Shana finally pulled herself together,and finally went into the now completely empty dinning room where she found cook, and Muc's.Well here she is, feel better love, you seemed a little sad has some thing happened.? Shana took a deep breadth and told them about her dad.Oh my dear child, when was the last time you talked to your dad.? When he left. Muc's became very interested, and asked what did he say to you.He just hugged me real tight and said try to find it to forgive your mother,she loved you, and something about all will be revealed soon.Cook scratched his almost bald head and one word came out of his mouth. Strange. Muc's laughed and commented your intelligence just amazes me cook.Even I had to chuckle on that remark. OK now about your bag, tell us the story on that, quizzed Mucs. I don't remember if I had it before I went to the bathroom to change,I took my phone so I could check on the kids, but there was no signal.I came into the kitchen to use the land line, but then the hullabaloo with the window interrupted that. Some of the patrons needed attention, and then Jake, Jake any one know how he is doing.?According to Raya he is in stable condition as of this afternoon beamed Muc's.That's a relief.Now that's out of the way lets see if we can discover why your bag disappeared, cook were there any strangers in the cafe besides our mystery man?.Muc's you saw the state this place was in, and only other people here were the seven guys that came with Raya. You two got any ideas as to what is going on.No exclaimed Muc's. How about you Sha,? asked cook.Only that I know I was pushed into traffic, John was there, how he came to be there that quick, I have no recollection.There was some one calling me, but I was to busy running to see John about my bag.Who has it, why and what is so interesting in it to take. All I know is I can't go home not with my door keys floating around some where, and with whom.Well there is nothing for it but you are coming home with me Shana, and we can sort this out tomorrow when our heads are clear with a good nights sleep. Mucs house was a block behind the cafe, and cook walked them home.You have a nice cozy house, Mucs when did you buy this, it looks almost new.Actually this was left to me by my mother when she died, 30 years now I believe. glancing over to where Shana was looking at some old pictures,she saw the sadness come over her face. Oh dear, I am sorry I wasn't thinking.I am going to have to handle this news about dad a little better or it is going to disrupt my life every time I think about him.I know how much you loved your dad, saw the way he carried you on his shoulders when you were a babe.Now lets get you to bed drink up your mocha like a good girl and go to bed.I don't know how I am going to get through tomorrow, the children will pick up on my mood they are so watchful.Yes I can believe that, now into bed with you and I will see you tomorrow morning.Shana's, head hadn't even hit the pillow and she was out like a light.No bad dreams, or thoughts playing with her mind to night, good old Muc's and her sleeping drought .Shana never suspected what Muc's was up to. Cook did,Shana has no Idea how loved she is by the towns people, and know one really knows her story, Muc's and cook believe wholeheartedly Shana knows nothing much about her life either.Sad situation, and with a hefty plump of her pillow Muc's drifted off into a dreamless sleep.The house was very quiet, Muc's turned off the phones, before she left for the cafe, so Shana wouldn't be disturbed, the poor girl has been through a lot in the last 24 hrs so Muc's is going to make sure she has plenty of rest. The sleeping drought was pretty strong but matron assured Muc's Shana will be fine.Thanks matron, and sorry for calling so late, got to go she is coming.That was the late call Muc's made while Shana was getting the pajamas on that Muc's gave her.
The cafe was hoping this morning, people coming for their morning breakfast or coffee before going to work, or school.Hey Muc's how about some flap jacks and eggs? yelled Nate, he works at the power plant as does most of the town.Trapper he is a retired rail road man, Polly is a school teacher she teaches history at the high school.A lot of people come in, but the old gang has been here since Muc's opened the cafe.Cook came back to Mc Caskill some months later,but never said where he was all these years after retiring from the military. He was and still is very evasive.Old Fred came in and was happy to announce Jake is doing really good, and that is thanks to Sha, and Raya. And though as on cue Raya comes bouncing in the cafe door, grinning from ear to ear.. Well said trapper, I know that look.Really answered Raya, do you now?,Betcha I know your secret, but you tell em.But before Raya had a chance, trapper asked Muc's if she had any buns in the oven , he was letting Raya know he knew.What are you rattling on about? trapper, you know the bread has been baked early this morning.I swear I belief he is losing it.Trapper laughed and winked at Raya. Hey everybody got some news, with this statement everyone stopped what they were doing and said in unison what is it. Raya clasped her hands and said we are going to have a baby.It went so quiet you would have heard a pin drop except cook dropped a pan of biscuits.Then it was quiet.Well.,um congratulations. when is the day of arrival? asked old Fred.Fred was echoed from around the room.What?Raya ignored him, and said about first week of December.We are really happy for you. How did john take the news.I wont lie, he was shocked.I have been trying for years to have a baby, and here I am nearly 44 years old and look. With the excitement of Raya going to be a mother over, Pete the post office janitor asked if any one else noticed all the land that was for sale around town had been bought.By who? asked cook.Have any of you not noticed these dirty looking folks in town for the last few months.No replied Obe,should we be interested .I guess not, but there was something mighty familiar about the old wrinkled lady.she has a face that would scare the devil himself. I know who you are speaking of now chimed in Polly, I saw this lady with a dark haired girl, and I know I saw her at the flea market near Washington Arkansas.She must work for, Codger he owns the place where he has all those antiques, and junk . Nate, we stopped one time replied his wife and it was the nastiest place I have been to. Codger Kinney it's a horrible place.And what of old Mackeys place it was full of junk cars. Wasn't his place an old church yard down by Mudd river.?asked Mick. Yes it was, replied Muc's so these folk are coming in and trashing up the place, why? The only thing we can come up with is to establish territory, but there is going to be a problem.Whats that? Mick. Calvin's granny Mara Hillrium, is adjacent to this property these folk bought.O.K and the problem is what? queried Muc.s Is?he noticed a fence on Mara,s property that hasn't or shouldn't bethere.Get on with it Mick, sighed cook. Alright plain and simple Mara has been in hospital with a Gall bladder surgery, this happened the day they were to bury Alex,now Mara has been at Ervin's for about 3 months and her place has been vacant. Jump in any time folks if you see the picture.Oh hell, got it. You would you potty mouthed heathen,joked Mick to Dan Tallon,he owns and runs the feed store in town,they have land jumped, every one staring at him. Old Fred sitting there scratching his head . He means they are claim jumpers.Take others property and claim they had a survey done and the other person thinking they had.Explained Nate.They have some gall croaked trapper.Damn,exclaimed Mace. Watch your mouth scolded Muc;s.Yes mam.Does Mara know what these folk are about?asked Muc's.No but Ervin does and he went to see the States prosecuting attorney this morning.Way to go Ervin. And what was the result of the meeting.Well , resumed Mick, Andrew wrote a letter to the Attorney General, in Little Rock, as far as I know Ervin is still there.I knew we voted in the right people, they wont muck about letting strangers come in and screw us over.Wonder what Teddy Mc will do to help, wondered Polly, they have already got the states surveyor to come and the place has been redone and the fence is coming down.They just went by the old deed from when the place was bought by the first owners, open and shut case so this is what will be putting a stop to any more of these thieves but good explained Dan. For once I will let your potty mouth slide heathen, well put.As the conversation continued about the claim jumpers, the next street over had some excitement.
