Will O Wisp

by Risner, Fay

  Gracie's glare told Shana she shouldn't criticize her elders. She leaned back in the seat and folded her arms over her chest.

  “Well, are you going to get rid of this deer for us or stand around passing the time of day? This ain't no social call you know,” Gracie barked.

  “If you insist, I'll see what I can do.” Millard grabbed the deer around the neck and pulled back. The deer bucked and pressed forward onto Gracie's lap. Millard held on tight to the deer's neck. When his feet hit the ground, he jerked back again. The deer's head slipped out. She whirled to leave and bumped into Millard, sending him flying backward. He fell flat on the ground and expelled a loud oof.

  Gracie smiled at him. “Just like a man to do a little work and have to sit down on the job afterward.”

  “Gracie, you be nice. Mr. Sokal didn't have to help us,” Melinda scolded. She leaned over to look down past the horse's rump at the man. “Are you hurt, Mr. Millard?”

  “No, I don't think so. Just had the wind knocked out of me. Figures,” he said as he struggled to his feet and brushed his back side off.

  Gracie asked, “What figures? You never did as long as I've known you ever finish what you were thinking so the rest of us could understand you.”

  Millard rubbed the dirt off his trousers. “I can't remember a thing I ever helped you do, Gracie Evans, that I didn't get the wind knocked out of me one way or the other.” He looked up at her with a warm smile and tender eyes. Millard's double meaning produced a rare blush on Gracie's face.

  “Now I'm right sorry I asked,” Gracie said softly. “We best get moving.”

  “Where you headed?” Millard asked.

  “If it's any of your business, for a ride to show the girl around the country,” Gracie said.

  “Gracie! That isn't all. Mr. Sokal, we're spending a month at Gracie's farm while the renters are gone. Please stop by to visit. We'd love to see you again, and come for a meal. We certainly should repay you some how for being so much help this morning,” Melinda invited.

  Gracie glared at her. Shana was glad to see Gracie's evil eye didn't cause much effect on Melinda. She just smiled her lady like smile in answer to the glare.

  “I'd love to do that, Miss Melinda. I'm glad you told me about the farm visit. I figure with all the trouble Gracie had out here the last time I might ought to check on all three of you real often. Staying on Gracie's farm can turn into a real headache sometimes,” Millard said, still watching Gracie for a reaction.

  “Sawyer is waiting for us, and now we're late. We got to get going.” Gracie snapped the horse's lines. “Get up.”

  Millard stepped back fast. “Try not to speed, will you, Gracie?”

  As the horse trotted down the road, Melinda shouted back over her shoulder, “Thanks so much for all your help, Mr. Sokal.”

  He gave them a wave before he was lost from sight.

  “Shame on you, Gracie. Telling that nice man we're just out for a ride. You shouldn't fib like that. You will get caught in a fib every time,” Melinda scolded. She noticed Shana watching them intently. “Remember, child. No fibbing.”

  “I had a good reason. I did it, because I knew that man would say what he did. Now he will make a regular pest out of himself, knowing we're at the farm. Especially, since you offered him a meal. He lives alone and has to cook his own meals. It won't be just one time he'll come over you know. That man will be over every chance he gets for a home cooked meal.”

  “Nothing wrong with that, is there?” Melinda said in wide eyed innocent.

  “There is when it's Millard Sokal eating with us, and you know it,” grumbled Gracie.

  Melinda winked at Shana and got a grin.

  Chapter Five

  Thad Sawyer and his white spotted dog met their buggy. Gracie pulled back on the lines to whoa the horse by the house. The dog circled the buggy, barking about their arrival. He stopped at a back wheel long enough to lift his leg before he continued to yip.

  “Dog, you hush now. This is company.” At the rough sound of Thad's voice, the dog put his tail between his legs and slinked over by the end of the porch. He flopped down in the shade. “Morning, ladies, you're earlier than I thought you might be.” Thad stared at the hole in the side of the buggy. “Couldn't the livery stable find you a nicer buggy than this one?”

  Gracie shrugged.

  Melinda said, “Gracie, we shouldn't leave bad thoughts about the livery stable business with someone. Thad, it didn't look this bad when we started out.”

  “Sure and a deer did the damage when she stuck her head through the side of the buggy, Mr. Sawyer. You should have seen it runnin' along side the buggy, trying to keep up with the scared horse,” Shana said excitedly.

  Thad scratched a blond sideburn. “Is that right? You're all right, aren't you?”

  “We are thanks to Mr. Sokal. He stopped the horse for us when it got scared and ran away,” Melinda shared.

  “That's good,” Thad said as he looked from Gracie to Melinda to Shana. “Are all of you staying here while we're gone?”

  “Yip,” Gracie said.

  “That is all right, isn't it, Mr. Sawyer?” Melinda questioned.

  “Sure is. It will be good that Miss Gracie isn't out here alone. That did kind of worry me when I asked her to come after all that happened last time,” he said as he eyed Gracie.

  “Like you said yourself there's not likely to be a repeat of the same kind of thing this time so stop worrying. Matter of fact, I'm getting tired of hearing about how bad that last visit was. I say we don't need to mention it anymore. It's old history,” Gracie groused. “Say, are the Indians back yet?”

  Thad nodded. “They are. I caught a glimpse of some of them along the river when I checked the cows a while back, but come to think of it, I ain't seen anything of them since. Oh well, you know how that goes. The Indians only let you see them when they want to be seen.”

  “Well, there you go. Just the same I feel better knowing they're out there. I always have my own built in guards when they are here. Now let us get down, and you show us around so you can get going. I know Ivy is anxious to visit with her mother,” Gracie said gruffly.

  “Give me your hand, Miss Gracie.” While he helped her out of the buggy, Shana jumped out of the other side and ran to meet Thad's daughter, Abigail, tromping down the porch steps. “Hi, Shana.”

  The dog jumped up and joined them. His tail thumped into Shana's legs. She rubbed the top of his head which made him lean into her. “What's your dog's name, Abigail?”

  “Spot.”

  Shana grinned. “I reckon I can see how the dog got his name with all those black spots.”

  “Want to meet my cat, Bluebell. She has kittens. They just came yesterday,” Abigail said, heading toward the barn with Shana behind her. She turned to the dog tailing them. “You go back by the house, Spot. Bluebell doesn't like you.” As soon as the dog turned around, Abigail started for the barn. She said, “I sure am going to miss playing with my new kittens. They will be so big they won't know me when I get back. Will you play with them Shana while you're here so they're tame when I get home?”

  “Sure and I can do that,” Shana said eagerly.

  “Look at those two go on the run to the barn,” Melinda said, pointing after the girls.

  “Abigail sure is proud of the new kittens. She's worrying about them getting feisty while she's gone. It will be good the youngun is here to keep them tame. Abigail has been dragging her feet because of those kittens. That will make my girl feel better about leaving,” Thad said. “Now, Miss Gracie, you know all I know about how to do chores. Come to the barn. I can show you how much I feed the milk cow.”

  Gracie asked, “You got a milk cow now instead of that goat?”

  “Pardon me,” Melinda interrupted. “I can go in and say hello to Ivy. She can show me where everything is in the house since I may be doing most of the cooking.”

  “Go on then,” Gracie consented and started for the barn. “Now, Thad, what kind of
cow did you get?”

  “A jersey,” he said.

  “Best kind. Good rich milk and plenty of cream for butter,” Gracie assented.

  When they entered the barn, Gracie made out the top of Shana's flaming red head and the golden hair of Abigail hunkered down in the hay manger. “You two all right over there?”

  “Come see. Tis the sweetest baby kittens Bluebell has,” Shana said.

  Gracie peeked in the manger. The purring gray cat was stretched out in a hollowed out spot in the loose hay. A pile of gray and black kittens squirmed over her stomach, trying to nurse. “How many kittens did she have anyway? That's a mess of them.”

  “Six, Miss Gracie, but that isn't unusual for Bluebell. She always has six,” Abigail explained.

  “You girls have fun with the kittens. I'm going to show Miss Gracie around. When I holler, Abigail, you come running. We have to leave soon,” Thad reminded her.

  “Yes, Papa,” the girl said.

  “Now, the feed is behind that door.” Thad pointed. “Just a couple scoops of each kind of feed will do the cow until you're done milking her. Her stanchion and trough is on the end of the manger. She walks right into it. Gentle as can be. No kicking or anything. Think you can milk her, Miss Gracie?”

  Gracie walked to the back door and looked behind the barn. “Never seen a cow yet I couldn't milk. Right fine looking milker. What's her name?”

  “Clara. She can go out to pasture with the other cows, but she's usually pretty good about coming in at milk time.”

  Gracie craned her neck to see in all corners of the barn yard's back pen. “Still got the goat?”

  “Nah, I gave her to Neff Graves down the road. I doubt she gives enough milk to do all the kids he has, but I thought the goat might help Mrs. Graves out some with the cooking,” Thad explained.

  “That was right kind of you, Thad,” Gracie said. “I feel sorry for that family myself. Every time I look at Neff's dirty old hide I feel like scratching. He's no good, and he ain't about to change.”

  “Reckon not. He was over here a couple weeks back. He wanted to know if I had any extra chickens. He said his all died, and he needed some laying hens so he had eggs to eat.”

  Gracie slanted her head over her shoulder. “Did you give him any?”

  “Sure, I gave him a dozen. I might not of if it been just Neff, but I can't stand to see them younguns going hungry,” Thad said.

  “Lookee here, might be you got too kind hearted. We can't feed every poor family in this county. That's for sure,” Gracie scolded.

  “Yes, ma'am, I know,” Thad said, sheepishly. “Now any questions?”

  “None that I can think of. I figure I can handle most anything around here,” Gracie bragged.

  “I thought you could,” Thad said, smiling at her. “Now want to go to the house, and say hello to Ivy before we leave?”

  “Sure thing,” Gracie said.

  At the door, Thad turned. “Abby, say good bye to them kittens and head for the house. We got to get going now.”

  “All right,” the girl said slowly.

  Ivy was showing Melinda the pantry when Thad and Gracie walked into the kitchen. “You, ladies, help yourself to any food in here, and whatever you want from the cellar. Not much ready in the garden yet, but radishes and lettuce might be ready before we get back. Even the peas, so you just pick what you find fresh from the garden. Rhubarb is about ready to pull and horseradish.” She came to the pantry door. “Morning, Miss Gracie. Sure is kind of you to help us out again like this. I can't hardly wait to see my mother again.”

  “I know what you mean. I always enjoy spending some time here. This will always be my home, and I get tired of city life,” Gracie admitted. “You all right with Melinda and the girl being here this time? That means more food will be ate up.”

  Ivy nodded her head. “I think that's a right smart idea to have someone here with you. It won't be so lonesome.”

  “That's just what I told her,” Thad said.

  “Good,” Ivy said. “Thad, are we ready to leave now?”

  “Yip, and I told Abby to hurry it up in the barn, but I might have to holler at her again when we get to the wagon,” he said.

  Once Abigail was seated in the back of the buckboard, Gracie, Melinda and Shana waved goodbye until they couldn't see the Sawyer wagon for the trees.

  “Now what, Gracie?” Melinda asked.

  “Did Ivy show you the bedrooms and such?”

  “No,” Melinda said.

  “Oh, before I forget it, over yonder is the outhouse,” Gracie said, pointing to the small, wooden structure. “The knob slides down on the outside by itself sometimes and locks the door with a body in it. I doubt Thad ever replaced my wire. Until I find a piece to stick over the nail inside by the door just holler if you get locked in. I will let you out, and I'll holler so you can let me out.”

  “Good to know,” Melinda said.

  “Now let me show you the rest of the house, and we best fix a bite to eat,” Gracie said.

  “This house is where you always lived?” Shana asked.

  “Mostly, but when we first homesteaded Papa built a sod house over in the trees. It's about gone now, but I'll show it to you when we get around to walking that direction. After while, he built us this house. I lived here until I moved to town.”

  Gracie stopped just inside the kitchen door. “Girl, here is the pan to wash up in. The bucket of water is to pour into the pan and get drinks out of. When you see the bucket is about empty pour what is left in the dishpan or teakettle and go fill it.”

  “Where is the pump?”

  Gracie walked over to the window. “Look out yonder. It's standing there plain as day. See that tin cup sparkling in the sunlight. You can even get a drink right there if you've a mind, too. If the pump doesn't work right off, you might have to come in and get that water you poured into the dish pan. You have to pour it down the pump to prime it then pump the handle fast. Water always comes out.”

  “That's what I'll do,” Shana said. “I've primed Maudie Brown's pump before so I know how to do it.”

  “Now, we can go see the living room,” Gracie said, leading the tour. “The Sawyers kept most of the furniture I had. The brown horsehair couch has been here a long time. My papa sure liked it when he wanted to take an afternoon nap after he ate a big lunch. He'd rest for a spell then go back to work. See these rockers.” Gracie rubbed her hand across the arm of one and the back of the other. “These were my mama and papa's rockers. He built them special for the two of them to sit next to each other at night. One on each side of the lamp table here so Mama could knit and Papa could read the Locked Rock newspaper. When I look at the rockers, I still see my Mama and Papa rocking in them.”

  “What a grand fireplace,” Melinda explained. She studied the large rock fireplace and slick wooden mantle, lined with keepsakes and pictures of the Sawyer family.

  “Those rocks came out of the field. Papa built that fireplace with some help from me and my mama. The fields needed cleared of them rocks, and Papa never wasted a thing. That fireplace kept the house warm all winter. Well, between the fireplace and the wood cook stove in the kitchen.”

  Shana said, “Where tis it that I'll sleep?”

  Gracie opened the door by the fireplace. “This was my room. You sleep there. The pegs on the wall are to hang your clothes on when you have time to empty that bag. The door over there on the opposite side of the room was my folks' bedroom. Melinda and me will sleep there.” She turned to Melinda. “Guess I forgot to say there was only two bedrooms. You all right with sleeping with me?”

  “That will be fine, Gracie,” Melinda said.

  “Each bedroom has a thunder bucket so if you need to go in the middle of the night just use it. Girl, that means you have to empty yours next morning and rinse it out with water from the well. No leaving the stinky bucket sit in your room.”

  “Yes, and sure it tis, I will be sure to remember such as that,” Shana said, wrinkling up
her nose. “Where do I empty it?”

  “In the outhouse holes,” Gracie said. “Now let's go get something to eat right quick so we can go for that walk this afternoon.”

  “What should we fix?” Melinda asked.

  “A quick sandwich like fried eggs might work. We will worry about what else to fix for supper later. Now that Millard knows we're here, and you invited him to eat with us, no telling when that man will show up. I'd just as soon be done eating when he comes,” Gracie complained.

  “Oh, Gracie, that isn't nice,” Melinda said. She looked around the parlor. “You know this place could use a bit of tidying up before company comes. Gracie, beat these throw rugs, and I'll sweep the floor. Shana, I'll give you a dust rag. You go over all the furniture and the lamp table in the parlor.”

  “That's a lot of work to go to right off the bat. I'm sure Ivy works hard at keeping this place clean, and we just got here,” groused Gracie.

  Melinda ignored Gracie as she ordered, “Shana, you and Gracie each take a rug and hang them over the clothes line. I'll bring the other one with me so Gracie can get started. We will have this place tidy right quick like.”

  Melinda threw the throw rug she carried over the clothesline and handed Gracie the older broom. “Now you beat the dust out of them. It won't take me long to sweep the floors before I start lunch.”

  Gracie gave one of the rugs a hard whack that made the wire clothesline dance and sing. Melinda turned back to check out the noise. She put her hands on her hips. “Gracie, I said beat the dust out of the rugs, not destroy them.”

  “If the company is just Millard you expect to show up, this ain't worth all the work I'm going to for that man,” groused Gracie.

  “Company is company no matter who shows up,” Melinda said as she walked up the porch steps. “Come along, Shana. You dust right quick and set the table for me.”

  Shana ran after Melinda, thinking it was safer to get as far away as she could from Gracie's swing. That broom might connect with her if she stayed too close.

  Gracie was right about egg sandwiches being a quick lunch. Melinda set the three saucers and skillet over by the dishpan. “We can wash these dishes with the supper ones.