Chap 26 & 27

Chapter 26

Mother wouldn’t let me take the shortcut through the woods down one of the blueberry trails. Her excuse was that a black bear had been spotted, eating the berries. Bears were a part of the blueberry season. They loved the berries and during lean seasons, we had to fight with them over the ripened fruit. But I knew the real reason, she feared that whoever killed Eva was still out there, hiding in the brush off the trails. So I drove, but was asked to deliver a batch of blueberry jam to Sadie Ruth, Tiki’s grandmother and founder of the local tavern.

Sadie Ruth was delighted to see me. She lived alone and rarely got out due to crippling arthritis. “Come in child. I’m dying to have me some of your mamma’s fresh blueberry jam. She called and told me you were bringing me some, so I put some biscuits in the oven. I‘ll share some. Homemade ones, not those nasty store-bought dough things, they try to pass off as biscuits.”

“No thanks,” I said. “I’ve had plenty of fresh jam and to tell the truth, I’m already tired of it.” I put the jam on her kitchen table. She sat down and pointed to a chair. “Have a seat, young lady. I want to talk to you for a few minutes.”

“I don’t have much time. I’m suppose to meet my friends in twenty minutes.” I didn’t want to stay because Sadie Ruth liked to drag out her stories. I know she did it so people would stay longer. She was a lonely woman with few friends.

“Friends. I sure wish I had some. But the sort of work I spent my life doing didn’t endear me to the women in this town. They saw me as the devil who kept their husbands drinking at the tavern and not at home getting hen-pecked. So I don’t have many. It’s lonely here all by myself.” She made me feel guilty for thinking the same thing.

“How’s your arthritis?” I asked, making general conversation. Feeling sorry for her, I figured I could spare some time for her.

“Got my good days and my bad ones. So child, tell me how are you holding up? Lot a bad things happened this week. That poor girl getting killed and your beau that Bow-Ridge boy getting hurt.”

“I’m doing ok. It’s a horrible situation. Today was Eva’s funeral. It was so sad. Mother wouldn’t let me walk down the blueberry trails. She says it’s because black bears are out, but I think she’s afraid the murderer is hiding in the brush off the trails.”

“Child, did you know that black bears aren’t always black? Some are dark brown, cinnamon brown, yellow and even black blue, like your hair.” Sadie sometimes got off subject, which could be irritating if you wanted to finish the conversation and be on your way, but this time I welcomed the change.

“I’ve only seen black ones,” I said.

Sadie Ruth said, “Many people don’t know this, but I watch the daily happenings from my window. I try to keep an eye on the tavern, even if I can’t run it. I still own it. I see things. Been seeing things for years but I learned a long time ago to keep my trap shut tight. Oh, my biscuits are done. Will you get them for me, child?”

I got the biscuits out of the oven, wondering where she was headed with her conversation. I found a plate and put some on it. She dipped into the jam, her eyes as big as a child’s on Christmas day. “Sure does smell good. I love your mamma’s blueberry jam.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” I asked, assuming the conversation was over.

“Yes, sit back down. I’ve got something to discuss with you.” Sadie Ruth ate two biscuits oozing with jam before continuing. “I like you, child. You’re one of the few around this town who puts up with an old woman. I watch how you treat people. You never cause trouble and you’re a good daughter to your parents. So I think it’s only right I warn you to distance yourself from the founding four families. The curse has struck and it may strike again. Coupled with the mad gene, anyone close to those families is at risk. You might think you‘re a friend of theirs, but don‘t deceive yourself. Those families are tighter than tight.”

I wasn’t expecting a doomsday prophesy from her. “Mad gene?” I asked “You’re talking in riddles. Tragedy can happen to anyone. Does this mean everyone is cursed? If people go around being scared of a curse, they’ll find tragedy in things as simple as a cut finger or a stubbed toe.”
Sadie Ruth said, “You’re right. But since the day this area was settled, there have been strange deaths involving these families. You can ignore it now, but if you look back over history, child, there’s no ignoring it.”

“I’ve got to go meet my friends.” I said, staring at the jam clinging to her bottom lip. I didn’t want to hear anymore of her crazy talk.

“Run on then. When you’re ready to hear what I’ve got to say, the door’s open. Tell your mamma I love the jam. It’s delicious,” said Sadie Ruth.

“I’m not interested in curses. I’m glad you like the jam. Mother and I agree that it’s the best we’ve made in years.”

As I closed the door, Sadie Ruth called out, “It’s the mad gene that you need to worry about, child.”


Chapter 27

Paul and Trent sat at our favorite booth. I was surprised that Kayla didn’t tag along. I sat beside Trent without thinking. How easy it was to develop a habit. After we ordered our ice cream sundaes, Paul said, “Why were you late? We’ve been waiting for fifteen minutes.”

“Mother made me take some blueberry jam to Sadie Ruth. You know how she loves to talk.” I said. I decided not to tell them the topic of our conversation. It was loony.

“Yes, that woman loves to talk. Haven’t seen her in a while though,” said Trent.

“Guys, what happened?” I went for the throat I knew but I had to know.

Paul and Trent stared at each other. I saw a visual exchange between the two, which struck a cord within. I was an outsider and maybe Sadie Ruth was right--the founding four families stick together no matter what. Paul said, “Vivvie, it’s a blur. Trent and I went to the lake to see if Little James was catching any fish. When we got there, we saw a guy beating him with a club or something. He ran when he saw us. Then we found Eva. It was pretty bad. She was beaten to death. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Did you get a good look at the guy? Was he young or old?” I couldn’t stop my questions. Trent answered, “His face was covered but he ran like a young person--too fast for us to catch.”
My questioning continued. “So you chased him? Where did he run?”

Paul gave Trent a warning look before saying, “We’re not suppose to talk about it Vivian. It’s an on-going investigation. My dad will flip if he thinks we’re giving out too much info.”
“I’m not going to tell anyone. I just want to figure out what happened. The things I keep hearing don’t make sense, like someone moving Eva’s body.”

Trent’s sharp tone caused me to sit upright, staring. “Vivian, who told you that?”

“I don’t remember. I’ve heard a lot of people talking. Is it true, Paul?” I asked Paul because I knew his father had to have told him some things about the case, because after all the Sheriff is his father.

“I don’t know. Like you said, there’s a lot of stories going around about Eva’s death.” said Paul. Our ice cream arrived and we ate in silence for a while.

Trent asked, “Have you heard from Little James? How’s he doing?”

I sighed, “His grandfather left word that he’s recovering. I haven’t talked to him. He’s not coming back once he’s better. At least that’s what his grandfather said.”

“At least he’s doing better,” said Trent, “he was hurt pretty badly. We thought he was dead at first. Then he moaned and that’s when Paul ran for help.”

“Has anyone talked to Dirk? I didn’t see him at the funeral.” I wanted to call him but was afraid too. I had my own grief to deal with and as much as Dirk loved Eva, his was overflowing.

Paul said, “He was there. I saw him standing in the background. He’s devastated. Keeping to himself. I heard my dad was brutal to Dirk during his questioning. I guess he has to be that way so he can find things out. But we all know Dirk would never hurt Eva. He loved her too much.”

Trent said, “Your father was tough on me too. I hope he finds out who did this. Eva’s death needs avenging. She didn’t deserve that.”

With a somber air over us, we ate our ice cream and parted, promising to get together later in the week. I spent the next few weeks, wondering if Javelin was okay. Mother kept me busy with the blueberry crop. Once I thought I saw a cinnamon colored bear and I thought of Sadie Ruth. Since our talk, I had been looking and listening with open eyes and ears. When I talked to Trent or Paul, I noticed a distancing from me when I mentioned Eva or Javelin. Kayla, Freddy and Dirk avoided me.

Mavis noticed the difference in their attitudes as well, stating that maybe they really did think there was a division. She said, “It’s the Founding Four Families versus the Town Folk.”

I laughed at how silly it was. “Mavis, they don’t have super powers. They’re as normal as we are. I wish people would get over it and treat them as such. Curse or no curse, we all have our troubles.”

Once I walked by Sadie Ruth’s house. From the dark doorway I heard her say, “Ready for that talk, Blueberry Girl?”

I shivered. No one but Javelin called me that. There was a foreboding in Sadie Ruth’s tone that made me want to run screaming down the street.

Two weeks before school resumed, two things happened: The Sheriff’s Department arrested someone for murder and Javelin contacted me.