CHAPTER SIX

 

Even though Barbara and Sherry forbade her from leaving her bed, the day after coming home Rachel slipped out of the house to see how things were going in the chicken coops. She found Ollie, Juan and Maria removing the last of the dead chickens and taking them to the incinerator behind the chicken house. Years ago the dead chickens had been dumped in a deep hole at the far end of the property and left to rot. Remembering that, Rachel could still smell the foul scent of decaying birds. Now, due to the changes made by the Federal Environmental Agency and the county health department all dead animals had to be cremated. Questioning Ollie on the loss, she was relieved to find out that only about 2000 of the hens and 40 of the roosters had died. Deciding the loss was minimal, Rachel returned to the house. Somehow she managed to sneak back upstairs and into her room without being missed. After a couple more days in bed she could stand it no more and put her foot down with her mother and grandmother. Reluctantly, they agreed to let her get back to work. The next two weeks went by without any more trouble.

Rachel had been released from the hospital the day after she kissed Jake. Although he had called a few times to check on her she had not seen him since. Not sure if Jake was busy on the case or if he was avoiding her, Rachel decided to keep herself busy and put him out of her mind. Every night she would go in the study and record the day’s events in the computer, and update the farms daily profits. Following the daily schedule Darlyn had left, Rachel realized they were behind on planting their garden. She told Ollie that they would get started on it over the weekend.

Saturday morning dawned warm and sunny. Temperatures were supposed to be in the high seventies, so Rachel dressed in shorts and a tee shirt. Finally locating her tennis shoes under the bed she went down for breakfast. Rachel was surprised to see Molly in the kitchen with Dora.

Seeing Rachel enter the kitchen Dora asked if she was ready to eat. Pouring herself a cup of coffee Rachel said, “Sure, Dora, whenever you have it ready.”

Rachel leaned against the counter watching Molly play with the kitten. She was sitting on the floor, pulling a piece of yarn across her leg, making the kitten jump as he chased the string.

Dora explained why Molly was there, and handed Rachel a plate of steaming hot blueberry pancakes. “The daycare isn’t open on the weekends. She usually stays with Roxanne on Saturdays but Roxanne has a wedding party coming in this morning and she couldn’t watch Molly. And of course your grandmother wouldn’t change her appointment to another day. I told Ollie that I would watch Molly; she can keep me company today.” As if the lengthy explanation had exhausted her, Dora sighed and turned back to the stove.

Amazed that Dora said so much at one time, Rachel sat down to eat, watching Molly as she ate. Feeling Rachel watching her, Molly left the kitten and came to the side of the table. At first she just stood there watching Rachel eat. Taking a piece of bacon and putting it on a napkin Rachel slid it over in front of Molly. Pretending not to watch, Rachel wondered if Molly would eat it. Molly’s large dark eyes looked from the bacon to Dora and back to the bacon. Slowly she reached for the bacon. Just before she picked it up, Dora caught Molly’s hand, saying, “Oh, no you don’t! You have to wash your hands before you can eat, little lady.” Tickling Molly, Dora explained about kitten germs, and that she should always wash her hands after playing with him. Giggling Molly came back to the table and ate her bacon. Her eyes still shining brightly from laughter Molly exclaimed, “Dora’s making cookies! She’s gonna let me help!”

Smiling at the excitement on the child’s face Rachel asked, “What kind?”

Molly appeared to think about this, but not knowing the answer she turned and yelled at Dora, “What kind?”

Drying her hands on a dishtowel Dora looked at the two and replied, “Gingersnaps.” Changing the subject she took Molly by the hand and said, “But that will be later; why don’t you take the kitten outside to the swing for a while?”

Molly ran across the room, gathered the kitten in her arms, saying “Okay!” and headed toward the back door.

After helping her outside Dora commented, “That child’s a pistol! Won’t eat a thing unless she can stand up. She’s just like her daddy, always on the go.” Taking dishes off the table to the sink, Dora went back to work. Rachel could see her occasionally peeking out the window above the sink, watching Molly.

Still amazed at how much Dora had spoken but not commenting, Rachel finished her pancakes. Thanking Dora for breakfast she left to go find Ollie.

She found him in the old barn. He was supposed to be getting the tractor ready to begin plowing, but instead he was talking to someone. Stepping inside the barn Rachel recognized the man. It was the gardener, Guy Hicks. As soon as Rachel got close Guy looked at Ollie and said, “I got work to do, see you later.” Without speaking to Rachel at all he walked out of the barn.

Stunned by Guy’s rudeness, Rachel asked, “What was that all about?”

Shrugging his shoulders Ollie commented, “That’s just Guy. He don’t have much to say to anyone.”

“Well, what was he doing in the barn?”

“He only came to put the gardening shears back where they belong,” Ollie answered, pointing to the shears hanging on the wall.

Dismissing the gardener from her mind, Rachel asked Ollie if he was ready to get started. His cap in one hand and the other running through his hair, Ollie asked how big a garden she had planned.

Rachel explained, “According to Aunt Darlyn’s notes we should plow the other side of the field this year.”

Ollie replaced his cap on his head and rephrased his question, “Okay, what are you planting? Are you wanting a large garden?”

“Not this year. I checked the freezer and there are still a lot of vegetables from last year. I thought maybe a couple rows each of some corn, field peas, butter beans, squash, okra and tomatoes would be enough. Oh, and maybe some watermelons and peanuts.”

“Sounds good to me, let’s get started.” Ollie helped Rachel load bags of seed onto a flat bed trailer and then he hooked it to the back of the tractor. With Rachel riding on the back of the trailer they rode out to the field. The garden was on the opposite side of the house, away from the chicken coops.

The morning had started off good, and they were almost half way through with planting the garden. Ollie was driving the tractor, pulling a disc to plow up the soil. Rachel followed at a safe distance behind throwing seeds into a row of the freshly turned earth. The sun was getting hotter and sweat was pouring off both of them. Straightening up and stretching her back muscles, Rachel took off her straw hat to wipe the sweat from her forehead. As she did this she noticed Ollie climbing off the tractor and walking toward her. Thinking he wanted to take a break she wondered why he had not turned the tractor off.

When he reached her, Ollie yelled over the sound of the tractor, “We have a small problem, Ms. Rachel.”

“What kind of problem?” she yelled back.

“I don’t think this side of the field has ever been plowed before. There is an old property post in the ground just ahead of the tractor. We’re gonna have to dig it up before we can finish plowing.”

“Show me what you are talking about, Ollie,” she yelled over the tractor again.

Walking back to where he had been working, Ollie stopped and turned the tractor off. Together they walked in front of the tractor to the old property post.

Logically thinking on this situation, Rachel asked, “Wouldn’t it be easier to try and pull it out of the ground instead of digging it up?”

“Pull it out with what?”

Pointing to the top of the post Rachel said, “See that hook at the end of the post— couldn’t we attach a rope to it and tie the other end to your pickup and then pull it out of the ground?”

Taking off his cap and wiping sweat from his face, Ollie pondered on this idea for a minute or two. Finally replacing his cap, he said, “Guess it might work. I’ll go get some rope and the pickup.”

While Ollie was gone Rachel walked to the edge of the field and sat down under an oak tree out of the sun. The temperature in the shade was a little cooler and every once in a while a breeze would stir to help cool her off. After about five minutes, Ollie returned with what they needed. Rachel met him at the rear of the pickup. First he tied one end of the rope to the post. Then, letting the tailgate of the pickup down, he climbed onto the bed of the truck and tied the other end to a hook made inside the bed shell. Staying inside the truck bed Ollie leaned over and pulled the tailgate shut. Looking at Rachel he said, “You can drive the truck and I’m gonna help pull from here.”

“Okay, just tell me when you are ready,” she replied.

As Rachel and Ollie worked, they were not aware that an audience had gathered to watch. Sherry had returned over an hour ago from the trip to Evergreen with her mother. She had been home a short time when Oscar came calling. Thinking that Dora could use a break from Molly they decided to take her for a walk. Now, standing under the oak tree that Rachel had vacated a few minutes before, they watched with interest. Realizing what they were attempting Oscar looked at Sherry and said, “That isn’t going to work.”

Looking up at him Sherry asked why not.

“Just watch,” he said smiling.

When Ollie was set he motioned for Rachel to start. Standing in the bed of the pickup and leaning on the tailgate, Ollie held onto the rope with both hands. Rachel sat in the pickup and tried to remember where first gear was. It had been years since she had driven a standard vehicle of any kind. Thinking she had it right she put the truck in gear, and as she released the clutch she stomped on the gas harder than she intended. Inadvertently Rachel had put the truck in second gear instead of first. As she stomped on the gas the truck lurched forward and took off faster than she meant for it too. No matter how Ollie had his feet planted, he was not prepared for what happened as the truck jerked forward. When Rachel hit the gas, Ollie fell hard against the tailgate, causing it to fall open. Unable to catch himself, Ollie fell face first half way out of the truck, his foot becoming tangled in the rope. The short rope drew tight, and from the speed and strength of the pickup snapped off at the post. The recoil of the rope barely missed Ollie’s head. With his hands Ollie tried to keep his face off the ground but with every bump the truck hit his face slammed into the dirt. At the same time he was trying desperately to free his foot from the rope. Suddenly his boot slipped off his foot and, now free, he landed with a thud face down in a briar patch. Looking back in the rearview mirror Rachel could not see Ollie. Panicking, she slammed the truck to a halt.

Molly was watching from under the tree, and had not missed a thing. Pointing in the direction of the truck she yelled, “Daddy’s funny!”

Trying not to laugh at Molly’s outburst, Oscar said to Sherry, “I knew it; that boy ain’t got backing up sense!”

Afraid that Ollie was seriously hurt, both Oscar and Sherry took off at a run with Molly following behind. Before they could reach him, Ollie stood up brushing dirt off and pulling thorns from his face and hands, cussing the whole while. Looking at Rachel as she ran to his side he yelled, “God Almighty, woman, you trying to kill me or something? Where did you learn to drive anyway?”

“I’m so sorry, Ollie, I thought I was in first gear. I guess I wasn’t,” she said reaching to help him brush off some of the dirt.

Stepping backwards and away from her, he said, “Don’t touch me.”

Oscar and Sherry were close enough by this time to hear the exchange between Ollie and Rachel.

With hurt feelings showing on her face, Oscar tried to take up for her by saying, “Boy, you should have known better than to try to pull that old post up like that. Those things go so deep in the ground the only way to get them up is to dig them up!”

As hurt as her feelings were, Rachel was not about to let Ollie take the blame for what happened. Getting in Oscar’s face she yelled at him, “It wasn’t Ollie’s idea to do it this way, it was mine!” Throwing her arms in the air Rachel again said, “I’m sorry Ollie, I didn’t mean to get you hurt.” Tears threatening to fall any second, Rachel ran toward the house.

Not knowing what to think by Rachel’s behavior, Oscar just stood there. Sherry gently placed her hand on Ollie's arm and said, “Come on up to the house and let’s see if we can get some of those stickers out of you.”

Embarrassed by everything that had happened, Ollie said, “Yes ma’am.”

Her hand sliding into his Molly looked up at her Daddy with sad eyes and asked, “Daddy got a boo-boo?”

Picking her up to comfort her Ollie smiled and said, “Yeah, Daddy got a boo-boo. But it doesn’t hurt—see, no blood.”

Seeing that Ollie wasn’t bleeding, Molly smiled and said, “Daddy you funny.” Wiping dirt off with her small hand she placed a kiss on his cheek.

* * * * *

Dora and Sherry had taken care of Ollie’s scrapes and pulled all the thorns out that they could. Not used to being fussed over, Ollie stood it as long as he could, finally jumping up from the kitchen table and saying, “I need to get back to work. It’s gonna take the rest of the day to dig that post up.” Stopping at the door he turned back to the women and said, “Tell Ms. Rachel I know it was an accident. I didn’t mean to yell at her.” Nodding his thanks to them he left. Just as Ollie was going outside, Oscar came inside.

Realizing that Oscar had not followed them into the house, Sherry asked him where he had been. Taking a seat at the kitchen table he replied, “Needed to take a walk. I went down to the chicken house to check on Juan and Maria. Everything is all right down there.”

Relieved that no other mishaps had occurred, Sherry sat down beside him and took his hand in hers. “Thank you. With everything that’s happened I suppose we should keep a closer watch down there.” In an effort to lighten his mood, Sherry asked him to join them for lunch.

“Thanks, but I probably shouldn’t. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”

Walking into the kitchen as Oscar was speaking Barbara interjected. “Nonsense, you’re always welcome here. Dora, Mr. Newcume will be joining us for lunch.” Oscar agreed to stay seeing he had no way of gracefully declining.

Humiliated and upset, Rachel was in a foul mood the rest of the day. Not hungry, she stayed in the parlor as everyone else ate lunch in the dining room. Standing at the window she could see Ollie diligently working at digging up the old post. Mentally recapping everything that had happened in the last several weeks, Rachel wondered if she had made the right decision to stay at the farm. Lost in her thoughts, she did not hear a car pulling up in the driveway. The knock at the door almost scared her out of her wits. Hoping it was Jake, she dashed out of the parlor and opened the front door. Disappointment flashed across her face as she stared at Alec Jamison.

Standing with his hat in his hand he smiled broadly at her and said, “Afternoon, Ms. Rachel. I hope I haven’t come at a bad time.”

Recovering from her disappointment quickly, she replied, “No, you haven’t Alec. Won’t you come in?” Stepping back and opening the door wider she let him in. Leading him into the parlor she asked, “What brings you by today?”

“I was in the area and thought I would check to see how you were recovering.”

“I’m fine now. Not many headaches.” Motioning for him to sit down on the couch, Rachel sat across from him on the love seat.

He placed his hat on the couch beside him, leaned back and said, “That’s good to hear.” Pausing he looked around the room. Not thinking of anything to say Rachel sat quietly and waited for him to say something. Alec cleared his throat and asked how business was going.

Thankful for a safe subject, Rachel responded, “Things are going okay. Ollie called and got the chickens replaced about a week ago. We shouldn’t be behind in production much longer.”

“That’s good; so I guess you won’t be needing to cut back on the amount of feed for next month,” he replied.

“No, we’ll keep everything the same.”

Before he could make another comment, they were interrupted by voices approaching the parlor. Alec stood up when Sherry, Barbara and Oscar came into the room, and waited for Rachel to make introductions. “Alec Jamison, this is my mother, Sherry Collier, my grandmother, Mrs. Parker.” Turning toward Oscar, Rachel continued, “You may already know Mr. Newcume.”

Alec took each lady’s hand in turn and said he was pleased to meet them, shook hands with Oscar, and said, “Yes, I know Oscar. How are you today?”

“Doing all right. Yourself?”

“Fine, thanks.”

Oscar and Sherry joined Alec on the couch and Barbara sat beside Rachel on the love seat. In no time the two men started talking business, excluding the women in the room. Always hating to be left out of a conversation, Barbara interrupted the men, attempting to change the subject. “Rachel, honey, Oscar has invited us to a barbecue at his place tomorrow. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

Not really interested but not wanting to make her grandmother mad with her, Rachel agreed.

Oscar took the hint to change the subject and asked Alec to join them at the barbecue.

Making no effort to conceal his excitement over the prospect of spending more time with Rachel, Alec asked, “Are you having barbecued venison?”

“Of course, along with the usual: steaks, hamburgers and such.”

“Then I’ll be there. About what time?”

“We should be starting around noon. You know how these things go—we’ll be cooking most of the afternoon.”

Feeling a migraine coming on, Rachel stood up; following suit, both men did the same. “Please excuse me—I suddenly feel a headache coming on. I think I need to lie down for a while.” Trying hard not to be rude she thanked Alec for coming and said she would see him tomorrow at Oscar’s. Hurriedly she rushed from the room. She climbed the stairs two at a time and ran into her bathroom in time to throw up. This was the worst headache she’d had since getting out of the hospital. Chalking it up to too much excitement in one day, she rinsed out her mouth, wet a washcloth with cold water, then slowly walked to the bed and placed it on her forehead. She was asleep almost as soon as she closed her eyes.