Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing series which runs each Thursday morning titled the Richland Chronicles Volume 3, by author Paul Lintern. It is set in 1831 and tells the story of Richland County through the eyes of young people. This is the third in a three-book trilogy. Volume 1 was Amelia Changes Her Tune, while Volume II was Isaac and Wolf Paw Find Their Home.
Autumn could see that autumn was not far away. The air was still hot and dry, but corn was showing its ears and drying its stalks. The harvest was getting close. That also meant Amelia’s leaving was getting close.
They had known it, of course, and had spent the last month doing as many things as they could, just so they both would have a lot to miss when Amelia left.
That was not the reason they gave, but Autumn knew that is what it would mean.
So when the girls saw Charles at the Inn one day as they were returning from an errand, they both felt an immediate gloominess, even though Amelia seemed happy to see her family friend and servant.
They knew it meant saying good-bye.
“Are you sure we have to start back right away?” Amelia said.
“Yes, are you sure?” Elizabeth said.
Why is Aunt Elizabeth so interested in Amelia staying longer?
Then she saw her look. It’s not Amelia, it’s Charles!
“Well, it probably would be good if I rested up a few days first,” he said.
The girls packed in as much as they could in those few days, including a ride to Olivesburgh with the boys, concerts by Amelia and Jacob each night with extra guests coming because of Amelia, good-bye visits to the Mansfield stores and with the Day family, and a swim with Emily and her sisters in Brubaker Creek.
The boys were not invited.
“Sure has been fun having you around here,” Emily said to Amelia.
“It gets kind of boring with just family.”
“Just family? That’s about half the county for you, the way I see it,” Amelia said.
“Yeah, and what’s wrong with family?” Autumn asked, spraying her with a handful of water.
Sylvia and Madeline both followed their older cousin’s lead and soon everyone was trying to soak everyone else, although it was mostly four ganging up on Emily, the only one wearing a suit.
“Amelia, you’ve swum a long way this summer,” Autumn said. “From jumping in with everything on to splashing around with nothing on.”
“I learn well. This is an Ohio way of doing things that I like, since the boys aren’t here. But why is Emily dressed?”
“Because I am too much of a woman now; I can’t swim like a bunch of children,” she said.
“That’s right, she’s getting married,” Autumn said.
“Really?” all the girls asked, almost in unison. Emily glared at Autumn.
“Sure, she found the perfect man.”
Emily was moving toward her.
“There’s just one problem.”
Emily was closing in.
“He’s looking for the perfect woman.”
Everybody laughed – even though they had all heard Jacob say a version of that many times to his guests. Emily caught Autumn and dunked her under just as the last words came out and Autumn almost had to swallow the punch line.
She sure is touchy about that. Hope it’s awhile before I have to wear a suit.
After a full afternoon in the water, the girls headed to the Inn. Emily’s family stayed for supper because it was Amelia’s last night, and guests showered Amelia with compliments and encouragement. Each family member offered thanks and a story or two, and a little gift to remember them by.
Autumn and Amelia talked well into the night, whispering since the whole family slept in the same room.
In the morning they rode together in the back of the wagon as Father and Charles headed to the Wiler Hotel, where the stagecoach would take them north to Sandusky for a boat headed east on Lake Erie to Buffalo and the Erie Canal.
Even Appleseed John joined them for the ride into town, which Jacob and Autumn knew made Amelia very special, because Appleseed John almost never rode. He walked everywhere.
As the stagecoach arrived, the girls were saying good-bye for at least the 20th time, but they didn’t want to miss the final chance.
“I will write to you often,” Amelia said.
“I’ll write to you.” “You must come to Boston.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Tell me about everything, everyone.”
“I will, and tell me all about home.”
“I will. I can’t wait to see my parents, my family, but I don’t want to leave…”
Amelia teared up.
“Your Ohio family.”
“My Ohio family.”
The girls hugged and said good-bye at least three more times before the luggage was packed and the coach was ready to leave. Jacob and Autumn waved as the horses pulled the coach down the hill and north on the state road. In a few miles they would pass almost within sight of the Oakland Inn.
“Will I ever see her again?” Autumn asked her father, hugging him around the side.
“Sure, if not with your eyes, then always with your heart.”
“That’s pretty good. Where did you hear it?” “From my father, on the day I left Boston.”
“But you never saw your parents again.”
“My heart sees them whenever I think about them, like now.”
“Wish I had met them.”
“Me, too, but my heart’s told them all about you. I’ve given them to your heart as well.”
“You’re pretty smart for an old innkeeper.”
Autumn looked up and smiled.
“Lucky for you I’m willing to pass it along.”
Autumn wrinkled her nose just the way she knew her father liked it. Then someone caught her eye.
“Look Father, there’s Ermina, heading into Mr. Arnold’s store. Maybe they have news for us.”
“You mean licorice?”
She wrinkled her nose again.
“Go on, check it out. I have something to get for Mother there anyway.”
“Really, what?”
“A surprise.”
“Why.”
“Just because.”
“But what is it?”
“I said, a surprise.”
“But can’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. Can you keep a secret?”
Autumn smiled, and nodded.
“Already have,” she said, and she skipped into the store.
