Fiction:The Woman in the Holler

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 07:33 PM

Later that evening, Aunt Cathy and the old tom sat out on the porch watching the lightning bugs and enjoying the peace and quiet. Cathy had thoroughly enjoyed the weekend but was glad to be alone again. "Well, excepting present company," she said as the tom made to jump off her lap, as if offended.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Louie Roy
Date: 26 Jul 06 - 09:29 PM

While Cathy and the Tom cat were sitting on the porch Old Duke her price Raccoon and Cougar hunting dog came through the yard and when the tom cat seen him coming he jumped from Cathy's lap to the silver maple third branch and scammered higher up the tree just out of reach of old Duke.Hounds were apart of the life of all the holler families cats belonged in the barn or graineries

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 01:12 AM

Cathy wondered just how old the old tomcat was, and just what kind of magic was in him. She knew he was unnaturally old--Miss Cassie had been gone close to 20 years, and he had seemed like an old cat when she died. It was like he had been Miss Cassie's familiar. Not that she was a witch or anything, but she had definitely had the 'sight.' That wasn't all that uncommon among the undiluted Scots-Irish that had moved into these hollows 2 centuries ago. A fey people, they had found a fey home in these remote and very ancient hills.

Old Duke climbed up onto the porch and plopped down at Aunt Cathy's feet. His tail thudded on the weathered floorboards of the porch as he panted in the hot July night. Last time Zeke had been by, he mentioned coming up and going coon hunting with the boys and the dogs the next full moon. She knew Duke and the other hounds needed that and supposed she ought to call Zeke and tell him to come on. It was almost time to pour off another batch of 'shine' anyway.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 08:49 AM

From his perch in the silver maple Mjolnir (for that was the cats name) kept a weather eye on Cathy and the fool hound that lay at her feet. He groomed a bit more, not that it really improved his appearance, but a cat had to do certain things or people thought him strange. And Mjolnir was unusual enough for a cat without letting his behavior make people suspicious. Lean and long, he possessed the body type of a siamese temple cat, and the blue eyes to match. But his colouration was a deep rich ginger red - with darker auburn points and mask, feet and tail tip. There wasn't another cat in the holler or the state with his colouration, he thought proudly, though a few of his sons and grandsons or great-grandsons resembled him to some degree - they all showed some of the tabby striping of more ordinary felines, lacked the points and mask, or depth of colour.

Not a stripe marred the smooth flow of colour over Mjolnir's body - though more then a few scars made the fur lie less then perfectly. Many a night his distinctive yowl had broken the darkness as he fought, sometimes coons or possums, once a bear, and occasionally something else. Most of the scars came from those other times. He was far too skilled at combat to take injury from any normal fight. And those rare times were his duty, his privilige and his reason to be; first with Emma, then Cassie, now with Cathy.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 11:33 PM

(I'm leaving town Saturday and won't be back until Wednesday so I guess Aunt Cathy will take a little break during that time. She'll be real curious to see what all her pals and family have been up to while she's gone--or even to learn if there are some new arrivals on the scene.)

Janie

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 11:48 PM

"Well, it's getting late. I guess I better head off to bed." Old Duke stood as Aunt Cathy, groaning slightly from her arthritic knees, rose up out of the porch swing, gave him a pat, and headed into the house, letting the screen door bang behind her. She walked slowly up the stairs and turned into her bedroom. As she settled into bed she wondered if she should have asked Billy to be sure to call Henry. She never did find out why he had left in the middle of the night like that. Would it be too bold of her to call him in the morning?

After reading a few verses of a psalm, as she did every night, she turned off the light, laid back on the pillow, and promptly fell to sleep.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:50 PM

Cassie visited her again that night. She sat in the rocker by the open bedroom window, the old tom curled in her lap. Aunt Cathy could vaguely make her out in the occasional flicker of heat lightning.
"Now, don't make me or you either one out to be other than who we were. And don't hide the magic, but don't make it out to be any more than what is, just a little piece of mystery that one day will make cold hard sense. Leastways it will if humankind lasts long enough to figure it out."

Cathy nodded that she understood.

"Bet you don't tell 'em about you and Louie out at the still," Cassie said with a cackle. Aunt Cathy managed to look amused and a little chagrined at the same time.

Miss Cassie didn't say any more after that, just sat there by the window and rocked. Aunt Cathy lay there and watched for the longest time, until Cassie finally faded away. As she drifted back off to sleep, or back to dreamlessness, she thought she heard the distant sound of a flute from up on the ridge in the direction of the graveyard.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 11:05 PM

(This is one of those story threads which are the best of the Mudcat What a wonder, Janie! Louie, I love what you are doing with your character, too, and MMario, the Cat is Stupendous! MY curiousity is UP and ready to hear more. Thank yew, thank yew!!)

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Louie Roy
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 10:39 AM

Mjolnir,living in Hill Billy counry always has a sharp eye out for the hounds for they are number one and old Mjolnir learned years ago to jump high and quick

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 08:26 AM

As the sun painted the sky with morning Mjolnir stretched out a few kinks before leaping down from the porch roof to the ground - He had time for a circuit of the yard and a nice nap before Cathy would be rising. She had been sleeping later these days; especially when she had company in the night.

Not that there was any problem with her sleeping late; things had been quiet lately - though Mjolnir distrusted the feeling he was getting from the southern boundary of Cathy's property. The crick flowing there was low, lower even then normal for the summer heat, and if the crick dried up there would be one less layer of protection to the south. So Mjolnir himself had better get some rest.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 10:57 AM

The ginger and auburn cat woke from his nap - much later then he had expected.

Cathy still wasn't up and about, and he found this a bit worrying. At her age and with the heat and humidity as they were it was to be expected she would be a bit under the weather, but Mjolnir had never known her to lie abed as long as she was today.

He began to regret the fancy new catch on the screen door that prevented him from letting himself into the cabin. He didn't sense anything wrong, but Mjolnir was also very aware that no mortal being was all-knowing.

He'd been caught out a few times over the past 8 lives, usually resulting in the loss of one of those lives.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 07:28 PM

The late morning sun was shining in the window when Aunt Cathy finally awakened. The upstairs bedroom was already unpleasantly warm. She groaned as she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position and then pivoted to allow her legs to dangle over the edge of the bed. Once she was up and moving she usually felt pretty spry, but her old bones and joints were stiff and achy in the mornings when she first started to move.

"It must be close to 10:00," she said out loud. "Why, I've slept away half the day!" She slowly eased her way out of the bed and walked over to the rocker where she habitually draped her housecoat. She noticed the cat hair on the front panel of the robe and remembered her visit with Miss Cassie.

She was glad the family had listened with such interest last night. Eager listeners always make a tale easier to tell.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 04 Aug 06 - 10:32 PM

High summer is a busy time in the country, whether one lives in the hollers or out on the plains. Aunt Cathy canned tomatoes and green beans, pickled peppers and cucumbers and made black raspberry jam and peach preserves. She started early each day, before it got hot, and planned her projects to be out of the heat of the kitchen by noon. Some mornings she would skip the canning, grab a basket and head for the woods and pastures to gather coltsfoot, mullein, skullcap, pennyroyal, and lobelia to tincture in quart jars with some of the moonshine.   "Doctors are fine," she thought, 'but they cost money, and these herbs help a lot of what might ail me as good as anything the doctor might give me."

She wondered how much the kids would really want to know. Or needed to know, for that matter. All she knew is she wanted THEM to know...and to understand. "People don't think us hillbillies understand anything," she grumped to herself. "They think we don't know nothin'. Fine. Let 'em think that. We have learned from hard experience that it is often best to keep your understanding to yourself. But we understand these hills and hollers and the spirits that dwell therein. We understand the music of the wind in the treetops and in the fiddle and the pipes, and the plain voice raised in song. We know what the voices of the creeks shout or whisper as the water pours down the mountain after gathering from all over the ridge side.

Cassie. Cassie with her second sight. Cassie, the bastard daughter. So completely of this place, this holler, these mountains, but never fitting in. When she fled from here she thought she was free, but she belonged to this place, and eventually it claimed her once again.

At least when she returned, she returned with grace.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 07:00 PM

Friday night was full moon, so aunt Cathy called up Zeke Wednesday evening. His girlfriend answered the phone. Cathy was polite but not friendly. When Zeke came to the phone she told him the still was ready to be emptied. Zeke said he'd get the boys together and they'd be over Early Friday to pour off the 'shine. They'd take the dogs and go coon hunting Friday night. Cathy allowed as that would be fine, that Old Duke and Jezebel needed a good hunt--they were starting to aggrevate the dickens out of the cat. Zeke said he'd bring some big catfish fillets if Cathy would fry them up. She heard his girlfriend snort in the background.

"Tell that stupid woman she ain't got a thing to be concerned about!" Cathy snapped at Zeke. "If I still wanted you I'd have you, but I don't."

"Aw Cathy, don't be sayin' that. You know you still got a soft place for me in that heart of yours."

This time it was Cathy who snorted. She ended the call and headed upstairs to get ready for Wednesday night choir practice.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 10:46 PM

Cathy checked the cars to see who was already there as she parked and walked up to the plain little church.   "Frank's Creek United Methodist Church" read the neatly lettered sign standing by the walkway.
      There was no narthex in the plain little clapboard church. She came through the doors directly into the sanctuary and walked up the aisle between the pews, her steps echoing slightly on the bare wood floor. The other 6 members of the choir were already there, as was the pastor's wife, who was the pianist. They were a small group of mighty voices. Homer sang bass, Aunt Cathy and Mr. Collins sang the tenor, Alma Mae and Edith were strong altos, young Susan Ramey had a lovely soprano voice, and Virgie Dobbins sang with her. Virgie's voice had a tendency to get screechy when it got really high, but they were careful with their song selections and choice of key, so that wasn't usually too much of an issue. Anyway, there were a number of strong voices in the congregation to join with the little choir for everything but the anthem. Aunt Cathy was usually bored and sometimes irritated by the 'hellanddamnation' sermons of Pastor Tidquist, but hearing all those voices raised together in song on Sunday morning made those sermons worth sitting through. Maybe she wouldn't have felt so irritated if the good Pastor were not one of her best 'shine customers—but Aunt Cathy was one to live and let live, and always she had come to church for the singing and the ritual and the comfort it brought. It didn't hurt a thing to pray with other people. She didn't know if she believed in God or not, even after 83 years of pondering the question—but she definitely knew the power of prayer and of voices raised together in praise or supplication. She'd never been able to get Cassie to understand. Cassie had come once and once only. After that she said wild horses couldn't drag her back.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 05 Aug 06 - 10:57 PM

I am feeling increasingly self-conscious that more people are not joining in on this bit of story. If it is because I haven't invited you, please forgive my bad manners and jump in if you are so moved. If it is because this is just boring and not very interesting, would some one please have the kindness to pm me to let me know that I am making an ass of myself?

Mercy Bucket,

Janie

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 11:18 PM

'...Oh yes I'm feasting from the mantle of a bountiful supply
for I am dwelling in Beulah Land.'

Choir practice rarely took long. They had all been singing the old hymns their entire lives. They had quickly run through 'Come Thou Fount", "A Few More Years." and "Gospel Ship," They hadn't even used the hymnal for "Beulah Land." Cathy loitered outside the church for a few minutes after practice, chatting with Virgie and Homer. She was hoping Pastor Tidquist would drive up before his wife came out so she could let him know that a new batch would soon be ready. She wondered if Sherry Tidquist knew of her husband's tippling. "Who knows?" she mused, "Sherry may join him." Weren't none of her business, but she opined to herself that Sherry Tidquist could use a good stiff drink every now and then to loosen her up some. Pastor Tidquist pulled up just as Aunt Cathy was getting in her car. With a few cryptic words she passed her message, then headed for home.

As the crow flies Frank's Creek was only 3 or 4 miles from Grizzly Holler, but by road it was a good 15 mile drive. Grizzly Holler branched off near the head of Paint Creek, which ran along the base of the south side of Eskew's Ridge. Frank's Creek ran into Cabin Creek, which was the main creek and holler at the base of the north side of the same ridge.

Cathy took her time on the dark, twisting roads. It wouldn't do to hit a deer. As she drove she made a mental list in preparation for Zeke and the boys arrival on Friday. She needed to make sure she hade enough mason jars washed up. Zeke's boys often brought their young sons with them. She didn't want them up at the still and wondered if she could keep them down by the creek. Maybe they'd enjoy searching for fossils in the creek. It was hard to imagine this high, hilly country at the bottom of a sea, but the many beautiful fossils of shells and fishbones didn't leave much doubt. It was just as hard to imagine a time when these old, worn and rounded mountains had been as towering, as rough and raw, as the Rockies. "Oh! These ancient, mystical hills."

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 10:12 AM

Cathy pulled into the gas station at the corner of Cabin Creek Rd. and Rte. 60, and stopped at the full service island. Louie walked out to see how much gas she wanted and to clean her windshield.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 10:25 AM

Mjolnir finished pacing the bounds of the cabin property. He still didn't like the feel of the southern boundery, and the crick was lower then ever. Perhaps he had better cast the wards twice daily - at least until after the full moon. No sense in being lacksadasical. If a little extra effort prevented problems - well, so be it.

Besides - the time spent casting the boundaries would be that much less time spent in the company of the fool canine. When the creator gave out brains, that creature certainly had missed the line for her gifts.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 11:10 PM

Louie set his NeHi Grape pop on the roof of Aunt Cathy's car, started the gas pumping, raised the hood and checked her oil.
    "You ain't low, but it looks pretty diry. Better bring it in soon and let me change it for you." Aunt Cathy leaned her head out the care window to hear him talk as he cleaned the windshield.
"Zeke called about coonhuntin' Friday night," he said. "I'm gonna bring my Walker pup. Let Ol' Duke and Jezebel show him how it's done."
    "You be sure to tell that pup to take lessons from Jezebel, and not Duke, when it comes to dealing with Mjolnir. He's gettin'kinda long in the tooth, slowin' down. He don't need no more aggrevation from the canine persuasion." Aunt Cathy was only half joking. "Bring your D-28. Zeke, Junior and Mickey will want to make a little music after they sleep off the hunt. Zeke and I ain't sung together in a long while, and I'm thinking it will be a good time."
    "Yes M'am."
    Cathy handed Louie the gas money through the window and started the car. It was getting later than she liked to be out and she wanted to get home. Louie remembered his grape pap as she pulled away and reached up to grab it. It tumbled toward him off the roof and grape pop spilled over his shirt front before the bottle crashed to the ground and shattered. Louie looked down at his stained shirt, sighed, and headed into the station to get a broom.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 11:13 PM

(I have plumb forgot how to NeHi, Nehi, whatever, is spelled. Is it still made? And does anyone know how it is spelled?

Also, everything I know about coon hunting I learned from "Where the Red Fern Grows." If anyone reading this knows coon hunting, I sure hope you will come on into the story and help it along.)

Janie

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 09:44 AM

NeHi is right and yes, you can still get it.

I get the feeling Cathy knows a bit more about Mjolnir then she lets on.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 11:01 PM

Cathy bounced along the rutted track that passed for a road up Grizzly Holler. The eyes of white-tailed deer grazing in the pastures along the Bottom glowed briefly in her headlights. A Barred Owl swooped silently along the track in front of her before turning into the woods, and a red fox, jaws clamped on a small rodent or frog, darted across her path. She was tired and glad to be almost home. She had enjoyed the past weekend and the choir practice, but she liked her space and wasn't used to being around people so much anymore. Now she had Zeke and the boys coming this weekend. Kinda made her tired just to think about it.

    The cabin was at the very end of the holler. As she rounded the last bend in the rutted dirt road she felt a chill and shivered. "Some one must have just walked over my grave," she joked to herself. Still, she was somehow uneasy as she approached the turn-off to the pasture gate. She saw at once that the gate was opened. "Did I forget to shut it when I left," she wondered? "No. I distinctly remember stopping and walking around the car to close and latch it. I wonder if the cow is out?"
    The farmer below her had offered several times to buy the cow, and she was thinking of letting him--she bought her milk from him rather than fool with milking her own cow--she let the calf have all the milk. If the cow was indeed out it would probably head down toward his place, and maybe it should just stay there. She was too old to be chasing after livestock.
    It was also strange that Old Duke had not come down to the gate to greet her when she stopped, but then the tomcat appeared out of the darkness and began rubbing up against her ankles. She bent down and rubbed the cat back, saying "Did you tree those old dogs, or did they take themselves off hunting?" Mjolnir took a few steps toward the house and then looked back at Cathy as if to reassure her that all was safe. At least for the moment.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 11:31 PM

When the neighbor called the next morning, Aunt Cathy told him to go ahead and keep the cow and calf. She wouldn't take money for them, saying she owed him something for keeping the road clear as best he could in winter. In fact, dispite the son's obvious leeriness of Aunt Cathy, the neighbors kept an eye out for her, checked on her when they were all trapped up the holler by snow or mud, and were always good to help if a pipe froze or some other problem occurred. They also listened in on the party line when she got phone calls, which is why she and Zeke always spoke 'in code' about the still, not that the whole holler didn't know about it anyway. And not that she didn't know that some told somewhat bizarre stories about her, but that was simply the way of folk up these hollers. After all, that is the way of extended families, and there were few people living up any particular holler and its branches who couldn't reckon themselves to be kin to one another by marriage, blood, or both, even if it was 5th cousin twice removed. The farmer reluctantly agreed to accept the cow without paying her, but allowed the least he could do was keep her in milk and cream without charge.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 11:32 PM

Thursday night it rained, and when Aunt Cathy awoke early Friday morning the sky was still overcast. She hoped Zeke and the boys wouldn't get soaked dealing with the contents of the still.   Aunt Cathy had helped raise the boys, who were Zeke's sons by his first wife. She had died of childbed fever 2 weeks after the youngest had been born. She was 17 at the time, and Zeke was only 19.    The boys were 10 and 11 years old when Zeke and Cathy were wed.   Cathy always had a special tender place for them. She knew what it was like to lose a parent. Her own father was killed when the mine roof caved in on him when Cathy was only 9.   She often thought that being fatherless had shaped Cassie and her in some similar ways.
    Zeke, Zeke Jr. and Stevie pulled up into the yard about 9:00 am. The rain seemed to have broke the heat wave of the last several days and the clouds were breaking up so that large patches of blue showed in the sky. The boys had not brought the grandkids, for which Aunt Cathy was guiltily glad. She loved 'em, but didn't much feel like foolin' with 'em today. Junior and Stevie walked over to kiss her on the cheek. Zeke gave her a big hug and tried to get in a smack on the lips, but Aunt Cathy turned her head, and he, too, had to settle for her warm, dry cheek.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 11:33 PM

"I've already got the mason jars washed and dried, and lined out on the kitchen table," she told them. She offered breakfast, but they had stopped for sausage biscuits at the store and grill at the mouth of Paint Creek. They each did accept a mug of strong, black coffee. They were eager to get the work done so they could rest up for hunting that night, and didn't dawdle over their coffee. Soon they were headed up the mountain behind the cabin, following a steep, rocky deer trail that more or less followed the creek, each toting an empty 5 gallon water container. They would pour the mash off into these containers to carry back down to the kitchen where Aunt Cathy would fill the mason jars. Then they would head back up the mountain with what was needed to start another batch. Junior and Stevie carried the corn and potatoes that Zeke used for the mash, but he always carried another tightly closed sack with other ingredients. His recipe was secret and not even Cathy knew everything that went into the mash. Zeke was insistent that the still be well-cleaned before he began a new batch of moonshine, so they would make a third trip up and then down the mountain, nearly two miles round trip, because of the switchback trail. They carried the parts they could to be washed in the kitchen, and lugged a big steel pot back up. They'd light a fire and heat water to boiling to clean the larger parts of the still at the site. By the time they had made their last trip down the mountain and secured the mason jars in the hidden cellar near the hayfield, it was 2:00. They had done a good days work and were tired. They quickly ate the meatloaf sandwiches Cathy had made for them then headed off to beds and couches to sleep until dark.

    Whether it was due to Zeke's secret recipe, the clean still, or a combination of both, it was generally acknowledged all the way down the river into Charleston that Zeke Ross made the best (and the safest) moonshine in three counties.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 06:53 PM

Aunt Cathy decided to take a nap herself. She certainly wasn't going to join them on the coonhunt, but she really hoped for some good pickin' and singin' the next day. She hoped Louie remembered to bring his guitar.
    As Aunt Cathy napped, a revelation came to her in a dream. In the dream, she was standing at a podium in front of a crowd of people. She was telling a story. At first, people listened attentively. As she talked, she looked around the room. She wasn't sure, but she thought there were several other people there who knew parts of the story, maybe some parts of it that she didn't know. Sure enough, a few people occasionally arose and added their knowledge or perspective. The longer she talked, the more interested she herself got in the story. She didn't notice that she began to ramble. It took a longer while for her to notice that after the first bit, no one else was particularly interested. A few polite people watched her attentively and nodded occasionally or murmured polite encouragement. Then she realized that even they had fallen asleep.
    When Cathy awoke, she knew immediately that she was being a foolish old woman to think a story about Cassie and her, and life in the holler would interest anyone in the family but herself. They liked to hear tidbits of local and family history, but didn't have the time or inclination to listen to chapter and verse. "Well, if it matters to me, I can tell the story in my head, or write it in my diary."
    She went downstairs to start supper for the men. Wouldn't do to hunt and drink moonshine on empty stomachs.
    Louie arrived with his pup right at supper. The men ate hardily. After drinking several cups apiece of Aunt Kathy's good, strong coffee, they set out back up the mountain, dogs in tow, hip flasks filled with new moonshine. The moon hung high in a clear sky.
    Aunt CAthy cleaned up the kitchen then went out to sit on the porch. Mjolnir came and curled in her lap. They sat there for a long time, watching the moon and tracking the hunt by the beautiful bell-tones of the hounds in voice. Sitting there, rocking, they both fell asleep.

THE END

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Effsee
Date: 11 Aug 06 - 09:15 PM

THE END
Aw, Janie say it isn't so!

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 11:20 PM

This story keeps on living in my head. I ended it so abruptly out of self-consciousness--with so few people joining in or commenting, I began to feel really embarrassed. I thought I might take the time to just go ahead and write it for myself. But I apparently need to know that some one might possibly be listening-reading--maybe even thinking of coming in (or back in) with their own character so we can play.

So. Here it is, back again. I can't seem to bring myself to work on it on my own, privately. But like I said, I can't just drop it either. I don't know where it is going and I need to find out. So just don't open open it if you find it uninteresting. But if you do find it interesting, please let me know you are reading. And if you are inspired to join in, please do.



Sitting there, rocking, Aunt Kathy's mind began to drift back over the years.
"Lordy, how changed life is!" She spoke out loud, addressing the night air around her, briefly startling Mjolnir from his cat dreams. He quickly settled down and commenced to dreaming again, paws and mouth twitching. Kathy wondered what he dreamed of. Magic? Mice? Or was he chasing down rolling cans of catfood?
She felt a twinge of guilt at the irreverence of that last thought. Mjolnir was, after all, a force to be reckoned with, not your usual mouser at all.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 11:24 PM

Dee-lighted to see this again, Janie! Sorry I dropped out and wasn't able to join in more. May do, soon, but please DO keep writing. It is a GOOD read and I know what you mean about knowing someone is reading it. It is motivating to know one is sharing with folks who appreciate what it being written.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 09:06 AM

The sun was just rising in a glory of pinks, golds, and reds, as Mjolnir completed his rounds and leaped lightly to the railing of the porch. He contemplated the passing of time, and how, especially at his age, months could slip by nearly unnoticed. The last vestiges of Autumn now surrounded him, though it seemed only yesterday that he had had the first warnings of danger in the high summer.

Not that he wasn't as alert as ever, nor slipshod in any of his duties. But where in youth each day seemed endless and eternal, now sometimes they slipped by as if leaves floating by on a stream, silent, skimming the surface without being aware of the depths of the water.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 03:54 PM

Late Autumn and Early winter - the dangerous part of the year when the darkness and the things that dwell in it can sneak up without notice. Now the Hunter's moon had past, Mjolnir knew his vigilence must double. He was grateful that Cathy herself was more then a little sensitive, and even that dratted Duke was aware of the more blatent intrusions onto the property.

But given it was hunting season he hoped that just perhaps one of the family might be dropping by with a haunch of venison for Cathy. Like Cassie before her, Cathy wasn't finicky about sharing a few bites of her meal with a handsome Tom, and some venision would certainly be tasty.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 08:01 PM

A common story in the hills and hollers throughout West Virginia, the mineral and lumber rights to the land on which Aunt Cathy's old house sat had been virtually stolen early in the 20th century, traded to agents for out-of-state business and mining interests for little more (or even less) than a song. Still, with the price of fuel these days, there was real benefit in getting free natural gas to heat with as her royalty from the gas well that sat on the branch about 200 yards behind the house.

The big old space heater in the parlour could be cranked up until nearly all the downstairs was toasty warm on a dank, November morning. There was no heat upstairs at all, though. Until just a few years ago, Cathy slept upstairs all winter, in spite of the cold. She liked the feeling of being snug and warm under the comforter and quilts,with the feel of the cold on her cheeks as she slept. Her bedroom window faced east, and when it was really cold, and frost formed in the inside of the window overnight, she liked to lie in bed in the morning to watch the sun shimmer and glint through the frosty glass until it warmed the window enough to begin to melt.

But her bones were getting old, and her blood thin. Last winter, she had often found herself sleeping on the couch in the parlour rather than brave the cold upstairs at bedtime. This fall, she had moved into the guest bedroom off the parlour for the winter. It was well-furnished, and she had to move a padded chair out to make room for Cassie's rocker. It had been a real struggle getting it down the stairs by herself. But she didn't want anyone else touching it.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 10:16 PM

The rain had begun about mid-day of the previous day. One of those cold, November drizzles that matted the fallen leaves, robbing them of all rustle as Aunt Cathy slogged out to the root cellar for some appled to make a pie. Big Bill, Billy and Sharon, and maybe some of the others were coming tonight. They'd eat supper in the kitchen, then pull out the instruments to make a bit of music.
    BAck in the house, she deftly cut the lard into the flour to make the pie crust. She was thinking about last night. Cassie had come to her again. That had been happening alot lately. They had argued, something that had rarely happened when Cassie was alive. Cassie wanted her to get their story told. Cathy kept insisting that the family didn't want to hear. They were too busy with their own lives to care abut what an old woman had to say. Finally, because she couldn't stand to waste these precious times with Cassie in arguement, she told Cassie she would start to write it all down. They could read it after she was dead, if they wanted. That seemed to appease Cassie somewhat and she stopped pressing the issue.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 11:01 PM

When the weather had turned Cathy had started letting Duke in the house--his old bones seemed to ache as much from the cold as her own. He was grieving Jezebel, who had simply dropped, dead as a door knob, on that coonhunt after the still was emptied in late summer.Aunt Cathy missed her, but knew whe had died doing what she loved to do, running along the ridge in pursuit of a coon.
    Preoccupied with her thoughts ogf last night's visit with Cassie, Aunt Cathy didn't notice that Duke had come in and laid down on the kitchen floor behind her. She tripped over him as she backed away from the counter where she had been rolling out the pie dough. Unable to catch herself, she fell, hard, landing on her right side. A searing pain ran through her pelvis, down her right hip and radiated down into her leg.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 08:19 AM

Janie - don't you DARE kill Cathy off before the story gets told!

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 01:57 PM

Cathy lay sprawled on the kitchen floor, breathless from the pain. She knew immediately she had broken her pelvic bone, and possibly her hip.

"Damn, damn, damn, you old fool of a woman!" she said to herself when the pain had faded enough for her to begin to think again. She knew what a broken pelvic bone or hip could mean to a woman of her age. Duke whined anxiously while nuzzling her shoulder. He laid down beside her, restless, still whining, then went to the back door.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: MMario
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 02:07 PM

*sotto voce* hope that dumb dog is smart enough to get the door open.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 11:33 PM

Mjolnir was back by the gas well, watching the rhythmic motion of the pump moving up and down, toying with a vole he had caught in the tall grass above the branch. He had been careful to avoid the oily film that seeped up out of the well, blackening the grass for 4 feet around the pump before it filtered down into the branch. The oily sheen always apparent on the water beside the pump was pretty much dissipated by the time the little creek flowed past Aunt Cathy's house. Only during long dry spell spells, when the flow of the branch was greatly reduced, could one see, and sometimes smell, the oily residue as it washed on down the branch toward Paint Creek.   

Cathy kept the great grandkids away from the branch during those times. Other times, she would help them make little boats from reeds and leaves to set sail down the little branch. Cathy would make up stories for the children about how the boats would sail on down into Paint Creek, then to the Kanawha River and on to the Ohio and Mississippi, until they would at last sail out into the Gulf of Mexico, having had many challenges and adventures along the way.

When Aunt Cathy fell, Mjolnir jumped like he had been touched by a cattle prod, then took off running, hard, toward the house.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 10:06 PM

Mjolnir reached the back stoop, jumped up onto the rail and from there, to the windowsill. He looked in through the window. He could see Aunt Cathy on the floor, and Duke pacing back and forth between Cathy and the door. He sensed that he was going to need to cast a spell, but how to get into the house to do it? Just three weeks ago Louie had driven up and spent the better part of a Saturday tacking clear plastic over the old, drafty windows of the house, a chore he did for Cathy every year just before the weather turned. Only the window in the kitchen that looked out on the backyard and the ridge rising beyond had been left uncovered. Mjolnir could easily rip through the plastic, but that wouldn't get him through the windowglass.

He yeowled loudly to catch Duke's attention. Cathy heard him too and turned her head toward the window. She felt her fear and panic subside just a little at the sight of Mjolnir peering through the window at her. He'd find a way to summons help, worldly or otherwise. Cathy had tried to drag herself over to the phone, but the pain was so great she had nearly vomited. She was truly stuck there in the middle of the kitchen floor, in great pain and distress. It would be several hours before Big Bill and the kids were due to appear. Who knew what kind of shape whe would be in by then? She needed help as soon as it could be had.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 11:47 PM

Duke was feeling pretty desparate. For one thing, he needed to take a whiz. He knew something was bad wrong with Aunt Cathy, or she woulda let him out by now. He was thinkin' how they both needed some help about now.

He was a good dog. A smart coonhound. But in a situation like this, being a hound was definitely a limitation. He was smart about hunting and the woods, and could guess what a coon might do before the coon thought of it hisself. His old nose nearly gone, and he wasn't drawn off by the many odors, near and distant, that used to entice him to roam the ridges and the holler. That's why he was unaware that the little mountain feist who lived with the farmer at the mouth of the holler was in heat. She was just too far away for his old nose to catch that particular message.

When that damned uppity cat showed up, he actually was glad to see him. Figuring out what to do in this kind of situation was definitely more up the cat's alley than his own.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 08:28 AM

From his perch on the window sill, Mjolnir took a minute to size up the scene more carefully. The back door was closed, but the cat knew that it often did not latch. He jumped down onto the porch, and nosed along the bottom of the door. He thought he detected a little 'give' when he gently pushed at it with his nose.

Good. Not latched. There was a half inch gap between the bottom of the door and the door sill. Crouching, he eased a paw, claw-side up, into the crack, dug his claws into the door as best he could, and pulled.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 02:05 PM

The cat, with the claws of his right forepaw dug into the woodgrain on the bottom edge of door, backed away, pulling as hard as he could. He was in an awkward position, and not at all certain he was strong enough to pull the heavy door open. It would have been a difficult move for a young tom in his prime, and Mjolnir, remember, was a very old cat. Ancient, even by human years. On the other side of the door, he could hear Duke's excited panting. From further into the kitchen he could hear the low sound of Cathy's voice, muttering and moaning. She seemed to have slipped into a delirium.

    Nothing appeared to be happening. Mjolnir strained and pulled with all his strength. The door seemed to sway a tiny bit, but was not swinging free of the jamb. Mjolnir disengaged his claw, pulled his forepaw out from under the door, and sat back on his haunches to consider the situation. Maybe if he.... The cat moved from the center of the door to the the edge, directly beneath the door knob. He inserted his upward-facing paw back under the door and pulled again. He pulled with all the strength he had. At first, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the door began to move. It didn't move much, but he didn't need for it to. The hinges creaked faintly as the door swung past the jamb, leaving a 1 inch gap between the facing and the door. Mjolnir quickly disengaged his claws, stepped back a pace, nudged his head through crack, then slipped his body through and pushed to open the door wide.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:37 PM

He knew the screen door would be latched. His hope was that he could entice Duke to bust through it. This was one of the few times in his long life that he regretted not learning to communicate with canines back when he had the chance. Cathy was still muttering from the floor of the kitchen. Something about her flute...Cassie...her mother....

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:03 PM

Then Mjolnir realized he was hearing a flute. Faint at first, but getting stronger and louder with each passing minute. He peered through the screen door toward Aunt Cathy and saw Cassie sitting on the floor beside her, hands raised, the flute to her lips. She finished the air she was piping then laid the flute down, reached out her hand and gently stroked Aunt Cathy's forehead. Cathy reached up and took Cassie's hand in her own. Mjolnir relaxed and started purring. He must be getting senile to forget that Cassie didn't need a spell from him to come to Cathy. He'd just go on in now and join them--or he would if he could get inside the damned house!
    He yeowed again, loudly. Cassie and Aunt Cathy both turned to look at him. "Sorry, my dear old familiar," said Cassie. "I would love for you to join us while I summon Louie to come and help, but I can not possibly do something so corporeal as unlatching the screen. You will have to find your own way in. And while you are at it, find a way to let this poor dog out before he bursts his bladder." Duke was continuing to pace back and forth between the door and the women, whining and panting.
    Mjolnir sat glaring at the dog, wondering what it would take to get the old dog to bust through the screen door. He rose again, peered one last time into the kitchen at the women it was his destiny to protect, then turned abruptly and disappeared from view. When he was gone, Cassie raised the flute to her mouth once more.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Effsee
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:10 PM

Oh man, the suspense is getting too much for me!

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: frogprince
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:24 PM

Go, Janie, go, Janie, go, Janie, go...

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:33 PM

Deer trails ran along the tops of the ridges on either side of Aunt Cathy's place. Louie's deer stand was 25 feet up in a large poplar along the trail, about 100 yards past the gas well. He had climbed up into his seat about an hour before daybreak, hoping to get a chance at that big buck he had seen in Aunt Cathy's yard a few weeks ago when he had come by to cover the windows. But it was now mid-morning and he had seen no sign of the buck, or of any other deer for that matter. He climbed down to the ground, stiff and cramped from sitting motionless for so long.   Thinking he'd better get a nap in if he was going to be in any shape to jam with the others after Cathy had fed them one of her fine meals tonight, he started hiking back down toward the mouth of the holler, where he had left his truck.

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Janie
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 10:54 PM

(Thanks, Effsee and Frogprince! It helps to know some one is tuning in and enjoying it)

Janie

Subject: RE: Fiction:The Woman in the Holler
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 05:57 AM

I am also a regular reader Janie !!