Pilgrim Village Mystery (2 page)

“Are all of these the original buildings from long ago?” Jessie asked.

“No,” Linda said. “Some are the buildings from Heathcliff's farm. Others were built much later but were made to look just like the old ones.”

Linda led them around the ring of buildings, telling the children about each shop. She ended the tour in front of a small building that said “Print Shop.” A man with a round friendly face and brown hair pulled back in a pony tail was just closing the door. He was wearing navy blue knee-length pants, white knee socks, and a full white shirt with a long gray vest over it.

“Eric,” Linda said. “I'd like you to meet a very old friend of mine, James Alden,” she said, gesturing to Grandfather. Eric shook his hand. “And these are his grandchildren, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. This is Eric Childs.”

Eric shook hands with each of the children.

“The Aldens have just arrived, and they'll be staying here for the week,” said Linda.

“What do you do here, Mr. Childs?” Mr. Alden asked.

“Please, call me Eric. I'm a historian.” Seeing the puzzled look on Benny's face he explained, “I study history — things that happened a long time ago. Here at Pilgrim Village, I run the print shop.”

“What's that?” Benny piped up.

“It's where books, newspapers, and posters are printed,” Eric said. “Come by tomorrow and I'll show you. Would you like that?”

“We sure would,” Jessie said, answering for all of them.

“Why don't you join us for dinner at the tavern?” Linda asked Eric.

“I'd love to,” he said, walking with them across the green.

“Your grandfather has told me what good workers you are,” Linda told the children as they walked. “So I've been thinking, instead of just visiting Pilgrim Village, how about really being a part of it? Each day you can help out in one of the shops. You'll learn how to print, weave, make pottery, just the way they used to long ago. What do you think?”

The children's sparkling eyes and eager smiles answered Linda's question, even before Henry said, “That sounds great!”

“There's a cabin right here on the green where you can stay, and I'll give you costumes to wear,” Linda added.

“See,” cried Benny. “We
are
going back in time!”

The children were very excited about helping out at Pilgrim Village. Grandfather also thought it was a wonderful idea. But when Violet looked over at Eric, he didn't seem pleased. He was walking very slowly, and had a strange look on his face, as if something were bothering him.

Violet was about to ask him what was wrong, when Linda said, “Here's someone else I'd like you to meet.” A woman with wavy reddish-brown hair was crossing the green. “This is the newest member of our staff, Shelly August. She starts work tomorrow.” Linda introduced each of the Aldens, and then Eric. As Shelly stretched out her hand to shake his, Violet noticed that her beautifully manicured nails matched her red suit perfectly.

“Shelly,” Eric said stiffly. “Pleased to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you also,” Shelly said with a polite smile.

“I'm sorry but I must be going now,” Eric said. He turned abruptly and began walking back toward the print shop.

“I thought you were going to have dinner with us,” Linda called out.

“Yes, well … there's something I have to take care of.…” He walked quickly away without another word.

“I'd better be going, too,” Shelly said. “Big day tomorrow!” She headed off in the opposite direction.

“That was odd, wasn't it?” Jessie said. “Eric seemed to be having such a nice time, and then suddenly he wasn't.”

“Yes, and did you notice how he and Shelly looked at each other? Almost as if they already knew each other,” added Violet.

“That's impossible,” Linda said. “They would have said something.”

“Not if they didn't want anyone to know,” Henry said.

“But why wouldn't they want anyone to know?” Linda looked puzzled.

“Don't worry.” Mr. Alden chuckled. “My grandchildren are always looking for mysteries to solve. I'm sure it's nothing. Let's go eat. I'm getting hungry, and I know I'm not the only one.” Grandfather grinned at Benny.

“I'm starving!” Benny said.

Grandfather put his arm around Benny and gave him a squeeze. “That's my Benny!” he said.

“Then let's get going!” Linda led them across the green and into a large building with a sign that said “Red's Tavern.” The restaurant was filled with people. Everyone seemed to be talking and laughing, enjoying themselves. Candles flickered on the long wooden tables, and at the far end of the room a fire crackled in a large stone fireplace.

“Mmmm!” Benny said. “It sure smells good in here.”

“Yes, it does,” Jessie agreed.

“And just wait until you taste Red's cooking,” Linda told them. “He's been the cook here since Pilgrim Village opened.”

A waitress in a long skirt led the Aldens to a table. “Hi, I'm Lisa. Welcome to Red's Tavern.” She pointed to a chalkboard over the fireplace. “There's the menu. What can I bring you?”

“The chicken pot pie is Red's specialty,” Linda said.

“Sounds good to me.” Grandfather looked around the table at the children, who nodded their heads in agreement. “We'll all have chicken pot pie.”

When the food arrived, everyone ate eagerly. The Aldens had had a long day of traveling, and the hot chicken stew was delicious. It had big chunks of chicken, potatoes, and carrots, and a light, flaky crust. For dessert, there was warm apple pie.

When the last bite of pie had been eaten, Grandfather sat back in his chair. “What a delicious meal. The chef is wonderful!”

“I'm so glad you feel that way,” Linda said. “Excuse me a moment.” She got up and headed to the far side of the restaurant and through a swinging door. In no time she was back, and beside her was a large man with gray hair and a gray beard. A clean white apron stretched across his round belly.

“So these are the Aldens,” the man said. “Linda told me to cook up something special for you.”

“Are you the cook?” Jessie asked.

“Sure am. Red Sullivan at your service,” he said.

“The food was great,” said Henry.

“Glad to hear it, my boy,” replied Red.

“Is Red really your name?” Benny wanted to know.

“It's my nickname. I used to have bright red hair, back when I was your age,” Red explained.

“When you first came here your hair was red,” Linda pointed out.

“That was a long time ago,” Red said thoughtfully, stroking his beard. “Pilgrim Village was just a quiet little place then.”

“It certainly isn't quiet anymore,” Henry said, looking around the tavern.

“You should see it at Thanksgiving,” Red said. “But that is a few weeks away, so I guess you won't be here.”

“Isn't it wonderful how popular the village has become?” Linda said proudly. “In fact, if we keep doing this well, we may be able to expand.”

“I don't think it's so wonderful,” said Red. “We don't need more tour buses filling up the parking lot, dumping even more people on us.”

“Oh, Red,” Linda said. “You don't mean that.”

“Yes, I do,” Red insisted, his face flushing.

“Maybe we could help you in the kitchen,” Violet said, trying to change the subject. “You could show us how you make that delicious apple pie.” The children had cooked while they were living in the boxcar, and they still enjoyed making meals for themselves.

“I don't need more tourists,” Red said angrily, “and I certainly don't need any children in
my
own kitchen!” He turned and headed back to the kitchen in a huff.

CHAPTER 3

Smoke!

“W
hy'd he get so upset?” Jessie asked as the Aldens got up from their table and left the tavern.

Linda sighed. “It's not your fault. Lately Red has just been a little bit … touchy. I don't know what's bothering him.”

“We'll cheer him up!” Benny said.

“I hope you can. But in the meantime I'd better get you children settled,” Linda said. “I'll take you back to your cabin and give you your costumes.”

The Aldens stopped at their car and got their suitcases. Then they went with Linda to a small log cabin at one end of the green. There was a lantern on the front steps. Linda lit the lantern with a match, and led the children inside. By the flickering light of the lantern, the children saw they were in a square room. Across from the door was a large stone hearth with a cast iron pot hanging in the center. A simple wooden table stood in the middle of the room. On either side of the room was a door leading into two smaller rooms.

“Jessie and Violet can sleep here,” Linda said, leading the children into the small room on the left. There was a double bed with a wooden frame, fluffy pillows, and a patchwork quilt pulled over it. “And the room on the other side has a double bed for you and Henry,” Linda told Benny.

“Did Thomas Heathcliff live here?” asked Benny.

“No, he lived in the farmhouse at the other end of the village,” Linda said. “This little cabin was for his guests. And it's still used just for extra-special guests.”

“It's wonderful!” cried Violet.

“It reminds me of the boxcar days,” said Benny.

“If you need anything, I sleep in the apartment over my office, which is right next door,” Linda said.

“We'll be fine,” Jessie assured her. “We like being on our own.”

“Now that you're settled, I'm going back to my hotel,” Grandfather said. “I'll meet you at the tavern at lunchtime tomorrow.”

“See you!” Benny said, giving his grandfather a big hug.

“Good night!” the other children called out as Linda and Grandfather closed the door behind them.

The Aldens woke up the next morning to sunlight streaming through the tiny windows of their cabin. Linda had given them colonial costumes the night before, and the children put them on excitedly. The blouses and skirts fit Jessie and Violet perfectly. “Look how cute you look!” Jessie said, helping Violet tie on her bonnet.

Benny put on his shirt and his breeches, which were a little bit too long. “These were the smallest pair Linda could find,” Henry said.

Jessie rolled the breeches up at the waist, and fastened them with safety pins she had in her suitcase. She was very organized and always came prepared.

Henry looked quite handsome in his blue breeches and vest. “Don't forget your hat, Benny.” He handed his brother the three-cornered hat. Benny had just finished buckling his shoes, and was jumping about in his new outfit.

Linda had told them to go to the print shop that morning and help Eric.

“What about breakfast?” Benny asked as he helped Jessie smooth the quilts over the beds.

“Remember we saw that little bakery yesterday? We can get something there,” Violet suggested.

“But I don't remember where it was,” Benny said, following the others out of the cabin.

“I think we should be able to find it pretty easily,” Jessie said, breathing in deeply.

“We'll just follow our noses!” said Henry.

Sure enough, the Aldens could smell something delicious drifting their way. They walked toward the scent, and soon found themselves in front of the small bake shop. Over the door hung a wooden sign shaped like a loaf of bread, and through the window they could see baskets of fresh-baked rolls and muffins on the countertop.

Each of the Aldens bought a muffin: corn for Jessie, cranberry for Henry and Violet, and blueberry for Benny. The woman behind the counter also sold them cups of milk, although she explained that in colonial times, they would have had to milk their own cow.

“I'm glad we don't have to do that,” Benny said.

The Aldens sat on a bench outside the bakery and ate the warm muffins and drank the cold milk.

After breakfast, they headed to the print shop, which was on the other side of the green. The children wondered if Eric would be as friendly as he had been when they'd first met him. When he'd left them the night before he hadn't seemed friendly at all.

The Aldens were relieved to find that he was happy to see them. “Welcome!” Eric said cheerfully. “Ready to learn about printing?”

“We sure are!” said Henry.

“First put these on so that you don't get ink on your clothes.” Eric handed each of the children a large, heavy apron. “Today I'm printing posters to advertise a special harvest picnic this Saturday at noon on the green. There will be lots of games and prizes, and plenty of food, of course. But before we can start printing, we need to decide what the posters should say, and how they should look.”

Eric set the children up at a table with some paper and pencils, while he talked to some visitors who had just come in. When at last the Aldens had agreed on the design, they showed it to Eric.

You're invited!

HARVEST PICNIC ON THE GREEN

Contests, games, prizes, and plenty of food

Saturday at twelve o'clock

Please come and enjoy the fun!

“That looks great,” Eric said. “Now for the next step.” He pulled out two large flat wooden cases. The cases were divided into lots of little compartments that were filled with metal blocks. Eric reached in the top case and took a block from the upper left-hand compartment. On one side of the block was the letter A. “You see, each of these blocks has a letter on it. This upper case holds the capital letters. The lower case holds the small letters.”

“Is that why they're called ‘upper case' and ‘lower case' letters?” Jessie asked.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is,” said Eric. “These are called blocks of type. You'll take the type from these cases and lay them in this metal tray.” He showed them an empty metal tray on the counter. “First you'll need a capital Y for ‘You're' and then a small o and a small u and so on. Once all of the type is arranged in this tray, you roll ink over the tray, and put the tray in the printing press.” He motioned to a large machine. “But I'll show you how to do that later.”