If What Remains Unchanged

If What Remains Unchanged
Believe in good believe in love no matter what the cost
For if forgotten you will discover the worth of all you lost

I had no troubles falling asleep that evening.  The room was cool and the fresh air was still blowing in through the window. The glass in the picture frame on my night stand glowed with light from the lamp still lit sitting across the room. The sound of my father's old pocket watch hanging above the bed ticked away the final few minutes of my thinking and prayers.  As always I whispered good night to my family's photo.  I could still hear the sounds of Matilda and Isabella in the living room chatting away about their school days talking about all the people they could remember.  Those were the last sounds I heard before I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.  I woke up later when Isabella was getting in bed.  She felt of my arm lightly then pulled the blanket over my forearm trying not to disturb me.  I stayed quite and still and after she had settled in the bed beside me went straight back to sleep.  It was Matilda who woke us both up before daylight.  "Please wake up, there's some one outside.  They're on the back porch."  She said in a startling loud whisper while shaking my shoulder.  "What do I do, should I stay in here?"
 "For heaven's sake, settle down."  I said. 
 "What's going on?"  Was the question from behind me.
 Matilda repeated her quandary to Isabella who had also woke up.  "I heard something on the porch.  It sounds like someone plundering around out there.  What do I do?"
 "The first thing you do is sit down and hush"  I said still trying to gather my wits. 
I felt the covers on the opposite side of the bed move back then I removed the sheet still covering me and exited the bed myself.  She had already reached where Matilda was standing and gave her a softer reply.  "Matilda, darling, it's alright.  Here sit down."  She guided her to the chair by the door.  Boris was standing in the door way looking around in the room where we were.  "Look, there's Boris, everything's alright."
"What does that slobbering smelly thing have to do with what's going on on the porch?  I'm telling you I heard some one out there scooting the chairs.  Someone's plundering."  She said in a frenzy.  I walked over to the door way and petted the top of Boris's head.  "Ignore her," I spoke without caring that she heard me.  "She don't know her head from a whole in the ground out side the city lights."
"You believe me don't you?"  She questioned Isabella.
"I believe that you heard something yes and we will go to see what it is.  But what" Isabella looked at me, "Penelope's trying to tell you is that Boris would let you know if he felt a threat.  He's an excellent creature and a wonderful guard dog.  If he hears something, he always goes to check on it himself.  If it's something he don't like he wakes us then barks to let what, or whom ever it is know that he's inside the house."
"Then why isn't he at the back door defending it?"  Matilda smarted off.
"I guess he thought that's what you were doing with the way you're carrying on."  I said.
"Well!"  Matilda stood to her feet quickly.  " I've never been so insulted."  Boris growled slightly then stepped between me and Matilda.  Matilda climbed up in the chair she had been sitting in and pointed at him.  "Bad dog," she said pointing her trembling finger at him.  "Oh for goodness sakes " I was tired and confused, and all but thirty seconds away from picking her up off the chair to carry her back to her bedroom over my shoulder.  "Would you please just shut up and go back to bed." 
"Now, settle down" Isabella stepped towards me to smooth my night shirt sleeves gently.  "It's alright.  She's just scared, that's all.  She's not use to living this far away from her family.  Let's you and I go to the kitchen to see what's going on then we can all settle down and go back to bed.  Alright?"  I nodded in agreement then walked out the bedroom door.  Boris was in front of me; she took my hand as I started out the door and was holding it as we went through the living room where the night lamp was still lightly glowing in the kitchen.  Neither of us spoke a word.  I stopped three steps away from the table to listen for any possible sound that could be heard.  All I could hear was the wind whisping through the windows which were only opened enough to allow fresh air through them.  Boris went to his water dish and lapped at his water.  I turned and looked at Isabella's face in the dimly lit room.  She raised her eyebrows wrinkling her forehead and sighed.  Without a word we turned to start back to our bedroom.  Before we passed the end of the couch I heard a sound of scooting.  I stopped, she stopped and we reversed our direction back toward the kitchen.   Boris was still in there, his head next to the back door sniffing under the door.  I dropped her hand from my own then gently approached the kitchen window.  When I looked outside I saw nothing.  Again the scooting sound disturbed the evening sounds of the wind in the kitchen.  Boris never barked.  That's when I walked to the door where he was to listen closer.  The faint whining sounds of another dog rose in the air.  I spoke to the door.  "Stogie?  Spike?"  That's when the scratching and whining of my other two dogs filled the kitchen. 
 "Turn the light up."  I said, so Isabella did exactly that.  She increased the wick.  The light filled the room illuminating the door latch and handle.  I slid the latch back to open the door.  When it opened there they stood wagging their tales happy to see me.  "Where have you two been all day?"  I greeted them kindly.  Boris went out the door and the three of them spent a few minutes greeting each other the way dogs do.  Isabella stepped up behind me and rested her chin on my shoulder.  "Did you feed them before you went to bed?"  She whispered softly in my ear.  "No, they weren't home.  I didn't know when they'd be back so I left their bowls empty." 
 "I'll tell Matilda." 
 "I'll feed the dogs then be back inside in a few minutes." 
 "Alright" she tussled the back of my hair before she left the room. 
I spent a few minutes on the porch in the night air after I fed the dogs.  A few random sprinkles of rain blown by the wind touched my face.  I listened closely to the night listening to see what other sounds could be heard besides the usual frog, cricket, and wind.  The dogs were eagerly eating from their bowls;  the sound of occasional rain drops sounded on the roof of the house and trees.  I took a deep breath to relax.   The sleepiness from before started settling back in to my body so I decided it was time to go back to bed.  I opened the back door and went in to the house.  As I was latching the door closed I could hear Matilda in the living room going on well pleased about being right. 
 "I told you" Matilda's voice was the first thing I heard.
 "Yes, you did."  Isabella replied. 
 "Now maybe that silly old clod will listen to me when I try to tell her something." 
I had had enough of her snootiness for the day so I slid the latch open on the door and whistled.  Boris, Stogie and Spike all responded running through the door into the house straight into the living room.  I could hear Matilda gasp as the dogs rounded the couch;  she pulled her feet and legs up from the floor and tried to shoo them away.  "Oh," her voice quivered.  "You stink, get down.  No, not on my gown.  Go away.  Go away."  She went on with her excited bout.  I closed the door, replaced the latch then started back through the living room.  Isabella was sitting in the chair petting Stogie's happy face while Boris and Spike took turns going between the chair and couch for attention.  Matilda was now on her knees on the couch, guarding herself  and her gown with a pillow.  She took one look at me to say, "You ridiculous brute!  Put those dogs outside!" 
"They sleep inside."  I said as a matter of fact.  I walked over to the chair petted Stogie, Spike and Boris one more time then said goodnight to Isabella.  Matilda sat there on her knees staring at me as if she still expected me to change my mind.  "I'm sorry for waking you so abruptly.  Will you please put the dogs outside?"  "No."  I answered her then went back to my bedroom.  Boris entered the door behind me and looked at me sincerely. "Good night sweet dog."   I petted him on the head one more time then rinsed my hands in the wash bowl in my room.  I straightened up the sheets and blankets that had been tossed half way off the bed earlier.  I sat down on the bed, dusted off my feet then turned around to lay down.  Boris walked over to the rug next to my night stand and made himself comfortable on the rug.  I could still hear Matilda going on about wanting the dogs outside, and Isabella trying to defend the reason why they were inside.  "I had to get use to it too,"  Isabella spoke loud enough for me to hear her clearly.   I rolled over to face out the front window and listened to the wind until I fell asleep.
Next morning I woke up alone in the bed. It was a nice change not having to worry about waking someone as I got up.  Boris was still asleep on the rug until my feet touched the floor and caused the boards to creak underneath him.  I knew we were going to Rivertown today so I opened the closet to find my better clothing for the trip.  After I dressed I made the bed. When I was finished I opened the door to go to the living room.  Boris went straight for the back door.  Stogie and Spike were still inside asleep on the blanket in the corner.  When they heard me and Boris they both woke and stood up to stretch out their slumber.  Stogie acknowledged me first circling my feet and waited for a gentle  pat on the head.  Then Spike followed the pattern; both acknowledging me briefly then going to greet Boris in the kitchen.  When I stepped into the room where they had gathered I saw the back door standing wide open.  I went over and looked out the door finding Matilda and Isabella seated in the old yard swing under the trees near the shed. When they saw the dogs they both looked toward the door.  Isabella looked in my direction and spoke.  "Good morning."  I lifted my hand with a slight wave to accept her greeting.  Matilda looked away and said nothing. 
 Isabella spoke up again, "there's coffee on the table.  Could use a good warming by now though."
I nodded my head yes to let her know I had heard her then stepped back inside.  I felt of the coffee canister sitting on the table and put it back on to warm the contents before I poured any in my cup, then went to the bathroom.  Just as I stepped back out of the bathroom into the living room I heard all three of my dogs barking and the rattling, puttering sounds of an automobile.  I went to the living room window and looked outside.  Mr. and Mrs. Whittenburg had stopped near the same place my unusual visitor had stopped yesterday.  Mr. Whittenburg made his way to the side of their car and opened the door for his wife.  The look on both of their faces was one of concern.  I didn't hesitate to go out to greet them.  The sky was still overcast with clouds,  the wind had lightened some but was still gusty.  They both were careful to place one hand on their hats as they made their way up the walk way.  The dogs had stopped barking once the Whittenburgs had greeted them and was escorting them to the house.  I stepped off the porch to greet them.  I was the first to speak.  "Mr. Whittenburg, Mrs. Whittenburg, it's good to see you."  Mrs. Whittenburg stepped to me first and grasped me in a warm motherly hug as always.  "As beautiful as ever you are," she said kindly but didn't bother trying to hide the weariness in her voice.  "We hate to drop in unannounced this way but was hoping you had time for a visit.  It's important." 
Mr. Whittenburg stepped up next to her side, removed his hat, and offered me his hand in greetings.  "Top of the morning, lass.  Might we have a word?" 
"Certainly" I said and then went on to ask, "does this have something to do with Madison Longfellow and associates visit to our area yesterday?"
"Then he was here, the scoundrel!"  Mrs. Whittenburg made no surprise of anything she had to say to any one ever.  "I told you didn't I?  What did I say?"  She looked at her husband sternly.    "A man like that who would show up to our place in such a way would surely make no exception for two young ladies such as your self and Isabella living here alone.  Mark my words, he'll bring more trouble through here than he'll ever bring lumber."
Mr. Whittenburg looked at me and nodded his head slowly.  "I'm afraid she could be right.  Do you have time for a visit?"
I looked at the house knowing that our conversation wouldn't be in private in the house for very long.  "We can, but might we have it nearer your automobile?  We are entertaining one of Isabella 's friends from Pembrook this week and I'm not of the mind to have them know all the contents of this conversation.  Yesterday upset her terribly."
"Pembrook you say?"  Mrs. Whittenburgs' eyes looked at me hostilely and out with it she came.  "You're not talking about that fellow Mr. Longwallow said okayed his use of our property?"
 "Longfellow dear, Longfellow" Mr. Whittenburg corrected her.  "And yes, yes of course, the car is fine."  He said and took his wife by the arm to lead her away from the yard toward the car.  I moved immediately next to her on the other side and went about trying to explain to her the truth of the matter before she became too upset to listen.  "I'm the one he spoke to Mrs. Whittenburg.  There isn't a man here.  Just me, Isabella and her friend Matilda Dayhuff from Pembrook.  I stood a good distance from him whilst he was here and didn't speak to him at all.  Only acknowledged him by shaking my  head yes or no.   He mistook me for someone else.  I let him think whatever he wanted because it was just the three of us here." 
 She stopped in mid stride and apologized immediately.  "Oh my, my dear girl, you must have been as overwhelmed as I was.  Did me nearly the same way he did.  Horace was gone to Rivertown to the grist mill and there I was all alone."  When we reached their car she sat down in the seat leaving the door open.  "And I can see how he would mistake you for a young man, the way you wear your hair so short and all"  Mr. Whittenburg and myself gathered around the door around her for our conversation.  I immediately began to tell them the events from the day before while they both listened as I spoke.  By the time I had finished Mr. Whittenburg's voice had grown in deeper and resolute.  "Well that tears it!"  He said.  "He did you that way, he did us that way, and he did the Joist that way.  Probably stopped by the Weston's and the Hunt's farms too.  The Weston's were probably gone though, left to visit their son and his wife a week ago to welcome their new grandchild.  We're on our way into town now to find out what in tarnation is going on with all this."  It was Mrs. Whittenburg who noticed another peculiarity about my story.  "Did you say he asked for Major Porter?"
I looked at her and nodded.  "He did."
"Your mother's father, then?"
"Yes"
Mr. Whittenburg looked at me with the concern of the situation starting to show on his face deeper than before.  "He asked for Lieutenant Colonel Armstromd at our place."
"Rather smugly" Mrs. Whittenburg spoke softly. 
"Armstromd?"  I asked.
"My father" Mrs. Whittenburg finished.
Mr.  Whittenburg reached into the car and took his wife's hand.  "We're going to find out what's going on Judith.  You hear me?"  He turned and looked at me.  "Say it's just the three of you ladies here?"
"Yes sir."
"And you still know how to use those guns your father gave you?"
"Only when I have to."
"And the other two in the house there?  Do they know the first lick about something like that?"
"One of them, yes.  A better shot than me.  Her friend not at all.  Gets her self strung out over the dogs being inside to guard the house."
"City folk?"  He asked with a squint in one eye.
"All her life until a week and a half ago."  I answered. 
"Yellow haired girl a right size smaller than you?"  He asked again.
"Aye" I answered again wondering about what brought on such a question.  "How did" he answered me before I could ask.  "She's been standing near that window there behind the curtain trying to hear the conversation ever since you said Major Porter."  I didn't dare look back to validate his story.  Instead we all lowered our voices enough to where we were sure we were the only ones who could hear and understand the conversation amongst us.    "How long does she plan on staying?"  Mrs. Whittenburg asked.
"Showed up on our door step without the first word of her arrival saying she was staying until the summer ended or until her employer sent for her to return to her job as a governess."
"Like those fellows yesterday?"  Mr. Whittenburg asked.
"Not as militant but similar."
"Similar how?"  Mrs. Whittenburg asked.
I wasn't sure how to phrase the next statement.  I simply wished the Whittenburgs to know that I had as many concerns about Matilda's presence as I did Longfellow's.  "Similar as in I have no idea who she is but she knows someone who moved in with me." 
"But you've known Isabella for many a year haven't you?"
"I have, and she has mentioned Matilda before very often, but we've both had our own concerns about her since she arrived and yesterday didn't actually help those concerns to sooth at all."  Mr. Whittenburg turned resolute and spoke as if he dared me to defy him.  "You do remember the Langston family don't you?  My partners at the mill, Clark and Josten?"
"Of course, Uncle Clark is the one who brought me Boris just before mother and father moved away."
"Right, he did.  I'm going to talk to him about sending some good men out here to stay in the barn there to help watch over you and those two there until we can figure out what's going on.   Don't worry, I'll make sure they know to stay out of sight as much as possible and away from the house all together unless absolutely necessary."
"You don't have to do that" I said.
"It's not an offer.  It's an order.  Land sakes child, I've known your father for over thirty years and your mother longer than that."  He released Mrs. Judith's hand then walked to face me straight in the face.  "I remember the day they brought you here I do.  Wee bit of a thing you were, no bigger than a minute.  Both of them smiling from ear to ear and as proud as I've ever seen them that you were their child.  We watched you grow up here playing out in the dirt in the fields with your father, climbing trees, swimming in the river there.  Giving your mother such a worry when she saw you trying to wear your hair like your father's and trying on his trousers instead of her dresses.  But they loved you dearly, and would let you do as you wanted as long as you weren't in harms way."  Mrs. Judith's voice chimed in with his softly.  "Baptized in that river there and,"  her voiced lowered again at the thought in her memory. "Living most of your youngest days of life hiding from the raiders coming through here.  I truly thought the world had grown past such things as that since then.  But after what I saw yesterday." 
"Which is to say,"  Mr. Whittenburg took control of the conversation, "that you're as much a part of our lives today as you were then, and we all promised each other then to help look out for each other and our families long before you were knee high to a grass hopper.  Then Judith and I promised your folks again before they moved away that we would make sure you had all that you needed and we're as safe as we were."
"More to the point child," Mrs. Judith spoke up,  "how do you think we would feel about ourselves if we broke such a special bond of friendship to the people we have known and loved as our own family after all these years.  You might not be our blood relation but you're just as good as and every ounce as worth it.  Horace is right, you need some one else here with you on this place until we know what this Longflocker is up to."
"And we'll all have a better idea of what that is the sooner we get to Rivertown to talk with our duly appointed council of leaders.  I swear I don't know if I'll talk to them or run them out of office after the likes of this.  Signing such a thing without as much as a word to any living one of us about it."  The sound of another automobile could be heard approaching where we stood from the same direction as the one Mr. and Mrs. Whittenburg's had arrived from.  As it neared where we were it began to slow down then came to a stop right in the middle of the road.  Thurgood Hunt, one of the tallest men I've ever seen on the earth stepped out of the car and walked to where the Whittenburg's and myself had been talking.  He greeted us all one by one once he had removed his hat in salutations.  "Horace, Mrs. Judith."  He spoke to them first then turned to me, "Good morning Ms. Lochlan."  He wore a clean suit with a neatly tied long tie, and a handkerchief in his top jacket pocket.  His aged white hair contrasted against his dark weathered tanned face.  "Good morning, Mr. Hunt." I returned his greeting. 
"Had some trouble up our way yesterday" he started talking. 
Mr. Whittenburg stepped away from me and his wife walking back to his own side of the car encouraging Mr. Hunt to walk with him there.  The wind had picked up it's speed again stirring up the dust from the yard blowing it in our direction.  Mr. Hunt looked at me briefly then back to Mr. Whittenburg as Mr. Whittenburg gave him an abbreviated version of what we had been discussing. I looked back towards the house noticing Matilda still trying to conceal herself behind the curtain.  After a few more minutes of muffled conversation Mr. Whittenburg opened the door to his car, stepped inside and sat down.  Mr. Hunt walked around the front of the car and approached me.  "Oliver is in the car with me.  I'm going to stop by the barn to let him out there.  He'll be in the barn until you hear from me again. When next you correspond with your father tell him, I send my prayers and best wishes to him and your mother."  He held out his hand.  I accepted it politely.  "Thank you,  I will."
 "God be with you."  He said then put his hat back on his head.
 "And also with you."  I returned his blessing.
 He thanked me kindly then made his way back to his own car. 
 Mrs. Whittenburg stepped from her seat and embraced me once again.  "God be with you always" she said as she stepped back to look at me.  "We'll stop back by on our way to let you know what we find out."
"I was going to town myself today to be honest.  Thought I would stop by city hall when I got there."  She smiled broadly patting me on the cheek.  "I'll save you a seat" she said then stepped back into the car gathering her coat inside.  I helped her close the door and said good bye.  Mr. Whittenburg tipped his hat to me then put his car in gear to ease out on to the road slowly.  As he pulled away Mr. Hunt proceeded in route behind him.  I stood where I was watching them both make their way towards the old barn under the silver maple trees.  Both cars slowed almost to a stop there but not completely.   I turned around then made my way back up the yard to the house.  Before I  reached the front door I heard both cars accelerate to continue on their way.  As soon as I stepped through the door I saw Isabella sitting at the kitchen table already dressed and ready for our journey. 
"Good morning", she said politely.
"Is the coffee cold again?"  I asked with a slight grin.
"It was" she returned my grin with one of her own.  "Until I made more.  Would you like some now?"
"Yes please."
She stood up from her chair and brought a fresh coffee cup from the cupboard.  I sat down at the table while she filled my cup.  She gently pushed the cup in front of me.   I reached for the handle.  The first drink wasn't too hot so I drank it quickly.  Before I could sit my cup back on the table she sat a small plate of scrambled eggs with fresh tomato slices in front of me.   "Thank you."
 "You're welcome" she returned. 
 I reached for the coffee canister on the table and refilled my cup.
"Let me guess, Mr. Longfellow stopped by the Whittenburg's place as well" Isabella asked.
"He did.  Them, the Hunt's and everyone else up the road from here."
"Are we still going to town today?"
"Definitely."
"Matilda was wondering if she was invited."
I took another fork full of eggs to eat then allowed my sarcasm to season the conversation.  "She don't want to stay home and wash the dogs?"
Isabella gave me a slight grin.  "We always wash the dogs."
Just as I spoke I heard a door squeak in the living room.  Isabella glanced towards the same direction as I did; both of us knowing that Matilda was probably listening at her door to see what was being said.  I went on eating pretending that I wasn't interested in Matilda.  Which in all honesty, I wasn't.  My mind was solely thinking about being on time to talk with the city councilmen.  "I know that."  I whispered to her across the table.  "But when someone is in the next room eaves dropping I like giving them something to listen to.  Especially if it's the same thing I would say to them if they were in the room."
"You're being grumpy."  She whispered back across the table.
"Am not" I answered louder this time.
"Are so" she replied joining the same tone as mine.
"I'm not grumpy.  I'm reasonable."
"Reasonable?"  Isabella asked.
"Yes, reasonable."  My voice returned to its' normal level.  How do you think she would feel if I was the guest in her house telling her to throw all her nasty old tea out.  Don't make tea while I'm in your house all because I don't like tea; I don't like the smell of tea.  Those dogs are just like our family.  They grew up here.  I grew up here.  My mother grew up here.  Then she shows up on my front door step uninvited and starts telling me what I should do in my own house just because she's here.  Honestly Isabella, all she's done since she's been here is insult me and my dogs, and all I have done is try to accommodate every little knit picky thing she has asked.  I bought tea for god's sake."
"We had tea" Isabella playfully taunted.
"Yes I know we had tea" I couldn't help but chuckle slightly.  "But then I had to buy more, and I had to buy extra towels, and lamp oils.  We share our food with her, we share our home with her, and all I want from her is for her to show a little more respect to me in our home.  I don't think that's too much to ask from anyone who is visiting."
"You're right" Isabella was being genuine.  "That is reasonable."
"Thank you and I plan on telling her the same thing when she comes out of her room."
"You won't have to wait" Matilda stepped around the corner of the wall into the kitchen where we were talking.  "I heard you; and you're right.  You've been more than reasonable" she said directly to me.  "I have been an old prude, haven't I?"  I felt bolder about the situation now and looked at her "yes, yes you have."  Matilda nodded her head politely.  "Well, I apologize.  I didn't mean to be an ungracious house guest.  I hope you both will forgive my bad manners and that we can start a better day today."  Isabella looked at me then back at Matilda.  "I think that is an excellent idea.  How about you" she asked me only.  "I would like that" I answered feeling a certain relief now that everything was out in the open between the three of us.  "Good" Isabella smiled when she spoke.  "Would you like to join us?"  She offered Matilda a chair to sit down at the table.  She accepted the invitation and moved to sit down straightening her long dress around her.   
I looked at my plate and finished the few items still left on it.  Isabella offered Matilda something to eat but she declined.  The two of them went on to speak casually while I finished eating.  By the time I had finished my coffee I noticed the time.  "Great sakes, we need to go."  We all rose from our chairs.  I put my dishes away in the sink.  The two of them went to their rooms to gather their possessions for the day.  I went to the bathroom.  I looked in the mirror briefly and for just a slight moment the memory of my mother's face standing behind me brushing my hair came to the front of my mind.  "As pretty as a picture" I could still remember her words.  I smiled then finished cleaning my hands and face.  When I walked back out of the room Matilda and Isabella were standing in the living room talking.  "I'll go get the car and pull it around front.  Leave the dogs in the house and lock the door behind you."  I spoke to Isabella.  "Alright" she agreed. 
The trip into Rivertown was longer than usual due to the unusually high winds.  My mind was full of thoughts about what to tell the councilmen and what they would have to tell us, if anything.  As I drove Isabella and Matilda sat chatting casually about everything they could remember about their youth in Pembrook. Everything from who had married whom, who had grown up and had children, who had moved away; even as much as who wore whose clothing made only by certain people.  I had no interest in the conversation.  My mind was still full of the events from the past two days.  When we arrived in Rivertown the place was more crowded than I had ever saw it.  The parking spots in front of the stores were taken on every side.  Where the city hall building stood in the center of the square there were people standing on every side; near the building, near their cars, along the side walks.  I offered to drop Isabella and Matilda at the shop of their choice before I went to park the car.  They both agreed on the fabric store so I pulled the car along front next to the sidewalk.  "I'll meet you both at the soda shop when I'm finished."  I instructed them then pulled away to go to find a parking place for the car.  The only few spots to park still available were by the telegram and post office.  I decided on which one I wanted then parked.  The wind in town was still gusty although some of the building did help shield the brunt of it's force.  I had to keep one hand on my hat as I walked to keep it in place.  By the time I reached the yard of the city hall building I could hear the people I passed talking but paid them no mind.  The front of the building was lined with mostly women and children.  Some of those who knew me said hello as I passed by.  I greeted them casually but didn't bother stopping to talk.  I opened the door and stepped inside.  The interior of the building was filled to the brim with even more women, most of whom were seated while still others stood around the walls of the building.  I exchanged a few casual greetings with those who said hello but kept moving as best as I could to the clerk's desk.  Mr. Gershwin looked up from his work and greeted me.  "Ms. Lochlan, it's good to see you."
"Thank you, it's good to see you Mr. Gershwin.   I was hoping to talk to Mr. Samuels if I could."
"Of course" he said politely then stepped from behind his desk.  "Follow me." 
We started off down the hall in a different direction than the one I had entered the building from.  The hall too was lined with people standing and sitting in chairs.  As we neared the end of the hall I felt a hand touch the sleeve of my shirt and some one speak my name.  I stopped to see who it was.  "Oh good, you made it" Mrs. Whittenburg sat smiling up at me.  "Here" she removed her handbag from the chair next to hers.  "I saved you a chair."  Mr. Gershwin looked at both me and Mrs. Whittenburg and said, "I was instructed to allow her into the meeting as soon as she arrived.  Mr. Hunt's request." 
Mrs. Whittenburg grimaced slightly, "well yes, yes I suppose you should be there.  Find Horace dear.  He's with Mr. Hunt."
"Yes mam" I patted her hand still holding on to my wrist.  Mr. Gershwin bowed slightly to Mrs. Whittenburg, "I'll make sure we find him before I return" he reassured her.  Mrs. Whittenburg thanked him, gave me a wink and reminded me again to find Mr. Whittenburg.  Mr. Gershwin lead the way again to another door no less than four yards from where Mrs. Whittenburg was sitting.  When he opened the door I couldn't hardly believe my eyes.  The room was full of people, most of them men, from the back of the building to the front where the councilmen were seated at a long table facing the crowd.  Most of the men at the back of the room were standing, shoulder to shoulder with no chair behind them to sit down in.  Mr. Gershwin began leading me through the crowd toward the front of the building.  The going was slow as he had to excuse the both of us to have the men in front of him step to the side.  They happily gave us the right of way and I had to take care not to step on the feet of those around me as I passed through. 
As we approached the front of the building, nearer where the councilmen were seated, I began hearing the conversation in the room.  "So no one here saw Mr. Madison Longfellow for themselves?"  I turned to see who was speaking.  Charles Samuels, son of Mayor Samuels, was seated speaking loudly.  Mr. Gershwin touched my arm lightly.  I turned to his request for my attention.  He extended his hand out short waving it toward a row of seats.  I took the hint and stepped forward a few more chairs to see Mr. Whittenburg, Mr. Hunt and Mr. Johann seated in the row.  When Mr. Hunt noticed that I was there he stood from his chair.  He whispered to Mr. Johann who also looked in my direction then stepped further down the aisle towards the wall at the end of the chairs.  Mr. Johann nodded politely in my direction then scooted down to the chair where Mr. Hunt had been sitting.  Mr. Whittenburg then looked at me.  "Good, you're here" he spoke soft.  He took his hat off his lap, took his cane in hand, and moved down to the chair Mr. Johann had been sitting in then offered me his.  Mr. Gershwin whispered, "I think you'll be fine here."  Then he began making his way back through the crowd.  I stepped into the aisle of chairs and sat down next to Mr. Whittenburg.  He greeted me again then instructed me, "best hold your hat in your lap here dear."  I apologized for my manners while I took my hat off my head to place in my lap.  "No worries" he replied, "you haven't missed much.  Young Charles there was just adding his fat lip to the festivities."  Mr. Johann then leaned forward past Mr. Whittenburg and extended me his hand.  "Good to see you."  He greeted me.  I returned his greeting.  Charles' voice filled the room again getting my attention.  "Only the wives were home, and they have no idea who was actually at their homes, if in fact anyone was there?" 
"Are you calling my Martha a liar" a man from the other side of the room questioned angrily. 
"Gentleman please" Mayor Samuels interjected. 
"I'm saying" Charles stood to address the crowd.  "That none of you were home when your wives say these occurrences happened.  Yet all of you are here saying a man by the name of Madison Longfellow was the person who spoke to your wives.  Are we suppose to take the word of a bunch of bored housewives for fact or do we..."  With Charles' last statement the entire room full of men began talking, some shouting insults to Charles for speaking at all.  His father, the mayor stood to his feet and tried again to quite the crowd.  "Gentlemen, gentlemen please settle down."
"Gentlemen please yourself sir!"  A voice behind me demanded.  "Your son is standing there insulting our integrity and our wives."  A conglomerate of voices across the room began talking hostile again.  One man behind me made it clear what he thought about the whole meeting up to that moment.  "If he's son is defending this kind of activity then you know he's just as involved in this as is this Longfellow!"  Astar Woods, who had been sitting next to the mayor at the front of the room,  stood to his feet next and shouted above all the other voices in the room.  "That is enough!  The lot of you!  If you do not settle down I will have each and every one of you removed from this building permanently until we can find out what is going on.  We are not here to insult anyone.  Nor are we here to be insulted by any of you or this, this Longfellow person.  We are a community who have known each other for years; all of us.  Now I don't want to hear another word spoken out of turn by any of you.  Do I make myself clear?"  The room began to quite down with a few mumbles still lingering in the back of the room where I couldn't see.  After a few minutes Mr. Hunt stepped forward to address the councilmen as a whole.  "Excuse me gentlemen, if I may speak."
Mr. Samuels and Mr. Woods yielded to Mr. Hunts request asking him to proceed with his statement.  So he did.  "There is one person here who can testify to the events of yesterday personally.  They were home and spoke to the man who introduced himself as Madison Longfellow." 
"Well for gods' sake man who is it?"  A man sitting near Charles Samuels shouted. 
Mr. Hunt looked at me and said my name.  "Penelope Lochlan."  The room came to a complete silence.  Mr. Samuels, Mr. Woods, the Martin brothers along with every one else in the room looked at me.  I sat in my chair waiting to see what would happen next.  Mr. Samuels spoke to me directly.  "Is this true, Ms. Lochlan?"  I nodded my head yes.  He sighed a deep sigh.  "Would you please tell me and the rest of the room what happened yesterday at your residence?"  I looked at Mr. Hunt who silently nodded his agreement and I slowly stood to my feet clutching my hat in my hand.  Mr. Whittenburg stood up beside me as did Mr. Johann next to him.  Mr. Whittenburg looked at me, "it's alright, go on" he instructed me.  Mr. Woods looked at me and spoke, "You were home when Mr. Longfellow made his visit through yesterday?"
"Yes sir" I answered his question.  You could have heard a hair pin drop outside the window.
Just then Charles Samuels made a sudden outburst from across the room.  "For those of you who can't tell Ms. Lochlan there is in fact a woman!"  He laughed mockingly after he spoke.  A few others sitting around him chuckled along with him.  Mr. Samuels had had enough of his son's interference.  "Get out!"  He shouted directly to Charles pointing his finger towards the back of the room.  "Get out, and stay out!"  Charles stood defiant looking at his father.  "Why is she allowed in here while the rest of the women are out side in the halls and foyer?"  His father didn't bother answering his question.  "I said get out.  Now go on your own or I will have you removed myself!"  He threatened.  "And take that pack of hooligans around you with you too."  Charles looked around the room then made one last statement before he started making his way out of the room.  "You're throwing me out and letting that woman stand there like a man and talk, honestly men, what is this world coming too?"  Several voices in the room began commenting to his question on their own, encouraging Charles to shut up and leave, insulting him as he walked out.  Simon Grouse, Howard Langston, and few others I didn't know, stood up as Charles began walking out; all of them made their way out of the council room behind him.  I felt my stomach turn queasy as I stood there.  "Alright" Mr. Woods voice commanded the crowd again, "settle down."  After a few brief minutes Mr. Samuels took control of the conversation again.  "Now, if you will" he turned his attention back to me.  "If you would be so kind, Ms. Lochlan, will you please tell me and the others about the occurrences at your home yesterday." 
I took a deep breath and began speaking.  As I did I noticed several other men began to stand to their feet, including the rest of the councilmen that had been seated.  I paused to look around the room wondering if I should stop talking.  Mr. Whittenburg leaned over slightly and spoke calmly.  "It's alright, tell them what happened."  I looked back to Mr. Hunt then the council standing reverently in front of me and began to speak again.  No one said a word as I spoke.  After I finished Mr. Samuels questioned me.  "Is that all you can tell me?" 
"Yes sir" I answered him.
"And you Thurgood, did you say the same things occurred at your house with your wife?"  Thurgood Hunt who had not moved one step since approaching the front of the room answered boldly.  "It did."
"This Longfellow?  He told you that he had a paper we here had signed?"  Mr. Alderman now questioned me.  "Yes sir."  I kept my answer brief.  "Did he show you our signatures?"  He went on to ask.  I shook my head no and answered as well, "no sir.  He just stood there waving the papers in his hand."  Mr. Alderman looked at Mr. Whittenburg and questioned him.  "Now Horace, the same thing with Mrs. Judith?"  Mr. Whittenburg answered Mr. Alderman boldly.  "The exact same account.  Said that all of you had signed the papers he had.  Also said the land belonged to a Mr. Armstromd." 
Mr. Samuels looked back at me.  His face was now showing his concern for the matters he was listening to.  "He asked you if the land was Major Porter's did he?"  I answered briefly again.  "Yes sir."  There was a slight mumble growing in the room as the men there began talking among themselves.  Mr. Woods then stepped from behind the bench where he had been standing and walked around the front to stand by Mr. Hunt.  "Well let me be the first to say," he began to speak first to Mr. Hunt then the entire audience.  "I have never in my life met nor do I know anyone by the name of Madison Longfellow.  And I believe that I speak for the rest of you" he turned back to face his fellow councilmen then back to the crowd, "when I say that I have never, nor would ever, sign any such document for anyone person without first consulting with the regulatory members of our council or with any of you, our friends and neighbors."
"Here, here" the members of the council joined in agreement.  That's when the voices of the men in the room joined in themselves glad to have heard what was said.  "Further more," Mr. Woods continued, "I would like to think that we all could use a better explanation for this fraudulent behavior from Mr. Longfellow himself."  Those words brought the entire approval of the room in more voices than one including Mr. Whittenburg who was still standing beside me.  "Now, besides Ms. Lochlan here, is there anyone else in the room who has seen this man who introduced himself as Mr. Longfellow?"  At first no one spoke.  Then from the back of the room where my eyes couldn't see through the crowd one man spoke up.  "I have" the voice said.  Mr. Woods gave instruction to the speaker to identify himself. 
"Lavern, Randal Lavern."  A neatly groomed man with dark black hair emerged from the crowd.  I didn't recognize him until he finished his introduction.  "I am a brother in law to Thurgood Hunt; his wife Martha's brother."  I looked at Mr. Hunt who was still standing in the same place he had been standing since he first spoke.  Mr. Lavern greeted Mr. Hunt as he approached the front of the room.  Mr. Hunt simply nodded his acknowledgment.  Mr. Samuels greeted Mr. Lavern formally then spent a few moments talking to him rather privately than openly before the assembled audience.  When Mr. Samuels spoke to the crowd again he wanted their approval for the rest of their inquiry.  "I believe we have enough to get some where today if you gentlemen would approve.  It is my opinion that we should take our time with this matter and allow your wives to join us for the sake of unity.  Is that alright with you?"  The majority of the voices did.  "Are there any here who would object to such an acquisition?"  No one objected.  "Good" Mr. Samuels spoke again, "if you all would be so kind to report to your wives and let them know we care to hear their stories we can proceed to determine a course of action to manage this situation.  If you will gentlemen, please find your spouse and the rest of the council and I will be around to talk to each of you personally.  Do give us your patience if you can, as you can see, we have a full house today."  After he finished speaking the men in the room began moving about making their ways toward the doors in the back.  I stood where I was watching the next events.  Mr. Whittenburg took my hand and shook it sturdily.  "Well done" he said.  "Wait here while I find Judith."  Mr. Whittenburg stepped around Mr. Johann and began making his way along the side wall behind the others now filing out of the room.  Mr.  Johann made his way to me and shook my hand as well.  "Very good" he said.  "You're father would be proud of you."  He offered as a compliment.  I said thank you to be polite unsure what to say to him.  Before either of us could make another statement to the other Mr. Hunt spoke my name behind me.  I turned to face him.  Standing beside him was Mr. Randal Lavern.  "Ms. Lochlan, this is my brother in law, Randal Lavern."  Mr. Lavern offered me his hand and I accepted it in greeting.  "Do you remember this young lady, Randal?" 
Mr. Lavern smiled quaintly.  "Yes I do.  You've grown about two foot since the last time I saw you, Ms. Lochlan." 
"Yes sir" I casually answered him.  "And aged about six years I suppose."
"Nine," he corrected me with good cheer.
Mr. Hunt wasted no time after our introduction.  "Randal here has had personal dealings with Mr. Longfellow before.  I thought maybe if you could give him a good description of the man you spoke with that he would be able to confirm or discredit the person who identified himself as Mr. Longfellow."  They both looked at me without flinching.  So I described him as best as I could.  "He was tall man, taller than you, barrel bellied" I said to Mr. Hunt, "Had a scar on his right jaw line from the bottom of his ear to the center of his cheek and a birthmark or another scar on his right hand; the hand he held the papers in.  Wore an eye glass on his right eye."
Mr. Hunt looked at his brother in law.  Mr. Lavern agreed with my description.  "That's him, Madison Longfellow."  Mr. Hunt looked back at me, "alright, give us a few minutes and I'll get back to you" he said. I agreed then the two of them walked away. 
The room was still full of people although not as many that were there when I had came in.  Some of the women were now inside standing next to their husbands.  I took a deep breath to relax then walked toward the windows at the front of the building.  When I looked outside I could see that town was still full of people.  From where I was standing I could see across the road to the soda shop.  I wondered if Isabella and Matilda were there yet.  I tried to look inside the building through the windows but the reflection of the light and towns people were the only thing I could see on the windows.  The events of the morning began replaying in my thoughts.  I couldn't help but think of Charles Samuels spouting off in front of the whole congregation, especially to his father.  Thomas had always had a stubborn streak in him and for the most part had been very out spoken but I had never, in all my years of knowing him, knew him to be as insultingly disrespectful as I had witnessed today.  As my thoughts clamored around one thought then another I looked to the carriage livery, which Charles owned.  The sign on his door was turned to the closed position.  Just the other side of the livery was the grocery market owned by Mr. and Mrs. Packmier.  Mrs. Packmier was on the front sidewalk sweeping away the papers and such that had blown into the corners of their building from all the winds.  Her dress swept around her ankles from the breezy conditions still clearly visible every where I looked.  Mr. Johann's voice interrupted my thinking.  "Ms. Lochlan?"  I turned to speak with him.  "Mr. Johann." 
"Thurgood just told me that you accurately described Mr. Longfellow."  He said.
"According to Mr. Lavern, yes."
He handed me a handkerchief, his initials were embroidered on the side corners. "When you get home tie that around your well handle.  Do you have one of your fathers, or maybe one of your own at home?"
"Yes sir, both."
"Very good, now, every time you draw water change the handkerchief.  One of yours for this one.  Then change them out each time, understood?" 
"Yes sir."
Then he handed me a small pocketknife.  "I understand Oliver is at your place now.  Take this to him.  Tell him his company will arrive tonight.  He will explain the rest to you.  Do as he says until he says different, and send word to your father.  He will want to know."  As he was talking to me Mr. Whittenburg reappeared along with Mrs. Whittenburg.  Mrs. Whittenburg came straight to my side.  "Are you alright?"  She asked. 
I was a little surprised by her reaction.  "Yes mam, I'm fine."
"Horace said Charles was being very brash."  She looked at me concerned.
Mr. Whittenburg looked at me and lifted his chin slightly.  "Don't let that bother you, he might not have wanted you here but we did, and a good thing you were, yes?  Now we all know who were dealing with without a doubt."  Mrs. Whittenburg looked at me with a forced smile of encouragement.  "You look a bit peaky, why don't you go on home.  Horace and I will stop by later on our way through." 
I was, in all honesty, ready to get out of that stuffy room.  "Are you sure" I looked at Mr. Whittenburg and Mr. Johann to confirm the idea was a good one.  Both agreed and Mr. Johann reminded me again to do as he had told me earlier.  I thanked them all for their help then left the room.  I went to find my way back through the building.  While passing along my way I saw the different councilmen talking to various people in and around the building.  Just as I reached the desk of Mr. Gershwin again, a voice called out my name.  I stopped and looked back toward the direction from where it seemed to be from.  Mr. Samuels was excusing himself through the crowd making a direct approach in my direction.  I waited for him to arrive.  When he did he immediately apologized for his son's remarks.  "Please don't hold what he said against me.  You've known him long enough to know he talks first and thinks later.  I've tried over the years to curb his sharpness but he seems to think otherwise.  You're a fine young lady and you had more right to be in that room than he did."  I didn't really speak to him as much as I simply acknowledged that he spoke with a polite smile. Then he said, "Horace tells me that you and Isabella have a house guest that you weren't expecting." Mr. Samuels lowered his voice and leaned in slightly.  "I have friends in Pembrook, if it's all the same with you, I would like to send word to them about her being here to find out what I can about her.  Seeing's how both her and Mr. Longfellow arrived so close to the same time, I'm sure it would be worth finding out what we could about them both."
I nodded my head lightly.  "That's fine with me."
He continued, "I would need her complete name for starters" he removed a small notebook from his jacket pocket along with a pencil and handed them to me.  "If you will, write down everything you know about her.  I will let you know immediately when I know something."  I took the items he gave me in hand to write down her name, her parents names, and a few of the places I had heard her mention close to her home.  He talked as I wrote.  "Have you been through the path recently?"
"Yes sir, I go through after it rains like I was taught" I reassured him. 
"And everything is fair there then?"  His expression showed a slight concern mingled with complete determination.
"Yes, sir" I said while handing back his notebook and pencil.
"And I'm sure someone has sent you help in" he looked around the room "repairing the barn?"
I thought of Oliver and assumed that he was what Mr. Samuels was speaking about.  "Oliver arrived this morning with Mr. Hunt" I answered hoping that is what he meant.  He looked relieved when I told him.  "Good, and just so you know, we have had quiet a few strangers around town the past couple of days.  Be careful when you talk to anyone.  People here know visitors from citizens, you understand?" 
"I understand" knowing exactly what he meant. 
"Alright, well, I'm glad you were here today.  Not just because of your parents and who you are to them, but because you are still a part of our community as our friend and neighbor.  I hope we will see you again on much better business."  He extended his hand to shake mine.  I returned his offering.  "Have a safe trip home and trust someone will be in touch." He ended our conversation and made his way in the direction he had approached me from.  I put my hat back on my head and made my way through the crowd to the door.  The front lawn of the building was still standing full of people.  A few spoke as I went on my way and this time I did take my time to stop and speak with them individually.  Most of their greetings were casual, all of them were gracious and light natured; inquiring one another about each's' family, wishing each the other well, then moving on our ways.  By the time I had reached the side walk to cross the road to the soda shop another voice called out my name.  I stopped before I stepped off the sidewalk and looked around in the vicinity of where I thought I had heard the voice.  Howard Langston and Simon Grouse were walking straight towards me from the opposite side of the side walk.  I waited to see if it was them who had called to me or if it was another.  They both made their way straight to me stopping only a yard away.  I looked at them both without greeting them.  Langston stood there peering out from under his thick eye brows deep into my eyes.  Simon looked as if he was examining the space around me more than looking at me.  He was the first one to speak.  "Never wear a flannel shirt to church" he said.  When he said it I knew Charles had sent them to find me. 
"Where is he?"  I asked.
"He's busy; had a few unsavory characters hanging around his house and business lately."
"Haven't we all" I replied only to accept the explanation.
"Father Francis will be by your place tomorrow collecting for the parish.  You'll learn more as you go" his expression turned softer as if he wanted to say more but couldn't or didn't know what else to say. 
"I'll make sure he gets some plums then."  I answered his crude statement.
"You do that" Simon agreed rather kindly, "and don't hide your wine in the barn.  Somebody's likely to drink it if you do."  He smiled.  His words made me grin slightly.  "Well tell Charles I said words are like a days wage; they're better saved than spent.  He'll know what I mean."  Simon tipped his hat.  "I'm sure he will.  Remember, never wear a flannel shirt to church" and with that the two of them walked on their way around me without looking back.  I watched them walk towards the car livery momentarily and then decided to make my own way to the soda shop.  When I opened the door to the shop the small tinkling sounds of a small bell above the door jingled.   Matilda and Isabella were sitting in a corner booth nearer the register than the window.  Mrs. Voiles was behind the counter wiping down the counter top in front of her ice cream drawer.  She greeted me when I entered.  I returned her hello.  "Anything I can make for you today Ms. Lochlan?"  Mrs. Voiles asked.  I started not to order, then changed my mind.  "A large soft pretzel would be good" I answered.  She smiled with pride.  "Just took a fresh batch out of the oven.  Give me a minute and I will bring one to your table.  Would you like some mustard to go with it?" 
"Yes, please."
"Sit any where you'd like" she instructed me then turned to go about her work.
"Well I hope you're sitting with us" Isabella's voice filled the room.
I walked to the table where she and Matilda were seated.  "I will if I can find some room to sit down" I responded while looking at an assortment of bags and packages sitting around in the booth seats beside them.  Matilda moved immediately and began rearranging the packages on her side of the table.  "We shall make room."  She handed a few of the packages next to her to Isabella clearing a place for me to sit.  "There now" she said patting the bench next to her. 
"Thank you" I then took a seat next to her.  "Did you two leave anything on the shelves for someone else in town to buy or are we taking it all home with us?"
The two of them answered at the same time but with different answers.
"We bought it all" Matilda answered.
"We left a few things" Isabella replied.
The three of us laughed.  "Town sure is full today" Isabella noted looking towards the window. 
"Yes it is" I answered knowing well enough to know that Matilda had probably heard about the events of today somewhere along her shopping route.  Mrs. Voiles approached our table with a large plate.  She sat the plate down in front of me and smiled. "Best be careful it's a warm plate." She reached into her apron and removed a bottle of mustard for the table.  Isabella and Matilda both made remarks on the appearance and smell of the enormous dark brown pretzel now sitting on the table among us.
"Look at that" Isabella spoke.
"I've never seen anything like it" said Matilda.  "It smells divine."
Mrs. Voiles then asked, "is there anything else I can get for you ladies today?"
Isabella said no but Matilda asked for a refill on her vanilla cream soda.  Mrs. Voiles obliged her request and took the glass she had been drinking away from the table as she went.  Matilda reached to pinch the top corner off the top of the pretzel.  I playfully swatted at her hand.  "Hands off that woman."  She looked at me and grinned sheepishly.  "I just wanted a nibble." 
"Didn't I just tell you the difference between you and a mouse yesterday?" 
Isabella giggled causing Matilda and me to do so as well.  Isabella winked then spoke to Matilda, "Try saying please."  Matilda looked at me and flamboyantly batted her eyelashes to say, "Oh please, Ms. Lochlan, might I please try a small taste of that enormous pretzel?"  I laughed at her silliness then looked her right in the eye and said, "no."  Matilda huffed feigning she was put off by my comment.  Mrs. Voiles arrived back at our table and sat Matilda's drink in front of her.  Matilda dropped her pretense to thank Mrs. Voiles for the drink.  Mrs. Voiles smiled politely then made her way back behind the counter to where she was working.  I took the knife and fork off my plate and sliced three pieces of the pretzel lose from the round top.  I offered a piece to Isabella then began eating one for myself.  Matilda's response was just what I had hoped for.  "Oh honestly" she laughed.  I chuckled slightly then handed her the mustard.  "You can have some mustard if you want.  I know civilized people eat mustard" I goaded Matilda some more.  Isabella sat smiling at us both across the table.  Matilda looked at her and asked, "how do live with this one?  She's absolutely childish."  She looked at me then back to Matilda.  "She's usually not like this.  You seen to bring out a different side of her."  Matilda looked at me, "do I?"  I put another piece of pretzel in my mouth and ignored her all together.  "I'll take that as a yes" she finished speaking with a smile.  She then reached her petite hand toward the pretzel slowly, I glanced toward the window as if I didn't notice.  She pinched a small corner off the pretzel and quickly ate it.  I looked at Isabella and smiled then asked,  "So how was shopping?" Matilda started to answer while we all enjoyed some of the pretzel.  I only listened to what she was saying until two men walked in the door jingling the door bell.  Mrs. Voiles greeted them as she does all her customers and offered them a seat where they wanted.  Matilda must of noticed them as well because we both watched them as they were seated.  I knew they had to be visitors because I had never saw them in Rivertown before.  As Mrs. Voiles was greeting her new customers Mr. Voiles entered the shop and greeted everyone in the dining room.  "Afternoon all, the weather looks to be bringing us some more rain soon."  He put his hat and coat on the coat rack just inside the door.  When he noticed his wife tending to the new gentlemen in town he looked at me, gave me a quick wink then went behind the counter.  Isabella and Matilda both returned his greeting graciously.  I looked at the pretzel then to Isabella and decided it was time to go.  "Well, on that note, are you two about ready to go?"  
Matilda asked, "what about the pretzel?"  Isabella answered for me, "we can get a bag to take it home."  I watched Mrs. Voiles walk behind the counter where her husband had stopped to busy himself.  I kept my eyes on the two guys who had just walked in.  They were talking low glancing to the counter and to where we were sitting.  The Voiles had disappeared behind the counter to the kitchen.  Isabella gave the instruction as to the next proceedings.  "Here" she extended her hand to me with money in it.  "This is for mine and Matilda's part of the check."  I declined her offer for the moment.  "It's alright.  I'll pay this one and you two can make it up the next time we stop in."  They agreed and I rose from where I had been sitting to go to the counter.  I had to wait for a few minutes for Mrs. Voiles to return to the front but when she did her usual demeanor had been erased from her face.  I asked for a bag for the remainder of the pretzel and she gladly went to find one.  Matilda and Isabella gathered their shopping packages and made their way closer to the door.  When Mrs. Voiles returned she went to the table and gathered the remainders of the pretzel off of the plate.  When she returned to the counter Mr. Voiles stepped out from the kitchen with another pretzel.  "Ah good, you're still here.  Thought you would like to have one of these to take home.  We over baked this morning and need to clean out the kitchen before I can bring in the new supplies." 
"Sure" I said.  "Just add it to the amount."
"Oh no need, this one is on the house" he said handing the plate to his wife.  After he did he stepped from behind the counter and went to the table where the visiting patrons were seated.  I heard them greet him and then Mrs. Voiles handed me the bag with the pretzels inside.  When I asked for the amount needed to be paid, she glanced over my shoulder, leaned slightly over the register and said, "keep it.  Take it to the barn this evening with the pretzel."  I nodded my head to acknowledge what she had said.  She rang the register acting as if I had paid her then handed me the receipt that she had already prepared.  "It was good to see you, be careful on your way home."  She turned to Isabella and Matilda and bid them a good day.  I told Matilda and Isabella to wait there while I went to get the car but they preferred going along as I went.  So together we left the soda shop and made our way across town along the sidewalks.  As we went the wind began to gust in stronger around the buildings and alleys between them.  When we reached the car I opened the doors and trunk to allow them a place to put their packages.  I looked at Isabella and told her, "I need to go to the post office.  I'll be back when I finish."  She said "alright" and I walked away from the car going straight away to the building two doors down.  When I stepped inside the owner of the office greeted me immediately.  "Ms. Lochlan, good to see you" Mr. Thatcher said.  He was wearing his usual long sleeved shirt with forearm cuffs, a pair of suspenders and a bow tie that matched the stripes of his shirt.  "I just found a letter for you this morning, from your father I believe.  Give me a moment I put it over here for delivery tomorrow."  Mr. Thatcher went to a large shelf covered with small compartments filled with various sized envelopes and boxes.  His son, Bryce Thatcher, stepped around from the room in the back.  "Well look who the wind blew in" he smiled.  "How are you, Penelope?"  He extended his hand to greet me.  "I'm doing well, Bryce and yourself?" 
"Oh I can't complain.  Been as busy as ever around here.  A little more so here lately, I suppose you've heard of that though."  Before I could answer him, Mr. Thatcher's voice spoke up, "ah yes, here it is."  He walked to the counter and handed me the letter.  I looked at the writing on the front.  The writing was in my mother's hand writing with my father's name as the sender.  I felt a small excitement holding the letter in my hand.  I couldn't help but smile.  Bryce's voice interrupted my thoughts.  "So, how is Isabella doing these days?  Is she still staying with you?"
Mr. Thatcher scolded his son.  "Bryce, hush that!"  He looked at me looking over his small straight line eye glasses.  "Going to Pembrook to school in two weeks.  Should be thinking more about that than what's going on at your house."  Bryce looked at me over his father's shoulder and made a funny face while shrugging his shoulders.  I grinned slightly before I spoke.  "I need to send a telegram if I can."
Mr. Thatcher eagerly attended my request.  "Of course, to whom will the telegram go?" 
"To my parents at this address" I handed him the letter he had just gave me with the address on it.  He took the envelope back and stepped to the telegraph machine, "what should the message say" he asked.  I asked if I could write it down, he agreed then handed me a piece of paper and a pencil.  "Write clearly" he instructed.  I took the pencil in hand and began to write the message I wanted to send.  As I wrote, the bell above the door sounded behind me. I didn't bother looking behind me as Bryce greeted his new visitor.  "Afternoon, can I help you?"  I finished writing my message then handed the paper to Mr. Thatcher who was looking towards the door behind me.  The look on his face was one of obvious concern.  I glanced over my shoulder slightly but kept my face toward Mr. Thatcher.  He took the paper from my hand and read the message I had wrote.  "Alright, looks good" he said then stepped back to the telegraph machine and began pecking out the message I was sending. 
"I was hoping you could send a message for me to Pembrook" the voice said. 
Bryce cordially responded.  "I can as soon as they finish.  Should only be a few minutes if you'd like to take a seat and wait." 
The fellow standing behind me agreed to the conditions then strolled casually behind me to a bulletin board against the wall at the end of the front counter wall.  Bryce gave me a wary look then nodded to the door as if instructing me to go on out the door.  I kept my face down then turned to face Bryce.  I walked to where he was standing and handed him the money for the telegram.  "Thank you" he said, "I'll get your change."
I spoke low, "keep it.  I'll stop in the next time I'm in town." 
Bryce nodded keeping his gaze on the stranger at the bulletin board.  "Be careful" were his final words to me before I made my way to the door and back outside. 
The ride home was longer than usual as well.  Not only had the wind picked up in speed but it had started to rain.  Matilda and Isabella were quieter than they had previously been.  As a matter of fact none of us seemed to be talking at all. I thought about Matilda and what her involvement in all of this with Madison Longfellow could be.  I considered taking her to the bed and breakfast house owned by the Martin brothers in town then decided I would rather keep her in my eyes sight if I was going to learn anything about what was going on.  When we came to the fork of the road that turned to our direction home the paved road ended.  I steered the car along the rain washed graveled dirt road wondering about everything that could possibly happen tomorrow because of today's events.  The thought of the letter in my pocket from my parents removed all the could be's and I eagerly applied more speed to the car to get home as quick as we could so I could read it.  As we topped the hill just below the old barn I noticed the loft windows were open, one of them flopped out against the wall from the wind.  I spoke out loud to my two companions to note they remind me to close them before nightfall.  Every thing outside our house looked the same as it always had.  I parked the car as close to the front gate as I could park then helped Matilda and Isabella carry the packages into the house.  The dogs greeted us at the front door when I opened it.  I called them to me immediately, so Matilda could pass by easily without them interfering with her entrance and they responded happy to see me.  Matilda went straight to her room carrying several items along with her while Isabella went to the dining room and placed her packages on the table.  I sat the bags in my hands down on the living room couch then spent a few minutes greeting and petting the dogs.  I wanted to read the letter from my parents immediately but the dark clouds were growing darker so I decided to put it away until later.  I took it to my bedroom to place it on the bed side table where their picture sat.  I looked down at my shoes, they were muddy.  The hem of my pants were wet and slightly dirtied from my walk inside from the car.  I decided to change them before going back outside to put the car away.  It only took a few minutes to change all my clothes.  By the time I was finished Isabella stepped to the bedroom door.  "Is it alright to come in," she asked before she tried opening it.  I put my hand on the knob to open it for her.  She looked inside the door to me sitting on the chair to say, "I was going to make some tea, would you like some?  Or maybe some coffee?"
"No thank you, not at the moment any way.  I need to put the car away."
"The rain looks like it's lighter now but the clouds look like it won't stay that way."
I stood from my seat, straightened my shirt sleeves then told her, "that's what I thought too.  I'm going to let the dogs out to the yard for a while before it's gets too rainy.  Will you call them back and towel them off for me please?" 
"Sure" she smiled when she spoke.  "Have you read the letter from your parents yet?  Are they alright?"
"No, not yet but we will later."  Before I left the room I made sure I had put the handkerchief and knife that Mr. Johann had gave me in my pants pocket.  Once I was sure I had everything, I grabbed my hat and jacket from the wall hanger and put them on.  After that we both made our way back to the living room.  I went to the front door, called the dogs to me, then opened the door to go outside.  "Back in a few minutes" I said then stepped out on the porch.  The dogs ran past me through the door then off the front deck into the yard.  I went to the well, taking the handkerchief Mr. Johann had gave me and tied it to the well handle.  Only a few sprinkles were falling around me now so I drew a bucket of water then made my way to the car.  When I got to the car I opened the passenger door to sit the bucket in the floor.  I got in then slid across the seat to the driver's side in front of the steering wheel.  It started easily, as usual, so I put the car in reverse to back it down the road some to the car shed just below the house.  I parked outside the doors then took the bucket of water out to pour over the spokes of the rims to wash the road mud off of them.  Once I finished I opened the shed doors, latched them open, then backed the car inside.  I went back outside, removed the latches then closed the doors closing myself up inside with the car.  There was a window facing the barn in the shed away from where anyone in the house could see.  So I opened the window, climbed through to the other side, then eased the window closed.  I stood for a moment to straighten my clothes and waited to see if there were any cars that could be heard approaching from any direction on the old road.  When I couldn't, I made my way to the barn scooting along the old barn wall away from the road in the tree line next to trees of the woodland.  I went to the small door just around the corner then let my self in.  Standing in the small room which use to be used to hold livestock grain I listened for any sound of any one who might be in the barn.  I didn't hear anything so I went on my way through to the barn where the wider part of the building was.  I walked along the grain troff along the open stalls where the cows use to be kept to feed during winter.  Oliver Hunt stepped out of the tack room at the back of the barn to greet me.  "Afternoon, Ms. Lochlan."
I walked towards him as he walked towards me.  "Hello, Oliver." 
"So how did things go in town today?"
"Well" I took a deep breath then recited all that had happened while I was at the meeting in city hall.  He stood listening intently and when I stopped speaking he simply nodded and said, "figured that would be what happened.  So the description you gave matched this Longfellow person?"
"According to your uncle Randal, yes.  He didn't look very pleased that I was right either."
"I guess not.  I'm not sure if he told you or not but his dealings with Mr. Longfellow didn't go so well all those years ago.  Both of my uncles, Randal and Paul, almost lost their entire company after going into business with that man.  If it hadn't have been for another man there in Pembrook, who did them fair, they would have lost everything."
I reached into my pocket for the knife and handkerchief Mr. Johann had gave me to give to him.  "I was told to give you these" I showed him the objects I had.  He took them in his hand to examine them.  "Mr. Johann sent them" he said.  I nodded yes; about that time the loft windows, I had noticed on my drive home, slammed shut in the top of the barn.  Oliver looked at me and said, "don't worry, it's just the windows up there.  Follow me."  He turned back toward the tack room where he had been when I entered the barn then started walking.  I followed him.  He talked as we walked.  "I need to tell you a few things I'm sure.  If I confuse you or you don't understand, ask me which parts and I'll do the best I can to clear things up for you.  Now," he stepped into the tool room he had been in earlier.  "Do you know where the hatch is?"  I walked over and stood on top of it, "here" I answered.  "Alright good," he said.  "What you need to remember most is this, more than one person will be in this barn at all times.  We need to be fed so we can stay out of sight.  You're going to bring us our food through there, once a day, alright?"  I eagerly listened to every word he said without interrupting.  He went over to a wall ladder that went up to the loft and started to climb it.  "Follow me" he spoke as he climbed.  I did what he said.  When we reached the top of the loft we stopped, he pointed to the corner side of the barn.  "Before you leave the house during the day look at that corner for a bucket."  He stopped and looked at me.  "You can see alright can't you?"  I nodded my head yes.  "Alright good, now if there's a bucket there in that corner outside that means we saw somebody around this way that ain't from here and has no business being up this way.  Stay in the house with your doors locked, windows too.  That friend of yours that's visiting, does she always keep her curtains open?" 
"I don't know" was my reply. 
"I'll keep an eye on it myself then" he started walking toward the loft windows that were opened beating the barn wall.  "This is how you will know some one's in here.  We'll keep them closed unless you leave the house then we'll open them.  If you hear anything in town we need to know get here as soon as can but go through the hatch.  If somebody has been poking around here they have a good idea of all our routines"  He took one of the windows and pulled it closed.  I closed the other one.  We walked back across the empty barn loft for the ladder we climbed up on.  "Now at night, before you let your dogs out or before you go out, look outside your kitchen window.  If there's an arrow in next to your window, take the arrow, double lock everything and get to the path.  If you don't see an arrow you can go out but stay on the porch.  If you hear something thud the wall in the kitchen, get to it quick.   It's probably an arrow, see if it has a message with it.  Do what ever it tells you to do after you get to the path.  Do your dogs bark much at noises outside, enough to wake you up if I need to?"
"Yes, they're not very accommodating to anything making noise of a night besides themselves." 
He started back down the ladder to the tack room and I followed.  He walked over to the floor hatch and opened it.  "Once a day you're going to bring enough food for two people this way.  Tie it to the rope at the bottom but don't try bringing it up yourself.  Let it stay there.  If you bring some through here and the food from the day before is still here, take the new bag with you back to the short path to the shed.  We'll need some extra lantern oil too.  Pour it in the lantern but let it stay there.  In a couple of days I'll leave you a note down there on the lantern with a list of visitors that's going to be passing through.  Father Francis will probably be the first one to be this way and he'll probably be through tomorrow.  Go on about your daily routines as you always do unless you see that bucket or an arrow.  Oh and, anytime you hear a thud look around for an arrow.  We'll be able to get one of those to you easier than we will a person if you're outside during the day and we see something heading this way that you need to know about.  I saw you tied a handkerchief to your well handle, make sure you do that every time you draw water.  When you have plans to leave the house to go somewhere in your car, take the handkerchief down, preferably the night before that way we know.  Look this way for the bucket before you leave the house.  If it's there, stay home.  We'll take it down and send you word when it's alright to leave.  Let me see, what else" he stopped talking to think.  "How much do you remember from being in the safe room" he asked.
"Not much" I answered.
"Well have you ever heard the phrase, 'around the wall and through the crawl what you can't read will tell you all?"
The memory made me smile and I added to where he had stopped.  "The elves clean well here underneath make sure to always wipe your feet." 
"That's right, they do.  Do you know what that means?"
"If there's footprints in the rooms get back to the house and don't go back through the path."
"Exactly" he smiled, "is that dog of yours any good in the dark?"
"He could walk it blind" I said. 
"You're father taught him did he?"  Oliver asked.
"Me and him." I answered. 
"Good to know, trust what you were taught.  It'll keep you safe down there.  Now, we have enough food for today but I'll be expecting a fresh bag before morning.  Like I said, don't matter what you have, just bring enough for at least two of us.  If anything changes under there" he looked down at the floor, I'll let you know one of two ways.  One arrow, two at the first turn.  If your dog can't make it through get back in the house and secure the floor as best as you can.  There's a safe room inside too, right?"
"Yeah, behind the cupboards in the kitchen."
"Alright, once you're in you're in.  Stay there till the gnomes whistle."
"I will, how long you think this will be going on Oliver?"
"I really don't know Ms. Lochlan.  It could be exactly what this Longfellow said, him passing through being obnoxious as he goes, or it could be longer.  We won't really know until we live through it."  I thought about his statement and added one of my own.  "I still think it's awful strange of him dredging the river that way.  I can understand the raft and him thinking to protect his cargo, but that canon going off that way just don't make any sense to me at all." 
"Well unfortunately folks like Mr. Longfellow don't care if they ever explain their selves or not.  So we don't ask questions, we just do our best to protect our homes and our families hoping they'll just go right on their way and be finished with it.  As I remember it, he said he didn't want any trouble, but neither do we.  All we're doing is trying to keep people safe in case he changes his mind again.  Do you understand?"  I said yes then heard what I thought was rain drops beginning to tap against the barn roof.  "You'd best be getting back to your house Ms.  Lochlan.  Sounds like the rain finally got here."
I agreed with Oliver then started out the door back the way I had entered.  He said my name and instructed me to go another way.  "I pulled some of these old boards lose here" he said showing me where he was talking about.  "If you ever go in and out of here, use this way.  Not as easy to see from the road."  I thanked Oliver for the information then slipped through the space in the wall to make my way back to the house.

Portraits of the Past