Chapter 16

"Where do you think you are going?" Gabby asked from the front porch. Ivy pointed at her daddy sitting on the horse and said "da-da." "I don't think so," Gabby replied and picked up the small girl. Ivy started wiggling and pushing Gabby away trying to get down, all the while hollering for her daddy. "Why don't I just hitch up the buggy and she can ride with me. I won't be at Maisy's very long and she will be just fine," I said, dismounting and reaching for Ivy. Gabby handed her to me, pushed back the stray hair that had worked loose from the bun on top of her head and said, "Fine, but you had better look after her. I've got a few things that need to be done and I haven't been feeling well lately." I raised my eyebrows asking a question but not speaking. "I don't know, it's been about 4 weeks and there is no sign of my monthly yet," Gabby said. "I guess sleeping without nightclothes will cause you to catch something," she said over her shoulder, as she went back into the house.

I took Ivy by the hand, stepped off the porch and grabbed the horse's reins. We walked slowly around the house towards the barn. Ivy pointed and said
"To-mas, To-mas" and let go of my hand and ran toward Thomas. Thomas reached out to grab the running girl and swung her high into the air. Ivy laughed so loud you could hear it all over the yard. "Ivy and I will be needing the buggy today, we are going to Mountain Top for a visit" I said, as Thomas bent to put Ivy back on the ground. "Well then," Thomas said "I guess we had better head to the barn" and held out his hand for Ivy to hold as I led the horse. Gabby looked out the window as she heard the buggy go by and down the drive, I was singing and Ivy was pointing at all the sites. She closed her eyes and said a small prayer of thanks for her family and asked God to bless them on their journey.

"Well, I want you to look and see who has come to visit" Maisy said as she stepped out of her door, wiping her hands on her apron. "Hello, little miss Ivy," she said and smiled as I stepped down from the buggy to tie the horse to the post out front. Ivy was jumping up and down in the buggy, clapping her hands and waving. Walking around to Ivy's side of the buggy, I lifted her out and up onto Maisy's porch. Maisy bent down for a hug as Ivy ran towards her, both arms straight out. Maisy picked her up and said, "We will be right back," and turned and carried Ivy into the house. I smiled as I unloaded my record books and ledgers. I had just sat down in one of the rockers when Ivy came out with a small ginger cake in each hand and one in her mouth. Maisy followed behind with a tray carrying a small cup of milk, two glasses of sweet tea and a plate of miniature ginger cakes. Ivy walked over to the front of the porch and set on the top step throwing small bites of cake to the chickens scratching in the front yard.

"She shore is gettin' big" Maisy said. "Why she don't miss a thing, does she?" she asked as I took a bite of cake. "She is actually very bright for her age," I replied, "and that's not just a proud papa talking." "Has she had any more incidents like the one at the party you told me about?" Maisy asked, concern in her voice. "Actually she had a small one just the other day," I replied, "She grabbed her hand and started crying. We looked all over her hand and couldn't see a thing. The only marks were where she was holding it with her other hand. It went on for about 3-4 minutes, then she stopped crying and went to sleep. We don't know what to make of it." Maisy shook her head and then asked, "Did anyone else hurt their hand that day?" I stopped chewing and turned my head to look at Maisy, "Why?' I asked. "Just wondering" she replied as she kept looking at the small girl. I looked at her for a brief moment and said, "Well, now that I think about it, Bet was cooking some cornbread and when she reached to get it out of the oven, it seems she didn't fold the dish cloth over to protect her hand and burned her palm." I paused, "Surely you don't think Ivy knew about Bet's hand do you?" asking in a whispered voice filled with question. Maisy turned to look at me and said, "Well doc, they ain't but a few of us that know her origins and her folks is from back up in the holler. Back 'round Copper Cove. Some hill folks have been known to have the sight."

I was speechless. "Better close yore mouth Doc, you'll catch flies," Maisy said. Turning my head to look at my daughter I asked Maisy, "How do you know for sure?" "Just have to wait awhile and see. Some folks lose it as they get older, some just get better. 'Pends on how open you are to people's feelings. Your Ivy may have a blessing or may have a curse. Just depends on how she deals with it. Yung'uns don't know what they are feeling when it comes over them. They just react and they get so wrought up over it that it just tuckers them out. It's not something folks are real friendly about and mayhaps your Ivy will have to learn to keep her secret, to protect herself. Guess we had better get to our book work."

Ivy seemed content to play in the yard and stayed in sight of her daddy and Maisy while they went over the past week's happenings. I noted that the children seemed to be coming down with a cold type virus and asked Maisy what she thought. "Well it could be a matter of things. I always recommend a tonic with black walnut in it. You can always use a good cleanin' out and black walnut is good for worms. It takes about a week to get into your system. I always tell folks to treat the whole family. Wash their hands good and all their eating stuff with hot water, just like you explained to me. Why folks up here can't afford shoes and most of the wimmin and children go barefoot until cold weather. Walking around in the dirt all day where animals have been can't be good for you. So I generally treat the whole family, have them take a good size spoonful 'bout 2 times a day. Don't taste real good, but I always tell them to mix it with a little honey."

I finished my notes and closed my books, preparing to put them away. Maisy spoke up, "Don't know how to tell you this Doc, but Ivy's momma come through here a couple of days ago. She had a new man with her, not that one she run off with. She looked real good, kinda fat and sassy. Stopped by here to ask 'bout her boy. Told her that her daddy got the boy and that she would have to go up to the holler to see em'. Never asked 'bout the girl, though. Maybe she figgered it died. Now they ain't but a few of us knows the whereabouts of that baby girl. I'm leavin' it up to you to decide how much they should find out." For the second time that day I was speechless. I had no idea how to reply. "You just think on it some doc," Maisy said, "and let me know. Nobody but you wanted her and as far as I am concerned she belongs to you. If your momma-law and them helpers keep to themselves, nobody will know. If'n anybody ask me, well me and you will work it out. I don't think she will be back. They weren't gone but a couple of hours, when they came high tailin' it back down the mountain. Didn't stop here, just kept going. Ain't heard nothin' from up on mountain, but figger I will any day now."

I gathered my ledgers into my arms, stood up and turned to face Maisy, "Just tell them she died and you buried her out back in the woods." I then turned to go down the steps, calling to Ivy as I went. "Time to go baby-doll," I said, "Give Miss Maisy a hug." Ivy climbed the steps, using her hands for help. Her legs weren't long enough yet to go up the steps unassisted. Maisy pulled her close to her and hugged her for a long while and then kissed her on the cheek. "You come back and see me soon, ok?" "Okey dokey" Ivy replied and held her arms out to her daddy to lift her off the porch and into the buggy.

I then turned the buggy in the yard, tipped my hat to Maisy and rode off down the dusty road towards home.

Maisy sat back in her rocker and watched them ride off, her mind drifting to days past.