Moonlight At Mistawis - Chapter 10: Genies With A Canoe

Welcome to Chapter Ten of 'Moonlight at Mistawis', my independent, unofficial sequel to L. M. Montgomery's beloved 1926 novel 'The Blue Castle'.

Valancy and Barney’s quiet efforts to help Eliza Gray and her children gather momentum, with a boatful of supplies making their way towards the mainland. Meanwhile, Olive’s visit has left its own small ripples behind, and Barney considers preparing a rather unlikely guest room, in case she should return.

You do not need to have read or listened to 'The Blue Castle' first. 'Moonlight at Mistawis' can also be enjoyed as a standalone story.

Settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy this gentle literary sleep story, read aloud by the author.

Transcript

Hello there, Thank you so much for joining me for this continued reading of Moonlight at Misdarwis. This is my unofficial fan-written sequel to celebrate a hundred years since the publishing of Ellen Montgomery's fantastic 1926 novel, The Blue Castle. As you probably know by now, The Blue Castle was a standalone novel. It came a lot later in Lucy Maud Montgomery's Marie's life. Her very first novel, Anne of Green Gables, Was actually the one that she's most famous for and remembered for, And that was many years earlier than The Blue Castle. She never wrote a sequel to this book and so Here we are, A hundred years later, And this is my version, My attempt at making a sequel. Moonlight Atmospheres is available as a paperback and an e-book. And of course you can listen here to the audio version. If you haven't yet heard the preceding parts of this book and you'd like to, You can certainly look here for the playlist for Moonlight at Mastawis and you can hear all of the different chapters there in order. And the same goes for the Blue Castle. My entire reading of that is here as well in a playlist in Insight Timer. So for now, Let's just take a moment here to have a nice, Deep exhale. Letting go of the day. Letting go of whichever baggage we might be bringing along with us into this moment. For right now, There's nowhere else we have to go, And nothing else we have to be doing. So we can just relax, Get ourselves comfortable, And enjoy the next installment of Moonlight at Misdarwis. Chapter 10 Genies with a canoe The disappearing propeller boat chugged into the bay with a cargo that made it sit lower in the water than usual. Valancy, Shading her eyes, Stood on the rocky curve of the shoreline and watched Barney's return. The sun was a high, Pale disc in a sky still unsure of spring, And the island looked half-waked. Sea dissented, Birdsong stirred, Its mosses beginning to glow again after the long sleep of snow. Barney's arm went up in greeting as he drew nearer. She waved back, Already moving to the water's edge to catch the rope he tossed. He leapt out, Boots splashing, And kissed her quickly before pulling the boat in tight. Well, He said, Wiping his brow with exaggerated drama. Your humble pack mule has returned. What have you brought? Lancy asked delightedly. Peering at the crates and sacks, You're nearly underwater. Supplies for us, But mostly for Mrs Grey. Flour, Beans, Potatoes, Salt pork, Tinware. A proper kettle. And some heavy canvas for that doorway. The doorway? She's using a sheet tacked over the doorway with nails. Scarcely keeps anything out. The canvas should at least keep more of the weather and critters at bay. Valancy winced. That poor woman. She's trying to keep things going and the kids were sharing one scruffy old bed. I found a man in Port Lawrence who's getting rid of bunks from the old lumber camp. Says he'll cart them out better next week. For Lancey stared at him. You found them bunks too? Barney. That's wonderful! All right, Let's leave Eliza's boxes where they are, Barney said, Nodding towards the boat. No use lugging them up just to bring them back down again. Practical as ever. He gave a mock bow. I do try. The Lansi began lifting out the supplies meant for them, Starting with a large tin of lard, While Barney fetched a wooden box labelled SOAP HARD BAR. Back already, Though, " Valancy straightened up, Brushing a hair from her cheek with the back of her wrist. That was quicker than I expected. Barney swung a flower sack to the ground with a grunt. Wind was with me both ways. And I didn't linger. I had a hunch you might need me. You heard? " Valancy asked, Running to Elmer Gregg at the wharf. He said he saw your cousin heading towards the lake looking very determined. She was. Turned up before lunch, Unannounced, Acting like she'd just discovered Canada. I made tea. Barney glanced at her, Half smiling. And She gawped at everything, Made several remarks about the housekeeping, And grudgingly approved the current buns. Then I paddled her back. Barney smiled wryly. How did that go? She didn't trust the canoe or the lake. Or me for that matter, She just sat very straight and said thank you at the end as if I'd just given her an hour in the stocks. Barney gave a short laugh. Was it so awful? Actually, Balancy said, Reaching for the next sack. No. It was sort of. Interesting. Quieter than I expected. Almost as if. With both. Left the worst of the old days. Back in Deerwood. They fell into silence again, Hoisting boxes from the boat's belly, Their movements practised. A gull shrieked out over the water, And a pair of loons answered from the far side of the bay. She'll be back, " Valancy said at last. Barney looked at her side long. Then we'd best be ready. The last load took both of them to shift. A lumpy, Canvas-wrapped bundle wedged tight against the boat's ribs. They wrestled it onto the grass, Both of them puffing a little by the time it landed with a thud. Valanci gave a low whistle. We're living like kings! Kings with cold feet, Barney said, Tugging the oilcloth back into place. But at least not hungry ones. Balancy glanced again at all the bundled supplies. And now. . . We can really help Eliza and her children live more comfortably too. It looks like you bought up half of Port Lawrence for them. I figured if I was making the trip, Might as well load them up. Beans, Oats, Candles, Boots. I'll take it all over at first light. It'll feel like Christmas morning, Said Valancy. There's blue ribbon in there for one of the girls, A packet of needles, A few shirts that might pass for new if you don't look too close. Valancy glanced with wonder at the loaded boat, Picturing Eliza prying open a tin of molasses or holding out boots to whichever child needed them most. A gust stirred the birches behind them, And a crow let out a low, Croaky call. They didn't say much after that. Together, They carried the last crate up to the shed. When they'd finished, The sun had dipped lower, Laying golden light across the island, Like a blessing. Later, After dinner on the porch, Valancy curled her fingers around a chipped enamel mug, Fragrant steam rising from the cedar tea. Barney had kicked off his boots and leaned back on the railing, One ankle crossed over the other. A hush settled. Not silent, But full of birdsong, Leaf rustle, And the soft creak of wood calling in the dusk. Barney ran a thumb along the rim of his mug, Not quite looking at her. Do you want Olive to come again? I'm not sure. Bani nodded, Understanding without pressing. If she does, We'll want some sort of place she could stay. We don't exactly have a parlour suite waiting, Said Valancy. Nope. But we've got the old tool shed. A laugh escaped her before she could stop it. Olive. In the tool shed. With the bent spanners and peeling walls. Think about it. It's got a roof. It's dry. It's halfway cleared out already, Thanks to your war on spiders. Valancy gave a theatrical shiver. Don't remind me. I could put in a cot, Hang a curtain, Patch the cracks. Maybe throw a bit of paint on it. It wouldn't be grand, But. . . It'd be. . . An option. She gave him a long look. You too! Do that. For Olive Sterling. No. I'd do it for you. So you wouldn't feel guilty if she got stranded here. For Lancey laughed, Then paused. We'd have to keep it simple. I really don't know if she even wants to come again. She didn't exactly seem enchanted. Barney shrugged. Hard to tell with someone like Olive. And she certainly wouldn't admit it if she did. Twilight crept in. The sky turning a moody grey lavender. The kind of spring sky that could tip either way towards a peaceful dusk or a sharp burst of rain. She had this look, Valancy said thoughtfully, Like she was trying to be angry but kept forgetting why. Barney chuckled. That sounds about right. They stayed out long after the mugs were drained, Watching the sky change, As if it still hadn't made up its mind. Twilight clung on, Though the last blush of rose had faded. The lake lapped gently, And a few bats zigzagged over the porch rail. Barney leaned back comfortably in his chair, His old black pipe between his teeth. So, Eliza Gray and Olive Sterling. What exactly have we become, Moonlight? Wandering genies now granting wishes to troubled women? Balancy laughed. Genies with a canoe and a shed full of potatoes maybe. Barney glanced sideways at her. Here I am, Just finished a three-week slog on that serial installment, And now suddenly I'm hauling tins and boots around Muskoka like it's part of the job. Well. . . Began for Lancey, Thoughtfully. I was starting to feel a little Aimless, I suppose. I so loved our travels, Barney. So much adventure. Newness. Broadening my horizons. All that. Things I had never dreamed of for myself, You know? And then. . . I got home and. . . Found myself poking around the cabin a bit. Wondering what exactly to do with myself now. He turned his head playfully. And this is what we've decided to do? She grinned. Apparently. Bye for now! Barney gave a soft chuckle and looked up at the sky, Which had deepened now to indigo. Well, If I had to get drawn into local affairs. . . I'd rather it be this way than stuck at some town council meeting debating road repairs. Or judging a flower show? " Balancy added. God forbid. They sat quietly a while longer, Letting the breeze tangle their hair. Then Barney said, Want to come with me tomorrow? I'll run all that into town for Eliza, Then head for the post. The Lancey hesitated. Ben nodded. Yes. I'll go. I'll bring some of the salve Cousin Georgiana sent too. The one with comfrey and arnica. Barney stretched his legs out, Watching a drift of cloud move across the darkening, Unsettled sky. We'll leave the parcels with Reverend Morrison, He said after a moment. He won't ask questions. He'll just say it's from someone who cares. Valancy nodded. Relieved. Keep it simple, " Barney continued. He can drop it all by on his rounds, Or say, Someone left it on the church steps, If anyone asks. Valancy pictured the bundles in Eliza Gray's kitchen by the following evening. The boots, The oats, The little twist of blue ribbon. Far across the lake, Something splashed. A fish, Maybe? Or a paddling duck? Mist was rising at the edges of the water, And the birches along the shore had turned to silhouettes. Barney stood and held out his hand. Come on, Let's light the lamp. Balancy, Let him pull her up. And followed him. Inside.