Boxcar Children 54 - Hurricane Mystery (3 page)

“We can help you go through the papers, too,” said Jessie. “It will be fun.”

“We’ll start right away!” agreed Henry.

Mrs. Ashleigh held up her hand. “Tomorrow is soon enough. Right now, I think it’s time for dinner.”

“Good,” said Benny. “We’ve worked hard today. We even solved a mystery. That always makes me hungry!”

In the next few days, the sounds of hammers and saws could be heard all over the island as people repaired their houses. The Boxcar Children worked hard helping Mrs. Ashleigh. Soon they’d finished moving furniture and were nailing new floorboards on the porch. They put fresh paint on all the window frames and shutters. When the porch was ready, they planned to paint that, too. They also ran errands and, in the late afternoons, explored the island and played on the wide, smooth beaches.

One day, on their way to the small island grocery store to pick up milk for Mrs. Ashleigh, they saw Diana working on a house. She waved them over.

“How’s everything going?” Diana asked. She reknotted the rubber band she had around her ponytail and smoothed her hair back.

The Aldens told her what they’d been doing and asked Diana questions about her work. She told them a couple of stories about the island and asked them questions about Mrs. Ashleigh and her house.

“That house of hers is one of the oldest on the island,” said Diana. “It’s been here since the 1800s and has survived lots and lots of hurricanes. They just don’t build them like they used to!”

“We saw the plans for Mrs. Ashleigh’s house in Charleston,” Henry said. “They’re in the old papers that we’re helping her sort out.”

“Really?” said Diana. “Well, well, well. Soon you’ll be looking for old Mr. Fitzhugh’s pirate treasure, too, won’t you?”

“How did you know about that?” cried Benny.

“Oh, everybody knows about that story,” said Diana. “It’s a good one. Part of Charleston history.”

“You don’t believe there’s really any treasure?” asked Jessie.

“Nah. And I wouldn’t waste my time looking for make-believe treasure,” said Diana. “I’ve got too much work to do. Time is money and I need all the money I can get.”

She shook her head. “A hurricane is a bad thing, but it’s meant a lot of work for me. But then, I guess you could say disaster repair is my specialty. Hurricanes, earthquakes — ”

“Earthquakes, too?” asked Benny.

“Well, I lived in San Francisco for a while, near the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco has lots of earthquakes. I helped people earthquake-proof their houses. But Charleston’s had earthquakes, too.”

Diana picked up her hammer.

“Well, we won’t keep you from your work,” said Henry politely.

“See you later,” said Diana. “Happy treasure hunting.” She laughed.

“Everybody knows about Mr. Fitzhugh’s treasure,” said Benny, discouraged, as they walked away. “If they haven’t found it, how can we?”

“It sounds as if most people don’t even believe there is a treasure,” said Violet.

“It sounds to me as if she was trying to discourage us from looking for the treasure,” said Jessie. “Like she doesn’t want us to believe there is one.”

“So she can look for it herself?” Henry asked. “Hmmm. Maybe so.”

“Because we could solve the mystery and find the treasure first,” said Benny. “I’d like that.”

“We all would,” said Henry.

“Let’s go look at those papers right now!” Benny urged.

“We have to stop at the grocery store first, Benny,” Violet reminded him.

“I’ll wait here with Watch,” said Benny.

Henry, Jessie, and Violet went into the store to buy milk. Suddenly Henry said, “I have an idea. Let’s make a pretend map and put it on top of the papers. We can let Benny find it and we can go on a treasure hunt tomorrow afternoon when we finish working.”

“Oh, Benny will like that,” said Jessie. She pointed and laughed. “And I have an idea for the treasure we can bury!”

“Do you want me to carry the milk for you?” Benny asked Violet when they came out of the store. But Violet shook her head and kept a firm hold on the grocery bag.

“Thanks, but I’ll carry it, Benny,” she said.

“Come on, then!” said Benny. He and Watch raced ahead and his brother and sisters hurried to catch up.

When they had put the groceries away, the children hurried to the study. The door was closed. And when Henry reached out to turn the knob, they heard the sound of an angry voice coming from inside.

“Why won’t you listen to me?” a man almost shouted.

“Because it’s my house, not yours!” said another quieter voice, fiercely.

“That’s Mrs. Ashleigh!” gasped Violet.

“Well, it won’t be yours for long,” said the man. “You’d better sell before something worse happens to it. And to you!”

The door to the study slammed open and a tall man stormed out. He didn’t even seem to see the Aldens standing in the hall. “Stubborn,” he muttered under his breath. “She’ll be sorry!” He stomped to the front door, slamming it on his way out.

Jessie rushed into the study with the others behind her. Mrs. Ashleigh had slumped into a chair by the window. She was staring out, her hands on her cheeks.

“Mrs. Ashleigh,” said Jessie, trying to sound calm. “Are you all right?”

Mrs. Ashleigh looked up slowly. She blinked, as if surprised to see everyone. Then she shook her head. “I’m fine, dear. It’s just that . . .” Her voice trailed off and she sighed.

“Who was that? Why was he threatening you?” said Henry. “We could hear him all the way out in the hall.”

Mrs. Ashleigh didn’t seem to hear Henry. She turned to stare out the window again. “It’s my house,” she said. “I’m not going to sell it. No matter what happens. And he can’t make me. No matter how much money anyone offers me. This is my
home.
”

“Who’s trying to make you sell your house?” asked Jessie.

“Who was that mean man?” asked Benny.

Mrs. Ashleigh turned back to look at them. A sad smile crossed her face. “That mean man,” she said, “was my son, Forrest Ashleigh.”

Y
our son!” exclaimed Henry. He was very surprised.

“But . . .” Jessie began, then stopped. It would be rude to say what the Boxcar Children were all thinking: that Mrs. Ashleigh was so nice, but her son didn’t seem nice at all.

“I’m sorry I called your son a mean man,” said Benny contritely.

Mrs. Ashleigh shook her head sadly. “That’s all right, Benny. You didn’t know he was my son.”

“Why does he want you to sell your house?” asked Violet softly.

“He’s just worried about me. He says it’s not safe. Hurricanes hit this island often, you know. This last one wasn’t the first, nor the worst. And another hurricane could come along at any time,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.

“But this house has been here for years and years without a hurricane blowing it away,” said Henry. “Diana Shelby told us that. She said the old houses are the strongest.”

“I wish she could meet Forrest and convince him of that.” Mrs. Ashleigh took a deep breath and stood up. “But let’s not think about that now.” She smiled at the four children. “I have some good news for you. You’re fired.”

“Fired?” said Jessie. “But why? What did we do wrong?”

“Uh-oh,” said Benny.

Mrs. Ashleigh smiled. This time it wasn’t a sad smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re only fired for tomorrow. We all need a break from work. I’m declaring tomorrow a holiday!”

“And tonight we’re going out to dinner,” said Grandfather Alden, walking into the room. “Right here on the island. Ellen’s favorite restaurant, the Crab House, has just reopened.”

Mrs. Ashleigh looked a little more cheerful. “I’m so glad,” she said. “What a wonderful idea, James. We’ve all been working too hard!”

Everyone hurried to get ready to go out to dinner. Then they went downstairs and waited on the big front porch while Benny went to the kitchen to fill Watch’s water bowl with fresh water and give Watch his own dinner.

“Be a good dog and watch the house,” Benny told Watch. “Maybe I’ll bring you some leftovers.” He paused and added thoughtfully, “If there are any!”

Like everything on the small island, the restaurant wasn’t far away. The Aldens and Mrs. Ashleigh strolled down the quiet streets.

“I’ve been at home working so hard on my house, I haven’t seen how much work everyone else has done on theirs,” admitted Mrs. Ashleigh.

In the restaurant, Mrs. Ashleigh seemed to know almost everyone. The Aldens met lots of new people.

And they saw one familiar face.

“Look! There’s Jackie,” said Benny. He waved.

Jackie got up from her table and came over to say hello. “A big crowd tonight,” she said, motioning to all the people in the restaurant. “The hurricane doesn’t seem to have hurt the Crab House’s business.”

“Everyone’s been working hard,” said Mrs. Ashleigh. “They’re probably glad to take a break, just like we are.”

“Tomorrow we have a holiday,” added Jessie. “We’re not going to work at all.”

Jackie smiled. “You’ve been a lot of help to Ellen, haven’t you?”

“Oh, yes,” said Benny. “We have moved furniture and cleaned and we’re even helping go through lots of old papers. Pirate papers.”

Raising one eyebrow, Jackie looked at Mrs. Ashleigh. “Some of those papers are very old and fragile,” she said.

“The Aldens are being careful,” Mrs. Ashleigh said. “We’ll have them ready for the museum in no time.”

Jackie looked as if she didn’t quite believe Mrs. Ashleigh. “Let me know if you need help,” she said. Then, as if sorry for sounding a little rude, she said, “If tomorrow is a holiday, why don’t you come to town? Drive into Charleston and take a carriage tour with Hoofbeats of History, just like I promised you?”

“That would be fun!” said Violet.

“I think it’s a grand idea,” said Mrs. Ashleigh.

“Good,” said Jackie. “Be there at ten tomorrow! You can even bring your dog. Have a good dinner.”

“We will,” said Mrs. Ashleigh. “How do lobsters and crab cakes sound, Benny?”

“Crab cakes? Can I have
chocolate
cake instead?” asked Benny. Everybody laughed.

Early the next morning, Henry sneaked down and put a special “pirate’s map” on top of a pile of carefully sorted papers in the study. Jessie and Violet hurried out to bury the “treasure” for Benny to find later that day.

Then, right after breakfast, all the Aldens and Mrs. Ashleigh drove to Charleston. They passed Diana working on a house just down the street and waved as they went by.

But when they got to the Hoofbeats of History stable, Jackie wasn’t there.

“Oh, no,” said Jessie to the man who came out to meet them. “She was supposed to give us a tour.”

The man smiled. He was medium height, with shoulder-length brown hair, and he wore sunglasses. “Then you must be the Aldens. I’m Mike Carson, Jackie’s partner. She couldn’t be here, so she arranged for me to give you a special tour.”

“That sounds great,” said Henry. “My name’s Henry and these are my sisters, Jessie and Violet, and my brother Benny.”

Mike led them toward a black carriage with silver trim. A big, sandy-colored horse stood hitched to it.

“Welcome to Hoofbeats of History,” Mike said. He nodded toward the horse. “This is Sugar. Not only did Jackie leave the very best tour guide in charge but she left the very best horse.”

“Is she called Sugar because she is a sweet horse?” asked Jessie, patting Sugar’s soft nose.

“Because she’s sweet
and
she likes to be fed lumps of sugar,” said Mike.

“Watch, our dog, is called Watch because he is a good watchdog,” said Benny.

“Hello, Watch,” said Mike, scratching Watch’s ears. Then he motioned toward the carriage. “Now, all aboard.”

The Aldens and Mrs. Ashleigh got in the carriage. Benny held tightly to Watch’s leash.

“Okay, Sugar, let’s go,” said Mike, and Sugar pulled the carriage out into the streets of Charleston.

“Look at all the people!” said Benny as they drove up one narrow street and down another. He waved at people as Sugar trotted by. “It’s like being in a parade.” Benny loved parades.

“Look at all the beautiful houses,” Violet breathed. She pointed at fences made of iron shaped into delicate patterns. “It looks like lace made of iron,” she said.