The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor (12 page)

The next morning Heath was at the house for breakfast by the time I went downstairs. He and Evie sat at the kitchen table with Graydon and Vivian.

“So the house belongs to you and Aunt Ruby, Dad. Free and clear,” Heath was saying.

“I guess Cora-Camille never had a chance to change her will to leave the management of Peppernell Manor to the state of South Carolina,” Vivian said. She smiled. “I'm glad. God rest her soul. Now the family doesn't have to worry about the state kicking us out of our home.”

“Mother, Gran wouldn't have let the state do that,” Heath informed her. “She would have drawn up the will so that the state managed the property while the family still lived in it.”

“Well, just the same, I'm glad she didn't tinker with the natural laws of inheritance,” Vivian replied.

“Mother, there's no such thing as a natural law of inheritance.”

“There is at Peppernell Manor.”

Heath sighed and rolled his eyes.

“My mother isn't even cold yet. Can we talk about something else?” asked Graydon.

This was the perfect opening for me. I cleared my throat. “Uh, Graydon, I have an idea that I wanted to discuss with you.”

“Yes, Carleigh? What's your idea?”

“I was wondering how you'd feel about restoring the old slave cabins on the property.” I waited for an answer, not knowing what to expect.

Graydon placed his hands together, matching up his fingers carefully. “Well, I hadn't considered that. I guess I'd have to give it some thought.”

Vivian spoke up. “Graydon, honey, I think Harlan wants to talk to you about those cabins. You'll want to hear his idea, too.”

I already knew what Harlan's idea was—tearing down the slave cabins and building a gift shop. I had hoped that the talk of investors was over, but apparently Harlan hadn't given up yet and now would make his appeals to his father rather than his grandmother. And Vivian appeared to be firmly on Harlan's side.

“Okay. I'll wait to hear what Harlan has to say, then we'll decide what to do,” Graydon answered. “Carleigh, when is that little girl of yours coming back here?”

I grinned. “Tomorrow. I can't wait to see her.”

Vivian looked surprised. “Haven't you seen her while your ex-husband has been visiting?”

“I saw her the first couple of nights, but then he asked if he could have Lucy to himself for the rest of his time here. It was the only fair thing to do.”

“I suppose you're right.”

I excused myself and walked into the kitchen. I was rinsing my breakfast dishes when Heath poked his head in.

“I'm just leaving. Say, I've missed Lucy, too. Suppose the three of us take a horseback ride when she gets back here tomorrow?”

I knew I looked as skeptical as I felt. I had told Evie that I wouldn't allow Lucy on a horse.

Heath must have guessed what I was thinking. “We wouldn't put her on her own horse. You and Lucy can ride together if you'd like. Or I can even take her on my horse if that makes you more comfortable.”

“I don't know. Let me think about it. She would love it, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to have her ride a horse. It's such a big animal and she's so little.”

“I understand completely. Just let me know.”

I spent the rest of that long, hot, grimy day working. I finished the wallpaper late in the afternoon. Harlan joined us that evening for dinner. Ruby was there, too, as well as Graydon and Vivian, Evie, Heath, and me. I suspected that Vivian had called Harlan to advise him to get to Peppernell Manor to discuss his gift shop idea with his father before Graydon had a chance to think too much about a possible restoration.

“Dad, here's my idea for the slave cabins,” Harlan said excitedly after Phyllis had served the meal. “You know we've talked about getting investors involved in the manor so that it can become a destination for people visiting South Carolina.”

Graydon nodded.

“Well, my idea is to tear down the cabins and build a gift shop in their place. What do you think of that?”

Silence. Ruby's eyes bulged. Vivian watched her out of the corner of her eye. Before Graydon could answer, there was a tremendous crash from the entry hall.

Evie was up in an instant. She rushed into the hallway and by the time I arrived, only a second or two later, she was on her knees, helping Phyllis to pick up the remains of a porcelain tray that she had evidently been carrying.

“Phyllis, are you all right?” called Graydon, who had followed me from the kitchen.

“I'm fine,” she said angrily. It was then I realized that Phyllis had heard Harlan's words. She was obviously upset by the very idea. She didn't say anything, though. She shooed us all back into the kitchen and she went to get a broom to clean up the mess.

Vivian had not accompanied us to the entry hall. When Graydon sat down again next to her, she asked acidly, “Don't tell me. She broke your mother's best porcelain tray.” He nodded and she shook her head in disgust. “Honestly, Graydon, I don't know how much longer we can keep her on here.”

“Vivian, it was an accident. You know that. The tray is just a thing and can be replaced.”

“Can we get back to my suggestion?” Harlan asked.

“Oh. Yes. I don't know, Harlan. Your grandmother was not keen on the idea of bringing investors into this project. I think she might object to the idea of a gift shop on the property.”

“But the manor doesn't belong to Gran anymore,” Harlan pointed out. “It's yours now and you can do what you think is best.”

I shot a look at Ruby, who remained silent though her lips were a thin white line.

“I'm not sure what's best,” Graydon answered.

“Someday the family money is going to run out. What will happen to Peppernell Manor then?”

“I don't really worry about the family money running out. What I do worry about is making the wrong decisions when it comes to this house.”

“I think I should set up a meeting for you and Mother to talk to the investor group I've put together,” Harlan advised. “I think they'll set your mind at ease.”

“I'll think about it. Who's ready for dessert?”

Evie said very little throughout the meal, only looking up from her food now and then to stare at Harlan as if she didn't recognize him. He seemed to have forgotten his admission about his involvement in Cora-Camille's death and was forging ahead with his financial projects. Evie and I went into the drawing room later that evening.

“What do you think of Harlan's big idea?” she asked me as soon as I sat down.

“I don't know that it's any of my business. But since you asked, from the perspective of a person who restores old buildings for a living and loves history, I disagree with him.”

“He's flat-out wrong, that's what,” she said hotly, slapping her hand against her knee. “I just hope Daddy can see that.”

“Don't you think you can trust your dad to make the right decision when it comes to Peppernell Manor?”

“Carleigh, you don't know my father. He cares about writing books. Period. He'll sit down in that room with all those investors and they'll run circles around him. They'll have him signing contracts before he knows what hit him.”

“I don't think you're giving him very much credit,” I told her.

Evie looked ashamed. “I know. I just can't help it. He has to see that what Harlan is proposing is ludicrous. I need to talk to him.”

“If that would make you feel better, then just go do it. But your mother agrees with Harlan, and I'm not sure you want to start a full-scale family war.”

“I definitely don't, but Daddy has to be made aware that not everyone agrees with Harlan and Mother. And I think Phyllis heard Harlan; that's why she dropped that tray. She was that surprised. Can you imagine? If someone suggested tearing down your family's old home to make room for a store? She must be beside herself.”

“I'm sure you're right. She's talked to me about those cabins and she doesn't want to see anything happen to them. Sarah is against it, too.”

Evie smiled for the first time in hours. “Sarah.” She shook her head. “Phyllis listens a little too much to Sarah, if you ask me. But I agree with them both in this case.”

“What do you think about having them restored?”

“Now
that
might be a good idea,” she conceded. “I think I can understand why Phyllis doesn't want them restored, but if this property ever was to be used for teaching, restored slave cabins would be a great learning opportunity. We certainly couldn't show them to anybody in their present condition. Do you think you could do it?”

“I know I could. And I'd love to do it if I could talk Phyllis into the idea and if your father agrees. But I don't want to force him to make a decision, especially since he's the one who signs my paychecks. I've got enough to keep me busy around here without adding more work at this point.”

“I'll talk to him in private. I hate to go behind Mother's back, but for some reason she just can't see that Harlan's idea is a bad one.”

“Has anyone asked Ruby what she thinks?”

Evie looked surprised. “I don't think so. I assume she's left the decision-making to Daddy.”

I wasn't so sure, but I didn't say anything.

The next day flew by. Graydon helped me move the heavy dining room furniture and I was able to sand the bare half of the floor. I was anxious to get cleaned up and pick up Lucy from school. Brad had called me after dropping her off that morning, just to let me know that all her overnight things and books and games were in the office of the school and that he was headed back to Chicago.

When I picked up Lucy that afternoon, she raced into my arms and hugged me for a full minute before letting go and agreeing to get into the car. She chattered all the way back to Peppernell Manor about the fun she had had with Brad. For all his faults, it sounded like he had been a model father while he visited. He took her to fancy restaurants, to family restaurants, to parks and playgrounds, to a movie one evening, and even to a place where she got her first manicure. When we got out of the car she splayed her fingers for me to examine her bright pink little nails. Then she ran into the house in search of Ruby and Evie so she could show them, too. I was thrilled to have her back, even with the uncertainties hanging over us in the manor.

Right before dinner that evening Heath walked in. Lucy raced to see him, show him her nails, and tell him all about the things she did while she was in Charleston. He acted suitably impressed, then turned to me and asked quietly, “Did you give any thought to taking a horseback ride this evening? We could go right after dinner before it gets dark out.”

I grimaced. “I don't know, Heath. She's so small.”

“What better time to introduce her to horses, when she's too small to be afraid of riding them?”

I smiled. “Oh, all right. But I'm no expert on horseback riding, so I think you'd better let her ride with you. Your horse is gentle, right?”

“Of course. All of our horses are gentle. We'll find you a good one, too.”

So after dinner Heath and I and Lucy drove my car over to the stables we had visited on our first day at Peppernell Manor.

“Lucy, how about you and I ride Indigo?” asked Heath.

“Which one is that?”

Heath pointed to a huge horse, dark brown, munching on some hay in a roomy stall. Lucy looked up at Indigo with wide eyes.

“Okay. Can I pet him?”

“Sure.” Heath hoisted her up and showed her where to put her hand to rub the horse's strong neck. She stroked the beast gently and beamed.

Heath looked into the stall adjoining Indigo. “This is Chuck. I think he'll be perfect for you, Carleigh.”

I looked dubiously at the animal. He was positively gigantic up close. “Mama, I want to pet him, too,” Lucy informed me.

Heath picked her up again and she carefully rubbed Chuck's neck. He didn't seem to mind.

“So how does this go?” I wondered aloud, thinking I would never be able to get up onto Chuck's back.

“Just a minute while I saddle him up,” Heath said.

He walked over to where a saddle hung on the wall and slung it over his shoulder. It looked heavy. It took him a few minutes to get it on the horse. When he finished, he pulled a stepladder over to where the horse stood patiently. He indicated to me that I should climb up the stepladder. I did, a little tentatively, and swung my leg over Chuck's back when I was at the top. I grinned at Lucy and Heath as I sat there, feeling like I was on top of the world. Heath handed me the reins and gave me a very brief lesson on how to use them to get Chuck to move. I fervently hoped that Chuck knew what he was doing.

Next I watched as Heath put Lucy on top of Indigo and then jumped up himself in back of her.

“Why no saddle?” I asked.

“With two people, it's easier for me to ride without a saddle. And Indigo's used to it.” Lucy clapped her hands, then decided she better hang on. She clutched Indigo's long mane. I worried that her hands might hurt and spook the horse, but Heath assured me that it was okay.

We rode slowly out of the stable and into the field just outside the door. I had a hard time figuring out how to use the reins to get Chuck to do exactly what I wanted, but I found that he was perfectly content to follow Indigo if I just left him alone. The two horses walked side by side as the three of us looked around at the twilight colors of the field. Lucy squealed with delight every time Indigo whinnied. I was glad Heath had talked me into letting her go riding. The horses skirted a small grove of trees and kept walking. After a half hour we turned around to head back to the stable. It was getting close to Lucy's bedtime, and I was anxious to get her back into the routine we had enjoyed before her visit with Brad.