It was only February in Pankhurst, but already it seemed like spring.
Trees budding, pussywillows bloomed out full already,and the rivers ran low. City folk brightly declaimed favorably about the 'gorgeous' weather and 75 degree days, but it had reached into the 70's back in December,even. Farmers knew this was nothing to celebrate.
Fearing a false spring, they were wary of new buds on fruit and nut trees. Sometimes, when this happened before, a frost would hit then and wipe out the early buds. But if that didn't happen, and the weather just got hotter and drier, it could mean something even worse. More drought.
They'd drought in the southwest for a few years now and duststorms played havoc throughout the land, but wildfires were the big bogey.
Friendly fire, this was not.
Yes, change had come to Pankhurst.
Emmeline now found herself in Alice's position in many ways. After the dust had settled around Alice's departure, (Em coughed up a story about Al's immediate need to care for her sick sister & farm back in Illinois), Em was dumped without ceremony into Alice's shoes at the archives warehouse.
Meanwhile, Emmeline and Jack had arrived at a truce of sorts. Jack had donated no small sum to Pankhurst's Historical Society with the caveat that the city's historical papers and artefacts be housed in a new and expanded space as part of the library's. archives facility in a joint endeavor. This he also offered to oversee and to bring in Yeats as a restoration and authentication expert, (which he in fact was). This solved the problem of getting Em to work: she and Jack, and sometimes Yeats all rode in together. Along with it crept other problems though. Although Jack found the work fascinating, it also brought in
the good denizens of Pankhurst and the founding families and others who were bethought to be pillars of the community, if only in their own minds... Having to deal with these over-inflated gasbags who pontificated with an endless running commentary regarding the trivia of many generations past would try the patience of saints of old.And, needless to say,Jack was no saint...
Emmeline in fact had now been obliged to assume rather questionable behavior more suited to an archangel on the skids herself. Or so thought some... To assist her meager library salary, she was now working weekends playing piano and sometimes singing abit, at Pankhurst Inn. 'Indoor Busking' she called it, wryly. Jack was not amused, however.
'Working 7 days a week, Em...there's just no need...'he'd told her when first she'd proudly announced her new gig. Em could feel her redhair arise and take umbrage at that.
'There most certainly IS a need, Jack! I've Alices' house to run on my own now, a yard to take care of, MacGregor...poor Macky. He still pines for Alice so!' Mac had been in mourning ever since his mistresses' desertion. He couldn't know that she was pining for him as well...
'Em, I know, I know...'Jack tried to be diplomatic. But dammit couldn't Emmeline see that there was no need to wear herself out like that! 'We're willing to help, you know we are...'
'Jack.'Em wasn't having it. 'You've done more than enough already, please!' She put a hand on his arm to soften her rejection. 'I'm so grateful that thanks to you, I've means to get to work now! But, I am not your charity case!' She'd closed the door on that conversation, literally, and took her leave then, heading downstairs into storage.
Jack had busied himself after lunch researching some of the founding familia's records in fact; after some gentle but insistent pressure by same. Not altogether as boring as their descendents, the ancestor's files divulged a glimmer of gold here and there, sometimes in the more literal cent$. Some local worthies had gold claims of note, in their recent past.Others contained items of interest only to Jack.
Emmeline entered then, refreshed by her foray outdoors for lunch. 'Anything of interest today Jack?' She was sometimes given to brooding by herself, however, anything but the immediate moment was forgotten once she had a change of scene. She was much like Jack in that, if she'd known.
Jack smiled crookedly. 'You'll not believe it, Em! Look!' He made room for her and spread his journals and papers before her. 'You recall the war games yes? And the folks who were injured by the ancestor's spirits then?'
'How could I forget? Have you been researching this, still?' Em looked at him.
'Naturellemente, Em! Well, see here: apparently Dickman, for instance, had a relative active in the Indian wars then. As did many others of Aryan stock here in town...'
'Oh,Jack, I see!'Em did see. 'Revenge, was it? "The sins of the fathers"...?'
'...Visited upon the sons, indeed. What comes around goes around, Em.' Jack sighed. 'Even after death, apparently, if strong emotion is involved, as well as an earthly connection. Like offspring.' He began to roll up some of the old parchments, wearing his ever-present white work gloves. 'The circle has to stop somewhere though Em. In my time, the Hatfields and McCoys feuding has reached overkill...the entire world suffers for it.'
They were silent for awhile, Jack not wishing to distress Em with too much harsh reality. For Em's part, she didn't want to press him. Having gotten over their tiff earlier, she knew that she owed him much and truthfully, she was feeling kinder toward Jack. It had been a hard go, coming home to Alices' house, without Alice there. Mac had taken to mournful howling nights for nearly a month...if it hadn't been for the kindness of the Kahlos next door, who loaned their white Scotty, Frida to her to keep Mac company, Em feared he'd have howled himself to death. The Kahlos were fond of Mac and with Frida now in heat, they were hoping for pups. And a good night's sleep for a change.
'Jack...there is something that I've been thinking of asking your help with...'Em began tentatively.
'You've only to name it,'Jack smiled, putting his research away and coughing abit from the dust, he took her elbow and opened the front door to let some of the breeze though.
'Well, it's such a wee thing really..,' Emmeline was rather embarrased to ask, but Jack was the best pianist she knew in town.'I need to learn some new songs to add to my repertoire. Could you, perhaps, give me a few pointers?'
Jack opened his mouth, frowning, but shut it quickly and turned to gaze outside. He looked down at his boots then. 'Of course, Em. If you like.'He smiled at last. 'It'd be my pleasure,'he lied.
'Wonderful!' Seeing her face light up almost made the lie worth it.
'Tell you what, come by for dinner tonight and we can practice awhile afterwards, what say?' Em knew he'd come around.
'Sounds good to me, Em,'Jack took out his pocket watch. 'We'd best clean things up around here, just an hour til we're off. Say has MacGregor given his howling a rest yet?'
'Oh, Jack--yes! Finally! Thanks to Frida!'
'Frida?'
'You'll meet her later tonight. I have some female company at Alices' at last, now.'
'You're full of surprises Em,'Jack allowed.
'Wouldn't want to bore you, Jack. This place does that enough for both of us...let's get to it and get out of this musty old barn!'
Jack wasn't about to argue with that.
. . . . .
It was a Friday night and so Emmeline asked Jack to stop by later for supper after dropping her off after work. She whipped up some garlic mashed potatoes with mushroom and onion gravy to go with the leftover tamale pie from last night. That and antipasto salad should do us, she decided, with gingerbread made just yesterday for dessert and sourdough biscuits sat ready to pop in the oven.
Em was beginning to understand Jack's heavy load with his uncle's place on his shoulders...now that she was queen of Alice's castle,
(as she still thought it to be, now and always),it seemed to take all of her free time to take on the things that had been chiefly Alice's province before: ordering ice on time, egg deliveries, keeping up with the woodpile and getting in more firewood; although Em had always enjoyed cracking logs, it all added up to more work, on top of her job. She was months behind in her mending and sewing; she had to admit to taking in some
for extra income as well. Soon now she would have to think about spring planting. Indeed Alice's extra pair of hands was sorely missed. Not to mention losing her best friend and dearest confidante.
She knew Al was blissful to have found Frank again, at long last!She consoled herself imagining them to be having a second honeymoon in sunny southern climes. She knew Mr. Orez would find a safe and comfortable situation for them, wherever they were. She hadn't heard as yet from her Captain, though and couldn't help but be just a little concerned until she did...
A familiar 'whuf' at the back door interrupted her thoughts and she opened the porch door to allow streaks of white and black fur to fly inside, tails awag. 'Well, now? Been busy have we?' she enquired of Mac and Frida whose smiles and playful nips at each other told her she was right in her assumptions. Setting their food and water bowls on the porch she surveyed the two lovebirds awhile. Good girl, Frida, she thought, you've saved Mac and the entire neighborhood from lonely sleepless nights.
Her mood lightened considerably then, as she stoked the parlor fire and inhaled the garlic in the potatoes and tamale pie as they sat warming in the kitchen. Didn't Alice still have a bottle of port or two left from the holidays? Maybe they could allow themselves a glass after dinner...she checked her reflection in the mirror in the hallway and thought she looked tired. Well, fine;she WAS tired! But so was Jack, she knew...uff da! but what with having his uncles' place to check on and restoring Crowley House, along with his new 'job' at archives now...he wasn't the bright cocky yet reserved easterner that she first surmised him to be... Who knew though, the trials and troubles people had, behind closed doors...we only see what's in front of us and most people are so concerned with their own problems they're blind to the tribulations of others, great and small.
Resolving to keep an open mind with respect to Jack, and to perhaps go abit easier on him, she pinched some roses back into her cheeks and checked the time: 8pm. She yawned then and was nearly knocked aside as Mac and Frida came wuffing past her to the front door. That'll be him now, she thought. Don't forget those biscuits...
'Look out, Macky, let me get the door now!'Em scooted his furry self over with her slipper.'Hello, Jack!'Em opened the door to behold Jack Van Horn, a bottle of wine in one hand and a bouquet of impossible, out-of-season red roses in the other, trying unsuccesfully to brush back his inky locks which fell in his eyes with the hand holding the bottle, nearly clocking himself in the process...
'Come in, Jack!' Em choked out, standing aside, wide-eyed. Oh, heavens, what was this now--a date?! She felt somewhat at odds standing here, in just her simple day frock and slippers (well, Alice's Chinese slippers really...as she was in Alice's shoes now)and still with apron on, she realized. She blushed as he handed her the roses.
'Thought we could celebrate this long weeks' end abit, Em!' Jack gamely declaimed.'Something smells great!' He looked down at the two pair of brown eyes below regarding him with interest. 'Hey, Macky!
Who's your friend there?' He let Frida sniff his hand and gave Mac a pat. They wagged their approval.
'Jack, meet Frida! Mac's, eh...galpal. She'll be staying with us awhile.'Em's blush took on new fire.'I'll just find some water for these...dinner's nearly ready! Hope you're hungry!'She exited into the kitchen, found a vase for the roses and removed her apron, feeling foolish, somehow; she hadn't really been thinking of tonight in terms of a date...just the two of them. And no Alice or Aleister to chaperone them, now.
Jack followed her into the kitchen with Mac and Frida at his heels and presented the wine. 'A nice merlot. 2008 was a good year,'he smiled.Emmeline rolled her eyes, but smiled. 'Thank you, I, I'm sure it was, or will be...?' She handed Jack the corkscrew. 'I'll just put the biscuits in and we'll be ready to dine soon.' She then took the flowers back into the parlor, setting them on the dining table as centerpiece. 'How lovely, Jack. Are they from Massachusettes? Warm there this time of year, ah-yah?' she`cocked an eyebrow, knowingly.
'Caught me out, Em, that they are...'Jack smiled his crooked grin, popping the cork and pouring wine for them. Em shook her head slowly,
'Not fair, Jack...I'll have to claim a hot-house connection to cover you!' But she didn't seem unduly troubled.
'Cheers, Em! To the weekend, what?!' They clinked glasses and imbibed the dark woody red with relish.
'Ummm...diosa! That's worth traveling for, I'd say!' Em smiled, then felt she was being watched. She put a hand on one hip and regarded Mac and Frida who seemed to be wagging and smiling at them.'What are you two looking at?!You've both eaten! You need to go outside awhile! Go make your rounds patroling the estate there, Mac!' And out the door they were shown.
'There, now, biscuits will be done soon!'Jacks' presence suddenly loomed large before her, exuding heat. 'So! Just the two of us now, it seems!'Em bit her lower lip, running her finger over the lip of her wineglass.
'Just the two of us,'agreed Jack brightly, and moving into the parlor, he sat upon the sofa. 'Come and rest your dainty feet a spell, Em...' He patted the space next to him.
Well...why not? Thought Em.We're both adults here. That thought wasn't exactly easing Em's mind though, as she gingerly occupied the space beside Jack. He held up his glass, and gazed at her then. 'To us, Em.' She blinked and opened her mouth slightly, but, remembering her earlier ruminations, smiled and clinked her glass against his. 'We'll see,'she said.
. . . . .
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