A Growing Town

 

A Growing Town

After seeing Marlin Cooper board the train the next morning, Sheriff Mendenhall stopped by the Crowley home to assure Polly that he thought she'd seen the last of her father. Marlin was full of chatter that morning but he never once mentioned Polly.

“Unfortunately, I have seen my share of drunkards and they usually simmer down when they know they have been beaten at their own game of intimidation.”

“I'm just sorry one of my kin acted in such a loathsome way,” said Polly.

Nettie put her arm around the girl she considered a daughter. “You have nothing to apologize for my dear girl. I knew when you were my prize student several years ago that you were special. Your family, for whatever reason, has decided their place is in Greensboro with your father. You have given them every opportunity to escape that environment. They know our door is always open.”

“Thank you Nettie, I don't know what I would do without you. Now, we have a wedding to plan and I would love your help. Thank you too, Sheriff. I'm glad to hear my father has left town. I hope you will be able to join us on New Year's Eve. Randy and I are going to be married that day so we can begin 1904 as a family.”

The sheriff nodded at the two women as he donned his hat and walked back to his office with a much lighter step. He was always happy when trouble was averted and everything ended happily.

There was another knock on the door. Nettie opened it to see her new friend, Anna Rossi standing there.

“I hope you don't mind my stopping by like this Nettie, I was taking a walk when I saw the sheriff leave and wanted to make sure everything was alright here.”

“Everything is just fine Anna. The sheriff was just following up on an incident that turned out to be nothing after all. Come in please, you can help Polly and me do some wedding planning.”

“Polly dear, I'm so happy to hear you are finally planning a wedding. That Burke boy is a real catch if you ask me. My Rosa thinks the world of the Burkes. Don't tell her I told you this but she has a Burke girl all picked out for her Eddie. I think she is working her way down the entire family.”

The women all laughed. Nettie and Polly knew Rosa well and didn't doubt for a minute that it was true.

“I'll do what I can to help with the matchmaking when I'm a Burke too.”

Polly excused herself to check on Faith who was in the kitchen watching Trudy bake sugar cookies.

Nettie knew Lou Rossi was having a hard time adjusting to his retirement. He had given up his family's vineyard in Tuscany to move across the ocean. He lost his best friend and fellow vintner in Tuscany and the pleasure he once took in his vineyards was there no more. Out of all his six children, only Nick ever showed any interest in the wine business and he had lived in America for too long to ever go back to Italy.

“Luigi and Nicola have been working together. I mean Lou and Nick. I can't get use to saying these Americanized names. Anyway, I think the sparkle is coming back into Lou's eyes. He can't wait to get out of bed in the morning and go to the vineyard to check on the plantings. I just hope he doesn't get in Nick's way. Nick has been doing everything on his own for so long I wonder how he is handling his father's constant presence.”

“I wouldn't worry about Nick, Anna. He is a very good man. I often heard him quote his father when he talked about growing grapes here in our area. I'm sure Nick and Lou will get along just fine. Everyone is anxious for the winery to be completed. We are really coming up in the world here in Camden Corners. Before long we will be as big as Greensboro. I do hope we can keep the friendly atmosphere. There isn't one person in town I don't know and I like it that way.”

Nick and Lou were hovering over the grape plantings when the wind started to pick up.

“Let's go inside the winery. The shipment of oak barrels came in yesterday. I'd like you to look them over for any flaws.”

Nick put his arm around his father and the two Rossis walked through the doors of the winery. The workers were finishing up the wine cellar where the barrels would be placed waiting for the harvest the following September. Lou was impressed with the workmanship. In Tuscany the same barrels had been in service since he was a boy. His father and grandfather had insisted that their wine had an aged flavor thanks to their reuse. Lou never put that to the test but was interested to see if these new barrels would make a difference.

Lou was very proud of his son. He hadn't lived in Tuscany or around a winery in many years but he had absorbed much more than Lou realized when he did live there. He knew his son would make a fine vintner and was pleased to be with him every step of the way.

Nick was happy his father was there to give him moral support. He spent many sleepless nights wondering if he was proceeding correctly. The Hightower brothers had invested an enormous amount of money into this project. They had wanted to go first class with the winery building and Jamison Bentley came through for them. The building itself was going to be lavish. It would have a wine tasting room that would fit two hundred people at one time, a lounge area and a panoramic porch that was large enough for another hundred. The second floor is the ballroom with a platform big enough to hold a full orchestra. On the third and fourth floor there would be suites where out of town guests would be accommodated for the night or as long as they wished to visit Camden Corners. The success of the winery and all of its amenities rested on the success or failure of the grapes growing out in the field. Anna didn't have to worry about Lou being a pest to his son, Nick thought he was a godsend.

“Hello gentlemen” Reggie Blackburn called out as he and Jamison Bentley walked through the doors. “As you can see we've had to slow down on the winery for the time being. The crew is working full time at the hospital site completing the exterior before the weather delays us any further. Leo Carlisle and his shenanigans set us back on our timetable a couple of months and we are just catching up.”

“Lou, have you heard about Josie's heroics the day Leo was caught?” The men all laughed but they knew it had been a serious matter when Leo Carlisle held Josie at gunpoint. Josie was struck with a bout of morning sickness and couldn't hold it back any longer when she regurgitated into the face of her captor causing him to drop his weapon.

“Jamison, your design here in the winery is impressive. It's bound to be a landmark in Camden Corners,” said Lou.

“To be honest Lou, it didn't start out this way. The Hightowers had their own ideas and had me add more and more on until this was the result. I do think it will be a fine looking building when the work is completed. The setting is lovely too, the vineyards look wonderful now. Just imagine how grand they will look when they reach maturity. The proximately to the lake and all the space beyond will just add to the beauty.”

“I was looking at that land son. Don't you think that should be cultivated for plantings.”

“Now that you are here Papa, I think that's a possibility. I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew for the first year.”

“We'd better get over to the hospital site. I think the crew is ready to finish up the roof today and start installing the windows. If the weather will hold off just a few more days I think we will be alright. We'll see you later at the lake house, I hope. The ladies have plans for all of us to go out caroling tonight. I told Josie I'd rather just hang around the wassail bowl but she gave me one of those looks.”

Lucinda was waiting at the hospital site when the men arrived. She was pleased that everything seemed to be going smoothly. Reggie was surprised at how much progress had been made since he left earlier that morning.

“Did you get your whip to the crew this morning Lucinda?”

“I didn't need to, the drop in temperature is speeding them up. They want to get inside the building. You just missed Doc McMillan. He stopped by to see how things were going. He seemed pleased that eventually we will be able to make additions to the building. Doc has heard from several of his colleagues who may be interested in joining the staff here. That means more work for the two of you with the housing needs that will be arising. It won't be long before we are open for business and we need to think of recruiting. Doc is expecting a young doctor this afternoon. He is coming in from Buffalo. He just completed his residency there and is looking for a place to begin his practice. Doc said he would bring him along to the caroling party tonight.”

“Hey, the more the merrier. Hope he likes to sing. It will help drown me out. I can't believe I let Josie talk me into this thing.”

Doc was waiting at the station just as the train was arriving. A good looking young man stepped off the train.

“Dr. Murphy?”

“Yes sir, and you must be Doctor McMillan. It is a pleasure to meet you sir and I do thank you for this opportunity. Please call me Grady.”

“Good to meet you, Grady. Everybody calls me Doc. I probably wouldn't answer if anyone used my given name anyway. I have arranged for a room in the Wharton House. I think you will find it comfortable. I'll walk you there and introduce you to Mrs. Wharton. We will pass the medical office on the way and you can stop by after you are settled in.”

Doc and Grady didn't notice the two young ladies following him off the train.

“Audrey Lynch, you didn't tell me you were chasing after Dr. Murphy. I should have known there wasn't any job waiting for us here. I can't believe I fell for your deception again. I have a mind to wait in the station until the next train leaves for Buffalo in the morning.”

“Elizabeth, don't be such an old crosspatch. This is an adventure. Maybe there isn't a job waiting for us today but they will be opening a hospital next year and they will need nurses. You and I can get a feel of the town and decide if we want to move to Camden Corners.”

“You mean if you haven't gotten over your silly crush on Dr. Grady Murphy by then. You know he doesn't have any interest in you. For heaven sake Audrey, the man doesn't even know you are alive.”

“He will Elizabeth. He'll know me very well. I'm starving, let's see what they have at O'Sullivan's Pub over there. We can inquire about a place to stay for the night.”

“Alright, I'm hungry myself but I'm not staying here overnight and that's settled. As soon as we eat, we will make arrangements to go back to Buffalo.”

“Oh look, it's snowing. It would be pretty except that wind is blowing so fiercely.”

The girls walked into the pub where Fiona was just clearing off the last of the lunch crowd tables.

“Hello young ladies, Please have a seat. I'll fetch a menu for you. Looks like you have arrived in town just ahead of the big storm that's headed our way.”

“Thank you ma'am, we are from Buffalo and have seen our share of storms. I'm sure we will be able to handle it.”

Audrey and Elizabeth both had the pub's specialty, corned beef sandwiches. They even had a piece of Fiona's pumpkin pie. The pie was delicious and reminded Elizabeth of her granny.

“Do you know of a boarding house in town Mrs. Mackenzie?” Audrey inquired as Elizabeth frowned at her. Maybe staying overnight wasn't such a bad idea. Elizabeth was tired and the weather looked pretty nasty out the window.

“Mrs. Wharton's but she was in here earlier and said she was booked solid for the whole week.”

She thought of the Watson House but since Caroline and Jamison married and adopted Kenny and Becky plus Jamison's two boys visiting often, they didn't have the room anymore.

“I'll tell you what girls. Why don't you come home with me. We have a house brimming with children of all ages but you will have your own bedroom and you should be comfortable for the night. Just looking out the window I don't think the train will be going anywhere very soon.”

Let it Snow

 

Oscar was the first to wake up in the cabin that cold January day. The unusually warm weather was forgotten as he piled logs on the fire. One by one the men all came down the stairs wearing their warm woolen sweaters and trousers. They were happy their womenfolk had prepared for a change in the weather and thought to pack the heavier clothes. Alma warned Melvin that he might need some warm clothes and he was happy he listened to her.

Chris made one pot of coffee and was getting ready to pump more water for a second pot when the women all came down the cedar stairs bundled to their chins in blankets. The fire was starting to warm the downstairs much to the relief of Nettie who was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea to plan this little excursion in the middle of January.

“Good morning ladies” called out Oscar “Good thing you brought as much food as you did. It looks like we may be here for another day or two.”

“Thank heaven for indoor plumbing” cried Nettie

Ethel was glad she thought of bringing fresh eggs and ham with her just in case they had to stay the night. She started cooking those while Priscilla and Alma prepared the biscuits. Nettie squeezed the oranges for juice and Anna shredded and fried the potatoes.

After the hardy breakfast everyone pitched in to clear the table and clean up the kitchen. The men ventured outside to clear the walk to and from the wood pile. The woman set up folding tables to put together a couple of jigsaw puzzles the former owners left behind.

“Ethel, tell the others the story of how you and Jonas got together.” said Nettie as the fellows were walking in carrying the logs.

“Don't start without us” Chis said “We want to hear it too.”

Once everyone was seated around the tables and turning puzzle pieces upright, Ethel began.

“My mother gave piano lessons to the neighborhood children. She loved playing and since her daughter was completely lacking in musical ability, she decided she would teach other children to play. I can remember the sound of the scales in my head. Thank goodness she only taught three days a week. I had seen Jonas at school of course, but he sat in the back of the room during school and was always playing ball or climbing trees with the other boys while the girls played hopscotch and jacks on the opposite side of the building.

On a Wednesday in May, Mama mentioned she was going to have a new student, his name was Jonas Fulbright and he was in my class. I groaned thinking how often Mama had the new students practice the scales. Since it was a nice spring day, I would just go outside and maybe finish my school work later that evening. Jonas knocked on the door and I answered it. He had a scowl on his face. He grumbled hello. Mama knew right away that piano lessons were not what this boy wanted. She was sure it was his Mama's idea and not his. Further down the street I could hear the other boys taunting Jonas saying the piano was for girls. I found myself feeling sorry for this boy who so obviously wanted to be anywhere but in my family's parlor learning to play the piano. I marched down the street and in the harshest voice I could muster told the boys to be quiet. There were more famous men who played the piano than there were ladies. Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart were all I could think of at that moment. My disapproval fell on deaf ears and the boys just continued to make fun of Jonas until they heard the music coming from our parlor. We all walked toward the house and couldn't believe our ears. Jonas was playing America the Beautiful. I could hear mother asking where he had learned to play like that. He told her there was a piano at his grandmother's house and she showed him how to play but he couldn't learn the notes. He just liked to play the piano. He didn't want to learn how. Mama said he was playing by ear and that was a special talent but he would be able to play more music if he would learn to read the notes. It was always hard for anyone to say no to Mama and Jonas was no exception.

The boys didn't tease Jonas so much after that. In fact they use to hang around our parlor window on Wednesday afternoons waiting for Jonas to play a song or two. Jonas eventually did learn to read music but he still depends on his ears for most of his playing.

Except for those Wednesday afternoons Jonas pretty much ignored me. I was developing a crush on him and was rather impatient waiting for him to look in my direction. I remember Mama telling me that it sometimes took a little longer for boys to be attracted to young ladies. I also remember the day that Jonas finally took notice of a female. It was the day the Mayor's niece rode into town in the fanciest carriage I had ever seen. Miss Hattie Mae Worthington stepped from that carriage with her red hair flowing. She looked like a princess. I glanced at Jonas and his chums and they were all staring at this beauty with their mouths hanging open. My daydreams of walking hand in hand with Jonas were shattered. I looked down at my scuffed shoes and my hand me down dress that even I had outgrown. I put my hand to my mousy brown pigtails and knew I looked as frumpy as I felt.”

Jonas chuckled “Yes, that Hattie Mae was a fine looking young lady. I don't think my mouth was hanging open though Ethel and if it was it was because of the fancy carriage she arrived in.” He winked at his cronies. “You have to realize, this was Greensboro in the 1840s. I was just a farm boy who spent most of his summer days milking cows and tending crops. We didn't have many visitors to Greensboro and none that looked like Miss Hattie Mae Worthington. Ethel tells you I ignored her that summer. That wasn't true. I thought she was a pretty little thing but I couldn't get myself to talk to her. I was much more comfortable playing the piano and she didn't know it but I hated those lessons every Wednesday and only agreed to sit through them because I knew Ethel would be sitting at the parlor window. Hattie Mae's Grandpappy asked me to accompany her on the piano at a fancy dinner he was giving for some of the other mayors in the county. He arranged for his tailor to make me a suit as the one I wore to church on Sunday wasn't up to snuff as he put it. Ethel's Mama taught me enough about reading notes that I was able to learn the songs with the sheet music Hattie Mae brought with her. I hadn't practiced with Hattie Mae until the afternoon of the dinner. I was in for quite the surprise. Hattie Mae's voice was like a wounded cat caught in a prickly pine tree. Even the Mayor was holding his hands over his ears. Hattie Mae was a very beautiful young lady until her grandfather told her she couldn't sing at the dinner that evening. I had never seen a female with such strength. She started picking up glasses that had just been placed on the tables and throwing them against the wall. She was screaming at the top of her lungs until two of the Mayor's aides carried her out of the room kicking and bellowing. The dinner went on as planned except I was the only musical accompaniment. It was my first and last public appearance. From that moment on I only played for pleasure.”

Alma said “We all know you eventually revealed your true feelings to each other because otherwise you wouldn't be here with us now. How did that all happen.

Ethel spoke up. “Thanks to Nettie we finally were forced to open our hearts to each other. It was the first week of school. We were all sitting around the lunch table when Nettie asked Jonas if he had asked me to go to the harvest dance with him. I was so embarrassed I was tempted to hide under the table. Jonas looked dumfounded and finally said he didn't know if I would go with him if he did ask. Nettie said she was pretty sure I would. Come to think of it, I'm not sure he ever did ask me but we did go to the dance together. After that he came to the house after his chores every morning to walk me to school. I don't know when we got over being shy with each other but eventually we did.”

Nettie said “I wonder what ever happened to Hattie Mae? I don't remember ever seeing her again in Greensboro.”

Melvin spoke up. “I believe she married one of the Professors at the University. I do remember going to a soiree given by this fellow and his wife Hattie Mae. She was the entertainment and your description of her singing was accurate. I remember Professor Danforth smiled through the performance. I later learned the man is hard of hearing and he'd turned his hearing device off. After that experience, anytime I received an invitation to any gathering at the Danforth residence, I always regretfully declined.

“Now it's your turn Priscilla and Chris. Tell us the story of your meeting and marriage.”

Priscilla answered “There really isn't much to tell. Christopher was the only child of Nicholas and Belle Pringle and my folks were Noel and Eve Claus. As you can imagine by the sound of their names, our families loved Christmas and that love was passed down to us. I don't remember a time when I didn't love Chris. He was always so jolly no matter what was happening around him. We never thought twice about getting married it seemed the natural thing to do.”

“Priscilla is correct. There was never anyone else for me either. Our only regret is that we were never blessed with children of our own.”

Alma said “Oh you two are loved by all of the children of Camden Corners. I know they love visiting your Christmas shop even in the heat of the summer. Our boys, Butch and Billy cherish the ornaments you made for them this year, Priscilla. This was their first Christmas with a family and those ornaments made it even more special for them. I know Butch keeps his on the nightstand by his bed. I have seen Billy admiring his ornament when he thinks no one is looking.”

Nettie said “I know what you mean about not being blessed with children of your own. I was lucky enough to teach school for many years and my students were always very special to me. I loved it when they had grown and brought their own children into my classroom. Of course, there is Polly. Even though she had only been with us for a short time she quickly became a daughter to me.”

“How are Polly's brothers and sisters, have you heard Nettie? It was so good to see them sitting so proudly at Polly's wedding. The Prestons did a wonderful thing by making sure Polly's family was represented on such an important day for her.”

“Yes, they are doing very well living with Arthur and Gladys. Arthur has already begun building an addition to the house to allow for extra bedrooms for their expanded family. Oscar was there just the other day checking on Alice Cooper and the children. Alice is still insisting Marlin needs her to be near him. She never even asks about her children. I know she has been told they are not in the old house any longer but she doesn't seem to care. I'm afraid she will never be the same. Marlin was taken to the hospital last week. The doctors aren't sure what is wrong with him but he is a very sick man. I think the hospital has taken pity on Alice and she is allowed to sit with Marlin for a few hours a day. It's a rather tricky situation. Nobody wants to take the children away from Alice but she is incapable of caring for them now and they are living a normal life with the Prestons. While I was there, Danny Mackenzie was calling on Gretchen.

The men ventured outside and thought the roads looked clear enough to travel. They thought it might be best to start for Camden Corners in case the weather took a turn for the worse.

Everything was packed up, the fire in the fire place was out and everything shut down until the next visit.

The Crowley's and their friends were sorry to see their visit to the cabin come to an end. Everyone had enjoyed their get together. There was a knock on the door. Oscar opened it and saw Greensboro's Sheriff Eb Daniels standing there.

“Eb, what are you doing in these parts?”

“I'm sorry Oscar. I'm doing my duty as Sheriff of Greensboro. At times I really don't like this job and this is one of those times. Oscar Crowley, you are under arrest for the murder of Marlin Cooper.”