COURTNEY VISITS THE MILL

Walking through the marketplace, Cheryl became exhausted, asking Carlos, "Carlos, have you seen Martha?"

"No, Mom, but while I was in the parking lot, I see Rufus van heading towards the mill."

"Carlos, you should learn the work in the plantation, if Rufus continues to be angry and decides to leave, you, my Son will know how to manage the business."

"No way Mom, Rufus love this plantation too much to leave and run."

"Let us hope so," looking around, "It seems as though Martha hasn't come this way?"

"Mom, if you already made an arrangement for the wedding for Rufus, why is it you need to see Martha?"

"You will not understand son, but Martha has been helping this family spiritually for many years."

"Mom, but Grandmother is always there?"

"Yes, but Martha has a special gifting, something like a prophetess, you won't believe this but before something in this Island happens, she seems to know before hand."

"Mom, you sound worried?"

"No, no, I just need to speak with her, that's all."

Checking the stores and anywhere Cheryl thinks that Martha will go. Running out of options and places to check, half the day was already gone and no sight of Martha and beside her feet pains.

"Carlos, gets the car please, I can't move another footstep."

****

Walking out the mill, seeing Pappie van, 'I wonder where she is going? She must be lonely and I heard Pappie said she could use his van.

Not even Carlos get to use his van, well my lovely wife, you won Pappie and Grandmother's heart, but will I ever get the chance to win yours?'

Seeing the van returning then she parks at the edge of the road. Walking towards her but she ignores him and continues walking, turning to look at her seeing she went to dad.

"Uncle, where do I go to full the deasil in Pappie van?"

"You come, and I will show you around, and Rufus will do that job."

"Thanks, I see the deasil low, so, I thought to full it up so when Pappie return it will be top-up." Seeing him give Rufus the keys asking that he full it up, then holds her hand and lead the way.

"Child, I must thank you for an excellent job you did yesterday."

"That's not a problem, at my home, I used to do that as my profession, but this is exciting."

"You like it?"

"Yes, my Dad used to manage a sawmill, hauling up those huge logs and stripping it, I used to help him at times."

"You sound very excited?"

"Oh, I used to have fun helping him operate the saws to strip the logs then the plainer."

"I see you know a lot about sawmill work?"

"Yes, a bit, my Dad was the manager, and when I drop off his lunch while he eats, he shows me what to do, but that has been a long time."

Observing them setting the lot on the stand and going to operate the saw. "Let me try that?"

"No, Ma'am this is not lady's work."

Rawlins heard her laugh, "My friend, today ladies are doing all sort of job to feed their families."

When he was about to strip the log, Courtney stop him "Just wait one minute please."

"Yes Ma'am?"

"You are wasting the wood, let me see that," looking on as she adjusts the saw just to rip right under the sap.

Then she adjusted the saw once more to strip the log just an inch. "Look at that you can get this as reject for a heap and that is a piece of lath when she strips the other piece, "Is this the thickness you wanted for the board?"

"Yes, ma'am, you do know how to operate the saw and we got an extra piece."

"Now let me show you something again," as she adjusted the saw to cut the width of the lath from the second cut getting two good pieces and a piece to add in the heap with the rejects.

Rawlins watches how she instructed Jeffery, as she strips the boards, then when she went to the machine to dress the board.

"Ma'am please, this machine is a bit complicated."

"Give her a chance Jeffrey, let me see what she is doing."

"Thanks, Uncle, now I want you to adjust the saw to the thickness and width in the board that you have the orders you need," when he did, "Okay now switch the machine on."

When she sees the board finish touch, then made two slight adjustments, stopping the machine and began the process all over. "This is amazing."

"Thanks, now carry on."

"I must apologies Ma'am, but I have never seen a woman in a sawmill, much less work the saw and machine."

"It's understandable but in the mainland, many women do whatever job available." Walking outside with Uncle, "I like this, and I didn't know the Island was this populated."

"We only have about twenty thousand people, but the Island has a lot of farming taking place. If you had continue driving, you would have seen the orchard then the valley with our vegetables.

It has small villages with different types of fruits and vegetables."

"This is wonderful, if I get some nurseries of the different plants, I could plant Mom's garden, so the vegetables that I pass by at the market place, are they all grown here?"

"Yes, and we supply the mainland."

Hearing his watch beep, "Uncle, what time is it?"

"It's four o clock child."

"Thanks, I must be going now."

"It is still early?"

"I know Uncle, but I want to lock up early."

Rufus looks at her face as she speaks with Dad, seeing how scared she was, I thought it was tiredness but it was not, something did happen.

Giving her the keys, asking her, "Are you feeling better now, last night you look so traumatize?"

"Yes thanks, and thanks for fulling up the deasil," almost reaching the van when she notice Martha walking slowly. Courtney stopped when she spoke to Rufus, "How are you, my Son?"

Hearing how lovingly he answered her, "Oh, I am fine Martha, and what are you doing so far away from your home?"