“I think you’ve done a great job,” Bertie said, as they explored the first cabin. The kitchen occupied most of the space, with two small rooms partitioned off at one end – the pantry and a bedroom for the parents. The bedroom door was a curtain. A loft, accessed by a ladder, would have provided sleeping space for the children.
Harry and Bertie were both impressed with the barn restoration. There were four benches – two on each side – with a preacher’s pulpit and an altar at the front. On the wall behind the pulpit was a large memorial board, containing the names they had learned of those buried in the little cemetery behind the church.
“We plan to install several more benches this year, just to fill up some of the empty space,” Benny said.
“I see what you mean,” Harry replied. “These four look a bit lost with so much space around them.”
Harry and Bertie left, promising to be in touch as soon as they set up a meeting with Professor Jones. Bertie went to the office while Harry went to the University.
***************
Harry returned to the office about an hour later. “Grab your jacket,” he said.
“Are we going somewhere?” she asked, following him out the door.
“Yep. To see someone who knows something about the Earth Mother.”
She looked at him. “Professor Jones?” He shook his head. “Then who?”
“Our old friend, Miss Pinkerton,” he said with a grin. “Joe said I should talk to ‘Old Lady Pinkerton.’ He said if anyone knows anything about such things, it would be her.”
“Does she know we’re coming?”
“Of course. I called to tell her what we’re looking for and she said to come on over.” He chuckled. “I bet Glory is already preparing a lunch tray.”
Bertie sighed. “I’m sure she is. All those lunches with tea buns and coffee cake can be hard on the waistline.”
“Invest in a treadmill,” Harry replied.
“I don’t have room to put one.”
“Then go out and run around your backyard.”
“Great idea, Hogan. I’ll put on an old straw hat and run between the vegetable beds… like an automated scarecrow, trying to keep the birds away.”
They were both still laughing when Harry parked the truck in Miss Pinkerton’s driveway.
Gloria Dymond, Miss Pknkerton’s housekeeper, opened the front door as Harry parked the truck. “Miss Pinkerton is waiting in the living room,” she said. “I’ll be in shortly.”
Harry and Bertie nodded and walked on in to where Edith Pinkerton was waiting. By the time they had exchanged greetings and everyone was seated, Glory came in with the tea tray.
Bertie glanced at Harry, with a slight smile on her lips. There were no tea buns or coffee cake. The coffee was accompanied by an assortment of chunks of cheese and fruits, nuts and crackers.
“My doctor advised me to cut back on baked goods,” Miss Pinkerton said, with a smile. “Give us more notice next time and we’ll have tea buns for you.”
Harry chuckled. “Maybe I should take your doctor’s advice too. This is fine, Ma’am.”
