The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Page B

them. So you see, they must not be divorced. And I’ve been trying to figure out what they were doing down there and in Franklin anyway.”
    â€œThat is strange, isn’t it?” Mrs. Taft replied. “You said before that they have never lived in Franklin, didn’t you?”
    â€œNot that I know of,” Mandie said. “And I’ve been knowing that woman all my life, and I know that Zack Hughes lived near Bryson City all that time.”
    â€œAre you going back out, Mrs. Taft?” Joe asked, and when she looked at him he said, “If you’re not, I’ll put up the horse and buggy.”
    â€œThank you, Joe. I’m not going back out any time soon, but Elizabeth said she would be using the buggy after I returned, so we might as well leave it where it is,” Mrs. Taft said as she walked to the front door. “Now let’s go inside so I can let her know I’m back.”
    Mandie and Joe followed her inside the hallway and on to the parlor where they found Elizabeth reading a book.
    â€œSince all of you have finished your errands, I’ll get my hat and coat and go do mine,” Elizabeth said as she stood up.
    Mandie was curious as to why her mother would be going out alone in the buggy. Since she had been seriously ill earlier that year, she very seldom left the house. And when she did, Uncle John went with her.
    â€œMay I go with you, Mother?” Mandie asked. “Where is everybody?”
    Elizabeth paused on her way out of the room and said, “Not this time, dear. I won’t be gone long. Your uncle John is with Uncle Ned out in the backyard. They’re making some repairs to the barn.” She went to the hall tree, and Mandie and Joe followed.
    â€œAnd I am going upstairs to get into more comfortable clothes,” Mrs. Taft told them as she went up the staircase. “I’ll be back down before time to eat.”
    As Elizabeth put on her hat and coat, Mandie told her about seeing Etta and Zack Hughes.
    â€œI don’t know where you are going, but please watch out for them, Mother,” Mandie said. “I’d like to know what they are doing in town.”
    â€œSo would I,” Elizabeth said, standing in front of the mirror on the hall tree to adjust her hat. “Now, Amanda, don’t you and Joe go off anywhere unless you let your uncle John know. I’ll be back soon.”
    Elizabeth went out the front door. Mandie and Joe stood there looking at each other.
    â€œI believe there is something strange going on around here,” Mandie told Joe. “I’d like to know where my mother is going, and I’d also like to know whether Grandmother really went to the telegraph office to send a message to her lawyer.”
    â€œOh, Mandie, your mind is working too hard,” Joe said as they stood there in the front hallway. “Your grandmother said she went to the telegraph office. Why should you doubt her?”
    â€œBecause I know my grandmother, Joe,” Mandie replied. “She didn’t look me straight in the eye when she said where she’d been, and she went right on talking about something else.”
    Joe shook his head and said, “Sometimes you imagine things, Mandie.”
    â€œAnd I’m sure that you also noticed my mother did not tell me where she was going.” Mandie added.
    â€œMandie, your mother is not obligated to explain all her business to you, and neither is your grandmother. Let’s just forget about them and continue our search, if that’s what you intend on doing,” Joe said.
    â€œI think we’ve done enough in the attic, so that means the cellar is next. And since the cellar is so dirty, I think we’d better wait until after the noon meal to begin down there,” Mandie replied. “Let’s go out in the backyard and see what Uncle John and Uncle Ned are doing. Come on.”
    They went back out the front door and walked around the house to