their conversation.
“I intend asking him, first of all, whether he has seen Miss Hope lately,” Mrs. Taft said. “And then I will ask if he knows the lady has completely disappeared.”
“Yes,” Uncle Ned agreed.
“I’m not sure yet what I will undertake next. It all depends on what we learn from the preacher, if anything at all,” Mrs. Taft said. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“See people in stores downtown Asheville,” Uncle Ned replied. “Stores where Miss Hope goes.”
“Yes, that is what should be done next unless we gather more information from the preacher,” Mrs. Taft agreed.
Mandie and her friends were silent, listening and waiting for more conversation between Mrs. Taft and Uncle Ned, but they were also silent the rest of the journey.
When Ben pulled the rig into the preacher’s driveway next door to the church, he had a little trouble stopping it. The horse didn’t seem to want to slow down. He managed to get it under control by the time they got near the side door of the house.
Mrs. Taft blew out her breath and adjusted her hat. “That was fast, Ben,” she said as she stepped down from the rig.
At that moment, the door to the house opened and a woman stuck her head out to see what was going on. Mrs. Taft hurried toward her. Uncle Ned and the young people stayed by the rig, watching and waiting.
“Mrs. Slocum,” Mrs. Taft greeted the woman. “Is Preacher Tallant at home?”
“Why, no, ma’am, he’s gone calling,” the woman replied, straightening her long white apron.
“Oh dear, we would miss him,” Mrs. Taft said and turned to look at Uncle Ned. “I suppose we’ll have to come back.” Looking back at the woman, she asked, “Do you have any idea as to when he will return?”
“No, ma’am,” Mrs. Slocum answered. “You know how he just takes his own good time when he goes calling, visiting with some of those people who talk so much. They get wound up when the preacher arrives because they know he’s going to listen to them.”
“Yes, indeed I know all about those gossipers in the church,” Mrs. Taft replied. “Do you not have the faintest idea as to when he might return?”
Mrs. Slocum shook her head, straightened her apron, and said, “No, ma’am, all these years I been keeping house for him I know he just goes and comes when he gets ready.”
“What about his supper? When will he be having supper tonight? Don’t you have to prepare that for him?” Mrs. Taft asked.
“It’s done prepared and in the warmer,” Mrs. Slocum said. “He eats whenever he does come home. And sometimes he eats at someone’s house where he’s visiting, and then what I have prepared for supper will do for dinner the next day.” She squinted her black eyes as she glanced at the young people and Uncle Ned standing by the rig. She lowered her voice as she asked, “Is there some kind of Indian trouble?”
Mrs. Taft looked shocked for a moment, and then she also glanced at Uncle Ned and said, “My dear lady, this Indian was a close friend of my granddaughter’s father before he died. He more or less acts as a bodyguard for my granddaughter now.”
Mandie smiled and caught Uncle Ned’s hand and held it firmly as she straightened up to stare back at the woman. Her three friends moved closer to her side, and they looked at Mrs. Slocum. Uncle Ned was silent. It was always hard to tell what he was thinking because his face very seldom reflected his feelings.
“Oh, she needs a bodyguard, eh?” the woman said.
Mrs. Taft took a deep breath and said, “Thank you for the information, Mrs. Slocum. I shall return later in an effort to catch Preacher Tallant.” She gave her long skirts a shake and hurried back to the rig, where Uncle Ned gave her a hand to step back into the vehicle. The young people followed.
Suddenly Mandie realized she had left Snowball in the rig. She hurriedly looked under the seat without saying anything for fear he had run away. He was curled up
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