“Girl.” Mr. Mason’s deep voice had drawn her back to the present, “You sure you’re it?”
It had been ages since anyone had called her a girl, it made her smile. "Yah, I'm it." she could hardly control the laugh that followed.
If it were possible his face somehow seemed to soften, and he chuckled with her. "Well, Okay then let's get this show on the road." was his response, as he started towards the cab of the truck. "Just follow me."
The girls were filled with questions, as she slid back into the car and refastened her belt. "Doesn't he think you’re old enough to own the land?" Crystal asked.
"He's really a cowboy isn't he Mom?" Shelly asked. Emma had to admit, that he filled his boots well.
"He sure looks like a cowboy to me." she answered Shelly's question first.
"Isn't he going to let you have your land?" Crystal seemed concerned, that this tall cowboy could somehow keep it from them.
"Crystal I think he must have been expecting my Grandma."
"But she's dead. She can't do anything with It." the statement nearly made Emma laugh.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to show him we can take care of the place, Crystal." she really hadn't answered Crystal's question but the statement gave her something new to think about, and in turn would keep her busy for a few minutes. For fifteen she managed to remind Emma every day of the innocents of that age.
She followed him back on the main road and then turned off to the left, right where she’d thought, while standing at the top of the mountain. It seemed to be made of the same material the main road was, smooth to drive on but rough in appearance. After only a short ways, he pulled off to the side and stopped. He then got out of the truck and waved her to do the same, Emma wasn’t sure what he had planned but exited the car just the same. The girl's got out as well this time.
Pausing at the front of the car for the girls, she bent down to touch the strange looking road base. Realizing what she was looking at, Jim started telling them how the Founding Fathers had laid it shortly after establishing their home in the canyon.
"It's the same stuff you'll find all over Europe. At least that's what my father said. He saw a lot of it in the War."
Just as the tips of her fingers touched the ground, there was a flash of light. It was like the first time she touched the china plate. The picture was clearer this time. Several people stood on a long porch, dressed in odd clothing. The men even had on tall black hats. She couldn't see their faces but the large two-story frame home behind them seemed to glow. Light was twinkling from every window and the front door was open. More people could be seen moving around inside, and music was playing, then it was gone. She suddenly felt light headed, and losing her balance she toppled over.
"Mrs. Chase" Jim called, as he raced to her side, but the girls were already there.
“Mom” they both cried. "Are you ok? What's wrong?"
What was she going to say? She didn't want him thinking she was crazy, even before she’d a chance to move there. Shelly solved her dilemma,
"I think it has something to do with her balance. She did this once when we were up in the mountains."
"I get it." Mr. Mason responded, "It’s her equilibrium." He said, and then he spoke very slowly to her. "Mrs. Chase, open your mouth wide."
She did as he’d said, pretending that her ears popped. Then she opened her eyes, insisting she was fine while attempting to sit up, but found a heavy hand holding her down.
"Don't." he said, "Wait a few minutes." Then he stood up and walked to the truck. Crystal was all over her. "Mom, are you okay?" her frantic voice and pail face, made her realize that she was scaring them.
"I'm okay sweetheart." she said softly “Really, I am." With those words, she sat up. Crystal leaned back on her legs, and gave a half-witted smile. She could see Jim headed back towards them with several sodas in his hands.
"If you feel like it, I think you'll enjoy the view from the other side of the truck better." He stuck out his free hand and help lift her to a standing position. Shelly wrapped her arm around her waist, as if she really needed it to hold her up.
"Really I'm okay." She said looking at Shelly, "Thanks for helping me."
After giving her oldest daughter a light kiss on the cheek, they all walked behind the truck and to the far side, where indeed they had a better view. There, positioned above the valley floor, engulfed in the first line of a dense forest, sat the sun harvest gold, two story home of her visions.
Leaning back against the trucks wide wheel well to steady her knocking knees, Emma understood better the strange experience, she’d felt as they had put the sleeping bags into the trunk of the car that morning. The black outline the house cast against the gray sky, had reminded her of something lost or forgotten. She knew right then her life was about to change. Now she was only left wondering what those changes would include. It was obvious that both the china and the house had something to do with her. What the connection was, she didn't know, but she was sure of one thing. She’d have to find out, or risk never sleeping again.
"Are you sure you’re, alright?" Mr. Mason’s voice flooded into her thoughts. She had to act normal, never mind the terror that pulsated through her.
"Yeah, I should’ve brought some gum." she responded pushing herself away from the truck "I'm embarrassed, but not hurt."
"Why embarrassed?" he asked strolling towards a large rock, off to the front side of the truck.
"A …well, you know. Maybe you might think I've been drinking or something." she shrugged her shoulders in response.
"That's your choice isn't it?" he looked sincere. She figured he indulged, or low and behold she’d actually found someone who thought the way she did.
"Mom doesn't drink!" Shelly exclaimed, in her defense, but she was more interested in where Crystal had gone; when she went skipping over the small embankment, she’d quickly disappeared from sight a moment earlier. Stepping forward, Emma realized that her youngest was busy splashing about in a small stream, flowing below. She recalled seeing a small stream but had, had the distinct impression that it ran closer to the middle of the valley.
"Mrs. CHASE." His impatient tone drew her attention right away. Turning to look over to where he’d taken a seat on the large rock, she said,
"Please call me Emma."
"How about a coke Emma, It might help clear your head."
"Thanks, it might help." she sighed as she took a seat next to Shelly on a large flat rock. "I just can't get over the beauty of this place."
"The real question, is, what's a nice girl like you doing way out here?" It may have been a come on line, but he certainly knew how to execute it. Suddenly she wished she’d chosen to wear something besides her old blue jeans, but he wasn't looking at them anyway. His steely blue eyes were locked on hers. Popping the top of the soda, she thought about the question.
"I guess, you could say Family duty." She answered looking beyond his piercing glare, to the house, and then on to scan the horizon.
Large pines protruded from the top of every ridge, below them were aspen trees, almost level with them were groves of fruit trees. The flat lands glistened green and lush. About a hundred feet from where they sat, the road made an abrupt right hand turn arching over a solid rock bridge that spanned the small stream. She could see several smaller building dotting the landscape besides the frame home that sat directly across, a large field from them.
"I still can't believe the beauty this place has to offer." she finished her statement, moving her eyes back to meet his. His expression had changed, his eyes were almost misty and a broad smile wrapped from ear to ear.
"I think you’re going to work out here just fine." He half whispered and even his voice was softer, "Yes sir, just enough spunk, and an eye for beauty. You'll do just fine." he stood up brushing the dust from his backside. It sounded like he’d selected her, from some catalog, the same way the old miner's use to order a bride.
"Mrs. Haager," he went on "did all she could, for a woman of her age that was." His eyes were now scanning the property, as he walked to the road. "You know." he looked back at her questionably "She completed old Johnny's plans for lighting this place."
Standing to follow him up the slight incline, she shook her head. "I don't know anything about the lady or the house."
"Sorry." he quickly turned away, to hide his open-mouthed expression. “I thought—, well Mr. B. said you inherited the place."
"I did." she answered, removing the clip from the back of her hair, allowing it to flow freely in the brisk breeze that had come up, hoping it would cool her face down "But" she paused to rest against the hood of the truck, "Well."
"Either you did or not." He spoke plainly, turning to look back at her.
"Mom got it from her Grandma." Shelly inserted "She didn't even know she was rich."
"Shelly," Emma hushed her, she didn't consider herself rich, and she didn't think it was right to tell family information to complete strangers.
"If you didn't know Mrs. Haager," he looked at her perplexed, and then as if someone had switched a light on, he added "Then you must be the CHATTERTON granddaughter."
The hair on the back of her neck came to a standing salute at the way he pronounced Chatterton. He made it sound like it was haunted, or she was a ghost.
"You can't be." He declared. "You can't be as old as me."
"Mom's thirty seven." Shelly again answered.
Emma was ready to give up even trying to talk. Turning to lay her back against the hood, she contemplated telling him the story of her strange family. If someone today has a child after forty, they say it was planned that way. She wasn't planned and she knew it. Beth and Jake, were planned, she... she was an accident. No one goes twenty years without a child and then decides suddenly to have another one.
"My father was forty seven when I was born." She finally answered.
"Well. I'll be." was his only utterance, as he stepped around her and absent mindedly headed for the cab." You ready to go see this place?"
Looking up at the majestic beauty that over looked the peaceful valley, she drew a deep breath and answered "Let’s Roll.”
After crossing the arched masterpiece, the road turned further to the right. Soon the house was out of sight. The road seemed to be heading more towards the mountain then the house and then from out of nowhere, there was another house. Not the one they had seen from the bridge, but a smaller white house. Still it probably had more rooms then would be required to start a bed and breakfast.
She wondered if this was the house he’d really been showing them, and they had just thought it was the other house. She was sure the large house wasn't white, it appeared to be yellow, or all most gold as they crossed the rock bridge.
Mr. Mason's black truck didn't even slow down as they passed in front of the house. Despite its suitable appearance, Emma released a sigh of relief. Not because the house wasn’t nice, but because she knew in her heart that the other house was the one in her vision. For the first time, she knew, she had a distinct reason to be there. She didn't know what it was but she knew she had to find out.
"Whose house is that?" Crystal asked, but Emma only shook her head, and Crystal understood. The girls had been very quiet ever since they had left the stream.
"Are you girls okay?" she asked while turning to catch a glimpse of them.
"Sure" answered Shelly "It's all so beautiful," she paused for a moment to look at her Mom."I just can't find the words to describe it."
"Dido" Crystal responded with one of her favorite words. Emma found herself feeling that very way, how could anyone give this up for the city? It made no sense to her.
Just then, they turned a sharp curve to the left, and there only a few hundred feet in front of them was the house– as yellow as a sun set in August. The white porch was more like the veranda's she’d read about in the East. It wrapped the two sides she could see, the delicate looking trellis that covered the porch was supported, every ten feet by large white pillars. A railing ran between the pillars, and down the three or four steps near the front door. The door itself was similar to the French doors off her kitchen, but the glass was all stained. So was some of the glass in the large front windows. There were eight windows on the second floor all arched with stained glass in the arch area and there were four small windows above them in the attic but none had stained glass in them.
Mr. Mason pulled to a stop near what appeared to be a sidewalk at one time. She wheeled the car in beside him, but never took her eyes off the house. The front yard was over grown with all sorts of weeds, but she could still identify a few bushes.
Her eyes were drawn to what appeared to be an addition, built on the far right side of the first floor. It had large windows like a kitchen or a family area, the porch ran across it front and again French doors faced the front of the house. However, there was no stained glass, in this area at all. From where they sat it appeared that there were large white sheets draped over the interior.
"MOM, are you coming in or not?" Crystal had already opened the door and exited. Shelly was who asked, as she pushed her way out from the back seat.
Unable to name the emotion that had her heart racing. Excitement or fear, Emma wasn't sure. She knew she couldn't drive all that way, to just to sit in the car. Sitting before her, was her family’s home. She had to find out why her Grandmother had never said anything about it.
"Mom, are you coming?" Shelly glared back at her.
"Sure." she answered, forcing herself to open the door and step to the front of the car. It somehow seemed more inviting from that point of view than it had in the car. Even the knot in her stomach was loosening. A sweet fragrance filled the air.
Mr. Mason had noticed her apprehension. "Emma you don't need to go inside if you don't feel like it right now." She didn't know what she’d done to clue him in on that fact, but she did feel better knowing that he understood her feelings.
"Oh Mom, we have to go inside." Shelly looked disappointed.
"No Shelly," His response was soft but firm. “She really doesn't have to." Quickly he turned to look back at her. His eyes were soft and seemed to have more understanding than she had originally thought. Resting her back against the hood of the car, she stared up at the arched windows.
"Well can we at least look around than?" Crystal asked.
Emma couldn't find her voice so she simply nodded. Within a moment, she was alone with a man that seemed to know what she was feeling even before she did.
"You know” he said as he walked a bit closer “it’s okay. I mean … you seem to be fearful of going inside, and it's okay to be afraid of things you don't know." He stopped only a few feet from her, his voice was comforting in a firm way.
The place had been an awesome sight from the bridge, but there it was over whelming. It must have enough rooms to open a small hotel, she thought, running her fingers through her hair.
"I just can't get over the size of the place. It's …" she had ran out of description words.
"I know what you mean, Kind of strange to find a house like this way the hell out here, Ha?" he responded, turning to rest against the car as well.
"It amazes me how much detail they put into the house's back then, Too bad they don't do that now." she answered, considering what a person would have to go through to build the delicate lace like trim around the roof line.
"Really they just throw them together now days. They don't even take the time to figure how long the house will be in use. This one's been here for over a hundred years, yet it's just as functional as the new ones."
She hoped he was referring to private baths. If she was indeed to be considering the place as an Inn, that would be a requirement. Actually, she was looking at more than the house. She was looking into her own mind. What had her holding back? Reflecting upon the flash picture, she knew she would be fine until it grew dark, but by then she’d have a motel room. No matter if she had enough money or not. She wasn't about to spend a night there alone or even with the girls, until she figures out what the visions have to do with her, no one was going to stay there.
The girls were wondering from one window to another, trying to look inside, when Mr. Mason asked.
"Is it just the size of the place that is frightening you off?" his voice was concerned but the words still sounded like he was calling her a chicken.
"Nothings got me scared!" she exclaimed, righting her-self and squaring her shoulders. She must have looked like a peacock, set for a fight.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I must of got the wrong impression." he remarked, walking towards the front door.
She reprimanded herself, for jumping down his throat. She was trying to build her own courage. She didn't need to snap at him. “Mr. Mason, I'm sorry. You’re right, I'm a bit fearful of going in there."
He stopped and walked back toward her. "It's alright. You've never been here before, and you don't know me from Adam."
"Which Adam?" she remarked trying to be smart. It worked, at least it drew a smile, and again his eyes twinkled.
"Alright smarty pants which Adam?” He chuckled as he continued, “The one on the big continent or the ones in south America and on the islands."
Her face must have showed her surprise in his recognition of the things her Grandmother had told her while sitting on her lap. His eyes twinkled with delight.
"You say you’ve never heard of this place?" She only shook her head, in response. "Then why ask me about the different Adam's?"
"What does Adam have to do with this place? Are you telling me, that—?”
Before she could finish asking if her Great Grandparents might have believed that God had created many Adam to get the world going, Crystal was shouting for her “Come see, Come see Mom.” From the excitement in her tone, she could tell they'd found a place to look in.
They were standing by the addition with the large windows. As she grew closer, she could see that they were looking through a split in the sheet that covered the window. They had carefully positioned themselves, so not to step on the delicate flowers blooming next to the wall.
Taking great care not to crush anything, she pressed her face to the windowpane. Slowly unfolding it's self before her, was the largest room she could remember seeing, at least in a house. It looked more like a restaurant dining room. Even though all the windows seemed to be draped, the room was filled with light, making it Eerie but inviting. The far wall (once the outer wall of the original house) displayed modern floral print wallpaper, and a large fireplace that seemed from where she stood to be open clear through to the front room.
Towards the back of the room, there was a step into another room. The doorway appeared to have been the left over section of an old bay window. Only a few feet further stood the back wall, again probably part of the original home. It was completely covered with shelves enclosed behind glass doors. The other two walls, she noticed as she’d approached the girls, were windows.
Six or seven large wooden, bladed, fans hung from the ceiling. Three tulip shaped light covers were positioned at the bottom of each. The room certainly was inviting, just the sight of it cast warmth over her.
"Mom we have to go inside. We have to." The girls pleaded in unison. Drawing a deep breath, the fragrant blossoms beneath her feet, filled the empty hollow of her soul. Giving her the extra strength, she needed.
Mr. Mason was more than willing to lead them back to the front door and unlock the front door. The house was surprisingly warm, inside the entrance hall the light that managed to get through the sheets on the window, cast dark shadows everywhere. They had to go. Every one grabbed a sheet, and soon dust was filtering through the bright light that flooded the area.
She stood speechless. Although there wasn't a stitch of furniture in the place, it didn't sound or feel empty. Wooden floors stretched as far as she could see, all highly polished, under the dust and cobwebs.
Directly in front of her stood a large staircase, flared at the bottom with a landing and L-shaped, climbing the vaulting walls. From where she stood, she could see several of the rooms upstairs.
A good five or six foot wide, hallway shot back out of sight. She guessed to another hallway at the back of the house by its design. It appeared similar to several homes she’d seen before. The first owners used to build a small house at first, then as funds grew, a larger home would be built directly behind the first, causing a T-shape home to appear.
A rich dark wood paneling covered the walls, directly above her head hung a magnificent crystal chandelier. Through a large arched doorway, off to her left, expanded what probably once was a sitting room. It used to be called that because that was where guests were seated, while the party they wished to see was called. Her Grandmother had said that room was the only proper place, a beau or boyfriend was allowed in the house.
The girls rushed in before her, pulling down the dusty sheets. Windows nearly encircled the front of the room, and French doors directly across from her opened onto a wide porch. Beyond the porch was what appeared to be a garden? Marble slab benches had been carefully placed on each side.
Before she could drink in the view, the girls rushed back past her and into the room on the other side of the hall. Soon light filled that room as well. It took a minute for the dust to clear then slowly before her eyes, developed perhaps the most beautiful fireplace on earth. It must have taken a fine mason, many months to erect such a masterpiece. At first, she thought it was marble, then she realized it was granite. Miraculously a large wooden mantel, adorned its front.
"How?" she uttered, "It must be twelve feet tall."
"I don't know." Mr. Mason responded, “The benches in the garden are made of it too."
Identical bookcases adorned either side of the grand showcase. Technologically, more difficult than the slab it held was the fact, that the fireplace was indeed open on the other side as she had thought. Directing her attention to the front of the house, she was struck by the balance the three windows gave the room. Each separated by an equal distance from each other and from the corners. The stain glass panels in them cast an eerie dance of color about the room.
The wooden floor felt rougher where she stood now than it had in the entrance. She concluded, running her foot from the smooth to the ruff spot, that a large area rug must have lain in that spot for quite some time.
Directly above her hung a simple light fixture, with the exception of the base. The broad plaster base, with delicate rose shapes served as a clue, that it hadn't always been so plain.
Another smaller room jetted off towards the back of the house. As she entered it, the brightly colored rose pattern wallpaper, was what caught her eye. It was nearly the same pattern as the china, and it matched the light base in the front room. From the size and the position of the room, she decided that it must have been the original dining room. She could just imagine a large china hutch, sitting between the two doors on the back wall. A Chandelier adorned this room too.
It was obvious that the extra-large room lying just through the open French doors, was a new addition as she’d thought. She didn't remember them being open, while they had peaked in from outside. Therefore, that meant she would find the girls in there.
A loud piercing scream, rang throughout the house. Instantly she knew it was Crystal, a moment later Shelly yelled "MOM".
Barging past Mr. Mason, she flew in to the large area. It was empty. A quick touch on the shoulder and she jumped. Somehow managing to control the scream, she whirled around to see him, streaking through a door at the end of the glass case, she hadn't seen before. Racing to join him, she pushed the swinging door open and plowed right in to his strong backside. Peeking around his arm, she could see the girls, standing halfway between them and a raccoon, up on its hind legs. Squealing for all it was worth.
"Don't scare it." He commanded. "Now, slowly start backing up towards us."
They didn't need to be told twice. Quickly they too slipped behind him, and she gave each a big squeeze but the little thing didn't need to be asked to leave. It quickly shot across the floor towards the back door and out a hole in the screen.
"What was it?" Crystal exclaimed.
"It’s just a raccoon child." He responded, walking across the kitchen floor to close the door.
Actually, Emma didn't feel like she’d just entered a kitchen, at all. The place looked more like something out of a hospital, Stainless Steel cover every surface.
“That poor little thing was as scared as you were." He went on. "Wonder how this door got open."
"Wasn't us." Shelly proclaimed, "We were looking in the freezers, when it ran out and scared us."
"Really Mr. Jim, we didn't let it in." Crystal backed her sister.
"Oh, I believe you. I just can't figure out why this door was open."
Emma was not paying much attention to what they were saying. She was busy walking from one new appliance to the next, each still displaying the new sticker on its door.
"Holy Cow" Slipped from her lips.
"It’s totally awesome ha?" Shelly responded probably the only one that had heard her.
"Yah" Crystal added, "Beth could even bake a cake in that oven for all of us." She was pointing to a restaurant-sized appliance next to the wall.
"She could feed an army out of this kitchen." Emma stated.
Mr. Mason merely looked puzzled, by their comments.
"My sister Beth lives with us." she added "And since she knows how to cook better than I. She does all the cooking."
"Oh," he said bending down to retrieve his hat from the floor. "I see."
"Why such a big Kitchen" Emma asked as he stroked his hair into place before replacing the hat.
"Well, Mrs. Haager had some pretty big plans for this place"
Pushing a door open on the other wall, they were led down the back hallway, she had been guessing about since entering the house. He then went on to tell them, how Mrs. Haager had planned to turn the estate into a bed and breakfast or a small resort. Including the fact that she’d even gone through the city to get the okay and permits needed.
"She even picked up some furniture from an old hotel in Hawaii, when she was there just before she got too sick to finish the place."
His rendition had carried them through the entire main floor tour. Emma was totally over whelmed by the amount of reconstruction the old woman had accomplished. Each of the bedrooms was small suites, consisting of two large spaces and a bath. The main area had a door opening to the hallway. All had a fireplace with matching bookshelves on each side, and a large window. In the case of the room they were standing, facing the back of the house. The other side of the room had no obvious features, except the door to the bath and of course its own window. Each bathroom was equipped with a shower, in addition to a claw-footed tub. There also was a sink and vanity, which appeared to be marble.
As they neared the front door, again he turned and asked. "What you got planned for the place?" Oh, she had plenty of plans. However, that wasn't going to be the deciding factor, money was her big worry.
"My dad works in a Hotel in Salt Lake." Crystal responded.
"Mom, use to too." Shelly added "till a few years ago."
Trying not to give anything away, Emma added "But it's going to take a lot of money to finish this place." Pausing at the foot of the staircase, she completed her thought "And that is something we don't have a lot of."
"Money!" he chuckled, "You need to talk to Mr. Becksted some more."
What did he mean? Money was one of the subjects she tried to avoid, along with religion.
"How many bedrooms in all." Her question was out of context, and a clear attempt to change the subject, as she pointed up the staircase.
"Twenty or so I think." he answered with a look of puzzlement.
Suddenly her heart started to race. She and Mike had dreamt of this place their entire marriage. At least since, he got his degree in Hotel Motel Administration. But he had never wanted to be the one to own the place. He just wanted to run it.
"Are we going to stay here tonight?" Crystal asked interrupting her mother train of thought. Curling her bottom lip, back against her white teeth, Emma actually pondered the question for a minute before answering.
“I think it'll be better if we get a motel room for the night." She finally answered.
"I won't hear of it” Mr. Mason spoke up "Mom would kill me if I let you do that."
Emma tried to say no, but not too hard, since she had only brought gas money and a couple sleeping bags with them. Reluctantly, she gave in.
The girls skipped down the steps and on to the car, while she stayed on the porch as He locked up. A quick glance at her watch and she understood the rumbling in her stomach, she couldn't believe they had spent nearly four hours looking through an empty house, and hadn't even seen the second floor. Then again, she had taken an