Christmas had been memorable at Majestic except for the memory of the death of Howard. The men had a decorated tree in the bunkhouse and lights around the outside. There was a ten feet decorated tree on the front porch of the main house. The bushes down along the driveway were all lighted and Hank’s house looked as if it came from a magazine cover.
Juanita could only stare. “Ginger, you’ve outdone all that has been done before you. This is more expensive than you can afford.”
“Yes, it’s expensive, but we’ve had so much tragedy and worries that I felt all of us needed a boost. I had hoped to surprise Hank and he sure was,” she laughed.
The turkeys were appreciated along with the mashed white potatoes, baked creamed sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top, green beans, deviled eggs, stuffing and dressing, rolls, pumpkin and pecan pies as well as a special family Christmas cake. Everyone was stuffed and declared it to be the best Christmas they’d had in a long time.
On the last day of December James came running in with a red face and a breathing problem. He was sputtering until he could hardly talk. “You won’t believe who just called me and what we talked about.”
Ginger took his arm and led him into the living room. “Calm down before you have apoplexy.”
“I am calm -- apoplexy? Since when did you start using words like that? Never mind. I’ve got to tell you before I burst. Why don’t you come on in Juanita. You won’t have to strain to listen then.”
Juanita walked in with her head high and her shoulders back. “Ginger is very dear to me and I want to know what is going on so that I can help her.”
“Well, my dear, this has nothing to do with Ginger -- at least not much. I answered the phone this afternoon and it was Vicki’s lawyer father. He informed me that Vicki wanted to sue me for breach of promise. I explained to him that there was never any promise, not even a speck of conversation in that direction. I told him it was all in Vicki’s mind.”
Juanita sat down hard. “My goodness, how did he take that? Oh, sorry.”
James laughed. “At first he didn’t like it but I convinced him that it was all Vicki’s planning. He said her mother was furious on Vicki’s behalf and always supported their daughter in whatever she wanted. He finally apologized and stated that maybe Vicki could benefit from counseling. We had a pleasant understanding when he hung up.”
Juanita stood with fists on both hips. “Can you imagine anyone being that bold? She deserved to be turned over her father’s knees and spanked until she would remember to not tell lies about people.”
James shook his head. “From what her father said, both Vicki and her mother need the counseling. I’m just so relieved that I’m not involved in any shape, form or fashion with her or that family.”
They talked a few minutes and then James went home whistling and feeling much better.
Later that evening Ginger had a call from Sheriff Mercer. “There’s someone here who’d like to speak to you.”
Aretha’s voice spoke. “Ginger, I can’t thank you enough and, of course, Sheriff Mercer and Belinda. I can’t believe how happy and at peace I am.
For the first time in years I feel good about myself. I hope you had a good Christmas.”
“I had a wonderful Christmas, but I’m so pleased for you. Is the work too hard for you or are you settling in okay?”
“The work is challenging, which I love, and everyone is so nice. I’ve made friends with some of the women who work in the building and we have lunch together often. I’ve been asked out on dates, but I’m not ready for that yet.”
“You sound very sensible. I hope your life continues to be happy and successful. You haven’t heard from any of those men from Texas, have you?”
“No, and I hope I never see or hear from them again. Gotta go. Stay sweet and thanks for all your understanding and support.”
Ginger was invited to the home of the mayor for a party that night. She dressed in a mid calf length medium blue dress. It had a square neck and long sleeves with puff shoulders. The top was lace over silk. The waist fit to show her tiny waist line and the skirt fell in soft folds. She wore an old pair of blue heels and carried a small gold bag.
She drove alone thinking all the way that she would have liked to have James as an escort, but it was too soon after his grandfather’s death. I can’t get used to thinking of Arline and Howard as grandparents. I’m eager for Marlene to answer James request for a fact to fact talk. She can’t help but be proud of him. I still think she’s probably never told her husband of her past. In a sense I can’t blame her.
There were many familiar people at the party and Ginger was delighted to be part of the group. Naturally the talk finally turned to all the trouble that the end of their state had been having. There were a lot of opinions as to who was involved and what could be done. Ginger hesitated to give her opinion remembering that Saunders and Sharpie had cautioned about talking when they didn’t know to whom they were talking. She told herself that it was possible that the head honcho was present. She quietly walked around listening to all the others express themselves while looking carefully at the expression in people’s eyes as they talked.
Ginger thought the hors d’oeuvres were delicious and asked the mayor’s wife if she’d be willing to share recipes. The woman admitted that everything had been catered and she didn’t know how to prepare the food. Ginger congratulated her on a pleasant evening and delicious food. She was among the first to leave because she was getting tired and sleepy. Too, she felt that she’d had all she could take of some of these people.
Juanita was waiting to hear all about the party and then rushed Ginger to bed. They toasted each other with hot cider and wished each other a happy new year and a 2010 of love and good health.
The month of January was going slowly because the snow was too deep to go anywhere and no one was coming to see Ginger. The hands worked as quickly and diligently as they could outdoors. They knew the snow would be with them until April.
The average temperature was thirty-six but it commonly dropped below zero with very strong winds. Ginger was grateful for the fire wood that had been stacked at the far end of the back porch. Sometimes, in a storm, the heat and air conditioning went off and the fireplaces were necessary for heat and cooking over.
Ginger answered the phone one afternoon to hear a whisper of a gravelly voice. “I hope you’ve stopped trying to find the rustlers. If you don’t stop, it will become necessary to do more damage to your property and your workers.” There was more senseless conversation and then the person hung up with no closing statement. Ginger was upset, then angry. She called the barn and asked Saunders, Frank and Jack to come to the house.
The men were glad to step on the warm back porch and take off damp clothing and boots. Juanita had hot cider ready which they appreciated. The sat around the dining room table with Ginger to hear why she had called them. Juanita joined the group.
Ginger told the men of the phone call and answered that, no, she couldn’t recognize the voice or any words that might have been said that sounded like someone talked that she had heard. They were concerned but very glad that she had become angry instead of falling apart.
Sharpie leaned on the table. “They’ll surely not try anything in this snow. Almost all of the ranchers have sold off a good part of their herds. As far as I know, everyone has done as we have and moved the mustangs closer to the main house. I can’t imagine what he was thinking.”
“Just to create a mood of fear and restlessness,” Saunders said. “They might not do anything else to anyone, however, I feel we need to let the other ranchers know about this call so they can be more alert.”
“The Amish friends need to be told also. These low lifes know the Amish have pledged their support and friendship. Many of them still have a roadside business and have enclosed their products with plywood and use propane space heaters.. As soon as they sell out, they’ll break the shelter down and stay indoors. The men will stay busy making furniture and other items and the women will quilt and make items that can be sold for gifts.” Frank spoke the very thoughts that Ginger was thinking.
“How shall we go about informing all these people?” Ginger asked.
“Lisa and Belinda did get a list of names and phone numbers to us. Why don’t we divide the list among us and each of us call several people.” Frank offered the suggestion. They agreed to do this. Ginger got a pad of paper and several pens and called out the names and phone numbers so each person could have a list to call.
“Let me talk to one of the Amish neighbors and they can spread the word among their group. I think this Sunday is the time everyone is to meet at the home of Allen and Mary Kemp for services. I’ll make sure they have the information to share with the entire congregation.” Jack spoke and stood.
“I need to get back to work, but I’ll be responsible for the Amish knowing.”
Jack left and the others wandered out. Ginger noticed that Juanita stared straight into Sharpie’s eyes rather than look away and leave the room. I hope she won’t be too angry at me when she learns the truth. She’ll understand why I promised to not tell. I think they’d make a fantastic couple and would be very happy.
The Amish were thankful to get the warning. The next weekend the Rittenhouse family was in the barn gathering eggs and milking the cows. Ten year old Joseph looked out the door in time to see a man run around their house. He quietly told his daddy who ordered the family to stay in the barn. Fifteen year old Jacob and seventeen year old Jeremiah quietly went out with their father.
The two boys went one direction and Mr. Rittenhouse went the opposite so that they circled the house. Jeremiah gave a yell and tackled a man that had been trying to look in the windows on that side of the house. Jacob immediately fell on the man and helped hold him down. Their daddy came running and told Jacob to go to the barn and get some rope. He ran back with it and they tied the man up.
He was turning the air blue with his foul language. “Are you going to leave me laying here freezing to death? I thought all you Amish were Christians and taught to love your neighbor.”
“We are but the neighbor has to be worthy of our consideration. Sneaking around a home that has been threatened and peeking in windows does not make us think you are trustworthy. Jeremiah, go to the Barbers and ask them to call the sheriff for us, please.” Mr. Rittenhouse was calm outside but was churning inside. Their religion doesn’t allow phones.
Jacob and his daddy finally picked the man up and marched him into the barn. The women and other children were told to go into the house and keep warm. They would be told later what was happening.
Forty minutes later Sheriff Mercer and a deputy arrived. The man would not answer questions, only sass and give nonsense statements.
“I’m arresting him and taking him to jail. Maybe he can tell us why he was here and who else is involved.” Sheriff Mercer looked at the man. “I assume you are aware of the problems these good people have had with law breakers. I can only think that you’re one of the gang and treat you as such.”
“You can’t prove anything unlawful on me.”
“Trespassing and threatening the lives of these good people for a start.”
The sheriff gave the Miranda to the man through his blustering and threatening. Mr. Rittenhouse thanked the sheriff and the deputy and went in the house to join his family.
All the way to jail the man yelled and said he would sue the sheriff and the Amish idiots. Sheriff Mercer told the deputy to lock him up for seventy-two hours and see if he was still yelling.
After twenty-four hours the man was begging to talk to the sheriff. He told them his name was Ralph Blazer and he was a guest in the home of people in St. Ignatius. Sheriff Mercer called the people to tell them and was instantly suspicious when Sydney Harriman asked if Ralph had said anything.
“No, he hasn’t. I tried to help him but he was not cooperating. I didn’t even have a name until today and he told me he was staying with you.”
“Well, I didn’t invite him here and you can tell him not to come back.”
Mr. Harriman slammed the phone down. The sheriff went back to give Ralph the message.
“Oh, he did, did he? Well he needn’t think I’m going to cover for him any more.”
“What do you mean by that? What are you covering?” the man said nothing more. “If you don’t cooperate with me, I can’t help you,” the sheriff said. He walked out and left Ralph alone for several hours. Later that night the women who cooked and delivered food came to tell the deputy in charge that the prisoner wanted to talk to the sheriff. Mercer was called at home.
Around eight Sheriff Mercer was back at the jail and waiting for Ralph to talk to him. There was absolute silence for about ten minutes. Finally Ralph took hold of the bars and said, “I’m ready to tell you everything, but first get me out of here.”
A deputy brought Ralph into the conference room where they were joined by the sheriff and three deputies; one deputy was taking a deposition.
Ralph glared at all of them and finally spoke. “I would never have given them away, but if they’re going to throw me to the wolves, I won’t go down alone.” Everyone sat quietly until Ralph got nervous and started talking again.
“A few months ago Sydney Harriman, George Washburn and Isaac Penroy contacted me to meet with them. I was told that they just wanted to make some people feel uneasy and they were willing to pay big money. I agreed and started a fire in a barn. I honestly thought it would be seen in time so that it would not do much damage, but it didn’t happen that way. The barn burned down, but I was relieved to learn that the animals were taken to safety in time. Then I was told to ride with Barney Newsome and Grover Stiddham around a house and shoot pistols in the air. We were just supposed to scare someone. I didn’t know the reason for this but I was being paid good money -- which I have yet to collect.”
He stopped to drink water from a bottle. “Today I was told to check and see if that Amish farmer was home with his family. I didn’t know they were all in the barn and thought no one was home. That’s how I was caught.”
“So far I can’t find evidence that you committed murder or stole cattle.”
“No! Honest to God, Sheriff. I never did none of that. I don’t know who was responsible for that. I admit, I did start the fire and I rode around shooting my pistol. No, man. I’m not guilty of any of the rest of that.”
“If you’ll help us find who is responsible, I’ll write a report that you cooperated and the judge will not be as strict with you.”
“Can’t you just let me go? I’ve told all I know.”
“No, I still have to charge you with trespassing and now you’ve made a statement that you’re guilty of arson and harassment. Do you have any other names to give us?”
“No. Those are all I know. I do know none of them is the boss. Sydney talks to the boss on the phone, but I’ve never heard him say a name.”
The deputy hurriedly typed the statement and had Ralph sign it in front of a notary. “I want everything as legal as we can get it and no chance for loop holes,” the sheriff stated.