Vicar reached out and took Olen’s hand. Jason Potter took Olen’s other hand and the entire congregation joined hands to form a tight circle around both graves. Vicar said, “Lord, receive these two precious, beloved saints and keep them forever safe from any pain or harm. Bound together as we are, we deliver them forever into Thy loving embrace.”
Everybody said, “Amen,” and their hands fell away.
Olen looked to the sky. She was up there in those white clouds. He followed her stare down to the roof of the church where meadowlarks had lined up on the ridge.
Maybe these birds were here for Willis, here to show his respects.
What a thought.
How could that be?
THE SERVICE AT THE small cemetery concluded and the villagers took turns consoling Olen before moving off in different directions. They all ignored the Gilpins.
Carolyn’s heart went out to them, standing near Sheriff Nason, forlorn and alone.
Even the sheriff ignored them, understandable in his condition. He probably wanted nothing more than for Nancy LaRosa to feed him some hot chicken soup and tuck him into bed.
Carolyn approached Sally. “Please, let us take you home.”
The sheriff smiled. “Could you?”
Jason waited at their Rover with John Crow. John opened the back door and Jason helped little Sissy climb in. He positioned her in the middle, buckled her seatbelt and stood aside for Sally to climb in. John got in on the other side, Jason sat in front and Carolyn started the Rover.
Carolyn glanced in the rearview mirror at Sally. “Sally, what are your plans now?”
“I don’t know. We wanted to go down and visit my parents in Oakland over Christmas but I don’t even know how we can do that.”
“What about insurance?” Carolyn turned off River Road and drove down the grade toward the river.
“Bruce took care of all of that stuff. I think it’s in a box at your bank but I don’t know where the key is.”
“I’ll go in and speak with Mr. Whatling about it.” Carolyn glanced in the rearview mirror at the top of Sally Gilpin’s head. “Would that be okay?”
Sally looked up. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“I’ll go see him tomorrow.” Carolyn drove across the bridge and noticed the broken cable, something else she needed to fix. The road up the other side was slow going, deep ruts and exposed rocks. When they rounded the curve she saw the way the Gilpins lived and placed a hand on Jason’s arm, letting him know not to say anything. Whatever else happened at the bank tomorrow, she needed to find a way to help these people, maybe some kind of insurance trust or something. These people needed a decent home and a decent road to get here. They also needed transportation. She parked in front of their trailer.
Jason jumped out to open the back door.
Sally unbuckled Sissy and they both got out.
Jason closed the back door and climbed back into the front, looking at Carolyn like he wanted to say something.
She shook her head and rolled down her window. “Sally?”
Sally stopped halfway up their broken down steps and looked back.
“I’ll call you tomorrow after I visit the bank.”
Sally smiled, a glimmer of hope. “Thank you.” She turned away and they went inside.
Crossing back over the bridge, Jason rolled his window down and leaned way out, probably trying to find the Gilpin's truck. “After the snow melts, his truck will be carried down river and over the falls. They’ll pull it out from Pickle Meadow.”
Carolyn looked in the rearview mirror. “John, who can we call about repairing the bridge?”
“They used an engineer down in Sonora. Your banker should know.”
“Good. I’ll see him tomorrow about that too.” Driving up the hill toward River Road was much easier than on the other side. “You think they can put some gravel down on the other side?”
“Can’t just give stuff away, Mrs. Potter. In the end, they’ll hate you for it.”
She knew he was right. Still, “How much would it take for you to work her place, you know, take care of her cattle and horses?”
John said, “I’ll go over and take a look around tomorrow.”
She turned onto River Road and drove toward home.
John said, “They got an extra horse over there. I might work the place awhile to pay for that.”
Carolyn rounded the last curve, nearing the road to their upper meadow.
“Right here’s good.”
She stopped in the middle of the road and John climbed out.
Jason leaned out his open window. “See you tomorrow after school?”
John smiled, put on his hat and started up the snow covered gravel road toward the upper meadow, toward his home.
She drove up her driveway and over the rise. “Home. Dear Lord.” The beauty of this place almost always took her breath away. She pressed the button on the garage door remote and drove slowly down the driveway, waiting for the door to open all the way, then she parked in the garage. Always keeping this inside door to the house secured, she left the garage door open and they both walked toward the front steps. “Come on, let’s go decorate the tree.”
NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE to do, Olen opened his store at 1:00pm that Tuesday.
Bell Whatling, Bea Ralston and Maggie Pendleton had appointed themselves to keep him company.
Bunch of clucking hens.
They could just as well stay home and attend to their own; all huddled near the cookie jar, sipping coffee and whispering gossip. He needed to get busy but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from their bobbing black bonnets. He wanted to shout at them to get out, wanted to hate them for being here but he couldn’t. They intended only good.
What to do?
Ah, that’s it.
He dug under the counter and located Helfred’s inventory book. He opened it on top of the counter and found wads
