Like a Moth to a Flame: A Roth Sisters Adventure

By Terry Crane McDonald and Judy Silvestrone

Two sisters come together with a few friends to figure out why a plain, small, ancient porron would invite danger. Intimidating men are chasing them around the Napa Valley, making threats and damaging property but their intimidation tactics won't work on these two redheads. They can take easily take this one on alone but why not include their father and two friends who run a dojo and a bar to help them along.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098341800

Book preview

1892

PROLOGUE

Santa Maria de Santes Creus Monastery,

Catalonia, Spain – 1878

In the early morning light, Brother Mateu folded the message from Brother Claude slowly and with a feeling of great loss. Brother Claude sent news from the general chapter in Citeaux about the devastation of the vineyards under their cultivation. A blight had struck most of the vineyards at nearly all of the monasteries throughout France. The abbot had been forced to have sacramental wine brought from England to the dismay of all the monks. But the worst news was that this same demon, known as phylloxera, had now been found at the daughter house in nearby Poblet, Spain. The abbot had instructed Brother Mateu to burn the vines and destroy the roots of the vineyards surrounding the monastery to prevent further spread.

Santa Maria, Madre de Dios, what am I to do? Mateu breathed. To destroy all his beloved Carmenere vines seemed like an unbearable task. Brother Mateu had been left behind 40 years previously, as a very young monk, to be the caretaker of what remained of the monastery and its fields when the other monks left for Poblet. His life until this time had been defined by his daily prayers, his work with the faithful of the village and the care of his vineyards, the very model of the Rule of St. Benedict: Peace, prayer and work. The monastery had been confiscated by the government those 40 years past, under orders of Prime Minister Mendizabal. Brother Mateu would have muttered some other names for Mendizabal were he not bound by his vows. These grapes must be saved somehow, he mused, but I must follow the Abbott’s command.

He shuffled through the nave of the church, his white tunic dragging through the mantle of dust which seemed to pervasively resist his patient work with the broom. I must ask for guidance before this duty is undertaken, he thought, and knelt in prayer.

After an hour on his knees, he rose with great effort, but with a peaceful heart and sought out Agustin and Tomas, his field hands in the nearby vineyards. A most unsavory charge has been placed upon us, were the words he used to preface the devastating news. But first, I need you to do a few small tasks for me without questioning my reasons. He gave the men their instructions and asked them to find him in what remained of the refectory when they were finished. Shortly before noon the men came for him. We have done as you asked, Brother, said Tomas. He responded with a tenuous smile. Good. Now please make the preparations for burning the vineyard. I will be with you presently. He picked up one of the three porron on the table before him and completed sealing its opening with melted wax.

The containers were made of clay with a long neck and a second thin hollow arm used for pouring wine. In one of these he had poured a full measure of Carmenere wine, in another he placed seeds from the grapes he so loved, and the third held two sections of rootstock, also sealed in wax.

I pray to God that once this pestilence has passed, we will be able to restore our vines, he mused.

With a lighter step than he had possessed since receiving the missive from Brother Claude, he descended into the cellar beneath the refectory. There he wrapped the three porron in burlap and laid them onto a bed of straw at the bottom of the trench which the men had dug. He topped them with more straw and stones from the crumbling walls of the cellar then rolled a small empty cask on top to mark the site. God willing, I will be back for you before long, he said fondly and then ascended the stairs and headed to the vineyard.

CHAPTER 1

Rusty - The Life of a Cabbie

Like a moth to a flame, I head for the closest bar stool and order a Tecate with lime. I try not to make eye contact with anyone, but of course my eyes wander with curiosity and make an instant connection with a guy who looks like he may have tin foil lining his baseball cap. Oh shit, it’s actually got fake bird doo on the brim and some words I can’t make out. I quickly avert my eyes and catch the bartender looking at me. He steps over and asks if I want anything to eat.

Lunch. How are your fries? I ask.

Greasy and salty, he replied.

Give me a double order with some mayo on the side. He asks if I want a glass for my beer and I just look at him.

Right, double fries comin’ up and I’ve got Tums under the bar if you need ‘em, he said.

I won’t, but I will need another beer, I said.

I haven’t been to this bar before but have driven by it and noticed some remodeling going on. One day I saw some nicely cushioned red leatherette bar stools going in the door and decided I would try them out. The bar is nice. Good wine list and a great beer selection, which is my drink of choice on a hot day full of complications, chatter and being polite to customers.

There’s the wide wooden plank floor with smoothed barn wood booths along the sides, a beautiful antique mirror behind the expansive wooden bar, complete with brass bar and foot rails. The red bar stools are comfortable and have a back to them which makes it comfortable to sit long enough to get a few beers in. I suspect it will get more crowded later but right now it’s quiet with a few customers scattered around and talking quietly.

I can feel Mr. Bird Doo’s eyes on me as I head for the restroom to wash my hands. When I come back he’s sitting two stools down from mine but I don’t make eye contact this time. Damn it all, can’t I go out without my weirdo magnet working full strength, especially tonight? I start talking to the two guys a few stools down from me