The Settlement

by Ali Spooner

  “You ever been yard porchin’?” Sister Frances asked.

  “Since I have no idea what you just said, I’ll have to answer no,” Cadin said.

  “Yard porchin’ is what we country folks do in the fall when the weather turns nice. My friend has a large deck out in her yard and this is where the party people go,” Sister Frances said.

  “The younger crowd will pull a big screen television out and run the cable connection out the window so they can drink beer and watch SEC football, while the rest of us cook and prepare a meal fit for a king,” Sister Frances said.

  “That sounds too good to pass up,” Cadin said. “What’s the dress code?”

  “There is none,” Miss Betty said.

  “We go naked?” Cadin teased.

  “No, child, people will be dressed in all kinds of outfits. A lot of orange and blue and crimson as you might expect, but there’s no telling who will wear the most outlandish outfit.” Miss Betty smiled. “Your jeans and a T-shirt will be just fine.”

  “Yard porchin’ it is then. What time do we need to be there?”

  “Women usually start coming in around lunch, so there will be sandwiches and such and those that want to hunt, well they hunt,” Sister Frances said.

  “Is there really any hunting going on or is this an excuse for a party?”

  “Oh there are shotguns and generally a few shots are fired; I think we even had a few birds shot down a couple of years ago,” Miss Betty said.

  Cadin turned and looked at Lexie. “May I have the afternoon off Saturday?”

  Lexie giggled. “Yes, you can.”

  “We should ask Terri if she would like to join us after she gets off work and take Lexie with us. It would be a way for her to start meeting new friends,” Sister Frances said.

  “That sounds like fun. Will you ask Mommy if I can go?”

  “I sure will,” Sister Frances said.

  “Eat up so we can get back to work,” Cadin said.

  †

  After a significant number of the sandwiches disappeared, Lexie retrieved her bucket and they returned to work. By midafternoon, Lexie had filled six buckets and was working on another when Miss Betty brought out a pitcher of lemonade.

  “You two need to take a break,” she said and poured drinks.

  Sitting on a small bench drinking the refreshing lemonade was where Terri found them when she arrived home from work. Lexie waved to her mom, who came over to check on their progress. “How’s it going?” she asked.

  “It’s been awesome today,” Lexie said. “Having Cadin rake the pecans really helps.”

  Terri looked up at Cadin and smiled. “Thanks for helping Lexie.”

  “She’s done all the hard work, I’ve just raked.”

  Miss Betty picked up the pitcher and looked at Terri.

  “I believe Sister Frances has something she wants to ask you,” Miss Betty said.

  “Okay, I’ll go see what she wants and then shower and relax for a little while. I want you to finish up here soon so you can get cleaned up for supper, okay?”

  “Can we work another hour, Mom?” Lexie asked.

  Terri looked at Cadin who nodded her head. “Yes, but not a minute more, you’re dusty from head to foot.”

  “Let’s go, Cadin,” Lexie said and ran back to her bucket.

  “I have something to ask you too, but it will wait until later,” Cadin said as she bent to pick up the rake.

  Terri nodded and headed for the house, emerging several minutes later to give Lexie the thumbs-up sign. “Looks like we’re going to a party,” Cadin said with a grin.

  †

  When the hour was up, Lexie took her final bucket into the house and dumped it into the large garbage can Sister Frances had set out for her. Then she ran back outside to store her bucket. “We almost filled the garbage can today,” she said with excitement.

  “We’ll get it tomorrow,” Cadin said as she opened the shed to return her rake. Her eyes landed on a shop vac and the gears of her imagination started turning. “Let’s hit the showers, boss,” she said, then followed Lexie to the sleeping area.

  †

  After cleaning the dinner dishes, Cadin asked Terri and Lexie to go outside with her for a few minutes. Finding a small bench by the orchard the trio sat and Cadin turned toward Terri. “I asked Lexie if she would work with me on a special project, with pay of course, and I need to ask your permission and for your assistance.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Terri asked.

  “I made an offer today to buy Miss Betty’s house from the bank. I will know by Wednesday, but they would be foolish to refuse the offer. I also went by the house before going to the bank and there is a very nice garden plot, but the weeds have overgrown the plants. I was hoping Lexie could help me clear it later this week.”

  Terri’s mouth hung open. When she was finally able to speak, she said, “That is really nice of you. Of course Lexie can help, and I’m off Thursday and Friday so I’ll help too.”

  “I could have keys to the house by then. Maybe you could do some cleaning on the inside while we work on the garden,” Cadin suggested. “I peeked in the windows and it doesn’t look bad. Maybe some dusting and mopping of floors.”

  “I would be glad to do that,” Terri said, wearing a huge grin.

  “This has to be kept a secret between the three of us,” Cadin said. “I’d hate to get her hopes up and the deal falls through.”

  “Oh Cadin, Miss Betty is going to be so happy,” Terri said with tears in her eyes.

  “She deserved better treatment than what she got and I made sure the bank president knew that before I left his office this morning,” she said with a grin. “So here’s the plan. I think Lexie and I can knock out the pecan harvest by Wednesday if we work hard, and then we can start on Miss Betty’s place.”

  “When will you tell her?” Lexie asked.

  “I’m not sure yet. I was thinking of waiting until we finished our projects. What do you think?”

  “I think you should tell her as soon as you know something definite,” Terri said. “She needs something to lift her spirits, besides no one cleans a home better than the owner.”

  “You make a good point. As soon as I sign the paperwork and get the keys I will come back to tell her.”

  “This is incredible,” Terri said. “Thank you for doing this for her.”

  “That’s not quite all,” she said. “There is one special condition that I know she will agree to in a heartbeat.”

  Terri’s brow wrinkled in a frown. “What is it?”

  “The house has three bedrooms in it, and I would request that you and Lexie be allowed to live there until you have saved enough for a place of your own. You would pay her one hundred dollars a week, of which fifty would be put in a savings account for you toward a down payment.”

  Terri’s hand flew to her mouth. Tears started to flow down her cheeks.

  “Would you be agreeable with that arrangement?”

  “Oh my goodness, yes,” Terri said.

  “Fine, that’s all set then.”

  Lexie climbed into Cadin’s lap and looked up at her. “We would have a real house again?”

  “Yes, you would,” she answered.

  Lexie wrapped her arms around Cadin and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Cadin. Isn’t this great, Mommy?”

  “Yes, it is wonderful news. Thank you, Cadin.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  “I have to ask something though,” Terri said.

  Cadin smiled, knowing the question she was about to be asked. “You want to know why, don’t you?”

  “Yes, why would you be so generous to complete strangers?”

  It was Cadin’s turn to tear up. “The woman I told you about last night, my girlfriend, Missy, was a social worker who devoted her life to helping others. After she died I sued the hospital and the physician who killed her and used the settlement to fund a foundation in her name.” She stopped long enough t
o take a breath. “I will use the money to help out as many women in need as I can. You three will be the first recipients of funds from the Missy Foundation.”

  “I am so sorry for your loss. She sounds like she was a special woman.”

  “She was the best I could ever hope for,” she said, looking away to wipe a tear away from her cheek.

  “It makes what you’re doing for us even that much more special.”

  “Missy would have done this, so I take comfort in knowing what I’m trying to do would make her happy.”

  Terri leaned over and kissed Cadin’s cheek. “She was lucky to have you.”

  “I was the lucky one,” she answered.

  When Terri left to get Lexie to bed, Cadin stayed behind and looked up the stars for a while longer. With a deep sigh, she looked up and said, “If you’re listening, I hope you approve.”

  A warm breeze blew up unexpectedly. She felt it wrapping around her body like a lover’s embrace, and she smiled, knowing Missy was listening. “Goodnight, my love,” she said and walked inside.

  Chapter Three

  Lexie was up eating breakfast with her mother when Cadin walked in the next morning. “Good morning, ladies,” Cadin said when she entered. “You’re up early, Lexie.”

  “We have lots of work to do today,” she said.

  “Yes, we do, so eat a good breakfast.”

  “What can I get you?” Miss Betty asked from the kitchen.

  Cadin looked at what Lexie was munching, “I think I’ll have some Tony the Tiger too.”

  “One bowl coming up,” Miss Betty said. “Coffee too?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Terri watched her daughter attack the bowl of cereal. “She’s been up for an hour. I’m surprised she didn’t wake you.”

  “She must have been as quiet as a church mouse. I didn’t hear a thing.”

  Sister Frances was sitting at the end of the table shelling pecans. “I think we will use some of these nuts to bake some pies today. Does that sound good?”

  “You have my mouth watering already,” Cadin said.

  “You are racking up a nice paycheck on these nuts, Lexie,” Sister Frances said.

  Lexie looked up from her bowl and smiled, a milk mustache forming on her upper lip. “Just wait till you see how many we get today,” she said.

  “We better get to cracking then, Miss Betty. Pun intended,” Sister Frances said as the others started laughing.

  “Okay, I’m off to work. Have a good day, honey,” Terri said and bent down to kiss the top of Lexie’s head.

  “You too, Mommy.”

  After Terri left, Cadin looked at Sister Frances. “I noticed there is a shop vac out in the shed. Does it work?”

  “The last time I checked it did, why?” she asked.

  “I was thinking I could rake the pecans like we have been and Lexie could suck them up with the shop vac,” Cadin said.

  “Well I’ll be danged, that’s a good idea,” Sister Frances said. “Even if some of them get cracked while getting sucked up, that will save me some cracking too.”

  “Let’s give it a shot then, Lexie. What do you think?” Cadin asked.

  “Let’s do it,” she said and carried her empty bowl into the kitchen and handed it to Miss Betty. “Thanks,” she said.

  “You’re welcome,” Miss Betty said. “Did you get enough?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lexie said, rubbing her stomach.

  “I guess I’d better get a move on then,” Cadin said and returned to her cereal bowl.

  †

  Cadin pulled out the shop vac, rinsed the inside of the canister, and dried it before attaching the hose. “You think you can handle this?” she asked.

  “I’m pretty sure I can,” Lexie answered with a smile.

  She located several long extension cords, plugged one into a power outlet, and then started stretching it out toward the orchard. “Here, you take these and keep walking and I’ll grab the shop vac.”

  Lexie took the cord and Cadin picked up the shop vac and her rake and followed the child into the orchard. When they reached the spot where they had stopped the previous day, Cadin set down the vac and plugged it in. “Let’s make up a pile and we can see if this works.”

  Cadin went to work with the rake and when she had a sizeable pile, she returned to Lexie. “Let’s give it a shot,” she said and handed Lexie the end of the hose. “Ready?”

  Lexie nodded her head and Cadin flipped the power switch. The vac roared to life and the pecans startled rattling through the hose. After a few seconds, she cut the power and Lexie looked up at her. “Let’s check the canister to see how the nuts made it.” Cadin released the lid and they peered inside the canister. A few of the nuts had cracked, but they made it through the hose in good shape. Cadin held her hand out to Lexie. “Gimme five,” she said. Lexie slapped her palm and they went back to work.

  †

  Her idea worked out well and it didn’t take long for the tank to fill with nuts. “I think I better carry this one,” Cadin said as they removed the canister lid and carried the nuts to the dining room.

  Sister Frances chuckled and shook her head. “If you ever have thoughts of giving up your law practice, I think you’d have a great career as a pecan harvester,” she told Cadin.

  Lexie’s chest filled with pride as the canister nearly filled the garbage can. “Get to cracking,” she told Sister Frances.

  “She is such a slave driver,” Miss Betty said as she eyed their work.

  “We have to finish this soon,” Lexie said.

  “Oh, why is that?” Miss Betty asked.

  Cadin watched as Lexie realized she might have blundered, but when Lexie spoke, she realized the kid had smarts. “Because Cadin has promised me a ride on her bike when we finish,” she said. “Let’s go, Cadin.”

  As they stepped outside, she smiled at Lexie and said, “That was quick thinking.”

  “I thought I’d messed up for a second.”

  “I think she bought it,” Cadin said. “Let’s get cracking.”

  Lexie chuckled and waited for Cadin to fasten the lid to the canister. “She’s all yours, captain,” Cadin said and saluted her.

  †

  They emptied the canister four more times before Miss Betty called them in for a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

  “I haven’t had this combination since I was a little girl,” Cadin said. “This is perfect.”

  “You two are working hard,” Miss Betty said.

  Sister Frances and another woman were shelling the pecans. “Just when we think we’ve made a dent in this pile you bring in another canister,” she said.

  “We’ve got it going on,” Cadin said in a singsong voice.

  “That you do, my friend,” Sister Frances said.

  “How about I cook some fried chicken and mashed potatoes tonight to go with the pecan pies?” Miss Betty asked.

  “Can we have some corn too?” Lexie asked.

  Miss Betty asked, “On or off the cob?”

  “Off please,” Lexie said.

  “I think that can be arranged,” she answered.

  “Awesome,” Lexie said with a grin.

  Cadin finished her soup and carried the bowl to the kitchen. Lexie was still eating her soup. “I’m going to get a head start on you, but take your time and finish that soup.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lexie said.

  †

  Cadin checked her cell phone to make sure she hadn’t missed a call from the bank. Her screen was blank. It’s only been a day, tomorrow will tell all. She really hadn’t given much thought to what steps she would take if good ole George turned down her offer. He did shake on the deal, but she knew he was in a state of shock when he did so. Only time will tell, she thought as she picked up the rake.

  She had two large piles raked when Lexie flew out of the house and started up the shop vac. Cadin smiled and went back to raking.

  †

  When Terri arri
ved home hours later, she was amazed at the amount of progress Lexie and Cadin had made. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “I could use something to drink, Mommy,” Lexie said.

  “That does sound good and we’ll take a break,” Cadin said. “We’ve done a lot today.”

  Lexie grinned. “Yes, we have.”

  “It looks like you’ve come up with a drastic improvement on collecting the nuts,” Terri said, nodding toward the shop vac.

  “A brainstorm, if I say so myself,” Cadin said.

  “Smart move,” Terri said and walked to the house to get them drinks.

  “Let’s go crash on the bench,” Cadin said.

  “Fine with me,” Lexie answered.

  Cadin could see her young partner was rapidly losing energy and decided they would soon call it quits for the day.

  Terri brought them glasses of tea and sat with them on the bench. “How much longer do you plan on working?”

  “You have to ask the boss,” Cadin said and looked at Lexie.

  “Not much longer, Mommy, I’m getting tired.”

  “Why don’t you go get a shower and take a quick nap before dinner? You were up really early this morning,” Terri said.

  Lexie looked up at Cadin. “You go ahead. I will finish up here and put our tools away. You did a good job today,” Cadin said.

  Lexie quickly corrected her. “We did good.”

  “Yes, we did,” she said.

  Lexie finished her drink and handed the glass to Terri. “Off to the shower with you.”

  “Yes, ma’am; I’ll see you at supper, Cadin.”

  “Save me some hot water,” Cadin teased.

  “I will,” Lexie said and headed to the sleeping quarters.

  “She’s really fond of you. I hope you know that,”

  Cadin smiled. “She’s a good kid.”

  “Thanks, she’s my pride and joy.”

  “You should be very proud then. I’d love to have a daughter like her one day.”

  “Only time will tell,” Terri said. “You all done?” she asked, reaching for Cadin’s tea glass.

  “Yes, thanks.”

  “See you later then,” Terri said.

  †

  Cadin went back to work and was busy raking when Terri showed up carrying a rake. “Your partner is sleeping, so I thought I would help you for a bit.”