A big 'thank you' to Guest, who signed with a B, and Guest who didn't! Your reviews were flattering. I hope that this story continues to be enjoyable to you. Guest B: I think that Ellen (Jonathan's fiance) might, just might appear a little later on. ;) Thanks for your input!
And to all those reading this... hang onto your hats! The mystery and excitement is about to escalate! :)
The next morning Mandie opened her eyes to sunlight streaming through the window. She sat up and stretched. Celia was still slumbering peacefully.
"Wake up, Celia. It's Christmas Eve!" Mandie shook her friend.
Celia rolled over and sat up. "Good morning." she yawned.
"We'd better get downstairs." Mandie grabbed her dress and headed for the bathroom to change into a plain green dress. When she returned, Celia had already changed into a dark blue dress and was waiting on the edge of the bed.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Ready." They closed the door behind them and started down the hall. Aunt Lou was bustling about the kitchen as usual.
"Good Mornin', chile." she said. "Coffee's right ovah there."
"Thanks, Aunt Lou." Mandie wrapped her arms around the housekeeper briefly. The woman patted her back.
"Go 'long now, Missy Manda." she scolded. "I'se got work to do."
Mandie grinned.
As she and Celia poured their cups and started through the door, they almost bumped into Joe and Jonathan coming in. Joe grinned and held up his empty cup. "What took you girls so long to get down here?" he teased.
Mandie just grinned.
"Who did you say is going to arrive today, Mandie?" Jonathan put in, filling his cup.
Mandie repeated the information she had given Celia the night before. Having finished refilling their cups, the boys suggested that they leave the kitchen, since Aunt Lou had been sending threatening looks their way. Mandie and Celia agreed.
When they reached the sitting room, Celia and Jonathan artfully took the single chairs, leaving Mandie and Joe no option but the settee.
"It's been such a long time since we had a good conversation." Mandie said as she sat down. "It seems like ya'll have been at college for ever!" she laughed and took a drink of coffee. "Have you met any nice folks down there?"
"Yes, a few," Joe grinned. "One girl was especially nice. I liked her a lot." He felt Mandie stiffen. "She reminded me so much of you. It was great to have a reminder. She'd engaged to my friend Andrew." Mandie relaxed.
"What about you?"
"Mary Lou would probably be my best friend at college, other than Celia. Mary Lou is coming for Christmas."
"Any others?" Mandie could tell by his voice that Joe was fishing for information about whether or not she was romantically interested in anyone at college.
Mandie frowned. "I don't know if I would consider George and Adrian close friends or not. George is, well—" she paused, searching for the right word "—he's more of a casual friend. And Adrian's attention is plain annoying." She laughed nervously.
Joe chuckled, but Mandie could tell he was relieved. "So what mystery are you working on now?"
"I'm not working on one, thank you very much." she glared at him, ruffled.
"Oh, indeed?" his eyes teased her. "You're always working on something, Mandie."
"Hmm." she smiled, deciding to tease him. "Perhaps I do have a mystery...or maybe it's yours."
Joe smiled quizzically. "Why would I have a mystery?"
Mandie laughed. "Doesn't everyone at Christmastime?"
He laughed. "Now I understand. I guess I'll have to work on solving that one." he winked.
Mr. Bond entered the room, and leaned down to speak to Mandie. "A message for you, Missy."
Mandie glanced up, surprised. "Who brought it?"
"A boy. He left immediately."
Mandie took the envelope from the caretaker's hand and sat back to read it. She handed to Joe a moment later, confusion written on her face.
Joe read aloud:
"Amanda. S.
Welcome to America. Benjamin will meet you at noon and accompany you to Asheville.
Plans proceed, 9 o'clock pm.
Signed: E. Y. Edwards."
Joe's glanced up. "This obviously was meant for someone else, Mandie. We'll have to find some way to get it to her." Mandie nodded absentmindedly. Her thoughts were elsewhere.
Elizabeth and John entered then, followed by Lindall Guyer.
"Aunt Lou just told us that breakfast is ready. Are ya'll ready to eat?" Elizabeth smiled.
"We sure are!" Joe and Jonathan answered together.
They all filed into the dining room and took seats around the table.
"Let us return thanks." John Shaw said. Everyone bowed their heads. "Lord God, we thank You for bringing all these people here safely. Please bless our time together, and help us to remember the purpose of the season—to celebrate Your birth. Amen."
Aunt Lou and Liza brought in the food, and began to serve everyone. The young people chatted together, but Mandie's ears caught the name Burns in her uncle's conversation and began to listen.
"Jake said that Ludie is sick—pretty badly off. He came for Dr. Woodard early this morning."
So that's why I haven't seen Dr. Woodard this morning. Mandie thought. "I sure hope she'll get better soon." she said out loud.
Joe, who was sitting beside Mandie, turned from talking to Jonathan, his brow furrowed. "Who?"
"Mrs. Burns. Uncle John said that Mr. Burns came for your father early this morning." Mandie told him in a low voice. "She's sick."
Joe frowned. "Sorry to hear that. Do you want to go visit her later?"
Mandie brightened. "I'd love to. Maybe we can get Aunt Lou to make up a basket of hot food to take over."
"That's a great idea." he grinned, and Mandie blushed.
Celia spoke up. "May I come along? I'd like to see Mrs. Burns."
"Of course, Celia." Mandie said.
After finishing the meal, Mandie slipped her hand into Uncle John's and looked up at him pleadingly.
"May we take a basket of food down the the Burns'?" she begged. "Please?"
John Shaw looked down at his blue-eyed niece and hesitated. "We?"
"Joe and Celia and I."
"I suppose so. Tell Aunt Lou that I said for her to fix up a basket."
Mandie rose on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Uncle John!"
"I never could say no to blue eyes." he teased as Mandie disappeared into the kitchen
Joe caught Mandie's arm as she ran by. "I think we should take that note to the post office." he said plainly.
Mandie looked down, and nodded. "That's probably he best thing to do. Are you ready to go now?"
"Yes. Are you?"
"Almost." she laughed. "Aunt Lou has the basket ready. I just need to get my coat."
"Okay. I'll get the basket and wait for you by the door."
"Could you also maybe find Celia?" Mandie asked, toying with a ringlet.
"Of course." he replied.
"Thanks, Joe."
Mandie ran up the stairs and into her room. She picked up her camera, a birthday present from her grandmother, and snapped a picture of the note. Mandie paused a moment, then took the roll of film out of the machine. When she ran back down the stairs, her coat and gloves on. Celia and Joe were waiting.
The three talked as they tramped through the snow. Almost to the post office, Mandie excused herself. "I need to get film some film developed." she told her friends. "I'll just run in and drop it off." and started toward the photoshop across from the post office.
A moment later Mandie handed the film to the worker.
"Would you like the photographs delivered, miss?"
"Yes, please. To the Shaw home."
The boy nodded and disappeared into the back room. Now what are you going to do with those photographs, Amanda Elizabeth Shaw? her conscious reproved. but Mandie pushed the thought to the back of her mind and rejoined her friends outside, even though she felt sneaky keeping something from them. Joe and Celia were in a conversation with someone Mandie didn't recognize, so Mandie entered the post office alone. She looked around the almost-empty room. The only other people present were a young woman and man who were seated on a bench, talking. Mandie walked up to the clerk and cleared her throat.
"What can I do for you, young lady?" the clerk inquired with a smile.
Mandie laid the envelope on the counter. "I'm Amanda Shaw. This was delivered to my house this morning, but it's not for me. I was hoping that you could find out who it belongs to and return it? It's addressed to an Amanda S."
Mandie heard a step behind her and turned to see the young woman behind her. "Excuse me, miss, but my name is Amanda Smalley. I've been expecting a note from someone."
Mandie nodded and forced a smile. For some reason she felt disappointed that someone had come forward to claim the message so soon.
Stop it, Mandie, she told herself, You said you were going to stop making a mystery out of everything. Amanda Smalley seems like a polite lady. You have no reason to keep something that doesn't belong to you.
But the note was odd, wasn't it? her mind insisted. Mandie brushed the thought off and smiled at the other Amanda. "I'm pleased to meet you." she excused herself. "I hope you have a very merry Christmas."
She rejoined Joe and Celia, and three set off down a narrow footpath, Joe carrying the basket. They tramped through the snow in silence until Joe spoke.
"Don't we usually ride horses or in the wagon to go to the Burns'?"
Mandie glanced up, her cheeks red from the difficult walking. "Yes." her reply was a little breathless. "I hope you don't mind walking, though. It's such a beautiful day out this morning!"
Joe grinned. "It sure is. What's in the basket anyway?"
"Mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey—a whole Christmas dinner." she replied. "And knowing Aunt Lou, I'm sure there's some chocolate cake." her eyes twinkled.
Joe laughed. "Maybe Mrs. Burns will invite us in for a piece."
"Joe!" Mandie scolded, elbowing him and trying unsuccessfully to hide a smile.
"So did the clerk know who the note belonged to?" Celia broached the subject.
Mandie paused before answering. "Not exactly. A lady walked up to me and introduced herself as Amanda Smalley, saying that she was expecting a note."
"Good." Joe said. "I'm glad it's off our hands."
They were in the woods now, out of sight of the town. Later, Mandie was barely able to tell what happened. All she knew was that suddenly a black form stepped from behind a tree and caught Joe's arm. His face registered surprise and then concern as he noted that the figure's face was hidden by a black mask, and held a pistol in his other hand. Instant realization of danger flashed across the boy's mind and he whirled, slamming a fist into the gunman.
"Run, Mandie!" he yelled, as another masked man grabbed Celia.
Mandie stood for a split-second, frozen in horror, then turned and fled back toward the Shaw house. But the deep snow made running treacherous, and before she had gone a dozen steps, she slipped and fell heavily to the snow, her ankle twisted under her. She struggled to her feet again, favoring the injured ankle. A split second later a strong hand gripped her arm from behind. Mandie screamed.
"No!" Joe yelled as the second masked man raised a pistol and brought it down heavily on the back of Mandie's head. She crumpled, unconscious, to the snow.
With a grunt, the second masked man stooped over and picked up Mandie. He jerked his head at his companion, who held Joe's arms behind his back. Joe felt a pain in the back of his head and everything went black.
Oh no!
What's going to happen now? Who are the masked men? Why did they attack Mandie and her friends? Will the young people be able to escape, since Mandie seems to have injured her ankle?
You'll have to wait and see...