Part 5 (2/2)
”I'm Valerius Ralestone. My brother Rupert is the owner.”
”Well, Mistuh Ralestone, suh, I'se yo'all's fahmah from 'cross wata.
Mistuh LeFleah, he says dat yo'all is come to live heah agin. So mah woman, she says dat Ah should see if yo'all is heah yet and does yo'all want anythin'. Lucy, she's bin a-livin' heah, dat is, her mammy and pappy and her pappy's mammy and pappy has bin heah since befo' old Ma.s.sa Ralestone done gone 'way. So Lucy, she jest nachely am oneasy 'bout yo'all not gettin' things comfo'ble.”
”That is kind of her,” Val answered heartily. ”My brother said something last night about wanting to see you today, so if you'll come up to the house--”
”I'se Sam, Mistuh Ralestone, suh. Ah done work heah quite a spell now.”
”By the way,” Val asked as they went up toward the house, ”did you see that boy in the canoe going downstream as you crossed? I found him in the garden and the only answer he would give to my questions was that he had as much right there as I had. Who is he?”
The wide smile faded from Sam's face. ”Mistuh Ralestone, suh, effen dat no-'count trash comes 'round heah agin, yo'all bettah jest call de policemans. Dey's nothin' but poah white trash livin' down in de swamp places an' dey steals whatevah dey kin lay han' on. Was dis boy big like yo'all, wi' black hair an' a thin face?”
”Yes.”
”Dat's de Jeems boy. He ain't got no mammy nor pappy. He lives jest like de wil' man wi' a li'l huntin' an' a big lot stealin'. He talk big. Say he belongs in de big house, not wi' swamp folks. But jest yo'all pay no 'tenshun to him nohow.”
”Val! Val Ralestone! Where are you?” Ricky's voice sounded clear through the morning air.
”Coming!” he shouted back.
”Well, make it snappy!” she shrilled. ”The toast has been burnt twice and--” But what further catastrophe had occurred her brother could not hear.
”Yo'all wants to git to de back do', Mistuh Ralestone, suh? Dere's a sho't-cut 'cross dis-a-way.” Sam turned into a side path and Val followed.
Ricky was at the stove gingerly s.h.i.+fting a coffee-pot as her brother stepped into the kitchen. ”Well,” she snapped as he entered, ”it's about time you were showing up. I've simply cracked my voice trying to call you, and Rupert's been talking about having the bayou dragged or something of the kind. Where have you been, anyway?”
”Getting acquainted with our neighbors. Ricky,” he called her attention to the smiling face just outside the door, ”this is Sam. He runs the home farm for us. And his wife is a descendant of the Ralestone house folks.”
”Ya.s.suh, dat's right. We's Ralestone folks, Miss 'Chanda. Mah Lucy done sen' me ovah to fin' out what yo'all is a-needin' done 'bout de place.
She was in yisteday afo' yo'all come an' seed to de dustin' an' sich--”
”So that's why everything was so clean! That was nice of her--”
”Yo'all is Ralestones, Miss 'Chanda. An' Lucy say dat de Ralestones am a-goin' to fin' dis place jest ready for dem when dey come.” He beamed upon them proudly. ”Lucy, she am a-goin' be heah jest as soon as she gits de chillens set for de day. I'se come fust so's Ah kin see wat Mistuh Ralestone done wan' done wi dem rivah fiel's--”
”Where is Rupert?” Val broke in.
”Went out to see about the car. The storm last night wrecked the door of the carriage house--”
”Zat so?” Sam's eyes went round. ”Den Ah bettah be a-gittin' out an' see 'bout it. 'Scuse me, suh. 'Scuse me, Miss 'Chanda.” With a jerk of his head he left them. Val turned to Ricky.
”We seem to have fallen into good hands.”
”It's my guess that his Lucy is a manager. He just does what she tells him to. I wonder how he knew my name?”
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