CHAPTER ONE - THE HOMECOMING

Kansas Daily Democrat - May 4th, 1858

Upon traveling past Charles Place south to north we arrived at a wide track of land that had yet to be platted, on the far end of which were two dozen teams of mules and double the crew grading roads and clearing the land. "That," said James W. Potlee, agent for the Hartford Syndicate, "is Auburnville." ....The managers of the Perry County Land & Development Company have made arrangements with the Sheriff's Military Band for a series of free concerts to be given each Sunday afternoon at Auburnville. When all the development is completed there will not be a more pleasurable resort, nor a more delightful place to settle and raise a family in all the west than in "Our Beautiful Auburnville."

"Your Grandfather," Beth said to the small boy as she brushed her hand through his hair, "was a very tall man and that is why he liked this house." The small boy looked up at the tall doors and the even taller ceilings that towered above his head then he looked back to his Grandmother. "Where is Grandfather?" the small boy asked. "Your Grandfather," Beth hesitated looking for the right words to explain to a 6 year old boy the concept of death, "went to heaven the year you were born." The small boy considered this a moment then asked, "So Grandfather went to Heaven so that I could be here?" Beth smiled and said, "Yes dear, that's it." 

Beth had 9 Grandchildren, 7 from her son and 2 from her daughter which included the small boy in front of her and her daughters new born baby girl. Beth loved children but had a special fondness for this small boy who at so young an age could have such an insight into the meaning of death.   

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Friday, March 24, 2006 07:09:12 AM

Beth thought of her husband who had passed away on Valentines day 6 years ago. Their life together did not even now seem like it had ever happened. Beth had been 16 years old when she married her husband who was 35 years her senior. Beth had found him tall, handsome and charming the first time they met. She smiled thinking about the first time her father had met him. At first her father had been furious calling him a cradle robber, then Beth told her father who her new Bo was. Beth laughed out loud at the memory of how fast her fathers attitude changed the minute he discovered that his daughters new suitor was a Doctor.  

"Grandma?" a small hand tugged at Beth's skirt, "What's so funny?" Beth looked down and again ran her hand through the hair on the small head. "Nothing dear, I was just remembering how much your Grandfather loved apple pie. Do you like apple pie?" "Yes Ma'am!" the small boy stated gleefully, "I love apple pie!" Beth laughed and said, "Well then, come with me and we will get one started." Beth took the small hand in hers and led him towards the kitchen. Though Beth stood only 5' tall and weighed, at the most, 105 pounds she found it quite easy to lift the small boy up onto the kitchen stool. Beth opened the apple bin on the kitchen side board and choose 4 plump apples. She deftly cored the apples then turned to the small boy who had been watching her intently. "What is it dear?" Beth asked. The small hand motioned for Beth to come closer and a small conspiratorial voice stated, "Mommy can't cook." Beth chuckled and whispered back, "I know!" They both giggled. 

"What are you two snickering about?" A demanding voice asked. Beth straightened and turning around smiled at her daughter who was coming through the back door lugging a heavy box. "Nothing Prissy," Beth lied, "Danny just told me a  joke." Beth knew that her daughter had no sense of humor so it was best not to tell her what Danny had said. Beth winked at Danny who covered his mouth and giggled. Pricilla set the box down on the kitchen counter and eyed her Mother and her Son suspiciously. "Mom," Pricilla started, "Yes dear." Beth said honey dripping from her voice. "You know that I do not like to be called Prissy!" Beth looked at her Daughter and stated, "Your Father called you Prissy." Pricilla said, "That's right and he was the only one allowed to do it!" 

Pricilla Caroline Clang was the youngest child of Elizabeth Adaline Hummel and her Husband, Doctor Carl Everett Clang DDS. Pricilla's older sister, Shirley Adaline, had died of whopping cough at age 3,  five years before Pricilla had been born. Her brother who was 2 years her senior, Walter Lennox, whom she had never been able to get along with, was the half owner of a Bicycle sales and repair shop and (as far as Pricilla was concerned), the golden child who could do no wrong. It was not an unusual thing for Pricilla to have trouble getting along with people, it had been that way all her life. Twice married, once divorced, Pricilla had spent most of her adult life looking for a man who was just like her Father and had yet to find him! She came close once when she had a four year affair with a married man named Ernest LeeRoy Albert who had Fathered her son, Danny Aaron Albert. Pricilla looked over at Danny who was busy rolling out dough with a rolling pin then looked up at her Mother who was giving her a look that she could not quite read.   

"Pricilla, please set that box down and come with me." Beth instructed her daughter. Beth then turned to Danny and said, "Keep rolling the dough dear, I'll be back in a moment." Danny attacked the job with renewed vigor as his Grandmother and Mother left the Kitchen.

Beth seated herself at the large round Mahogany dining table and bade her Daughter to do the same. Pricilla knew what was coming, she had been expecting it ever since they had arrived at her Mothers house last evening. She sat, braced herself and said, "Let's get this over with!" Beth folded her hands on the table in front of her and surveyed her daughter. Beth did not know when her daughter had become so bitter but she had and Beth needed to do everything she could to find out why and to help her regain some sort of happiness. If not for Pricilla's sake then for Danny's well being. Beth choose her next words carefully, "Pricilla, I know how much you loved your Father. I loved him as did your Brother and we all miss him." Pricilla was staring off into space, biting her lower lip and showing no response to Beth's words. "Your Father," Beth continued, "Did not give you that nick name, I did! You were my little Prissy from the time you were born and if I choose to call you Prissy I do so because I love you." Pricilla now looked at her Mother with an expressionless stare and a flat tone she said, "But not as much as Walter!" "Oh please, not that again." Beth said. "Yes Mom, that again, you know it's true." Beth drew in a big breath to calm her rising anger, somehow Pricilla had always seemed to be able to get under Beth's skin in no time flat. "Pricilla, didn't I send your Brother to Nebraska to pick you up after Stuart abandoned you and the children?" Pricilla stood up and started pacing the room like she always did when agitated. "Mom, did you know that Walter told me that he would not take me and the baby from the Hospital unless I named her Linda after his Wife?" "I'm sure he was just kidding Pricilla," Beth said, "after all the Baby was born on the same day as Linda." Pricilla stopped, turned and looked at her Mother. "No Mom," she said in her same flat tone, "he wasn't." Beth studied her Daughter, she had to turn this conversation around now or take a chance on her Daughter suddenly blowing up as she was known to do. "You are here now and safe and that is all that matters. We will get you and the children settled and Monday you'll start work in the Toy department at the store. Things will be better for you now Pricilla, I'll see to it." Pricilla looked at her Mother like she was trying to absorb what she had just said. Tears started to well up in Pricilla's eyes and she reached down to hug Beth. "Thank You Mom." Inwardly Beth heaved a sigh of relief. Pricilla had gone the soft route and not the hard one. Beth hugged her Daughter back and said, "Your welcome Pricilla." Pricilla still hugging her Mother said, "Mom, you can call me Prissy if you want." Beth smiled, maybe there was hope for her daughter yet.  

"Well then Prissy...... Let's finish getting that U-Haul unloaded and get your apartment squared away." This house was one of the oldest and largest in Auburnville and Beth and Carl had converted the second floor into three apartments shortly after they had purchased it. Carl had always had an uncanny knack to look ahead and had known that his much younger wife would need a supplemental income after he passed away. It was into one of those apartments that Beth had decided to move her Daughter and grandchildren into after her daughters husband had abandoned her while she was giving birth. Beth had received a call at her office from a very tearful Pricilla just 3 days before. Pricilla told Beth that Stuart, Pricilla's husband had gone on a drinking binge and left Danny at his Brothers house while disappearing to who knew where while Pricilla and her new born daughter had been left in the hospital in Whathica, Nebraska. Beth had told Pricilla not to worry and after getting the information she needed from Pricilla had called her son Walter to go and rescue his sister and her children. Now here they were after not talking for 2 years because Pricilla had married a man Beth did not approve of, trying to start over and become a Family again. Beth rose from the table and headed for the kitchen with Pricilla coming behind. There was a sudden loud crash from the kitchen, the sound of shattering glass and a child's scream filled the house.

Beth and Pricilla rushed into the Kitchen to find Danny, his arm pinned by the wooden kitchen window whose glass pane was now laying shattered around the child. Danny was crying in long sobs. Looking wide eyed and terrified the small boy kept saying over and over again, "I didn't do it, I didn't do it." Pricilla grabbed her son and cradled his head against her while her Mother gently lifted the heavy broken window frame. Pricilla picking up Danny, as soon as his arm was free carried him from the kitchen into the dining room. Beth went to the bathroom, which was off the kitchen and wetting a wash cloth joined Pricilla and Danny. Holding Danny on her lap Pricilla started washing the face of the crying child while Beth examined the boy for injury. Beth could not find any injury except for a red mark across the child's right arm. As Danny's crying lessened   

Four days is how long Doris had been gone. Doris had left before, locking him within the house but never this long. Usually one maybe two days Doris might be gone but that was logical, after all someone had to take care of personal errands and Hector knew that logically it had to be Doris because Hector could not be trusted. But now it had been four days. "Why is she gone so long?" Hector muttered. "Where is she? Has she finally had enough of me and left?" Hector knew it was possible despite how successful he was he knew that Doris could leave him because he was a pathetic creature. How could Doris love him? His mousy brown hair, thick glasses and slight frame made him a sorry excuse of a man but oh what a psychiatrist he was. Always with the right answers. Hector smiled to himself as he laid back upon his couch thinking of his patient and how that one time he had the right answer for her. She was beautiful, green eyes, hair the color of fiery autumn leaves and what she saw in him Hector did not know. As he thought of her, staring at the chandelier overhead Hectors hand slipped down into his trousers, touching himself Hector slipped into the place of dreams. 

Next Month Chapter Two - The Secret Place.

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