Danny and Life on Bluff Point: Lost in the Dark

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Chapter One

Danny & Cat

"Hello, Danny, where are you?" Mary calls in her high-pitched little girl voice.

"I'm up here." I reply.

"I'm coming up."

"Be careful on the ladder."

Shortly, Mary's hood-covered-head pops over the edge of the hayloft floor of the horse barn. "Uncle Philo is here," she announces with great drama. She does not attempt to climb into the loft. Mary is afraid to make that last big step from the ladder to the loft. I have just learned to do it myself.

"I'll be right down," I say. It is not often we see our Uncle Philo in the winter. He and his family live in Branchport which is miles from here. I wonder why he has come. There must be something going on for him to ride all the way to our house on the top of Bluff Point. I hope no one is sick or hurt.

I was sitting in the hay doing some drawing. I manage to hide the papers and pencil behind my back before Mary can see them. Instead, I play with Tabby, my favorite barn cat. He is an orange-colored tiger. He was lying beside me in the hay. Now I have him on my lap. We are sitting in the path of light that comes from the small window in the peak of the barn. It is about the only light source except for a few cracks in the siding. The hayloft is one of my favorite private places. The smell of the hay reminds me of summer.

My drawing attempts are a secret as I know my big sister, Ruthie, will make fun of my efforts. She will laugh at my drawings. My big sister already teases me about my small size, lack of strength, and my talking to the farm animals. She tells me I have two girlfriends too. Rachel and Amelia aren't girl friends; they are just friends of mine.

I don't mind so much her picking on me about my talking to our animals. They are my friends and it gives me great comfort to talk to them. I'm the only boy and need someone to talk to other than my sisters. My Pa and the other men are often too busy to talk to me. My older sister drawing attention to my miserable small size in front of other people really bothers me though. Someday I will grow and be as tall as my Pa is. No one can tease me about my size then.

It is early Saturday afternoon, the first week of February 1895. I have done all my chores. My time is my own.

"Did he say anything about why he came?" I ask as I watch Mary slowly climb down the long ladder.

"Not that I heard. He just got here a few minutes ago anyway. Don't talk to me now. I'm concentrating on climbing down. I don't like being on this ladder."

"I want to know why Uncle Philo is here. Hurry up, won't you? But be careful. Don't be afraid, you have climbed up before."

"I am moving as fast as I can. Hold your horses, Danny. You don't want me to fall do you? I don't like it here and have to be careful. Besides, I only went up part way this time."

Mary & Ladder

Mary really isn't supposed to climb this ladder as it is straight up and the rungs are man-sized apart. It is difficult for me because of my short legs and being in heavy winter clothes makes it even harder. Winter in upstate New York requires heavy warm clothes.

"Thanks for coming to get me, Mary."

"You're welcome, Danny."

Finally, on the upper barn floor we make our way down the stairs and through the basement past the pigpens. The pigs are all asleep. Once outside, I carefully latch the side door. I don't what to be responsible for some wild animal or even my dog, Buster, getting into the barn. A wild animal might attack the pigs and horses.

We make our way to the house, using the paths that we shoveled through the huge amount of snow that fell a few weeks ago. Thankfully, not much new snow has fallen since the blizzard in January.

We find Doc and Uncle Ed on their way to the cow barn. My Grandfather Lee hired Doc many years ago. He is our long time hired hand. Uncle Ed is Pa's youngest brother. Uncle Ed and Doc are sort-of funny looking when they stand close together. Doc is short, heavy set and has a moustache. Uncle Ed is tall, thin, and clean shaven.

Doc is older than Pa is by thirty-three years. His shoulders are almost as wide as Pa's are. He has white hair and a salt and pepper-colored moustache. When he grins, his moustache turns up at the ends. He always seems to have a smile on his face and often tells us stories of the old days on Bluff Point.

Uncle Ed is younger than Pa is by nine years. He doesn't talk much when he is with the other men. Uncle Ed is tall and thin with sober blue eyes.

When he and I are alone, he tells me many things about farming.

Doc and Uncle Ed have rooms in the bunkhouse which is behind our house.

"Is that Philo's horse I see?" Uncle Ed asks.

"Yup, he has come for a visit," I say. "Mary and I are going to see what he has to say."

Uncle Philo tied his horse to the hitching post. He is patiently waiting for his master.

The enormous pile of snow outside the woodshed door is gone, we shoveled it away. We no longer have to crawl through a snow tunnel to get to the door. Too bad, it was kind of fun. It was especially fun to watch the men crawl through it as it was barely big enough for them. My cousin Jay and I dug the tunnel during the blizzard. The family needed a way to get out of the back of the house. It would be unsafe in case of fire to only have one way to escape from the house.

Mary and I run into the woodshed, remove our boots and burst into the kitchen. Uncle Ed and Doc are behind us.

"Greetings, Danny," Uncle Philo calls in his deep but pleasant voice. "Greetings, Mary."

Mary and I give Uncle Philo a hug of greeting.

"Hello, Uncle Philo," I say breathlessly. "It is good to see you."

I'm a little in awe of him as he is taller and broader of shoulder than my Pa is. He has a bushy moustache and beard, all black in color. He is not a farmer but is a steamboat captain, boat pilot, and water well driller. Uncle Philo is a younger brother of Pa's. He knows all kinds of neat things about machinery and the boats on Keuka Lake. Not that my Pa doesn't know about such things, Uncle Philo knows more.

Uncle Ed and Doc shake Uncle Philo's hand.

"Danny, please put Philo's horse in the barn and give her some water and hay," Pa directs.

"But, I'll miss what Uncle Philo has to talk about and why he has come," I moan.

"That's all right, Danny, I'll wait till you get back," Uncle Philo laughs. His face is full of smiles and his blue eyes are sparkling. Must be there is no problem at his house.

"I'll go with you," Mary says. "You'll get done faster if I help."

Mary is one of my little sisters, only she is taller than I am by several inches. We are starting to do things together even though she is two years younger than my ten years. Mary is the only one I have to play with at home. Thirteen-year-old Ruthie has declared herself too grown-up to play with me. Carolyn, our youngest sister is much too little. She is only five.

We follow the path back to the main horse barn door with Uncle's horse in tow. Buster is happily following us. Now he wants to chase the tall horse and is playfully nipping at his heels.

Uncle Philo's horse is a very large riding horse, reddish in color. He calls him Red. Uncle likes good horses even more than my Pa. Red is a Standardbred. He is a magnificent animal. Uncle has taken me for rides on Red, it is like flying. He has a wonderful gait and is very fast.

This spring Pa says he is going to buy me a riding horse of my own. For now, all I have to ride is Bess, one of our Belgian draft horses. Having Bess to ride is much better than having to walk everywhere I want to go. I'm very thankful Pa trusts me with her. It is a chance to show my Pa how grown up I am by my taking good care of her. But, having my very own horse will be better still.

"Buster, get away from him. Behave and don't bother Uncle's horse. Mary, you are too close to him for your own good. Get back. You don't want to be kicked do you?"

"Oh, Red wouldn't kick me."

"He would if Buster upsets him enough. He doesn't even know you are there. All he knows is that Buster is behind him and he doesn't like it. Red could try to kick Buster and get you instead. You wouldn't like that one bit. Get way back, Mary."

I enjoy having Mary to tell what to do. Ruthie is always telling me what to do. Now that Mary is a little older and is out doing farm stuff, I can give her orders. My little sister is learning how to take care of our chickens and turkeys. Ordering her about when we are caring for them makes me feel like a big brother in spite of my miserable small size.

After Mary takes over the chicken and turkey work, Ruthie, and I will have something else to do. I hope I will get to groom more of the horses. Or perhaps I will be milking a cow or two.

Opening the large sliding door to the upper level of the horse barn used to be impossible for me. Now, after shoveling lots of manure and snow last month, I'm much stronger. I can open the big door without aid from anyone. It is hard but I can do it. This pleases me a lot. If only I would grow taller and fill out some. I'm still very small for my age and very scrawny. The boys at school call me a scarecrow sometimes.

Once inside, I lead Red to the water trough and take out his bit, "Come on Red, drink your water will you," I demand. "I'm in a hurry to learn what your owner has to tell us." He just casually slurps away in no hurry at all.

"I'll get some hay," Mary calls. She soon returns with an armload of hay and puts it in the manger of the empty box stall. Mary can't use a pitchfork yet. Our parents don't want her to get hurt on this sharp tool. She gets two more armloads of hay while I water and then lead Red into the stall. I carefully close and secure the gate.

"Thanks for the help, Mary." I brush off the small pieces of hay that are clinging to her coat. She picks them off her red mittens.

"You're welcome," she says with a big smile.

Mary is becoming a good assistant and soon will be able to take over the poultry chores. Then I will be able to do other work around the barns. I like being a help to my Pa. It makes me feel useful to my family and not just a child. Mary likes doing some chores too.

Back in the dining room, everyone is enjoying coffee, tea or milk, and Ma's oatmeal cookies. These are special because she put raisins in them. After hanging up our warm outer clothes and washing up, Mary and I join the family around the big dining table.

"All right, everyone is here now," Uncle Philo says. He takes a big breath and announces to us, "My missus suggests we have an ice fishing party tomorrow. We can have a great family get-together at our place. Clelli and I received a huge side of pork in payment for a water well I drilled last week. We will roast the meat over our fire pit and have all kinds of good things to eat."

"While it is roasting, we can go ice fishing and skating. If the day is anything like today, the weather will be good. The barometer is rising so we should have a fine day. You are welcome too, Miss Spaulding."

Miss Spaulding is our teacher. She is staying with my family for the winter school term. She nods her head and smiles. "Thank you, Mr. Lee for being so thoughtful."

"Please call me Philo. May I call you Grace?"

"Of course, Philo, please do."

My Uncle Ed is slowly edging his way toward teacher and stands behind her chair. Mary and Ruthie say he is sweet on her. I am beginning to believe it. Ruthie is grinning at Mary.

Little Carolyn immediately claps her hands and cries, "Oh goodie, a picnic in the winter!" She joyfully dances about singing, "A winter picnic, a winter picnic!"

Pa takes her on his lap and says, "That's right, little one."

"That sounds wonderful, Philo. But Charles, we will miss Sunday school," Ma says.

"Well, it's all right if we don't go to Sunday school once and a while. You ladies can go to the Baptist Church in Branchport if you wish," Pa says. "We menfolk will be busy fishing."

"I doubt if we will have time to prepare dinner and go to church. We will be working while you go fishing. I'll see what the other women have to say about church when we arrive in Branchport. What does Clelli want us to bring Philo?" Ma asks.

"Well, she said anything you want but be sure and bring your baked beans."

Ma's baked beans are the best. She puts little pieces of smoked ham in with them.

"That's fine. I'll bring rolls and butter too."

"Great, I'm on my way over to the Scotts to see if they want to join us. I have been to see Henry and his folks are coming. Mertie is bringing her famous chocolate cake. Ada has a friend with her from town. Both of them are all dolled up," Uncle Philo says with a mischievous grin.

Ruthie's eyes grow big and she looks happy with the thought she will be able to talk to a girl from town. She seems to want to talk about nothing but clothes and hairdos lately. It's a good thing teacher is here so she can gab with her.

"I'll get a good supply of sawbellies for bait," Uncle Philo adds. "We will be bringing home Monday's dinner." He is grinning as he knows that Ma feels the men go fishing more for enjoyment than for food.

"Pa, may I go down to the lake and get Uncle Jerome and Aunt Liz?" I ask. "I'm sure they would like to visit with everyone. Uncle will like to fish with us too."

It is fun to be with Aunt Liz and Uncle Jerome even if they are old. Aunt Liz often says he never acts his age. Uncle Jerome is Pa's uncle.

"That's a good idea, Danny. Take Bess and the cutter. They can spend the night here and then go on with us to Philo's in the morning."

"Oh, boy thanks Pa. I'll get ready and go right now." I love to drive Bess and the cutter.

"Be sure and take your time going down the hill. It's very slippery in spots. Pay attention to what Bess is doing and no daydreaming."

"Yes, sir, I will." Too much daydreaming often gets me into bad trouble. I'm trying very hard to concentrate on the task at hand rather than what is in my mind. It isn't easy but it is necessary. I want to be a responsible person and act as an adult.

I get into my warm clothes again and just before I go out the woodshed door Mary pulls my coat sleeve.

"Danny, I sure wish I could go with you."

"Maybe you can. Did you ask?"

"Yes. No way will they let me go with you. And Ma said not to beg." Mary is pouting.

My guess is they don't trust me with the cutter and you. After my failure to do as directed last month, I'm pleased to be able to use Bess at all. Well, chin up; I'll show them I can do as directed. Then perhaps they will let you go with me sometimes."

"Please be very careful and don't make any stupid mistakes. I want them to let me go with you soon," Mary pleads.

"I will. See you later."

I carefully harness Bess with her light duty harness. I make sure all the straps are the way they should be, not too tight, not too loose. After I hitch the cutter, I am on my way.

Mary and Carolyn are watching from the front parlor window as I happily drive out our lane. I wave to them as I pass by the house.

I turn left onto the Ridge Road and just before Grandpa Scott's lane begins, direct Bess left again onto the road to the lake and Uncle Jerome and Aunt Liz's house.

"Now Bess, you take this hill slowly. I want to be extra careful. I can't afford any mistakes." She twitches her ears and settles into a slow walk.

The cutter glides along between the huge banks of snow left over from the blizzard. In some places, I can't see over them.

The road seems only wide enough in these spots for one sleigh. I sure hope I don't meet anyone who is in a hurry in such a place. Passing would be very difficult. One of us will have to back until we get to a wider spot. I will have to carefully guide Bess while she is backing. She does not like to back as she can't see where she is going.

I remember when Pa and I broke open the road after the storm. What a long time and a lot of effort it took. But, we had to get to Uncle Jerome's place to make sure he and Aunt Liz were all right.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Danny and Life on Bluff Point: Lost in the Dark by Mary Ellen Lee Copyright © 2009 by Mary Ellen Lee. Excerpted by permission.
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