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                                                                          CHAPTER ONE

                                                                     Foxton: July 23rd 1910

Shhh,” sixteen-year-old Isabelle Luff said, laughing softly whilst  eighteen-year-old Flynn O’Leary showered her face and neck with kisses and boldly declared his love for her. “Someone will hear us!” She glanced at the bedroom door―firmly closed of course―and strained her ears for any sound of the housekeeper.
     “I don’t care,” Flynn said, planting a line of kisses from her ear to the bridge of her pert nose and then smiling at her. “We’ll be man and wife in a few hours, and it won’t matter who hears us.” He ran a hand along the edge of her blonde hair, neatly bound and almost hidden under a rather fetching wide-brimmed hat and across the smooth white skin of her cheek, and smiled. “If you still want me, that is.”
     Isabelle looked into his soft brown eyes and felt her pulse quicken. “Of course, I do.”
     “I’ll never be able to give you a grand home like this one,” Flynn said, casting an eye around the spacious and tastefully decorated room in the two-year-old house that was the pride and joy of Isabelle’s father, Gabriel Luff. “Are you sure you want to marry the son of a farmer?”
     “Very sure.” Isabelle kissed his deeply tanned cheek and tousled his dark, unruly hair. “Very sure, indeed.”
     “Then today’s the day,” Flynn whispered. “Are you ready?”
     Isabelle glanced at the small leather bag that held two changes of clothing and only the most essential of toiletries. “As ready as I shall  ever be,” she whispered, glancing at the door again. “But how will we get out of the house without being seen?” She glanced to the open window. “I cannot possibly climb out of the window like you do, not on the second storey.”
     “Everything is arranged,” Flynn said, releasing the tight hold he had on Isabelle’s waist and running his hands down her arms to clasp her hands firmly in his. “Billy Ryder is going to provide a distraction to keep the cook and the housekeeper standing at the front door long enough for us to sneak out the back door. We’ll have to watch out for your friend though.”
     “I have sent her to the town to try to locate you, just as we planned. Oh, Flynn my heart is trembling!”
     “So is mine,” Flynn said softly, “and it’s the best feeling in the world.”
     “It is.”
     “My horse is tied up in the trees over there,” Flynn gestured out of the window to a small group of trees about a hundred yards or so away. “We’ll have to run like the wind though, as soon as Billy lights the fire to distract the others.”
     Isabelle shook her head slowly. “Billy Ryder is not one to be trusted, Flynn. Surely you know that.”
     “Don’t worry. I’ve paid him.”
     Isabelle glanced out of the window. “And what time can we expect this distraction?”
     Flynn glanced at the clock on the table. “Any minute now.” 
 
     The door opened suddenly and Gabriel Luff, Isabelle’s father, burst into the room, closely followed by constable Biggs from the Foxton police and … Isabelle blinked … Billy Ryder.
     “See!” Billy said, waving a hand at Flynn. “I told you!” He held out his hand to Gabriel. “You promised me ten shillings!”
     “You shall have your money, Mr. Ryder,” Gabriel said, keeping his eyes on Flynn, “just as soon as I have ensured that this miscreant here rots in jail for the rest of his days.”
     “But I haven’t done anything!” Flynn said, while releasing Isabelle’s hands quickly.
     Constable Biggs stepped forwards and Flynn held his hands in the air at chest height.
     “Have you not?” Gabriel said softly. “I do not recall giving you permission to enter my house, in fact I recall giving you explicit instructions to stay far away from my daughter. Yet here you are … so you are guilty of trespass, at the very least,” he cocked his head, “and I have cause to believe that you are also a thief.”
     “I’m no thief!”
     “Mr. Ryder here informs me that you are.”
     “And you believe him?” Flynn said, waving a hand in Billy’s direction. “He’s a liar!”
     “It is not Mr. Ryder who has been lying to me though, is it?” Gabriel said. “You and my daughter have been meeting together and doing who-knows-what for some time I have been told.”
     Flynn’s face coloured. “We haven’t done anything wrong, and I’m no thief!”
     “Search him,” Billy said loudly, “you’ll see.”
     Gabriel turned to constable Biggs. “Search him!”
     Constable Biggs stepped forwards and reached into Flynn’s pocket. “I suppose you mean to tell me that this is yours then?” he said, pulling a pearl necklace from Flynn’s pocket and dangling it in front of his face. “Well are you?”
     Flynn stared at the necklace. “I don’t know how that came to be in my pocket, I swear I don’t.”
     Gabriel snatched the necklace from the constable. “This belonged to my wife,” he hissed to Flynn. “How dare you!”
     “I told you. I’m no thief.”
     “Arrest him,” Gabriel said, his voice was very calm. “And remove him from my house at once.”
     “No!” Isabelle shrieked. “No, Father! You know Flynn is no thief. You know it!”
     “I know that my daughter has been swayed to act in a manner that no lady of her standing should countenance,” Gabriel hissed, “and I know that he,” pointing a finger at Flynn sharply, “is to blame.”
     “But I love him!” Isabelle cried loudly.
     Gabriel shook his head slowly. “You will be sent to St. Mary’s Convent, where you shall live for the next year.”
     “No!” Isabelle shrieked again as the constable twisted Flynn’s hands behind his back and snapped handcuffs onto Flynn’s wrists.
     Flynn, who had been struggling with the constable, suddenly stopped struggling and stood very still with his eyes locked on Isabelle’s. “I love you,” he whispered.
     “Father!” Isabelle shrieked as the constable pulled on Flynn’s arm and began to drag him across the room. “This is wrong!”
     The constable paused at the door and turned to Gabriel. “Don’t worry, sir, he’ll not be bothering you again.” He turned to look at Flynn. Quick as a flash, Flynn brought his elbow up into the constable’s face, sending him reeling backwards into Gabriel.  As the men fell to the ground Flynn ran for the door.
     “Oh no, you don’t!” Billy stood in the doorway and flexed his not inconsiderable muscles. “I haven’t been paid yet.”
     Flynn lowered his head and charged at Billy, but Billy brought his booted foot up quickly and kicked Flynn across the room as he raised his fists in front of his body in a classic boxer’s pose. “You’re handcuffed,” he said, “What chance do you think you have?”
     Flynn glanced at Gabriel who was scrambling to his feet and then glanced to the open window that he had climbed in not half an hour ago.
     “Don’t move!” the constable said, rising to his knees and spitting teeth from his bloodied mouth.
     “I love you, Isabelle,” Flynn said as he launched himself through the open window and onto the roof of the veranda below. With handcuffed hands Flynn was powerless to stop his slide down the veranda roof and into the air.
     “Flynn!” Isabelle cried from the open window as he fell from the veranda roof onto the sharp pointed spikes of the wrought iron fence that ran from the house to the stone boundary fence to divide the property into two sections.
     Isabelle felt vomit rise into her mouth as blood spurted from Flynn’s chest in several places as he rocked helplessly on the spikes. She quickly turned her head away from the sight. “You did this!” she shrieked to her father. “You killed him!”
     “Nonsense,” Gabriel said, glancing out of the window and then glancing quickly away. “The lad brought this on himself.”
     Isabelle felt the world begin to spin. “I hate you!”
     “That is of no concern to me,” Gabriel snapped. “You will be taken to St. Mary’s convent forthwith,” he glanced at the bag lying on Isabelle’s bed. “I see you are already packed for travel, which will save us some time.” He grabbed Isabelle by the arm. “And there is no time like the present.”
     “No!” Isabelle tore her arm from her father’s grip and grabbed at the windowsill, staring down at Flynn.  The man she vowed to love forever was still twitching on the spikes. “Flynn!”
     She felt her father’s strong hands close on her arm once again and made up her mind.
     “Flynn and I will be together until death,” she said, stamping her delicately booted foot onto her father’s foot with all the strength she could muster and ripping her arm free from his grip as he doubled over in pain, “no matter how long that is.” She launched herself through the open window and made no attempt to slow her slide down the veranda roof.
     Her descent ended abruptly, and she saw blood spurt from the sharp spikes that protruded from her own stomach and chest. Strange ... it doesn’t hurt.
     Raising her head as much as possible, she looked over to Flynn and reached her hand to his handcuffed hand. He opened his eyes and grasped her hand as his lips moved. I love you, he mouthed and Isabelle smiled.
     “Till death do us part,” she said, feeling blood welling in her mouth. She kept tight hold of his hand as she felt his body tense and then relax with a loud hiss. “Oh, Flynn,” she said as the world drifted in and out of focus and she heard her father wail from the window two stories above.  “We shall never be parted now.”

                                                                           CHAPTER TWO
                                                                          Foxton: June 2010

Here she is,” the real estate agent, Mr. Moyes said as he turned his Toyota Prado off the street and into the driveway of what Erin could only describe as a huge but ramshackle two-storied house.
     From the passenger’s seat of the Prado, twenty-eight-year-old Erin Finlay looked out at the overgrown yard and cast an eye over the house itself. Was this really all she could afford?
     “It’s a really good location,” Mr. Moyes said, opening the door of the Prado and stepping out of the car, carefully avoiding a large muddy puddle. “And the house was built of top grade timber. She’s as solid as a rock.”
     “Mmm,” Erin said, opening the passenger’s door and stepping out onto the rough, broken concrete of the driveway. Surely she could find something better than this! She cast her eye over the remains of what was probably once a lovely wrought iron fence that stretched from one side of the house to the sadly crumbling stone wall that surrounded the whole section. “How long has it been since anyone lived here?”
     Mr. Moyes licked his lips. “A long time, I’m afraid.”
     “And do the plumbing and electrics all work okay?”
     “Oh yes. The house was rewired about twenty years ago, and the plumbing was upgraded when the town water and sewerage were connected.”
     “Uh-huh.” Erin cast her eye to a cracked and crumbling old concrete water tank in the back yard.
     “The section’s huge,” Mr. Moyes said, waving a hand at the overgrown jungle that waspresumablythe back yard. “Nearly half an acre.”
     “Uh-huh,” Erin said, sighing lightly. How would she ever be able to keep half an acre of back lawn tidy? “I’m not sure this is what I’m looking for, Mr. Moyes. The house is huge and I’d be living here alone you know.” Erin felt a sharp stab of pain in her chest and swallowed heavily as the smiling face of Rowan Stevenson
the man she had hoped to marry and grow old withsprang to her mind. She glanced down to the engagement ring on her left hand that she could still not bring herself to take off. “It’s such a big house for one person.”
     “Oh yes,” Mr. Moyes said softly. “I’m sorry, Erin.” It was a small town and everyone knew everyone else’s business. Erin flapped a hand at Mr. Moyes. “It’s alright.” She took a deep breath, remembering the night Rowan’s parents had called her a month ago and broken the news that Rowandear, sweet Rowanhad been killed in a car accident on the Desert Road just two weeks before their wedding date. She had yelled at them, she remembered, and told them they were lying. She had screamed down the phone to them and called them all sorts of horrible names. She swallowed again. Those dear, sweet people had just lost a son and had rung her, Rowan’s fiancée, to tell her of their mutual loss, and she had screamed at them. She shook her head slowly. Rowan’s parents had forgiven her, and they had been a wonderful support to each other at the funeral. Erin shivered, remembering that awful day. The day she had said goodbye to Rowan forever.
     “Would you like to see inside?” Mr. Moyes’ voice interrupted her thoughts.
     Erin looked at the rotting steps that led to a huge veranda and shivered again. She didn’t want to see inside. She wanted to go home, but the thought of sitting in the passenger’s seat of Mr. Moyes’ Prado all the way back to his office while he looked at her with that sympathetic look that she loathed, imagining him telling her how sorry he was for her loss, was just too much to bear right now. “Alright,” she said, more to give herself some breathing
space than because she was interested in seeing the house. “I suppose since we’ve come all the way here we may as well go inside.”
     Mr. Moyes turned a key in a huge lock on the solid wooden front door and pushed. Nothing happened. He grunted slightly and used his shoulder to bunt the door heavily, and it loosened and swung open on squeaky hinges. Erin held her breath as stale air from the inside of the house reached her. “Like I said, it’s been empty for a while,” Mr. Moyes said. “But it’s the only house we have listed in your price range, Erin. There’s nothing else under $100,000.”
     Erin managed what she hoped looked like a smile. “After you.” She gestured to the door, forcing Mr. Moyes to walk into the house first. Well, if the floor was going to give way, it might as well be
him that fell through. But the floor didn’t give way; it didn’t even creak as Mr. Moyes opened the door wider and stepped inside with Erin following behind him.

     The inside of the house was more dilapidated than the outside. Wallpaper hung in sheets from the walls and dangled flaccidly in mid-air, the bare wooden floorboards were chipped and gouged, and the crumbling old-fashioned linoleum in the kitchen was pitted and discoloured. The whole house smelled damp, and the high ceilings were stained a sort of mud-brown colour. Smoke, Erin guessed, glancing at the old-fashioned open fireplace. “Is that even legal any more?” she asked, waving a hand at the open fire.
     “It can’t be used,” Mr. Moyes said. “The chimney’s been blocked off.”
     Erin ran a hand over the ornately carved fireplace surround. This house would once have been proud and beautiful. She looked over to the huge bay windows that covered half of one wall. Someone had once loved this house, she was sure of it.
     “The bathroom was updated in the 1970’s,” Mr. Moyes said as he opened a door and gestured to a hideous dark green tile-walled bathroom.
     Erin walked into the bathroom and blinked at her reflection in a huge mirrored wall that was made up of a large group of small glass tiles stuck to the wall. She ran a hand through her shoulder
length brown hair, which she really should have tied up before coming out, but she just couldn’t be bothered today, and smoothed the skin around her light brown eyes. She ran her hand across the bridge of her nose where a light smattering of freckles were visible on her lightly tanned skin. She flicked a few stray hairs from her oversized green sweatshirt and blue jeans and turned to follow Mr. Moyes as he walked to a wide stairway.
     “There are four bedrooms,” Mr. Moyes said, leading her up the stairs which Erin trod on carefully, mindful of the crumbling outside steps.   
     Erin wandered along the wide hallway and peered into each of the bedrooms. She could almost imagine this house as it had once been, knowing it had been stately and grand. She touched a door frame that was pitted and gouged in the lower three feet or so and smiled as she imagined children scurrying along the hallway on bikes or skates and banging into the door frame, leaving evidence of their play that would endure through the years.
     As she walked into one of the bedrooms and peered out of the dust laden window, Mr. Moyes came to stand behind her and
pointed out of the window to the dilapidated wrought iron fence visible past the veranda roof below. “I suppose I should tell you the story behind this house … and that fence,” he said softly. “You’re bound to hear it sooner or later anyway, and disclosure, you know.”
     “Story?”
     Mr. Moyes nodded slowly. “The fence itself was replaced at least once that I know of. Although why anyone would want to keep it standing is beyond me.”
     “Why? Was it hideous?”
     “No. Quite the opposite, in fact, the fence was quite beautiful. It was hand-crafted 102 years ago by a local blacksmith and it sported” he cleared his throat, “pointed escarpments that protruded above its horizontal top bar.”
     “And there is a story about the fence?”
     Mr. Moyes nodded. “Nothing less than a tragedy.”
     “Really?”
     “Oh yes. The house was built in 1908, and the fence was built soon after. The first family to live here were the Luffs.”
     “Luff?” Erin said. “What a great name. It sounds like love, don’t you think?” She cast an eye around the room. “And I’ll bet they loved this house too.”
     Mr. Moyes nodded. “It was the first house to be built on this street. Of course in those days Foxton was a thriving town, although much smaller than it is today. Gabriel Luff was a very prosperous merchant with two daughters, Mary and Isabelle. Sadly his wife had died when the youngest, Isabelle, was an infant, so Gabriel had lived in comfortable quarters behind his store. After Mary married and moved away, Gabriel built this house for himself and Isabelle to live in.”
     “So Isabelle wasn’t a child?”
     “She was fourteen when Gabriel built the house and they moved in.” Mr. Moyes cleared his throat. “But tragedy followed two years later when Isabelle turned sixteen and fell in love with a local farmer’s son named Flynn O’Leary.”
     “Her father didn’t approve?”
     Mr. Moyes nodded. “You see Gabriel Luff was a proud man, and he wanted his daughters to marry well. Mary had married the son of a wealthy flax miller, and he wanted Isabelle to find a similar beau.”
     Erin raised an eyebrow. “Flynn being just a farmer’s son was not good enough for Gabriel, I suppose.”
     Mr. Moyes nodded again. “Gabriel forbade the match of course, and he kept Isabelle confined here to the house and ordered his housekeeper to keep watch over her. But, as you can imagine, young Flynn wasn’t going to give up that easily and neither was Isabelle. So they began to meet in secret, right here in this room.”
     Erin glanced around at the spacious and airy room. Yes, she could almost imagine two young lovers meeting here, keeping a watchful eye on the door and a sharp ear out for any creak of floorboards that might signal the approach of the housekeeper, or worse, Isabelle’s father. She looked at the solid wooden framed windowthe kind that opened straight up and downand onto the  veranda roof below. Had Flynn climbed in this very window to meet with his love? “That’s very romantic,” she said softly. “But what was the tragedy?”
     “Well, Gabriel obviously found out what was happening, because one day he burst into the room, accompanied by a constable. He found Flynn here with Isabelle, and ordered that Flynn be arrested and taken away to prison and Isabelle be taken to a convent.”
     “Arrested for what? They hadn’t committed any crime had they?”
     “No, not really. Times were different then, and a rich man like Gabriel Luff could do almost anything he wanted, including having a farmer’s son thrown in prison for the rest of his natural life.”
     “So what happened?”
     Mr. Moyes nodded to the window. “The window was open; and, of course, the wrought iron fence was still standing, with its spikes protruding into the air.” He took a deep breath. “It is said that young Flynn jumped out of the window, bounced along the roof of the veranda and landed on the spikes as he fell, and … and he was impaled right there on the fence.”
     “That’s awful!”
     Mr. Moyes nodded. “But that’s not the worst part,” he said softly. “Isabelledistraught at seeing young Flynn lying helplessly impaled on the fence and hearing her father threaten to send her to a conventthrew herself out of the window and ended up impaled on the fence right next to Flynn. It’s said that they clasped hands as they lay there, impaled and dying, and with their last breaths they professed their love for each other.”
     “And they died right there on the fence?”
     “They did, and Gabriel was driven mad by the sight. They say he closed his store and spent each and every day sitting in the dark here in the house with all the curtains drawn. Then one day, several months after the tragedy, he put a pistol into his mouth and pulled the trigger.”
     Erin felt her stomach heave. “That’s awful!”
     “It is. And that’s one reason why the house is so cheap.”
     “Is it haunted?”
     “Of course not. There have been many families living here over the years, and not one report of anything like that, but people can be superstitious, you know. Some reporter got hold of the story and published an article on it about ten years ago, and no one has wanted to live here since then. The house has just stood empty all that
time. The old lady that owned it died a few months ago, and her family just wanted the house soldand fast. It’ll be a bargain for anyone who wants to put in some time to fix it up.”
     Erin looked around at the room she stood in. “So you think they’ll drop their price?”
     “I’m sure they will.”
     “If I offer them $50,000 do you think they’ll take it?”
     Mr. Moyes took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “They might.”
     “Then that’s what we’ll do,” Erin said, surprising even herself. She looked around the room again, imagining the two lovers standing in this very room and declaring their love for each other.
     “Are you quite sure?” Mr. Moyes said, raising an eyebrow.
     Erin looked out of the window and cast her eye over the veranda roof to what remained of the fence below. “I’m sure,” she said softly. She smiled at Mr. Moyes. “Somehow it just seems right. I don’t know why. But I think I’m supposed to own this house.”
     “Er, right then, I’ll draw up the offer.”

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                                                                            CHAPTER ONE


Anne grabbed Billy by the hand and hastened him up the road.   “Come on Billy.  We have to hurry home.  I have to check Ma.”

     “Why can’t I play Annie?  You’re such a mean girl lately.”

     “I am not mean at all.  I have to check Ma, cook our supper and make sure you do your chores.  The animals need looking after, and there’s no one else but you to take care of them.  I have enough to do.  Now pick up your lunch pail or I’ll find a switch and take it to your behind.”

     “Some day I’m gonna be bigger than you, bossy, Anne Wolfe!  Then you won’t be ordering me around no more.”

     “You surely will Billy, but for now I am bigger and I am in charge.  And it’s any more, not no more.”

     “No more means the same thing and I’ll say it if I want to.”

     Just as Anne reached for Billy, he took off, kicking up dirt as he ran.  Anne didn’t bother trying to catch him.  She’d be home soon enough and he had better be doing his chores when

she got there.  After retrieving Billy’s lunch pail, she followed her brother up the hot dirt road.

     Anne began thinking about their mother, who had been awfully sick of late.  Old Doc Webber’s medicines were not very effective in battling the pneumonia that planted a firm
hold.  Poor Ma couldn’t get out of bed much any more.  The winter had been long and cold.  Now it was late spring.  Ma should be better by now, shouldn’t she?

     Shifting the lunch pails and her books, she hurried the last of the way home.  Billy was nowhere to be found.  Anne rushed into the house and placed her belongings on the large table.  She tied an apron over her dress and slowly opened her mother’s door.  Patricia Wolfe lay there pale and clammy, the only sound in the room was raspy shallow breathing.

     Anne went to her mother’s bedside and laid a cool hand on her cheek.  It was very warm and Anne suspected that her fever was back.  She picked up the basin which sat on the bed stand and went outside to the well for fresh cool water.

     Anne pulled her chair closer to her mother’s bedside and began to wipe her face with a wet cloth.

     “Ma?  Are you sleeping?”

     “No, Anne.  I’m awake.” 

     “Are you hungry?  I can fix you some soup.  I made a    fresh kettle last night.”

     “Perhaps just a bit, Anne.”

 

     Billy clomped into the house without removing his dirty shoes and made an awful mess.  Anne made him clean up after himself and listened to him complain the entire time.

     “I’m heating up this soup for supper and we’ll have Johnny cake on the side.  Did you finish your chores?”

     “Most of them.  I didn’t feed the chickens yet.”

    “If you don’t take care of those chickens, they will starve and you will have no eggs for breakfast!”

     For once, nine-year-old Billy did as he was asked.  Anne sighed with relief and ladled some of the nourishing chicken soup into a small bowl.  Anne read to her mother while she ate.

    “Ma?  It’s time for your medicine.  I’ll be right back.”

     Anne carefully measured the bitter powder and mixed it into a cup of hot tea.  She added enough honey to kill the taste and reached into the cupboard for the elderberry elixir.  That should help with the coughing spells.

 

     During their evening meal, Billy prattled on about the boys in school and asked if he could ride over to visit with his friend Daniel.  

     “I suppose it will be all right, as long as you take care to be back before dark.”

     “I will Anne, I promise.  I’ll ride bareback to save time.”

     She smiled as her little brother ran out the door and into the barn.  Two minutes later, he had Jake bridled up and kicked the horse into a gallop.  Their dog Hector followed.  Anne felt sorry for Billy, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it.  She supposed that at his age, he didn’t much know the difference.

 

     Their father Zeke had run off to make his fortune.  He didn’t care much for farming and was far more interested in an easier way of life.  They never knew from one week to the next where their father was.  He occasionally sent money home, but it was never enough. so the family learned to do without.  Anne looked down at her worn dress and wished so much that she had some fabric to sew a new one.  She did have some small pieces, but nothing large enough for a dress.

 

     Anne and Billy watched their mother pine in her lonely existence, until one day she simply stopped caring.  She no longer watched for her husband to ride up.  She no longer smiled.  Even her children didn’t make her happy.  One year later, Patricia took ill. 

     Anne vowed that no man would ever make her sad and miserable.   She would learn to take care of herself, and never fall under the spell of a man.   Her father was handsome and very charming.  Anne suspected that since he liked his whiskey and card playing, he probably spent the majority of his time in saloons.

     After supper, Anne needed to make bread, otherwise they’d have none for breakfast or lunch tomorrow.  While the bread dough was rising, she looked through her fabric pieces.  Sadly, unless she was a child, the remnants were far too small to make herself a dress.  Disappointed, Anne folded the fabric and packed everything away. 

     Hector was barking, and Anne knew Billy was returning.  She went outside to remind him to take proper care of Jake.  Billy clutched a large parcel and handed it to Anne.

     “What’s this Billy?”

     “I’m not sure.  Daniel’s ma sent it.  It’s some food I think.  She said they just butchered a hog.”

     Anne quickly untied the parcel and saw a large slab of   bacon and some thick slices of smoked ham.

     “Billy; this is wonderful.  We’ll have bacon for breakfast tomorrow.  I hope you thanked her properly.”

     “No, I sort of forgot.”

     “Billy, you need to have better manners.  When someone gives you something, you need to say thank you.  Never mind.  I will write a note and you can give it to Daniel in school tomorrow.  Tend to Jake and I'll see you inside.”

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

Anne served Ma’s breakfast, and then gave her the required dose of medicine.  She hurried outside to call Billy.  He was supposed to be collecting eggs, but he was taking a long time.

     “Darn your hide,

Billy!  Where are you?”

     “I’m here.  I’m coming.”

     Billy ran to his older sister with a basket of eggs.

     “Wash your face and comb your hair.  We have to leave for school.”

 

     Tommy Martin caught up with them on the road and the three of them walked together.  Anne suspected that Tommy was sweet on her, but she wasn’t very interested in boys.  She had too much to do in her life and didn’t have time for a suitor.

     During lunch and recess, Anne sat quietly under the big shade tree and completed her homework.  It was the only free time she had to study.  Suddenly hearing a scuffle, Anne looked up to see Billy and another boy in the middle of a fist fight.  She arrived across the school yard just as Billy sent a swift right hook into the side of Newton’s face.  Mrs. Billingsley ordered the boys to stop, but they continued fighting, as they were both very angry with one another.  Anne was able to grab Billy by his suspenders and pull him back.  Mrs. Billingsley took Newton by the arm and firmly led him into the school house.

     “Boys?  What’s this all about?”

     “He started it, Mrs. Billingsley.  He hit me!”

     “Yeah, I hit you all right, and if you ever call my Pa names again, I’ll hit you some more!”

     “That's quite enough, boys.  I want you to get your writing tablets out and write I will not fight, fifty times.  The next time it will be one hundred times.  Now get busy and let this be the last I hear of your fighting.”

 

     After school, Anne questioned Billy.

     “I know I shouldn’t fight Anne, but a fella has to defend his pa, right?  Newton said some awful things and I had to hit him.”

     “I’m sure you didn’t have to hit him.  Maybe next time you can ignore him and not fight.  I have to stop at Tenny’s Mercantile.  I need a sack of flour.”

     “OK Anne.  I wish we had some money to buy a candy stick or licorice.”

    “Me too Billy, but we don’t.  No sense crying over it.”

    They entered the mercantile and Anne went to get her flour.  Billy, on the other hand was looking at fishing tackle and baseballs.  He knew they couldn’t afford either, but it didn’t hurt to look. 

     “I’m all set, Billy.  Are you ready?  I need to get home to Ma.”

     “Yes, I suppose so, Annie.”

     On the way to the door, Anne noticed a tiny little prairie dress.  She stopped to look at it quickly and was amazed at the high price for a simple cotton frock.  She checked the seams, and didn’t see that they were anything special.  There were a few irregular sections.  A fine hand with a needle and thread, Anne knew she could do better.  She remembered all the fabric that she had at home, and took a deep breath.

     “One more minute, Billy; I need to speak to Mrs. Tenny.  Please wait for me outside.  I’m a little nervous; I'll explain later.”

     “All right Anne, but hurry it up.  I wanna go fishing for supper.”

     “Good afternoon, Anne.  Was there something else?”

     Anne swallowed hard and nervously cleared her throat.

     “Mrs. Tenny, I was wondering if you might possibly sell my hand sewn items here.  You would make a profit on them, of course.  I am planning on making dresses, aprons, bonnets and whatever else there is a call for.  I do excellent work.”

    “Anne, do you have any samples to show me?  I would like to see your work before I agree to anything.”

     “I’m sorry Mrs. Tenny, but I don’t have any completed garments.  I can show you samples of my stitching, after school tomorrow.  You can attest to my expert seams.  Every one is as straight as can be!”  Anne smiled.

     “I would be interested in looking at your work, but I am also interested in the design of your dresses.  If you have any sketches, please bring them along also.”

     “Thank you very much," Mrs. Tenny, "I'll see you tomorrow.”

 

     On their walk home, Anne conversed with her younger sibling regarding all the money she was going to make. 

     “Are we gonna be rich, Annie?”

     “No, Billy.  I’m only one person and I have too much to do, as it is.  I won’t have enough time to spend on my sewing to become rich.  Won’t it be nice to have meat more regularly and an occasional piece of candy?”

     “Yes, I spose so, Anne.  Can I go fishing when we get home?  We should probably save the rest of the ham for tomorrow.”

     “Sure Billy.  Let’s look in on Ma and I’ll give her something to eat.  Then you can go catch some nice fat trout for supper.” 

    "Okey dokey Anne.  You just let me take care of supper tonight.  I’ll catch us some fish.”

   

     “Make sure the animals are fed and watered first, and then you can go.”

     “Maybe you’ll let me take Pa’s Winchester to the woods and let me shoot some game.  I bet I could get a deer or turkey; something other than squirrels, rabbits, and fish would be a nice change.”

     “We’ll see Billy.  It’s I’ll bet, not I bet.”

     “Aw, come on, Anne.  I’m almost ten-years-old now.  Plenty of boys use rifles.  Some even have their own!  I bet Pa would let me!”

     “Pa isn't here, and Ma always said no, Billy.  I can’t go behind her back and give you permission.”

     “But Anne, that’s when I was only nine!”

     “You’re still only nine.”

     With that comment, Billy got angry and ran up the road, leaving Anne to walk the rest of the way alone.

 

     When Anne arrived at home, Billy and his fly rod were gone.  She hurried to her ma, and found her asleep.  Anne picked some string beans from her small garden, and then prepared Johnny cake. 

     Kneeling down, Anne opened the trunk that held all the fabrics, and Ma’s sewing kit.  She spread the  pieces on their large farm table and began sorting.  After selecting a sunny yellow fabric, she quickly sketched a design.  She made a pattern out of brown paper and pinned the fabric securely.

     Hector was barking.  Anne looked out the window to see Billy and their dog entering the yard.  Once she stepped on the porch, Billy held up a small string of trout.  Good.  They would have fish for supper.  She went back inside and cleared the table.

     Billy cleaned his catch, while Anne went to see their mother.  Ma wasn’t hungry, but Anne insisted that she eat a little something, and have some tea.  Anne measured the medicinal powder and reached for the bottle of elixir. 

     While her ma ate a bit of food, Anne told her all about the plan to sew dresses for Tenny’s Mercantile.

     “Gracious, Anne.  Whenever will you find the time?  You’re so busy now.  Until I am feeling better, you have so many responsibilities.  I’m so sorry for that, and I’m trying to get better; honestly.”

    “I know you are, Ma.  Don’t worry.  Now, please eat some more. You need nourishment to keep your strength up.  Tomorrow, I have to see Mrs. Tenny after school.  When I get home, maybe we can sit on the porch for a few minutes.  The sun will do you good.”

 

     Very adept with a needle and thread, Anne began basting the seams on her first dress.  It was coming along quite nicely, and Anne was sure the mercantile would sell it for her.  With her profit, she would purchase more fabric.

     Her Ma had taught her to sew when she was only eight-years-old.  At first it was just simple things, but Anne hungered for more complex projects.  Before Patricia knew it, her daughter was learning how to smock.  They didn’t often have the money to buy fabric, so Anne remained content by smocking their current aprons and dress bodices.

     “My goodness, Annie.  We have the most beautiful tea towels in all of Illinois.  Your embroidery work is perfect.”

     “Thanks, Ma.  Is there anything else I can practice on?” 

     “No Anne.  I’m afraid you’ve decorated nearly every cloth item in this house.”

     Years later, Anne still sewed every chance she had.  When she didn’t have fabric, she drew designs of magnificent dresses that she hoped to make for herself some day.

     Catching herself nodding off, Anne put her things away, blew out the lamp, and went to bed. 

 

     Morning came far too soon and Anne had to drag herself
out of bed.  She checked on Ma, while Billy collected eggs and milked the cow.  After breakfast, Billy went outside to feed and water the animals, while Anne visited with their mother.  She showed off her little dress and listened to her mother’s compliments.

     “Wish me luck, Ma.  I hope Mrs. Tenny likes it.”

     “Of course she will.  When you get home, you can tell me the good news.”

     “OK Ma; see you after school.  Please make sure to drink as much as possible and use your elixir if you need it.  It’s on your nightstand.  There's some extra biscuits, too.  Please eat them.”

     “Yes, Annie.  I’ll take a little nap now.  I’m sleepy.”

   

     “Billy, here’s your lunch.  We need to go.  Did you take care of all the animals?”

     “Yes, Anne; all done.”

     “Is that right?  It seems that Hector’s bowl is empty.  You’d better feed him right away.  We have to leave, or we’ll be late.”

     They walked a little faster than normal, and caught up to Daniel and Tommy.  The younger boys talked about fishing and hunting, while Tommy nervously tried to converse with Anne.  She kept the conversation light; discussing school and the weather.  She didn’t want to lead Tommy on.  He was a nice boy, but she simply wasn’t interested.  Just as they entered the schoolyard, Mrs. Billingsley began to ring the bell.  Everyone hurried to climb the steps, put their lunch pails down, and take their seats.

      During recess, Anne sat under her favorite tree and attached a bit of eyelet on the cuffs of the little dress.   As she basted the eyelet around the collar, the bell rang, announcing that their break was over.  Folding the little garment quickly, Anne was confident that Mrs. Tenny would like her work.  She wished that she had time to smock the cuffs, but it was more important to get it sold quickly, and have the money.

     After school, she and Billy hurried to Tenny's.  "Billy, keep your fingers crossed that Mrs. Tenny likes the dress.  Just think, if I sell this dress, I can buy more fabric, and we'll have some money!"

     "Yes Anne, I want money to buy candy.  I haven't had none in such a long time.  I can taste it now.  Maybe I'll buy some delicious lemon drops, or a jaw breaker, or maybe even a peppermint stick and licorice."

     Anne was too excited to correct her brother's grammar.  She was far too busy thinking about buying some sugar and maybe even a vanilla bean or two! 

     Billy stayed outside while Anne spoke to Mrs. Tenny.  She waited nervously, as Mrs. Tenny turned the dress inside out and examined the seams, and then nodded to Anne.

     "This is very nice, Anne.  I didn't expect you would have it ready so quickly.  I'm sure we can sell it for you, and please feel free to bring more garments, as you complete them.  Did you remember to bring a few designs?"

     "Yes ma'am, I did." 

     Anne held her breath while Mrs. Tenny quickly flipped through her designs.

     "Most of these are a little too fancy for these parts, but the more basic ones will do nicely.  Thank you Anne."


 

  

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

The weeks passed and their mother’s health continued to fail.  She coughed nearly non-stop, sometimes having massive choking fits.  Anne was very concerned, but tried not to worry Billy about it.  Doc Webber stopped by regularly, but even he seemed a little discouraged.  Anne spent a good deal of time at her mother’s bedside, sewing by the lamp while she kept a sharp eye on Ma.

     The mercantile sold a dress and an apron, which gave Anne enough money to buy a length of fabric, and a bag each of flour and sugar.  She treated herself and Billy to a peppermint candy stick and a few lemon drops.

     Anne’s days were filled to overflowing with running the house, going to school and sewing.  She had little time to do anything but work.  Unlike most girls her age, she had too many responsibilities.  Pa hadn’t sent any money in months and Anne wondered what had become of him. 

     Billy’s tenth birthday came and went with no word from their father.  The boy was getting quite proficient at fishing and shooting small prey with his 22.  He often came home with squirrels, rabbits and lovely strings of fish caught either in Willow Creek or the nearby river.  Anne was grateful for the contributions to the food larder.  It was one less thing she had to worry about.

     The days were getting longer as summer quickly approached.  Anne was happy, as it gave her more hours of daylight. 

     Just as they were down to twenty six cents in the sugar bowl, they received some money from Pa.  Billy needed new shoes.  His old ones were badly worn, as well as too small.  Anne needed to make him a new pair of trousers and a new shirt, as he had grown taller.  The money would be gone in no time.  Pa was in Chicago, less than a two day ride.  She hoped that he would be coming home to visit; or even better yet, to stay.  His family needed him.   Anne knew that was too much to hope for, and since he didn't mention it, she knew better than to dream of his homecoming.

     Sadly, she made her way to the vegetable garden to hoe and pull pesky weeds.  A wretched garter snake crawled across her hand and scared the dickens out of her.  She shooed it off with the hoe and turned her attention back to the weeds.  Soon it would be time to begin canning and drying food for winter.  The spinach and peas were ready now and within a week she would have snap beans galore.  It was days like this that Anne wished she had one hundred hands and sixty hours in a day.

 

     Hearing Hector's happy barks, Anne stood and put the hoe in the tool shed.  She retrieved her basket of fresh vegetables and waited for Billy to arrive.  Soon she could see the top of his hat as her brother became visible over the ridge.  His fishing pole was slung across his shoulder and he whistled a cheerful tune as he walked.  When Billy spotted his sister, he held up a fine catch of bass.  Instead of pan frying, she would make a fish stew for a change.  That would make an excellent supper, indeed.  Anne waved at Billy and hurried into the house to get Ma’s large cast iron stew pot out.

     Billy walked into the house with a pleased expression on his face.  He was very proud of his tremendous luck today.

     “I found a special place on the river Anne.  I do believe it’s magic.  The fish couldn’t bite on my bait fast enough!  How is Ma?”

     “Not so good, I’m afraid.  She sleeps so much and doesn’t want to get up any more.  Let’s go tell her how many fish you caught.  Maybe she will be happy and come to the supper table with us.”

     “OK, let’s try that!”  Bill replied.

     They were very disappointed when their mother said she was too weak to get up.  She did however suggest that they eat in her room and have a real family supper together.     Although Anne was not as enthusiastic as Billy, she feigned enthusiasm, and hurried to prepare their meal.

     Billy helped Anne by getting the good pewter dishes out and dragging another chair into the bedroom.

     “Anne?  Is Ma going to die?”

     Anne was taken aback by Billy’s question and formed her words carefully.

     “I’m not sure for a fact, Billy, but she is awful sick.”

     “I know, and I’m scared she’s going to die.  She’s our Ma.”

     “Me too Billy.”

     “If she dies, where are we gonna live?”

     “Why, I expect we’ll stay right here in our home.  Why would we go anywhere else?”

     “OK Anne.  We’ll take care of each other.  We will get on just fine; like we do now.  And I’ll do better with my chores, I promise.”

     The boy reached out and hugged his sister tightly.  She hugged him back just as hard.  They had a nice time during supper.  Billy and Anne chatted with each other and tried to include Ma.  She ate little, but did manage to join in the conversation.  Anne looked at her eyes and noticed the sadness.

 

     Patricia was worried about her children.  She loved them so much, and knew her days were numbered.  She would leave this earth soon, and wondered what would become of her son and daughter.    Patricia found herself praying more and more often; not for herself, but for her children.  If only Zeke would return and care for them.  Patricia cared little about herself; her life was over.  Anne would soon turn fifteen and Billy was ten, but they were not old enough to care for themselves properly.

     Patricia thought back to her younger years.  She admitted that she was popular, as all the boys thought she was quite fetching.   Her parents were quite strict, however, and refused to let boys come calling until she was nearly sixteen.  Her suitors invited her for walks, carriage rides, picnics, church socials and even to the county fair.  Patricia always enjoyed herself, but there was one problem.  She had eyes only for Zeke Wolfe, and he paid her little, if any attention.

     One day, all that changed.  She smiled at him and he smiled back.  He invited her to have lunch with him and they had a lovely time.  Patricia knew that he was the one for her.  There would never be another.  How right she was.  Their courtship was wild and furious.  Zeke wanted more than kisses, but she refused.  She was a good girl, and was saving herself for her husband.  One glorious day he proposed to her.  It was as if all her dreams had come true.

    They were married on Patricia’s eighteenth birthday.  Now she would always have two reasons to celebrate on June the twenty-third.  When she became pregnant with Anne two years later, Patricia was ecstatically happy.  When the darling baby girl arrived, they were a family at last.  A few years later, Zeke’s parents passed on, leaving Patricia and Zeke ownership of the farm.

     Thanks to the Homestead Act, the farm contained over one hundred fifty acres; a sizeable piece of property.  Zeke’s parents, Pearl and Jacob were intent of making a success of their farm.  They wanted a legacy for their son.  It was very unfortunate indeed, that their son had no such ambitions.  No matter how hard Jacob tried, his son showed little interest in farming.  Even after marrying and having his own family, Zeke had a wanderlust that could not be contained.  There was nothing anyone could do to change him.

     Patricia was an excellent wife.  She kept a spotless house, a wonderful garden and served splendid meals.  Zeke was a very attentive husband at first, but as the years passed, he began feeling bored and restless.  When Billy came along, Patricia began to feel lonely.  Zeke was home less and less.  He paid little, if any attention to the farm, and less attention to his wife and children.  Eventually, Zeke's absences became longer, sometimes he didn't return home for days on end.

     Patricia spent her days happily caring for her   daughter and young son; but was always kept one eye on the horizon.  She longed to see Zeke’s horse and know that he was coming home to them.  One day in early spring, Patricia realized she was pregnant again and planned a special supper to celebrate.  Sadly, she and the children ate alone.   When Zeke arrived home the next day, she excitedly shared the good news.  The man she adored showed little emotion, almost to the point of being annoyed. 

     “Zeke?  Don’t you love me any more?  Aren’t you happy about this baby?”

     “Yeah, I’m happy about having another mouth to feed.  Sure I’m happy.”  he answered harshly.

     Patricia’s heart was broken.  She went to the bedroom with her hands protectively cradling her belly.

 

     Two months later, Patricia was tending to the horses and doubled over as pains shot through her belly.  When at last she was able to stand, there was a pool of blood on the ground.  She knew she had to make it to her bed.  With both hands gripping her stomach, Patricia slowly made her way to the house.  Collapsing on the bed, Patricia moaned in pain.  An hour later, it was over.  She lost the child alone, with no one there to comfort her or wipe away her tears.

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

Anne held Ma’s hand and wiped her clammy face with a cool cloth.  The hours passed and Anne’s eyes grew heavy; still she would not leave her mother’s bedside.  Ma hadn’t eaten all day and refused to take her medicine.  Anne spooned it drop by drop into her mouth.  The oil lamp was turned down low and barely gave Anne enough light to sew by, but she did her best. 

 

      Suddenly the rooster’s crowing startled Anne from a sound sleep.  She shook her head and tried to clear the cobwebs.  Feeling Ma’s forehead, Anne was shocked to note that it was cool.  She turned the lamp up and realized it was over.  Ma was gone.

     Anne sobbed uncontrollably, not only for the loss of their mother, but realizing that she and Billy were truly alone.  A fear unlike anything she had ever known coursed through her body.  Crawling in the bed next to her mother’s lifeless body, Anne slung her arm across her mother and continued to cry.

     “Anne?  Annie, where are you?”  Billy called.

     The girl woke up from a troubled sleep, hoping it had all been a bad dream.  Anne sat up in the bed, realizing that it hadn’t been.  She needed to tell Billy at once.  Scrambling out of bed, she closed the door behind her.  She hugged her brother and asked him to sit down at the table.

     “What’s wrong Anne?”

     “Billy, I’m afraid I have bad news.  Ma is gone.  She died.”

     Billy threw himself into his sister’s arms and she hugged him tightly as he sobbed in her arms.  Anne saddled Belle, as it was appropriate to ride to a neighbor to tell them of the sad news.  The small community would have a funeral.  Patricia would be buried on their farm next to Jacob, Pearl, and the small inconspicuously marked grave of her lost child.

 

     Zeke managed to attend his wife’s funeral.  The sheriff had notified him via telegraph.   Anne and Billy were relieved, as they knew their father would not leave them.  As much as the two children resented the fact that he deserted his family, he was still their father and the only parent they had left. 

    After the service, neighbors and friends walked back to the Wolfe house, where the table had been filled with ham, fried chicken, cakes and pies.  They consoled Zeke and Billy, while visiting with each other.  Many of them commented that it was a good thing that Zeke had returned, as the children needed him.  Zeke was in his element, surrounded by people, and acted the perfect host, in spite of his grief.

     Anne had trouble composing herself, and sat on the chair in her mother's bedroom.  She partially blamed herself for her mother's death.  Maybe she should have tried harder to make her eat.  Maybe she didn't give her enough medicine.  Maybe she gave her too much medicine.  Billy found her sitting alone with the curtains drawn, and tried his best to console his sister.

     "Annie, dry your eyes now.  People are lookin for ya.  It's time to come out and be social.  Have some food.  There's more food out there than I've seen in a long time."

     Anne didn't share her feelings with Billy.  He had enough to deal with, and she didn't want to upset him further.  When he took her by the hand, she stood up obediently, and walked out to join the others.  Anne ate a slice of ham to keep Billy
happy, and then they went outside to find their father.

     They found Zeke laughing with a group of men, as they passed a nearly empty whiskey bottle among them.  Anne became infuriated.  How dare they laugh and tell jokes?  How dare they make a mockery of her mother's funeral?  She rushed to the men, grabbed the whiskey bottle, and threw it to the ground.

     "What's wrong with you men?  This is a funeral.  Billy and I have lost our mother!  This is not a party!"

     With that comment, Anne ran into the house and threw herself on her bed, and cried herself to sleep.

 

   

     Three days later Zeke disappeared.  His last known address was in Chicago and Anne assumed he returned there.  She set about trying to care for Billy and do her best to make a normal home for him.  She served meals, cleaned, made sure he did his chores and did his homework.  Her fifteenth birthday passed unoticed.

 

     Summer came and went.  Anne put up more jars of beans, apple sauce, beets, tomatoes, and carrots than she cared to count.  The days passed uneventfully.  The money that she made went back into the household fund, which meant they always had sugar and flour.  Any extra money went toward the purchase of fabric or into the sugar bowl.

     The fall winds were upon them, and nights began to get chilly.  Billy and Anne stacked firewood, dried corn stalks and cow pies that they would need for winter heat.  The garden was nearly spent now.  Anne had canned everything she could.  They would have plenty of vegetables, jellies and fruits to last the winter.

     One day as Anne was tilling the garden soil in preparation for spring planting; she saw a group of riders approaching.  As they got closer, she recognized Sheriff Tucker and one of his deputies. Looking down at her soiled dress, she was embarrassed and quickly ran into the house to get herself presentable for the impending visitors.  Billy was fishing, so the responsibility to greet them was hers alone.

     By the time the riders reached the house, Anne had changed into a more suitable dress, washed her face and straightened her hair.  She eagerly greeted them and invited them inside for a cup of tea or cool well water.

     Anne noticed the somber expressions of Sheriff Tucker and Deputy McCulley’s faces, but she didn’t think much of it at the time. It was a good ten minutes before they shook her world to hell and back.

     “Good afternoon Anne.”

     “Good afternoon Sheriff Tucker.”

     The two men entered the house and took a seat at the farm table. The Sheriff looked around and questioned the whereabouts of Zeke and Billy.

     “I haven’t seen  Pa in a few days now.  He's out of town for now.  Billy is fishing.”

     “Only a few days, Anne?  Rumor has it that he ain’t been seen in weeks.”  Deputy McCulley responded.

     “I’m afraid I don’t know, exactly.  He comes and goes.  Billy and I get along just fine, as we always have.  We miss Ma, but we get by.  We are quite used to being alone.”

     “Anne, I got to inform you that we know your Pa aint been around in a long time.  The county judge got wind of it.  He has ruled and we must abide by his decision.”

     “Ruled?  Ruled on what?  What decision?” 

     “I’m afraid that he has decided that you and Billy need lookin’ after.  Billy will go to the Schutts and you will go to the McNeals.  Please pack your personal belongings.  We will be back tomorrow to escort you.”

     “What?  The judge wants to separate me from my brother?”

     “I’m sorry Anne, aint nobody was willing to put you both up.”

     “I won’t go!  I am almost sixteen-years-old and more than  capable of caring for myself and my brother!  I’ve been doing


it for two years now!”

     I’m sorry Anne.  You're still only fifteen and Judge Regis ruled.  We must abide by his decision.  We will be back tomorrow to collect you and Billy.”

     Anne sat there in stunned silence as the two men stood and left the house.   By the time the horses left the property line, she had sprung into action.

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