The Scrimshaw Set: Books 1 & 2 Page 5

  Fortunately, Harold and Carole chose that moment to arrive at the door. Deputy Knudsen closed his laptop, stood up, and shook hands with them.

  "You must be new here, deputy," Harold said, "I know everyone in the department."

  "Yes, sir. Nice to meet you, sir." The deputy picked up the laptop and thanked Phyllis for her time. He mentioned the evidence tech would be coming by later.

  Phyllis was busy showing Harold and Carole the food on the counter and in the refrigerator. Harold had brought a bouquet from his garden and Carole brought a bottle of wine. The three friends were busy looking for a vase and corkscrew.

  Emma walked over to the doorway to watch the deputy leave. She thought she would not be noticed in the glare of sunlight reflected from his windshield. She did not see him wave at her before he backed up and headed down the road.

  The evidence tech arrived shortly after Deputy Knudsen left. Phyllis suggested they get out of his way and sit by the creek. Harold opened the wine, poured a glass for everyone, and led the way to the Adirondack chairs set up creek side. Phyllis gave everyone a napkin and passed a dish of pretzels and nuts. Harold was telling a joke. Although she had been in Buffalo Jump only about two days, Emma felt at home and accepted as one of the group.

  Once the evidence tech had gone, Phyllis asked Harold to take charge of grilling the salmon. Harold contributed the salmon, which was payment for a small service he'd performed for a client. Carole placed small scoops of macaroni and potato salad on each plate. Phyllis arranged the leftover vegetables on a platter with ranch dressing for dipping and warmed the homemade bread. Emma set the table and refilled the wine glasses. Harold placed the plate of grilled salmon on the table and led the blessing, thanking the Lord for providing friends during times of trial.

  "It's really amazing those people just showed up. Did you post about the vandalism on Facebook?" Emma asked.

  Phyllis laughed. "My friends don't own computers for the most part. They heard through the grapevine, as usual."

  "I have more than a hundred friends on Facebook, but I don't see them getting together like that. I'm pretty much on my own in Denver aside from one or two friends I work with or see at the gym," Emma said.

  "Phyllis deserved nothing less. She put those people up in her place at no charge for everything from burst pipes to wedding guests. Somebody has their hand out several times a month for one good cause or another," Harold said.

  "It's too bad there are no attorney jobs in Buffalo Jump. I think you'd enjoy living here, Emma," Carole said.

  Maybe someday, but I'd miss all there is to offer in a bigger city," Emma said.

  "Like what?" Harold asked.

  "Well, it's not so much that I go to all the concerts or do everything there is to do. But you know it's there if you want to do it. For the most part I go to work, the gym, home, and start over again the next day," Emma said.

  "You could do that here. And with a lot less traffic," Harold said.

  "Stop picking on her, Babe. What does a pretty young gal want with a town full of old people?" Phyllis laughed.

  "One of these days she's going to want her own family. She could do a lot worse than Buffalo Jump to raise kids. There's lots of young people her age around here," Harold said.

  "Most of them are tied down with kids. What would Emma have in common with them?" Phyllis asked.

  "Well, they're not wiping noses and changing diapers all the time. There's the square dancing club. The high school is always looking for sponsors and chaperones. The tennis courts are new. I saw a flyer about a biking club. We have a dentist and a woman doctor. There's more artsy folks here than you can shake a stick at. We even have our own theater." Harold was almost out of breath.

  "You make it sound pretty tempting, but I'd need a job most of all," Emma said.

  "I bet you could find something in Great Falls. The commute would still be better than Denver or you could even live there and visit us more often," Carole said.

  "Emma's old enough to know what she wants," Phyllis said, collecting plates from the table.

  Phyllis started a basin of hot, soapy water and began washing dishes as Carole wrapped food for the refrigerator. Emma rinsed and dried the dishes, and Harold collected the garbage and put the sacks by the door to take back to town.

  For the first time, Phyllis felt uneasy leaving the cabin for a few days. She locked the door and got into the car with Emma. Harold and Carole waved as they left the property and headed down the gravel road.

  "I forgot to ask Carole when I should be ready tomorrow," Emma said.

  "You can call her when we get back to the inn. She refuses to get a cell phone, but she does stay up late," Phyllis said.

  Emma created Carole as a contact on her phone. "I thought Carole seemed different tonight," Emma said.

  "She spent the day with her mother. She's ninety-something and not doing well. Carole feels guilty because her mother doesn't live with her. She was an only child. There's no one to share the load. Everyone I know is old and taking care of someone older. It's tough," Phyllis said.

  Emma was quiet. The highway was black as pitch. She could not see Harold's car anymore. She was thinking about the conversation earlier. She felt a little sad. Then she remembered Deputy Knudsen and smiled.

  "Deputy Knudsen seemed nice," Phyllis said.

  Emma hoped no one knew she found the deputy attractive. "He's all right," she said, dismissively.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Emma reached the top of the last flight of stairs along a switchback uphill to Carole's home above Buffalo Jump. The house was nestled in shrubbery. A large picture window provided a view in the direction of the Rocky Mountain Front. Emma gripped the porch railing with both hands and caught her breath.

  Carole came out to the porch. She was dressed in lemon yellow capris and a filmy lemon blouse, accenting her blonde hair. Emma turned around when she heard Carole behind her.

  "I thought I was in better shape than this. I go to the gym twice a week," Emma said.

  "I know I should be looking for a house on one level like Babe has. But it's too beautiful up here to give it up yet," Carole said.

  "Why would you give it up?" Emma asked.

  "My mother's in assisted living in Great Falls. She'd like to live with me, but it's out of the question here. Houses aren't selling well now. I don't want to give it away. If the ski hill goes in, I might do better selling the house. I try to take it one day at a time," Carole said.

  Carole showed Emma through the cozy home and then dished up their plates with scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits. Carole suggested they eat on the porch where she had set a small round table with silverware, jams, and a carafe of coffee.

  "Do you always have Monday and Tuesday off?" Emma asked.

  Carole laughed. "I have every day off. I'm retired now. I was a secretary for the Sun River County Superintendent of Schools for about forty years. So far, I like retirement. It takes some getting used to. You know what I mean. When you work, your life revolves around work."

  "It does. I'd like to have a life that included being an attorney. As it is, there isn't time for much else or for anyone else," Emma said. Carole seemed genuinely interested in everyone, and Emma felt comfortable in sharing thoughts she would not have shared otherwise. Still, she regretted bringing up her love life, or lack of one.

  "So you haven't met anyone special in Denver?" Carole asked.

  "Oh, I've met a few men, but the ones with ambition are too busy getting ahead. The ones without ambition are too interested in how much I make as an attorney. Not exactly relationship material." Emma laughed. "Were you married?" she asked.

  "I was engaged. His chopper went down in Vietnam, and I never found anyone else," Carole said, wistfully.

  "I'm sorry. What keeps you busy now that you're retired?"

  "I write. So far, I have half-a-dozen stories started. I jotted ideas when I worked. I expanded them once I retired. When I'm satisfied with them, I'll try self-publis
hing. I don't have the patience to send queries to literary agents. So few people ever get published, you know. Franny used to say I'm a perfectionist. It's not a good thing. Franny and I used to paint. She'd finish something and put an expensive frame on it, and I'd still be looking for the right subject." Carole laughed.

  "Someone once said it's not the destination but the journey that's important," Emma said.

  "I like that. I think it's true. I wouldn't be any happier with a book on the bestseller list. I enjoy waking up each day knowing my characters are waiting to be perfected," Carole said.

  "What type of stories do you write?" Emma asked.

  "You probably haven't heard of cozy mysteries." Carole sounded apologetic. "They're whodunits without any real violence. Ordinary women, for the most part, solving crimes in their neighborhoods. The local sheriff and I have been friends since high school. He supplies the technical mumbo jumbo." She laughed.

  "A paralegal in my office reads those during lunch. She goes through about two each week plus what she reads on weekends. What makes your cozies different?" Emma asked.

  "My main character was a nun. She has a platonic relationship with the local police chief. She's Irish, so she's very witty, and she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Actually, Franny was the inspiration for her character. Your grandma was tough, and I loved her for it. I've always been such a doormat," Carole said.

  "I hope you decide to publish one of your books. I'd enjoy reading it for you first, if you'd like some constructive criticism."

  "That'd be nice. I'll keep it in mind," Carole said. "Is there anything special you'd like to do today?"

  "I don't know anything about Great Falls," Emma said.

  "I need to find a gag birthday gift for Babe, and I didn't have time yesterday. I could show you around Great Falls after we shop at the mall," Carole said.

  "Perfect. I didn't know Harold was having a birthday. You can help me decide what to get him."

  Carole soaked the frying pan and loaded the dishwasher while Emma enjoyed the wrap-around view from the living room.

  "There's a horse pulling a carriage down there," Emma said.

  "That's Henry. He's a character in my books."

  "This was a great idea. I wish grandmother was still here so I could thank her," Emma said.

  "Do you really need to write about your visit with us to get your inheritance?" Carole asked.

  "I do. At first I thought it would be impossible. Now, it's written in my head. I need to find time to sit at my laptop," Emma said.

  "Franny always did have an original way of doing everything," Carole said.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Wednesday evening Harold changed from his dress clothes into his jeans, a striped blue shirt, and a navy sport coat and walked to the Buffalo Jump Inn. He found it difficult to believe another year had passed already. Then he tried to guess what Phyllis and Carole would surprise him with this time. It was a milestone of sorts. He didn't usually think about it, but the occasion of his seventy-sixth birthday caused him to reflect on his life as an attorney and to wonder if it was time to turn his practice over to someone younger. Even though there were days when he found he was not as quick on his feet as he'd once been, he knew he was not the type to join the other seniors for cards, take up a hobby, or travel. He needed to work. He enjoyed working.

  When Harold arrived at the inn, he found Happy Birthday balloons, the requisite black roses, and his favorite double chocolate cake with one candle in the middle. Phyllis had long ago given up putting the correct number of candles on the cake, saying it would bring the volunteer fire departments from three counties when they were lit. Phyllis pretended to be tough, but he knew it was a defense mechanism. The two women in his life were so different. Carole relied on her sweetness to shame people into treating her well while Phyllis stuck out her chin and dared people to strike her. He liked them better than most men he knew, and he knew them better than they knew themselves.

  Harold beamed as Carole threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Happy Birthday, Sugar. You don't look a day over seventy-five!" Carole laughed.

  Phyllis came out of the kitchen and set a plate of Harold's favorite nachos on the table. She put both arms around his waist and kissed his mouth. "Happy Birthday. Do we have a surprise for you!" she said.

  Emma had been standing to the side and held out her hand. "Happy Birthday, Harold. I'm glad I could be here."

  Harold looked at Emma wearing a lime green low cut dress ending at the knee. Her body was well toned from working out but had soft curves in all the right places. She was blushing again. He thought she was the picture of Frances. Harold raised her hand and bent slightly, kissing it as he might have done if Frances were present.

  "I'm glad you could be here, too, Frances. You look beautiful tonight," he said.

  For a moment, it was very quiet. Carol and Phyllis watched for Emma's reaction. They were reminded of an earlier time when Frances and Harold were in love. Emma sensed something important had occurred, and she pretended not to notice.

  Phyllis broke the silence, insisting everyone "dig into the nachos before they're cold!"

  After the appetizer course was cleared, Phyllis, Carole, and Emma presented Harold with his gifts. The three friends had an understanding that gifts could not exceed a twenty-dollar limit. The gifts were usually something hilarious instead of useful. This time Phyllis gave him a mug with the Bill of Rights on it. She poured hot coffee into it so Harold could see his rights disappear with the heat. Then Harold opened Carole's gift. The t-shirt featured the Three Stooges with a sign that read: Dewey Cheatum and Howe, Attorneys-at-Law. Emma's gift was in a small box wrapped in silver paper and tied with a royal blue ribbon.

  "I haven't bought new cuff links in years. The scales of justice. Thank you," he said.

  Phyllis always served a lobster dinner for Harold's birthday. Once dinner was finished, she lit the candle on the cake and everyone sang Happy Birthday. Then Harold enjoyed the first slice of cake while Phyllis, Carole, and Emma entertained. This year Phyllis had gone to the Buffalo Jump Players and borrowed the costumes for Harold Hill and Marian the librarian. She and Carole played those parts every other summer in the Players' production of The Music Man. Phyllis pranced and sang Seventy-six Trombones with emphasis on the seventy-six. Carole was demure as Marian, and Emma played one of the students the professor meant to save from a life of crime. Harold applauded and whistled while Phyllis marched from the center of the dining room out of sight. Then Carole sang Till There Was You and finished in Harold's lap with a kiss on his cheek. Emma was touched by their affection for Harold and impressed with their talent. She apologized to Harold for not having a talent to entertain him. They ended the celebration with a showing of Funny Girl in the hospitality room. Barbra Streisand was Harold's favorite singer. Watching the musical was a tradition on his birthday.

  On the other side of Buffalo Jump and at the same time Harold was celebrating his birthday, five boys met at the clubhouse of the Montana Mountain Lions, or MML. The clubhouse was a ramshackle homesteader's cabin near the Missouri River. Zach was the leader of the Lions. He had recently turned thirteen, which made him the oldest club member. So far, the club was small, but Zach had big plans for it.

  Zachary Thompson started the Lions after his parents were divorced a year earlier. He cleverly named it so he could deceive his parents into believing the club was an offshoot of the real grown-up club, The Buffalo Jump Lions. If asked, Zachary would tell his parents the MML stood for 2050. They would be impressed he knew his Roman numerals. He would tell them he named the club for 2050, because he would be president of the entire country then. They would be impressed with his ambition. His parents were busy juggling work, children, community, and personal interests like the gym, golf, and other men and women to replace those who didn't work out. They did not have the time to ask important questions.

  That night Jordan and Ethan would be initiated. Jordan would break
into Billy's Balsamroot Café while Ethan broke into Harold's law office. Each boy would bring back something that would prove he'd been inside. The item needed to be something of value. The bigger the prize, the more prestige for the initiate.

  Dylan and Noah had already achieved Lion status earlier in the week by breaking into Phyllis Carle's cabin. When they did not find anything they considered to be valuable, they trashed the cabin. Then they took photos with Dylan's phone. The fact that they had done such extensive damage was as important in Zach's eyes as if they had returned with a prize. They recounted their adventure for Zach, Jordan, and Ethan who agreed the destruction was "cool" and "bitchin'." The boys high-fived each other and congratulated themselves on not having been caught.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Thursday morning Emma typed her short essay about Phyllis, saved it to her flash drive, and printed it at the registration desk in the Buffalo Jump Inn. She had gone to bed late after Harold's birthday party, but she was surprisingly alert and anxious to have one essay behind her. She and Harold were meeting at Billy's Balsamroot Café for lunch. When she arrived, Billy told her Harold was waiting and showed her to his booth. Harold seemed subdued as he gazed out the window at Billy's. When he saw Emma, his face brightened.

  "You don't look like you were out all night with a bunch of rowdy seniors." Harold laughed.

  "Did you enjoy yourself last night?" Emma asked.

  "Darn tootin' I did. You gals outdid yourselves. That's one birthday I'll never forget."

  Emma noticed Harold was wearing the cuff links she gave him. She thought he looked handsome for his age in his blue suit with the red, white, and blue tie. She was sorry she did not wear something besides jeans and a T-shirt to have lunch with him.