Jack had bought himself a balky old gray gelding named Smokey that served well enough as a cart and plow horse. One day it escaped and Jack was worried someone catch him and keep him, so Jamie agreed.

So they started out Quentin, Jamie, and Piper when one way, Jack and Kate when the other way while Octavia stayed with the little ones at the Inn. Jamie cursed the horse, he had hoped to get another round of logs on the house today.

Piper started barking and led them to where some men holding a dark skinned man between them, and Jamie knew this was an Indian even though he had never seen one. As did Quentin, Chester had told them both stories about friendly Indians he had known as a boy when his father had brought him here from England.

"Stay here Quentin and hold Piper." Jamie ordered.

Quentin obeyed his father and watched him go down to where the men were going to hurt the Indian.

"Leave that man alone," Jamie ordered, the one man released his hold at once.

"Well this injun was truss pessin'." Oscar Bean snapped.

"We got to teach him a lesson injuns are dumb like horses, got to learn hard," the third man said.

"There is a fence you can't have them runnin wild here," the second man who had let go of the Indian man said nervously.

"I don't see any fence, all I see is sheep on Amberly land, your Coates men, let him go. Clear out and I will not say a word." Jamie promised, hoping this was indeed Amberly land.

"He's right Oscar," the third man said softly.

Jamie's blue eyes met the Indian's dark ones, and even though Jamie knew he did not speak English, he knew somehow Jamie was trying to aid him. The man said something "Ita twama moshy kumo."

Jamie knew it was some kind of thanks, he watched the man go, then turned to the shepherds, "Get those sheep off Amberlys land."

The man ran north, and Jamie turned to leave as well.

"I am going to get you one of these days you lil' cockeral," Oscar snapped.

"Shut your bean hole Oscar," the senseable one who had let go of the Indian without argument said.

Piper started back on the trail he had been on before he smelled the man who smelled like death and the fear on the air.

There was smokey his broken lead trailing the ground.

"Good boy Piper," Jamie said smiling at the dog.

"Da, how come those men were pushing that Indian man around like that?" Quentin asked.

"I don't really know Quentin. Some men just have to feel superior to someone else I guess, that Indian could have hurt them, he had a really sharp knife." Jamie said, "I think if they would have kept at it someone would have gotten hurt.

"Why treat people like that it is not very wise," Quentin said.

"No it isn't the poor man was just there looking for something or someone like we were," Jamie explained.

"Yes, and those sheep herders were not supposed to be there, Master Amberly wouldn't like it," Quentin said.

"Don't call him Master, Mister Amberly," Jamie said wondering why his son always called Amberly master.

"Well he wouldn't, are we going to work on the house today?" Quentin asked thinking he should change the subject.

"We shall see, perhaps." Jamie said.

"Uncle Jack! Piper found your horse and we saw an Indian." Quentin said smiling.

I don't think it is wise we tell others about the Indian," Jamie said.

"Whatever you say Jamie, I am just glad to get Smokey back," Jack sighed.

Quentin wondered as they went to their land to work on the house if his dad would mind him playing with Roscoe. But maybe it would be best if it remained a secret. Secrets were fun.

That night Roscoe met Quentin near the school house. Roscoe wanted to see places he had never been, and the only way he could do that is at night when no adults would see them.

Quentin had taken the key to the latch from his mother who still had one, it wasn't stealing he told himself he would give it back.

"Mr. Havern the school teacher is gone for the summer to Portland, I hope he never comes back he is not nice," Quentin whispered, as they edge closer to the school house.

"He looks mean," Roscoe agreed he had seen him walking near the potato patch by his mama's cabin once and Roscoe had hidden.

"He is and he doesn't like me." Quentin whispered, "Lets go inside before Mr. Emmerson the caretaker comes out to use the lou or something."

"Do you think there are any ghosts?" Roscoe said grinning.

"You are always wanting to see ghosts," Quentin giggled.

"Where will you set?" Roscoe asked, knowing Quentin would be in school next fall. It made him sad kind of. There were rows of chairs and desks.

"Right here at the head of the class," Quentin joked sitting in the dunce stool.

"It smells bad in here," Roscoe said covering his mouth and nose.

"Probably no one airs it out, like my mum did," Quentin said.

Suddenly outside there was a thump, then another thump.

"Ghosts." Roscoe said wide eyed with hope.

"It is it's ghosts, there is nothing or no one out there," Quentin said half teasing, but truthfully as nothing was out there he could see, the caretakers house was dark.

"Shhh!" Roscoe said, wondering if they could see the ghost.

Just then Quentin disappeared.

Roscoe let out a little yip of fright.

But Quentin had only tripped over something and bent to pick it up, it was a broken chalkboard with something written on it.

"Come on Alexander do not dawdle so. You should have used the outhouse before we left home we are going to be late as it is," Mrs. Swensen sighed.

"It's only Mrs. Swensen and her son," Quentin sighed.

"They are not ghosts," Roscoe said sounding very disappointed.

"We will see ghosts, maybe it has to be at an old place, the school is pretty new," Quentin said, looking at the chalk board.

"What does that say?" Roscoe asked, he was just barely learning some of his letters from Quentin.

"It says Mr. Havern is a . . . ty-rant," Quentin read.

"What's that?" Roscoe asked.

"I don't know, I will ask my mum or da, they know everything," Quentin said smiling, as he turned over the blackboard, which really was mostly there just had a piece broke off the corner and the bottom frame was missing.

"What does that say?" Roscoe asked.

"Justin love Amanda," Quentin giggled.

"What is love?" Roscoe asked.

"It's when you really like someone a lot," Quentin said glad he knew that answer.

"Oh, do you love me?" Roscoe asked.

"I guess, we are best friends," Quentin said shrugging, "Come on lets get out of here before someone else comes by.

They went outside and Quentin took the chalk board and some chalk.

"You going to take that?" Roscoe asked,"isn't that stealing?"

"No, this is Justin's it's broke he doesn't want it. He is funny that way, he got a bit of sauce on his shirt one day and tossed it away," Quentin said.

"But won't . . ." Roscoe started, looking like he was about to beg Quentin to put it back.

"Calm down, it's for you to learn to write letters," he said giving the chalk and board to Roscoe.

"I guess if it isn't stealing," Roscoe said smiling, he really wanted to learn more.

"It's not, see you tomorrow." Quentin said as he went towards the inn and Roscoe went towards Amberly land.

Quentin stopped at the barn and took off his shoes, stockings,trousers and vest, he had almost ran into his mother last time, so he decided to keep his older clothes out there.

"What are you doing out of doors boy?" Havern asked startling Quentin so badly for a few seconds he couldn't talk.

"Night air is not good for children," the man continued, glancing at the direction of the barn, just around the corner from the barn were the outhouses.

"N-N-no," Quentin stammered. The man sounded sincere, but Quentin thought the man might have seen him come out of the barn. "Yes sir."

Quentin trotted up the back stairs hoping he didnt run into Jack or his dad, or worse his mother.

They now lived in a suite at the top of the Inn under the roof, everyone thought it was safer then the barn, but it was hot at night even in early summer.

At that very moment while Quentin was slipping up the back stairs into his small room, Jamie had his hands full with Edmond Coates and Whitney Timberlane.

It seemed Cass Timberlane, Whitney's nephew had run off with Jenny Coates, and Edmond was furious. Worse then this was the pub was crowded it was Friday night and most were a bit into their cups. Worse yet about a half of the men in the pub were shepherds for Coates and a half were loggers or mill hands for Timberlane.

"Come on gentlemen, calm down,"Jamie said, thinking this could get ugly in a heartbeat, Chester had gone to drive Mrs. Dutcher and Maggie to see Mrs. Dutcher's new grandchild, and Maggie and Chesters new grand nephew.

Jack had gone home earlier, oh why had he let Jack go, Piper was upstairs with Quentin he had to face down this mob alone.

"Jenny is what about twenty now?" Jamie asked.

"Yes, but she was promised," Coates cried, "We were working out the dowery."

"With who, I heard she was out all hours of the night with all sorts," one of Timberlane's men said, egging on the others.

"Now that is hitting below the belt," one of the lads said, he liked Jenny.

"Let's tear this place apart," Oscar Bean growled, he was hated Jamie. He had nothing against Timberlane, but a good brawl was called for.

"Come on ease off men, this is nothing that can't be worked out," Jamie said, praying that Octavia didn't come down right now.

Just then Coates threw his drink into Timberlane's face.

"Good evening Mr. Martin," someone said.

"Seth," Jamie said, never so glad to see someone in his life.

"There will be no more of that," Seth Martin boomed, and everyone backed down.

Some of the men started to leave.

James, is there a problem here?" Seth asked.

"Well it seems these two gentlemen have a problem," Jamie said, looking out the door to see Jack, Neils, and Amberly, as well as Lewis on horses. Jamie thought Jack must have came back heard the row and went for help.

Jamie also noticed something else, Timberlane's men had been the ones to slink off you could tell they didn't like their own boss.

Seth had the problem worked out quickly. If Jenny was taken against her will Timberlane would be brought to justice, if she had gone willingly, nothing could be done.

It did not make either man happy, but both went home willingly.

The very next night Quentin and Roscoe decided if they really wanted to see ghosts they would have to go to the church.

Quentin had told the story that Chester had told him, way back in 1673 the church had been burned down by a witch who was angry because the man of cloth had help sentence some of her coven to die. So using magic she burnt the church down with the vicar inside. Of course Quentin left out the part that Chester had said that lightening had probably started the churchs thatch roof on fire. Because that kind of ruined the story.

There was an old grave yard on one side of the church where the original Amberlys, Coates, and Martins had been buried. The grave yard made the church even more creepier. The church was never locked so they walked right in.

"Smells better then the school," Roscoe said.

"Oh look at those shiny thing oh my mum would like those." Quentin said.

"You aren't going to take them are you?" Roscoe asked. "No that would be stealing, I am sure vicar Martin needs those they aren't just tossed on the floor." Quentin said knowing Roscoe still felt uneasy about his chalk and board.

There were a lot of things to look at a huge Bible, all kind of different little items, that were unlike anything the boys had ever seen.

"I am thirsty, there is a cup there, I guess the water here would be all right . . ." Roscoe started.

"Shhhh," Quentin hissed and grabbed his arm.

Someone was coming. Roscoe heard it too, the boys barely scrambled behind the benches when the door opened.

A man with heavy rough boots walked by, Quentin didn't dare peek out and see who it was.

The soft clink of shiny things from the table told QUentin the man was putting the things in the bag he carried.

Only when the man walked back out did Quentin dare to peek out at him, the man smelled of ale, tobacco, and something else, familiar but bad.

As soon as they were sure the man was gone the boys raced out of the church.

I don't understand," Roscoe said, as they paused to look around to make sure no one was around before racing across the common.

"The man stole the shiny things, the cup and the other things." Quentin said, wondering if Roscoe was scared witless.

"That I know what I don't understand is why someone would steal from a church, that is worse then plain stealing," Roscoe said, thinking Quentin was pretty shaken.

"Yes its like a double sin I would think," Quentin whispered, "All right its clear see you tomorrow at the pond."

"Not if I see you first," Roscoe joked. Quentin smiled, but didn't laugh as he usually did at their private joke.

Meanwhile vicar Martin was being walked back to the church by Mr. Dutcher who was helping out an ill elderly neighbor that vicar Martin had gone to visit.

"I have some medicine I took when I was ill much as Mrs. North is, I have a lot left, I am sure it will help her," Vicar Martin was telling Mr. Dutcher.

"Good the lady is so dear to us always watches our children, when my mother is busy, and we need to tend to the mill," Dutcher said.

"Good evening Mr. Havern." Clive Martin greeted the tutor.

"Good evening," Dutcher said, he did not like the new tutor, his son often complained of him.

"Good evening Vicar Martin, Mr. Miller," Havern said stiffly.

"Back so soon?" Vicar asked, he noticed Mr. Havern had a sack and it seeme quite heavy.

I just came to pick up some items, I will be going to see my sister in the morning for a two week visit, then I will return to open the school," Havern said yawning.

"Oh? You are going to open it before October?" Dutcher asked, wondering if Octavia would agree to tutor his son privately.

"No I think late September is better." Havern said, and walked off impatient with their talk.

"That man is not very friendly, and my son may not be going to school there," Dutcher admitted.

"The town is keeping him though, Seth and I and others feel we should bring Octavia back," Clive sighed.

"I agree, my boy learned from her," Dutcher said."Look the door of the church is open. Someone lit a candle."

I don't remember doing that, I did open the church door earlier to air it out but its starting to get damp I should close it.

"It might rain," Dutcher said hopefully.

"A good rain is needed," Clive said, a few minutes later he was running for his nephew, after hurriedly giving the medication to Mr. Dutcher.

Someone had been in the church and all the valuables were gone.

By this time Roscoe and Quentin were asleep, even though both had doubted they could sleep exhaustion overtook them.

The next morning Seth came by the Inn, Jamie and Jack were both out working on Jamie's house it had rained lightly last night, but Chester assured him that Mr. Havern was not at the inn, he had left in a spring wagon he had came in, evidently borrowed from his sisters husband.

By the next day the town was a buzz about Mr. Havern being arrested and held in the meeting house's cellar until trial. Everyone was convinced he did it and the fact he offered no alibi for the night made him look even guiltier even though the church items had not been redeemed, and he had claimed innocence. Everyone was convinced but Quentin Warwick. With his father so busy trying to get the roof on the house before a few fall rains blew in, he turned to Chester for advice. Also he knew that Chester would not ask him so many questions as his father would.

"Grandfather, if a man knows another person didn't do something, but he doesn't like this person, is it wrong of the man not to speak up and tell the truth?" Quentin asked.

"Son, you should always tell the truth, except to ladies about women's things, they get mighty upset if you tell them their food is not good or their hair looks odd in that style," Chester laughed.

Quentin managed a weak smile, and thanked his grandfather.

About noon each day Seth Martin would come in and have midday meal, he prefered not to trouble Clarise now that she was with child. With their adopted child Josiah she had her hands full. He also enjoyed Jack's cooking.

Slowly Quentin approached the man.

"Mr. Martin," Quentin said glancing around glad that his dad was still at the house and only Maggie and Chester were in the pub and they were doing chores. "Yes?" Martin asked, thinking Quentin has sure grown this summer.

"I know something," Quentin said his heart pounding.

"Oh?" Martin said, thinking at first the boy was playing some game, but then registered the seriousness of his expression and realised that he was a bit afraid.

"Mr. Havern did not take those shiny things from the church," Quentin said wide eyed, "I was there, I wanted to see what the church looked like, and we . . .I hid behind a bench when the man came in."

"You were there alone?" Seth asked.

"Yes. The man wore boots not shoes like Mr. Havern, and he smelled bad like tobacco, ale, and something nasty. Mr. Havern smells like books and old things. The man also wore homespun not fine cloth like Mr. Havern," Quentin said.

"I see," Seth thought he might be lying about being there alone, but everything else seemed to fit.

There had been dirty finger smudges on the baptismal that suggested a child had been involved, of course if Quentin had been inside the church looking around he might have touched it. The evidence against Mr. Havern was shakey at best this was enough to release him. Seth also had measured a boot print he had found outside the church in his uncles flower bed. Most likely that was the man's print.

Havern was released, and Quentin wondered if he would come back, he was very annoyed with Seth Martin and the town.

A few days later Cass and Jenny Timberlane came to the Inn with a business proposition for Chester.

Chester had been looking for a maid to help out and work in the scullery, and Jack and Jamie were both so busy on the house Chester wanted to help them by hiring a man to help them so they could have more time for the Inn.

Cass and Jenny wanted those jobs, and Cass wanted to use part of the barn to build furniture and for their wages they wanted room and board, and a bit of cash for extras through the winter, this spring they planned on building a house on some land Cass's father had left him.

Jamie liked Cass at once, the man knew wood, and the house would be finished by harvest, and furnished soon after.

Octavia liked Cass too, but she had her doubts about Jenny Coates as a scullery maid.

But then had not she been raised in privilage and learned to work, maybe Jenny would as well.

Chapter 14

Warwick Index

Back