Ociee and Ben Nash, the Asheville Adventure

By Milam McGraw Propst

Even before Ociee and Ben arrive in North Carolina, the adventure begins when 12-year-old Ben is taken in by a silver-tongued snake oil salesman, Dr. Lamar Beetlesbum. Wisely, Ociee saves the day and the Milam Madstone, too!
Once in Asheville, the children are reunited with Aunt Mamie and Uncle Lynch, along with Elizabeth Murphy, who's been introduced in the previous books and in the film, "The Adventures of Ociee Nash."
New to this story is Oli McBride, a be-freckled, sweet spirited boy, who not only wins the friendships of Ociee and Ben, but of Aunt Mamie and George Lynch as well.
The children almost perish while riding a boat on the French Broad River when a sudden thunder storm comes up. The whole book is chucked full of surprises and heartwarming moments.

The other three novels in the Ociee Nash series are available through Nook Book (Barnes & Noble). Included are: "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street," "Ociee on Her Own" and "The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash."
All five novels can be signed and shipped simply by contacting the author: [e-mail]
The film is available at Ociee Nash.com or on Netflix.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Milam McGraw Propst
• Release date: Jul 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476275215

Book preview

OCIEE AND BEN NASH,

THE ASHEVILLE ADVENTURE

By:

Milam McGraw Propst

Ociee and Ben Nash,

The Asheville Adventure

Published by Milam McGraw Propst at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 by Milam McGraw Propst

Cover Art Copyright 2012 Miss Mae

Cover Art by Miss Mae

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Ociee and Ben Nash, the Asheville Adventure is a work of fiction. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Chapter 1

One Saturday morning, April 28, 1900, to be exact, Ben, Billy Boy and I took a ride on a real riverboat, the Peters Lee. We had ourselves quite a time. Only one bad thing happened, Ben leaned over the boat rail way too far. I will begin with that story.

Ociee Nash

*~*

I did it, Ociee, I did it!

Reckon I could do it, too, Ben Nash. If I wanted to. So what great thing did you accomplish?

My brother puffed out his chest and began to chant, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, errrr.

Billy Boy Williams was Ben’s friend and Ma Gram’s grandson, her only other student besides my brother. Billy Boy whispered in Ben’s ear, Missouri.

Ben sucked in his breath. Yep, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI and LOUISANA!

Are these the states where you’re gonna go prospect for gold once you buy your mule?

No, guess again.

Billy Boy hinted, Ociee, think about the river.

The Mississippi?

Yes, little sister, Old Man River.

Hmmm, I suspect you named the states the Mississippi runs through. Right?

Smirking, Ben nodded.

So I’ll start in Louisiana, New Orleans, to be exact, and go UP. Let’s see.

I squinted my eyes and tried to picture the map on my classroom wall.

Next is Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, then Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, hmmm. Iowa, Wisconsin, and MINNESOTA.

Ben put his fingers in his mouth and stretched wide his lips. Just as his tongue shot out, Ma Gram came into our kitchen from the back porch.

She applauded. My goodness, Ociee, you are one smart girl.

Pleased as I was with her praise, I realized my brother had been working mighty hard on his studies, and I didn’t want my fancy showing off to shoot him down. Even though Ben was twelve, I, a whole year younger, was the better student. Papa said it was because I was a girl and had the benefit of spending two years with Aunt Mamie in Asheville.

Am I almost as smart as Ben?

Ma Gram caught on.

Ociee, I’m real proud of Ben. Let’s say both Nash children are plenty bright.

"Yes, let’s say."

But Ben being Ben, he had to have the last word.

Ociee, anybody knows it’s a whole lot easier to memorize the states going up the Mississippi than down.

My sisterly self was biting my tongue not to make fun of Ben’s ridiculous logic. Thank glory, Billy Boy got involved.

There you two go again. Ben, don’t you remember the reason we came to your house in the first place?

Sure I do.

Well, then quit your bickering and tell your sister where we’re going.

My brother’s eyes lit up. You won’t believe it! Ma Gram promised as soon as I learned her list of facts about the Mississippi River, wait a second. Did you know the ‘Father of Waters’, that’s what Mississippi means in Algonquian, the Father of Waters is the longest river in the whole entire United States of America?

Before I could open my mouth, Ben shouted, It is 3,870 miles long!

So what else did you learn?

I learned Ma Gram is gonna take us for a ride on a RIVERBOAT!

She IS?

Yes, I am, said Ma Gram, That is, if your papa says it’s all right with him.

As if Papa were a performer stepping onto the stage at the Grand Opera House in downtown Memphis, he walked in on cue.

Am I missing a party?

Papa! Ben and I stumbled over one another running to him.

What a fine reception! Not sure I deserve such, but I did bring something to you children.

Papa rattled a brown paper sack.

Thank you! we chanted as Ben, Billy Boy and I grabbed for it. Inside we found three peppermint candy sticks. Our papa always remembered to bring a treat for Billy Boy. He didn’t have a papa or a mama which made us all very sad for him. Ben and I felt sorry for ourselves, too.

In 1897, we’d lost Mama in the measles epidemic. I couldn’t imagine having to do without Papa. We were fortunate because we also had our big brother, Fred, and his new wife Mae. The only person Billy Boy had was his grandmother. He insisted Ma Gram loved him enough to make up for all the folks he was missing. Even though I didn’t believe him, I hoped he believed himself.

Ma Gram cared so much about Billy Boy I questioned how she could have enough room to love Ben and me, too. I asked Papa about that. He explained, Some grown folks have the gift of stretching their hearts when children need them.

As we ate our peppermint sticks, Ma Gram asked Papa if she could take us downtown on Saturday. We almost swallowed our candy whole.

"George, my friend Captain Dave sent a telegram inviting me to bring Billy Boy and your darling children for a short ride on his riverboat this coming Saturday.

SATURDAY! we shouted.

How about five of us? asked Papa.

Papa, you’re coming!

Why, George Nash, you are full of surprises. I had no idea you’d be interested in such.

Ethelene, my good woman, I’m not about to miss out on this opportunity. Besides, I’ve been promising the children a trip to Cobblestone Landing for weeks. I’m pleased you’ve arranged it.

Papa, it wouldn’t have happened if Ben hadn’t memorized the names of the states the Mississippi runs through.

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, New Orleans, to be exact.

Ben grinned.

Nice job, son.

Chapter 2

It was the most magical of days, Ma Gram and Papa sat in the front seat of our new buggy while I was in the back between Ben and Billy Boy. The boys wore dungarees. After all, we were going on a picnic on the bluff. But because of the excitement of finally going on board an honest to goodness riverboat, I wore the dress Aunt Mamie made for me to wear in Mae and Fred’s wedding.

You look like a silly goose, Ociee, said Ben. What are you so dressed up for?

Just am. I could meet somebody, a queen, even. Who knows, maybe Queen Victoria will have traveled from London, England, to Memphis on this very day. I want to look my best.

Or you might fall into the Mississippi River and sink down to the bottom in all your finery.

Ociee, I think you look real pretty.

Thank you, Billy Boy.

We drove past the Custom House, then past the Cossit Library.

Mae took me to the library. It was hard to decide which book to check out. I finally selected ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott. If Queen Victoria isn’t at the landing, maybe Miss Alcott will be there.

We’ll keep a look out, Ociee, said Papa. However, I do know some special folks are coming today.

Who, Papa, WHO?

Us, Ociee. Who could be more special than the Nashes and the Williams?

I stood up, balanced myself by holding onto the back of the buggy’s front bench and put my arms around my papa’s shoulders. I squeezed him tight.

You’re right, Papa, who could be more important than us? Too bad for you, Your Highness and Miss Alcott.

Papa patted my arms. He pulled the reins turning Maud down toward the river.

Look a there! shouted Ben. We’re here, we’re really HERE.

Calm yourself, Benjamin Nash, warned Papa. If you fall out of the buggy, you could break a leg and miss your riverboat ride.

Papa, I’d still go. Don’t you worry. I’d hop all the way up the gangplank!

Ma Gram, where’s our boat? asked Billy Boy.

We gazed out to the river and spotted more boats than I could count, flat boats, keelboats, fishing boats and huge, I mean, gigantic riverboats, some as tall as three stories high. Gleaming white in the morning sunshine, they had big black smokestacks and paddlewheels which stretched across the length of their backsides.

Ma Gram said, Keep your eyes peeled everybody. Ours is named the Peters Lee.

During our family picnics atop the river bluff, Ben and I were absolutely captivated as we watched the comings and goings of boats. We wanted to learn as much as we could about them. I mentioned our new passion to Ma Gram. She invited me, Ben and Papa to look through her periodicals and the reference books in her library.

Billy Boy became interested, too. It was strange to me our friend had lived in Memphis for his whole life, yet it took us, two farm children, to make him want to study about Mississippi riverboats.

Papa said he wasn’t surprised.

People tend to take for granted what’s in their own backyard.

But, Papa, the river is a long, long way from where Billy Boy lives, said Ben.

What he means, Ben, is it took you and me for Billy Boy to appreciate what was close to him all along.

I knew that.

I rolled my eyes.

Papa, like me, was an avid reader. As we read, he and I got excited about every piece of information we discovered. So did Ma Gram and Billy Boy. But Ben was more enthusiastic about pictures.

Takes less time to study pictures, he’d say.

You have a point, Ben, said Papa.

I came upon an article which had recently run in our Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal.

Listen, everybody. This story says many of the old flat boats and keelboats have been replaced by the larger riverboats. The riverboats haul cargo, mostly cotton; but now THIS is what matters to us. Riverboats also carry people. People like us!

The Mississippi River came into full view as Papa slowed our buggy. It was our turn to become riverboat riding people.

Ethelene, Ociee, Billy Boy, Ben, said Papa, Take a look at those boats being loaded. Once completely full, they’ll haul thousands and thousands of pounds of cotton.

Papa stepped from the buggy, led Maud to the hitching post and tied her up. As Billy Boy helped Ma Gram; Ben and I jumped down. The five of us stood trying to absorb in the view. As far as our eyes could see, were bales and bales of cotton, so many I could hardly spot the cobblestones on Cobblestone Landing.

I had viewed the river from on top of the bluff, but as we got closer, I was shocked. I wasn’t prepared for how big the river actually was, for the large number of boats or for the hustle and bustle of business. I’d never seen anything like it in all my eleven years; not in Abbeville, not anywhere else in Mississippi, not even on my two train trips across Tennessee. Up until that April morning, I thought of myself as well traveled. Not so, the sight before me about took my breath.

The Mississippi River sure is bigger than the Tennessee, I exclaimed.

For once Ben didn’t fuss at me for talking about my trip to Asheville. Usually his jealous nature made him ornery whenever I mentioned it, but my brother was far too occupied with his own thoughts. Mules! Cotton bales were hauled to riverboats on large wagons pulled by mules. Ben had always daydreamed about buying a mule and going prospecting out west for gold. Seeing those mules started him thinking.

Forget faraway gold mines. Too much digging for me. My mule’s gonna pull a big old wagon full of cotton!

Papa replied, Whatever you say, Ben.

"Cobblestone Landing