#346
Donny bussed the dirty dishes and Ivy was part of the dish drying crew. She once got close enough to Mark, to squeak that she and Eldon would like to talk to him, please, at his convenience.
Mark nodded, saying that he had time after supper, and to come to his study, but that he would have to have Clora there also.
Ivy nodded, and looked like she was going to cut and run at the slightest twitch from Mark or any of the other adults. She smiled wanly at Donny when he came over to lend her moral support, and hurried back to the safety of the sink.
Mark motioned for Donny to sit down, and when Ivy was busy, he quizzed the young man, about what might be going on.
Donny wrinkled his forehead and quietly asked if they might go to Mark's study, indicating that he didn't want to 'spill the beans' out loud. Nodding, Mark waved his hand in the direction of the room, and stopped to tell Clora in a low voice that she was needed when Ivy got done with her work, and to meet him in his office.
Donny was comfortable with Mark, and he motioned Eldon to come join them, ushering the young boy in the room and closing the door.
Eldon looked like a trapped fawn, nervously shaking and looking for a way out.
"Sit down please," Mark invited, and the three of them found chairs to their liking.
"Dad," Donny started, "Eldon and Ivy have a couple of problems that need advise. I want to tell you at the 'get-go' that their uncle mentally and emotionally and sometimes physically abused them, and they are afraid of you for that reason."
Mark could easily tell that Eldon looked scared out of his mind, so Donny was accurate in his estimation of the youth's state of affairs.
There was a soft rap on the door and Mark hollered "come in."
At the loud tone, Eldon about jumped a foot high, and settled back sheepishly in his chair, looking around in a hopefully casual manner.
Clora and Ivy came in the room and Mark and Donny respectfully stood up until the ladies were seated. Eldon was a little slow, and got a sharp jab from Donny for his tardiness.
Once again, Mark asked what he and Clora might do for them, and Ivy, holding on to the chair arms with a death grip, tried to talk. She had to clear her throat a couple of times before any of the words would come out.
"We, Eldon and me, would like to know if there is any way we could get our place back. Our uncle took it from us after our folks died, and he's been terrible mean to us. He prit near worked Eldon to death, and wouldn't feed him none. I used to steal food from the kitchen to give to El at night, when they all went to the house."
As the words all came out in a rush, Ivy seemed to deflate like a balloon, collapsing back into the chair.
"First of all, both of you are welcome here;" Mark issued his standard greeting. "We do not charge people to live and eat here; only asking that you help with the work and attend church on Sunday." He looked at both the youngsters until he got their nods of agreement.
"So, tell me your uncle's name, where the farm?" he questioned, "is located, and how long your parents have been gone."
Ivy waved her hand at Eldon and Donny, wordlessly asking them to provide the information, she was trembling too much to talk.
Clora leaned toward Ivy nd gently took the girl's hand, lending strength and calmness to the jittery child.
Eldon had to try a couple of times before his voice would respond, the enormity of what they were doing, frightening him badly.
"Dad," Donny broke in, "we met Eldon and Ivy just as we were starting to cross the Ohio river. I think it was the Ohio," and he looked at Eldon for conformation. When the boy nodded, Donny continued.
"They both were riding the old white mare and pulling a travois with all their stuff. They were out of food and we shared with them." Donny finished, waiting for Eldon to pick up the slack.
Mark and Clora both nodded their approval, and Eldon got bold enough to speak.
"We're scared to tell you where we're from, we ain't never going back and let Uncle treat us as he done.. We was just wondering if we might ever get our place back, uncle has a way bigger place than us, he's greedy, that's all. Dad never liked him none, and Mom had to pull a gun on him one time." Eldon started to shake in anger.
"Tell me this, before we go any further, how old are the both of you? That's going to make a difference as to how we go about re-claiming your place." Mark interjected.
"I'm 19," Ivy said softly, "Eldon, he's fifteen."
"Ok," Mark said, tenting his fingers under his chin, "now I need to know what state you are from."
Both clammed up tight, unwilling to give out too much information that might pin point where they were from.
"I have to know, because the states are all different. Ivy should be old enough to claim ownership, if your from a state where women reach their majority at age 18. Actually, we need Toby here, he's a lawyer and can give us advise. Donny, would you please go get him?" Mark requested, looking at the lanky young man.
"Sure, do you want Miss Rennie too?"
"Not right yet, let's get Toby's view of the problem." Mark replied, looking at Clora and smiling. Donny hustled out to find Toby.
Eldon looked very much like he wanted to go with Donny, but Clora asked a question that kept the youth in his seat.
"Tell me Eldon, are you getting enough to eat?"
Eldon hung his head and refused to look at the white haired grandmother. "He don't get enough, but he don't want to make you mad at him for eatin so much," Ivy tattled. "He was prit near starved to death, but he's doing much better here."
Eldon made a hissing noise between his teeth, like he didn't want Ivy telling of his weakness.
"Ivy, was there food left over from supper, if there is, Eldon is welcome to eat that. I will tell Tilly to prepare more."
At the thought of more food to eat, Eldon's stomach growled long and loud, just as Toby and Donny walked in the room.