Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. Bernard’s Secret. Chapter 8.
Well, here it is, a week after I was stabbed. I am back at the chateau now, Dr. Hunter says I am doing very well, but I still need to be careful and not get too active. So here I sit on the couch in our suite. The cats are running around normally, like nothing happened and they have just come into the room from playing on their play structure. Amazing cats those two. I am still trying to understand this thing about the cats talking, but I know it happens.
Carine comes into the room with some coffee and some of Annelie’s freshly made donuts. I have to be careful how I eat right now, seems I lost part of my stomach, but it is healing nicely. So my diet has been, um, rather not exciting. But today stomach, you are going to enjoy a treat, like it or not. One week. 7 days. No idea who did this. And, I cannot talk now. But why? I was stabbed in the stomach, that should not stop me from talking. Dr. Hunter and the one brain specialist from England cannot figure it out either.
That one specialist stayed on, being curious with my condition. “How are you feeling Bernard?”, asks Carine. I just smile. That lets her know I am feeling okay. I can also use my phone to talk for me as well. But right now I am eating and enjoying every bite. Tomorrow morning it is pancakes! Enough of this liquid diet, I am floating away. Soon Rock arrives with my wheelchair to take me down to the library for a team meeting.
Baldwin would like to put an elevator in this place, but I think it would take away from the charm of this old chateau. In the library everyone is talking about what has happened, trying to figure out who might be behind all of this. There is just no evidence that points to anyone we know. Then I start getting that pain in my head again, I cannot even make a groaning sound. But Kat noticed and asked if I was okay. I motioned it was the pain again.
Then my thoughts went wild for a bit, people, names, an island, getting married, a honeymoon, a storm, then…Kat. I turned to Kat and used my phone to talk. “Who is Lena?”, I ask. “She was your first wife,” said Kat, “she was killed on your honeymoon.” “Did it happen during a storm?”, I ask again. She looks at me, “yes, it did, a woman named Gisela killed her, or one of her men did anyway, on her orders. She and I had a fight, Gisela died. Do you remember this?”
“Yes, I am remembering it quite clearly,” I said, “that is where you and I met, although I think we had met before, but you were trying to kill me before that.” “Yes, that is true,” said Kat smiling, “but seeing you lying there dying made me realize that I loved you. I wonder why you remembered that?” “There is something about Gisela,” I said, “she had a brother.” “Hey, that is correct Bernard,” said Kat, “I had forgotten that, perhaps he is behind all of this, that would make sense. This is the way Gisela would have done things. His name is Gregory, Annelie.”
Soon she was checking on him to see what she might be able to discover. Annelie is quite amazing, her connections help her to find just about anything, and fast. Plus she is also a nurse, which is good for me. She can watch me during the day and Kara later, when she gets back from the clinic. Does this mean my memory is coming back, just a little? Time to go lie down again so Rock takes me back to my room. The girls all go outside for some fighting practice, except for Annelie, she is too busy with her searching right now.
A little while later Kristina comes into the library. “Annelie, can we talk?”, she asks, looking very concerned. “Sure thing Kristina,” she said and laid her laptop aside, “come sit here. What is the problem?” Kristina pulls out a needle and hands it to Annelie. Later all the girls come into the library after their “workout”. Kristina and Annelie pull their guns out right away! “Just stay right there girl!”, Annelie says firmly. “Annelie, what is going on here?”, asks Kat. Kristina shows her the needle, “I found this.” “And now we need your thumb to unlock your phone,” says Annelie. “Do it now!”, says Jennifer angrily. “Forget it!”…
To Be Continued.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Fabulous Friday. #6
Good morning and Happy Friday everyone! I hope your day is going well. We had another 5 inches (12.5cm) of snow yesterday and today it is very windy and cold. We have now had 61 inches (152.5cm) of snow this winter, which is not as bad as some parts of Canada! And there is more snow coming on Sunday. Well, enough of the cold and time for something to make us feel warmer in the cold days of winter, or more specifically, the cold nights of winter.
So, grab a cup of coffee and relax for a few minutes while we look at something from my collections of this and that. Today we look at my small collection of coverlets, like this green and white example that is on my bed in the photo below.
These coverlets are made on a loom from linen, the white color, and wool, the colored part of the coverlet. The linen helps to make them very strong, the wool gives lots of warmth. They were generally not made for everyday use, though they did use them that way too. The green one above was made of one piece and made around 1930. The one below, one of my favorites due to it being blue and white, was made in the early 1900s of two pieces heavily sewn together to make a larger coverlet.
Older looms were narrow, at least ones for home use, so people made 2 pieces and sewed them together carefully to match the patterns. The one below, another green and white sample was made in the 1930s of one piece with tassels on the ends, something a little different on coverlets.
Coverlets were not like blankets, they were made to basically sit on top of the bed, not hang down over the sides like blankets do. However, since my bed is just a twin size, then they do hang over the edges. The next coverlet below is my most colorful one and something very nice to have in the winter, which is generally a less colorful time of year, especially way back when these were made.
This one was also made about 1930. Coverlets were often made as a wedding gift or a special anniversary gift. Because not many people could afford their own looms, often in small towns especially, there would be a loom in the basement of a local church that people could use. Many times the ladies would get together to make a specially designed coverlet for those occasions mentioned above. Sometimes a local community hall would also have a loom for the public to use. The next blue and white coverlet below and the red and white one following, are my two oldest coverlets.
Both are 2 piece coverlets, the blue and white is a heavier one than the red/white coverlet. Both were made in the 1860s and have obviously been used more than the others, but are still in excellent condition. Due to their age I prefer to just display them, not use them. Often they were used for guests that dropped by in the winter, the rest of the time being stored in a blanket/cedar chest. Therefore they did not see much use which is why they can be found in such excellent condition today. Well, I hope you enjoyed looking at my coverlets while enjoying your morning coffee. Thank you for reading, have a happy Friday everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2022 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 