The Mountain Girl Chapter (16)

The Mountain Girl Chapter 16
Everyone receives bad news when Jay, and Jess return. Dolly goes into
shock over
Will's death! Jess gets the answers he's looking for.
Written By: Neet,
Dated: 5-3-02
Bad News

Angel told Beth, hand me the broom honey! Beth replied, mama I'll do
the
sweeping. You're not able with your arm in that shape. Angel muttered,
thank
you honey!

Dolly said to Angel, we may have to sleep in the barn tonight! We can't
stay in
here until all the windows, and doors are replaced. Angel told her,
surely, "they
should be back before nightfall!

Dolly asked, do you think they are ok? Angel said, yes, I think so!
Jess has been
in big storms before.

Dolly replied, I'm sure your right about that, he's such a smart young
lad. I just
hope he found Will before the tornado hit.

Angel went over, and put her arms around her shoulders. She said,
"Dolly" why
don't you go upstairs, and rest? You have been cleaning ever since Jay
left. Beth,
and I will finish up here. Dolly muttered, I'm sure you, and Beth are
tired too.
We are fine Angel, replied! I think I will cook us something to eat. I
know you
are getting hungry too.

Dolly said, yes that I am. I'll go help you we, all need a break. Angel
said, ok,
great! She asked, "Beth" you want to go play awhile? Beth said, "sure
mama!"

******

Jay asked, son, you want a piece of jerky? I know you got to be
starving. Jess said,
you know pa, I haven't even thought about it. But since you mention it,
I'll take
it. Jay laughed to himself as he handed Jess the jerky.

"Pa" do you think Dolly will continue to live way out here all alone?
"Son" I
really can't say! But if she has no other place to go, she has no
choice.

Jess didn't mention about the cabin down the road. But a thought
crossed his mind,
why would Will deed her the cabin down the road, and not the
house?

Jess mind wondered back he, could hear Will, saying the house is yours.
He
thought, surely not, the poor guy was just confused! But why didn't he
say, he
willed that to Dolly too? "I'm confused" Jess, muttered.

Jay asked,what did you say Jess? Nothing pa, I was just a thinking
aloud,
Jess, replied.

Jess changed the subject, and said, pa, we'll almost there! I can see
the top of the
house, he pointed toward the trees. Jay could see the dreaded look on
Jess's face.

*******

Angel fried potato pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Dolly made biscuits.
Angel yelled
out, "Beth" come, and eat!

Angel was washing the dinner dishes. She glanced through the doorway,
and saw Jay.
He was carrying a body on his borse. Her first thought was,
"Jess!"

But just as she started to run to the door, Jess stepped out from
behind the horse.
She said, "Oh no!"

Dolly asked, "what is it Angel? Angel was lost for words she, couldn't
speak.

Dolly ran to the door, and her heart sunk. She stared to scream, no,
Oh, no as she
ran down the lane.

Jay saw Dolly running towards them. He handed Jess the reins. Dolly ran
up to the
horse, and said, "Will, Oh, Will" I told you not to go!

Jess felt so sorry for her he, too wanted to bust out crying again. Jay
came over to
her, and put his arms around her.

Dolly asked, "Jess" was he already dead when you found him?
Jess replied, "no, ma'am" he died shortly afterwards. He told her, "I
did all I could do
for him!" Will wouldn't let me leave, and get help. He didn't want to
be left a lone!
She cut him short, and said, "he got just what he deserved!"

Jess noticed she had stopped crying, and had a hateful look on her
face.
Dolly never said another word she, started walking down the lane.

Jay yelled "ma'am" what do you want us to do with him? She turned,
glanced over
her shoulder, and shouted, "I could careless!" She kept walking, and
never looked back.

Jess asked, "where is she going?" Angel stated, "honey" she is
grieving!
"But, mama shouldn't we go after her Jess, asked? Angel told him, "no,
it's best
we let her be." But this is her husband whom loved her! "How can
she,just act that
way, Jess, asked?"

Jay said, "son a lot of people deal with death in different ways." I
suppose she
would rather be alone! Besides Jess you got to remember this makes
twice today,
that Dolly has received bad news. He took the reins out of Jess's hand,
and said,
"we've got a grave to dig."

Angel threw her arms around Jess, and told him she loved him. Jess
said, "Mama" I
love you too! She said, are you ok "Jess?" He said, "yes mama!" But, I
don't
understand what just happen here. "Son" try not to ponder on it!
Because through life
you will see a lot of different folks, do a lot of strange things,
"Angel, responded.

Jay asked, "honey" do you think you could make us some supper? Angel
replied,
"absolutely!" We just finished up before you got here. There are plenty
of leftovers,
I'll fry some eggs while you, and Jess wash.

Jay led the horse in the barn. Beth asked, "what are you carrying on
your horse, pa?"
Jay set down on a bucket, and replied, "its Mr. Reed honey!" She
said,
"What happen to him pa?"

Jay took a deep breath, and replied, "Beth set down here!"
He fliped a bucket over for her to set down. I'll explain
it all to you, the best I know how sweetie.

Angel asked, where's your pa, Jess? He's in the barn breaking the bad
news to
Beth. She said, "I'm sure she will have a thousand questions for us
these next few
days. So Jess try, and be patience with her. He replied, I will
mama!

Jay set down at the table, and said, it's been a long day! Angel asked,
how
Beth took the news? He said, a lot better than I thought she would.
Angel said
good! Where is she now? She setting on the porch Jay replied.

I wonder where Dolly is? Jess said, I think I know where she is mama.
Angel,
and Jay looked at each other they, asked, "where Jess?

"Papa, mama" do you mind if I don't say anything right now? I made a
promise to
Will I wouldn't say nothing, until I had all the facts together.

Jayreplied, we understand son! You never go back on your word once you
make a
promise.

Jess asked, "may I be excused mama? Angel replied, yes Jess you are
excused!

Angel muttered I wonder, what that was all about? Jay said, I have no
ideal!

******

Jess walked into the setting room, he had never in his life seen such a
big room. It
had a big fireplace, and all sorts of books, and fine furniture.

He walked slowly around the room. His eyes fell upon a beautiful cabin
made out
of walnut. Its texture was shiny, and smooth. It had double doors, and
was as tall as
him. Jess carefully opened the doors it was stocked with all sorts of
liquor, and
wine.

He thought, this has to be the cabinet Will was talking about! There
was a
drawer filled with all sorts of long handle spoons. He thought as he
picked one up,
how odd they looked. To his right on the door; were all sorts of
glasses; from very
small, medium, large to very tall. He had never seen anything like
them. There were
some that hung upside down by their stems. They were very pretty they,
had gold
etched around the rims.

Jess did not see a metal container. He got a chair, and stood on it, so
he could see
on top of the cabinet. He climbed down, and thought, poor Mr. Reed he
must have
been talking out of his head.

Jess walked over to the hearth, and set down. He wondered, where they
had gotten
such pretty white rug, it was lying in front of the cabinet. It minded
him, of
hair it was long, and shaggy.

Jess got down on his knees, and crawled over to it. He started to set
down, Then he noticed a
silver box underneath the cabinet. Jess reached under the cabinet, and
slowly pulled
it out. He said aloud, this has to be it!

Jess folded his legs Indian style, and opened the box. "Whoa" he said,
as he laid the
money aside. Dolly, you will be surprised when you see what "Will" has
left you!

He noticed two letters lying in the bottom. The first one he picked up
was for the
deed to Dolly's place. He picked up the next one, and carefully
unfolded it. He
started reading, and stopped Jess, could hardly believe his eyes. This
is all ours as
he stretched his hand forward, and made a circular motion. Oh, mama are
you ever
going to be shocked, when you find out this all belongs to you, Jess,
mumbled!

Jess smiled, and folded the letter. (To be continued)