Land Sakes (34 page)

He corrected her. “Marvin.”

“Okay, Marvin. I do understand, but I don't know how I can manage without you.”

“You've been good to me, Mrs. Winchester, and I will always be grateful, but...” He placed his hand over his heart. “I don't feel good in here living this lie. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yes. I think I do. Have you been reading the Bible you bought?”

“I've read the Gospel of Matthew, but it's raised more questions than it's answered.”

The phone was ringing. I answered it.

“Hello, Esmeralda? It's Roger Elmwood.”

“Oh, hello Roger. How are you doing?”

“I'm doing well. Esmeralda, Mabel wants to speak with you a minute.”

Mabel was so excited she could hardly talk, telling me how happy Live Oaks was that I was safe—how Pastor Osborne had held special prayer services for my release, etc., etc. I thanked her—told her I'd tell them all about it someday.

Then Roger got on the line again. “Esmeralda, yes, we are all thankful that you're okay. We want to hear all about it later. Right now I have some important business to discuss with you. Are you free to talk?”

“Yes, I'm free.”

“The board has asked Nancy to be the director at Priscilla Home.”

“Oh, that's fine. You couldn't have picked a better person.”

“Yes, but she will only accept our offer on one condition.”

“What's that?”

“Nancy said she will take the job only if you agree to be the resident manager.”

“You mean housemother?”

“Well, whatever. The same job you had before. Now, I know these younger board members let you go because they thought you were too old for the job, but you know me well enough to know I never thought that.” He chuckled. “After all, I'm about your age, and I'm still going strong.”

I was quiet, but what was welling up inside of me was pure joy! I could have danced a jig!

“Well, Esmeralda, you don't have to give me your answer tonight, but—”

“Roger, count me in. I'll be back in two weeks, maybe in ten days.”

“Thank you, Esmeralda. I'll call Nancy right now and give her the good news. In the meantime, keep in touch and if there's anything we can do for you, let us know.”

“Okay, thank you, Roger. Good-bye.” And I hung up.

“What was that all about?” Winnie asked.

“They want me back at Priscilla Home.”

“Are you going?”

“Yes, I am.”

Her face fell.

“Winnie,” I said, “I'm taking you with me. Priscilla
Home is where you need to be. With Albert teaching the Bible, you'll find all the help you need in Jesus.”

She stared at me. I don't think she could believe what I had just said.

“I mean it, Winnie. You're going with me.”

She got up out of her chair, came over to me, and hugged the breath out of me!

Marvin smiled. “What about me? I'd like to study the Bible. Do they take men?”

“No, but I think I know a way to get you what you're looking for.”

“How's that?”

“Albert Ringstaff, our Priscilla Home Bible teacher, lives up the road from us. He and his wife, Lenora, have a large house and another small guesthouse. The last time I talked with him he asked me to be on the lookout for a man who can drive and who can also do the yard work. Would you be interested in that?”

“You say he's a Bible teacher?”

“Yes, and a very learned one, I might add. You two would get along good.”

I could practically see what was turning over in his head. “What will we do with Desi and Lucy?”

“I think the Ringstaffs would welcome them. The women at Priscilla Home also need a dog; two would be even better. Lucy and Desi will be no problem.”

“Then you call him. Ask him if the job's still open.”

I did call, and Albert remembered meeting Marvin the day he came to Priscilla Home and showed Albert all about the Rolls.

“Bring him on,” Albert said. “We really need him.”

“And he needs you, Albert.”

So, it was settled. The next day we flew out of Juneau for Vancouver. There was not a peep out of Winnie about being afraid of flying. She and I were in big seats up front, and since there were no other passengers sitting up there, I was humming. Winnie heard me, and she started singing the words. “Dem bones, dem bones... Now hear the Word of the Lord...”

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to Tod Benoit, author of
Where Are They Buried? How Did They Die
?, for information on deceased persons and burial sites, and to John Heilig and Reg Abbiss, coauthors of
Rolls-Royce: The Best Car in the World
, for descriptions of the Mulliner Park Ward Touring Limousine. Dr. Bradley Bethel of Laurinburg, NC, shared his personal experience as an owner of a Rolls-Royce.

The following individuals graciously corresponded with me concerning the
Amsterdam
, flagship of the Holland American line: Christopher Wilson, Erik Elvejord, and Hilda Cullen.

Of the four five-star hotels visited in this novel, explanations of facilities and services were given by Mike Gregory, Karen Hunter-Lowery, and Jeffrey Zimmer of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Nashville; Kate Duffy of the Peninsula, Chicago; Shannon Short of the Grand America, Salt Lake City; Ms. Joanna Tsparas and Lisa Irwin of the Wedgewood, Vancouver, Canada.

The greeting card poet, Arthur Reimer, wrote the poems
attributed to Mrs. Winchester. Nancy Daughtry, one of my former students, served as research assistant.

My longtime friend, Alvera Mickelsen, critiqued the manuscript and improved it immeasurably. My sister, Jennie Free, an avid reader, helped by giving me a reader's viewpoint on this story.

Joyce Hart, my agent, and the hardworking professionals at Baker Publishing Group have done more for Esmeralda and me than words can tell. Thank you, one and all!

Margaret A. Graham
is the author of seven nonfiction books, one work of juvenile fiction, and five novels. She conveys her deep love of the Scriptures as a speaker, Bible teacher, and newspaper columnist. Graham resides in Sumter, South Carolina.