Inspiration 44

janettaylorperry.com

Lamentations 3:23B Great is Thy faithfulness... 

I have two more posts for this particular book. Today, let's meet two heroes.

LANNY

When I was pregnant with my first child, I said at lunch one day that I wished I had some chicken and dumplings. Miss Bernice, the precious company housekeeper, brought me a pot of chicken and dumplings the next day because, "We can't have this baby coming out looking like a dumpling." Many older folks are superstitious. I laughed hard, but I ate those chicken and dumplings. They were scrumptious! Miss Bernice has gone Home to be with our Lord, but she remains my inspiration for Lanelle (Lanny) Haymer.

April and Paul walked to the front door where two women stood, one young Latina who spoke limited English and a plump, tall, gray-haired African-American. Both came about the housekeeping position.

The older woman greeted, "Mr. Winchester, how are you?"

"Just fine, Lanelle, and you?"

"Just fine."

Paul gave April a thumbs-up behind Lanelle's back and left. April spoke with both women to be fair. She stared at the black woman with vague recognition...

Lanelle Haymer grunted, "Honey, you ain't maid material."

April was taken aback. The hefty black woman turned to April. "Miss April, you don't remember me, do you, honey child?"

April shook her head and contorted her face, knowing she should recognize this woman. She did recognize the voice and the scent of cocoa butter.

"I guess I done got fat and old."

"Miss Lanny?" April asked with uncertainty.

"Why, yeah."

"Oh, my! Miss Lanny! Oh! Oh!" Tears smarted April's eyes and she squeezed them tight as the memories washed over her...

The smell of cocoa butter comforted the frightened child. The familiar voice soothed, "Everything's gonna be all right, honey child. Miss. Lanny's right here, and help is on the way. I won't leave you, baby girl."

April weakly said, "Russell Bear?"

"Miss Lanny will take care of Russell Bear. He needs a few stitches, but I'll take care of him while the doctors take care of you."

"Momma? Daddy?"

"Don't you worry yourself, sugar."

"The lightning was inside. Two people…"

The comforting smell changed to antiseptic, a bitter odor that burned the child's nose. April was scared. She opened her eyes. The creamy milk-chocolate face smiled down at her. "Look over there." Miss Lanny took April's hand and pointed. Russell Bear sat in a chair with a bandage around his middle...

The older woman sitting at the kitchen table took April's hand. "I come back to you, darlin'. Just say the word." Her voice came out a bit choked.

The young Hispanic looked confused. Lanny continued with quiet reminiscence. "I won't never forget walkin' up them stairs that Friday morning. Your momma and daddy lyin' in the hall. I was so scared my baby girl would be dead, too. There you were with that bear on top of you, blood all over the bed, but you hung on. You've come home, and I'm right here with you."

"And you fixed Russell Bear," April said under her breath. "Yes, Miss Lanny. Yes! Russell Bear's on my bed."

"Of course, he is. He might be stuffed with fluff, but he saved your life. The place is your inheritance. I go with the place...

April opened the last file on her desk. It contained a hastily scrawled, "Magnolia Blossom's missing flower returns. Miss April McDougal Chastain…"

"Is this a joke?" she snapped.

André peeked at the page. He snickered. "Take it up with the boss."

April marched to Russell's office and knocked.

"Come in," called Russell as he worked on the editorial page.

"Funny." She held up the piece of paper.

"Serious. People would like to know."

"Russell, there might be some people that I'd just as soon keep in the dark."

"Such as?"

"Oh, two shadows with guns."

Russell stopped typing. "You don't think they'd come back after all this time? Can you identify them?"

"I have no idea who they were."

"You're scared?"

"A little." She gave a sharp nod.

"April, they'll know you're back anyway if they're still here. I have two G's for you—gun and guard dog. Let the good folks of Magnolia Blossom know you're back."

April popped the hand holding the paper to her hip, crumpling it and causing a slight rustle. "Did you get the German shepherd after you were attacked? Do you have a gun?"

"Yes and yes. Wolfgang is a trained guard dog, and I keep a nine-millimeter Glock in both my nightstand and my glove box. I have a concealed carry permit. I go to the shooting range every Thursday afternoon. Care to join me?"

"Are you asking me on a date to the shooting range?"

Russell dipped his chin and scowled. "April, I'm thirty-four."

"Okay."

"I've been around the block, or, as you put it, I sleep around."

"Safely."

"What the hell?" Russell bellowed and slammed his palm onto the desktop. "Have you talked to Lanny? Is she your source?"

"Lanny?" April rolled her lips and batted her eyelashes.

"Jesus, guide me! You know my frustration here. Help me, Lord." He looked skyward. "You'd think she was my mother. Two ladies I've dated won't even answer my phone calls because she intimidated them. She gave me the, 'Don't you care for yourself talk?' I haven't fired the nosy old thing yet, but this might be the last straw."

"Leave her alone!" April spat out the words.

Russell glared at his newest employee. He barked, "You haven't been on my payroll twenty-four hours yet. Don't talk to me like that. Go see Trina to get your tax stuff done."

Russell turned back to his computer. "I didn't hear the door shut yet."

"What kind of gun should I get?"

"A .38. We'll pick it out before we go."

"Lanny?"

"She keeps my place spotless, and Wolfgang likes her."

"So, do you."

"Beside the point." He waved his hand in a shooing motion. "Write the story and use a flattering photo. The last part shouldn't be hard."

April smiled behind Russell's back...

Lanelle Haymer entered Drew's office as Art and Russell left. She gave Russell a cold stare. "This had better be worth it, Russell Dalton," she said. She turned to Art. "You doing it, too?"

"Yes, Lanny," Art replied. "I believe it's the right thing."

She set her lips in a determined line and walked in. She nodded at Drew's secretary and strode past her.

"Lanny," called Agatha Jefcoat.

She waved a dismissive hand. "I'm here to see my dumpling," Lanny said and entered Drew's office unannounced...

"Lanny!" Charity shrieked. "Did André do this?" She stomped into the den and thrust the newspaper at her housekeeper.

Lanny looked at the headline. "André ain't in charge no more. Russell's back. Them accusations true? You that big a bitch?"

"How dare you?" Charity growled through clenched teeth.

Lanny looked at the shattered glass at her feet. She put her hands on her ample hips. "I dare because my husband was one o' them wilted magnolias." She took a step closer to her employer. They were the same height, but Lanny had fifty pounds on Charity. "I dare because April Chastain was like one o' my babies." With each name, Lanny's voice grew louder and angrier. "I dare because Chase Pickens and Drew Patterson are among the best men I ever knew." She tossed the feather duster onto the marble-topped table. "I dare because Russell Dalton is top notch." Charity took a step back as Lanny's face came within an inch of hers. "I dare because Dorian and Michelle McDougal and Carlisle Dalton were my friends." Lanny leaned into Charity's face and then popped up straight and tall. "I dare because Paul Winchester deserves better'n the likes o' you." She raked some of the glass aside with her foot. "You bossy bitch, I quit."

"You can't walk out on me like this!"

"Watch my backside go through the door. Clean your own damned house!" Lanelle walked out...

WOLFGANG

Man's best friend? I've heard too many stories not to believe it. Of course, don't tell my cat--he's pretty awesome too. 

 Russell parked in his garage as the rain started. The thunder rumbled. April's fists clenched as if by reflex.

"April?"

"I really hate storms."

"Memories?"

"Yeah." She let out a long breath.

"You'll be safe here."

"I don't know if I'll ever be safe again."

"Are you truly scared of storms?"

She nodded. "When I was little, I'd drag Russell Bear under the bed when a storm came up. Mom—Aunt Leila—would come and sit in the bed with me and hold me until I fell asleep if it was night. Still, I'd always have Russell Bear beside me." She shivered. "Sometimes Jana, my cousin-sister, would sleep with me." April laughed a little hysterically. "I'm sure she loved that as a budding teen."

Russell caressed her arm. "Have you seen a therapist?"

"Yes, Russell." She breathed deeply. "I know I have PTSD. I was traumatized, left for dead when I was six. Storms just make the memories more vivid. At least I don't hide under the bed anymore, but I do still sleep with Russell Bear. I have to have some feeling of security." She waved her hand. "No more about that. I thought you were going to introduce me to your BFF."

"I am. Come on." Russell opened the car door for her.

Although they were in the garage, Russell had to unlock the door to go into the townhouse. The side door led directly into the kitchen. Deep, throaty barking and nails scraping on the wood floors greeted them. The black and fawn German shepherd that put his front paws on Russell's shoulders and licked his face stood to Russell's chin when he was on his hind legs.

Russell scratched the dog behind both ears. "Hey, buddy. Wolfgang, sit." The dog immediately obeyed.

April laughed. "Is this Wolfgang Amadeus Dalton?"

A low growl emanated from the mammoth German shepherd and he showed April the white fangs. "No!" scolded Russell. "April, do not use Mozart's middle name unless you want to be eaten alive."

"Oh! That's your attack signal."

"Yes."

"Sorry."

"It's not a common word. Don't tell anyone else."

"Of course not, but it might be more common than you think, you know, especially after the movie."

Russell shrugged. "Too late now. He's undergone enough reprogramming. The signal sticks. Now, meet my BFF. April, this is Wolfgang. Wolfgang, say hello to April. She's my friend."

Wolfgang lifted his right front paw to shake. April shook the paw. "Can I pet him?"

"Sure, now that he knows we're friends."

April rubbed the dog's head. "He's beautiful."

Wolfgang's whole body moved when he wagged his tail. Russell did a little head jerk, and the animal put his paws on April's shoulders, knocking her into Russell as the dog licked her face.

"Oh!" gasped April. "He's strong."

"A hundred twenty pounds. Lots more than you. Down. Go place."

Wolfgang jumped down and trotted to a dog bed.

"I've never seen a German shepherd that big," April observed.

Russell shook his head. "Wolfgang is larger than most. Your average male shepherd is eighty-five pounds and about twenty-six inches at the shoulder. He's thirty. The mid-west breeder he came from is known for extra-large German shepherds."

April rocketed from the bathtub. "Russell Bear! I know who shot us!" She threw on a pair of running shorts and the first tank top she grabbed without taking time to don underclothes. She jammed her feet into two different flip-flops. She snatched her keys and purse. She locked the door and jumped into her Mitsubishi. Wicked lightning bolts cut zigzags across the sky. Thunder roared as the clouds unleashed a torrent.

April sped through the blinding rain with tears triple-blurring her vision since she had removed her contact lenses. When she got to Russell's townhouse, she slammed her car into park and darted through the pouring rain to his front door. She fumbled with the key in the unfamiliar lock and burst through the door.

She was met by vicious snarls and growls. "Oh, Ludwig already!" she snapped. "Russell!"

Russell dashed into his living room with his nine millimeter at the ready. "What the hell are you doing here? What's happened?" he demanded as glaring lightning illuminated April in the doorway.

"I know who shot us," she said breathlessly.

Russell lowered the gun, and Wolfgang pumped his head into April's leg, asking forgiveness for growling at her. She finally took a moment to breathe and absentmindedly rubbed the dog's head.

Russell flipped on the light. "You're drenched. Come on. Get out of those wet things."

Once again in what had become her "nightgown," April sat on Russell's sofa leaning softly against his chest with his arm cradling her. He caressed her damp hair. "Now, tell me," he said, his voice soothing and safe...

April ended her call and looked at Wolfgang. "Three words, Wolfgang. I want to hear just three words."

Wolfgang gave three little yips. April laughed. "I love you, too. Come on."

April locked her door and jogged down the drive with Wolfgang. At the end of the drive, the dog barked. April rubbed his head as she peered across the road that ran between the two old homes. "That's where Russell grew up. He was always my knight in shining armor, and I was his Munchkin. I guess I've always loved him."

Wolfgang growled and charged back toward April's house, jerking loose from her grasp on his leash.

"Wolfgang!"

April ran after the dog. He pawed at the door, whining. "Okay, boy." April unlocked the door. Wolfgang barged through the open door and tore through the house to the room Dorian McDougal had used for a study, where Eileen Dalton had chosen to spend the night. A man who looked about thirty had his hands around the older woman's neck, yelling, "Where are those damned papers?"

Wolfgang flew through the air, leveling the man and tearing at his throat. The man screamed in both terror and agony. Blood gushed.

Eileen gasped, holding her throat.

April screamed, "No, Wolfgang, don't kill him! Oh, stop! Damn it! I don't know the command to get him off. Russell! Munchkin! Shit!" She fluttered her hands as she brainstormed possible commands. "Ludwig! No! Salieri!"

Wolfgang released his grip on the man's throat but stayed astraddle the intruder with a deep, rumbling, threatening growl emanating from his throat.

"Who are you?" demanded April...

With flashlight in hand, April and Russell started into the dark passage. Wolfgang followed. "Stay," said Russell. The dog whined.

"Take him," said Eileen. "I have Lanny."

"Come on," said Russell with a wave of his hand to the dog. Wolfgang stepped in before either human. "Careful, Munchkin." Russell held April's hand for safety. "There are steps." They picked their way down a good seven feet on slippery stone stairs.

Russell stumbled as a piece of mortar dislodged beneath his foot. He steadied himself against the wall and ran a hand over it. "Niter," he said. He shined the flashlight along the wall and pointed out the lime deposits. "I saw something like this in the catacombs in Europe. River water must get in here somehow."

As they left the illumination from the opening, April clutched his hand more tightly. The light from the flashlight danced eerily on the walls and the dirt floor. A few flagstones had been laid to offer surer footing, but the space between them was great. The reporters' feet sank into slimy mud when the stones were too far apart. Some old barrels were visible against the walls. What they contained was anyone's guess.

The farther they went in, the more oppressive the air became. "It stinks down here," April complained.

"It smells like something died," agreed Russell. He reached into his back jeans pocket and retrieved a handkerchief. "Here. Cover your nose."

She took the token and pressed it against her nose and mouth. "What about you?" she asked behind her hand.

"I'll live." He brought his arm across his face and coughed.

"Oh, ugh!" April shivered. "Spider webs."

Russell batted the cobwebs down with the flashlight.

Something moved. April clutched Russell's arm. He shined the light toward a scurrying sound. "A rat. That tells us there's a way for air to get in."

"Putrid air," she grumbled.

Wolfgang suddenly growled and barked and ran ahead.

"Wolfgang!" Russell scolded. "Get back here."

The dog loped back and barked. He ran off again.

"Wolfgang!"

The dog came back and barked. He started down the tunnel again. "No!" Russell said sternly. The dog whined but waited for his master.

They moved slowly down a passage about five feet wide and seven feet high. It took them twenty minutes to get a mile in. The closer they got to Magnolia Manor, the Dalton home, the drier the floor became. River Bend Hall, The McDougal home was closer to the river. Somewhere beneath the country road that ran between the two old plantation homes, Wolfgang howled and April screamed. Russell pulled her into his arms.

After a moment of consolation, April pushed free. She marched to the heaps they saw.

"Don't touch anything," said Russell. "This is a crime scene now."

"Russell?" yelled Eileen from the opening in River Bend Hall's study.

He cupped his hands in front of his mouth. "Call the police again, Mom! We're coming out."

April stood. Russell kissed her head. "I barely heard her. If the bookshelf was closed, I wouldn't have." Looking down and moving the light back and forth across two ragged mounds of bones covered in rotten cloth, he said, "If they screamed, nobody heard 'em."

April struggled to sit up but could not right herself. She gave up the effort but said, "Jake's right. If Wolfgang is here, he'll hear us."

"If," sighed Dan. "There was no response before."

"It's better than dying down here," April argued.

"She's right," said Mandy. "I think we should coordinate our efforts like a cheer or chant for volume."

"Good idea," agreed Dan. "You up to yelling, little brother?"

"Hell, yes, but I have to pee."

"Pee on yourself," said Mandy.

"What?"

"Jake, we can't get to a bathroom. We've all done it by now. You might as well. Maybe Wolfgang will smell us."

Russell unlocked the door. Wolfgang charged through the door and down the hallway to the study door where he pawed and whined.

Russell followed the dog. "What's wrong, Wolfgang?"

Zach and Paul trailed on Russell's heels, and Junior Davis dogged them as he pulled in seconds after the three men. "Russell," he said. "Turn him loose. He can smell and hear things we can't."

Russell opened the study door. "Okay, Wolfgang, where's April?"

Wolfgang went straight to the bookshelf and pawed and whined before he growled with menace...

Cover by Christopher Chambers.

If you have a better image for Lanny, let me know, but here are my Lanny and Wolfgang.