Wildflower (11 page)

A few hours later Keith and Wanda Pike were
walking along the beach chatting easily. Suddenly the door to
Abby’s house banged open and a mattress slid down the steps to the
ground. Abby wiped her forehead, and, smiling brightly, waved at
them. “Cleaning house are you?” called Wanda as they walked up to
her step.

“Trying,” laughed Abby as she wiped the sweat
from her forehead. “I am now regretting that I didn’t use that gym
membership more often.”

“Are you throwing this out Abby?”

“That and more Keith, I have way too much
furniture in this house and much of it has to go.”

“Aren’t you going to try to sell it?”

“Under different circumstances I might Wanda,
but I really want to get this place ship shape as quickly as I can.
I need to get squared away so I can work, and I want to have the
rest taken care of before I start. Once I get to working I know
everything else will get pushed to the back burner.”

“Would you consider donating what you don’t
want?”

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Not me love,” laughed Wanda, “our church.
Sometimes folks are in need for one reason or another and we try to
have a few things available, if you see what I mean.”

“The church is welcome to whatever I don’t
want,” replied Abby easily as she leaned against the doorjamb. “Do
they have some way of picking it up or do I have to find a way to
deliver it?”

“I’ll take it away for you Abby,” smiled
Keith. “Do you need any help in there?”

“Sure do, come on in and I’ll put the kettle
on.”

As she led them inside Keith saw the box
spring on the stairs. “Is that going out too?”

“Yes sir, you have no idea what I went
through to get it that far.”

“Just leave it there for now Abby, after we
have tea I’ll bring my truck and take it away for you.”

“That would be absolutely wonderful Keith.
Come on up and I’ll show you what I have in mind for the place.”
She led the way upstairs where she showed them the empty room and
the colors she was going to paint. Abby took them to each room and
explained her intentions as she went. Each piece of furniture had a
paper taped to it with its designated room written there. “Anything
I don’t think I have a use for has no paper taped to it.”

Abby also explained that she wanted to
incorporate as much of Bride Murphy’s life as possible. “It seems
to me that someone should recognize her contribution to the world.
She had a lot of very beautiful clothes and I am thinking I might
just get some of them altered to fit me.”

“Now Bride would be thrilled to hear you say
that,” laughed Wanda. “She always believed that a person should
dress as well as she could afford. Bride used to say that being
well dressed made you feel a lot better, and that made the days
more enjoyable.”

“I remember the first time I heard her say
that,” mused Keith. “It was years ago and they had just moved in to
the house. Bride came out dressed as though she was ready for
church, but she was just hanging out the wash. My father observed
that she was a bit over dressed for the task and she laughed at
him. ‘I’ve just had a row with my sister,’ she said, ‘and this is
my way of getting back at her. I feel so good dressed like this,
and I am having such a wonderful time, it will surely drive her
nuts when she finds out.’ It never did make any sense to me.”

“It makes perfect sense to me Keith,” smiled
Abby, “and I shall heed her advice well. I will get some of her
nicer things taken in to fit me. Do you know a good seamstress
Wanda?”

“I’m a fair hand with a sewing machine myself
Abby. I’d be glad to help you.”

“Perfect,” laughed Abby as she led the way
back to the kitchen. “I’ll put the things I want to keep aside in
some of those old trunks, and when we’re bored to tears this winter
we can take them out and play dress up.”

After they had tea Keith came with his truck
and hauled away two loads of furniture Abby did not want. There was
still a lot of extra left, but Abby wasn’t quite sure of what she
wanted to keep and what to dispose of as yet, so they decided to
let it go at that for the time being. Abby started her painting
that day and several days later Keith drove her into the city with
his truck where she bought a new bed for her room. Once it was set
up, he helped her carry the rest of the bedroom furniture back and
put it into place. Wanda came to inspect and was amazed as she
looked into a lady’s boudoir from several centuries past.

Thrilled with their praise for her decorating
efforts, Abby asked them to help her empty out the second large
bedroom. Some of the furniture went down to the living room, some
into the bathroom and some into Abby’s bedroom. This room would be
ready within a few days and Abby was pleased with her progress.
That night she slept in her new bed, made up with bed linen that
she had dried on the outside clothesline that very day.

Luxuriating in the feel and sweet scent of
the freshly laundered sheets, Abby allowed her fingers to caress
her body and release her tension for the first time since before
she’d gotten pregnant. Allowing the afterglow to carry her gently
into sleep, Abby dreamed she was walking along the beach beside a
tall dark haired woman. There was such a feeling of loving warmth
between them, and Abby smiled in her sleep.

Assuming she’d dreamt of Bride Murphy, Abby
recounted her dream to Wanda over tea the next day. “Oh dear no
Abby,” laughed Wanda. “I have no idea who you were dreaming of, but
it surely wasn’t Bride Murphy. Bride was fair like you and perhaps
just a bit shorter. No dear, that could not have been Bride.”
Puzzled, Abby shrugged it off and returned to her favorite subject
these days, home decorating. Later that day Harry’s cheque arrived
in the mail. Abby was shocked to see the amount. She called him
that evening, but all he would say was that she had earned it. When
she cashed the cheque she realized that all her renovations and
upgrades on the house had just been paid for by her former
employer. Better yet, he had another contract for her. Life was
good.

Autumn was in the air and Abby was beginning
to slow down and take it a bit easier. She’d finished painting the
whole house with Keith’s help and she now had the place furnished
to her liking. She had opted for a new couch and chair, albeit of a
much older style. She’d kept the piano, and, after it was
thoroughly dried out, she’d had it restrung and tuned. Her plan was
to take lessons through the winter.

Abby still had a wealth of old things to go
through, but the bulk of it all had been cleared away and the house
felt quite homey now. Many of the old dressers were now in the
basement acting as catchalls and room dividers. All the old drapes
and other odds and sods had been donated and dutifully carted away.
The fireplace had been blocked up and a brand new air tight wood
stove stood there now, anxiously awaiting the first really cold day
as an excuse for a fire. Old Mr. Murphy’s study had been
transformed into her office and all that remained was to relax and
enjoy. Abby planned to do just that.

Singing softly to herself as she finished
cleaning up her dishes, Abby decided to dress up a bit before going
to Pike’s Cove to collect the mail. She had a fresh proposal to
mail priority post and she decided to look like a business woman
when she did. Dressed in a fresh navy blue suit and matching heels,
her hair pulled back in a bun, Abby was almost intimidating as she
stepped into the small general store and post office. What she
heard stole away her smile and brought a frown of annoyance to her
exquisite face.

“Come on, you guys need a dog, you know you
do,” begged a child’s voice.

“Not that dog b’y,” came Alfred Barnes
response. The Barnes Brothers had done a few odd jobs for Abby over
the summer and had come to worship her. Like puppies, they lit up
at her praise and cowered at her displeasure. They were about to
incur her displeasure again.

“But you gotta take him,” begged the child.
“Someone’s got to take him or Dad’s going to shoot him. Come on
Freddie, you know you need a dog.”

“That dog’s way too ugly b’y,” laughed
Alfred. “Better to shoot him.” There was a general round of
laughter from the others present at that comment.

“If we shoot things for being ugly, then
you’re in far more danger than that dog Alfred Barnes.”

Alfred spun around as though he’d been stung
by a wasp, cringing away from that cold voice. One look at her and
he moved even farther away. “Teasing a child, Alfred, shame on you,
that was quite unworthy, even of you.”

“Awe Miss Abby, we wuz just havin’ a little
fun wid de young un’,” whined Alfred, not meeting her eyes.

“Leave me out of this Freddy,” hissed Henry
as he pushed his brother away, “‘twas all your doin’.”

“Yes, I’m quite sure you were no help at all
Henry,” said Abby coldly. There was a snicker through the locals
gathered there, but they fell silent as she swept her baleful gaze
through the room.

“How about you ma’am?” the child’s voice
asked right beside her. “You’re Miss Abby MacKai, and you live way
out on the point. You need a dog for protection, you know you do.
You could take him ma’am.”

“Now why would I want to do that?” Abby asked
much more gently as she turned to smile at the young boy. He was
holding the dog by the collar and it was truly a sight. Abby
thought the dog looked like it had been built by a committee.

“Because you need a dog ma’am and he’s the
best dog ever,” enthused the child. “He’s really smart too, he
knows tricks and everything.”

“So why are you trying so hard to get rid of
him?”

“Because Dad’s going to shoot him today,”
replied the boy, tears filing his young eyes. “We’re moving to
Ontario tomorrow, and we can’t take him, and nobody wants him, so
Dad’s going to shoot him. I’ve asked everyone, and nobody will take
him, and....” He was starting to cry now.

“Whoa now, easy there,” soothed Abby gently
as she patted his shoulder and passed him a tissue. “Nobody’s going
to shoot such a handsome fellow as this, I won’t allow it. I’ll
take him, but I have some important business to attend to right
now. You take him outside and make sure he has done all his doggy
chores, before I put him in the car. Ok? You wait by the car with
him until I come out, then we’ll do the deal. Go on now.” She
gently shooed the boy outside then mailed her package and bought a
small box of dog biscuits, as well as a few cans and a big bag of
dog food.

“You’re not really going to take that flea
bag, are you Miss Abby?”

“No Henry,” she replied easily, a cold smile
at the edges of her lips, “these are for you and Alfred the next
time you’re out my way.” There was a full round of laughter at
this. She grinned and winked at the girl behind the counter as she
paid for them then went out to meet her new friends at the car.

“Has he done his business?”

“Yes ma’am,” replied the boy proudly, “a one
and a two.”

“Very good, now what’s his name?”

“His name’s Hubby ma’am,” replied the boy
eagerly. He was thrilled to have found a home for his buddy.

“Hubby? Now however did he get a name like
that?”

“Mum called him that,” sighed the boy. “She
said he had ears just like Daddy so she called him that. It sort of
stuck to him.”

“I see,” grinned Abby. “Is he house
trained?”

“Yes ma’am, and he knows tricks too. Hubby
sit.” The dog obediently sat with a look of anticipation on his
face. “Now shake hands with Miss Abby, and be nice. You’re going to
live at her house now, and nobody will ever shoot you ever ‘cause
Miss Abby will protect you.” The dog raised his paw and looked at
Abby expectantly.

Smiling, Abby shook his paw and introduced
herself. “I’m Abigail MacKai,” she said softly, “and I am well
pleased to make the acquaintance of such a distinguished looking
gentleman.

“Has he been neutered, had all his
shots?”

“No ma’am,” replied the boy softly, dropping
his gaze to the ground. “It costs way too much money, and...”

“It’s alright, don’t worry,” soothed Abby as
she gently patted his shoulder. “I just want to know what I have to
do for him so he will have a long and healthy life, that’s all.
Here, take this card with my name and address on it. When you get
to your new home, you can write to me and I’ll send you pictures so
you can see how Hubby and I are getting on.”

“Yes ma’am,” breathed the boy as he gazed at
the official looking card in his hand.

“How old is Hubby?”

“Six months ma’am, he won’t grow too much
bigger than he is.”

“I think you are trying to snow me sir,”
grinned Abby. “By the size of those paws I think he has some
growing to do yet. It’s alright, I don’t mind if he gets bigger, I
have a big house, and lots of room for him to play outside if he
wants.”

“You hear that Hubby?” asked the boy as he
gazed into the dog’s eyes lovingly. “You’re going to live with Miss
Abby, and she will let you play on the beach and everything. Man
you’re going to have it easy; I have to go live in the city and go
to school.” Suddenly tears filled his eyes and he hugged the dog
fiercely. “Good bye Hubby, you be good for Miss Abby now.” He
suddenly released the dog and ran away.

Abby held the leash tightly as the dog tried
desperately to follow the boy. Finally he stopped struggling as he
realized someone was calling his name. He turned to see the woman
holding his leash and talking to him in a soft soothing voice. The
dog whimpered and turned to the direction the boy had taken, but
she held him fast. Finally he gave it up and turned back to her.
She was still talking to him softly. “Hey big fella, can I bribe
you with a biscuit?”

The dog looked at her quizzically as she took
a dog biscuit and pretended to eat it. “Mmmm, mmmm, is this ever
good,” she grinned as he started to show interest. He slowly
approached her, but she turned away and continued to make noises as
though she was truly enjoying her treat. Intrigued, the dog came
around to face her, trying to see what she had. “So, can I bribe
you with a treat?” she asked again. “Want some?” He began to wag
his huge tail so hard it began to wag him in return. “Ok, sit
pretty.”