A Christmas on Grey Mountain

Christmas on Grey Mountain

By

Delbert McGill

Chapter 1

Laura West looked up at the sound of one of her Christmas ornaments hitting the floor.  She saw Scamp, her black and gray mutt about to pick up the brightly colored yarn-covered ball. She put down her writing pad and gave the dog a stern look, “Scampy, no play!” She said.

Scamp, gave her a pitiful look then scrambled back to his bed. Laura got up out of her chair and rehung the ball. The tall blue spruce nearly dominated the large picture window.  It filled the room with the odor of fresh pine. She straightened a few ice cicles then sat back down.  She picked up her pad and pencil then began to write.

Laura didn’t like using typewriters or word processors. She believed that using a pencil gave her more flexibility.  Tiffany Vane, her agent and cousin, often kidded her that she really belonged in earlier time than the one she has been born into.  Laura didn’t care, she loved writing and if her publisher had to wait a little longer that was their problem.

Laura glanced out the window at the huge snowflakes falling outside. The remoteness of the farm and its peaceful aura produced a warm feeling deep inside her soul. For Laura the farm was her refuge and her home. The book tours and workshops her craft demanded took its toil and so returning to the farm was really coming home.

For all its warmth and charm, it was at Christmas time that the farm became a magical place.  Laura’s most cherished Christmas memories happened at the farm.  As she watched the snow fall, her mind wondered back to the simpler time of her youth.  She could see her father and uncle playing chess.  She could smell the scent of spices, baking cookies, cakes and pies from the kitchen.  She could hear the laughter of herself, her twin sister Julie, her cousin Tiffany and her younger siblings and cousins as they decorated the tree.  She wept has she thought of her family scattered across the country.

Laura, Julie and Tiffany had been handfuls when they were growing up. Their outrageous pranks had become stuff of local and family legend.  If three of them were together, you could bet, they were up to something.  Their newest scheme however was born from their hearts. It had been a rough year for everyone in their families and they believed they had the perfect cure.

It had been Laura’s idea but Tiffany and Julie had jumped into it with both feet.  An old fashion Christmas on Grey Mountain was what everyone needed. This was especially true since they had restored the farm.

The sound of Tiffany parking her truck in the snow-covered driveway brought Laura back to the present.  She stretched her arms and went to the door.  Laura had missed many of  the family reunions because of a book tours. The last one was for her latest novel, Logan Harbor Nights.  Laura thought of all the years that had passed since the family had gathered at the farm. If everything went according to their plan, love and joy would again fill the farm.

Tiffany stood at the door with an arm full of presents. She looked at Laura and laugh, “Well can I come in?”

“You had better, Tiffy. I’ve got some hot cocoa and one of my Christmas Cakes ready.”  Laura replied.

Tiffany stepped inside and looked around, “Good I’m cold and hungry.  You and Hank have done a great job on this place.”

Laura laughed, “Mostly Hank, He’s a talented craftsman.”

Tiffany arranged the gifts under the tree, “Well, am I going to be seeing the huge Viking while I’m here?”

Laura’s eyes sparked as she helped Tiffany, “I’m sure you will.  He’s finished the sleigh and he takes good care of Lightfoot and Midnight.  While I get you a slice of cake and a cup of cocoa, keep an eye on Scampy.  He seems to think that my homemade yarn balls are his toys.”

“Make it a big slice Laurie.  I’ll watch this mutt like a hawk.” Tiffany giggled.

Tiffany watched her cousin disappear into the kitchen.  She wondered how Laura would take the news she had to tell her.  The story was nonsense but it would still hurt Laura.  Julie and Tiffany had tried to defend Laura’s privacy as much as possible but it had done little good.

Laura could see the concern in Tiffany’s face has she handed her the cake and cocoa.  Laura sat back down and looked at Tiffany, “What’s the matter, Tiffy?”

“Laurie, someone has outed you.” Tiffany said.

Laura blinked and stared at her cousin, “What?”

“Some gossip magazine claims you’re a closet lesbian.” Tiffany explained.

“Evidently, they haven’t seen my closet.  I’m not so what’s the big deal?” Laura chuckled.

“Nigel and Rogers were worried.  Logan Harbor Nights was number one until that item appeared.” Tiffany said.

“That novel was a difficult one to write and it didn’t set well in some quarters.  It was one attack after another on that tour.  The story of Jan’s short tragic life really deserved to be treated better than that. It’s all water under the bridge.  So who outed me?” Laura asked.

Tiffany shook her head, “Julie and I tried like the Dickens to find out but hit a stone wall.  I gave the name of the publication to Eric Taylor and he’s ready to sue, he just needs your ok.”

“Well you can tell Eric that I will see them in Judge Harper’s courtroom.” Laura said.

“Your Mom didn’t take it to well and my mom was spiting tacks when the American Scandal tried to interview her.” Tiffany said.

Laura chuckled, “I can well imagine, Aunt Peggy is one plain-spoken lady.  Guess what?”

Tiffany looked at Laura with a twinkle in her eye, “Let’s see you’ve given up writing, nah I can see your pad and worn pencil.  I know you’re writing a cookbook!”

Laura shook her head and laughed, “No, I’ve heard from everyone but Ric, and they’re all coming.”

A twinge of sadness came into Tiffany’s eyes, “It won’t be the same without Dad or Uncle Mike.”

“I Know Tiffy but I think everyone needs this.  Our Christmases here at the farm were always so special for all of us.” Laura replied.

Tiffany composed herself and walked over to the tree, “Ric still hasn’t answered?  Well if anything came from that outing thing was that it took Julie’s mind off him for a few weeks.  Between protecting your reputation and getting the old Smuggler’s Meadow Inn ready to open she hasn’t had much time to think about her problems.  I can’t believe that she still misses that self centered jerk.”

Laura got up and walked over to Tiffany and looked at her sternly,  “Julie was just as self-centered. For what it’s worth, he’s having second thoughts.  I ran into him on the tour and that man is lonely but he’s matured too.  He wants to come home but doesn’t know how.”

Tiffany sighed, “You’re right, Julie is as much to blame.  It takes two people to make a marriage. Both put their petty needs before the other.”

Laura sat in front of the tree.  Tiffany joined her. Laura moved a yarn ball higher up out of Scampy’s reach. “Just how was Julie able to afford that old inn?”

“Well if you would come to more reunions, you would already know the answer.  Natasha Quilby, she and Julie are partners.  You remember the gossip mill had it that Natasha had a hundred million transferred from her old bank in LA to Logan’s Harbor Savings and Loan. It must have been true. She has bought the old lighthouse and the old theater.  She had made the old theater into her art gallery.  She’s a talented artist and her paintings are in high demand.  Between her paintings, yours and Raven St. Clair's novels, our little town is turning into a tourist Mecca.”

Laura looked at her cousin and giggled, “My Novels?”

Tiffany laughed, “Don’t crack jokes. Laurie, your novels and short stories are a big part of it.  You’ve helped revitalized the town.”

Laura sighed, “At what cost?  How are Debbie and Barbara doing?”

Tiffany shrugged her shoulders, “It’s hard to say, On the surface they’ve handled Ric and Julie’s separation pretty well.  They’ve pitched right in and helped with the inn.  In reality, Babs tries’ not to show it but that girl is hurting.  Debbie is hard to read but I think she’s been a real trooper.”

“Deb is a lot like Julie, she got a lobster’s hard shell but deep down she’s hurting.  How did you and Julie keep them from finding out about our plans?” Laura said.

Tiffany laughed, “What, you mean two thirds of the three cavaliers not being able to keep a secret. Laurie, you know we have a legacy to protect. It was easy, we just kept them so busy that they didn’t have any time to be nosy.”

“How’s the rest of the family doing?” Laura asked.

“Well Peter and Meg had a few problems but they’ve finally got it all worked out. Faith and Terri are doing well with their book store.  Greg and Susan are doing ok in Boston but I know Greg is home sick.  Maybe he can convince that Boston Brahman wife of his to move to Logan Harbor.” Julie answered.

Laura giggled, “Now Sue is about as far from a Brahman as you can get.”

Tiffany nodded in agreement, “She’s pretty level headed.”

Laura looked over the tree one last time and shifted a few more balls, “How is Mom and Aunt Peggy doing?”

“Their good old New England horse sense finally has kick into high gear.  Mom and Aunt Mary are back to their old selves.  You remember how they were after Dad and Uncle Tom died. They were down in the dumps one day then the very next happy as clams. You haven’t gotten much of a chance to see them since you’ve become a best-selling author so you really couldn’t tell.” Tiffany answered.

Laura sadly nodded, “Well I’ve told my publisher that I would be taking a long sabbatical now that Logan Harbor Nights is behind me.  I’m physically and emotionally drained after that last tour. I stayed a couple weeks last spring at the Appleton Inn to help The Hawkins sisters get the old cottage garden back in shape.   I’m glad that Mom and Aunt Peg are doing great.”

“I stayed there on Columbus Day weekend last fall.  Jessie, Gina and Janine and their brood has turned that old gilded age eyesore into a nice homey country inn.  A lot of the college coeds from Rosemont stay and work there.  It is beautiful and relaxing.”

“What is that you are working on now?” Tiffany asked.

Laura looked at Tiffany with a twinkle in her eye, “Logan Harbor Days, It’s about me, you and Julie.” Laura said.

“Uh oh not about when we were growing up!” Tiffany said in surprised.

Laura laughed, “You’ll like it Tiffy.”

Tiffany looked at her cousin, “Well I hope you left out a few things.”

Laura laughed, “not one thing.  Don’t worry I’ll let you and Julie read the manuscript when I’m done.  It will just be based on the three of us but it is fiction.  I needed to write something humorous after Jan’s story.  I will have a lot about this farm.”

Tiffany laughed, “Then be sure to include the prank we pulled on Greg with his fancy hair tonic.”

“It wasn’t for the fact that he could smell and knew what we had done that prank would have worked.” Laura laughed.

“How are you doing with your new firm?”

“I have now it where I can move back to Logan Harbor and let my partner run the day to day things.  I will just have one account from now on and that is yours.”

“So you’re retiring from the daily grind.”

“Well I’m calling it a sabbatical but that’s what it will be. Mom and Aunt Mary are coming up day after tomorrow.””

Laura smiled, “Well, at least  I can keep control of my kitchen for another day.  We modern women will have a whole day to do some baking.”

“So when did you decide about your job?”

“At the Inn.  There is something about that place that makes you think.”

Tiffany looked at Laura with a serious expression. “Laurie, please tell me what Doc. Greer had to say about the hard knot on your back?”

Laura looked at her cousin, “Well except the benign lump on my back, I’m strong as a horse.  He did say that I should get it removed.”

Tiffany exhaled in relief, “Are you?”

“I’ll have it taken care of after the first year of the year.  Trust me.  It’s hard to sleep with the thing on my back. It’s getting late and we have a full day ahead of us.  By the way where on the best seller list is Logan Harbor Nights at now?” Laura asked.

Tiffany smiled, “Back at number one, You can thank Chantel Morse for that. She did a whole show on that whole thing.  She raked the publisher of that rag over the coals.  I didn’t have to say much. I just had to just set back and watch her work.”

“I’m glad that it all worked out.  Well tomorrow is going to be a busy one.  Julie and the girls will be arriving ready to work and we will open the front parlor and move everything aback into it.  Tiffy, I just hope it’s perfect.”

“From the little bit I saw last September at our planing session. The restoration was well on its way to getting there.”

Laura went to the fireplace and spread out the coals.  “It’s time for bed.”

Tiffany shook her head, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite.  I’ll see you in the morning.  I want to wash the plate and our cups.”