The Coffin With A Window

By Fay Risner

1895 was the year life as a grownup began for Lilly Baker Elliot when she took notice of Tom Elliot, a handsome bachelor farmer. He began to spend time in her parents general store, not knowing what he wanted to buy. It became very clear to Lilly that he just wanted to spend time with her. Lilly was a bright fifteen year old, and Tom was twenty three. For Lilly's mother, Bernice, this was a match she had been working toward for years by showering Lilly with fashionable clothes to catch the eye of all the Ford Crossing, Iowa's single men. Tom Elliot wasn't just single, he owned a farm. He knew how to make his farm pay and give Bernice's daughter a good home. For a few years after the town's most lavish wedding, life for the Elliots was ideal. Tom and Lilly were deeply in love. They had three children and one on the way. But then tragedy struck. Circumstances changed for Lilly to make her life unbearable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Booksbyfay Publisher
• Release date: Jan 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393911623

Fay Risner

Fay Risner lives with her husband on a central Iowa acreage along with their chickens, rabbits, goats and cats. A retired Certified Nurse Aide, she now divides her time between writing books, livestock chores, working in her flower beds, the garden and going fishing with her husband. In the winter, she makes quilts. Fay writes books in various genre and languages. Historical mystery series like Stringbean westerns and Amazing Gracie Mysteries, Nurse Hal's Amish series set in southern Iowa and books for Caregivers about Alzheimer's. She uses 12 font print in her books and 14 font print in her novellas to make them reader friendly. Now her books are in Large Print. Her books have a mid western Iowa and small town flavor. She pulls the readers into her stories, making it hard for them to put a book down until the reader sees how the story ends. Readers say the characters are fun to get to know and often humorous enough to cause the readers to laugh out loud. The books leave readers wanting a sequel or a series so they can read about the characters again. Enjoy Fay Risner's books and please leave a review to make others familiar with her work.

Book preview

The Coffin With A Window

Fay Risner

Cover Art

Fay Risner

All rights reserved

Copyright (C) 2019

All Rights Reserved

Fay Risner

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to the actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locals are entirely coincidental. Excerpts from this book cannot be used without written permission from the author.

Booksbyfay Publisher

Author, Editor and Publisher

Fay Risner

Dedication

Dedicated to my cousin, Ginger McConnaughey. She gave me the idea and was my inspiration for this story, because she liked to read spooky and unusual stories.

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All days are nights to see till I see thee,

And nights bright days when dreams do show thee to me."

William Shakespeare, Sonnet XLIII

Chapter 1

When Lilly Baker, an only child, was growing up, there were many added bonuses for her as long as her parents owned the general store on Main Street in Ford's Crossing, Iowa.

For instance, her mother, Bernice, spoiled her rotten by giving Lilly the latest clothes in fashion for a girl her age.

As a child chasing after her grade school friends along the dusty streets, fashion didn't mean anything to Lilly. Once she turned fifteen, she realized her willowy shaped figure and raven black hair attracted most of the eligible bachelors in town. Her fashion sense took over.

By that time, Lilly had also figured out her mother's motive for keeping her supplied in the latest clothing. She didn't doubt for a moment her mother's indulgent ways were design to find her a suitable husband to take care of her. Lilly hoped that was in the distant future. She was having too much fun with her friends to settle down.

On the other hand, Lilly's poor father, Bill, didn't have a clue what was going on with his wife and daughter. He just knew too much money came out of the store's coffer to be spent on his pretty daughter, and he told his wife so. His words were he felt Lilly could survive her growing up years with a cheaper wardrobe.

Lilly's mother turned deaf ears on his complaints. That didn't keep Lilly's father from continuing to express his opinions ever so often.

A few years later, Bernice confessed to Lilly she wanted to say to Bill how do you think I caught you so easy. My mother indulged me in pretty clothes just like I'm doing Lilly.

Bernice chuckled. She'd resisted passing that knowledge on to Bill. She told Lilly she figured she best keep still since she knew such wily ways of women to catch a man were best left a secret.

A plain speaking man of medium built with thinning brown hair and dark brown eyes, Bill Baker, had always been a hard working man. He often suggested strongly to his wife that she was doing irreversible harm by spoiling their child with such extravagant purchases.

Nice looking for her age and well dressed, Bernice, a middle aged woman with  few wrinkles, wore her dark hair in a puffy chignon. She smiled as she patted Bill on the cheek and declared she didn't think that was the case.

Every time, the loving look Bernice gave him deflated his criticizing words. No matter what he said, he knew she'd continue to do as she pleased.

In matters concerning their daughter, Bernice told him she thought what she was doing would justify the means.

Puzzled by her statement, Bill didn't know what she meant. He was afraid to ask. He only knew he adored their only child as much as his wife did.

Lilly came along late in their lives, an unexpected surprise. Bill and Bernice thought they would never have a baby if one hadn't come along by that time.

While a teenager, Lilly worked in the store with her father during the summer. It gave her mother much needed time away from the store to attend her ladies groups, and Lilly had spending money of her own. While Lilly worked behind the counter, her father used the time to order supplies and stock the shelves.

The town post office was in one corner of the store. When the mail sack was delivered Lilly filled the cubby holes. Late in the  afternoons, the store was brimming with people stopping in to pick up their mail. They usually bought an item or two while they were there.

Lilly liked working in her parents store. The large windows in front let in plenty of light. During warm weather, Bill propped the door open to let in fresh air.

A variety of scents met Lilly first thing in the morning after the store had been closed all night. Mingled together were the sour smell of the sour dill pickle barrel, the shelf of spices with cloves being the strongest, the smell of new leather coming from the saddles and shoes, and the pungent scents from the strings of hot peppers and a wooden box full of onions.

One June afternoon, Tom Elliot, a regular customer, stopped by the general store. He took his time studying one thing than another.

Lilly was busy adding up the cost of Mrs. Viola Harman's groceries when Mr. Elliot came in. She heard the bell tinkle above the door and looked around Mrs. Harman. Good afternoon, Mr. Elliot.

Mr. Elliot nodded at her and walked over to a table of work boots.

Lilly waited on several customers, and Mr. Elliot hadn't left yet or chose any items for purchase. What he had done was wander from one end of the store to the other, looking at every bit of merchandise. After her last customer left, she came around the counter to asked the man if she could help him find what he'd been looking for.

Tom whisked off his straw hat. Holding it by the brim, he smiled shyly as he glanced furtively around the room. He seemed to be having trouble coming up with an answer to her question.

Lilly watched the shy man acting so nervous. She'd been around Tom Elliot many times as a customer and in church. The little thought she'd ever given him was that he was a nice man. As she studied him this time, she was immediately taken by the deep dimples in his cheeks and his golden, curly hair. She found herself wondering why she hadn't realized how handsome he was before this. Maybe because he is so quiet that I didn't pay the least bit of attention to him, ran through her mind.

Lilly put her attention back on the man as Tom spoke. No, ma'am. I mean yes, ma'am. I think I just found what I want. I was waiting to catch you when you weren't busy with another customer so I could talk to you. Tom's face flushed as he looked around the store, trying to figure out how to say what he wanted to next. No one out front but Lilly and him, and he'd seen Lilly's father go into the back of the store. I wondered if you would do me the honor of going to church with me Sunday next? Tom asked in almost a whisper.

I'm sure I'd be delighted, Lilly said in a library voice to mock him. She gave him a warm smile which she hoped relieved his nervousness.

And so began the courtship of fifteen year old Lilly Baker and