River's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters Series (10 page)

Anna grinned and nodded. "You have a good day, Henry."

"You too, Anna Pearl." He tooted his whistle then slowly backed out, turned around, and chortled on up the river.

Anna picked up the heavy box of groceries. No longer feeling so fearful over finances, although she knew last night's unexpected teapot treasury wouldn't last forever, she was curious to see what kind of goodies Babette had ordered for her.

"Let me set this food in the shade,"Anna called out to Hazel, "then I'll help you get your things to the cabin."

With the box on the covered porch, she hurried back to get some of Hazel's things. "I cleaned it up a little," she said as caught up with her.

"I hope you didn't go to any trouble, dear. I'm perfectly capable of cleaning."

"It was actually kind of fun. I'd never seen the place very cleaned up before. My grandmother was a good old soul, but housekeeping was not her strong suit."

Hazel chuckled. "Nor mine. I think your grandmother and I would've been great friends." She stopped by the door. "In fact, I hope we shall be—I believe friendship can transpire generations." She nodded to the sign above the door. "Pearl's Oyster Shell?"

Anna chuckled. "I thought I'd name it . . . in Grandma's memory."

"Did I hear Henry calling you Anna
Pearl?"

"For your grandmother."

"Pearl's my middle name." She set down a bag to free her hand.

"I heard later on that my mother hadn't been too pleased. It had been Daddy's choice. Mother picked my first name and Daddy picked my middle one, it was already on the birth certificate before Mother could change it." She turned the doorknob.

"Your father certainly must've thought highly of his motherin-law."

"Oh, he did." She swung the door open wide. "Here you go."

"Oh! My! Word!"
Hazel dropped her bags to the ground and walked into the cabin as if entering into a fine palace. "What on earth happened?"

"I hope you don't mind." Suddenly Anna was worried. Perhaps she'd ruined the authenticity or history of the place. Would Hazel be upset?

"Of course, I don't mind. This is absolutely wonderful. Goodness gracious, you may never get rid of me now." She walked around examining every last detail, exclaiming and gasping as if the entire place was made of silver and gold. Now she turned and clasped both of Anna's hands in hers. "My dear, you are a wonder. A delightful wonder. How in heaven's name you accomplished all this in just a couple of days." She shook her head. "I am dumbfounded."

Anna laughed. "My friend Babette helped me. You'll have to meet her."

"I should say so."

"Make yourself comfortable and I'll have some lunch ready for us in about an hour. Does that sound all right?"

"That sounds like pure perfection."

Anna's feet felt light as she walked back to the house. It had been so long since anyone had appreciated her like this. It was like a tonic for the soul. She wondered how things might've been different if her mother-in-law had been more like Hazel or Babette. Perhaps Anna would still be happily slaving away for her mother-in-law now. However, she was thankful not to be back there today. She could imagine the household with dirty dishes and musty laundry piling up, dust and clutter growing, tempers rising. No, she sighed, she would much rather be here on this bucolic stretch of the peaceful Siuslaw River. And the longer she could stay here, the happier she would be.

Nosing around on her parents' property—no, she reminded herself, it was her property now—felt a bit like a treasure hunt. Whether she was browsing through the random merchandise in the store, picking through the attic, or even going through a closet in the house, she found all sorts of unexpected things— some familiar, some not. However, one thing became quite clear—her mother never threw anything away. Whether it was old letters, old clothes from when Anna was small, a broken phonograph—it was still here.

Anna supposed this kind of pack rat tendency was a result of the Depression years, and although there were some things that really needed to be tossed or burned (and that pile was growing steadily), there were many other items that she was hugely relieved to see preserved. Also, it gave her a very good excuse to remain here for a week or two longer than originally planned. She had work to do in regard to her parents' estate. Even Eunice wouldn't be able to argue about that. And, as everyone knew, these things took time.

Also there was her guest to care for. After Hazel's first night in the cabin, Anna had felt a bit concerned. Because it was summer, staying warm enough hardly seemed a problem, but what if the bed was uncomfortable?

"Did you rest well?" she asked Hazel as they sat down to breakfast. For Hazel's first breakfast, Anna had gone all out with eggs, bacon, and even sourdough pancakes (thanks to the starter Babette had left in her refrigerator yesterday).

"Oh, my, yes. I don't know when I've slept so well. Certainly much better than I slept at the hotel. So quiet and peaceful. I have absolutely no complaints. Pearl's Oyster Shell is divine."

"And you don't mind using the outhouse?"Anna asked with hesitation.

Hazel chuckled as she poured syrup. "It's a very nice outhouse. It even smelled clean."

Anna smiled. "I did give it a scrub down. And I honestly don't think my grandmother ever used it. Or if she did, it was rarely. And, of course, feel free to use the indoor bathroom anytime you like."

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. Now, tell me, why did your grandmother never use the outhouse?"

"She had several places back in the woods that she preferred. It had been my mother's idea that she needed an outhouse. Naturally, Daddy didn't argue. We'd switched over to indoor plumbing by then, but there was still an outhouse for the store customers to use, the one out back. And Daddy didn't mind making one just for Grandma, but she always thought it was silly."

"And bathing?" Hazel picked up a piece of bacon.

Anna shrugged. "I honestly don't know. But anytime you want a shower or bath, please feel free to come to the house. In fact, if you'd be more comfortable staying in the house, there's plenty of room, as you can see."

"No, I'm perfectly comfortable in the cabin. I'm afraid you'll have a hard time prying me out of there. You know how stubborn an oyster shell can be if it doesn't want to be opened."

Anna laughed as she filled their coffee cups. "Well, Daddy did put on a wooden bolt to lock the door from inside, so I guess you can barricade yourself in there if you want to."

Hazel stopped with her fork in midair. "You know, Anna, I think I heard a bear last night."

"Not surprising. There are lots of black bears around." She buttered her pancakes. "I hope that won't worry you. My dad always said they were more afraid of us than we are of them. That is, unless you come between a mama and her babies. Then you need to watch out."

"Yes, I know all about that. And having bears around does not bother me in the least. I thoroughly enjoy all forms of wildlife. In fact, I hope to see one before I get done here." She took a bite of eggs. "What a lovely, lovely breakfast, dear. But you better be careful."

"Careful?"

"You treat me too well and I will never want to leave this place." Hazel got a thoughtful look. "You know this location would be a wonderful spot for an inn. Have you ever considered that?"

Anna felt a surprising rush of excitement run through her." An inn?"

"Yes. I'm sure you'd have no problem finding customers. The east coast is full of little B and Bs."

"What's that?"

"Bed-and-breakfast." Hazel paused to sip her coffee. "An inn of sorts, where only the morning meal is served. However, out here, you might need to do more than just one meal. Perhaps you'd be a B and B and D. Let your guests fend for themselves for lunch."

"But I'd only have the cabin,"Anna pointed out. "It would be a rather small inn."

"Unless you rented rooms up here in the house as well. Or perhaps you'd make rooms in the lower level, where the store used to be. Or you could always have more little cabins built. Wouldn't that be lovely, come to think of it? A line of sweet little cabins, just like the Pearl's Oyster Shell, right along the river. I think I would become a very regular customer here." She forked a piece of pancake. "And I would tell all my friends."

"That's a very interesting idea." Anna's mind was beginning to whirl now. "And it would be a way for me to bring in some income and be able to keep this place."

"You were considering selling it?"

Anna frowned. "I'd hate to sell it."

"I should say so. But if you do consider, please, let me know. I wouldn't want to see something like this getting into the wrong hands."

"Like some of the other places around here." Now Anna confessed her fears over the timber industry and what it was doing to the land and the river and the delicate estuaries. "So many of the birds I used to see around here . . . I have no idea where they've gone."

"That is sad. But this unfortunate phase won't last forever."

"I hope so. That's usually the way it goes. After the lumber people move on—and I suspect they will—it will be up to people like you to help the land and the river to heal again."

"You think this is a phase?"Anna felt a small surge of hope.

"To heal again—"Anna rolled those words around in her mind. "I like the sound of that."

Hazel smiled. "I suspect you have a healer inside of you."

"What do you mean?"

She waved her hand over the cabin. "You took something that was ailing and in need of help . . . and you made it better. You, my dear, are a healer."

Anna felt a rush of pride and wonder. "I hope that's true. I usually think of the river as having the power to heal me. I wish I could help it to heal too."

"You will if you remain here."

Suddenly Anna remembered what Henry had said about her mother fighting to keep the log barges off this part of the river, how having a business along with a working dock may have helped her cause. "But if I did as you said, if I made this place into an inn, I wonder how much money it would bring in. Would it be profitable enough to support me?" She knew she was thinking out loud now and, feeling embarrassed, she tried to brush it off. "Really, it's not your concern, Hazel. You've given me something to consider."

"I don't see why you couldn't open up an inn, Anna. This land belongs to you. I assume it's paid for—unless there are liens or additional mortgages. Are there?"

"No. The lawyer told me it's free and clear . . . and all mine.""In that case, I do hope you'll hold on to it, Anna. I think the land would serve you well—just as you would serve it. Speaking of innkeeping, we need to settle on the rent for the cabin."

"Oh—"Anna waved her hand. "You're my guest here, Hazel. I don't want to be paid."

"Nonsense!" Hazel frowned. "You're a businesswoman now. And I gave it some thought and I believe the cabin should be worth at least as much as the room I had at the hotel—"

"But you don't even have a real bathroom."

"No matter. It's a much nicer place. And then I'd add on to that the cost of three meals a day, that is if you plan to serve three meals—I don't want you to feel that—"

"I'm used to cooking three meals a day. And I'd be fixing for myself anyway. Really, it's no trouble."

"In that case, would you be willing to accept ten dollars a day?"

"Oh, no, that's too much!"Anna was shocked.

"You obviously don't go on vacation much."

Anna laughed. "Vacation?"

"I'll tell you what, how about if we agree on a weekly rate of $65. I will not settle on a penny less. Otherwise, I will not sleep well at night, Anna. And I would expect your dear grandmother to come back and haunt me for attempting to cheat her granddaughter."

"But I—"

"Please, Anna." She set down the box and stuck out her hand. "As my father would say, we're burning daylight here. Let's come to an agreement on this so that I can get to my work."

Anna shook her hand. "OK . . . then I agree."

"And I will write you a check for the first week in advance."

Knowing it was useless to argue with this woman, Anna simply nodded. As Hazel left, Anna realized that Hazel's check, combined with the teapot savings, was more money than Anna had ever had in her possession before. For a brief time, she'd hoped to inherit a little something after Adam's death—just enough to get her and Lauren on their own, to break free of Eunice's iron grasp. And while some insurance money had gone into a college savings account set up for Lauren, there had been nothing left for Anna.

At least that's what Eunice had claimed. She'd even shown her a stack of paperwork, after discovering Anna's plan to meet with the lawyer. But Eunice had gone to great trouble to lay it all out, showing Anna line after line of Adam's expenses in the final years of his life, as well as the expenses associated with Anna and Lauren. On top of that had been his funeral expenses. There was no denying that it appeared that anything Adam received from the government had been eaten away down to the last cent (and more, according to Eunice). "Just be thankful that I'm willing to keep a roof over your head," she had told Anna, "And that I can provide food and clothing for both you and Lauren and myself. All I ask in return is a bit of housekeeping. I'm sure you must agree that is more than fair." Naturally, Anna had to agree. What other choice did she have? By then, Lauren was accustomed to living in a large comfortable home, wearing the fanciest clothes, going around in the nicest cars, and having friends from the "best" families, not to mention the prestige of being part of an influential lumber family like the Gundersons.

Hazel asked Anna to pass the butter, stirring Anna out of her private reveries. "You probably already knew that many of the coastal tribes, including yours I'd guess, were matriarchal societies."

"Matriarchal—doesn't that mean mother or maternal?"

"Yes. A matriarchal society is one where the women not only have equal rights to the men, but the line of heritage goes through the women. For instance, when property passed, it went from mother to daughter."

"Really?"Anna warmed up Hazel's coffee for her.

"I guess you could consider your family a matriarchal one as well. It sounds as if your grandmother passed this property to your mother and she passed it on to you. You, Anna Pearl, are part of a Siuslaw matriarchal society."

Anna grinned as she picked up her coffee cup. "Well, to think of that."

After breakfast, Anna showed Hazel the box of things her father had saved from Grandma's cabin after her death. "I'm not sure what all of these mean or if they're valuable, but feel free to take them back to the cabin to go through if you'd like."

"Oh, my!" Hazel's face looked luminous. "I feel like a child on Christmas morning! Oh, my, oh, my!"

"And if you learn more about these things, the uses or the origins, I'd enjoy knowing more about them myself."

"And you shall, my dear. Do you mind if I take photos of them? I'll be very careful with them. And I'll make sure to mark all my photos as to the ownership of the actual artifacts. I can even give you copies if you like."

"Yes, I'd appreciate that. Then if I decide to give anything to museums, I'll have something to remember them by."

"Oh, I can't wait to get to work." Hazel wrapped her arms around the box as if it were a fragile infant.

"Do you want me to carry it down for you?"

"Oh, I'll be very careful with it, I promise. Don't worry; I'm used to handling valuable pieces. And I've even got some museum gloves with me."

"Museum gloves?"

"To ensure that oil or dirt from my hands doesn't harm anything."

Anna had to laugh. "Well, I remember my grandmother's hands and, trust me, they were usually not terribly clean."

"No matter. I will treat these pieces with great care—with the respect that is due to them."

"And I'm still looking for the stories my father wrote down."

"Oh, yes, I can't wait to see those."

"We can be thankful my mother never threw much away. Although it does make it a challenge to find things now."

"Well, I do appreciate all your efforts." Hazel's eyes lit up." And I almost forgot. I called up someone to give us a hand with the electricity and telephone. I figured you wouldn't know any more about these things than I do."

"Thank you, Hazel." Anna felt worried now. Even though Hazel had offered to help with these expenses, she couldn't expect her to cover everything.

"Now I see those little frown lines creeping onto on your forehead, dear. And I do not want you be concerned about the cost of these improvements. As I already told you, it's the least I can do for your hospitality. Besides, I'm the one who needs the benefits of these silly modern conveniences. Both my electric typewriter, which I must admit is a timesaver, and my recording machine require electricity to operate. And without those tools, I am greatly challenged. To have access to a telephone is probably not an absolute necessity, but I would appreciate being able to reach the university library should I need anything sent out here."

Anna sighed. "All right, I won't worry about that anymore."

"Thank you."

"But I will go look for those stories."

"Perfect."

It was close to noon by the time Anna unearthed two of her father's notebooks containing Grandma's stories. Stuck in the middle of a box of old store ledgers, they would've been easy to overlook and possibly dump. She was thankful that hadn't happened. She peeked into the first one, trying to make sense of the odd spelling. But since she'd promised to have lunch served by one, she knew there wasn't time to decipher the words. So she just dusted the black notebook covers and set them on the table by the door. She couldn't wait to see Hazel's face when she saw they'd been found.