From the Ashes by Bill Thomas

Author:Bill Thomas
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: White Feather Press
Published: 2011-11-16T04:30:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Darcy found the library just as Mrs. Woods had said. When she walked up the concrete steps and opened the door, she knew right away she was in a library by that unmistakable old book smell. She walked to the front desk, where a young lady sat next to the phone.

“Uh,” she said, “excuse me. Can you tell me where I might find a Mabel?”

“You mean Mabel McCaffrey?” the girl asked.

“I suppose so,” Darcy replied.

“Let me call her for you.”

In just a few moments, Mrs. Mabel McCaffrey appeared.

“Just how can I help you, ma’am?” she asked.

“I was sent here by Mrs. Woods,” Darcy began.

“Oh,” Mabel interjected, “you’re the girl Eleanor sent down. Yes. She called me. Come with me; I know what you’re looking for.”

Darcy followed as Mabel led her to the back of the small library. She had her sit at a table as she brought out several old newspaper copies.

“Before you read these, though, let me give you a brief history.”

Darcy listened intently.

“Joe and Ruth Volker came to Pikesville a long time ago. Joe had been a big shot executive in Louisville, but he lost his job. He came here to work in the bank. When they started, they didn’t have much, but Ruthie made it work and they did a great job with their kids. She got sick, though, and when she died the family crumbled. Joe continued to work. Even though his family had fallen apart, Joe worked hard. He became vice-president of the bank. He made a good salary, for here, anyway, and he saved his money. At the end of his life he had quite a bit. You need to know that as you start reading.”

With that, she handed Darcy the articles. She gasped as she read the first one.

“Is this true?” she exclaimed.

“Yes,” Mabel answered. “It’s all true. Just keep reading.”

§ § §

Jerold followed the carpenter into the house. The carpenter set the seven-year-old down as he moved to the kitchen, and the seven-year-old took the teddy bear to one of the bedrooms in the hall. Jerold had so many questions and so few answers. Who was this carpenter and how did he know so much about Jerold and his family? Why was he bringing up the past and those things? Jerold had a lot he wanted to discuss with this fellow. He didn’t get the chance, however; the carpenter was ready to work.

“Jerold, there are some two-by-fours in the back. We’re going to need them to repair the kitchen ceiling and walls. I cut them earlier today, so they’re ready. I’ll start knocking out this burned stuff while you and the boy get the new wood ready.”

The seven-year-old stood next to Jerold. He waited. The more Jerold thought about this whole thing, the more he thought he’d snapped. The carpenter began knocking out blackened and burned wood. Jerold shrugged. He might as well make the best of it.

“All right,” he said to the boy, “let’s go.”

The boy said nothing.

They went to the back yard.

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