The Beginning

Many years ago in the land where the mountains rose up slow and gently towards the sky Julia Pamela Nester was born quietly. Since most births, then and now, are loud and hectic affairs this marked young Lillian's first distinguishing act in this world. Tears streamed from her mothers face as she prayed silently for the baby she had just birthed to stay silent and not give away their hiding place. Little did she know, her prayers would be heard and granted in ways she dreamed or hoped for. You see, Julia did not speak, cry or make any sound at all for years and years. But I'm getting ahead of myself, let's back up a bit and tell you how Julia came to be born in this way.

One more mountain to cross, Lillian keep repeating to herself as she walked along.
Thunder rumbled and the wind whipped the tree top. Granny would be worried and pacing he yard.  

“How am I going to tell her?” Lillian thought out loud.

Her stomach felt sick as she thought of Mr. Humphrey at the grocery store, no more credit! What would Granny say? What were they going to do.

“Oh Pappa, where are you?  Its been six weeks you’ve been gone” Lillian swept tears from her face as she scanned the treeline as if he would appear at any moment.      

The sheriff had been by yesterday looking for Pappa and Lillian was sure they hadn't believed her when I said that he had run off without telling anyone where he was going. The badgered her for almost half an hour before leaving, Granny was almost in tears.  When they were gone Lillian had brewed the last of the coffee and stirred in a few grains of sugar that remained at the bottom of the bowl and made Granny sit down and drink it.  

They had lied to the sheriff and that sat heavy on her, she was an honest woman who, under normal circumstances, always did the right thing.  The right thing though was getting a little fuzzy in this instance. Pappa had been gone over six weeks, he left in early spring to go up in the hills with cousin Jerry to make moonshine that they would then sell in secret.  

As she got to the top of the mountain Lillian could see the small log house that has been her home for the past 17 years. Boomer the old beagle spotted me and began his deep throated bark.

Hurrying down The trail, stumbling and crying Lillian ran straight into Granny’s arms.

“What’s wrong child, are you hurt?”  Granny asks.

“Oh, Granny” Lillian sobbed “Mr. Humphrey says no more credit! What are we going to do?”

Grannys arms tightened around the girl, too small and thin for her age and I felt a tremor run through her. “Hush child we will be alright.”

“But. Granny” She sobbed “What about The sheriff?”

“I’ve been thinking on that while you been gone” Granny said as she led me over to the porch and pressed me down into the dilapidated old swing. “Truth is, we DON’T know where your daddy is! What we said to the sheriff is not a lie.”

Lillian nodded and wiped her face.  “I’m going to go into town tomorrow and see if I can find some work. I heard that Mrs. Remus was looking for someone to clean her house”

Granny made a face “That woman has more money than she has sense. She grew up dirt poor as the rest of us and if it hadn’t been for her marrying the owner of the only factory in these parts she’d be the one scrubbing floors.”

“Well, if she wants to pay someone to scrub I’ll scrub and smile while I do it” She got up and looked around the yard hoping maybe she’d missed a chicken that we could either rob for eggs or kill for stew, even though I knew she hadn’t. The chickens were gone, so were the eggs and just about everything else. If she didn’t find a way to make some money or Pappa didn’t come back soon she and Granny would both starve. Pappa said it was called the depression, Granny said it's being poor.

“Don't worry child” Granny said “I'll take care of us.  I don't want you yonder in town, not knowing nobody, and no kin close by.  Go to the corn crib and get your daddy’s steel traps maybe we can catch us a rabbit for supper”

Dragging her feet, Lillian  thought once again  ‘If only Pappa was here.’

She would have to go find him, Pappa wouldn't just leave them there to starve.  Something was wrong and Lillian was determined to find out what.

Granny watched the girl trudge toward the corn crib. her long light brown hair hanging limply down her back. in the dirty worn dress and holey shoes she looked more like urchin than a young woman of seventeen.  She looked so much like her Mama it was eerie,  people did double takes these days when they saw Lillian. She couldn't let her go into town to work, not with Judiths sins still fresh in everyone's minds after all these years .

Lillian knew  Granny would not let her go look for Pappa alone. She would have to wait till Granny was in bed to sneak out.

Tears streamed down her face as she made her way into the dark barn. She would have to find some way to get food before she left.  She couldn't depend on the steel traps and she would need food for a day or two herself. Pappa said stealing was wrong but Lillian knew Old  Man Barlow had lots of hams in his smoke house and taters and stuff in his root cellar. She would somehow get the money and pay him back,so it wasn't really stealing ,just borrowing. Lillian told  herself.

Lillian was glad that Granny went to bed early, she had a lot to do that night. As soon as she was sure she was sound asleep she snuck out, grabbing a sack on her way out. Barlow's place was just across the ridge to the south but she would have to make her way in the dark, a light would attract too much attention.  On the edge of the Barlow place Lillian crouched next to the fence, heart racing. She looked around for the old hound that liked to sleep by the barn but couldn't spot him.  She crept under the fence and towards the smokehouse.  Casting one more glance over her shoulder she eased the hook off the door and slipped inside.  Hams hung from the rafters and smaller cuts sat on shelves.  She stepped underneath the smallest ham and lifted, she couldn't get enough leverage to get it off the hook though and looked around for something to stand on.

Second installment

Heart pounding, Lillian felt around till her hands fell on an old  apple crate.
Easing the greasy, slippery ham into her tow-sack, she eased back through the smokehouse door  and crouching, made her way toward the back of Ole man Barlows house where the root cellar was.

Just as she turned the corner the hound dog who had been sleeping under the floor, let out a mighty bellow, thumping and scratching trying his best to get to Lillian.

A lamp was lit and Ole Man Barlow hit the porch, shotgun in hand.

“What’s wrong with you, you dat burned hound! You sound like a grizzly is on yer tail! Come here you egg suckin hound” Ole man Barlow said, stepping off the porch.

Lillian squeezed behind a bunch of scrawny hollyhocks and held her breath.

Ole Man Barlow took a glance around the yard and seeing nothing turned back towards the house “Dog, if you wake me up one more time baying at the moon I’m gonna let the old woman at you with the fryin pan!”

Lillian had been creeping backwards while the dog and man were both looking the other way and made it to the corner of the house before he shut the door.  She heard the dog snuff out its breath then lay down on the porch.   Barely daring to breath she crouched near the door to the cellar until the light went out then waited for what seemed like an eternity before risking opening the door.   

With only the light of the half moon she could barely make out baskets and bags of taters, onions and apples.  She grabbed some of each, shoving them into her bag.  Straining to lift the bag over her shoulder silently she peered around the door to make sure the dog was not around then slipped out, closing the door behind her.  As fast as she could without making  noise she made for the fence line and crawled under again, dragging the now full sack behind her.  Finally letting out her breath fully she stopped to wipe the sweat away.   
Now to get back in the house, divide up the food and get out again without Granny waking up. She’d already written a note she’d leave so Granny wouldn’t worry overmuch.

Lillian slipped back into the old house and grabbing a knife began shaving off pieces of ham and wrapping them in oil cloth. She put that along with a few apples and potatoes, her spare pair of socks, a cup, a flint and Grandpa’s hunting knife in her bag.  Slipping the note out of her pocket she propped it up by the ham and taking one last glance around she went out the door into the darkness.

Granny opened her eyes as soon as the door closed behind her.  She knew the girl would leave to go find her father and as ashamed as it made her she had decided it was probably for the best. She’d return the food to Barlow in the morning and promise to pay him back for what was gone.

Now Lillian knew her Papa had left with Cousin Jerry; She figured the best way to find  Pappa was to head to.Jerrys cabin over on Piney Ridge.

She was pretty scared because to get to Piney ridge she would have to go through the Deadling where the McAfees and Brodys lived. Papa always said they was bad news. Secretly Lillian thought Leif  McAfee was a handsome man. Coal black hair and eyes as blue as a robins eggs sent shivers down. Lillians spine.

But enough daydreamin.Lillian set off ,up the spring branch.  Two hours of hard walkin should get her to Jerrys place. Lillian had been walking about an hour when she starting feeling like someone was watching her,following just in the shadows.

Lillian reached in her bag and pulled out her  grandpa’s knife. Not so much for protection as for comfort. she knew there was all manner of wild animals in there ole woods and she didn't want to walk up on a big black bear.

Heart hammering in her throat Lillian picked up her pace.  Up ahead was a bend in the trail.  Lillian quickly left the path by the branch and crouched behind a big beech tree.Holding her breath to still the pounding of her heart, she waited and listened. Lillian was getting to her feet, feeling silly for thinking there was anyone about,  when all at one a large hand clamped over her mouth and the other wrapped around her skinny waist.

Kicking back and squirming around she tried to scream and bite through hand over her mouth.  

“Quiet girl!” A rough voice rasped in her ear “Dammit, stop thrashin’ about and settle down, its me, your cousin Jerry for God’s sake settle down”

Cousin Jerry.  If cousin Jerry was here then Pappa must be here or nearby.  She stilled immediately.  Jerry slacked his grip and Lillian turned to look at him.  It was hard to make out in the dim light but he looked bad, dirty and skinny.  She opened her mouth to ask about Pappa but Jerry clamped his hand over her mouth again and shook his head, gesturing for her to follow him. She nodded and he took his hand off her mouth and took her arm instead leading her up the rise into a thicket of laurels so dense they had to worm their way through.  

After what seemed like an eternity Jerry stopped and looked all around then put his hand up to his mouth and hooted softly like a barn owl three times. Lillian stared at him but then caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned. Pappa!  He stood with a rifle pointed in their direction causing the cry of joy that had been on her lips to die.  Stepping a few steps closer he lowered the gun and turned, motioning them to follow.

Lillian’s mind was whirling!  Pappa was okay, but what was going on?! She stumbled after the two men for a short distance. Pappa stopped and dragged brush away from an opening in the side of the hill, motioning them inside. He followed, pulled the brush door camouflage back into place behind him.  Inside a narrow rock opening led about 10 feet or so with a slight downward angle.  Lillian followed Jerry and let out a soft gasp as the rock opened up into what seemed like a huge stone room.   Wooden crates were stacked against one side and a still was setup on the other side. Bedrolls other items showed the pair had been staying down here for some time.  

Eyes wide she turned around and faced her father.  “Pappa, what is going on? Why haven’t you been home?”