Rachel was delighted they were often at the dinner table now, while shy Miss Callie preferred to eat in the kitchen. Tonight, however, she had company, for Charles Earl, who had come to help search, was also dining in the kitchen, even though it was the host’s birthday. Miss Callie had told Rachael that she had some details to attend to for tonight’s party. Earlier in the afternoon, as Rachael helped in the kitchen before dinner, she heard the two chefs discussing cooking, herbs, gardening, birds, and the recent snowstorm. Neither of them seemed to be at a loss for words.
Miss Mariah smiled. “Yes, but we didn’t find the horses, unfortunately.” She didn’t even look up from her plate while explaining this. Instead, she chased a small, whole, pickled beet around her plate with her fork, offering no further explanation of their part in the search.
So, Rachael turned to Crane, to include him in the conversation. “Did you go far, Crane?”
“Yes, it seemed so. We even got out and walked down by the marshes and in Deep Meadow near where those soldiers were, but spotted nothing. We only saw where grass was tamped down where they slept and a path where they went toward the water,” Crane explained. “We looked well, though, and went all the way to Blue Slough, as far as Merry Marsh, and throughout Daisy Hollow.” He was very matter-of-fact, and disappointed, too.
“You did a fine job, Crane and Miss Mariah. I do appreciate it,” John Davis said, nodding his approval, expressing his respect and gratitude for their help. “You won’t be asked to go out tomorrow, yet, some of us will go,” he explained, looking specifically at Rachael, so she would know of his plans.
She nodded her acknowledgement of them to him, so he would know she understood. Next, she saw Monty place a finger to his lips for silence, and shake his head ‘no,’ which made her wonder. After dinner, John disappeared to the barn, carrying Lily. Rachael had not given the doll to her yet, since there was a crowd for the meal tonight. She chose to present it in private.
Even Sheriff Joe Turner had been asked to stay and dine with them. So, as guests lingered, waiting for the party to begin, Rachael excused herself from the gathering and went into the kitchen to ask Miss Callie if she had any extra fabric for doll dresses and sweaters, hats, and pocketbooks. It was a much quieter scene here than in the dining room. The two cooks, Miss Callie and Charles, were discussing making soups. Rachael liked Charles Earl and knew he was a big help to Lieutenant Graham. She’d seen him right at home in Magnolia Gardens and in the kitchen, plus tasted his delicious dishes he’d brought with him, and she’d determined that he was an expert in both domains. It seemed those two cooks had much in common.
“Although I always like stirring up a soup, I can hardly wait until more strawberries ripen and the raspberries come on, Miss Callie. Oh, I love the blackberries, too. There’s so much you can do with all of those berries: desserts, preserves, juices, syrup, and pies,” he was saying.
“Excuse me. I hate to interrupt. But, do you have any extra fabric scraps, Miss Callie? I would love to create some accessories and clothes for Lily’s doll,” Rachael then asked, as a pause occurred in their conversation, when she set down some dirty plates.
“My, yes, do I have fabric,” the cook replied. “As soon as I get this kitchen clean, I’ll search my trunk and find some for you. Do you want me to bring it by your room, Rachael?”
“Oh, no, Miss Callie. I intend to stay right here and help you clean up these dishes until your kitchen sparkles, just like you like it. I can come by your room and get the fabric afterward, but we do have to think of the party, too, don’t we?”
“Oh, I’m going to be helping Miss Callie clean the kitchen,” Charles Earl informed them with a smile. “So, don’t you worry about the kitchen, Miss Hathaway, because we know you’re busy with little Miss Davis.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” the cook quickly informed him. “You go cheer the menfolk, Mr. Charles Earl, because they’re downhearted that they didn’t find John’s horses. You tell them there is about to be a party.”
“Look at this young nanny. She’s tired. She has no business out here in the kitchen. She needs to get the little one to bed soon. So, I’ll help you with the kitchen,” he insisted, and so he began.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Monty Graham had other plans for them. Entering the kitchen, he summoned them to gather quickly. Therefore, the two men helped the ladies bring John’s cake, plates, silverware, napkins, and pitchers of cold tea and milk to surprise him. His parents, John and Cloie, and grandparents, Anthony and Andrea Lightfoot, and John and Hattie Davis had arrived, sneaking in while John was in the barn.
“Surprise!” everyone called when he returned through the door with his little girl in his arms. It was a grand surprise. For a moment, he stood speechless, with gratitude upon his face. Rachael gleefully took Lily so he could hug his family. Next, everyone insisted that he open his presents while the cake was being cut and served. Meanwhile, another surprise ensued, for his friends and family began to sing a happy birthday song, while diligently playing the musical instruments they had brought along: featuring Cousin Emery and Crane Emerson on harmonicas, John’s grandfathers strumming their guitars, his father on a banjo, Monty on a drum, Buddy on a zither, Sheriff Joe on a dulcimer, Doc Evans humming and whistling, and Miss Rachael Hathaway joining them on her xylophone, ~ a musical birthday tribute. Afterward, John joined them for other songs on his glass harmonica.
Yet, one of the biggest surprises was waiting for him in his driveway, the steel plow he had seen at the store, and Rachael had purchased, which the men had brought home today from The Market On The Main. Or it may have been the barometer he mentioned he wanted and she presented him, during a romantic moonlight stroll in the gardens later that evening, or, it could have been the kisses there.
Breathlessly, John and Rachael burst through the dining room door the next morning to a surprised group sipping teas or cocoa before breakfast. Rachael immediately went to Lily, to see what was in her cup. John sat down in his chair, so the others could sit. “Sorry, to delay breakfast, everyone,” he managed to say, as he glanced around the room. “We needed exercise after that lovely cake last evening.”
“You’re not late. We’re early,” Monty replied, chuckling. “We’ve been having a fine conversation about who gets to use your plow first, John. Where have you two been, by the way? We were worried about you.”
Rachael now offered the explanation, giving John a chance to catch his breath and rest. “We went to the pasture to check for the horses, just in case they had returned.”
“Oh,” was the lieutenant’s reply. “That does make sense at seven-thirty in the morning,” he joked.
“That’s not all,” Rachael let them know, as she attended to Lily.
“No? What happened?” Buddy Callahan wanted to know.
“We were chased,” John reported, as Miss Mariah placed hot chocolate before him, wide-eyed.
“Chased?” his maid asked, with concern in her voice. “Were you chased by horses?”
He laughed.
“No. We were chased by raccoons, wild animals! We thought they might bite,” Rachael explained.
“They might,” Monty agreed, pulling out a chair for her and one for Lily next to him.
That evening, before the friends’ fireside chat, John took Rachael aside in the foyer. “I enjoyed our walk this morning, yet, not as much as our walk last night in the moonlight,” he confessed.
“Oh, that? I did, too.” A wide smile graced her lips. She beamed at this man who intrigued her so much.
He drew closer, kissing her hair. “I’m sorry our morning walk was cut short by the raccoon chase. I wanted to speak with you about something and thank you again for the plow, barometer, and the kisses,” he explained, stroking her hair. “You went overboard.”
“You’re welcome for the plow, barometer, and the kisses.” She couldn’t imagine what else was on his mind,
though. “Have I displeased you?”
“Rachael, you have not displeased me at all.” He grew serious. “I want you to permanently take over the finances, please.”
She was not expecting to hear this new development and plan of his, and looked at him in surprise. “What? Me? I know very little about your finances, sir.” She was somewhat flustered, yet, flattered, too.
“It’s John. Worry not. You’ve done a fine job of it previously, while I was in Washington.” He was matter-of-fact. “I shall be consumed with planting and searches. I will show you everything you need to know.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. We will sit down together at my desk within a few days, if this meets with your approval.”
Surprisingly, she agreed. “It does.” Studying his eyes, face, and mouth, she knew he was serious.
Later, everyone wanted to discuss the raccoon encounter, since none of them had had one like it.
“How many were there?’ Crane wanted to know. “I’ve never seen more than two at a time.”
“There were four,” Rachael confirmed. “They were playing in Clover Meadow.”
“I made her turn and run as soon as I saw them,” John told the group. “I had to protect her.”
“Why run?” Miss Callie questioned, as she went around the table pouring tea. “Here’s a spot of cleansing, chai tea from India for everyone. It’s compliments of Mr. Charles Earl of Fernhaven, your springtime tonic.”
Rachael grinned, for, she liked the way Miss Callie worded that, and perhaps Charles Earl was their cook’s springtime tonic, as well.
John continued. “Thank you, Miss Callie and Charles Earl. I was not exactly sure what those little raccoons would have done. The problem is, they were babies. They’re usually nocturnal, out in the evenings, I thought. So, we were not really expecting to see any in daylight, and did not know exactly where their mother was.”
“Are babies more of a problem than the adults?” asked Miss Mariah, a puzzled look upon her face.
“They can be,” Monty Graham further explained. “But, the parents can be extremely fierce when protecting their young. You always want to stay away from them. They’re wild animals, after all. They growl, too,” he laughed.
At this point, the conversation turned to the snagpulling jobs offered to Cousin Emery and Buddy Callahan. “Can you justify being away from your land for that channel work?” John questioned, his voice taking on a serious tone.
Miss Callie rose and nodded to Crane and Miss Mariah. “I think we’ll go now. I have some things to talk over with these loved ones and a pile of dishes in the kitchen to attend to,” she revealed, with a chuckle, in her warm, winning way. The younger pair and Mr. Earl also rose immediately to collect and carry dishes, while Miss Callie surprisingly asked to take Lily. John approved her offer, with thoughts of entertaining Rachael later.
“Justify what?” John’s cousin was quietly asking, as if not following John’s train of thought.
“Can you afford being away from home, for one thing?” John continued.
“I can justify it,” Buddy Callahan told his host. “I need the money,” he said bluntly. “Unfortunately, my bottomland flooded this winter, due to all of the heavy rains and all of that unexpected snow we had. It flooded and froze out some of my crops of potatoes, onions, and other things.”
“I should go, too.” Rachael felt out of place and didn’t believe they wanted her opinion, anyway.
“Stay, please, Miss Hathaway,” Buddy implored her. “I’d like to hear your opinion on this matter, as well. Should we stay at home and farm, or should we go out on the boat for a guaranteed income?” He was very frank and sincere in asking her opinion.
“I need to give that some thought, because I am certainly more than willing to give my best and most honest assessment of the situation, since you asked. In my estimation, you both should stay on your land, your farms, if at all possible. We need farmers and produce. I, myself, believe you are needed at home. But, look at me. Here I am, away from home,” she chuckled. “I think income will surely come through that method, though. Yet, farming is just as important as clearing the channels. They both have merit. Perhaps you could think of other ways to use your farms as income, while you spend some time on the boat. Rent some rooms, or lease a piece of property to someone who has none, to grow something. Or perhaps, you, Dr. Callahan, could put in a huge crop of pumpkins or squashes and sell them just everywhere within the county in the fall. Cousin Emery, you could grow corn or something different from Dr. Callahan’s crops, and sell it in the autumn markets without being in competition with each other. Eventually, things will improve and you might even consider hiring help, creating jobs, with some of your income or salary from the snagpuller, if you do go out.” There, she had said it. They could take her opinion or leave it. She was pleased with herself for offering her advice. “Even if you do not adhere to my suggestions, thank you for asking for my opinion.” When she turned to leave the room, the look on Dr. Davis’ face was unexpected, one of beaming approval.
“I agree.” Charles Earl offered his quiet agreement with John and Rachael’s opinions, as he re-entered to collect more dishes.
“I do, too,” Monty agreed with a smile, proud of all three, John, Miss Hathaway, and Charles Earl, for speaking their opinions.
“But I need money now,” Buddy quietly admitted, as Rachael pointed to her sore ankle, waved, grabbed up the baby doll she had not quite finished dressing because of John’s party, and headed toward her room.
“I’ll bring the fabric by your room after I find it and we can look in my trunk any old time you wish, honey. But not tonight, since I’m rather busy,” Miss Callie explained with a laugh, as she refilled the teapot. So, Rachael focused on those words, while hurrying down the hallway to go to her room to rest.
“That would be fun,” Miss Mariah whispered from somewhere. At first, Rachael thought it was the wind. Within moments, though, she knew it wasn’t, for, whispers rose from beneath the stairwell like dust on a dry road, while she focused on the doll and what kind of clothes she would create for it.
Again, within moments, whispers were heard. I certainly do not wish to intrude on anyone, she thought to herself. But I do want my friends to be careful not to rile the doctor or Crane’s mother, Miss Callie. Besides, I know exactly who is down there under those stairs. Carefully, she made her way back down the hall from her bedroom door to the top of the staircase and debated whether to descend. She would. Carefully, with the back side of the ruby ring from her parents, she knocked on the railing all the way down, as she descended, letting them know she was approaching with each step. Uncertain of what she would say when she faced them, Rachael grew nervous. After all, it’s not my place to upset the help, my friends. Still, I feel that Miss Mariah and Crane should know I heard them. Drawing a deep breath, she turned toward the wicker loveseat under the stairwell. A fleeting thought entered her mind, making her smile ~ that beautiful, hand-made piece was well-named, well-made, and well-placed. Some night I might even wish to sit there myself with someone. Rachael liked the very thought of it, wondering with whom she would sit, as if she didn’t already know.
Instantly, the pair sprang forth to greet her. No embarrassment crossed their happy faces this time.
“Miss Rachael, what are you doing here?” the housekeeper happily asked.
“Miss Hathaway, are you alright? Do you need our assistance getting upstairs?” Crane continued the questioning, a look of concern upon his face.
Rachael smiled at his use of the word ‘our.’ She was actually stalling for time. “No. I’ll be fine. I was just wondering if you two would ever care to join me in creating floral papers in the library?” She breathed a sigh of relief at actually thinking of a subject she could introduce.
“We could,” Crane replied, somewhat skeptically, and not very convincingly.
&nb
sp; “They can become fine wedding invitations, you know,” she suggested, then wondered whether she had overstepped her bounds. She could hardly contain the grin which was spreading across her face.
Miss Mariah shrieked in joy. “How did you know?”
“I don’t know. Tell me about it, Miss Mariah, Crane,” Rachael implored, excited, as her friend took her hand and began to sway, apparently wishing to share some great joy.
“I don’t have a ring to give her or anything like that, yet. But Mariah has agreed to be my wife,” Crane announced proudly.
“Oh, I am so happy for the two of you,” Rachael gushed. “May I hug you? You know I think a lot of both of you, since you immediately gave me such great joy when I first came here and felt so alone. You welcomed me in like family and helped me up and down the stairs faithfully after my ankle injury. You brought me food, flowers, and water. I do greatly appreciate all that you’ve done for me here. May I help you with your wedding plans?” She did hug both of them.
“Oh, Miss Hathaway, that would be so wonderful!” Mariah agreed. “We don’t have any, though.”
“It would be helpful, since we don’t know exactly where to start. We haven’t even told my mother yet,” Crane explained.
“I’m sure she will be so thrilled,” Rachael assured him. “I just love her. We always have such a great time together. She’s a good friend to me, too.”
“But we don’t even know how to tell Dr. Davis,” John’s housekeeper confessed, showing some concern. “Right now he has such bad news on his mind with Butterscotch, Chocolate, and Mrs. Davis gone.”
“Yes. Well, why don’t you let me tell him, or would you rather do it yourselves?”
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