A Bend in the Road Chapter Two

 Chapter Two

Sandy Crawford

    It was a gorgeous autumn day… all crimson and golden with gentle breezes and a luxurious blue sky. The air was crisp but the sun was shining, casting warm, comfortable rays over the landscape. Anne and Katharine wandered slowly over the fields, soaking in all the beauty of the day. Katharine could scarcely believe how close she had come to refusing Anne's invitation. Why… Green Gables and Avonlea were the best things that had happened to her in all her dreary, miserable life. It was like a ray of sunshine at last piercing the dark gloom of the walls she had built around herself.

    "Don't you feel as if you could just soar up into the sky on a day like this? To sail on the wind and look down at the beautiful treetops?" Anne said dreamily, lifting her face to the sky. Katharine smiled. She had not Anne's gift for imagination, though she certainly tried. She rather felt that she would prefer to stay on firm ground and look up at the trees, instead of soaring above them and looking down at them.

    "There," Anne added, as Katharine remained silent. "I can hear already the music, they must have asked Pat McGillis to play. He's in high demand for all the gatherings, you know."

    Katharine listened and her heart thrilled to that music. Those beautiful strains of the violin, yet in the distance, floating down over the golden fields and filtering through the trees. Laughter was heard from all directions as groups of twos and threes meandered down the paths on their way to the Penhallow's farm.

    The Penhallow's bonfire was a yearly event and quite a large gathering at that. Most all the young people were there… even those who had been away at school somehow managed to make it home. The two girls had barely broached the edge of the clearing back of Penhallow's farm when they were surrounded by a very excited and very loud group of friends. Ruby Gillis was the first to reach Anne and she threw her arms around her friend, just bubbling over with happiness.

    "Oh, Anne, I'm so glad you're back!" she cried, stepping back and Anne noticed with a start the heightened color in Ruby's face. Ruby had always been a pale girl and the flush on her cheeks, the unnatural shine of her eyes did not bode well. But she did not show that she was alarmed, returning Ruby's greeting just as eagerly.

    "You do remember Herb Spencer, Anne?" and Anne noticed then the young man at Ruby's side. "He's my latest." this in a low voice, as she leaned close. "And Jane is back from Halifax, you know, with her millionaire. She's so covered in jewelry you can scarcely see her beneath it all! You know, he's forbidden her to work in the kitchen and she's just eating herself up with envy of the cook. Isn't that ridiculous! I know I would never complain with an actual French chef to make all the meals for me and maids to wash the dishes… can't you just imagine?"

    Ruby chattered on, drawing Katherine into the conversation until she seemed anything but reserved. Katherine later confided to Anne, "You know, I rather like that young girl, Ruby Gillis, I think? She reminds me of a daisy… all fresh and full of fun and fancy. Like a spring breeze."

    "Why, Katherine!" Anne had laughed. "I do believe I must be rubbing off on you! That rather sounds like something I would say. And I must agree… but somehow it seems that… underneath all Ruby's gaiety that something… is wrong." and she broke off into troubled reflection for a long moment.

    The first dance was called and Ruby pulled Herb Spencer into the circle of couples that had gathered in the little meadow. A young man that had been standing eagerly by the food table, wringing his hands in anticipation as Mary and Alice Penhallow began laying out covered dishes, suddenly turned and made his way through the crowded yard towards Anne and Katharine. Anne turned to her friend, whispering quickly, "This is one of the young men I mentioned, Katharine. Now, remember what I said," she admonished, grinning.

    He had reached them now with an expectant look on his rather round face. As nervous as she was, Katharine realized at once that this young man was certainly nothing to be afraid of. He was rather short and stout, with a shock of sandy hair, a generous sprinkling of freckles, and a good-natured, humorous gleam in his round green eyes.

    "Katherine, this is Mr. Sandy Crawford. He has been most anxious to meet you. Mr. Crawford, my friend, Katherine Brooke."

    "So glad to meet you, Miss Brooke, so glad to meet you," Sandy beamed genially. "As soon as I saw you in the Cuthbert pew last Sunday, I said to myself, now there's a handsome girl, a real handsome girl, and one I'd not be ashamed of becoming acquainted with. You do dance, don't you, Miss Brooke?"

    "Why I…" Katherine stammered, glancing wildly at Anne. "I've really never danced before…"

    "No matter," Sandy laughed pleasantly. "Perhaps you'd rather join me for dinner. The food is much more tempting than the music anyhow." He offered his arm and Katherine, though hesitant, accepted it. Anne laughed to herself and then sighed as she followed them slowly toward the tables.

    "Not exactly what I had been hoping for Katherine but, after all, she does have sense. And there still is the other… Why isn't he here?"