The Four: 6

I

The Four: I 

The Four: 2

The Four: 3 

The Four: 4

The Four: 5

6

The Rough Man

            Louise jumped out of bed. For some reason she had a foreboding feeling. She had it all last night, which is why she had sitting up at night. Talking to Susan eased it a little, but now it was back. Worse than ever before. She dressed quickly and quietly in order to not wake her sisters. She made a breakfast, milked the cow and did a few other chores. Her siblings began to wake and come out of their bedroom.

            “Good morning, Louise!” Karen said brightly. Susan looked cheerful and had a broad smile across her face, unlike her distraught-self that had been running through fields last night. Alison asked her usual question

            “What’s for Breakfast?”

            Susan laughed,” Oh, Allison!”

            They ate a scrumptious meal of hot bread with butter and oatmeal for breakfast.
           Then Louise stood up, “Today will be my first time managing the shop all by myself, –“ all the sisters cheered, “–so I must leave earlier than usual.”

            All her sisters bade her good luck and kissed her good bye. And Louise was off.

            Running to the shop, Louise was worried about being late.  She unlocked the door to the shop and stepped inside.

            Two days went by very quickly for Louise; her foreboding feeling never quite left; but at times, it was lightened. On the third day, just after a pleasant customer had left, Josh came tramping in. He dusted off his hands and stood there as if waiting for her to say something.

            “How was the trip?” she questioned as she went back to wiping the counter.

            “Eventful.” He said simply. “Thanks for keeping shop for me.”

        “Eventful is very…descriptive!” Louise commented with emphasis on “descriptive”. “ You’re welcome.”

            “You really want to know?”

            “I’m a curious girl.”

            “I can tell. But are you sure?”

            “Yes, quite.”

            “Really sure?”

            “More than sure.”

            “Quite certain?”

            “Of course! I’ve said that the last three times!”

            The young man had been taking a step closer to the counter each time the other started talking and at this point he was at the counter opposite of Louise, both leaning forward as they argued.

            “I’m just checking.”

            “I’m not squeamish if that’s what you’re thinking.” Louise huffed.

            “Okay!” He smiled mischievously, “I went to a slaughter house–“

            “Stop! You never said it involved killing animals!”

            “I warned you didn’t I?”

            “I suppose,” then quickly looking up she whispered, “customer” she backed away from the counter, in the embarrassing realization that they were leaning toward each other, and someone might get the wrong impression. Josh ran over to some boxes and began fixing things and organizing them, as a rough looking man walked into the shop.

            “How may I help you?” The Hanson girl questioned politely.

            “Do yez sell chewn’ tabacci?” He said in crude English. He had a belt on carrying two revolvers. His hair was greasy and his face red and scarred.

            Louise, still smiling politely, glanced to where Josh was fixing boxes in the corner; then said nervously, “How much?”

            He held up two bonny fingers that were covered in grime, “Two.” Louise had a hard time not backing away because of his stench. Rotten onions were the best comparison she could make to how he smelled. His clothes seemed as though they had been washed in mud, and sweat was the only cleaning liquid used. Brown drops of perspiration rolled off his face and his eyes were squinty as if he’d been starring into the sun for days.

            Louie leaned down and counted out two packs. “Here you are, sir. That will be–“ Before he even paid, he grabbed one pack and began to rip it open. Once he had accomplished this, but not without great difficulty by the way he went about it, he yanked out a piece and tossed it into his mouth full of yellow stained teeth. After chewing a while he spit on the floor

            “Sir! Please, do not–“

            “Don’t tells mez whats ta do!” He growled loudly, this made Josh turn and watch. “This is theh worst tabacci I’s a ever heed, give meh theh best cha have!”

            Louise tried to contain herself, “This is the best we have, sir.” She spoke the last word through her teeth wishing she didn’t have to be so polite to such a crude customer.

            “Well yuz jest go find some, ya–“

            “I will not,” Louise yelled slamming her fist on the counter, “have such dirty language spoken in this shop!” She had a feeling she knew what he was about to say. An ugly scowl formed across his face; his hands hovered closer to his revolvers than Louise would have preferred.  At that moment, Louise realized a crowd had formed around the shop people peering in the window waiting…It was as if they knew this guy caused trouble.

            “Now sir," Louise breathed with relief when Josh walked up, “You have what you asked for, please, leave–“

            The dirty man lunged forward and gave Josh a good punch in the gut. Josh flew backward hugging his chest and groaning. “Don’ts tells mez whats ta do!” He shouted louder. The crowd out side began to rage, it had grown larger in only a few minutes time.

            Louise saw her opportunity; she’d have to act fast. The man was turn away from her. Slowly leaning forward, she darted her arm across the counter and grabbed one of his guns right out of its holster, but her hand was a tad slow on the retreat and the man’s reflexes were more than a little faster than hers. He pinned her arm down in seconds-splat. Fire ran through her arm as she yelped in pain. Yet, she still held tight to the gun. The rough man twisted the skin on her arm in opposite directions. Louise screamed and let go of the gun. Her whole forearm burned as if hot iron was wrapped around it. The throbbing crept up her arm until her whole right arm was pulsing from pain, as if it had been covered in glowing red coals. Josh had stumbled back over to the man and just as the rough man stood up from picking up the gun, Josh sent a hard fist right to his stomach. The man doubled over. Josh grabbed his shirt collar and smacked him in the mouth making him fall to the floor and Josh stood over him with on of the revolvers in his hand. Louise thought quickly and ran and grabbed the rifle for sale off of the wall; loaded it in seconds and walked over. She pointed it at the man. And that’s when the sheriff walked into the shop. Louise realized she didn’t need to be pointing the rifle at the man because Josh already was. She slowly backed off and placed the rifle back on the shelf.

            “I see you have a trouble maker.” The sheriff said as if it wasn’t already obvious, “Granger,” he talked to the rough man, “When are ya ever gonna learn?” sighing and shaking his head he made the man stand up. “When are ya ever gonna learn?” he said again under his breath.

            The man called Granger let out a groan. “You throw…a pretty good…punch, boy.” He said between gasps. Josh flexed his hand but didn’t reply.

            “I’ll take care of him, Josh, you just go back to what you were doing.” The sheriff said. The sheriff was an older man with a mustache and small build. His kindly eyes radiated annoyance as if he dealt with this man before. The crowd had already started to dissipate.

            Josh handed the sheriff the gun, “Thanks, Malloy, here’s the man’s gun.”

            Sheriff Malloy took the revolver and gave him a smile, “Thanks for teachin’ him a lesson, Sonny.”

            With that, everyone left, except a few people who actually came to buy some things.

            Louise rubbed her arm. “You okay?” Josh asked.

            “Yeah, my arm is a bit twisted.”

            “Here,” He ran to the back room and came out with a wet cloth, “Put this on it.”

            “Thanks, what about you?”

            Josh looked at himself, “Just a bellyache, nothing serious.”

            “Who was that man?”

            “Oh just the town bully. He sometime get pretty rough if he’s been drinking.”

            “You don’t say.” Louise laughed a little as she wrapped the cloth around her arm. “Well we better get back to work.” They finished the last few customers and cleaned up just as the sun began to sink under its cover of the horizon. Stars began to take visibility. 

            “Here is your pay miss Hanson.  A little extra for the trouble today.”

            “Uh, thanks but I really don’t need extra for that.”

            “Take it anyway.”

            “Really–“

            “Just take it.” He looked at her intently.

            “Alright, if you insist, I will.” Louise took the money placed in in her bag. “Good bye!” she called behind her back as she walked out the door.

…

The Four: 5

The Four: I 

The Four: 2

The Four: 3 

The Four: 4

Meeting Mr. Benting

5

            “Greetings,” Alison began, “we’re your neighbors from down the street a ways. We came by to welcome you to this town.”

            “You seem like three very young ladies. Do you live alone?” Mr. Benting asked very politely.

            “Only with our older sister, Louise, she couldn’t come because she’s in town. I hope you don’t mind us barging in like this.”

            “Oh, no such thing!” He gave a little joyful laugh. “Would you like to join us, Mr. Darkshire and I, for luncheon? Mr. Darkshire is my cousin who is temporarily living with me.”

            “We would be very honored but we should probably be getting home.” Karen said kindly.

            “Well then some day we should have you. With your other sister…Louise–?”

            “Yes, Louise.”

            “–Of course,“ He stopped to pick up a small box, “mind if I smoke?”

            “Um, no, Of course not. This is your house.” Said Karen who had taken the job of speaking for all of them.

            “Ah, thank you, dear girl. Now you said you lived down the road. How far would you say?” he began to light a pipe with a match.

            “A two mile walk I’d say…” Karen began to say.

            “ I think it would be more of a 3 mile walk.” Alison piped in. she was good with judging distance.

            Young Mr. Benting looked up surprise. “Are you telling me that you ladies walked three miles just to welcome us to this country? –”

            “Oh that’s nothing at all!” Alison said, “We norm–“

            “Alison?” Karen whispered and gave her a glare.

            Mr. Benting resumed talking, “When you leave I shall have our wagon driver take you home. He is a trustworthy fellow, soft as a kitten, and more loyal than your best dog. Not that I would ever put him at the level of an animal, but sometime animals are more reliable than people if you take my meaning.”

            “We are very grateful but really, but walking home is fine with us.” Karen assured

            “No, I insist.” The man took his pipe out of his mouth and looked into Karen eyes.

            “Alright then,” Karen said suddenly after a short silence, “we’ll go in your wagon. Thank you”

            “And thank you!  This was a pleasant visit.” Standing up he held out his hand.

            As Karen was reaching to shake it, her eyes widened when he took her hand gingerly and kissed it. He did the same to the other girls. Karen was surprised but tried to hide it. She moved toward door her sisters following.

            “Thank you again.” Karen said.

Mr. Benting nodded “The maid will escort you back to the door.”

            The maid, whose name was Kelly, led them to the wagon outside. And introduced them to the driver. “Ladies, this is Sam, our wagon driver. Sam,” she turned to a kind looking man his wrinkled dark skin crinkled when he gave the girls a broad white grin, “these are the three young ladies that live down the road. Karen, Alison, and Susan. They need a ride home. You will be taking them.” As she finished she turned around and trotted quickly back to the house. The girls filed into the back of the wagon. The wagon was open so the girls could talk to the driver.

            “Um, sir? What is your full name?” Alison asked courteously.

            “Me name is Sam Morgan, Ma’am, but you kin jus’ call me Sam.” He replied “What tis yours?”

            “Hanson, Alison Hanson.”

            “Dat is a right purdy name, ma’am.” He said and flashed her another blindingly white smile.

            “Mr. Morgan, do you have any family?”

            “Yees, ma’am I do, a wife and two grown boys. They all work for our kind mast’r, Mr. Benting and his friend, Mr. Darkshire.”

            “Oh that’s our house up there!” stated Susan. Secretly she was thinking about how no man should be any man’s Master, but this dear Negro did not seem to be bitter.

            Sam slowed the horses to a stop. “Here ye are missus!” Sam called.

            “Thank you Mr. Morgan. We really appreciate this.” Karen said, who had kept quiet the whole ride.

            “T’was nothin’.”

            “We’ll come again. Thank you!” They said in unison.

            As they watched him drive away, they saw another wagon coming down the opposite side of the road. All the girls watched until they could decipher who was driving.

            “Who could it be?” asked Susan.

            “I have no idea, unless…”Karen began

            Alison cried out, “It’s Louise!”

            “And someone is with her!” Susan said, “It’s that young man at the general store, Mr.–Mr.–“

            “Mr. Turner.” Karen helped.

Finally, the wagon stopped front of the small house. Louise’s face was pink from the fresh air and her hair was wind blown from the fast ride.

            Louise looked to her companion, “Thank you Mr. Turner. It was a…delightful ride.”

            “Yeah, well sorry about all those bumps. I’m kind of in a hurry.” Josh Turner said. Before Louise could jump off, he told her to wait and came around to the side and helped her down. Louise looked a little embarrassed as she faced her sisters. “Good bye miss Hanson. See you in a few days. Good luck!” with that he hopped back one the rickety wagon, whipped the horses and drove away. (But not without looking back.)

            “Good bye.” Louise said in the direction where the he had sped off. Turning to the house, she ran to her sisters, who were snickering to each other. “Come on you three! Stop it!”

            Alison giggled.

            “He was just being polite” Louise said defensively, But even then she was turning a bright shade of red.

            “Enough teasing! Some time I think we do it to often.” Karen helped her out. Louise looked gratefully at Karen. As they had done repeatedly all their lives, the four girls went in traded stories of the day’s advents, ate dinner (Louise had bought some flour and made bread and more soup to eat), and went to bed, All except Susan. She was restless and snuck out, once again, that night.

            Slipping her worn brown shoes on she trotted to the worn door of the cabin.  I think I’ll go by the lake tonight, She thought. The grass was so high she had to lift her gown up to her knees so it wouldn’t catch seeds. Passing the barn she heard Eva’s soft moo, she almost tripped on a stone, caught herself but not without leaving a cut on her foot. Yet, she eventually arrived at her destination. The stars cast their dazzling reflection over the lake’s rippled surface, which caused a radiant display of sparkling lights. Trees always seemed more alive at night. In the day, there were always so many sounds to muffle the gently swish of the trees; at night, there was hardly a sound except for the occasional owl and the soft whisper of grass in the breeze. But tonight they, the trees, gave the feeling of unrest, tossing and turning; reflecting how Susan felt.  Taking of her shoes, Susan dipped her feet in the cool, soothing, star-filled water edge and stood thinking for a while. So much had happened to her and her 3 sisters. Louise got a job in the town! And if that was not big enough, they now had rich neighbors! But something made Susan uneasy, every good comes with a bad just as much as every good come with a bad, what would be the bad? Susan shivered. From could or weariness she didn’t know. Time to head back, she thought. Just as she turned to leave, there was a snap in the trees. It was a heavy crack unlike a little rabbit or other rodents. The figure of a man holding a long stick emerged from the dark. Susan almost screamed but held it in because the man in front of her seemed equally surprised. He didn’t give the impression of being threatening though; She could not make out his face. There was a short moment of silence before a gentle low voice broke it.

            “Isn’t it a little late, miss, for a lady to be out” he said.

            Susan replied with a slightly shaky voice, “I can be out as late as I wish. But I would say the same for you.”

            “I was going night fishing. You know, fish don’t always get sleep, they have sleepless nights too.” He said a little louder but not enough for it to become louder than a whisper.

            “All you’ll catch is stars tonight. There is so many.” She said looking toward the lake.

            “Your very poetic I can tell, I’m a bit of a poet myself; a writer really.”

            Susan stood silent. She was actually having an almost normal conversation with a total stranger whose face she could not even see and she hoped he could not see hers.

            “The trees are restless just like the waves maybe I’ll catch something.” He said then slowly made off toward another bank to the right.

            Susan took this moment to make a disappearance. Running holding her skirts high, she dashed to the cabin, not with out falling several times. Away from the lake, through the grass, pass the barn, and to the front step the house, Susan didn’t stop her pace till she reached he home. When she stumbled inside, Louise was looking though the window and jerked suddenly and with surprise toward her. Susan stopped dead in her tracks. With her wind blown hair, her skirt, despite all efforts, was covered in seed from the dash back, her legs were not without scratches and her face from running in wind was streaked with tears, Susan was quite a sight. At first, Louise hardly recognized her, but came to her senses.

            “Susan what is going on?” Louise said in a harsh whisper.

            Susan shut the door quietly. “I went on a walk to the lake because I couldn’t sleep.”

            Louise look critically at her, “ You look as if you had been chased by a heard of bulls!”

            Susan sighed; she had a feeling she shouldn’t tell Louise about the stranger. Not tonight. “I wanted to get home before it was to late. So I ran.”

            “How many times have I told you to go out at night? It is dangerous out there. Come here.” Louise smiled with compassion. “But I used do the same before mother left us.”  Louise walked over to Susan and gave her a hug. “You were only 7 and usually asleep. Let’s get you cleaned up for bed and we will both go to bed.”

            Susan smiled and nodded in consent; and with that, the two girls readied them selves for bed and slept until dawn. Something very unexpected was about to happen.

…

Murder at Tendril Hinge Chapter 2

    Chapter 2

Weather Change

    

         Later that night Chris thought over what happened. To see his sister after 12 years was rather a shock. But he didn’t want to think about that, instead he needed to think about what was going to happen in the morning. Everyone would have to team up with partners, two each. A couple people had not shown up for the meeting. So he might get teamed up with someone he didn’t even know. He was hoping he wouldn’t get teamed up with his sister.

That morning he was teamed up, not with his sister, but with Cassandra Bullock. He was astounded to find that she was an agent. There. In that very room, where he had been so disgusted  by meeting his half sister, he met someone that made him...feel welcome. He wasn’t sure what, but he was delighted to be her partner. Yet, he wasn’t completely separated from his sister. The Falcon Plan needed two couples to work together. His sister and a  man named Jason were that other couple. When this was decided by Dr. Baker, the leader, Annabeth had given him a desperate pleading look. Chris had pretended not to notice and the despair in her face satisfied him.

Afterward Cassandra had given Chris a ride on her motorcycle; they went to the nearest fast food restaurant for a brunch.

“I’ll have a double please burger, cheese.” Chris told the lady at the cashier, and she gave him a confused look.

“I think he meant cheese burger, please....... I’ll have a fish sandwich..... Thank you.” After paying, Cassandra dragged Chris over to a booth nearby and sat down.

“What?” Chris looked offended

Cassandra looked at Chris with a worried expression,“Are you alright? You seem very distracted.”

“How so?” Chris looked confused

“First of all you ordered a “Please Burger” and didn’t seem to notice your mistake. Normally, I know, you wouldn’t make that mistake.” she gave a little giggle. Chris laughed at himself.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” he laughed a little, put his hand on hers, and leaned forward continued more seriously. “Don’t worry I’m fine. Trust me.”

“Alright, but sometimes I wonder if I should.” she smiled.

“Oh, here’s comes the food!” he said as a waitress approached the table holding a platter.

Cassandra thought after she had dropped him off at his apartment, He is distracted. I know it. Just like you know when a storm is coming. The way that girl was looking at him. Desperate. Sorry. Pleading. And he wouldn’t acknowledge it. Something is wrong, but what?

                    ***

“I still can’t tell you everything,” Annabeth moaned, “if I did it would cause major problems. I’m sorry if I hurt you when we were young. Please understand!” Her eyes glazed over when she saw Chris would not look at her.

“You sure it wasn’t because of my father?” he said finally looking up. “After your father died your mother married my father. He was cruel to her I admit. But just because I was his son you treated me like I was cruel too. He hurt you and mother. But me too! you never saw of course. Father only did it in private when you or mother weren’t around. When you excluded me from every thing; thinking I was the only one treated well. I was all alone. We could never comfort each other. And then you ran away....left me to take care of mother the best I could. I was only ten. Ten years I lived with my cruel selfish father do all he asked as well as shield Mother who was too weak to stand up against him. When I was seventeen she grew ill. I finally ran away when I was eightteen. Annabeth, do you see why I can’t forgive you? You left me and mother all alone. All alone.” Chris stood up walked swiftly out the door. Annabeth was to overcome with sadness to follow him.

“He won’t listen,” Annabeth whispered as tears tinkled down face and onto the table. “He never will!”

                    ***

As Chris walked to his apartment, he wondered if he had been too harsh. But he pushed that thought out of his mind, she was the one who had been harsh. He entered into his apartment, then turned on the news.

“Criminals are being held in jail for a period of five days before being put on trial.” But that was not what interested Chris, underneath was a title in red, “Tornado warning in the cities of Wylie, Sachse, Tendril Hinge and Cornerstone.” Suddenly he heard sirens going off. But then there was a knock on the door. When he opened it, Annabeth stood there in the pouring rain.

“Annabeth.” Chris gazed at her in shock.

“Umm, I was just leaving the meeting area and then I heard sirens.” Annabeth looked pleadingly.  “I didn’t know where else to go. My home was my car but that’s not exactly tornado safe.”

“Well, find somewhere else!” Chris slammed the door shut. Then thought again. But when he opened the door, she was gone.

    Annabeth shivered as she walked swiftly through the street, the sirens wailing around her. Where will I go? The agency is always closed when tornados come; they never let anyone in. Then she thought again, I guess I’ll try Jason Blake ‘s. Remembering his apartment number she raced over.

          Once she found his room, she knocked on his door. Jason stood there,”Are you crazy? There are tornados like everywhere!” he let her in. She and Jason had known each other since she started working as an agent. He knew everything about the Agency, he taught her everything she needed to know. But he had been so young.. now she needed his help again. But tomorrow they would need to help each other. They were partners.