Gold For My Heart

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Sylvia Holbrook - Young Canadian Farmer now that her grandfather has passed away, she has to sell the farm

Margo Holbrook - Sylvia's sister works at their parents Inn

John Holbrook - Sylvia's Father and Inn Host

Norah Holbrook - Sylvia's Mother

David Clarkson - Toronto accountant, Sylvia's Finance’

Uncle George Masterton - Has to retire from Farmer

Aunt Bess - George's wife

Toby Anderson - Amateur archaeologist

Janet Bolton - Real Estate Agent

Mrs. Oestburger, the smiling Dutch widow who started helping out after Uncle George's heart attack

Dr. Riel MacDonald - Canadian Indian Expert, Professional archaeologist from Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto

Jane and Tarzan - Holbrook Family Farm cats

CHAPTER ONE

A n echo of rapture and a memory of pain. Sylvia closed the slim volume of poetry. Tears swam in her tawny brown eyes. Her throat tightened with memories and a nostalgic half-regretful sadness pulled at her mind. Fall was a sad time of the year. Flamingly beautiful in these quiet Canadian woods, but sad in a way. Fall told of green summer's end with its riot of plants and fruit trees, the coming of a dead winter when all would be bare, and nothing grew.

Sylvia Holbrook blinked hard three times, swallowed past the lump in her throat. In her warm old coat, she snuggled closer against the brilliant maple tree at her back. The air was nippy. Snow was forecast later tonight - although it was only October and roses still bloomed around the old farmhouse.

Sylvia was making an emotional journey today, partly to say goodbye and partly to forget a recent quarrel.

Next fall she wouldn't be here halfway up the rocky escarpment, the steep cliff formed by ancient glaciers. Or look past the flaming maples to the vineyard on her right where purple grapes hung heavy in the dying leaves. These pencil-straight rows of flowers below her would bloom. But she wouldn’t see them. The vegetables beside the flowers would grow, be cared for and harvested without her. The rows of peach, pear and cherry trees, all lovingly planted by her grandfather, and watched over these past three years by the two of them, would know strange hands next spring. She wouldn't smell the pink, misty masses of peach blossoms as they burst into bloom. Neither would her grandfather.

Grandfather had died peacefully in his sleep two months ago. It was the exact five-year anniversary of grandmother's death. Now Sylvia felt as if she was being turned out of the old family home. Not dying but leaving - which in a way was dying.

Except now in this alone, reflecting time with her poetry book closed, Sylvia had to be fair. She wasn't being turned out.  It was simply that Aunt Bess and Uncle George were retiring. They lived on the family farm with her and grandfather and helped operate the place. After Uncle George's mild heart attack three years ago in the cherry season, the farm, now without grandfather, was too much work and responsibility. Even Sylvia's full-time help wasn’t enough. Sylvia had no choice. She had to leave the farm.

Besides, her father agreed with Uncle George. He too wanted the valuable farm sold. He had a new modern addition all planned for the combination gourmet restaurant and inn that he ran - with the help of Sylvia's mother and sister - in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

It was ironic really. Sylvia's father had never liked farming, couldn't wait to escape. While she, unlike her gregarious, outgoing, extroverted father and mother and vivacious younger sister, Margo, couldn't stand all the commotion at the inn. Sylvia hated the constant encountering of new people. In fact, in the privacy of her mind, she thought of the merry-go-round of meeting new people like reading everlasting first chapters. She liked reading entire books. Knowing well a chosen few people.

Margo had a dozen boyfriends, a new one every week it seemed, although the old ones stayed around too. Sylvia had one male friend she’d known since grade school - fought with and played with and planned to marry ever since she could remember. David Clarkson was perfect for her even though they were temperamental opposites. She had long thought so. Until their violent quarrel earlier today.

David approved of her working on the farm. That is until they could save up enough money to buy all the necessities, they (mostly David) wanted, and be married. Sylvia liked to grow things, had two very green thumbs. She’d jumped at the chance to live on the farm and be Jill-of-all-trades to her grandfather, Aunt Bess, and Uncle George.

She canned and made preserves. Drove a tractor and packed fruits and vegetables for shipping, eagerly learning how a modern farm operated.

All the relatives always met at the old family Holbrook farm for holiday feasts and vacations. But visiting the farm was one thing, Sylvia soon learned, and working there another. Yet she loved it.

Sylvia raised her eyes, caught by a slight slow movement. A huge white freighter was crawling over the blue waters of Lake Ontario. She toyed with the idea of walking the mile or so down to the lake, watching the waves roll into shore. When there were whitecaps, the waves would splash high on the rocky point where she liked to sit. Over the years she’d dreamed a million dreams of where those ships were going. Wished so many times that she was the one traveling to an exotic romantic land. In her more private daydreams, where she had a choice of anything in the world, she could never decide between traveling and the family farm. So she fantasized having them both: travel, but with the farm always there to come home to, her solid anchor of security in a changing world.

There was a slight rustle in the leaves behind her. A dark cat walked daintily and then deliberately jumped into her lap. Jane! she cried to the blue-point Siamese. You scared me, you bad cat, she scolded. But her voice was soft. She rubbed slim fingers over the cat's head and along its back, making her purr.

You'll miss the farm too, won't you, Jane? You and Tarzan love it here where you can roam free. And you agree with me, don't you, that silly old David should buy the farm so we can all live happily ever after. And you agree too that the Indian excavation should be stopped. You know it's wrong to desecrate those graves, don't you, kitty cat?

The cat purred louder, sensuously pressing against her hand.

And to call in a world-famous archaeologist is pretty dumb, isn’t it? He'll laugh at us, won't he? That is, if he condescends to answer at all.

Sylvia, looking at Jane, had to smile as she always did for Jane's totally serious, utterly sleek, completely feminine cat face was distinguished by a madly incongruous goatee. Past her exotically slanted blue eyes, beneath her sharp-pointed chin there was a tiny tuft of hair. Sylvia always thought of a delicate Egyptian princess, a royal ruler who tied on a false beard to fool the gods. Make them think she was a man because as a woman she wasn’t allowed to rule.

Sylvia, Sylvia, where are you? her sister Margo called. Jane gave a start, nimbly jumped from her arms and dashed away into the woods.

I knew you'd be here. Margo added triumphantly. I knew you'd come to our old favorite place. We had some good times here, didn't we? Margo looked around, noting the black walnut tree they’d climbed as children. And the grove of silver birches where they’d played Indian with neighboring children acting out stories of early settlers invented by Sylvia's fertile imagination.

Margo dropped beside her. I haven’t visited this spot for so long. I can see why you like this place. The view is beautiful.

I love it, Sylvia said simply. The two sat in the silence of companionship, on the edge of the narrow winding trail that clung precariously to the side of the sharply rising escarpment. They were a study in contrasts. Long ago, twenty-three-year-old Sylvia had thought it was their contrasts that made them companions, not rivals. They had chosen two different arenas of life and so did not need to compete.

Sylvia was the student, the intellectual, the loner. Margo, four years younger, was the beauty, the charmer, the gay butterfly. Sylvia's dark olive complexion was tanned shades darker by the summer sun. Margo was fair. A fierce independence lived in the slender body of Sylvia. She was strong and wiry, yet there was something fragile, soft and appealing about her. Margo was taller with a bursting animal exuberance, a sheer vitality that mowed down all in its path.

David called, Margo said suddenly. He wants you to phone him, she added with a question in her voice.

Does he now.  Sylvia made no attempt to hide a ringing bitterness.

I know you hate selling the farm. It's too bad Aunt Bess and Uncle George can't stay on. Continue helping you run it. But we'll all love having you back at the inn. Anyway, you and David will soon be married, she said consolingly. You'll be married and living in Toronto with a rising young accountant. No girl could ask for anything more than to be married to a wonderful man like David."

Something strange in her voice caught Sylvia's attention. She turned to look sharply at her younger sister. Margo was right, Sylvia thought, she did have everything she could possibly want. David was reliable and handsome and thoughtful. She was fanciful, romantic to want anything more. What more could there be?

We should get back, I suppose. Finish helping Mother and Aunt Bess with the packing and sorting, Sylvia said resolutely. The farm will be listed for sale on Monday. The auction with all the farm equipment and household goods is in less than two weeks.

Mother said you deserved a rest, Margo commented. Anyway, there's no special hurry. Mother’s decided that she and I will spend tonight and then stay on here until the special church service for the Deacon.

What's that going to do to your Friday night beau? Sylvia teased, looking without envy at her attractive younger sister. There is sure to be one, I know.

Just a bunch of us going out later to hear a new folk singer, Margo shrugged. Maybe you and David would like to join us? she asked with more enthusiasm.

We won't be going out tonight, Sylvia said shortly. He has to be back in Toronto to work on an important meeting for Monday.

Oh, Margo said quickly, is that why you were quarreling? Margo caught herself, blushed and looked away, saying I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. It’s none of my business.

No, don't worry. We weren't quarreling about tonight. I understand about work. David’s ambitious. He's worked terribly hard. I know he hopes to become a junior vice-president. It was a stupid quarrel, really. I can't understand exactly why I got so furious.

You're a quiet one. Margo added with a caring smile. Would it help to talk about it?

Probably not, Sylvia flashed. Then she smiled a bright wide grin that lit up her face. But I think I'm going to anyway. The momentary smile faded entirely away as she continued. It's the old Indian gravesite. That was Holbrook land. Peaceful and quiet. It was a peach orchard. Now it's being turned into a three-ring circus. And David is helping them. He actually suggested that the archaeologist be called in. The man probably just wants to make a name for himself, publish a paper in some obscure scientific journal. He doesn't care about the Indians, Sylvia was indignant. Or how they might feel about having their ancestors' graves robbed.

Wow, Margo said.  You really feel strongly about this, don't you? When did you get so interested in the Indians? Anyway, how is that land connected to us?

"David advised Grandfather Holbrook to sell that parcel to a developer. Something about taxes. But even if the land is sold, I still feel we have a responsibility.  It's been in our family a long time. 

About the Indians, she continued becoming even more intense, I think it's all in the way you look at it. This was their land. Those are the graves of their ancestors. Look at it this way: How would we feel if someone started digging up our grandparents, great-grandparents and putting their bones on display?

What does David think? Margo asked quietly.

Well, that's what the quarrel's about, Sylvia admitted. He doesn't agree with me. David and Toby Anderson, the amateur archaeologist who stumbled across the site, are old hockey-playing buddies. David advised Toby to go to the professional archaeologists at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. It’s my opinion that the museum archaeologist they're bringing here ought to be told to go back to where he came from. I've half a mind to tell him that myself when he comes poking around here on Monday.

You, Margo laughed throwing her head back in long peals of laughter. I can't see you doing any such thing.

I don't know, Sylvia said darkly. Her chin lifted upward as she cast a defiant glance at Margo. I don't like selling the family farm that's been ours for four generations. And we don't need that hoity-toity archaeologist to turn this quiet farm into an exhibition for busloads of tourists.

The archaeologist is coming Monday? Margo questioned. I wonder if he's young. Maybe you’d like him if you got to know him.

Hardly likely, Sylvia said in a scornful tone. Let’s get on back.  She shivered slightly thinking over the entire unpleasant situation. It's turning colder. Maybe I should call David, she admitted. Thanks for listening, Margo.

That's what sisters are for, Margo said lightly. Race you home, she challenged.

Only in a fast walk, Sylvia grinned. I get enough physical labor around here. I still need to cut a couple of cases of grapes. This freeze tonight won't last long enough to harm the grapes. But colder weather is on its way. And soon.

The trail was narrow. Overhead the trees met in a bright canopy of color while underneath darker fallen leaves crunched under their shoes. They walked in rapid single file, careful of the path and silent, each engaged in her own thoughts. As the trail widened, they walked along the edge of a row of pear trees, that were tall and slim with a fast-dwindling supply of yellow-orange leaves.

The path brought them to the edge of the greenhouses. Sylvia refused to let her gaze wander over the buildings. She didn't want to fall once more under the spell of her many poignant memories. Everywhere she looked she could see her grandfather busily at work building up the family farm. They hadn't talked of it specifically. But she knew the old man never planned for the farm to go out of the family. Odd that he hadn’t left a will. But she quickly refused to think about that.