Yuletide Peril

by Irene Brand

  When Henrietta slammed on the brakes and crawled past the church, Janice saw Lance standing on the steps. She waved, wondering if he was looking for her.

  Henrietta was a tall, stocky, mannishly built woman. Her hair, which had once been auburn but was now mostly iron-gray, was braided into a long pigtail and wound around her head like a halo. Her brown eyes were keen and penetrating.

  She chatted about the morning service until they reached her home, a one-story brick house, located on a spacious lot two blocks east of the main street. Flower beds dotted the rich, green turf of her lawn. Baskets of blooming red geraniums hung from the porch ceiling. With scraping gears, Henrietta maneuvered her small car into the garage, then guided Janice and Brooke into the kitchen of her home.

  “This is the first house I’ve ever owned. My husband and I lived in rented houses. And after he died, I took care of invalids. I’d move into their houses, sometimes for a year or two at a time, so I didn’t need a home. I was in demand all the time, for I gave good service, if I do say so myself that shouldn’t.”

  Henrietta continued to talk as she put her purse and Bible on a dresser in the bedroom and shrugged into a large apron that hung on the back of the kitchen door.

  “After the mansion got too much for your uncle to keep up, he bought this house and moved to town. I took care of him for about five years. Several weeks before he died, he deeded the house to me.”

  With a glance at Brooke, she said, “Some people made nasty comments about it. But I’m a God-fearin’ woman, and I was John’s housekeeper and nurse—nothing more.”

  The inside of the house was immaculate and Henrietta rustled around getting their lunch on the table. She removed a hamburger-and-rice casserole from the oven and gelatin salad from the fridge. She took a coconut cream pie from a kitchen cabinet and cut it into six pieces.

  “Wow! And you didn’t even know you’d have company!” Brooke said, her eyes widening as she watched the speed with which the meal appeared on the table.

  Henrietta laughed heartily. “Well, I like to eat, too,” she said, patting her ample stomach. “And never knowing when the notion might strike me to ask somebody to Sunday dinner, I always fix a little extra.”

  After asking their preference of beverages, Henrietta poured a cola for Brooke, and made iced tea for Janice and herself.

  Although Janice was eager to hear what Henrietta could tell her about her relatives, she listened quietly as their hostess chatted about the town of Stanton.

  “Coal and oil money built this town, but the industries ain’t as thriving as they used to be. Business just about dried up during the Great Depression, then everything perked up during World War Two. Many of our businesses have closed now because they can’t compete with the big shopping centers. I can see why—I like to shop at malls, too.”

  “The town of Willow Creek, where we used to live, has the same problems. I guess all small towns do.”

  “Stanton is still a great place to live though. Our churches and schools are good, and we don’t have much crime.”

  Apparently Henrietta hadn’t heard about the vandalism to Janice’s car.

  “No drug problems among the teens?” Janice asked, with a quick glance at Brooke.

  “Well, we hear rumors about drugs being bought and sold around here, but nobody’s been arrested.”

  When they finished eating, Henrietta said to Brooke, “Missy, do you want to watch television while your sis helps me clean up? I’ll show you the best channels. I have cable, so there are lots of good shows to choose from.”

  Janice had already rinsed and stacked the dishes when Henrietta returned. After she arranged the utensils in the dishwasher and put the leftovers in the refrigerator, Henrietta motioned to the table.

  “Let’s sit in here. You said you wanted advice, and I thought you might not want to talk in front of your sister.”

  “That’s true. I don’t know where to start.”

  “I’ve got all day. Just say what pops in your head.”

  “I don’t remember ever seeing my uncle. I was amazed when he named me in his will. Tell me about him.”

  “What do you know about the Reids?”

  “Not much, but more than I want to know.”

  “I hope you don’t mind some plain speaking about your kin.”

  “I could probably tell you things you don’t even know,” Janice said wryly.

  “John was the best of the three brothers. Your dad, and the younger brother, Albert, who’s still living in this county, received money when their parents died, same as John did. They frittered it away and John was determined they weren’t going to get any of his. He intended to give his money to the church until he heard that you and your sister had been taken away from your parents. He did a lot of investigating before he finally decided that you needed and deserved his property, and that you’d take care of it.”

  “He must have done his investigating secretly. I didn’t know anything about it.”

  “John was a closemouthed man. He didn’t tell everything he knew. Now that you’ve got his property, what are you going to do with it?”

  Briefly, Janice explained what she’d been doing since she’d left VOH, stating that she wanted to make a new start in Stanton.

  “I didn’t have any idea the house was such a mess until I got here. I envisioned the house like it had been in its heyday. Lance Gordon took me to see the house yesterday, and I think it could still be a nice home. But it will take a long time and a lot of money to restore the house to what it used to be. Just to get a few rooms ready so Brooke and I can live there will take weeks. And I can’t afford to live in a motel while I renovate the place. Lance suggested an apartment, but usually they have to be leased for a year, and I’d hoped to move into the house before then.”

  With a wise look, Henrietta said, “Not all apartments are like that.”

  “I don’t intend to use all of Uncle John’s money to fix up the house, so I’ll have to find a job. If I’m working, it will take that much longer to finish the house.”

  “I have an idea about where you can live. Anything else bothering you?”

  “Yes.” Janice explained about the warning note and her tires. “I wonder if it’s safe for me to take Brooke to that house. Lance told me yesterday that Uncle John had committed suicide in the house and that a lot of people think the house is haunted. I didn’t sleep much last night after I heard that.”

  An angry look crossed Henrietta’s face. “I’d have had to see John pull the trigger to believe he killed himself. I don’t know why he even went to Mountjoy that day.”

  “In his letter to me that I read a few days ago, he mentioned that there was something mysterious going on at Mountjoy, and he intended to investigate.”

  Surprise flitted across Henrietta’s face, and she shook her head. “That’s the first I’ve heard about that. But as I said John was closemouthed. I had gone to the hospital in the county seat to visit my sister, and when I got back John wasn’t here. He hadn’t driven his old truck for months, but my neighbor saw him drive away in it. When he didn’t show up for several hours, I notified the police. They saw his truck parked in front of Mountjoy and they found John inside.”

  “But what made them think he’d committed suicide?”

  “He’d taken his pistol with him, and he was killed with it. Of course his fingerprints were on the gun. I have no doubt that somebody tolled him out there and shot him. And, between us, I lay the deed at the door of his kin, figuring they’d inherit his property. They were always trying to con money out of him. Soon as John was buried, his brother Albert started acting like he owned the county. He went to Santrock and had a fit when he learned that John had left everything to you.”

  “That note I received probably came from him, too.”

  “Either him or one of his worthless kids.” With a keen glance, she added, “How’d you turn out so well, kid?”

  “I’m not quite sure. It certainly wasn’t from
my parents’ examples. My dad was out west somewhere, maybe Colorado, when he met Mom. Her family disowned her when she married my father, so they had no input. But mostly, I owe my character to Miss Caroline at the Valley of Hope. If I hadn’t gone to VOH when I did, I can’t imagine what my life would be like now. Even as a kid, I vowed if I ever got the chance, I’d make something of my life.”

  “Well, you have that chance, and I’m going to help you. My health ain’t too good, and I’m not able to work anymore. If it hadn’t been for your uncle, I’d probably be in a nursing home instead of living in this comfortable house. He also paid me a good salary during the years I worked for him, and I have a little nest egg salted away. I figure I owe him. I’m gonna pay him back by helping you.”

  Henrietta stood up and motioned to Janice. “Come with me.” She stuck her head into the living room. “Brooke, we’re going downstairs for a minute. Call if you need us.”

  Entranced in a Disney program, Brooke only nodded her head.

  Henrietta opened a door at one side of the kitchen that led downstairs and into a large, paneled room. Blue carpet covered the floor, light entered through three small windows near the ceiling. A queen-sized bed and a dresser stood at the far end of the room. An upholstered couch and two chairs were grouped around a television. At the foot of the stairs were a set of cabinets and a kitchen unit that contained a sink, stove top and microwave oven.

  “There’s a bathroom to the left of the bedroom area,” Henrietta said. “And that’s a sofa bed that Brooke can sleep on. It’s yours as long as you want it, free of charge.”

  Janice turned incredulous eyes toward Henrietta. How could she accept such generosity from a stranger?

  Chapter Six

  When the first shock of surprise passed, Janice shook her head and opened her mouth to refuse.

  Henrietta forestalled her refusal. “This is no time to act on pride. When John decided to move to town, he fixed up this apartment for me, so I’d have some privacy. I haven’t had any use for it since he died. I can’t handle steps very well, and I’m hardly ever in the apartment. The appliances need to be used, so if you live here, it’ll be a help to me.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say nothing—just accept it. It’s the perfect setup for you. The school is only three blocks from here. Brooke can walk back and forth to school. I’ll be home most every afternoon, and if I’m gone, I’ll let you know so you can be here when she comes home. You can spend your time working on Mountjoy without worrying about her.”

  Tears pricked Janice’s eyelids, and she said, “I feel like crying.”

  Henrietta hugged her shoulders. “Everybody needs to cry once in a while, so go ahead.”

  Janice swiped at her eyes. “I don’t suppose I can ever repay you, but I pray that God will. Let’s tell Brooke—she’s been worried that we wouldn’t have a place to live. I’ll move in tomorrow as soon as I take her to school.”

  “There’s an outside entrance to the basement so you can come and go as you want to.”

  Janice felt like a big burden had rolled off her back. She curled up in a big, comfortable chair in the living room and spent the afternoon listening to Henrietta’s memories of John Reid. In Henrietta’s comfortable presence, it was easy to push the threat of danger into the background.

  But when Henrietta drove them back to the motel, Janice saw two cops in the parking lot, and her fears returned. After thanking Henrietta for her kindness, Janice took Brooke to their room and told her briefly what had happened to her car. She tried to allay her sister’s fears by being nonchalant before she went downstairs to meet the cops.

  Chief Goodman wandered around the parking area studying the ground intently. He waved to her.

  “Howdy, Miss Reid.” He nodded toward the other officer. “This is my deputy, Winston Goodman—and he’s also my brother.”

  “Hello, Mr. Goodman,” Janice said. The chief of police bestowed a fond glance on his brother. Winston was several years younger than Chief Goodman. His luxuriant dark brown hair spread back from a broad forehead and hung straight to his shoulders. The hair was so evenly colored that Janice suspected Winston touched up his hair to remove signs of aging. She didn’t like his bold, appraising glance when they shook hands. Obviously Winston was cut from a different mold than the amiable chief of police.

  “Have you any news for me?”

  “Not a thing, so far,” Chief Goodman said. “We’ve dusted the car for fingerprints, but since only the tires were touched, I figure we’ll find all the prints belonged to you and your sister. We’re finished with the car now, so you can have the tires replaced tomorrow.”

  “We’ll find the culprits, Miss Reid,” the deputy said. “A lot of people think we’re hick policeman, but we always track down our man.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Janice said. Winston handed her a card. “Here’s the place to get your tires fixed,” he said. “They’ll either come here and replace the tires or tow the car to the garage.”

  As she entered the motel, Janice wondered how she would get Brooke to school the next morning. Lance or Henrietta would take her, but she didn’t want to bother Lance on the first day of school, and she didn’t want to trust Brooke to Henrietta’s erratic driving. It was less than a mile from the motel to the school, and she supposed they could walk that distance.

  Looking at the card Winston had given her, Janice noted that the tire shop opened at seven o’clock each morning, but there was also an emergency number for weekend problems. Surely her situation could be considered an emergency and Janice dialed the number.

  A man answered and Janice explained her problem. “Would it be possible for you to come early in the morning, so I can have the car ready in time to take my sister to school?”

  “I’ll do better than that,” he answered. “I occasionally work on Sunday in an emergency. I’ll come by and tow your vehicle into the garage. I’ll have it back to you by seven o’clock in the morning.”

  Janice watched from the window until she saw the wrecker approaching and went downstairs to meet the mechanic. She paid him in advance by check. The next morning, when she looked out the window, her car had been returned.

  The driveway and parking lot in front of the school was a frenzy of activity when Janice tried to maneuver her car into a small corner space. Several buses waited in line to unload their passengers as Janice and Brooke left their car and walked into the building.

  Janice saw Lance at a distance, shepherding a group of small children down one hall, and he waved to her. Following directions from the guidance counselor, Janice found the sixth grade classroom where Brooke was assigned. Several students were already in the room, and Janice was relieved to see that Taylor Mallory was one of them. Taylor hurried toward the sisters, took Brooke’s hand and led her to the teacher.

  “Mrs. Hayman, here’s the new student, Brooke Reid.”

  Janice extended a hand to the teacher. “And I’m Janice, Brooke’s sister and guardian.”

  “Welcome to our school, Brooke. We’ll do what we can to make you feel at home.”

  Brooke’s teacher, Vivian Hayman, appeared to be in her thirties. As orderly as the students were on the first day of school, Janice decided she was a no-nonsense teacher.

  Brooke looked afraid and vulnerable, but knowing she couldn’t stay any longer, Janice told Brooke she’d pick her up after school. Remembering the many new schools she’d entered when she was a child, she understood the uncertainty her sister was experiencing.

  Since they’d unpacked only two suitcases, Janice soon checked out of the motel and drove to Henrietta’s place. She carried the boxes into the apartment then returned the U-Haul trailer to the garage where her tires had been replaced. The next stop was at Mr. Santrock’s office. Fortunately she found him at work. He accompanied her to the bank to make arrangements for her to take control of John Reid’s finances.

  Mr. Santrock protested when she said she wanted to cash on
e fifteen-thousand-dollar certificate of deposit and put the money in a checking account.

  “But I’ll need ready cash when I start renovations at Mountjoy,” she said. “I looked the property over on Saturday, and I intend to fix up the downstairs so Brooke and I can live there while we work on the rest of the house.”

  The lawyer shook his head and sighed. “I’d hoped that you’d change your mind about that once you saw how dilapidated the house is. But my conscience is clear now that I’ve advised you against it,” he said with a smile. “So if I can be of any help, be sure to call on me.”

  Following his advice, she left the remainder of the investments as they were with the interest being paid into a savings account. Janice felt like a millionaire and she wondered aloud if she was capable of handling so much money. The lawyer assured her that she could come to him for advice at any time.

  Janice bought a sub sandwich from a deli on Main Street and returned to the apartment. She swept and dusted the rooms before she unpacked her summer clothes, for September was always a warm month. She reserved one side of the closet and some of the dresser drawers for Brooke to put her things.

  “Hey, Janice,” Henrietta called from her kitchen. “Are you there?”

  Janice moved to the stairs and looked up at Henrietta. “Yes. I’m about settled in. I’m ready to go and walk home with Brooke.”

  “I’ve fixed supper for the three of us, so don’t worry about cooking.”

  “Now, Henrietta,” Janice started to protest.

  “It’s just for today until you have time to lay in some groceries. Or,” Henrietta added, laughter in her voice, “when I take a notion for company. I like to cook.”

  “You’re going to spoil us.”

  “Best I can tell you’re overdue for some spoiling. No girl as young as you oughta be carrying such a load of responsibility.”

  “I’m used to it. But I am worn out mentally and physically tonight, so it will be nice to eat with you. Cooking isn’t one of my talents. What time do you eat?”