Typhoid & Gossip Ch 55: Davy - Salt Water Taffy, an anne of green gables series fanfic

REVISION NOTE: Due to the tangent this chapter originally went on away from the plot outline the ending was redone...

Author's Note: The Landlords for Gilbert Blythe obviously aren't named in the book, or mentioned, but when bringing them to live at the time I kept thinking of a dear friend who I hadn't seen in a few years who was dying of Cancer, named Carol. She did pass away a few months ago, it was both a male & female name, though now days more often a female name. For a last name it's more often spelled Carroll, or Caroll, so below it's being altered to the double r & l.

Kushinka - That is the HEA goal… we'll have to see though.

Denie1943 - Yes… Sorry more drama for a few more chapters and little romance. But we've got Davy and salt water taffy in this chapter :D. And if you ask Davy he'll take salt water taffy any day over romance. Though I bet he's as tired of the gossip and drama as you and I are.

— Davy —

Monday, August 2nd, 11:30am

Home of Fred Wright, Avonlea, PEI

Ever been in a storm on the shore? At first the waves are just normal, then the winds pick up and the waves get massive. Only seen it once myself, for Marilla's rather a stickler about safety in a storm. I wonder why being near the shore isn't safe? It sure is bully. That I added to Gilbert's list. I spent Sunday afternoon talking with Mr. Carroll, he's a heap of knowledge of the city, and how things work, quite useful to know. Truth was though a lot of folks wanted to see Gilbert's landlord and were quite erupted with the gossip. Just when had Anne and Gilbert eloped? I doubt it takes that long so it would make sense.

So when Fred asked me to drive Mr. Carroll over for a lunch Diana was making us fellas so we could find a solution to help stem the gossip, well, me and Mr. Blythe too. The three of us were headed over with a quick detour to Carmody to stop by the general store for the most necessary thing a man needs for thinking things over. Taffy. Least that's what Mr. Carroll said, and Mr. Blythe just laughed and I decided Mr. Carroll had to be the most brilliant man alive.

Well, we picked out our salt water taffy, pockets loaded, and we were just leaving town when the train from Charlottetown pulled up, and the first one off the train was Anne.

"Anne!" I cried out. "We didn't expect you home until tomorrow. Where's Gilbert? Does he need help with the bags. We should have gotten more taffy for Gilbert. Anne's going to be busy with Diana and little Fred you know." I spoke to Mr. Blythe.

"He's coming later." Anne spoke lightly, taking her bag with her, walking daintily towards us. "I had planned on the walk but you're on your way to the Wrights? I still cannot believe Diana has yet to find a name for their home. Why I would have named it in minutes. But after the fiasco with the Haunted Woods she's quite scared of picking the wrong name."

"Best come along." Mr. Blythe spoke giving Anne a hand up, as I jumped into the back with Mr. Carol. "We're going to discuss the situation. I'll come back for Gilbert then. What train will he be on?"

She flushed. "He was still with a patient with Doctor Dave, he'd helped with an emergency surgery and I… I just was worried and had to get home. I left him a note, soon no doubt…"

"Well, hopefully unlike you he'll send a telegram so I know what train to meet."

Anne is always talking. But not on that ride. Instead she was silent gazing out at the farms we passed like they were the most interesting things you could imagine. Course I had my thoughts on that taffy growing soft in my pockets. I figured I'd save one piece for Gilbert later, and because I was a gentleman one for Dora too. Anne coming home without Gilbert well one of the other fellas could give her and Diana a piece I guessed.

We pulled up, and Diana burst to Anne pulling her aside, demanding to know why Gilbert hadn't come home then if she had. Well, dinner came first, and with another place quickly added for Anne, we all filled her in with the gossip.

Mr. Philips was stuck up, and demanding morals be set at the college. Though from what I heard, he was just jealous of Gilbert and Anne for he failed the entrance exam to Redmond three times, at least that's what Anthony had heard from his cousins Gertie and Josie, and they're not the most reliable, well they are for repeating gossip but not always facts. Brainless hens he calls them.

He'd left leaving his wife behind, not even staying for Miss Andrew's wedding later in the week. That put everyone in a tizzy, for Mrs. Harmon Andrews felt slighted that her eldest son in law didn't even stay for the arrival of her new one, expected on the last boat train that afternoon. That was information that Diana had gotten from Josie who'd also stopped by that morning to share that.

We then turned to Anne for exactly what happened. With my question being first. "Just how did you marry so quickly? I want to know because I think weddings are nightmare. I remember when Diana and Fred got married and that day took forever, so I want to elope like you and Gilbert and do it quickly. Anthony Pye says from what he's heard with the timeline you must have run into a minister on the train or upon arrival no other way…"

"We're not married and we're not getting married." She blurted out. Standing up quickly, setting her napkin on her still mostly full plate. "If need be I'll be taking the blame for Gilbert to make sure he doesn't loose his scholarship. I lied to save face because thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Philips everyone knows of our sin and scrapes we were just trying to save face, we thought we were announcing our engagement not an elopement that day, but when it all came to a head this past weekend, and I never was expecting by the way. Gilbert made certain I knew I was a fool for believing that rumor. He's right now assisting Doctor Dave, and if he's coming back soon I don't know, nor do I care to know. Gilbert Blythe is rather in danger of a whole lot worse then a slate breaking on his head if I see him any time soon. Now, if you excuse me, I think I need some time with little Fred, Diana…"

We all stared in shock at the table, as Diana rushed after her towards the nursery upstairs, while us men were left at the table. Mr. Carroll then fished his salt water taffy out of his pocket, plopped it onto the table. "If I was a drinking man I'd say it calls for a stiff drink at that news. Even I knew, little that I did that there was a red headed girl he loved. But as I'm a temperance man, I've turned to taffy now that my drinking days are over." He took a bite. "Not quite as good as my wife's, but then a man always has to say that."

"So they're really not married, wish they'd confessed."

"Diana got it out of them." Fred sighed. "They were trying to marry quietly before visiting your uncle. Just brush it under the rug and save face. I'm guessing that didn't work out. Then like any man, Gilbert must have stuck his foot in his mouth royally. Davy, let that be a lesson to you when you marry. Never correct a woman on female things. Babies, or female problems, or anything of the sort. If they say they have to cluck like a chicken once a month, or anything else just as odd and foolish. Let them. Most dangerous thing a man can do."

Mr. Blythe laughed, as did Mr. Carroll while I just looked confused.

"Why'd she want to cluck like a chicken? I want to know. Never mind, I'll add that to my list for Anne. Soon as this is over I've got a list of questions each for Anne and Gilbert. Though the lists are getting mighty long so it better resolve quickly."

They just kept laughing. Didn't even answer.

Finally clutching his side with his deep laugher bucking him over, Fred shook his head. "Well, guess we've got to help save Gilbert's Scholarship, talk some sense into them, and shut up a community of the worse gossips in Christiandom."

"Well, I'll be sorry to miss Gilbert, but best I head home tomorrow. I don't know anyone on the scholarship committee, but his supervisor stopped by insisting I send him home the day I did. I'll start there. Send word soon as I can."

"Thank you. Truly obliged to you for providing my son, and hopefully daughter in law, with a good home in Kingsport."

"We're all sinful creatures, the difference is whether we can own up to it and confess. Now, you think your minister can put some fire under those gossips about their own sin? Seemed to be the sermon yesterday was more on David and Bathsheba, then gossip. Just what is the bigger sin?"

"Gossip?" I asked.

"Now, that's right. How's your taffy Davy?" Mr. Carroll asked. "Now, looks like there's not much we can do besides try to correct folks that gossip's just as much a sin as fornication for now."

That was the moment I decided that if Anne and Gilbert were going to be in Kingsport in the fall, and they had Mr. Carroll as a landlord and his wife made even better taffy. I might love Avonlea and Green Gables, Marilla, and even Dora and Mrs. Lynde, but that would be the life. So I determined that I'd find a way to head back to Kingsport with Gilbert in the fall. Maybe Anne wouldn't see sense, but she was plum crazy if she didn't go. Especially when Mr. Carroll started to list off all the kinds of Taffy his wife made, and when he mentioned plum salt water taffy. My fate was sealed, I'd have to ask forgiveness later, but Gilbert needed me to help in Kingsport too. So I thought of all the money I had saved, and decided I'd borrow some from Anthony and Milty and Sam. I'd join Mr. Carrol on the way back to Kingsport. Good thing I'd been saving up all my pocket money for a year for a winchester riffle. Not something I'd told anyone but the boys. None of them had one, but after that attack of the drunks they all agreed I better have one. I'd need $15 dollars for it and only had $1 saved so far. For the draw of candy was too strong.

Well, I said nothing to anyone. Anne didn't either. Instead she stayed with Diana and Fred, refusing to come home, or speak more on the subject. "Oh I can't face Marilla…" She implored. "Not yet."

So I'd gone home alone with the news that of course Mrs. Lynde demanded all soon as the morning came. She'd huffed when I told her, and said Anne was a fool. Well I agreed there, but still.

I didn't sleep much that night, instead I stuffed my pillows such no one would notice right away, left a note for Marilla explaining all how I was going to save the day for Gilbert and help Mr. Carroll save Gilbert's name, and figuring it'd take me four hours to walk the eight miles to the Bright River station left long before sunrise, with just a Knapsack over my back, with the only things a man really needs. Somehow what I had, had to be enough.

I must have made good time, for I never saw Mr. Carroll and Mr. Blythe riding past me, nor for once anyone I knew, though I did fetch a ride from someone from Newbridge riding to Bright River. Decent farmer, though I never did learn his name.

I arrived at the station master's booth took a deep breath and asked for the cheapest ticket on the boat train.

"You'll be wanting to get your ferry ticket also Island trains are notorious for running late. It'll be $3 for the cheapest tickets for both. Where you headed to? And where's your folks?"

I gulped thinking of the only dollar I had. "Guess I ain't leaving the Island today." With that any hope of a decent brother. Sighing I turned to leave, seeing Mr. Blythe as he helped Mr. Carroll onto the train. Gilbert simply had to come home. For Anne hadn't. And as Mr. Blythe saw me, marched over to me asking what I was about I shrugged. "Wanted to help stop that Mr. Philips only didn't have enough money for the fares. I thought taking care of my women folks as a nightmare, I'm discovering finding them beaus is ten times worse. Guess it's just as well Mr. Jonas Bell had an ugly tattoo on his belly and Marilla wouldn't have stood it. I don't think if I could deal with another beau for one of them."

—*—*—*—*—

Author's Note: Originally this was a big tangent that I'd developed with Davy following Mr. Carroll, but it just prolonged the plot... so Davy no longer is heading off to Kingsport to save the day for Gilbert.