Mountain Junction

** Chapter 12 **

Idyllicus Interruptus

 

Julie and Andre sat at a picnic table in the large circular city park enjoying their lunch.  They had waited at the Inn until Benny Carmack had completed his noon assault on the bells, before setting out on foot for the park.  Ignoring the gazes from onlookers as they walked along holding the hamper between them, they had spent most of the walk discussing who had actually won the race the day before.  Julie simply pointed out that it was André who had shown up with a picnic basket.  She never mentioned that she had packed one for him the day before, and if he remembered, he was not saying.

 

He asked her about her morning, and she told him about the crates of limp vegetables that had come in on the train that morning.  “If Clyde follows through on his offer to grow enough for my restaurant, I will never order from Bakersfield again!” She mused.  “I don’t know what they do to produce on that short trip, but they are more the consistency of licorice whips then broccoli.  And if I order from the other direction — ugh, it’s just disgusting!”

 

“The Parsonage doesn’t have that big a plot.  I could ask Anna if she could spare some from the vegetable gardens at the Maison.  She only uses what she grows herself.  For the same reason you said, just not worded as well.”  He laughed.

 

Julie chuckled at that; from the one time she had met Anna, and the stories she had heard, it was probably best not to ask André to elaborate.  “So, my day has been fairly boring, how about yours so far?”

 

“Oh, pretty much the same as always,” he said.  “The books are all in order, many got a second stab at happiness this morning, and,” he said with a grin,  “I am having lunch with you, Mon Petite Laupin.” 

 

Julie put down her piece of chicken, looking in his eyes for some clue as to what he had called her.  “And what pray tell,  is a ‘Petite Laupin?’” She finally asked. 

 

André smiled. “That, Mon Petite, is for you to find out,” he said, grinning.  “It should keep you hopping around for quite some time.  Unless of course, you tell that dang preacher I said it, he thought to himself. 

 

“He wants me to learn French,” she laughed.  “Well ... if I learn something, then you have to as well.  Perhaps,” she added innocently, “we could teach each other a thing or two.”  The provocative statement caught André off guard to the point where he had to shift on the bench.  

 

“And what, Mon Petite, would you like to teach me?” 

 

“To cook.  Its not fair to ask Anna to cook for us and everyone at the Maison as well.” 

 

André laughed so hard he almost put his elbow in his plate.  This woman, he thought to himself, will never let me get away with anything.  The thought of someone knowing him that well was both daunting and pleasant.  “What makes you think I can’t cook?”

 

“I don’t think it, I know it,” she grinned.   “Mrs. Grimsbe already informed me the day before the social that I was not to accept any food that came from you, because it would really be coming from there.”  André’s incredulous look was not lost on Julie.  “Oh now, had you actually brought something, I would have simply transferred it to one of the Inn bowls or platters, and who would have known?”  He knew somehow, that she was telling him the truth.

 

“So tell me, Mr. Jermond ... do you even know what a stove looks like?” she asked devilishly.

 

“Its that hot thing Mamon told me never to touch.  So I never have.”

 

Their laughter rang through the park as the conversation continued.  As with anything relaxed and pleasant, those who heard it were drawn to it.  Ronny had been walking with Kitten during her lunch break from the school, and Morgan and Hawke had been secluded behind some thick bushes near the gazebo.  Even Steven Carmack had snuck away from the lumberyard to meet his girl Stacey at the swing.  Eventually, André found his lunch for two being eaten by everyone, and the banter between he and Julie replaced by lighthearted conversations, each flowing over the other.  What surprised him was that he was enjoying himself.

 

“Ronny, have you decided what the band will play Friday night?” Kitten asked.  “You know how much I love Beethoven.”

 

“Don’t worry, Kitten, there will be plenty of Beethoven, and I will make sure that someone else directs for at least two of the pieces,” Ron said with a wink.

 

“Tell me I don’t have to wear a collar again,” groaned Hawke.  “I hate those things.  Sunday almost killed me.”  The laughter of the group made Hawke smile, despite his serious tone.

 

“Hey, if I have to wear stays, you have to wear the collar!” Exclaimed Morgan.   Hawke’s eyes twinkled, as he ran his eyes over Morgan’s bodice.  

 

“Well of course you have to wear stays!” blushed Kitten.  “All ladies wear stays.”

 

Julie and Morgan stayed silent.  Both often went without the uncomfortable undergarment; Julie for comfort under her buckskins, Morgan simply because she hated them.  Stacey and Mary, blushing at the mere mention of undergarments in the presence of the men, were concentrating on the biscuits with their lashes lowered.

 

Fortunately, the youth of Steven saved the lunch.  “Ron, I hope your not going to play all that old, boring stuff on Friday.  I want to dance with Stacey, not fall asleep on her.” 

 

“Do you fall asleep on your rendezvous often?” quipped André with a raised eyebrow.

 

“He’s right André, there needs to be something to dance to,” said Julie.  “Something with some life in it.   Right Steven?”   Steven nodded, thankful that Julie did not know what had transpired that morning.

 

“I have some lively pieces in the repertoire, yes,” sighed Ron, “although I have more of those kind of pieces for the brass band.”

 

“Can the tuba player handle those selections?” Asked Morgan.  “He always seems to be on the verge of collapse when he plays.”

 

“I have never seen anyone blow out his cheeks the way he does!” added Stacey.  “I have seen chipmunks with less room in their cheeks!”

 

They were all busy discussing Ron's never-ending battle with a certain purple tuba player, when Mendoza drove up in his wagon.  Julie noticed right away that something was wrong, and got up to meet him half way.  Mendoza walked past her, attempting to gain André’s attention. Taking him aside, he whispered something in André’s ear.  Ashen, André simply nodded and turned to tell Julie to go back to the Inn, but she was not to be deterred. 

 

André quickly pulled himself together.  If he and Julie had any hope of being friends, she needed to understand him, and his business.  Mentally, he was already listing what needed to be done.  First, he had to explain the situation to Julie.  Taking her aside, he quickly told her the situation. “One of the girls at the Maison has been beaten.  She is unconscious in her room, and the doctor is already on his way.  I want you to go back to the Inn.  I have to get out to the Maison.”

 

But she was already at the table, packing the hamper and asking Morgan to take it back to the Inn for her.  André was right behind her.  “Kitten, Ron, Steven and Stacey, all of you need to get back to your day.  Morgan, go to the saloon and open it, and keep your ears open for any information that might prove ...  useful.” 

 

Morgan started to demand an explanation, but was quickly grasped around the waist by Hawke.  “What do you want me to do?” he asked. 

 

André waited until the younger couples were sufficiently out of earshot.  “I want you to go out to the Mai—”

 

Morgan was not going to be put off.  “I want to know what's going on, and I’m not going anywhere until someone tells me something!”

 

Julie was at her friend’s side, seeing something in the men's eyes she didn't understand or like.  Closing the hamper and handing it to Morgan, she simply said, “One of the girls at the Maison is in trouble, and we need to help her, Morgan.”  Before Morgan could argue, Julie continued.  “I don’t know which one, but I will send word to the saloon as soon as I know.  I ... promise, even if I have to come there myself to tell you.”

 

“Miss Julie, you can’t go out to the Maison!” Said Mendoza.  “Is no place for you!” 

 

“Why not?  If someone needs help, it does not matter where they are.  You have obviously never been down at Templeco Mining camp.”  Julie added, hands on her hips. “I’m going.”  She had always been the Doctor’s willing nurse, and she was not going to let anyone stop her from helping if she could.  The reaction to this statement was instantaneous.  André suddenly realized that she was a presence capable of handling any situation that was thrown at her.  Hawke, who had seen shades of this Julie before, was again amazed that she had more guts then most men.  Morgan simply took the hamper, kissed Julie on the cheek and hurried off toward town. 

 

Andre shot instructions at Hawke. “Take my rig, and get out to Anna at the Maison.  Talk to everyone, and have Anna go over every entry in the books.  I want to know every customer who came within arm’s distance of Stella since yesterday morning.”  Hawke balked at that.  “Yes, morning.  Then have her check if any of those people turned up at the Maison last night, or early this morning.  You find out who was protecting the girls last night, and fire them.”

 

Hawke stood stone-faced, listening.  “Tell all the girls to go to their rooms, and stay there. If there are any men left in the parlor or the rooms, send them home, but get two or three of the biggest ones and use them to stand at the main doors to protect the girls.  They might not be the normal protection, but they will make the girls feel safe.”  André sighed and continued on.  “The constable should be there by now, making a mess of any hope of a decent investigation.  Follow him around, and remember anything he takes from her room, or the rest of the house.”  As he turned to walk to the waiting wagon, another thought made him turn again to Hawke.  “Have Anna tell any of the girls who are too frightened to stay at the Maison to go to the Can Can in town.  They can stay in the rooms above the stage, and will be safe there.”  He said quietly. 

 

“If there are more girls than rooms, André, I have space at my boarding house, as well,” Julie quickly added from the rig.  Andre smiled a thank you, realizing for the second time that afternoon what a treasure he had found.

 

Hawke ran toward town to pick up the rig while André pulled himself up next to Julie in Mendoza’s wagon.  They sped off down the street toward the edge of town.  “Where is the Doctor?”

 

“I tell him first, Anna say where to find you.”

 

“Is he on his way?”

 

“I don’t know, I tell him, and then went to find you.”

 

“We pass the clinic on the way out of town,” Julie thought out loud.  “If he is still there, his rig will be out front.  I would imagine he is still packing the supplies he thinks he might need.”  Sure enough, the Doctor was in the seat of his rig, the supplies in the back and getting ready to leave when the three of them pulled up next to him. 

 

While André had a quick word with the Doctor, Julie turned to the red-faced driver.  “Thank you, Mr. Mendoza, for all your help.” 

 

“I want to help Miss Stella,” he said with a blush.  “She a good one. But I still say is no place for a lady like you.” 

 

Julie smiled at him.  “I will be alright Mr. Mendoza.  But I would appreciate if on your way home you stop and tell my stable boy to go and get Delilah from the Inn for me.”

 

Mendoza smiled, nodded, and was off.  André helped Julie into the rig next to the supplies, and settled in next to the Doctor.  They headed out to the Maison in hurried silence.  Hawke had not stopped.  By the time they got to the Maison,  André’s phaeton was already standing in front of the magnificent facade, and a big farmer stood at the large oak door, the shotgun from his wagon at his side.  

 

 André was on the dirt drive and through the front door before the black rig stopped.  The Doctor and Julie quickly grabbed the supplies and were right behind him.  Entering the foyer, the silence was deafening; the life that had filled the rooms just a few hours earlier was gone, replaced with just a few men and girls walking silently up and down the green carpeted staircase.  André was already in the kitchen talking quietly with Anna and Hawke.  The Doctor was talking to a small, red haired women whose large brown eyes were red rimmed from crying. 

 

Julie, temporarily unnoticed, took advantage of that fact to steal glances around the room.  She could not help but be surprised at the normal look of the rooms.  The parquet floor of the foyer gleamed, and the antique grandfather clock, wooden bench and artwork that graced the light papered walls were typical of an aristocratic home.  There was no sign of the gaudy, red, tasteless decor she expected a bordello to have.  Moving as inconspicuously as possible to the pocket doors, she stole a glance into the parlor, and was again surprised at the tasteful decor.  Except for the long oak bar at one end of the large room, the room looked like any other parlor.  Even the upright piano had doilies and fresh flowers on it.  Across the hall was a stately room, its chintz couches and chairs sitting nobly in front of large French windows that opened out to a glorious garden. 

 

A hand reached around her waist to take the supplies she had hugged against herself.  Startled out of her appraisal, she turned to look up into starburst eyes filled with concern.  She couldn’t help but notice a slight smile, however, when André spoke.  “Disappointed, are you?”

 

“I ... it’s ... this is ...,” she stammered with a blush.  She was caught and she knew it.  Finally giving up any hope of finding the right words, she smiled back.  “It’s not what I expected, no,” she said simply. 

 

“Someday Petite Laupin, I will tell you its story,” André said.  “But now, lets see how we can help the Doctor.” 

 

The three of them followed Angel silently up the green staircase.  Between the rectangular widows on the first landing was a large oil painting of a women in a deep burgundy dress, her black hair piled high on her head, diamonds at her throat.  She wore a haughty expression, as if she resented being made to stand still.  In the background was a house that looked almost exactly like the Maison, surrounded by lush green lawns and thick trees.  Julie looked at André.

 

“My sister, Adele.” 

 

They walked down the large hallway, past the closed doors of the bedrooms of the girls.  At the end of the hallway was Stella’s room.  The door was slightly ajar, the sounds of someone moving around softly filling the hallway.  Angel turned to André as they prepared to enter the room. 

 

“I’m staying Messy-ore, in case you need me.”  The look she shot at Julie was lost on no one.

 

“Thank you, Angel,” André sweetly intoned.  “I’m sure Anna will appreciate your help.”  Angel, disappointed with his answer walked past the three of them, and entered her room.  The others turned and entered Stella’s room, led by Doctor Hanson. 

 

 

 

Chapter 1 ... André
Chapter 2 ... Julie
Chapter 3 ... Clyde
Chapter 4 ... The Welcoming Party
Chapter 5 ... Sunrise
Chapter 6 ... Tabletop
Chapter 7 ... The Race
Chapter 8 ... Missed Lunch
Chapter 9 ... Something To Chew On
Chapter 10 .. Back to Business
Chapter 11 .. House Work
*Chapter 12 .. Idyllicus Interruptus
Chapter 13 .. House Repair
Chapter 14 .. Day’s End
Chapter 15 .. TBA
Chapter 16 .. TBA
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