Chapter 20
The sun hadn’t yet started peeking out from behind field when Cassie stirred and got up. She showered then put on her make up. She then made her bed and straighten her dresser. Finally she bundled up went out the back door.
The twilight gave of a mystical glow to the landscape giving her warmth that seemed to shield her from the cold. Cassie watched the sunrise as she pondered over what Sister Anna had told her the night before. Her new family was so different than her old one. Cassie had forgiven her parents and brother just before she left to come join Clay. She really felt like she belonged with here with Clay and his kinfolks.
The clear sunrise was a welcome change from where she lived in the Charlotte suburbs. The cold fresh air filled her lungs causing her to smile. Cassie finally felt she was home.
She turned and went inside and started making coffee and some hot coco. Something had change in her since she had arrived and she welcomed it with open arms. She put the hot coco in a pitcher then set it on the kitchen table. Cassie bundle up again and went to the storage shed. She looked around to make sure one was peeking then gathered several gifts and carried them inside. Then she carefully placed them all under the tree in the main parlor.
She was surprised at how quickly she had regained her ability to sew, knit, and crochet. Cassie knew that her new friends and family would love her handiwork. She went back to the kitchen and poured a cup of warm coco and sat down.
Rebecca entered and looked at her, “Do you ever sleep?” She laughed.
“Well I’ve always gotten up early for walks. It clears my head. I had a good talk with Sister Anna last night. I guess it is true that God works in mysterious ways.”
“Cassie, how can someone not come way from chatting with her not be changed in some way. Have you cleaned your room?”
“Yeah, I did that before I took my early morning walk. What do we usually do for Christmas breakfast?”
Rebecca smiled at her future sister-in-law, “Well we normally have eggs Benedict and hash browns done diner style. For beverages we have hot coco.”
“That sounds good, I’ve already made some coco but I can make more.”
“Yeah that is a good idea, have the horses been water and feed?” Rebecca asked.
“Not yet, I should have done it when I went out to watch the sunrise. Hank and men have been doing a lot of the farm chores. We should do our share.”
“We do, it’s called house work,” Rebecca quipped. “However you’re right on a working farm even the women have to work outside.”
They went into the barn and the horses greeted them with joyful whinnies. Cassie fed them while Rebecca watered them. When they were done they took a long walk down to the orchards. Cassie looked around at them and noticed the remains of stone walls. “We need to clean those old walls has Hank would say.” She laughed.
“We will Cassie; there are plenty of limestone outcroppings nearby in the woods to replace the missing stones. They are not too hard to cut and shape. I work at a stone yard so I know what I am talking about.”
“Well I used to work on my Grandparents farm so I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“You know there is a longer path back to house. We can take that going back. These orchards are in rough shape but we have plenty of hands to help out.” Rebecca replied.
They walk back through the pear orchard and entered into the nearby woods. It was easy to see that Laura used the path. It was clear of weeds, limbs and stones were piled along the sides. Cassie and Rebecca talked some more about Cassie’s old life before she met Clay.
Cassie broke of some dried blossoms off several bushes. She smelled onr and smiled, “I didn’t know that Carolina allspice grew this far north.” She said.
Rebecca laughed, “We call them Sweet Shrubs. They are wild aren‘t they?”
“Well My grandma use to take cuttings and planted them around the front and back porches.”
“Can you transplant them?” Rebecca asked.
“Well I did once and they took so I guess so.”
They continued walking and talking getting to know each other. There was a strong bond of kinship forming between the two young women. Rebecca would point our certain plants that Cassie had never seen. They came to a large lake and followed the crooked path around it. The thin ice glistened in the bright morning sun.
“Becky, does this lake have a name?” Cassie asked.
“Well we’ve never named it; we just call it the lake.”
Cassie thought for a few minutes, “How about Sprite Lake?”
Rebecca laughed, “Well that is a good name for it. I know of at least three others that will like it too.”
They reenter the Farm on the far end of the corn field. And they walked down a meandering path back to the Farm Yard. They entered the kitchen cold but happy. Surprisingly they were still the only ones up. Cassie looked at the clock and shouted, “Well I’ll be are you lazy folks going to stay in bed all day? It’s 7 am and the morning is almost gone!”
Mary and Peggy walked in from the pantry, “Well have you two been out lollygagging?” Mary asked.
“No we went out and fed and watered the horses. Then we took a long walk around the farm.” Rebecca replied.
“Becky, Mary and I used to get up early for a walk before we started breakfast. It’s a good way to clear your thoughts.” Peggy laughed.
Hank came in from outside, “I see I wasn’t needed this morning. Greg and Peter did a good job with cleaning out the other animal buildings yesterday. So we can start fresh tomorrow.”
Laura walked in to the kitchen, “Yes, they learned from two of the best.”
Cassie hugged Laura, “I hope you don’t mind but I’ve given the lake a name.”
Laura laughed, “What is it?”
“Sprite Lake.” Cassie said beaming with joy.
Laura hugged her, “You have my vote.”
Cassie looked around the room, “You know I came up here a lost puppy but now I have found a real home. My family was never close. Well I should say once we were a close knit family but then my folks started going honky Tonkin’. Things kinda went downhill from there. They started arguing about everything. When my brother got old enough he started doing the same thing. I prayed and I prayed but they weren’t answer the way I wanted so I followed the same path that they did.
My real friends back home went with me to make sure I didn’t become a drunk and get into drugs. If I got a little too drunk they took me straight to their apartments so I could sleep it off. The whole time I was never happy. Meeting Clay saved my life and I found a new family and new true friends.”
She was sobbing uncontrollable, “Oh My goodness, this isn’t the day for crying like a baby.”
Peggy and Mary gave her tight hugs, “Landsakes child, those aren’t tears of pain or sadness. They are tears of joy.” Mary told her.
Cassie wiped her tears and got her apron, “We need to get breakfast ready.”
“You can do the hash browns, they are dinner style, scattered, smothered, covered and chunked. We use sausage instead if ham.” Mary explained.
Cassie nodded, “I use to work has a short order cook at a Waffle House when I was a teen.”
With little work to do outside the men gathered in the parlor. Pete was looking over at the tree, “Well it won’t be long now until it’s empty.”
Clay nodded, “Yeah and the torn wrapping paper thrown in the trash for burning. Well it looks like Uncle Tom has finally learned to keep his ashes where they belong.”
Greg nodded, “You know this Christmas has been the best one we’ve had in years. Hank, Laura is gonna flip when she opens that gift and sees that key. I’m surprised she hasn’t been begging Tiffy for the key to that back parlor.”
“I really thought my kids would be upset with our move. They had lot friends in LA. I guess they weren’t very close friends.” Pete chuckled.
“By next harvest they may be regretting leaving.” Robert laughed
Clay looked at his dad, “Well there was nothing there to keep me. I tried modeling and acting, but every time I saw a house being build I wanted to grab my tool belt. Then meeting Cassie on that show was a god send for me. Her practical no nonsense view of life became my anchor. It was crazy on that set but she stayed sane the whole time.”
“You’ve found a keeper alright. She has pitched right in like she has been here all of her life.” Ric replied placing some more wood in the fire place.
Tiffany came in to the parlor, “It does seem like we’ve known her all our life. Any way Breakfast is almost ready.”
Once everyone had finished breakfast and cleaned up the dishes they all gathered in the parlor. As was their custom, the youngest got to open their gifts first. Tammy squealed in delight at her new Doll cradle and doll clothes. Tony stared wide eye at his wooden train set and his bob sled. Next came the teens who were happy with their practical gifts. Things that they would need to work the farms. The homemade clothes contrasted with their mpg players and video games which were being ignored. Finally when the adults got their gifts and opened them.
Hank handed Laura her gift from him, She looked at him with a bewilder expression, “Well you’ve already given me a ring.” She said slowly opening the gift.
Her eyes widen when she open the small wooden box and saw the key to her new study. “Oh my gosh when did you-----”
“I did it while you were on tour. I wanted to surprise you with it.” Hank said hugging her.
Laura grabbed hold of him tightly as tears streamed down her face. She grabbed his hand and they went to the study. With every one standing around she slowly opened the pocket doors. “On my goodness! It’s perfect Baby. Everything is where it should be.” Laura said wiping her face.
“Well I had lots of help in that department.” Hank laughed.
Laura hugged all of them then they headed back to the parlor. Mary, Peggy and Sue went to the kitchen to start Christmas dinner soon they were joined by the younger girls and Cassie. Mary put her hands on her hips, “We don’t need this many cooks today. Cassie, you can stay, the rest of you go back to the parlor Tell Laura, Julie, Tiffany and Meg to come and help. Lord knows there will be plenty of farm chores to do tomorrow so enjoy today.”
Laura and the others joined them and soon the kitchen was full of talk and laughter.
The kids game in carrying their ice skates, “We’re going out to the duck pond for a bit.” Debra told them.
“Just be careful out there.” Laura said.
She watched them with a smile for a few minutes then went back to work.
Outside large snowflakes began to fall and the wind gave a gentle whistle. Music rang from the parlor and the sound of laughter drifted down the hallway and into the kitchen. It was a Christmas that had been filled with love and magic.
On the edge of the farm Queen Shea gently laughed at the scene before her, “I’ll be thinking that there will be plenty more Christmases like these to come.”
The End
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