The Mandie Collection (45 page)

“I'll see to your luggage,” John Shaw offered as he remained standing.

“I hired a rig, and the driver dropped it inside your front hallway,” Lindall Guyer said, standing up. “I'll go with you.”

As the two men left the parlor, Mandie glanced at her grandmother, who was silently staring into the flames in the fireplace.
So Lindall Guyer had been to Grandmother's house years ago
, she thought.
They must have been friends back then. What happened to make Grandmother dislike him?
She sure would like to know.

“Have you decided about a college? Are you coming to New York to attend one?” Jonathan asked Joe.

“No, that place is too big for me,” Joe replied. “We're still looking, but not in New York.”

Mandie noticed how the two boys were looking each other over. She knew she was going to be miserable with both of them around. Glancing at her grandmother again, Mandie saw that she was not taking part in the conversation among the other adults.

Feeling the tension rising between the two boys, Mandie suddenly remembered her box. She jumped up, went over to the table where she had put it, and brought it back to show to Jonathan.

“Look at this,” she told him as she removed the lid. “Someone wrapped this stuff up like a gift and left it on the doorstep with my name on it yesterday.” She held the box out to him.

Jonathan looked but didn't take the box. He shrugged his shoulders and asked, “Well, what is it supposed to be?”

“I don't know, but Joe and I decided it must be a treasure map of some kind,” she replied.

“You mean
you
decided that. I was only teasing when I said it must be a treasure map,” Joe reminded her.

“Well, anyhow, we've been outside with it, trying to figure out if these tiny little trenches in the dirt could represent roads,” Mandie said, indicating the places in the box. “And these ribbons must be landmarks or something to mark the way to whatever or wherever the treasure is.” She looked at him.

Jonathan was grinning as he replied, “You figure it all out, not me.”

“Oh, you're acting just like Joe. He doesn't want to help, either,” Mandie said with a big sigh as she looked at Joe.

Joe laughed and said, “I didn't say I wouldn't help. I said I'd go along with you while you solve the mystery.”

“When are you beginning this search, or whatever you wish to call it?” Jonathan asked.

“This afternoon,” Mandie said. “That is, if it doesn't snow. We have to go to church this morning, and then after we come home and eat, we can begin. Are you coming with us?”

“Well, you know, I'm not very good at such stuff,” Jonathan said with a big grin.

At that moment Aunt Lou came to the doorway to announce, “Miz 'Lizbeth, breakfust is served.”

Elizabeth rose and replied, “Aunt Lou, thank you. Could you please find Mr. Shaw and Mr. Guyer and tell them for me?” She sat back down.

“Yes, ma'am,” Aunt Lou answered and went on down the hallway.

“So that was Aunt Lou?” Jonathan said.

“Yes, that was Aunt Lou. Sooner or later you'll meet all the people who live here,” Mandie told him.

“I've heard so much about them I feel like I know them already,” Jonathan said.

“But we don't have nearly as many people working here as you and your father do,” Mandie said. “And all our people speak southern English, no foreigners in this house.” She laughed.

“And no southerners in our house,” Jonathan replied.

“Just what little time I was there I couldn't understand half of what those people in New York were saying,” Joe remarked. “They talk too fast and with their hands.”

“How is Angelina?” Mandie asked. She was a runaway girl in New York who had claimed a dog that had wandered into Jonathan's backyard during Mandie's visit at Thanksgiving time.

“Oh, she's fine,” Jonathan replied. “But she still wants to claim Whitey, and I have to keep telling her the dog's owner gave him to me.”

At that moment John Shaw and Lindall Guyer came back into the parlor.

“I heard the food is on the table,” John said to Elizabeth, who immediately rose from her chair.

“Yes, let's go in before everything gets cold, shall we?” Elizabeth said, looking about the room at her guests.

After they were all seated at the table and conversation began again, Mandie noticed that her grandmother was still not participating. Evidently she was awfully upset with the presence of the Guyers. Mandie dreaded the thought of the lady catching her alone and venting that anger on her.

After the meal was over, Uncle Ned left for his home, promising to return. Everyone went to their rooms to dress for church services. Mandie hurried through changing her clothes, planning to come back down to the parlor to meet Jonathan and Joe. She hoped her grandmother would not stop her on the way.

She was brushing her hair when someone tapped on her door. Her heartbeat quickened as she called, “Come in.”

The door slowly opened, and Liza slipped inside the room, closing it behind her. She put her finger to her lips, signaling to be quiet.

“What's wrong?” Mandie asked in a soft voice.

“I ain't s'pose to be heah,” the girl told her. “But I jes' had dis heah idea after I dun seen dat Noo Yawk boy.” She came closer to Mandie.

“Liza, what are you up to?” Mandie asked with a laugh.

“I ain't up to nuthin, Missy 'Manda,” Liza replied as she placed her hands on her thin hips. “But like I was sayin', I knows whut we kin do 'bout dat Miss Sweet Thing.”

“I have to hurry, Liza, and get back down to the parlor,” Mandie said as she pinned her hair up. She would be wearing a hat to church.

“Well, dis won't take but a minute if you'd jes' listen,” the girl
insisted as she followed Mandie to the wardrobe, where Mandie took down her best coat.

“Then tell me what you're talking about, Liza,” Mandie said. “I have to get back downstairs, and come to think of it, you'd better be getting ready yourself for church.”

“Dat won't take but a minute,” Liza said. “You see, I been thinkin' 'bout dat Noo Yawk boy. I think dat Miss Sweet Thing might roll her eyes at him. He ain't bad lookin'. What do you be thinkin' 'bout dat?”

Mandie smiled as she looked at Liza. “You sure come up with some ideas,” she said as she took her hat out of the hatbox in the bottom of her wardrobe. “So you believe Polly might be interested in Jonathan. Now, tell me how that matters to me. If she wants to be friends with Jonathan, that's all right with me.” She stepped in front of the mirror to put on her hat and secured it with a large hatpin.

“Don't you even unnerstand whut I be tellin' you?” Liza asked. “Dat Miss Sweet Thing git to rollin' dem black eyes at dat Noo Yawk boy, den she leave doctuh's son alone.” She grinned at Mandie and danced around the room.

“Liza, I can't make Polly like Jonathan,” Mandie insisted. “She will probably be hanging around during the holidays anyway because Joe is here and I'm home from school.”

“Den maybe dat Noo Yawk boy will like huh,” Liza said. “And maybe dey won't follow you and doctuh's son around.”

“We'll see,” Mandie replied, trying to end the conversation. She picked up her coat and gloves and headed for the door. “Liza, you had better go get dressed for church or Aunt Lou is going to be awfully put out with you.”

“I see you aftuh church,” Liza promised as she darted out the door and down the hallway ahead of Mandie.

Mandie smiled to herself as she went down to the parlor. Liza seemed more interested in matching up boys and girls than she was in finding a boy for herself. And as far as Mandie knew, Liza had never had a boyfriend. She was older than Mandie and was old enough to be interested in boys. But Mandie knew Liza had been orphaned when she was small, then Aunt Lou had taken her under her wing, and Aunt Lou could be awfully strict sometimes.When Mandie got to the parlor, she found Uncle John and Dr. Woodard already there. She was about to sit down when Joe and Jonathan
came in together. She noticed they were walking along together but didn't seem to be engaged in any conversation. She wished they would get to be friends because they were both her friends.

“My, my! You absolutely look beautiful! What did you do to yourself?” Jonathan teased as he and Joe sat down near her.

“I only put on my Sunday clothes, Jonathan Guyer,” Mandie replied with a big smile. “What have you done to yourself? You look different somehow.”

“Oh, I am different,” Jonathan answered, grinning. “I changed clothes, too, and even combed my hair.” He patted the dark curls on top of his head.

Joe had been listening and watching but had not said a word. Now he spoke. “I've been outside,” he said. “It still looks like snow.”

“I hope it doesn't snow before Uncle Ned comes back with Morning Star and Sallie,” Mandie remarked. “They might have a rough journey across that mountain.”

“But then after they get here, I hope it snows for Christmas,” Joe said.

“It snows so much in New York that it usually doesn't miss a Christmas,” Jonathan said.

“But if it snows, we won't be able to get out and see if we can figure out that treasure map,” Mandie reminded them.

“I wish I knew who sent you that mess,” Joe remarked.

“Why?” Mandie asked.

“Because I'd make them explain what it's all about,” Joe replied.

“Well, don't you like treasure maps? The way Mandie tells me things, I thought you both liked treasure maps,” Jonathan said.

“But we don't know that that thing in the box is a real treasure map,” Joe said.

“We'll just have to study it and work on it to see what it is exactly,” Mandie said.

“I would say I'd help you, but I don't know anything about treasure maps,” Jonathan told her. “I've never had one.”

“Be thankful you haven't,” Joe said. “These things cause a lot of hard work and trouble, and they're not always worth it.”

“Oh, they're a lot of fun anyway, even if you don't find much of anything at the end of the trail,” Mandie said. “We'll work on it this afternoon if it doesn't snow.”

Mandie secretly wondered if that thing really was a treasure map, but she wouldn't admit that to anyone. It would give them something interesting to do together.

Elizabeth, Mrs. Woodard, and Mrs. Taft came into the parlor then, and John Shaw rose to say, “We are all ready and waiting. I believe it's about time to go.”

When they got to the church, Mandie noticed that her grandmother stepped into the pew first with Elizabeth right behind her. Evidently she wanted to be sure she didn't sit next to Lindall Guyer. Mandie found herself between Joe and Jonathan when they all sat down.

The pastor's sermon was about forgiveness, and his voice was loud and clear. Mandie knew her grandmother couldn't help hearing him, although Mrs. Taft's attention seemed to stray to the other side of the church away from the direction of Lindall Guyer. And when they stood to sing hymns, Mrs. Taft sang as she usually did, although she kept her eyes focused on the book.

When the service was over and they returned to the house, Mrs. Taft went straight to her room with the remark that she would be right back.

Mandie knew the servants were not required to cook on Sunday. The meal had been prepared on Saturday, as it always was, and then warmed up on Sunday. Everyone pitched in to help. The servants' church held services longer than their church, so the Shaw family was usually finished when the others came home. Elizabeth was trying to hurry things up, and Mrs. Woodard helped.

Mandie volunteered to do whatever was needed to be done, and she was surprised when Jonathan and Joe both asked to help. Elizabeth had them carry food to the table.

“So many volunteers today,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “Amanda, if you would just go hurry up your grandmother a little bit, we're about ready to eat.”

Mandie's heart sank. “Go get Grandmother?” she asked.

“Yes, just tell her it's all ready,” Elizabeth said. “And hurry back, dear.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Mandie reluctantly agreed as she headed toward the door.

She hurried up the steps and down the hallway to the door of
her grandmother's room. Knocking first, she called through the door, “Mother says everything is ready.”

Mrs. Taft opened the door and stood there looking at Mandie with a frown.

“It's all ready, Grandmother,” Mandie said, starting to turn and leave.

“Wait,” Mrs. Taft said quickly.

“Yes, Grandmother?” Mandie said, turning back to look at her.

“I'm coming,” Mrs. Taft said, closing the door to her room as she stepped into the hallway. “I'm just wondering why your mother didn't tell me she had invited Lindall Guyer to spend Christmas with us?”

“Mother?” Mandie questioned as they walked down the corridor.

“She should have warned me,” Mrs. Taft continued.

“I'm sorry, Grandmother,” Mandie said, suddenly deciding not to tell her grandmother that she had invited the Guyers.

Mandie knew her grandmother wouldn't dare confront her daughter over anything in her daughter's house. So just maybe, as long as Mrs. Taft thought Elizabeth had invited the Guyers, Mandie wouldn't have to worry about it any longer. Yes, she decided, that would be the best solution for now.

CHAPTER EIGHT

IS IT A MAP OR NOT?

When the meal was finished, the adults went to the parlor, and Mandie asked Jonathan and Joe to go outside with her to begin the treasure hunt. She carefully carried the box, and the three young people looked at the mess inside it now and then as they walked along the road.

When they came to the crossroads where she and Joe had been the day before, Mandie stopped and asked the boys, “Which way do y'all think we ought to go?” She held the box out for them to look inside.