"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
Posted July 10, 2021 / Jemima Wigfall
Where: Shack on Miggins' Homestead
How did she do it? How DID she do it?
As she pulled Bridget Monahan's little pony and trap up to the doorway of the Shack that Granny Miggins had pointed out to them, a good mile away from the main house and half hidden by bushes and trees, Jemima twisted around and looked at Miriam and Arabella lolling around in the rear of the small vehicle with their legs dangling over the back ("We've gotta sit in the back while you drive the pony cause Miriam gets sick otherwise"). All the cleaning equipment and the nice food they'd brought with them, and Jemima's gun, were piled up on the front seat next to her.
How did she do it?
One) Arabella had persuaded her own employers and Mr. Pettigrew that it was URGENT that they, all three, be given the day off so they could go and help out a young newly married girl who was 'on the point of nervous collapse' trying to turn a wreck of a shack into a family home.
Two) Arabella had persuaded that big soppy scardy-cat Miriam to leave the safe confines of Kalispell and risk the 'Injun Infested' journey to the Miggins place to help. "Don't worry, 'Mima'll protect us, and if there's too many Injuns to kill, she said she'll save the last three bullets for us so as we can blow our brains out: and don't worry you won't be brave enough, cause I don't mind blowin' yours out for ya, 'fore I do mine!"
Three) Arabella had persuaded Miriam's parents, whom, after one visit she now familiarly referred to as Papa and Mama, to allow her to go ('Such a pretty, clever girl our Miriam has now for a friend yet! And this crack-shot Jemima? Such a wonder!")
Four) Arabella had convinced Bridget to lend them her pony and trap despite wanting desperately to go along on the jaunt herself. "But Bridget, there ain't no room fer you, and 'sides, you bein' a cripple, you wouldn't be any help at all!" she had explained sensitively.
Five) Somehow Arabella had persuaded HER to waste a day helping out the woman who had stolen her man... sorta.
She was woken from her reverie by the sound of the mouthy Southerner banging on the shack's front door (only door actually) somewhat gingerly: it looked like it might splinter if she knocked too hard. "Clara? Clara? ... CLARA!!!"
She made up vocally for the quietness of the knocks.
Posted July 11, 2021 / Clara Redmond Lutz
Clara had her hair up in a bun behind her and her sleeves rolled up as she continued her efforts to try and make this abandoned cabin SOMEWHAT liveable for the hopefully FEW days she and husband, Jacob were going to need to live there. It really wouldn't be that unbearable given that she knew soon she would be living upstairs from the Lick Skillet thanks to Emelines generous offer.
Still the place was a wreck, the roof had holes in it - so far it had not rained, thank the Lord, the only two windows were boarded up making it dark as a cave in the place, and the door positively rattled with a gust of wind. Everything had been layered in dust so deep one could have written in it with a finger. Oh and it was obvious various animals had gotten within and lived there for awhile. There was one table and two chairs as the extent of furniture. Oh yeah, a bed frame but nothing more. So they were sleeping on blankets on the floor, when they were not awakened by ants and even more crawly insects. Clara had never much minded spiders until that first night when she awoke to find a large one on her nose. Needless to say Jacob woke up to a loud scream.
The chimney had half collapsed, clogging the fireplace so what cooking they had done was over a simple campfire twenty yards from the ruin....errr...cabin. Which was tolerable because the truth was they had brought almost nothing to eat, splitting two eggs and a thick crust of bread between them.
Now Jacob was gone, off on some new job he had signed on for with the telegraph company and it involved him being gone for a few days and nights at a time. So all this cleaning was on her, that is when she wasn't still doing her work shifts at the diner.
The young woman was so busy she did not even hear the horse or buggy sounds as it pulled up just outside the place but she certainly heard the loud bellowing of one Arabella Mudd to go along with a hard pounding on the door. Oh heavens, that all she needed now was a visitor and it being Arabella, a visitor who would no doubt want to talk on and on until the cows came home. Yeah, like Clara wished they really did have a cow or two.
Letting the washrag sink back into the water bucket, she sighed and arose from her knees, thankfully she wore her oldest work dress (well, it's not like she had that many dresses period) because it was filthy.
"Coming!" she cried out not that it silenced Arabella.
Pulling open the door, it did not open completely as the door or maybe even the floor of the cabin had shifted at some point preventing a smooth opening and closing of the door. she saw not just Arabella but the Wigfall girl and ...who was that?
"Hello, Arabella, what brings you way out here?"
Posted July 11, 2021 / Miriam Kaufman
This was an unexpected little adventure in Miriam's view as she dangled her legs next to those of her new but bosom friend for life, Arabella, while the buggy bumped along the rough dirt trail. She had been amazed how Ara had managed to even sweet talk her parents into allowing her to go on this errand of mercy. Especially given the whole terrible Indian business where those red skinned savages had slaughtered the whole 7th cavalry. Fortunately Miriam figured there had to be at a minimum of six more cavalries the government could use to chase those red men and bring on just revenge.
Miriam was looking forward to meeting this Clara as she certainly had already heard much about the girl as Arabella filled her in on so many details of Ara's recent past. It seemed she was nearly dead when a building fell on top of her, then almost buried alive thinking she had expired, and that's how Ara had met this Clara who had labored heroically to nurse her back to health. Ara said too that Clara was just a bit older than her but yet she was already married? Goodness, that seemed.....awful early in one's life to do such a thing? To some farm boy she met at a dance only a few months earlier? He must be quite the impressive specimen of manhood or maybe just a very nice fellow.
Miriam had also been wanting to meet some town girl named Bridget and who owned the buggy they were using but Ara said the girl was such that she was incapable of such work or almost any work when it came right down to it. She had lost a leg - how sad, poor thing.
The rather intimidating Jemima was however along with them, Ara assured Miriam this was all the protection they would need from marauding Indians and Miriam believed it too. Though the whole spiel of blowing people's brains out was a bit ....well, less reassuring though by now Miriam well knew to take some....much of what the girl said with a grain of salt. But regardless, Miriam was in a light hearted mood, content to spend what would have been a work day with her friend, Ara.
Upon arrival they clambered from the buggy and trooped up to the front door, Miriam gawking at the condition of this place. People lived in something this dilapidated? Seemed awful strange, a girl would get married for this?
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted July 12, 2021 / Arabella Mudd
Pulling open the door, it did not open completely as the door or maybe even the floor of the cabin had shifted at some point preventing a smooth opening and closing of the door. she saw not just Arabella but the Wigfall girl and ...who was that?
"Hello, Arabella, what brings you way out here?"
"Howdy Clara! We'uns has all come to help you clean up this place!" Arabella beamed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
At that point Jemima hollered that she needed to tie up Janella and was going to have a look around the back of the shack: presumably to see what structural problems there might be that might need shoring up. Arabella just waved at her, she had more important fish to fry: the big introduction between two of the most important people in her life.
"Clara, this is my new friend Miss Miriam Kaufmann of New York, Miriam, this is Mrs Clara Anne Lutz, formerly Miss Clara Anne Redmond, of Redmond Farm." she'd been practicing that and thought it sounded so formal and pretty and grand.
"Miriam's a professional seamstress; why, I thought that she would be invaluable if'n we need to run up a few curtains!" she added, wanting to laud her new best friend's skills.
‘Invaluable’ - she had been practicing that word, too, and hoped that the blue-stocking Clara would be suitably impressed by it.
"Ooooh" Arabella suddenly remembered and reached out to touch Clara's tummy "How's baby Arabella?!" she whispered, like Miriam wouldn't hear, standing right next to them.
Posted July 12, 2021 / Clara Redmond Lutz
"Howdy Clara! We'uns has all come to help you clean up this place!" Arabella beamed.
Clara blinked in surprise but stammered out a quick, "Oh...ummm, well thank you then."
She would have normally invited her guests in but not in this dump. Even though they obviously already knew of the situation or they wouldn't be here. Question was how did they know all this? She had not told anyone...
But Ara was into introductions now, well one anyhow.
"Clara, this is my new friend Miss Miriam Kaufmann of New York, Miriam, this is Mrs Clara Anne Lutz, formerly Miss Clara Anne Redmond, of Redmond Farm."
New York? And she ended up in Kalispell? Interesting. Clara nodded acknowledgement and even tried to give her a proper smile, that was never an easy thing for the solemn girl.
"Hello, Miss Kaufmann."
So this was the magnificent Clara, Miriam smiled back. If Ara thought so highly of her then she must indeed be worthy.
"Hello Miss Red...oops, I mean Mrs. Lutz," Miriam stumbled on her reply wouldn't you know it.
"Oh just call..." Clara started but Arabella had more to say (shocking I know).
"Miriam's a professional seamstress; why, I thought that she would be invaluable if'n we need to run up a few curtains!"
Professional seamstress? She looked fifteen, sixteen, maybe seventeen at best, Clara thought but then who was she to think such things, here she was a married woman at sixteen.
"That's wonderful but no, I am not going to bother that much with this old place. You see it is just temporary until Jacob and I move into the apartment upstairs at Lick Skillet. I would never want this place for anything ...on a long basis that is," Clara explained.
"Don't blame you," Miriam nodded.
"Ooooh" Arabella suddenly remembered and reached out to touch Clara's tummy "How's baby Arabella?!" she whispered, like Miriam wouldn't hear, standing right next to them.
A horrified Clara slapped Arabellas's hand aside, "The baby is not going to be named Arabella and that is final. And it is fine."
She quickly glanced at this newcomer, embarrassed for actually she was not showing yet and Arabella could have kept it secret but of course not now.
"Are you new to Kalispell, fresh from New York, Miriam? Oh and please call me Clara."
Miriam got it now alright, this girl was married because she was pregnant already, out of wedlock no doubt. Her own parents would be so horrified they would certainly disown her. Of course maybe this was why she was out here in a shack that was only fit for a torch.
"Yes, my father wanted to start his own business up back in New York and get the family out of such a huge crowded and frankly filthy place so he decided to go west. Well, here we are...out west enough apparently," Miriam answered figured she had better say something about the ....baby. But keep it safe.
"Congratulations, about the baby I mean," it then dawned her maybe she should also add 'and good luck too" but she stopped right there. The girl was going to need it!
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted July 12, 2021 / Arabella Mudd
Arabella watched wide eyed, looking from one to the other with a grin of delight as the two women met: it was like seeing Grant meet Lee or Queen Victoria meet Lewis Carroll!
"Hello Miss Red...oops, I mean Mrs. Lutz," Miriam stumbled on her reply wouldn't you know it.
"Oh just call..." Clara started but Arabella had more to say (shocking I know).
"Miriam's a professional seamstress; why, I thought that she would be invaluable if'n we need to run up a few curtains!"
Arabella wanted Clara to know that Miriam had her qualities.
"That's wonderful but no, I am not going to bother that much with this old place. You see it is just temporary until Jacob and I move into the apartment upstairs at Lick Skillet. I would never want this place for anything ...on a long basis that is," Clara explained.
"Don't blame you," Miriam nodded.
"Oh, isn't that wonderful Miriam, Clara will be living in Kalispell, we'll all be able to see each other ALL the time!"
"Ooooh" Arabella suddenly remembered and reached out to touch Clara's tummy "How's baby Arabella?!" she whispered, like Miriam wouldn't hear, standing right next to them.
A horrified Clara slapped Arabellas's hand aside, "The baby is not going to be named Arabella and that is final. And it is fine."
The pot-girl screwed up her lips and, bending over, peered at Clara's midriff as if she was hoping to see through at what the little baby was up to. Then it was back to being a fascinated spectator at their conversational tennis match.
"Are you new to Kalispell, fresh from New York, Miriam? Oh and please call me Clara."
"Yes, my father wanted to start his own business up back in New York and get the family out of such a huge crowded and frankly filthy place so he decided to go west. Well, here we are...out west enough apparently," Miriam answered figured she had better say something about the ....baby. But keep it safe.
"Congratulations, about the baby I mean," it then dawned her maybe she should also add 'and good luck too" but she stopped right there. The girl was going to need it!
"Oh, Clara's gonna make such a wonderful Mother, Miriam, and her husband Jacob is gonna be a wonderful Father: they're both so clever and good looking! And he is such a good husband, too. He was the one that told me all about them having to live here a spell and how worried he was about leavin' her all alone with all this mess to tidy up. Well..." she turned to Clara now "...that's when I had this here idea of us three comin' over to to help out, and Jemima stayin' over a couple of nights while me and Miriam go back with Uncle Ned."
At that point the aforementioned Wigfall girl appeared. She gave Clara a nod.
"Y'got tiles off and a collapsed chimbley, Missus." she informed the new Mrs Lutz of what she was already aware. "We can fix them once we've cleaned up. Let's have a look inside." she said in a business-like manner.
Posted July 13, 2021 / Clara Redmond Lutz
"Oh, isn't that wonderful Miriam, Clara will be living in Kalispell, we'll all be able to see each other ALL the time!"
Clara looked almost alarmed at that declaration, "Well, not all the time. I have to work and you all have jobs too."
Arabella gushed on, "Oh, Clara's gonna make such a wonderful Mother, Miriam, and her husband Jacob is gonna be a wonderful Father: they're both so clever and good looking!"
Miriam listened of course, she was a good listener, but she had no clue how being good looking made one a wonderful parent?
"And he is such a good husband, too. He was the one that told me all about them having to live here a spell and how worried he was about leavin' her all alone with all this mess to tidy up."
Clara now realized how these girls found out about this but said nothing.
Arabella turned to Clara now "...that's when I had this here idea of us three comin' over to to help out, and Jemima stayin' over a couple of nights while me and Miriam go back with Uncle Ned."
"Umm, no...no, she is not staying overnight," Clara frowned.
Speaking of Jemima, she now returned from the back of the building such as it was.
"Y'got tiles off and a collapsed chimbley, Missus." she stated.
"Yes, thank you Jemima, I already know that," Clara wondered if the girl thought her blind?
"We can fix them once we've cleaned up. Let's have a look inside." "Jemima said in a business-like manner.
Miriam seemed a bit alarmed, "Oh dear, I can clean but I have no idea how to fix a roof?"
Would they not need shingles?
"We do not need all that fixed up, as I have said, Jacob and I are staying here but a few days and nights at most, not long term tenants," Clara repeated herself.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted July 13, 2021 / Arabella Mudd
Arabella turned to Clara now "...that's when I had this here idea of us three comin' over to to help out, and Jemima stayin' over a couple of nights while me and Miriam go back with Uncle Ned."
"Umm, no...no, she is not staying overnight," Clara frowned.
"When'd she tell you that?!" asked Arabella, confused.
Speaking of Jemima, she now returned from the back of the building such as it was, and reported on her findings.
Miriam seemed a bit alarmed, "Oh dear, I can clean but I have no idea how to fix a roof?"
"I'll do that." Jemima assured the little seamstress with her usual blunt tone and unsmiling face. But Clara didn't seem too keen on any of this fixer-upper-ing.
"We do not need all that fixed up, as I have said, Jacob and I are staying here but a few days and nights at most, not long term tenants," Clara repeated herself.
Jemima looked daggers at Arabella "She doesn't want us here, let's go." she said flatly.
"No, no, no! Course she does! Don't yuh Clara?!" she said in a panicky voice. "An' I promised Jacob, Oh Clara, he seemed so worried about leaving you on your own with all them Injuns about in this tumble-down ol' sidegogglin' shack, and I said you couldn't have a man stay with you cause that ain't respectable, but I knew where I could get the next best thing!"
Jemima folded her arms at this description.
"Thanks!" she said sardonically.
Posted July 13, 2021 / Clara Redmond Lutz
"When did she tell you that?"
"She did not, this is me saying 'no'," Clara thought that was quite obvious.
Miriam confided she had no roofing skills, unsurprising really for a young lady, neither did Clara.
But on the other hand why bother? Why make these girls work - and roofing was hard work, anyone knew that, for maybe....MAYBE two nights, three at the most? Clara would feel terrible.
So she turned down the offer, as she believed it her right.
Jemima looked daggers at Arabella "She doesn't want us here, let's go." she said flatly.
"You do not know what I want," Clara quickly pointed out.
"No, no, no! Course she does! Don't yuh Clara?!" Arabella said in a panicky voice.
"And you also, Arabella, you do not know what I want," Clara almost repeated herself word for word. It seemed everyone knew what she was thinking and yet none of them did. Well, the mousey new girl excepted, she looked somewhat upset at the bickering which seemed to be what it was turning into.
"An' I promised Jacob, Oh Clara, he seemed so worried about leaving you on your own with all them Injuns about in this tumble-down ol' sidegogglin' shack, and I said you couldn't have a man stay with you cause that ain't respectable, but I knew where I could get the next best thing!"
Clara gave a flustered and very dramatic sigh then held up one hand to signal to all of them that she wanted the floor.
"Let us get something straight here. I am so tired of people telling me what I want instead of doing the simple act of just ASKING me what it is I really do want. This is my home, however short lasting it may be and I am quite used to managing such things as I did it for my family ever since my mother died."
"So first off Jacob told me nothing about any of this, he did not even inquire how I might like it or not like it. He just assumed. Then you showed up here and at first I was truly happy to see you and then when you offered to help clean up the place. A kind and most Christian thing for you ladies to do."
"But then you kept on going on, telling me what was going to happen, then even declaring what is I want. Did you ever think, even for an instant, Arabella to just come up here and ask a simple 'Clara, would like you like some help. We are here to help you." Not tell me everything like you know my mind and my desires."
She turned to Jemima, "You are welcome here, it was nice of you to come but I would like it if I can have help cleaning the inside of the place up. Not the roof, not the chimney because that is a prodigious amount of hard work that I would feel guilty imposing upon you. And what if you got hurt? That would a terrible thing."
Then it was back to Arabella, "I am sorry I had to engage in such polemics but it needed saying. I value your friendship, I do not value being dictated to and then being told what I want. If you feel I am being ungrateful, then of course it is your choice to leave but I would be sad for that to be the outcome of what started as a generous gesture of friendship by you and you too Jemima, and of course Miriam here."
Miriam's brown eyes went straight to Ara.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted July 13, 2021 / Arabella Mudd
By the end of Clara's long speech, the other three girls were left standing agog, aghast and adrift. The first to recover her wits was Arabella who turned to Miriam and then Jemima with a frown of her face, then back to Clara. She held up a hand. "Hold it right there a second Clara, we need to have a conflab. Girls!" She waved the other two toward her and a little away from the annoyed Mrs Lutz.
Miriam, Mima and Bella got into a huddle, from which snatches of whispered conversation drifted on the breeze toward Clara.
"... no, she can't be havin' her time of the month if she's pregnant .... no, she said she didn't want the chimbley fixin' .... crazy when they're havin' a baby... curtains runnin up .... what's polemics then? ..." At the end of this conference, they all looked around at her, worried, and then did 'One Potato - Two Potato" to decide which one of them was going to parley with the crazy woman. Arabella tried to fix it so Jemima got the job, and ended up with the final fist herself. They all turned round and smiled at the object of their pity.
"Clara... Mrs Lutz. We three girls has come out here to help you if you want. Would you like us to do any little thing for you? Please do tell us if'n you would like us all to do any little thing at all." she said in a queer, soothing, sing song voice, and then nodded furiously at Jemima, who was doing her horrible approximation of a smile.
"Er, oh, and we won't mend the roof or rebuild the chimbly or fix the polemics unless you ask us to." she said reassuringly.
Arabella then nudged Miriam "Tell her about the nice food we brung." she whispered: hoping that their proffered viands might calm the savage beast.