RAILCAR GOLD Chapter 7 . . Driver . . Part 2
RAILCAR GOLD is a historically accurate multi-generational fictional tale of hidden treasure, primarily set in York County, Pennsylvania during the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. This is Part 2 of Chapter 7 . . . Driver. A new part will be posted every Thursday. New readers may want to start at the beginning.
CHAPTER 7 . . . DRIVER . . . Part 2
Dan drove the carriage into Edward Evans’ Central Nurseries. It sure was big; Dan noticed fruit trees, shrubs, roses, evergreens, berry bushes and grape vines.
Elizabeth appeared to have ulterior motives. As she poked around deciding on which roses to select, she peppered Dan with questions about his parents; did he have brothers and sisters and about his Guardian.
Dan answered truthfully to all questions about his family until Elizabeth asked about his Guardian. Dan told Elizabeth, “I’d rather not talk about him.” Dan was pleasantly surprised when Elizabeth appeared to respect his request.
Dan reasoned he was being truthful when he told Elizabeth his family was originally from outside of Philadelphia. However he kind of stretched the truth when he gave the impression the location was on the Pennsylvania side of Philadelphia rather than the New Jersey side.
Elizabeth ended up joking around with Dan as she selected and paid for two rose bushes. After Dan loaded them in the carriage, Elizabeth asked, “George tells me that you don’t have a single item in remembrance of your family, why not?”
This set off Dan, “My Uncle, my lousy Guardian, secretly sold a whole trunk of Mom’s books. That trunk also contained all my other family items. He sold it behind my back. I overheard him tell someone ‘You have to promise me that you will not reveal to Dan that I sold his trunk of books.’ He told this guy that he only did it to discourage schooling on my part. He wanted me to spend every waking hour working for him.”
Elizabeth consoled, “I’m sorry for you Dan. Your Uncle does not sound like a very nice man.” Dan and Elizabeth scarcely had a few sentences of conversation during the whole carriage ride back home.
At home, Dan asked, “Can I do anything else for you today Mrs. Billmeyer?” Elizabeth told Dan, “Put the horse and carriage away. Put the rose bushes in a bucket with a little water, then go have fun at the swimming hole.”
Dan was worried that he did something wrong in blowing-up to Elizabeth about the trunk of books. He put the horse and carriage away. Put the rose bushes in a bucket with a little water and then headed up Queen Street to the swimming hole.
Dan played with George and his friends at the swimming hole. He shared with George what he had told Elizabeth. George was shocked that his Uncle would do such a thing. However they soon forgot all about it; as the group of friends played in the creek on that hot summer day.
Go to Part 3
