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Finishing her salad and the hunk of baguette that came with it, she eyed the cheesecake in the deli case and then left before she was caught in the tractor beam of the desire for sweets. Man, but her resistance was down.
“You’re killing me,” she said to the mound of her stomach, lightly placing a palm just beneath her right ribs. Baby St. Cloud gave her a kick, and she chuckled as she climbed into the Escape and drove the few blocks to the historical society.
She didn’t know all the particulars about the romance between Lang and Dr. Claire Norris, but it was during the time when they were getting together that he’d had his first run-ins with Catherine Rutledge. In the course of that particular investigation, which also delved into the women of the Colony, Lang had learned of Herman Smythe’s small book. It was this compilation that Savannah wanted to see.
The historical society resided in a clapboard building at the edge of town, a building that had once been an old-fashioned one-room church. It still even had its steeple, and Savvy gazed at it as she crossed the parking lot and went up the short flight of wooden steps to the front door. A sign in hand-painted blue letters read DECEPTION BAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, and when she pulled open one side of the double doors, a little bell tinkled overhead, heralding her arrival.
Glass cases extended in rows, with aisles between them that led toward a counter that ran across the back wall. Behind the counter stood a woman, who’d risen to her feet at the sound of the bell. Currently, Savvy was the only visitor.
“May I be of help?” the woman asked. She was the epitome of an old-time librarian with her gray-streaked brown hair pulled into a bun and a pair of pince-nez glasses perched on her nose, the glasses attached to a thin silver chain looped around the back of the woman’s neck. A brooch with a large amber stone was pinned to a dark brown cardigan sweater, which she wore over a white blouse that topped a tan, ankle-length skirt.
“I’m looking for the book A Short History of the Colony , by Herman Smythe.”
The woman examined Savannah’s appearance. Savvy had on black slacks and a tan T-shirt, with folds of material to give her belly room to grow, and over it all she wore a black jacket. Her Glock lay at her right hip.
“You’re with the sheriff’s department?” the woman asked, staring at her gun.
“Yes, I’m—”
“You’ll need a court to requisition the book. It is a one of a kind and does not leave the property.” She met Savvy’s eyes, a challenge in hers.
“I’m not trying to requisition it. I just want to read it.”
She narrowed her eyes at her, plainly trying to decipher whether Savvy was telling the truth.
“Would that be possible?”
For an answer, the woman walked over to a bookcase and unerringly pulled out a thin volume. She held it a moment in her hands, as if loath to relinquish it even for a moment to Savvy’s care. Then she shook her head and held it out. “You can sit at the table over there.”
“Thank you.”
Settling herself down, Savvy opened the book and read.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE COLONY
by Herman Smythe
Introduction by Joyce Powell-Pritchett, Director,
Deception Bay Historical Society
Let me introduce myself first. My name is Joyce Powell-Pritchett, and I’ve been the director of the Deception Bay Historical Society for the last twelve years. A Short History of the Colony was given to the historical society by the estate of Dr. Parnell Loman. Though it was originally believed that the account was written by Dr. Loman, subsequent discovery showed that it was really Mr. Herman Smythe, a contemporary of Dr. Loman, who compiled and wrote the narrative.
“The Colony” is a loose term for the group of women who live together at Siren Song Lodge in Deception Bay, and who are the descendants of Nathaniel and Abigail Abernathy. Mr. Smythe is honest about the fact that his account was taken from word of mouth, mostly from a Colony member, Mary Rutledge Beeman, who is one of the two last descendants listed in the book. Mr. Smythe personally knew Mary Beeman before her death, as well as her sister, Catherine Rutledge, who still resides at the lodge with some of Mary’s children, who are unnamed in the account.
Mr. Smythe is still living, and when I told him I was going to write an introduction for him, he smiled at me, his eyes twinkled, and he said, “People keep acting like the book is all lore, but believe me, I was there during the seventies and eighties, and I’ll stand by my words as fact!”
Whether truth, or truth mixed with fiction, I’m sure you’ll agree, A Short History of the Colony is a fascinating read.
Enjoy!
Joyce Powell-Pritchett
Savvy looked at the woman, who was staring back at her.
“Yes, I’m Joyce Powell-Pritchett,” she said, as if Savvy had asked the question.
Nodding to her, Savvy dropped her gaze back to the narrative.
