"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
Posted May 10, 2022 / Jemima Wigfall
"Ms. Jemima, I didn't mean to speak so harshly. I just want to find her. And I don't want to go dragging anyone else out there that don't have ta be. I've seen my fair share of blood shed and gore ..." because of the war... "and it ain't something you can un-see. I don't want no one to have to through that, that don't have to."
Arabella gave a little cough, the boys were still present during this gloomy monolog.
Then quickly he realized that perhaps what he had said could elude that there may be blood shed and gore to be seen at the hands of Addy and anyone else that had been with her. "Not that I'm expectin' there ta be any for those that are rescued....but I do hate ta see what's going to happen to those Indians!" Because he knew had he been there and got his hands on any of those Indians that had gotten a hold of Addy .... well it wouldn't be pretty!
"Wonder how that pie's doing?" asked Arabella, half-heartedly trying to change the subject. Isiah was clearly worried, Jemima was in a mood, the boys were probably worried, too. Arabella was certainly worried about Caroline, even more so now after Mr Chappel's speech: before then she had almost been able to pretend to herself it wasn't happening, that they were all just here for some fun sleepover. Now she sat with her chin on her steepled fingers, as depressed as everybody else.
Isiah had no appetite but he could tell everyone was hungry. "Why don't ya'll eat and then maybe Weedy and I, and whoever else wants, can go into town and see if anyone there's gotten any news?"
Jemima was about to point out that there was no point in doing that, her brother would come with news as soon as there was any, but, well, why deny the man the salve to his conscience? She nodded in sombre agreement instead. She opened her mouth to offer to take Isiah to the telegraph office, but remembering her previous rejection, closed it shut again, so that she resembled big ugly goldfish, opening and closing its mouth as it swam around its bowl.
Posted May 10, 2022 / Weedy
While Weedy was disappointed that no one had taken him up on his alleged knowledge of the area and Jemima's Southern directions, he was relieved that Uncle Isiah was staying here. Well, he'd be even happier knowing Uncle Isiah was going after Miz Addy, but he realized it was too late now, and there was nothing to be done for that. They'd have to rely on Marshal Guyer and the cavalry.
"It's going to be all right, Miz Addy'll give them enough trouble that they'll just let her go!" He laughed a little, then hugged Isiah before hopping out of the chair. "You all just sit, and Arabella and I will serve supper. Come on, Josh, you can help."
Chin up, right? Until you knew that it wasn't time for that!
"Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx
Posted May 12, 2022 / Isiah Chappel
Isiah sure wished he knew that Weedy even had a inkling of an idea of where Jemima had described....but even if he did know would he drag the boy out there in that? Nope. He admired the boys positive nature, the optimism he brought to the table. It sure helped to ease his nerves. He managed to chuckle for all of them, smiling as he pat the boy on his back, even if it was hard to show any sort of happiness in this moment. "You got that right there, Weedy! They gonna find out right quick that they poked the wrong bear." He winked at the boy as he got up and he and Arabella started to serve their dinner.
Josh sure was worried and he was staying quiet. He didn't know what ta think about everything going on but he knew he didn't want nothing ta happen to his Aunt Addy like had happened to his Ma. He jumped up and went to the cabinet and was thankful the plates were on the lower ones because he'd never be able to reach up high. He grabbed 5 of them and brought them over to Jemima, since he couldn't reach the table real good.
Isiah could tell that Jemima wanted to say something....or well he suspected. "Well..." He motioned with his hand. "Go ahead, what's on yer mind?" If she had something to share that could help them well, he'd like ta know. "I won't bite this time." He vowed as he raised his brows.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted May 13, 2022 / Arabella Mudd
Isiah could tell that Jemima wanted to say something....or well he suspected. "Well..." He motioned with his hand. "Go ahead, what's on yer mind?" If she had something to share that could help them well, he'd like ta know. "I won't bite this time." He vowed as he raised his brows.
Jemima hesitated. Her mouth opened, then she changed her mind. Then she opened it again. Arabella came to her rescue. "Oh don't mind her, Mr. C. that's just her face. She always looks like she's got something to say when she ain't, ain't that right 'Mimes?" she asked gaily. Jemima opened her mouth to answer and nothing came out.
"There y'are, told ya so!" nodded Arabella and took the plates off of Isiah and handed them to Jemima, who turned and put them out on the table. Arabella looked up at Addy's tall brother and shook her head a little, mouthing the words 'She's all right' which, she guessed, was a lie. But better a little white lie than try and get a mixed up complicated sort of girl like Jemima to try and shine a light on her own neuroses.
Getting everything ready for supper was a welcome distraction from worry for one and all and soon the pie was steaming on the table and, kudos to Miss Wigfall, smelled delicious. They were just about to dig in when Arabella stopped them all with a cry of "A-A-A!" and she put her hands together in prayer. "Be present at our table Lord. Be here and everywhere adored. These mercies bless and grant that we may feast in fellowship with Thee. Amen." she rattled off the standard Methodist mealtime grace, but then added.
"Oh, and Lord, while you're here and listening: can you please bring our loved ones Miss Caroline Mundee and Miss Adelaide Chappel back to us real quick, cause we really miss 'em and well, we're all just about worried sick about 'em. Miss Chappel is a good woman, well 'part from that time she was livin' over the brush with that Mr Ryker feller, and her brother Mister Chappel and her nephew Josh and especially her beloved adopted son Porter James want and need her back with them real soon; and Miss Mundee, well, I know she ain't exactly angel material, but I just love her and miss her to bits so bringing her back safe'd mean everything to me and I'd never, never do anything bad ever again if you would grant this wish, our Lord, Amen."
While He was on the line, she decided to put in a request for Jemima, too, since she'd been left out so far.
"OH!" she shouted Him back "And Lord, if you could do something about that cyst on Jemima Wigfall's back, she'd be mighty grateful: I mean, Doctor Danforth's drained that thing like about a dozen times and it just fills right back up like a old water well. Anyhow, she don't like to talk about it, so I reckoned I'd mention it while you're here. Er, Amen."
She opened her eyes and looked at all the faces around her at the table. They all looked like they'd never heard anyone say grace before! Heathens.
"OK, tuck in folks!" she beamed.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted May 19, 2022 / Isiah Chappel
When Arabella mouthed that Jemima was all right, he just nodded his head to her and decided not to press it anymore. He went and found his spot back at the table. The food smelled delicious but he couldn't bring himself to eat, not with his sister and this Miss Mundee out there missing with those Indians. He'd at least pretend to eat so the others would. He wanted Weedy and Josh to not follow his lead so as he was reaching to serve the boys plates Arabella stopped him mid-move with the prayer. He pulled his hand back and bowed his head.
Isiah wasn't all that pleased with the Lord right now. So many bad things happening to him and his family. He knew he had to get right with Him though and he s'pposed that would happen sooner rather than later. With head bowed he listened to the prayer, muttered an Amen and went back for the serving spoon when she started up again. Eyes wide for a moment he dropped his head again and listened, this time when he heard his sisters name he focused real hard on the words, hoping maybe that would take them to heaven just a little bit quicker. His interest peaked though when she mentioned his sister living with some Mr. Ryker. And that she was an angel except for when she lived with him?! He lifted his head and opened his eyes for a moment as she looked at the girl, but she was deep in her prayer. He'd ask her about that later when everything was settled down and everyone was home safely.
And then again, he muttered his Amen reached for the spoon and was interrupted with yet another prayer request. This time he leaned back in his chair, listening with his eyes open, feeling his stomach churn a little at the request, his face wrinkling up some at the description. He made sure to clear it up though before anyone else had open eyes, but his eyes fell on Arabella as she finished. Before he even made a move to try and grab that spoon he hesitated, but the boys were already digging into the delicious meal. "You sure?"
Posted May 22, 2022 / Weedy
Weedy had had enough, now that the food was presented. He hadn't thought he was that hungry, after all those cookies, but now that the food was laid out, he was ready to eat, and he tucked in, even if Miss Arabella decided to ramble on some more. Heck, she was as bad as some of those tent-preachers, summoning the spirits to put the Fear of God into everyone!
Nope, it was time to eat, after all that work, and he wanted to keep up his strength, in case he needed to help out when Miss Addy was home.
"This is real good, Miz Jemima," he declared around a mouth-ful of food, something he knew Miss Addy wouldn't approve of, but she wasn't here, was she?
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted May 22, 2022 / Arabella Mudd
For a little while there was silence apart from the agreeable sounds of metal cutlery chinking on china and contented munching. Then Weedy piped up.
"This is real good, Miz Jemima," he declared around a mouth-ful of food, something he knew Miss Addy wouldn't approve of, but she wasn't here, was she?
Jemima just nodded her appreciation of the appreciation, as it were, but Arabella went so far to admonish him "You hadn't oughta speak with your mouth full." she said, or something like that, it was hard to tell with that half-masticated piece of tater pie in her own mouth.
The eating took her mind off Caroline's predicament, but once she'd had her fill she cast around for another topic of conversation to distract them all. Her choice wasn't really designed to enrapture the two boys there, though.
"Oh, Jemima, Miriam was showin' me that dress you just finished at Pettigrew's for Anæsthesia Orr, all covered in organza, she said it's the hardest thing in the world to work with." she looked over at Isiah.
"You should meet Miss Orr, Mr Chappel, she's just about the prettiest girl in the whole territories!" gushed Arabella, who had a bit of a crush on the aloof blonde.
"She's a snob." muttered Jemima, under her breath.
Retired Characters and NPC Writer.
Posted May 30, 2022 / Isiah Chappel
Isiah pushed his food around his plate as he stared down at the round dish. He was sure wishing he was out there doing something to help, instead of sitting here like a knot on a log. He was miserable not staying busy and that allowed his mind to just play horrible scenes over in his head of what those Indians could be doing to his sister right now. Was the Calvary there in time? Even if they were how did they plan on rescuing those girls without them getting hurt? So many questions played through his mind.
He hadn't realized how deep in thought he was until he heard Arabella pipe up and he blinked out of his stupor.
"You should meet Miss Orr, Mr Chappel, she's just about the prettiest girl in the whole territories!" gushed Arabella, who had a bit of a crush on the aloof blonde.
"Oh I've had the pleasure." He said with a chuckle recalling the visit he got out to the barn from her and Addy and Weedy after their reading lesson. This Miss Jemima sure didn't hold back. He wasn't one to speak poorly of anyone if he could help it, but he was certain Jemima and Arabella must know her a lot better than he did. "She sure seems to have led a sheltered life." He admitted as he pushed his plate towards Weedy. Weedy had cleaned his plate, so he offered his uneaten portion to the growing boy.
" ... - - - ... "
Posted May 30, 2022 / Hector Wigfall
"You should meet Miss Orr, Mr Chappel, she's just about the prettiest girl in the whole territories!" gushed Arabella, who had a bit of a crush on the aloof blonde.
"Oh I've had the pleasure. She sure seems to have led a sheltered life." He admitted.
"You have?! Oh, isn't she wonderful?" gushed Arabella "I saw her with her glove off once, her hands were just marble white, like she'd never done a days work with them in her life!" This seemed to be an impressive feat to the mountain girl, but Jemima sneered.
"That's nothing to be proud of!" the frowsy girl grumped, examining her own calloused hands "And she ain't so ladylike. I remember one time at school, I caught her..." But then there was a thump at the door which made Arabella jump, if not the more stolid Jemima, and the end of the story was never heard.
"Jemima? You in there?" a young man's voice could be heard without. Ignoring the strange looks it might garner from Mr Chappel, Weedy and young Josh, Arabella, who had known the twins for half a year now, deftly put her fingers in her ears.
"COME IN!!! I TOLD YOU WE'D BE HERE!!!!" Jemima shouted with such hair raising volume that the very rafters in the roof seemed to shake. Arabella, looking smug, removed her fingers and smiled at Isiah. "You should be round at their house when the two of 'em are there with their Mother, the three of 'em shouting from three different rooms. I call it the Wigfall telegraph!"
Hector let himself in and popped his head round the corner, taking in the strangely cosy domestic scene. "Howdy Weedy." he nodded to the lad, then looked at Isiah.
"You must be Mister Chappel" he nodded to Isiah "Good news, your sister's all right Sir. So's Caroline." he added quickly, looking over at Arabella, who suddenly burst into tears and collapsed face down onto the table sobbing with relief and joy.
"Mrs Honeycutt and Bucky're dead." he went on, not that they were particular friends of anyone present: Hector just liked showing off that he got all the news first in in this town, thanks to his position in the telegraph office. "And old Ross Hampton bit the dust trying to defend them. Sorry Sis, looks like the wedding's off."
Good old Hector Wigfall: no moment too sombre or too touching for him not to make an awful joke in the middle of it. Jemima scowled "I don't like him!! He's a horrible old man!!" while Hector tut tutted "No way to speak of the dead, Sis!"
Arabella raised her head from the table, half crying and half laughing. This was such a relief.
Posted June 1, 2022 / Weedy
"Thank you, Uncle Isiah," Weedy said as he accepted the additional 'tater pie', truly distracted by the food -- it really was good, and he'd helped make it!
"What's organza?" he asked around bites. "Miss Orr is all frilly and clean," he commented, wrinkling his nose. Frilly and clean meant you were doing something wrong, because there was no way you could have fun and stay frilly or clean, much the less both!
"Miss Addy taught me how to sew on buttons and stitch tears, she says no man should not know how to do some sewing, just in case there's no lady around to do it."
Then the relatively somber quiet was shattered as Jemima and Hector started caterwalling at each other, and then the boy delivered his news, and Weedy jumped up, running to the door and staring anxiously into the growing darkness. "Where are they? I don't see them...are they all right?"
It didn't occur to him that they were miles away, in the mountains, and probably weren't going to be home until the next morning. And he was reluctant to believe anything until he actually saw Miss Addy.