Of Friends and Strangers
Winter came and Quentin was walking around just after his first birthday, he was so beautiful Octavia and Jamie both feared they would spoil him dreadfully, Maggie and Chester doted on the boy as did Jack, who was known as ukka dak, because Quentin could not say uncle Jack, and Kate was Annie Kate.
Jamie worked harder then ever that spring he again hired himself out for repairs and painting. Octavia was now teaching one of the Swensen boys as well as the Coates children.
One night two men came into the pub, Jamie knew the reverent Linde but he did not know that fat man with him. Jamie had never liked reverent Linde, last summer he had tried to get a church here, but no one would back him. Anglicans had a church here. He felt there was something wrong with the man, and Piper growled at him once when he had gotten too close to Quentin.
The men talked in low tones and Jamie caught the name of the fat man Morris Sherry, they nursed their drinks so Jamie had no cause to go near the table besides to wash windows, so he did even though they had been washed only the day before.
Finally they ordered dinner, but Jamie sensed it was only to get him to go away.
The men talked in low tones and Jamie caught the name of the fat man Morris Sherry, they nursed their drinks so Jamie had no cause to go near the table besides to wash windows, so he did even though they had been washed only the day before.
"Yes we should make a good profit," Linde was saying.
Morris Sherry nodded and laughed, but it was not a jolly fat man laugh, it was laughter of an evil troll in one of those nursery stories nanny had read to Jamie just before he had learned to read himself.
"Sir drink to our enterprise, we shall be wealthy men," Sherry said licking his curved lip.
"Where are you staying my friend?" Linde asked.
"With relatives of my wife, the Coates family," Sherry said smiling smugly.
"Good I am afraid I shall have to stay here at the Inn unless I can persuade the widow Van der Poole to put me up." Linde said.
"That is most unfortunate, for a home is so much nicer then an Inn," Sherry said, pouting slightly.
"One takes what God offers," Linde said.
Sherry nodded and waved at the man like the preacher act was a tiresome one.
Could I get you anything more?" Jamie asked.
"No my boy dinner was very good," Linde said with a smile, "bless you."
Later when he told Octavia about the incident, she put in that she nor dear Kate liked Mr. Sherry, but they felt sorry for his poor wife, who was a cousin of Mrs. Coates.
They had a child about Quentin’s age, but that was about all she knew other then the poor wife regretted her marriage to the man, but there was nothing she could do. She seemed to be a nice woman, and evidently Mr. Sherry was not what he seemed to be a rich merchant
Sunday they got together to play some games and Jamie confided in the others, and they couldn't just go to someone with suspicions.
There was one strange thing, when Jack and Kate went walking they had seen Linde on a horse, yet he had none boarded. He rode very badly, Kate said and had laughed at the man after he had passed them.
Jack said he would not know bad horsemanship but it looked like he had almost fallen off twice. The horse was old too Kate said.
"That is odd but nothing we could have the constable arrest him for, he could have bought or rented the horse," Jamie reasoned but something about the two men bothered him.
It was put aside and the ladies started talking about a dance. Jamie was reluctant to go.
Even Jack was more eager, and Kate had just taught him to dance a couple of weeks ago.
He liked it when it was just them, comfortable and no worries about making mistakes or a fool of ones self. Friends knew your short comings and they didn't care, they were friends.
But the ladies would hear none of it, Kate and Octavia would not rest until Jamie agreed. He was still shy and thought he was as a horse might be on the dance floor but Octavia insisted he was a good dancer.
"It is your feet," Jamie sighed.
Octavia thought Maggie would watch Quentin for the evening. She was feeling much better.
Jamie thought perhaps Chester would loan them the team and wagon. After all Jack and he had been working hard and had refreshed all the rooms and Octavia had given them spring cleaning.
At the dance they met Seth and Clarise Martin, Jamie did not know them very well even though Seth did come in to have ale and play draughts from time to time and was surprised to see them at the dance.
It was mostly servants, farmers, and a few of the towns younger merchants and apprentices.
"I have been wishing to meet you," Clarise said smiling, and Jamie thought Patience must indeed be a wonderful woman to pass up one as lovely as she.
Octavia and Jamie were both mystified by her wish to meet them.
"My father is a progressive man, he has been talking to Mr. Coates, and every one about his idea, even town meeting."
Octavia and Jamie looked at her and each other even more mystified.
"Well the town wishes to build a school and have you teach it," Clarise explained seeing the looks of puzzlement on their faces.
"That is wonderful," Jamie said smiling.
"All children will come?" Octavia asked
"Yes, of course," Clarise said smiling broadly.
"But what about Quentin?" Octavia asked.
"We will care for him, children must be educated, you have a talent for teaching," Jamie said smiling. Octavia had been bored, there was barely enough work at the inn for himself and Jack.
The Coates only wanted her for half a day, and Quentin needed her less as he was walking and had mastered use of his bowels and learning to talk was coming along nicely.
"Your husband is correct," Seth said, "I talked to Edmond Coates, he said he could not get Jenny to study and now she reads all the time. I want my sister Leatha and brother Warren to study as well Clarise helps them but she doesn't have Octavia's talent.
"All right I will teach at the new school." Octavia said smiling at Jamie.
"Do you mind darling?" she asked.
"No, not if it makes you happy," Jamie said smiling as they danced.
She smiled and said, "I love teaching children, I just worry about Quentin."
"Don't worry about Quentin he will be cared for," Jamie said smiling.
Weeks passed, Jamie worked on the school house along with most the men in the community pitched in, and only Mr. Coats remarked on no one from the Landers farm had been sent to help. Jamie decided Maggie or Chester would be the one best to talk to Astrid, Lewis was in the pub almost nightly. Sometimes in the afternoon as well.
"I am sending Justin to your school." Lewis told Jamie.
"It’s not mine," Jamie said a bit bemused, "It belongs to everyone, and everyone is helping build it, not just myself, but I haven’t seen you or any of your men there."
"Astrid is with child, after my many lovers and no children I thought I could not sire a child," Lewis said, changing the subject, but he looked worried.
"Wonderful," Jamie said, glancing at Quentin, maybe it was what Lewis needed to take that selfishness from him a child of his own, something helpless to care for.
"I am not sure," Lewis said glancing at Quentin in a way he reserved for Piper who growled at him, in a kind of playful way, that Lewis felt threatened by. Piper felt it was a game and growled more, Jack and others would throw a stick for him, but Lewis was frightened, and Piper thought it amusing, this big man afraid of him.
Jamie thought dogs knew a man or woman’s soul and Piper knew Lewis was a bit crooked in his, but not really a bad man. He had to put Piper in the barn when the two men who came in next were about. But luckily Piper was with Octavia helping Kate in the garden.
Sherry and Linde, came in and ordered pints, Lewis paid them no mind, and Jamie was relieved, what ever those two men were up to Lewis need not be involved.
"I hired Mullens to work for us," Lewis said when Jamie came back to the bar, after giving the men their pints.
Lewis smiled seeing Jamie’s puzzlement.
"On the school," Lewis said, "I can’t spare the time or any of our men at the moment, we are replanting some crops."
Somehow Jamie thought this was a lie, but he just nodded and filled more glasses with port or ale.
"Do you have rum?" a stranger asked.
"No sir, the land lord says it is too high of price and no one drinks it, the taxes," Jamie explained
"What of whiskey?" the man asked.
"I have two kinds, cheap which is dear, and good which is more dear," Jamie said, glancing at the limited supply of the stuff.
The man put coin on the bar, and Jamie served him the good, surprised the man could afford such drink.
"I would like rum better," he said, then left.
Jamie pulled Jack aside and told him about the stranger asking for rum.
"Not now, but I heard him talking to Chester a bit ago about buying rum." Jack whispered, "and those two, were listening like two cats."
Jamie glanced casually around as if checking to see if anyone needed a glass or plate filled, "Morris Sherry and Horace Linde?"
Jack nodded, and said, "The very men, all the others were talking."
David Emmerson had a bit much to drink and was talking the ears off of Lewis.
The stranger was quiet and brooding, reminding Jamie of a spring sky before a storm. He kept glaring at Emmerson.
Emmerson was talking about taxes and the crown, and Lewis was gritting his teeth and getting more in his cups.
Jamie decided it was time to take Quentin out to Octavia, if there was a fight in the public room he didn't want his son around.
Lewis finally told Emmerson to shut up and they started talking about women.
After the stranger left Jamie asked Chester about the offer to sell him rum.
"Ah Jamie don't worry about it, you get all kinds in this business," the old man laughed, "I would be breaking the law to buy rum from any one but the importer."
Jamie sighed with relief.
"Besides, I don't like how mean rum makes some men, I like a lighter spirit," Chester said smiling, and thought Jamie really was young and a bit niave.