Part 5
Father Ryan smiled at Chet as the Irishman took his place near the altar. “You've got that look in your eye, son,” he whispered. “What are you planning?”
“Not a thing,” Kelly whispered back. “I'll explain everything later.”
“I hope they're not serving gravy at the reception,” murmured Johnny, nudging Hank with his elbow.
The priest raised an eyebrow, but withheld comment. He nodded to Paul and Rick, who were set up in the front of the church, and they began to play their version of “ Unchained Melody ”.
“Go on, honey. That's your cue. Do it just like I showed you,” said Louisa, giving Hannah a gentle push towards the aisle. Emma and Jennifer followed, smiling proudly as the guests turned to watch them. Maria, Dixie , Joanne, and Lara walked behind the girls, carrying bouquets of white and red carnations.
Rachel smiled at her matron-of-honor and squeezed her hands. “You're next, Lou. I know I've said this before, but thanks for standing up with me. You're the best!”
The young woman shrugged. “Anytime, Spunky,” she replied. “I just hope I don't trip over my skirt. That would be too embarrassing.” The women shared a laugh and the Chief grinned. “Get going, sweetheart,” he chuckled. “They're playing your song.”
Louisa cocked her head and giggled. “And not one sour note,” she joked. “Not bad for a couple of rock and rollers, huh?” She took a deep breath and began her own trek down the petal-strewn carpet, a broad grin on her face.
An expectant hush fell over the church as Rick and Paul started to play the Wedding March. Rachel glided down the aisle on McConikee's arm. When she reached the altar, she locked eyes with her groom and flashed a shy smile. Chet winked at her in return and whispered, “I love you.”
Father Ryan stared at the couple standing in front of him for a full minute before starting the ceremony. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join Chester Beauregard Kelly and Rachel Marie Potter in the bonds of holy matrimony. If anyone present can show a reason why these two should not be wed, please speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The guests chuckled when Roy covered Johnny's mouth with his hand. “Don't even think about it, Junior,” kidded Desoto.
“Thank you, Mr. Desoto,” murmured the priest. “Who gives this woman to this man, as antiquated as that sounds?”
“Her friends and surrogate family,” declared McConikee. “Treat her nice, Kelly, or you'll answer to all of us, is that clear?” He kissed Rachel's cheek and placed her hand in Chet's. She passed her bouquet to Louisa, who leaned over to whisper something in her friend's ear. The redhead giggled and turned pink. “Not until after the ceremony! Now behave yourself! We're in church!”
Father Ryan ignored the interruption and went on with the ceremony. “ Chester , do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, to love, honor and obey, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” answered Kelly, his eyes glowing. “And I'm darn lucky to have her.”
“Rachel, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, as goofy as he is, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in want, to love, honor, and obey, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
“You bet I do,” she replied. “I wouldn't want him any other way, either.”
“Young Master Stanley, may we have the rings, please?” Robert stepped forward, holding the satin pillow above his head. “The ring is an unbroken circle, without beginning and without end. Heavenly Father, bless these rings and those who wear them.” The priest waited until the couple had exchanged rings, then smiled. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Those that God has brought together, let no one put asunder. Well, what are you waiting for, son? Plant one on her!”
“About time,” muttered the Irishman, lifting his wife's veil and kissing her tenderly. The newlyweds turned and ran down the aisle, laughing joyously.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Reception—Two Hours Later
“Wasn't it a lovely ceremony?” Joanne asked her husband. “I don't think I've ever seen Chet so happy.”
“Marrying the woman you love tends to have that effect on a fella,” answered Roy . “I speak from personal experience.” He looked up when Hank tapped the side of his water glass with a knife. “Speech time.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention, please?” shouted Captain Stanley. “As best man, it's my duty to say a few words, so here goes. First of all, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Chet and Rachel on their marriage. With Kelly taking the plunge, that leaves just two bachelors at Station 51. I plan to find them wives as soon as possible, especially Gage! Seriously, Chet may be a prankster and a twit, but he's a good man and I'm proud to have him as part of my crew. As for Rachel, it takes a very special woman to marry a fireman and I know she's up to the challenge. And she's in good company. Just look at our wives, all fancied up!” He grinned and raised his champagne glass. “To Mr. and Mrs. Chester Beauregard Kelly!”
“Well said, honey,” praised Louisa. “Now it's my turn.”
“Isn't the matron-of-honor just supposed to sit back and look pretty?” joked Marco. “Who gave you permission to make a speech, little sister?”
“She talks whenever she gets the chance,” yelled Stoker. “Keeping her quiet is virtually impossible!”
“Keeping quiet is something you know a lot about, Mikey,” teased the young woman. “You say around ten words a day, right? It makes me wonder if we really are brother and sister.”
“Of course we are,” grinned the engineer. “We both share looks and charm.”
“And a taste for red cars,” hollered Johnny. “But his is much larger.”
“Yeah, but she has bigger……” Chet started to say, stopping when his wife glared at him. “Uh, maybe I should keep that to myself.”
“Good idea, Irish,” giggled Louisa. “The ink on your marriage license isn't even dry yet. Now's not the time to get divorced. I just wanted to say that Chet and Rachel are perfectly matched. They both have the same goofy sense of humor and affinity for driving junkyard rejects, but that is about to change.” She tossed a small, wrapped package onto the table. “ Chester , do you recall a conversation we had a few months ago? We were at a car auction and you had your eye on a certain vehicle, but didn't have enough money to buy it. Well, a couple weeks ago, I contacted the owner and asked him if he still wanted to sell it. Long story short, he did and I bought it. In that box, you'll find the title and an extra set of keys. The car you admired so much is parked in my barn, and as soon as I finish the restoration, you and Rachel will be the proud owners of a 1958 Plymouth Fury.”
“I don't know what to say,” murmured Kelly, his voice husky with emotion. “Lou, this means so much to me! How can I ever thank you?”
The young woman smiled. “The look on your face is thanks enough,” she answered. “Just take good care of her, okay?”
The Irishman pushed back his chair and stood up. “I promise,” he said, drawing her into a warm hug as tears welled up in his eyes.
Louisa pulled back and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “All right, enough of that. It's time for the bride and groom to share their first dance as husband and wife.” She jumped onto the stage and grinned. “Most of you know that Dr. Early is a great neurologist, but he's also a pretty fair piano player. Come up here and show these folks what you can do, Joe. Rachel, Chet picked this one just for you.” She waited until the couple had reached the center of the dance floor before starting to sing.
“Unforgettable, that's what you are.
Unforgettable though near or far,
Like a song of love that clings to me,
How the thought of you does things to me,
Never before has someone been more.
Unforgettable in every way,
And forever more, that's how you'll stay.
That's why, darling, it's incredible,
That someone so unforgettable,
Thinks that I am unforgettable, too.”
“Man, who knew Kelly was such a romantic,” chuckled Johnny. “Hey, Cap, how come you never told us your wife could sing like that?”
“I didn't know myself, pal,” answered Hank. “Judging by their expressions, I don't think her old band knew, either,” he grinned.
“They do look surprised, don't they?” laughed Marco.
“More like flabbergasted,” put in Roy . “Especially Paul.”
Roland stared at Louisa as the words flowed from her lips like silk. She felt his eyes on her and turned to wink at the guitarist. “Well, ain't she just full of surprises?” he whispered to Toby.
Wilder smothered a laugh. “This is nothing compared to what she has in store for Mr. Kelly,” he snickered.
“It should be good for a few laughs,” smiled Rick Dunkirk. “But I doubt Chet will be amused.”
“That's for sure,” giggled Gene. “I have a feeling Johnny will find the whole thing hilarious, though.”
The song ended and the newlyweds started to leave the floor, stopping when Louisa called out to them. “Hold on, you two! Don't go too far, because I have a little surprise for Chet.”
“I don't think I can handle another one,” shouted the Irishman. “This better be good, babe.”
The young woman grinned at him. “Oh, trust me, sweetheart. You'll remember this for a very long time!” She whistled and a tall, African-American man entered the room. “Please welcome, all the way from Chicago , Mr. L.C. Davis on the tenor saxophone!”
Dr. Morton nearly fell out of his chair. “Oh my God!” he gasped. “He used to play with Chuck Berry!”
Davis waved to the crowd. “Thank you!” he shouted. “Let's kick this party up a notch!”
“The boys and I have put together a little tribute for the groom.” said Louisa, her eyes sparkling. “The music is from the old Coasters hit, “ Charlie Brown ”, but the lyrics were inspired by a certain prankster. I sure hope you all enjoy it. Ready, fellas? Here goes!”
“Fe-fe, fi-fi, fo-fo, fum,
His human fly shoes sure made him look dumb!
“ Chester B., Chester B.,
He's a pain, that Chester B.
Oh, Cap's gonna catch him
Just you wait and see
(Man, why's everybody always blamin' me?)”
“Phantom's in the dorm
Makin' mischief
Yeah, all mornin' and evenin'
Til Hank calls the Chief.”
“ Chester B., Chester B.,
He's a pain, that Chester B.
Oh, Cap's gonna catch him
Just you wait and see
(Man, why's everybody always blamin' me?)
“Who's always assigned the latrine?
Because he gets it nice and clean?
Irish wearin' o' the green
Guess who (who, me?) yeah, you!
“Who's got the best baseball throw?
Who calls his special victim, Pigeon-O?
“ Chester B., Chester B.,
He's a pain, that Chester B.,
Oh, Cap's gonna catch him
Just you wait and see
(Man, why everybody always blamin' me?)
“Who's got the best baseball throw?
Who calls his special victim, Pigeon-O?
“ Chester B., Chester B.,
He's a pain, that Chester B.,
Oh, Cap's gonna catch him
Just you wait and see
(Man, why's everybody's always blamin' me?)
Before the band was halfway through the tune, every fireman in the room was roaring with laughter, Chet included. When the song was over, the Irishman leaped to his feet and took a bow, blowing kisses to the guests. “You like me!” he cried. “You really like me! I'd like to thank the Academy and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for sticking by me when things got hot!”
“What about me? Don't I deserve a little recognition?” asked Rachel, pretending to be hurt.
“And to my lovely bride,” said Kelly, not missing a beat, “for putting up with me. As for you, Mrs. Cap, a song like that makes me feel like a rat in a glove compartment,” he cackled.
The young woman snorted and shook a stern finger at him. “Don't even think about it,” she scolded playfully. “Remember what happened the last time you pulled that stunt?”
“Yeah, amigo !” yelled Marco. “I don't think it's wise for you to stick your neck out! You might bite off more than you can chew!”
“Good point, pal,” gulped the Irishman. “No sense upsetting the gal who is restoring my vintage car. Say, what color are you gonna paint it, babe?”
“Same color it was when it rolled off the assembly line in Detroit ,” answered Louisa. “What did the guy at the auto parts store tell us it was again, Hank?”
“Let me see if I can remember,” replied the Captain. “Oh, right, I think it was Vampire Red with ivory trim.”
“I guess you won't need to buy paint after all,” quipped Roy . “Just go to the hospital and liberate a few pints of O positive.”
“Nah, blood has a tendency to run if it gets wet,” giggled Dixie . “Unless you mix in some formaldehyde.”
“Well, my barn is going to be a body shop for a while,” laughed the young woman. “Hey, Kel, you know where I can find a hunchback to be my assistant?”
“Are you kidding?” grinned Brackett. “This is California , not Transylvania .”
“Will you settle for grouchy, old Captain Hook?” joked Hookraider. “I'm no Igor, but I don't think I'll be chasing Peter Pan and Tinkerbell around for a while. Little buggers escaped to Never-Never Land again.”
“Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum,” snickered Joanne. “Where's your parrot?”
“He choked on a cracker,” deadpanned Hookraider. “Such a tragedy.”
“Did you try the Heimlich maneuver?” questioned Craig Brice. “I wonder if it's possible to give a bird mouth-to-mouth.”
Rick Collins from Station 36 burst out laughing. “Don't you mean mouth-to- beak ?” he howled. “I don't think our training covered that.”
“True, but Gage can be resuscitated,” argued Brice, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.
“And he's known as the Pigeon,” giggled Miguel Sanchez. “In his case, it would be mouth-to-nurse.”
“You're just jealous,” retorted Johnny. “When was the last time you got kissed, pal?”
“Yesterday,” snickered Collins. “This really nice chick planted one on him during a rescue. Too bad he didn't enjoy it.”
“I never did like the taste of denture adhesive,” muttered his partner. “But she was kinda sweet.”
“Are you talking about Mrs. Morley?” asked Louisa with a grin. When Miguel nodded, she started to giggle. “So you're the studly fireman she mentioned. Now it all makes sense.”
“What did she say about me?” muttered Sanchez.
“Can't tell you,” replied the young woman. “Any conversation I have with a patient is strictly confidential.”
Dr. Morton cleared his throat. “Technically, she was my patient,” he corrected. “So your excuse doesn't wash.”
“Go on, honey,” encouraged Dixie , her lips twitching. “This is too good to keep to ourselves.”
“Mrs. Morley said that Miguel's bedroom eyes made her weak in the knees, but they couldn't hold a candle to your sexy tush, Mike,” grinned Louisa.
“I'm sorry I asked,” blushed the African-American doctor.
“Hey, if you got it, flaunt it,” teased Dr. Early.
Part 6
The Next Morning
“Just follow the directions I mapped out and you'll be fine,” said Louisa as Chet and Rachel got ready to leave for their honeymoon. “Don't take any shortcuts, is that clear?”
Kelly rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mother,” he grumbled. “Anything else?”
“Don't take that tone with me, buster,” she snapped. “I'm not kidding. Those mountain roads can be very slippery this time of year. Even if they've been plowed and salted, you still have to watch out for black ice.” The young woman chewed her lip thoughtfully. “I think I'll go with you guys. I know the route and have more experience driving in snow.”
Before the Irishman could protest, Johnny spoke up. “Good idea,” he commented. “Chet's a rotten driver even when the roads are dry . It won't be much of a honeymoon if you spend it at the bottom of a ravine.”
“He's got a point, sweetie,” put in Rachel. “Okay, Lou can come with us, as long as you don't plan on staying in the cabin with us.”
“And miss the chance to get a peek at your husband's new boxer shorts?” giggled Louisa. “Lord, what am I saying ? I'd have to rip my eyes out of their sockets!”
“Mind if I tag along?” asked Gage. “Don't worry, lovebirds. I'll sleep in the bunkhouse.”
“Sure, why not?” muttered Kelly. “Go get your stuff so we can leave already.”
“I'll be back in an hour,” grinned the paramedic, climbing into his Rover. “Lou, don‘t pack your entire closet. We'll only be there a couple days.”
“Very funny. Hurry up, cousin. I'd like to get going before dark.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Two Days Later, Western Montana
“Man, what a storm!” exclaimed Johnny. “I can hardly see where I'm going!”
“There's a motel about a mile up the road,” answered Louisa, looking down at the map spread across her lap. “We can stop there until the weather improves.”
“I guess you weren't kidding about the roads,” murmured Chet, grabbing the dashboard as the Rover's tires slipped on the snow-covered highway. “Is it always like this in the winter?”
“No, sometimes it's worse,” chuckled the paramedic. “Hope you packed your woolen underwear, pal.”
“How cold do you think it is?” asked Rachel. “I'm beginning to wish we'd gone to Catalina instead.”
“And miss out on the frostbite?” joked Louisa. “I'd say it's about ten degrees, not counting the wind-chill. Look sharp, Johnny. There's the turn-off.”
“I see it,” he grumbled, steering into the parking lot. “I hope they have room for us.”
The desk clerk looked up from his book when they stumbled into the lobby. “Afternoon, folks,” he greeted. “What can I do for you?”
“You can tell us you have two vacant rooms,” replied Gage. “You mind sharing with me, Lou?”
“As long as you don't snore too loud,” she teased.
“You're in luck,” grinned the clerk. “We're not doing much business today, with the storm and all. Where you headed?”
“Lame Deer,” said Rachel, sliding an arm around Chet's waist. “We're on our honeymoon.”
“All four of you? Times sure have changed. I'm surprised anyone would be fool enough to be out in this weather.”
“Insanity runs in our family,” laughed Johnny. “Is the diner still open? I'm starved!”
The desk clerk ignored him, busy staring at Louisa intently. “Didn't you used to work for Phil and Dorothy Johnson, ma‘am?”
“Yeah, I did, a long time ago,” she replied. “Wait, you look familiar. Just give me a second. I've got it! Smokey Carmichael !! Talk about a blast from the past! What is an old saddle tramp like you doing working in a motel!”
Smokey grinned and swept her into a warm hug. “I had to give up ranching after that dang nag of mine threw me,” he said. “I got married and bought this dump. Damn, sweetheart, it's great to see you!”
“Likewise,” beamed the young woman. “Who finally roped Mr. Untamable?”
“Remember the Widow London? She had a place near the Quincy spread.”
“ Maggie London ?!? Every time I rode past her house, that huge dog of hers used to chase after me!” gasped Louisa. “Buck Red Deer told me she ate prairie dogs for breakfast.”
“No, just on special occasions,” interrupted a voice. A tiny woman stood in the office door, holding a black cat in her arms. “Well, as I live and breathe! Louisa Martin and Johnny Gage. What brings you back to Montana ?”
The paramedic retreated a few steps when the cat arched its back and hissed, its yellow eyes burning like candle flames. “We're taking our friends to the Johnson's for their honeymoon,” he stammered, his face pale.
“I was sorry to hear your grandfather passed away, John,” answered Maggie. “Gray Eagle and I had our differences, but he was a good man. Don't just stand there looking stupid, Wilbur. Show them to their rooms while I rustle up some grub. Will you ladies give me a hand, please?”
“Certainly,” smiled Rachel. “What a beautiful cat! What's his name?”
“I call her Cleopatra,” said the old woman. “Did you know the Egyptians worshiped felines? Their favorite pet followed them everywhere, even into the next life.”
“To keep mice out of the coffin?” piped up Chet. “Makes sense, I suppose.”
“Uh, I'd like to freshen up a little before dinner,” said Louisa, snatching up her suitcase and pulling the Irishman towards the stairs. “I'll be down in a few minutes. May I have our room keys, Smokey?”
“Sure you don't want me to take you up?” asked Carmichael , putting them in her outstretched hand.
“That's all right. Go back to your reading; we'll be fine.” As soon as they were out of earshot, the young woman shoved Kelly against the wall. “Shut up you idiot!” she hissed. “Maggie Carmichael is a witch and that animal is her familiar! If you make her mad, she might cast a spell on you! She's not someone you want to cross!”
“Are you nuts?” smirked Chet, shaking his head in disbelief. “Witches are only real in fairy tales. She's just a harmless old lady with a creepy pet.”
“Then you didn't notice anything unusual about her eyes?” challenged Gage.
“No, I was checking out that big painting above the fireplace,” retorted Kelly. “I could swear it was moving !”
“It's an optical illusion, like a hall of mirrors” scoffed Johnny. “Take a good look at her while we're eating and you'll see what I mean.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“That was delicious,” said Chet, patting his full stomach with a sigh. He had felt Mrs. Carmichael watching him throughout the meal, but whenever he tried to catch her gaze, she looked away. “I'll clear the table.”
“Thank you, young man,” answered Maggie, pushing back her chair. “Who wants dessert? I baked a blueberry pie this morning and there's a gallon of vanilla ice cream in the freezer.”
“All right, you twisted my arm,” chuckled Johnny. “Could I have another glass of milk, please?”
“You're still hungry after that huge meal?” laughed Smokey. “Lord, boy, where do you put it all?”
“He's a bottomless pit,” grinned Louisa. “And never gains an ounce. Wish I could say that!”
Kelly followed Maggie into the kitchen and put the dirty dishes in the sink, then got the ice cream out of the freezer. He turned around, gasping when the old woman grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down until their noses touched. Chet felt her warm breath on his face and he shivered, a chill racing up his spine. Her lips moved, but no sound emerged. Abruptly, Maggie leaped back just as Louisa entered the kitchen. “I came to see if you needed any help,” she said, her hand still on the doorknob. She jumped when Cleopatra rubbed against her leg, purring loudly. “Oh, you startled me, sweetie,” she murmured shakily, bending to stroke the cat's head. “That's a nice kitty.”
“The pie's ready,” said Mrs. Carmichael. “Could you bring in the coffee, dear?”
“Sure.” Louisa waited until the old woman left before she spoke to Chet. “Are you okay,?” she whispered. “You look like you saw a ghost.”
“I think I did ,” answered the Irishman. “Lou, her eyes…..”
“I know! We'll talk about it later. Come on; everyone's waiting.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One Hour Later
Louisa kicked Johnny under the table and threw him a sharp glance. “I don't know about anyone else, but I'm bushed,” she yawned. “Smokey, would it be okay if I called my husband before I go upstairs? I'll pay for the call.”
“That's all right, darling. You can use the phone in your room if you want some privacy. Dial ‘9' for the outside line.”
“Super. Good night, Maggie, and thank you for dinner. Coming, Johnny?”
The paramedic shot out of his chair. “Yeah, I'll take a shower while you're talking to Cap. Night, all.” They walked up the stairs, talking softly.
“What happened in the kitchen?” hissed Gage. “Chet looked pretty rattled.”
“You don't know the half of it,” she replied. “I think we better leave as soon as it's light, no matter how bad the roads are, cousin.”
Before Johnny could answer, Chet and Rachel came upstairs. Kelly's face was deathly pale and he had a blood-spotted napkin wrapped around one hand. “The cat,” he choked. “She bit me for no reason.”
“There's a first aid kit in my suitcase,” said Louisa, unlocking her door. She retrieved the box and sat on the bed next to the Irishman, carefully removing the makeshift bandage. Her breath caught in her throat as she examined the wound. “ Cleopatra did this?!?” she gasped. “These punctures are way too deep to have been made by an ordinary house cat.”
They all jumped when a strong gust of wind struck the motel, shaking it to the rafters. Rachel moaned when the lights flickered, her voice rising into a shriek of mortal terror. “My God, make it stop!” she screamed. Thunder rumbled in the distance, as if answering her plea.
Smokey knocked, then poked his head into the room. “Nothing to worry about,” he smiled. “Mother Nature is just showing us her bad side. Maggie and I are going out with the plow for a bit. We should be back in a couple hours or so.”
“Now's our chance,” declared Chet. “As soon as they're gone, we can take off. Come on, you guys. Get your stuff so we can leave!”
“Kelly, are you out of your flipping mind ?!?” growled Johnny. “It's pitch black outside and the wind is blowing like a hurricane! There is no way I'm driving in those conditions! We're staying put and that's final!”
“What's the matter, pal?” taunted the Irishman. “Afraid Maggie will catch us? You're crazy if you think I'm spending the night in this loony bin!”
“Both of you knock it off right now !” bellowed Louisa. “God, you're worse than my kids!” A shaft of moonlight filtered through the curtains and lit the room with a ghostly white glow. She crossed to the window and looked out, her face stretching into a grin. “We might be able to leave after all. It looks like the wind cleared the road, plus there's a full moon to guide us. Johnny, isn't there an abandoned farmhouse about a half-mile up the road from here?”
“As far as I know, it's still there,” answered Gage. “So what?”
“I brought along my snowshoes,” she replied, struggling into her coat. “I'm going to hike up there and see if the fireplace still works. Don't give me that look, Cousin. I'd rather be cold than stay here. Or have you forgotten what happened to the last person who accepted Maggie London's hospitality?”
The paramedic turned white. “I get the point,” he whispered faintly. “Fine, have it your way, but we all go. I'll walk and you can follow in the Rover.”
Louisa shook her head stubbornly. “Nope, you're about as graceful as a drunken elephant on snowshoes,” she teased. “Come on, let's do this before I lose my nerve.”
“What am I supposed to tell Cap if you freeze to death?” he argued.
“Not to bury me on the lone prairie. Trust me; it'll be a piece of cake.”
“How did I know you were going to say that?” muttered Johnny under his breath.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Man, this place is a dump,” complained Chet, dropping onto a sheet-covered piece of furniture. The wooden legs, weakened by years of dry rot, groaned under his weight. “This thing isn't very sturdy,” he muttered crossly. Before the words were even out of his mouth, the chair collapsed and he landed on the floor with a grunt.
“If the accommodations aren't to your liking, you can always go back to the motel,” growled Louisa. “There's the door; don't let it hit you on the way out.”
“He was just making an observation,” defended Rachel. She bent and pulled her husband to his feet. “Hey, this wood's pretty dry. It might be good kindling.”
“It's worth a try. Sorry I snapped at you, Chet,” the young woman apologized. “No hard feelings?”
The Irishman smiled. “It's okay,” he said. “We're all a little on edge.”
“Geez, you think?” retorted Johnny sarcastically. “Scout around and see if you can find anything we can burn as firewood.”
“I'll check the second floor,” said Louisa, turning on her flashlight and climbing the stairs, feeling for loose boards as she went. Chet and Rachel tried the doors placed around the room, but most were locked. “I think I found the kitchen!” called the Irishman. “Hey, Gage, what has four legs and squeaks?”
“Can't be your chair, ‘cause it don't have legs no more!” cracked the paramedic, laughing at his own joke.
“Very funny,” pouted Kelly. “Use what passes for your brain, Pigeon. We had one in the station once.”
“Then it would have to be a mouse. Ask him if his name is Herbert.”
“Ask him yourself, pal; he's headed in your direction with his wife and family!”
“Hate to break it to you, man, but those aren't mice. Don't tell Lou or she'll freak out!”
“Don't tell me what?” questioned the young woman from the landing, jumping back when a rat scurried past her feet. “Get lost, rodent, or I'll turn you into soup.” She spotted Chet and burst in a fit hysterical giggles. “Nice hairnet, Kelly, but spider webs are so last season. Come see what I found!” she hollered.
Johnny ran after her, skidding to a stop outside a warped wooden door. “Whoa, get a load of that!” he exclaimed. A massive brass bed stood on a raised platform in the center of the room. “The owners must have been rich!”
“Yeah, and by the look of things, I'd say they left in a hurry,” said Louisa. “Every single one of these trunks are full. The armoires, too.”
“That doesn't mean anything,” countered Rachel. “Maybe they moved into another house and didn't have room for this stuff.”
“It's possible, but I doubt they would leave their family Bible behind,” the young woman argued. “That would be the first thing I took with me.” She hugged the book to her chest, stroking the pebbled cover tenderly.
Gage watched her for a moment, then rummaged through the nearest trunk. He pulled out a pair of heavily-decorated moccasins and held them up. “These are Native American, but I don't think they're Lakota.”
“They're Umatilla designs,” answered Louisa.
“What did you just say?” asked Chet. “It sounds like a disease.”
“It's a tribe from the Columbia River Plateau in Oregon , chucklehead. They banded together with the Walla Walla and Cayuse tribes to form the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. In 1855, they signed a treaty with the United States Government and traded most of about six and a half million acres for 500,000 acres of their homeland. Descendants of original tribe still live and work there.”
“I'll take your word for it,” muttered Kelly. “How do you know all that anyway?”
“It's called reading, Irish. You should try it sometime. Does wonders for the brain cells.”
“Helps if you have some to start with,” needled Johnny.
“Guess that leaves you out, pal,” retorted Chet with a teasing grin. “Not everyone is blessed with the Kelly family intelligence.”
“Good thing. Otherwise, we'd spend most of our lives cleaning fire station bathrooms,” snickered Rachel.
“Let's just hope your children take after their mother,” giggled Louisa. “Why don't we go back downstairs? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm freezing my butt off.” She closed the trunk and headed for the doorway, holding the Bible in one hand and the moccasins in the other.