“This is it,” George Olson grinned. “Finest house ever built in Biders Clump.”
“Why hasn’t anyone ever moved in?” Beverly asked. “Didn’t anyone like it?”
“It didn’t belong to no one,” George said. “Mr. Rally left and that was that. He didn’t hire anyone to look after it or nothin’.”
“It looks sturdy enough,” Hyke jumped from the back of the wagon like a man half his age and marched through the tall grass toward the place.
“It doesn’t have any windows,” Jonas groaned. “It’s all boards.”
“It has windows son,” George chuckled. “They’re just boarded over.” The older man turned to face his guests. “Ellery and I can come out and help if you like. Either way I brought a few tools you can use to get started.”
“Hyke Johnson,” Mrs. August snapped, twisting to try to see the house from where she sat. “I would like some assistance.” She looked down at her feet dangling from the back of the wagon.
“Yes, ma’am,” Hyke hurried back to the sharp faced woman offering her his hand as he helped her down.
“There is no point wasting time discussing the situation,” the housekeeper snapped. “We might as well get a good look and determine what needs done. We’re here, at least for the moment,” her hard eyes snapped at Hester, “so no point putting it off.”
Cecil looked at the woman next to him and grinned. “Who knew she had it in her,” he whispered forcing Hester to cover her giggle with a cough.
Jonas jumped from the wagon seat and raced out along the side of the house. “I’m gonna see what else is here,” the boy shouted.
“Be careful,” Hester called after him as Cecil helped her down. “It must have been a beautiful place when it was first built. Look at the wide two level porch, and the gingerbread decorations. A good coat of paint will go a long way to restoring it.”
“You are an optimist aren’t you?” Cecil tucked her hand into his arm absently as they walked over the tall grass.
“Do you have a key?” Mrs. August asked. She had reached the front porch, a wide portico with tall pillars supporting the open deck above.
“Oh, yes, I believe I do.” Cecil dug in his vest pocket pulling out an old skeleton key and handing it to his housekeeper. “Please proceed.”
The heavy click of the key in the rusty lock was the sound of a new life turning over. For better or worse they had made this move, and only time would tell what would come from it.
The smell of dust, and loneliness was overwhelming as the small troupe stepped into a wide foyer that faced a set of stairs descending from the floor above.
“There’s furniture,” Hester gasped looking into the room to her right.
“I heard he just locked the doors and left,” George Olson stepped in gazing about curiously.
“It’s very dirty,” Bev’s voice echoed in the old house along with her sneeze.
“We can clean it,” Hester said brightly. She didn’t want the children to lose the enthusiasm that had carried them so far from what they had always known. “Just think in a house this large you can surely have a kitten.”
“Can I?” Beverly turned looking between her uncle and Hester.
“You’ll probably need one,” George grinned. “There’s bound to be mice.”
“Mice!” Mrs. August cringed. “Good heavens. Mr. Olson please see to finding us a cat, preferably a hungry one. I’ll pay you myself.”
George Olson chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do. What do you want me to do with the luggage,” he added his curiosity as to the rest of the house almost overwhelming.
“There’s a big barn, and a spring house out back!” Jonas skidded into the house nearly crashing into Cecil. “There are other buildings too, but I don’t know what they’re for.” The boy’s dark eyes shone with excitement. “We’ll have plenty of room for horses and ponies.”
Cecil reached down ruffling the boy's brown hair. “Soon enough,” he said with a grin. “First we have to get this place fit to live in.”
“I’ll help!” Jonas enthused. “Then can I have a pony?”
“If you prove your can be responsible.” Cecil’s heart rose, already the children seemed to be looking toward the future, making him believe he had done the right thing. His eyes strayed to Hester who was busy examining the parlor. He was starting to believe that the day he put the simple maid in charge of his two young relatives was the best decision of his life.
“Where’s Mrs. August?” Beverly spoke up. “Can we look around?”
“Be careful,” Cecil and Hester both spoke at the same time. Lifting their gaze from the children as their eyes collided on a smile.
“Watch out for any critters,” George added.
“Mr. Payton,” Mrs. August made her way back out of the room on their left. “I’ll need cleaning supplies. We need to get started if we plan to stay here tonight.”
Hester smiled, surprised by the woman’s tenacity. Perhaps they hadn’t started out on the right foot together, but she appreciated that Mrs. August was not intimidated by the job at hand.
***
The initial clean through of the old house took all day but by the time the small family traipsed back to Biders Clump for a hot meal at the Grist Mill, the house was at least livable.
“Perhaps we should stay at the boarding house one more night Cecil spoke as the children sprawled in the back of the wagon. “There is still so much to do at the house.”
“But we cleaned our rooms,” Jonas whined. “I want to sleep in my own room and see a ghost.”
“I can’t cook in that kitchen yet,” Mrs. August said. “Mr. Johnson has done an admirable job cleaning, but it isn’t ready. Besides we need supplies.”
“Jonas, I think we’ll stay in town tonight and get a fresh start in the morning.” Cecil looked
