Part 1: Chapter 33: 1887: Red Deer, Alberta,
In Winnipeg: Part 3
The ride home was tense and each person was stuck with their own thoughts. Ophelia was going from clutching Colleen and Nate tighter to her sides and mumbling in anger. When she was clutching Colleen and Nate were a little uncomfortable and a little breathless but they didn't complain. While they didn't understand the significance of what had happened at the graveyard, they knew it was upsetting everyone they cared about.
When the carriage pulled into the driveway of Regina's home, Ophelia was the first one one out, without any help, and was on a direct path to the kitchens.
"Ophelia?" Regina asked her in surprise.
"I need to punch something. Baking relieves my stress, don't bother me for an hour," Ophelia said firmly.
"It's best to let her have the kitchen," Archie said as he watched his wife storm away.
Regina nodded in understanding.
"Where is the paperwork you said you saw?" James asked.
"It's in their writing desk. They brought some of their furnishings here," Regina said.
"Archie, will you help me?" James asked.
"Yup," Archie agreed as they walked to the Harris' rooms.
Nate, Colleen, Harris, and Regina stayed in the parlor. Archie and James eventually joined them downstairs.
"Both were sleeping. We didn't want to wake them up," James said at Regina's look.
"Richard has certainly stooped to a new low," Regina said as she rubbed her forehead in frustration.
"He won't get away with it," James said as he was sifting through the documents.
"He already has! He managed to destroy Nathan's place of rest! I'm kind of glad Nathan wasn't actually buried there," Regina said with anger.
"Everyone involved will be punished, I promise," James said firmly as he paused to meet his sister's eyes.
Regina and Harris were looking after Colleen and Nate as their mother baked and their father helped with the legal documents. It was a few hours of this when Ted and Wilma walked downstairs. Wilma was blinking in the bright light.
"What's happened?" Wilma asked, sensing something had gone wrong.
Regina sighed deeply, before explaining what had happened.
Wilma sucked in a breath and whimpered in pain from her heart breaking.
Ted got a glare in his eyes.
"Budge up, son. I'm helping," Ted said as he approached Archie's seat at the table. Archie scooted over so that he had room to sit down. Ted plopped himself down, and they handed him a stack.
They left Ophelia alone in the kitchen for more than an hour. In fact it had been several. Ophelia had baked scones, two cakes, three batches of cinnamon rolls and was working on kneading bread before anyone had dared to interrupt her.
Ophelia's hair was falling precariously from her bun, flour was stuck to the pieces she kept pushing back. Her face had splotches of flour and the various mixtures she had used. Her arms were covered in the flour she was throwing into the dough. She was pushing and punching the dough harder than she normally would and muttering under her breath as she kneaded. Her rolling pin was laying across the counter near her right arm.
"The nerve of some people," Ophelia muttered with a particularly violent press.
"I agree completely, my dear, but James is working on it," Edith said with sympathy from the doorway.
"Edith! What are you doing here?" Ophelia turned in shock.
"You knew I was coming, this shouldn't be a surprise," Edith said.
"Yes, but not so quickly," Ophelia said softly.
"Well, we managed to get onto the road the same day you went on the train," Edith admitted.
Ophelia nodded once in understanding.
"How are you doing, my dear?" Edith asked.
"Not well," Ophelia's voice cracked. "They dug up Nathan's space. His body wasn't there, but we paid for those spots YEARS ago!"
Ophelia finally burst into tears.
Edith came around to hug her friend.
Ophelia cried into Edith's shoulder as Edith held her firmly in her left arm.
"Is nothing sacred to people?" Ophelia cried out angrily.
"I never liked Richard. But I didn't think he would be this cruel. But we haven't spoken in years. I have no idea how the years may have changed him," Edith said as she pushed Ophelia's hair back.
The two women sat like this until James came looking into the kitchens. He raised his eyebrow in question. Edith gave him a look back. James nodded in understanding.
"I'm here for carrots for the horses, and to let you know that we found the contracts. I am taking Ted and Archie to Regina's lawyer," Jame said as he looked around the mess.
A kitchen maid brought a pile of carrots to James.
"Would the group like some food? I kind of went overboard," Ophelia asked in embarrassment.
"I think they will appreciate your baked goods, they always do," James said softly. Ophelia wiped her eyes with a towel and washed her hands and face.
"I must look a fright," Ophelia said as she pushed a flour covered hair behind her ear.
"You look like a sister who's learned that her brother's memory is being desiccated," Edith said kindly.
"Still…" Ophelia nervously tugged at her apron.
Edith hugged her tightly again.
"You won't be fit to see people," Ophelia murmured against Edith's shoulder.
"I'm not letting you go," Edith said firmly.
Edith ended up being true to that statement. She wrapped her left arm around Ophelia as she directed her towards the front entryway where her escort had stopped and the family had been entertaining them. The kitchen staff had quickly and efficiently separated the baked goods for the Jilot and Andrews family.
Edith and Ophelia walked clinging to each other as they entered. Archie looked somewhat surprised to see her so poorly. He walked next to her.
"Are you okay with me leaving?" Archie asked in a whisper as he looked into her eyes.
Ophelia nodded.
"She'll have all of us if she needs something," Edith said.
It was the people who knew Edith that were most surprised. Edith was covered in Ophelia's baking mess with her hugs and touches to the distraught woman. Edith didn't seem to care a bit about showing up in front of company so disheveled.
Edith's escorts were staying one night, so that they could rest and then return on their trips the next morning. Regina, and Harris were also staying behind. The men were using Regina's carriage to travel around.
They were being waved off by a large group before they left.
Edith and James were having a private good-bye before the men left.
"I'm sorry I am having to dash off as soon as you got here. But this needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later," James said as he was hugging his wife.
Edith nodded her understanding.
"James, I want you to make sure that Richard can't hurt Ophelia or Regina again," Edith said with a dark tone.
"I don't know what else he has planned, but I can make sure that once things are settled, that he will steer clear of all of us," James said.
"I love you," Edith said as she leaned up to give him a short kiss.
"I love you," James replied before his lips met hers.
Edith then slowly pulled away while James went into the carriage.
The group waved until they couldn't see the carriage anymore.
Edith had begun to set up her parlor with a cleaning room attached when the Grant children had woken from their naps and been informed she was here. They had noisily made their way to Edith.
"Ma'am, Nate had something in his pockets," Sally said as she had emptied the children's clothes before washing them. She brought over the pieces of the broken plank. Edith did the quick puzzle and let out a gasp.
"Put them in a very safe place, I don't want them lost or damaged any more than they have been," Edith instructed.
Sally took them away carefully.
"Auntie Norman! We're so glad you're here!" Colleen said as she was dripping in a small nightshirt of Edith's.
"I'm glad to be here, as well," Edith smiled as she opened her arms wide for Colleen and then Nate, wearing James' nightshirt, also came in.
Regina, Harris, Wilma, and Ophelia all come in from their own showers to sit with Edith.
"I thought you would be hosting?" Edith asked when she saw Regina.
"The Constables took their families to see sights in the city. It's just us for a bit," Regina answered.
Ophelia was carrying Colleen's school bag.
Colleen looked at the bag with disgust.
"Mama, do I HAVE to?" Colleen asked.
"Yes, you need to keep up with school," Ophelia said as she pulled out the various books and lesson sheets.
Colleen nodded as she took a chair at the table next to her mother. Ophelia was reading through the sheets, trying to figure out where Colleen had left off, but couldn't make sense of Ms. Fletcher's limited instructions.
"Edith, Regina, can you help her? I don't know where to start," Ophelia admitted with a slight blush at the admission, but knowing that both were more book smart than she.
Regina and Edith both nodded and sat down. Regina took a pile. Edith took another. Both sifted through the materials. Edith was looking confused. Regina was getting angry.
"I'm sorry, Ophelia, but your teacher in Red Deer is awful. Did she explain any of this before you left?" Regina asked.
"No, she gave us the books and let us go," Ophelia said.
Edith frowned.
"Can you make sense of them?" Regina asked her sister-in-law.
"Yes, I can. But most of these are way beyond the age group Colleen should be in," Edith said softly.
"What do we do?" Ophelia asked.
"I'll get her to where she needs to be, according to Ms. Fletcher, it will take some creative thinking on my part, though," Edith reassured her friend.
"I don't know what we would do without you, Edith," Ophelia said in relief.
Edith just smiled at her.
"Would you be willing for me to hire the children tutors?" Regina asked as she put down the pile she had been looking at.
"Why would you?"
"I don't like your teacher. Harris has tutors, really good ones. We had tutors growing up. Their education is of the utmost importance," Regina explained.
"Thank you, Regina, but I don't think that any tutor will appreciate having to live in Red Deer without the comforts they are used to. For any sum of money," Ophelia said.
"That's true, unfortunately," Edith added, knowing of the complaints made by James in his job about Red Deer.
"I believe that if you pay a person well enough, those types of problems can be overcome," Regina added.
"Thank you. But you should spend it elsewhere," Ophelia said.
"If you're sure. But the offer stands if you change your mind," Regina said kindly.
"How about we start those lessons tomorrow afternoon?" Edith said looking at Colleen and Nate excitedly.
"Yes, please!" Colleen nodded in agreement.
Nate also nodded with a smile.
"This afternoon we can do something fun," Edith said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Like what?" Colleen asked.
"How about we all do something that makes us happy?" Edith suggested.
"Mama already baked a lot of stuff. I don't think it helped," Colleen said as she looked at her mother.
Ophelia nodded in agreement with that assessment.
"Perhaps, but your mama isn't going to kill anyone either," Regina said with a teasing lilt.
"Yet," Wilma joked.
"Mother!" Ophelia said in embarrassment.
"If I were healthier, I would be in front of you my dear, but as it is, we can't do much about the situation. We have to trust the men to do the best they can," Wilma said.
Regina nodded.
Ophelia gave a sound of disapproval.
"I know. Why don't we all create something for someone else," Edith said.
"I like that idea, Auntie Norman," Colleen said excitedly and grabbed paper and colored pencils.
Ophelia dug in her bag for her knitting project. Regina and Harris looked at each other. Neither were very good at making things, but both enjoyed a challenge.
"Nate, I have any idea for yours, would you like to collaborate?" Edith said kindly.
Nate nodded and went to Edith. Edith grabbed her sketchbook and pencils and set them up in a different corner of the room.
They whispered together for a little while. Nate would nod and quietly answer questions Edith asked, but he seemed to be satisfied with the project overall. The group worked on their projects until the men returned home.
James, Archie, and Ted all showered in their own rooms before entering Edith's parlor. They found Colleen and Harris playing checkers. Ophelia was still knitting. Regina and Wilma were talking. Edith and Nate were both sitting in their corner, not quite done yet.
"How did it go?" Regina asked when she saw them enter.
James rolled his eyes.
"Your lawyer was immediately on the case, which is a good thing," Ted said to begin.
"The caretaker is an idiot. He attempted to run," James said with frustration.
"But he was taking money out of his bank when we caught up with him," Ted said.
"You caught up with him?" Wilma asked in surprise.
"It didn't take much to follow him. His bank was just 'round the corner," Archie said.
"And really it was because we went to check to see if he HAD been there," Ted added.
Edith was smirking at her husband.
"I don't abide by stupid criminals," James said stiffly. "Who goes into the very bank you go to ALL the time and expect not to get caught? If you are going to do a crime, put some effort and thought into it!"
"How dare that man make your job easier!" Edith said with a tease.
He gave her a small glare. Edith just smiled back behind her veil.
"What's happening to him?" Regina asked.
"He is in police custody. He hasn't admitted that it was Richard who approached him; only someone who worked for him, and said his name a little too loudly as he was leaving. He gave up the contact that Richard's man gave him. The two people listed don't have Richard's name on it. In fact, the other person isn't a person at all. Just some vague reference to the proprietor, yada, yada," James added.
"Is that permissible in a court hearing?" Regina asked.
James shook his head, "Not if they are trying to get the money owed. It is a scare tactic for wealthy bullies. Richard has made this man his scapegoat."
"That's sad," Edith said from where she and Nate were finishing their drawing.
"Edith, the man followed through with a crime for him!" James admonished.
"I just can't help but think what problems he has in order to think that helping Richard and getting that payoff would be worth it," Edith said.
"He still committed a crime," James replied firmly.
"What's happened to the plots?" Ophelia asked to keep the conversation moving.
"The caretaker sold the plots to another family, not involved in the fight. The man lost his wife and daughter in a carriage accident," James said. The women all flinched.
"He seemed completely shocked that we were asking. He was genuinely horrified when we explained about Nathan's grave," Ted said.
"He offered to find another place," James said.
"But we didn't feel it was right ta make him move them. It wasn't his fault," Archie said.
The women all nodded in agreement.
"So what are we going to do?" Regina asked.
"The caretaker will be a lawsuit in damages and loss of property," James said.
"We will need to start looking for new plots then," Wilma said. Ted nodded.
"Are you absolutely attached to being buried near where you lived with Nathan?" Edith asked.
"No, that was taken away with the caretaker's actions," Ted said after looking at Wilma.
"Regina, were you still wanting to be buried near his plaque?" Edith asked.
"How did you know that?" Regina asked as she looked at her sister-in-law.
"I have my sources," Edith replied back.
"Yes, but his plaque was destroyed," Regina glared back as she crossed her arms.
"Harris?" Edith turned her questioning gaze to her nephew.
"I would like to be buried near them all," Harris said.
Edith finished a few strokes on their drawing and dusted it off.
"Nate and I's gift is to all of you," Edith said as she smiled down at Nate. Nate smiled back up at her. They both turned to them.
Everyone looked at them in confusion and curiosity.
Edith turned around the drawing. It was of the Normandeau Mausoleum. But with newer marble plaques. One for each Ted, Wilma, and Harris. Regina's was the biggest new addition, but that was because she was attached with a new plaque for Nathan Harris, which included everything the old one had, and added his father status.
They all were stunned silent.
"Edith? How do you know what was on his plaque?" Ophelia asked in surprise.
"Nate obviously," Harris replied.
"Nate is four," Ophelia replied knowing her son was good, but not that good at that point.
"It was Nate, but not in the way you think," Edith smirked as she pulled a bell. Sally entered. "Will you bring what you found early, please?"
Sally nodded and went into the other room to get it. Sally re-entered with a nice box lined with velvet. Edith instructed to have the box placed on the table where most everyone was sitting. Sally followed these instructions and then stepped aside.
Ophelia looked at Edith in confusion. Edith just gestured for her to open the box. Ophelia slowly opened the top and looked inside. She gasped in surprise and dropped the lid down in the process. She looked over at both Edith and Nate who were both smiling. Ophelia lifted the top off again and set it aside completely. Inside the box was each broken piece of Nathan Harris' graveside plaque. The pieces had been cleaned thoroughly, but each piece was there.
"What?...How?" Wilma asked over her tears.
"I puts them in my pockets," Nate explained.
The group gave a light chuckle. Then they passed Nate around to give him hugs and kisses in thanks.
"Well, at least we know how much his pockets can hold. This is why he is able to sneak so many carrots to General," James said with a teasing smile to Nate.
Nate just smiled back.
Thanks for the positive feedback. I will be slowing down with the postings again come next week. I have to focus on prep work and my retail job starts up again on the new year.
