"Howdy boys, Rachel, fine evenin' we're havin', ain't it?" Teaspoon said brightly as he approached the head of the table. "Sure enough is, Teaspoon. You seem to be in an especially fine mood to match it," Rachel smiled back, setting a bowl on the table. "Any special reason?" Teaspoon helped himself to a large serving of sweet potatoes and grinned widely. "Well, I got some good news. Got a special visitor comin' to stay. A female relative. Was hopin' she could bunk in with you at the house, Rachel, if that ain't too much trouble." "Of course it isn't too much trouble! Is it that adopted daughter of yours, what was her name, Amanda O'Connell, that I've heard so much about?" Rachel asked. The male riders looked eagerly at Teaspoon, clearly hoping that was the case. "Nope. Try about, oh, 80 years older," Teaspoon said, biting into a potato he'd speared on a fork. "It's my Granny Hunter." Cody chortled, "Your grandmother? Teaspoon, no offense, but any lady who's old enough to be your grandma would have to be way, way too old to travel, wouldn't she?" Amid the stifled giggles of the other riders, Teaspoon glared at Cody. "I'll have you know, Granny Hunter could run circles around any you, even at her age. Which is 100 years young, and worthy of some respect, understood?" "But Teaspoon, she isn't coming by herself, is she? A hundred year old woman?" Rachel asked, concerned. "Of course she is. Like I said, Granny Hunter is as spry as they come; I ain't heard tell of her being sick a day in her life, or ever seein' a doctor for that matter. Didn't need to. . . she knows more about remedies and cures and the like than any doctor that ever lived. I learned most of my tricks from her." Rachel and the boys exchanged amused glances, as Teaspoon continued. "She'll be out on the stage Tuesday. I expect all you boys to give her a warm welcome. Might add, you all could learn a thing or two if you bothered to listen. Granny Hunter was born in 1761 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was not much younger than you boys when the Declaration of Independence was signed." "I hear tell she went to her debutante ball with Benjamin Franklin," Jimmy said from the corner of his mouth, "but it didn't work out … she was too old for 'im." Ike chortled silently into his drink and Cody laughed outright, choking on his chicken. As Lou and Buck pounded on Cody's back, Teaspoon smirked irritably and waved his hand. "That's enough funnin', you lot. Granny's the kindliest, sweetest old grandma there ever was, and if I hear tell any of you whippersnappers hurt her feelings even a bit, you'll be ridin' double shifts for a month, am I clear?" "Sorry, Teaspoon," said Cody repentantly. "We'll all be on our best behavior." The others nodded, and Teaspoon, satisfied that his message got across, tore into his dessert. ~ * ~ * ~ At noon, the stage pulled up at the Rock Creek station, with Teaspoon and the riders waiting expectantly. As the driver opened the door, a snowy-haired, sharp-eyed old lady appeared and stepped down. She had on blue dress, and a white lace cap with strings dangling down the sides of her head. Spotting Teaspoon, she squealed with delight. "There's my little Teaspoon! Come give Granny a kiss," she said joyously. Teaspoon gave her a warm hug and introduced her to each rider and Rachel. "Well, I've heard so much about you in Teaspoon's letters, I feel like I already know each and every one of you," she said sweetly. Rachel smiled and offered, "You must be hungry after your long ride, ma'am. Would you come down to the station and join us for lunch?" "I'd be delighted, Mrs. Dunne." "Call me Rachel, please, Mrs. Hunter." The old lady nodded, and answered, "I know you're just like family to my Teaspoon, so it's Granny, not Mrs. Hunter, to all of you." As the group gathered around the table, Rachel asked her, "Now Granny, I didn't expect to hear you call your grandson Teaspoon! Has he had that nickname long?" "Oh, I'd say so Rachel. I gave it to him when he was no bigger than a grasshopper." Cody leaned in. "But what's it mean, Granny?" Teaspoon cleared his throat. "Well, there's no need to get into th-" Granny sunnily answered at the same time, "Well, Billy, he was just about the gassiest baby you ever saw. It would break your heart to see him curl up with stomach pain, the poor little fellow. And the smell! My land, I never smelled anything to match it in all my born days! His poor mother was at her wit's end with him. But I fixed him right up with one of my special remedies. A teaspoonful of ginger in hot water did the trick like it always does. I gave him so many teaspoonfuls of ginger, my stars, I started calling him Teaspoon and I suppose it stuck!" Teaspoon was staring stonily ahead. Cody nodded sagely. "So that's why you always drink that ginger drink, Teaspoon, I always wondered. But maybe you should use more than a teaspoonful now that you're so much bigger -" Teaspoon turned a murderous look on Cody, silencing the boy, who looked abashed at his plate. Granny turned her old, but still bright blue eyes on each of the riders. "So tell Granny. What's the latest excitement? A dance or such like coming up?" Lou answered, "Yes, there is, Granny. This Saturday night, in fact." She looked slyly at Kid, who smiled back and pressed her hand under the table. Granny smiled. "Well, I don't have to ask who you two are going with," she said teasingly. "What about the rest of you?" "Well, I'm on a run," Buck said regretfully. Noah was taking Cassie; Cody had asked the banker's daughter Josephine. Jimmy and even Jesse had asked girls to the dance as well. But when Granny turned to Ike expectantly, he looked down shamefaced. "What's the matter, Ike? Were you too shy to ask anyone?" Granny asked kindly. Ike shook his head. *I asked a few girls. They all said no, because - * Ike pointed to his bare head. "He's saying the girls said no because of how he looks," Buck said softly. "Well, that's just silly of them. You're a very handsome young man," Granny said firmly. "Just because of a little hair problem? Land sakes, Ike, I can fix that for you in a twinkling." To their surprise, the old lady jumped up nimbly and left the table, picking up an empty bowl as she left. Several minutes later, she reappeared at the doorway. The riders and Rachel retched at the smell that accompanied the old lady, as she approached Ike. "It's fresh cow manure, from that dairy cow I saw tied next door," Granny explained, placing the bowl on the table to the riders' horror. "Rub this on your scalp for thirty days, and you'll see a difference in the ladies' reaction, I guarantee it." Granny stretched her arms out, yawning. "Rachel, that was a lovely lunch, but I'm about tuckered out after my long ride. Would you have time to show me my room soon?" Her eyes watering at the stench from the bowl on the table, Rachel nodded. "Sure thing, Granny." Opening the door for Granny Hunter, Rachel turned and gestured madly to the boys to get rid of the bowl. The two women went out, and after the door closed, the room erupted in laughter. "Now boys, that's enough. I know Granny's remedies are a mite unconventional, but I'm tellin' ya, she knows what she's talking about. You don't live to be a hundred and as healthy as she is, if you don't learn a few tricks." *Just the same, Teaspoon, I think I will pass on the manure treatment. It may make a difference with the ladies, but I doubt it would be for the better.* Ike signed. "Fair enough, Ike," Teaspoon conceded, taking up the bowl gingerly and holding it out as far from himself as possible while carrying it to the door. Cody shook his head. "I think you might've given Granny's remedy a chance, Ike." *You must be kidding.* "Well, like Teaspoon said, Ike. Granny looks pretty healthy for a 100 year old. Heck, she looks better than Teaspoon, and he's her grandson. She must have some great secrets." Buck laughed. "Most of them sound like old wives tales or superstitions to me, Cody. I'm surprised at you." Cody looked disapprovingly at Buck. "I'm surprised at you, Buck. You complain we don't respect your beliefs, and here you are makin' light of what an old woman learned in 100 years of livin'?" Buck looked down, chastened. "You're right, Cody." Self-righteously, Cody added, "You're right I'm right. First thing that ol' lady suggests to me, I plan on taking her advice." ~ * ~ * ~ Saturday after dinner, the riders were busily getting ready. All of them were shaving and dressing in their Sunday suits. Kid had convinced Lou to wear a dress to the dance, and was gazing at her in open admiration. But Cody sat morosely in the corner, staring into a mirror. Rachel put her arm around him. "Cody, I know your skin's broken out a little, but you did ask Josephine to the dance; I hope you won't stand her up over that." "Rachel, I doubt she'll want to be seen with me in this condition," Cody said, somberly examining himself in the mirror. "Not to worry, Billy! Granny's here and I've got just the thing!" sang Granny Hunter, entering in her own finest dress, with a dampened cloth in a basin. "Just slap this on your face, you'll clear up before it's time to pick Josephine up for the dance!" Cody looked at the cloth with distaste. "It doesn't smell too great, Granny. Are you sure about this?" Jimmy grinned from the side of the room. "I thought you told Buck you'd do whatever Granny suggested when it came to remedies, Cody. You're not questioning her now are ya?" "No, I'm not," Cody said, picking up the cloth and placing it over his face. He went to lie down on his bunk. "Don't let me fall asleep with this on, okay, Granny? I'll need to wash up to get the smell off before I see Josie." "Of course, Billy," the old lady said. "But you'll need to keep it on 'til near the last minute." Cody nodded under the cloth. An hour later, Granny gently shook Cody. "Wake up, Cody! Time to wash your face and go get your Josephine, or you'll be late." Cody pulled the cloth down. "Did it work?" Granny smiled. "Of course! Clear as a bell." Cody ran to the mirror and looked. "See, fellas! It worked!" He ran to Granny's side and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks Granny!" Pleased, Granny blushed. "Pshaw, Billy, there's no need to thank me … you should thank little Margaret Jenkins, if anybody." Cody, washing his face, curiously looked at Granny from behind the towel. "But she's just a little baby, Granny. What did she do?" "Well, she provided the remedy, of course, silly! Now hurry on up and let's get to that dance." As Cody furiously scrubbed his face and rinsed his mouth under the pump, the others headed off to the dance, laughing. "Guess you're right, Cody, Granny knows best. I'll let Josie know you'll be along … once she figures out the remedy for smellin' like a wet diaper." Email Ellie HOME