to relax with then looked around for any motion from people or cars or river rafts before I left the well and started back towards the house. Before leaving, I pulled the water bucket up and took it in hand. Passing the bedroom window I stopped by the tall spruce tree long enough to tell those inside to unlock the door to let me in. I struggled with the bucket up the porch when another gust of air pushed around and blew me slightly side ways. When I saw the door open I sat the pale down on the porch then went inside making sure to close the door behind me. Matilda stood in the center of the room eyes wide, as white as a sheet. Boris made his way to me straight away and sniffed my hand to pet him. "There's my boy. Good dog."
"Who was that?" Isabella asked.
"Madison Longfellow, him and his company are moving supplies upstream to Hovington. Said he had permission to use the river signed by Rivertown's councilmen and promised to fix anything wrong with the property if he and his outfitters were responsible for the damages."
"Hovington? That's at least another 50 miles up stream."
"More like 80. That's probably why they're moving them by river. Would take a week to cart them since the train stopped running up there." As my last word stopped I saw Matilda faint to the floor. "For heaven's sake!" I moved quickly towards Matilda.
"What?" Isabella asked then turned to see the reason for my reaction.
"Let's get her to her bed" I said and we joined in together to gather her off the floor on to her own her two feet to take her to her bedroom. Once we had her sitting on the bed her eyes began to open. I moved to the window, removed the prop lock and pushed the window up to let fresh air in the room. "I'll get her some water." I stated then left the bedroom to go to the kitchen. By the time I returned she was holding a washcloth in her hands trying to breathe as deep as possible. "Did you eat anything this morning?" She asked Matilda. Still trying to gather her thoughts, Matilda spoke up. "Yes, I had some juice and yes, yes I had some oatmeal I think, with honey." I poured a glass of water from the glass pitcher on her bedside table and handed it to her. "Have you ever fainted before?"
"No" she shook her head as she spoke. "I don't know what came over me."
"Why don't you lay down for a while and put your feet up? I'm sure you could use some rest after all this excitement." I encouraged her. "I'm fine really" Matilda tried to play us off. "I just got too warm hurrying around like that and then well, I'm not sure." Her breathing was short and she patted her face with her hand.
"Come on now, put your feet up a while and rest. We can open the windows and put the house back in order ourselves. We do it all the time." Isabella comforted her friend tucking a few loosed strands of hair back behind her ear. "Are you hungry? I believe we have some chicken salad in the cold box. I made it myself last night. Unless someone has ate it already?" She said glancing up at me.
"It's still there." I said.
Matilda took another deep breath and looked out the window. "No thank you, I'm not hungry. Maybe later."
"Alright then, well" Isabella stood up from the bed then stepped beside me. "Try resting for a while. We'll leave you to your thoughts and open the windows so the house isn't so stuffy."
"Thank you, both of you." Matilda spoke softly.
We stepped outside her room and closed the door. Boris had already made his way back to his quilt in the corner and where he was cleaning his paws. We walked into the kitchen together to begin opening up the back windows and the door. "Has she ever fell out on you like that before?" I asked as we went about the kitchen.
"Not that I can remember, no." She stopped by the cold box and looked inside. "Do you want something to eat?"
"That chicken salad sounded good." I said while taking both fire arms out of my pants and laying them on the kitchen counter.
"Longfellow?" I heard her talk as she went about gathering the food and dishes from the cabinets. "Where have I heard that name before? Longfellow," she repeated again several times wanting the name to find the proper memory. "I don't think it's a local name do you?"
"No. I know all of the families here. That's not one of them."
"Longfellow? Did he give a first name?"
"Madison."
"Madison Longfellow" a look of inquiry crossed her face. "I know that I know that name. I'm just not sure from where."
"Maybe from where you and Matilda grew up at?" I offered an explanation.
"That's it! The Longfellow's. Edmund and Clarisa Longfellow! One of the founding families in Pembrook, owned most of the state north of the bridge. Only married each other's families. The both of them held claims to their heritage predating the War of 1812. They brought their entire families over from the old world in Europe. Edmund's father Edwin and his family built most of the buildings and roads from Pembrook to Abingdon and Clarisa's family owned most of the factories and appearl stores that were there, including the ones in Bridge Port. Mother and I use to go shopping in their her family's dress stores. Madison you say?"
"Yes, Madison. Not sure how good a look you had at him but he's as broad as he is tall, and as ugly as homemade sin."
"Homemade sin" she sniggered. "The things you say."
As we talked I warmed the coffee gone cold in the canister and poured us both a cup to go with our late lunch.
"Would you like bread with your chicken?" She asked.
"No thank you. I would take some cheese if we have any."
"We do." She brought the paper wrapped package from the cold box and laid it on the table beside my plate then sat down in the chair next to mine. "Did he say why they were making all of that racket with the guns?" I answered her before I took up my fork to take my first taste of the food on my plate. "No, just stated his business and went on his way."
"It is odd isn't it? Making all that to do about floating a barge of building supplies up a river."
"Very." I wanted to change the conversation but she wasn't having it.
"You said something earlier about your father. Did something like this happen before here?"
"Something like it yes."
"Once?"
"More than."
The surprise in her voice wasn't hidden. "More than?" She left her food on her plate and touched my hand lightly. "Is that why there's a tunnel under the house?"
"Father said those tunnels had been here since he was a boy. Him and my uncles helped shape them." I wasn't really interested in the conversation with her as I was with my introduction to Mr. Longfellow. "Bad things happened here when you were a child didn't they?" she continued.
"I heard stories later that it did. I was too little to understand what was going on while it was happening. Father always made sure mother kept me somewhere away from all the turmoil. "
"It was the raids wasn't it?"
I wanted to lighten the mood of the day but the way the conversation was going, that would have to be done later. "Yes," was all I said.
"I remember everyone in Pembrook talking about it. Newspapers, people in the stores; even in church on Sundays. We use to have special prayer meetings and vigils for the families that lived out here when the reports would start going around. The parish would open it's doors seven days a week for people to stop in and pray and bring in food, clothes and blankets for the families who had been attacked. It was hard to imagine what that must have been like living in a civilised place like Pembrook."
"It wasn't as bad as you would think. Mother use to keep me well entertained with her stories while we were in the safe rooms through the tunnels. There was always food, blankets, light and things to do. For a while I had no idea what was going on because she was so cheerful busy making everything seem safe. We were always on our way to another adventure she would say. I guess she did it that way to help keep my mind off of what was going on outside, which considering my age, wasn't hard to do." I looked up from my plate and saw her studying my face. "Have you heard from her lately?" She asked gently. "No. I sent a post back a few months ago to say hello but haven't heard from them yet." That's where I left the conversation and turned all my attention to the food in front of me. A loud thump sounded inside the house from the direction of the living room. She rose from her chair and stepped into the living room. When I heard the same sound again I joined her. She looked toward Matilda's bedroom door. I started to step in the direction of the door but her hand landed on my forearm and she pointed with the other at the bottom of the door. Under the clearing of the door on the floor we could still see movement playing out in shadow underneath it. Another loud thump on the floor followed by Matilda's muffled voice vehemently protesting something with herself made me question her. "Is everything alright in there?" When she answered she did so clearly and with a sturdy voice. "I'm fine thank you. Just tidying up a bit."
"Do you believe that?" I whispered.
"No." She said matter of factly. "But she's horribly petty that way."
We went back to the table to finish our lunch.
"Still want to go into Rivertown today?" I asked her first.
"Maybe tomorrow."
"That's probably best." I agreed.
The rest of our afternoon and evening was spent doing our regular routines around and outside the house. The wind continued to blow at an usual speed with even stronger gusts. Just before sunset a rush of passing clouds brought with them a good rain shower cooling more of the humidity out of the air. Matilda stayed in her room to nightfall. Isabella and I were sitting in the living room reading when she finally emerged. "Is it alright if I take a bath?" She asked.
"Of course" we both answered.
"And would there be any thing left of the chicken salad I could have for supper?" She questioned.
"Yes there is." This time only Isabella answered. "There's also a beef stew with carrots and celery still warm if you'd prefer some of that, and some grapes and cheese in the cold box."
"The salad will be fine" she said, then went back to her room, gathered some clothing then went to the bathroom to bathe. Once I heard the water starting to splash in the tub I spoke. "It's not like her to be in her room all day. Do you think that fainting spell got to her more than she's saying?"
"Possibly but I think there's something else going on with her that she isn't saying at all." Isabella patted the couch next to her and told me to sit closer. I laid the book in my hand on the table nearest my chair and moved on to the couch next to her. "Earlier today when you were outside, and we were in the bedroom watching you and Longfellow through the window, I think she spoke outloud without meaning to."
I was interested. "What did she say?"
She lowered her voice then spoke, "She said, 'dear god they found me'."
"They found me?"
"It's what she said. I didn't pay it any attention at first because I was watching you and what was happening so closely; plus Boris was barking. But I know that's what she said. I wanted to talk to her about it first but the more I've thought about it the more disturbing it seems."
"Was it before or after Mr. Longfellow showed up?" I asked to clarify.
"During; right after the driver stepped aside at the gate and Longfellow stepped in the yard and started walking towards the house."
"That is curious" I whispered back to her.
"More than curious, she couldn't stand still after that. She started pacing the room in a small circle, wringing her hands until I told her to stop it. Then she just backed away and sat down on the bed like she had seen a ghost."
"Longfellow you mean?"
She nodded her head slightly then answered with, "it's the only thing that makes any sense, really." My memory from the day began to replay the whole event one picture at a time. The way he stood, the way he talked, then what he had said. "There was something he said that I found rather curious myself."
"Which was?"
"He called my father Major Porter."
"Major Porter?"
"Yes; thought I was his son."
A small smile curved her mouth and her eyes twinkled. She took her hand and pushed my hair back on the top of my head. "You do look more masculine from a distance."
"I know but that's not what made it so loppy. It's the way he said it."
"How do you mean?"
"He said he had papers signed by the city councilmen and the councilmen had given him a list of all the residence in this area, but the councilmen know my father. They know he wasn't Major Porter, my grandfather was. They also know that Major Porter was my mother's father, not my father's father and they know mother and father haven't lived here for years; and if that don't frost your cake this will. I know the counilmen, each and every one of them and they all know that I am a woman. Mr. Alderman, Mr. Woods, the Martin brothers, Mr. Jacobs, they all know me personally. Most of them and their kids use to come to this house for supper. Mr. Samuels and his wife were right there under the twin oaks the very day Father Francise baptised me and their daughters. I remember swimming in the river with Charles, Agnus and Bertha before we were even taught to read."
"But he has a paper they all supposedly signed."
"Supposedly yes, and not a one of them sent the first word to me about him going to make his way through here making all that noise firing off a gatlin gun and a small cannon. Not to mention a well armed militia that was posted on every side of that barge."
"They were all armed?"
"The lot of them. One of them even pointed his barrell on old Stogie."
I saw the worry from earlier in the day reappear on her face before she said, "I know, I saw that too. And Mr. Samuels was just here over the weekend." I couldn't help but interrupt her, "brought the eggs to trade for those plums he did. Now you tell me, do you think the good mayor would just let something like that happen without saying a word to either of us?"
"Not and sleep in the same house with his wife again, no; bless her and her propriety."
We both laughed.
The sound of the bathroom door opening stopped our conversation right where it was. Matilda spoke as soon as she entered the room. "I feel much better now. Is the offer for the stew still available?" She asked completely unaware of the conversation we had.
Isabella answered her. "Of course it is. Whenever you're ready to eat it."
"Wonderful, I'm going to put my clothes away and then I'll join you two." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
Isabella turned to look at me with an innate look of the obvious on her face. "She knows we've talked about her."
"Of course she does. You don't just fall out in people's living room floors and expect everyone to forget it happend. She'll probably want to question us both thoroughly to find out how much we've talked about too."
"What do we tell her?"
"The truth, only leave out what we know about the councilmen. If she knows Mr. Longfellow and his associates then we don't need her to know what we do."
Her eyebrows wrinkled the skin in that small area on the top of her nose between her eyes. "You don't think Matilda is a part of this do you?"
"I don't know what I think right now. All I know is if what she said in that room with you is true then she obviously knows them somehow; and they know her. Whether good or bad or other we're going to find out her story first before we open our mouth to her about ours. You got it?"
"Perfectly" she whispered.
"Good, I know she's one of your oldest and dearest friends so I'll let you talk with her to find out what you can but at the same time I'm going to do some talking tomorrow, my self. First with the mayor and then ..." Before I could finish Matilda entered the room again. Her bath powder and perfume scented the entire living room with the scent of fresh talc powder and gardenia's.
"Will I be eating alone?" She asked with her usual social fare.
"No one in this house eats alone." Isabella answered.
"Is that where you two disappear to when I can't find you" she questioned me.
That made me smile. "Yes, it's good exercise."
She wasn't amused. "Exercise?"
"I'll explain later. Trust Boris, alright. I need to get out there."
The anxiety on her face matched her words perfectly. "I'll be watching from the window behind the tree."
"Alright, just don't get too anxious and let's find out who and what's going on. Anybody does anything to me or the dogs, get yourself to the tunnels. There's a flash light at the bottom of the ladder in a satchel. Take the satchel with you. Use the light if you have to."
"I will." She answered. "Be careful," she said again as I rounded the corner out the bedroom door.
When I got to the front door Matilda was finishing the windows. I spoke to her first. "Lock this door behind me then get in there with her and the dog and stay there, and for the love of Christ be quite. No matter what happens, no screaming or running outside, do you hear me? Stay with her and Boris and do what she tells you. Understood?"
"I understand." The rapid build of anxiety had caused her face to go pale. "Be careful."
"I will. Now lock this door and drop both boards on the inside of the door after I go out and don't open it again until I say so."
She nodded her head in agreement and out the door I went. Across the road in front of the house another boom sounded in the air and mingled in with the thunder rolling overhead. The wind was still blowing steadily mixing an arrangement of green leaves, twigs and dust in the air. An old water pale that was long rusted out blew around the side of the house and clanked against the front fence post. I pulled my jacket on over my clothes, readjusted my shirt and headed toward the water well down in the front yard. Less than thirty feet from the well I saw Stogie and Spike reappear behind the trees near the river. I tried to call them to me but they ignored me all together.
When I got to the well I unlocked the pulley and lowered the bucket until it sank. Then I waited. I looked back towards the house to see how well hid the Isabella and Matilda were. I couldn't see hide nor shadow of them and felt a small comfort for that. I put my hand in my pocket where I had the gun and positioned myself beside the well as I remembered watching my father do on occasion when I was much younger. When I looked around I understood why he chose that particular place. There wasn't one direction where I couldn't see anyone approaching, or a known gun that could reach that level in those winds. My mind wondered back to the day I most remembered about the well. "But what if they try to take you, daddy?"
His weathered face and kind eyes were still fresh in my mind. "Then down the well I go" he smiled. "No one can get me from there but you because only you know the special word."
"Not even mommy?"
"Nope, not even mommy. Do you remember the word?"
"Boris!"
"Yes! Boris, that's it. Now don't forget alright."
"I won't; not ever."
"Good girl, I know you won't."
The wind pushed me against the well and brought me from my memory back to the present moment. When I looked down stream of the river again I could see a large barge floating between the trees. Many a man with a gun sat on the crate covered raft slowly pushing it's way through the waters. Stogie and Spike were steadfast by the barge giving chase and causing a ruckus on the banks of the river. As the large craft came to a slight bend near the plum tree one of the men on the top shouted an order to the others to which they all appeared to respond. Long poles were took in hand and used to push the boat closer to the shore nearer my dogs.
"Don't hurt my dogs" my voice prayed in the wind. Three of the men jumped from the barge to the water then made their way on to the grass line where Stogie and Spike put them in check to stop. One of them pointed a gun aiming it at Stogie and another guy swiped the gun down towards the ground seeming to scold him. After tempting their fate in trying to pass the dogs on their own, I heard a voice call out. But the wind was blowing so stoutly I could not make out what was said. I stood where I was never offering to move. The fellow who hollered the first time, tried again to shout to me. I held my ground. The men then turned and walked back into the water then boarded the boat again. It wasn't a minute later when out of the corner of my eye I saw something approaching from the road. Once it passed the old barn over the hill I could see plainly a long black car approaching the vicinity of my land. The dust behind the car was swepted away quicker than a cloud and the noise of the car rose in the wind as it approached the front of my house. By the time it reached the front gate it came to a complete stop. I looked back to the river and watched momentarily to see what was going on there and then looked back to the car. A man opened the front door of the car on the driver's side and stepped out. He moved to the back door then opened it. A very tall man with broad shoulders and a barrel belly stepped out of the vehicle straightening his coat. The driver offered a hand gesture to escort the man to the front gate and stopped there while the man with the much larger girth made his way up the walk way. Half way up he noticed me watching him and called out to me. "I say there, you, boy! Are you one of the residents of this house or do I look for another?" The wind picked up slightly. I stood fast by the well as I had watched my father do all those years ago refusing to answer him. His voice was louder and more forceful when he called out again. "Young man, I asked if you are the resident of this house?" I declined to answer him at that distance and glanced once more back to the river to make sure no one else had gotten off the boat. Stogie and Spike still gave chase to the barge in the river. I could hear Boris in the house barking. The stranger stood where he was, looking between me and the house. "Steady on," my father's memory spoke to me. I didn't even offer to move. After a few seconds of our continued stand off the stranger put his hands in his coat pockets to gather in his coat around him and began to make his way towards me. As he closed in he took his hands from his pockets and showed me his empty hands. He stopped about five yards in front of me and spoke. "My name is Madison; Madison Longfellow."
The name meant nothing to me.
"Do you live in the house there?" He asked. I nodded a silent yes and kept my eyes on him and the driver of the car still standing at the gate. "I'd like to talk to you a moment if you have the time." I nodded yes again and kept my mouth shut. He walked on a few steps closing the distance between us. As he stood there the wind pushed against my back. "The barge there," he started talking, "belongs to my father and myself. Are you the man of the house?"
I nodded yes again.
"We're transporting several barges of building supplies and logs up river there to Hovington." He reached into the top corner of his over coat and withdrew a piece of paper. "Here's a copy of the permissions stating our business signed by the city council members of Rivertown which is where you are located and the members of Hovington which is where we're going by way of the river. If I am correct this is the residence of Major Porter." I glanced briefly back towards the river to see where my dogs had got to then back to Mr. Longfellow. "Are you Major Porter?" He asked. I shook my head no. "Well then, are you the kinsman of Major Porter? I was told someone would be here of Mr. Porter's household to which I could speak." Still unwilling to speak to him unless absolutely necessary I nodded my head in agreement. "Ah! Excellent, we're getting somewhere now." I didn't like the tone of his voice or the look on his face when he spoke. "I apologize for all the noise you must have heard this morning. To be honest I wasn't quiet expecting it myself. I was suppose to be this way yesterday but my automobile there had a tire go down and I had to wait for it to be repaired until this morning. I do hope you understand."
A strong gust of wind plowed through suddenly and brought with it a plume of dust that caused our visibility to decrease momentarily. He turned his head away from me back towards where his car was parked and waited for the wind to subside. When he looked away I took another step towards the well to secure myself behind it entirely. As the wind began to wind down some he turned back to where I was then stepped forward some more. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience my men there might have caused you today. I see your dogs are well aware that we were moving through. I just wanted you to know that if we cause any damage to your land that needs to be repaired in the future all you need to do is go to your city councilmen and tell them Mr. Longfellow told you to file an order with them to fix any damages that might have occurred. They have a list of the residence there that we were passing through on their lands and as per our agreement if any thing needs repaired we are responsible for those repairs and will gladly make those repairs to your property at absolutely no expense to you and your family." He lifted his double chin off his suit and tie and look at me down his nose. "Do you understand what I'm telling you, boy?" I nodded my head yes again continuing to watch him stand there. "You don't talk much do you, son" he asked with a forced chuckle as if he were trying to win over my speaking to him. I shook my head no allowing him to stand there in the sound of the wind. "By chance is the Major inside there?" He pointed to the house. I shook my head no again then glanced quickly towards the car when I noticed his driver step further into the yard from where he had been standing. My mind was made up. I didn't like this guy. The next few moments of silence stood between us rather awkwardly until he decided he had probably said enough and it was his time to shut up and leave. "Alright, well, I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you what was going on before you and your family took up arms to fight us off your property. We have no intentions of staying or wanting to hurt you, only passing through. Give my best to the Major for me, will you? Longfellow, Madison Longfellow's the name." With that he turned to make his way back towards the direction of the car he had arrived in. As he walked back across the yard I moved slightly back to my original position and watched him go. When he got to the gate to where his driver stood he paused momentarily glancing back over his shoulder looking in my direction. I could hear that my dogs had moved on further down the river now in the wind and Boris had stopped barking. Just as Mr. Longfellow stepped back into his car another loud boom sounded up stream. The driver turned his head in the direction from whence it came then closed the door to the car. He himself climbed back into his driver's door and started the car again. I didn't move one inch from where I stood as I watched the car pull slowly on up the road in front of my house crawling along the old dirt road going toward Hovington. I waited for only a few more breathes of fresh air to relax with then looked around for any motion from people or cars or river rafts before I left the well and started back towards the house. Before leaving, I pulled the water bucket up and took it in hand. Passing the bedroom window I stopped by the tall spruce tree long enough to tell those inside to unlock the door to let me in. I struggled with the bucket up the porch when another gust of air pushed around and blew me slightly side ways. When I saw the door open I sat the pale down on the porch then went inside making sure to close the door behind me. Matilda stood in the center of the room eyes wide, as white as a sheet. Boris made his way to me straight away and sniffed my hand to pet him. "There's my boy. Good dog."
"Who was that?" Isabella asked.
"Madison Longfellow, him and his company are moving supplies upstream to Hovington. Said he had permission to use the river signed by Rivertown's councilmen and promised to fix anything wrong with the property if he and his outfitters were responsible for the damages."
"Hovington? That's at least another 50 miles up stream."
"More like 80. That's probably why they're moving them by river. Would take a week to cart them since the train stopped running up there." As my last word stopped I saw Matilda faint to the floor. "For heaven's sake!" I moved quickly towards Matilda.
"What?" Isabella asked then turned to see the reason for my reaction.
"Let's get her to her bed" I said and we joined in together to gather her off the floor on to her own her two feet to take her to her bedroom. Once we had her sitting on the bed her eyes began to open. I moved to the window, removed the prop lock and pushed the window up to let fresh air in the room. "I'll get her some water." I stated then left the bedroom to go to the kitchen. By the time I returned she was holding a washcloth in her hands trying to breathe as deep as possible. "Did you eat anything this morning?" She asked Matilda. Still trying to gather her thoughts, Matilda spoke up. "Yes, I had some juice and yes, yes I had some oatmeal I think, with honey." I poured a glass of water from the glass pitcher on her bedside table and handed it to her. "Have you ever fainted before?"
"No" she shook her head as she spoke. "I don't know what came over me."
"Why don't you lay down for a while and put your feet up? I'm sure you could use some rest after all this excitement." I encouraged her. "I'm fine really" Matilda tried to play us off. "I just got too warm hurrying around like that and then well, I'm not sure." Her breathing was short and she patted her face with her hand.
"Come on now, put your feet up a while and rest. We can open the windows and put the house back in order ourselves. We do it all the time." Isabella comforted her friend tucking a few loosed strands of hair back behind her ear. "Are you hungry? I believe we have some chicken salad in the cold box. I made it myself last night. Unless someone has ate it already?" She said glancing up at me.
"It's still there." I said.
Matilda took another deep breath and looked out the window. "No thank you, I'm not hungry. Maybe later."
"Alright then, well" Isabella stood up from the bed then stepped beside me. "Try resting for a while. We'll leave you to your thoughts and open the windows so the house isn't so stuffy."
"Thank you, both of you." Matilda spoke softly.
We stepped outside her room and closed the door. Boris had already made his way back to his quilt in the corner and where he was cleaning his paws. We walked into the kitchen together to begin opening up the back windows and the door. "Has she ever fell out on you like that before?" I asked as we went about the kitchen.
"Not that I can remember, no." She stopped by the cold box and looked inside. "Do you want something to eat?"
"That chicken salad sounded good." I said while taking both fire arms out of my pants and laying them on the kitchen counter.
"Longfellow?" I heard her talk as she went about gathering the food and dishes from the cabinets. "Where have I heard that name before? Longfellow," she repeated again several times wanting the name to find the proper memory. "I don't think it's a local name do you?"
"No. I know all of the families here. That's not one of them."
"Longfellow? Did he give a first name?"
"Madison."
"Madison Longfellow" a look of inquiry crossed her face. "I know that I know that name. I'm just not sure from where."
"Maybe from where you and Matilda grew up at?" I offered an explanation.
"That's it! The Longfellow's. Edmund and Clarisa Longfellow! One of the founding families in Pembrook, owned most of the state north of the bridge. Only married each other's families. The both of them held claims to their heritage predating the War of 1812. They brought their entire families over from the old world in Europe. Edmund's father Edwin and his family built most of the buildings and roads from Pembrook to Abingdon and Clarisa's family owned most of the factories and appearl stores that were there, including the ones in Bridge Port. Mother and I use to go shopping in their her family's dress stores. Madison you say?"
"Yes, Madison. Not sure how good a look you had at him but he's as broad as he is tall, and as ugly as homemade sin."
"Homemade sin" she sniggered. "The things you say."
As we talked I warmed the coffee gone cold in the canister and poured us both a cup to go with our late lunch.
"Would you like bread with your chicken?" She asked.
"No thank you. I would take some cheese if we have any."
"We do." She brought the paper wrapped package from the cold box and laid it on the table beside my plate then sat down in the chair next to mine. "Did he say why they were making all of that racket with the guns?" I answered her before I took up my fork to take my first taste of the food on my plate. "No, just stated his business and went on his way."
"It is odd isn't it? Making all that to do about floating a barge of building supplies up a river."
"Very." I wanted to change the conversation but she wasn't having it.
"You said something earlier about your father. Did something like this happen before here?"
"Something like it yes."
"Once?"
"More than."
The surprise in her voice wasn't hidden. "More than?" She left her food on her plate and touched my hand lightly. "Is that why there's a tunnel under the house?"
"Father said those tunnels had been here since he was a boy. Him and my uncles helped shape them." I wasn't really interested in the conversation with her as I was with my introduction to Mr. Longfellow. "Bad things happened here when you were a child didn't they?" she continued.
"I heard stories later that it did. I was too little to understand what was going on while it was happening. Father always made sure mother kept me somewhere away from all the turmoil. "
"It was the raids wasn't it?"
I wanted to lighten the mood of the day but the way the conversation was going, that would have to be done later. "Yes," was all I said.
"I remember everyone in Pembrook talking about it. Newspapers, people in the stores; even in church on Sundays. We use to have special prayer meetings and vigils for the families that lived out here when the reports would start going around. The parish would open it's doors seven days a week for people to stop in and pray and bring in food, clothes and blankets for the families who had been attacked. It was hard to imagine what that must have been like living in a civilised place like Pembrook."
"It wasn't as bad as you would think. Mother use to keep me well entertained with her stories while we were in the safe rooms through the tunnels. There was always food, blankets, light and things to do. For a while I had no idea what was going on because she was so cheerful busy making everything seem safe. We were always on our way to another adventure she would say. I guess she did it that way to help keep my mind off of what was going on outside, which considering my age, wasn't hard to do." I looked up from my plate and saw her studying my face. "Have you heard from her lately?" She asked gently. "No. I sent a post back a few months ago to say hello but haven't heard from them yet." That's where I left the conversation and turned all my attention to the food in front of me. A loud thump sounded inside the house from the direction of the living room. She rose from her chair and stepped into the living room. When I heard the same sound again I joined her. She looked toward Matilda's bedroom door. I started to step in the direction of the door but her hand landed on my forearm and she pointed with the other at the bottom of the door. Under the clearing of the door on the floor we could still see movement playing out in shadow underneath it. Another loud thump on the floor followed by Matilda's muffled voice vehemently protesting something with herself made me question her. "Is everything alright in there?" When she answered she did so clearly and with a sturdy voice. "I'm fine thank you. Just tidying up a bit."
"Do you believe that?" I whispered.
"No." She said matter of factly. "But she's horribly petty that way."
We went back to the table to finish our lunch.
"Still want to go into Rivertown today?" I asked her first.
"Maybe tomorrow."
"That's probably best." I agreed.
The rest of our afternoon and evening was spent doing our regular routines around and outside the house. The wind continued to blow at an usual speed with even stronger gusts. Just before sunset a rush of passing clouds brought with them a good rain shower cooling more of the humidity out of the air. Matilda stayed in her room to nightfall. Isabella and I were sitting in the living room reading when she finally emerged. "Is it alright if I take a bath?" She asked.
"Of course" we both answered.
"And would there be any thing left of the chicken salad I could have for supper?" She questioned.
"Yes there is." This time only Isabella answered. "There's also a beef stew with carrots and celery still warm if you'd prefer some of that, and some grapes and cheese in the cold box."
"The salad will be fine" she said, then went back to her room, gathered some clothing then went to the bathroom to bathe. Once I heard the water starting to splash in the tub I spoke. "It's not like her to be in her room all day. Do you think that fainting spell got to her more than she's saying?"
"Possibly but I think there's something else going on with her that she isn't saying at all." Isabella patted the couch next to her and told me to sit closer. I laid the book in my hand on the table nearest my chair and moved on to the couch next to her. "Earlier today when you were outside, and we were in the bedroom watching you and Longfellow through the window, I think she spoke outloud without meaning to."
I was interested. "What did she say?"
She lowered her voice then spoke, "She said, 'dear god they found me'."
"They found me?"
"It's what she said. I didn't pay it any attention at first because I was watching you and what was happening so closely; plus Boris was barking. But I know that's what she said. I wanted to talk to her about it first but the more I've thought about it the more disturbing it seems."
"Was it before or after Mr. Longfellow showed up?" I asked to clarify.
"During; right after the driver stepped aside at the gate and Longfellow stepped in the yard and started walking towards the house."
"That is curious" I whispered back to her.
"More than curious, she couldn't stand still after that. She started pacing the room in a small circle, wringing her hands until I told her to stop it. Then she just backed away and sat down on the bed like she had seen a ghost."
"Longfellow you mean?"
She nodded her head slightly then answered with, "it's the only thing that makes any sense, really." My memory from the day began to replay the whole event one picture at a time. The way he stood, the way he talked, then what he had said. "There was something he said that I found rather curious myself."
"Which was?"
"He called my father Major Porter."
"Major Porter?"
"Yes; thought I was his son."
A small smile curved her mouth and her eyes twinkled. She took her hand and pushed my hair back on the top of my head. "You do look more masculine from a distance."
"I know but that's not what made it so loppy. It's the way he said it."
"How do you mean?"
"He said he had papers signed by the city councilmen and the councilmen had given him a list of all the residence in this area, but the councilmen know my father. They know he wasn't Major Porter, my grandfather was. They also know that Major Porter was my mother's father, not my father's father and they know mother and father haven't lived here for years; and if that don't frost your cake this will. I know the counilmen, each and every one of them and they all know that I am a woman. Mr. Alderman, Mr. Woods, the Martin brothers, Mr. Jacobs, they all know me personally. Most of them and their kids use to come to this house for supper. Mr. Samuels and his wife were right there under the twin oaks the very day Father Francise baptised me and their daughters. I remember swimming in the river with Charles, Agnus and Bertha before we were even taught to read."
"But he has a paper they all supposedly signed."
"Supposedly yes, and not a one of them sent the first word to me about him going to make his way through here making all that noise firing off a gatlin gun and a small cannon. Not to mention a well armed militia that was posted on every side of that barge."
"They were all armed?"
"The lot of them. One of them even pointed his barrell on old Stogie."
I saw the worry from earlier in the day reappear on her face before she said, "I know, I saw that too. And Mr. Samuels was just here over the weekend." I couldn't help but interrupt her, "brought the eggs to trade for those plums he did. Now you tell me, do you think the good mayor would just let something like that happen without saying a word to either of us?"
"Not and sleep in the same house with his wife again, no; bless her and her propriety."
We both laughed.
The sound of the bathroom door opening stopped our conversation right where it was. Matilda spoke as soon as she entered the room. "I feel much better now. Is the offer for the stew still available?" She asked completely unaware of the conversation we had.
Isabella answered her. "Of course it is. Whenever you're ready to eat it."
"Wonderful, I'm going to put my clothes away and then I'll join you two." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
Isabella turned to look at me with an innate look of the obvious on her face. "She knows we've talked about her."
"Of course she does. You don't just fall out in people's living room floors and expect everyone to forget it happend. She'll probably want to question us both thoroughly to find out how much we've talked about too."
"What do we tell her?"
"The truth, only leave out what we know about the councilmen. If she knows Mr. Longfellow and his associates then we don't need her to know what we do."
Her eyebrows wrinkled the skin in that small area on the top of her nose between her eyes. "You don't think Matilda is a part of this do you?"
"I don't know what I think right now. All I know is if what she said in that room with you is true then she obviously knows them somehow; and they know her. Whether good or bad or other we're going to find out her story first before we open our mouth to her about ours. You got it?"
"Perfectly" she whispered.
"Good, I know she's one of your oldest and dearest friends so I'll let you talk with her to find out what you can but at the same time I'm going to do some talking tomorrow, my self. First with the mayor and then ..." Before I could finish Matilda entered the room again. Her bath powder and perfume scented the entire living room with the scent of fresh talc powder and gardenia's.
"Will I be eating alone?" She asked with her usual social fare.
"No one in this house eats alone." Isabella answered.
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