Ladies of New Town: Book 3

By Victoria Pearle Hart

The information about the book is not available as of this time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664188280

Victoria Pearle Hart

Victoria Pearle Hart is a young, old person. By that, I mean she is not a right out of literary arts school and eager to prove she can write. She wanted to write, but life just got in the way. It wasn’t until she was in her fifties that she learned how to use a computer and wrote this book. She loves nature and all it has to offer in every season. To watch the earth, awake in spring, turn green, and bring the warmth that turns into summer. Autumn brings all the colours of the trees and plants as they prepare to sleep. Winter turns everything white with the hope of sledding, skating, skiing, just having fun. Due to an accident, she is unable to enjoy winter anymore but still loves to watch the seasons come and go. Just like life, the seasons come and go. She enjoys knitting and crocheting, mainly for the babies coming into the family. Loves to make cakes and decorate them for special occasions. Weddings and anniversaries. Her favourite time of year is Christmas—she loves the decorations and lights all around the house. She even decorates her bathroom for Christmas. Victoria is a happy person who loves to laugh and play with her family and grandchildren

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 by Victoria Pearle Hart.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/13/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

831754

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Thank you Dedication

A big thanks to my Husband and my Sister-in-law for all the help they have given me through this book. My husband’s artwork on the covers and the talks I have with my sister-in-law helped me through it. I enjoy giving life to my characters, the old ones from book one and the new ones that seem to just show up. I hope everyone enjoys this story as much as I did writing it.

A special thanks to Bertha’s fan.

Victoria Pearle Hart

Bertha’s Dictionary

Bertha came from Scotland at the age of fourteen.

She worked for two families in the same town

and she never lost her Scottish Brogue

54223.png

Chapter One

B ERTHA WAS GETTING antsy, winter was over, and the spring came with more warmth than expected. She decided to have a lady’s garden party. Bertha enlisted Charles’ wife, May-Ling, to help her.

Liz was busy with Patty, a twenty-month go-getter. Liz would not have time to help her prepare for this party. To Bertha’s surprise, Cora offered her assistance. She enjoyed working with Bertha, learning all she could from her. Cora felt she could repay Bertha for all she had done for Cora and her son. Charlie felt the same; Bertha had taught him so much about baking and Scotch dishes that Tommy, her husband, and her family loved. He offered to make any goodies she wanted or help her make them.

She had wandered out outside to sit with her older sons, Michael and Thomas. Being with them made her happy. They teased her so much and made her laugh at their way of trying to sound like her. They could not twist their tongues around the brogue she spoke, and it was hard not to laugh at them.

Thomas offered to do some sketches, charcoals, and portraits to auction off to the ladies for the sports equipment the new school needed. Bertha accepted his offer gladly. He was getting stronger; still, he was so shy. He needed a wife to bring him out of this quiet stage. Thomas believed he would never be good enough or intelligent enough for any woman to want to spend a lifetime with him. Bertha hoped to remedy that. Love has no boundaries. Thomas and Michael are good men; they deserve love in their lives.

Michael mentioned a lady he worked with from the rescue division of his crew. She was good with the children calming them so they would listen. She could get the children of all ages to follow her to where Michael wanted to load them up on the copter or vans. It was never easy to get children or young adults to trust someone they had never met before. Tabatha Shaw could calm a wild cat enough to pick it up and bring it home. Bertha made sure that Tabatha Shaw was on the guest list, a must invite.

Cora asked Bertha if her guest list had another reason for special iniviations?

Ya knows me well, Cora. I have two sons needen ta be loved an they deserves it.

Make sure that is what they want, Bertha.

Aye tis true, but what do ya think men know aboot heaven, a good woman ta care of them?

Please be careful, Bertha; I don’t want to see you get hurt doing this. Cora pleaded with her. Cora thought, ‘how do I tell Bertha I love her son Thomas, and if she would accept me as a daughter-in-law?’

I git ya, Cora. The thought of Thomas being alone bothers me. He’s been livin separate but with us, if ya git me.

Yes, but he is interested in a lady that lives in that shack on the edge of the property just off the flower garden near the old oak tree.

This excited Bertha; she hoped Cora had seen or spoken to this lady. Cora, have ya seen her or spoke to her?

No, but Mr. McCloud has, Cora told her. Bertha dropped the subject and continued with the list. She planned on having a small chat with her husband about this lady in the woods.

Bertha figured on having at least fifty ladies no more than sixty. When they were finished, they had nearly ninety women on the list. Some from the city, owners of small businesses wanting to expand. Some from town needing new places to reopen their business. Tommy liked her idea, having a garden party to introduce these people to the concept of a new town, new construction to work out of and own. He was pleasantly surprised that she was doing this independently, without Liz to guide her along. He was until she told him, Yawl be tellen me aboot the lady liven in yer mom’s old shack that our Thomas is liken. Right love, we will have that talk in private later." Tommy told her. He no more wanted to explain to her about what or who she actually was.

Carol told her she could put up diagrams of the stores and the other housing units if she liked. Yes, love, I would. Ya’ll have ta explain it to them, will ya Carol. Sure, Grams, I will do that for you.

Bertha got a call from the business association of the town wanting to know what she was up to, was she trying to destroy their small town! No, I’m trying to enlarge it, bring in new commerce an new stores. Are ya no liken the idea of haven the old buildings taken doon and new business rebuilt fer the toon?

It would change the town, Mrs. McCloud, bring life to it. We will be at your party to see what your people have to offer, the president of the association told her.

Bertha felt like a duck out of water. She was not that smart about business and was afraid she would make mistakes.

Are you sure you can handle these problems of doing this? I know Carol and Denny can handle the building and design. Have you someone to handle new streets and roads and look into the town’s ordinances now that there is no mayor or staff is available to show you? You need a lawyer to help you. I have no experience in city law, but Shantelle has found you someone that is. This person is an ex-councilor of a small town in the upper state. Her name is Paula Shepherd. Would you care to meet her, Grams?

Yes, right after Tommy has Jon Franc check her oot, I’ll have no problems if you git me, Bertha told Mitchell.

Mitch knew she was right; he had Jon Franc looking into her background before he told Bertha. He, for one, did not want to face the wrath if he sent her to the wrong person. Charlie warned him about her anger. It was fast and quick to cut you down. Liz told him if he offers help, be sure there is a Saint working with that person.

Liz, I have Shantelle checking Paula Shepherd out. What more can I do? Mitch asked her.

Liz told Mitch, Have someone find out why Ms. Sheperd no longer works as a councilor in that small town, for starters. Speak to her co-workers. There is just something I don’t like about how she jumped at the chance to work here. Did you know she went to Shantelle about this job before Shantelle started asking around?

No, I did not. We dig deeper. Find out the whys and wherefores of Miss Shepherd, OK, Mitch replied to Liz.

Yes, love, I don’t want Mom hurt, Liz was happy about Mitch’s suggestion.

Tommy and Charlie were glad the town would be renewed, enlarging its size to accommodate more business and people to work there. Tommy’s concern was the drug cartels and crooks moving in as well. He talked to Charlie, We need a police force that is savvy to that kind of criminal aspect. Ones trained to handle it and remove it without a lot of pomp and ceremony.

Tommy, you mean men trained like ours to protect us but become police for the town, Charlie said. Do we have extra men trained that we can have Franc make into a police force?.

No, but I have an idea Erica and George have the best training in that area. Why not have them take as many men or women as we can afford to give them and start teaching them the ropes on drugs, gambling, and the cartels. We don’t need another gun ammo selling mayor or a sale on ladies, do we.

Tommy loved it, get it started, Charlie, but don’t let Micheal know until it is up and running. I know Mike will want to be part of it, and he can’t do it all. He just hasn’t learnt that yet, Charlie agreed with Tommy. Tommy would speak to Erica and George about this, he knew it would cost him, but it would be worth it.

Carol asked Grams if it would work if they did it as an old-fashioned afternoon tea. The ladies would have to wear floral dresses with crinolines, hats, and gloves. I thinks tis a great idea. No woman doesna like ta dress up fer fun. Bertha loves it. Bertha asked Jan if she could spare some time to do up fancy invites to her garden party. Tis no a picnic, Jan, a tea party if ya will. With an auction and a demonstration of Carol’s work. Oh yeah, music by the school band. Make a note for an old-fashioned dress with full skirts and broad-rimmed hats. Bertha was so excited; this was something she always wanted to do. Bertha thought she would do it in the city, but this is so much better.

Paula Sheperd knew all about small-town politics. She ran the small-town she came from. The old Mayor needed to retire when she was born. He was ninety-seven when he retired and passed away the following year. She wanted the job of assisting this dumb old Scot and eventually run the town. Bring in a casino and a few unique bars for boys only and girls only if you want. She knew how to bring in the cash for the leader. Towns-people pay for the work.

Diane Lucier had no intention of allowing Sheperd to do what she did to her hometown. All the good people of her hometown had moved out left their businesses just to get out with their lives. Drugs, prostitution, child pron, and gambling she could go on, but it upset her so much. Diane heard that Mr. McCloud and his wife were heading this new idea. She felt she could not go to this Shantelle Lamb. Paula seemed to have her under her thumb.

Dianne went to the head of the snake. Making an appointment with Mr. and Mrs. McCloud, she hoped to show them what Sheperd was all about. They were to meet at a cabin rental obtained from an Oriental man, a Mr. Charlie Lee. So she hoped they would be safe to talk without her knowing. Shepherd had her fingers in every dirty pie there was.

Bertha did not understand why the cloak and dagger secrecy for this meeting, but she would go along with it if Charlie and Tommy thought it was needed. Do I have ta wear a black outfit with pants an a sweater an a wee mask? she asked Tommy. He pretended he needed something in his drawer not to laugh at her directly. "No, love, wear what you like. She doesn’t sound like a killer or criminal. They told the family they were going to see an old friend and introduce Bertha to him.

Diane was waiting for them; she had made tea and used her mothers’ recipe for petit fours. She was scared, but she had to do what was needed to save this town from ruin before it ever got off the ground. Bertha liked here right off the bat. She was small but strong-looking. Mr. and Mrs. McCloud, Mr. Lee, I hope to explain myself clearly as my fear gets me in trouble, Dianne told them. Tommy spoke to her in French, and Charlie told Bertha what Tommy was trying to do. Diane relaxed and started telling Tommy everything Shepherd had done to her hometown. Shepeard used the old Mayor to get what she wanted. Paula’s intention was to do the same up here on this mountain. Paula knew she would be safer. Diane gave Tommy the proof she brought, pictures of her gambling and collecting money at the whore house. Dianne explained Shepeard catered to both gay women and men. The picture of her in the drug lab collecting her money made Bertha mad. She hit the table. Tommy, Charlie, would ya look at that boyo! He left us six months ago. Now he is makin drugs.

No, ma’am, he is dead. She had him shot for stealing, Dianne explained. When the FBI came in, she got out through the tunnel in the lab. No one dares to tell on her. She was connected to the Russian mob for a short time. They dumped her when the lab went down. Dianne held nothing back.

I ner want Sheperd in me hoose Tommy, tell Shantelle to keep her away. Not that easy, love; we have to have an exceptional reason to refuse her, Tommy explained to Bertha.

Erica came into the cabin’s living area and gave Bertha a hug and kiss on the cheek. Yes, it is Tommy, have a look at this. She handed him a document folder marked ‘sealed’ by the FBI. It showed pictures of one said Sheperd hugging the head of Taracon Corporation. Caption below the Photo said, "Sister’s are happy to be reunited after all these years. Blood DNA proved they were one hundred percent sisters. Tommy called Shantelle himself and explained why they would not need Ms. Shepherds’ valuable expertise at this time.

They returned to the chalet, not happy with what they had learned from Diane Lucier.

Hardison came to him with an idea. Why not have a city planner. We both know how they stick to the absolute law of the state and know those laws like the preacher knows the Bible.

Hardison, you are a genius. What gave you the idea? Tommy asked him.

A friend of my sister’s kid Tasha Jordan, worked for the city planning commission of Washington for six years before they did the cut-backs and she was let go. Would you like to have Erica run her down and check her out? Give Michael not, Erica, the job. He needs to get out of here for a while, Hardison, thanks. We almost got ourselves in another mess."

I hope she works out. My sister Olga says she is becoming depressed at not finding any work; she is a go-getter, if you know what I mean, kind of like you, Tommy only a hell of a lot younger. A book flew past Hardison’s head. Betha didn’t see Tommy even pick it up. I’m readen that boyo brings it back. Hardison laughingly returned it, only to notice Bertha’s ankles. How long have you had swollen ankles, Bertha?" She waved him away.

Not this time, lady, he told her. He lifted one of her feet onto his knee and gently pressed on the swollen area. She showed no sign of pain. Is it hard to walk at times, Bertha? Yes, they feels tight, an they no want to bend, so I do what Cora told me. I soak them in Epson-salt water and keeps them up for the day. It helps. Cora is right, but I’ll give you a tiny pill you take every morning with breakfast. It should help take that down."

You mean that horrid pill that makes ya pee for three or four hours after you takes it? No, thank ya.

He hid his mouth and told her that fluid could most definitely harm her heart and her kidneys, and didn’t he prescribe that for her after her last scare at the hospital? Ya did, an I nearly wet me drawers every day until it wore off, so I quit taken them. They also caused me ta have bad cramps in places ya shouldna get them."

Only for a wee while, Bertha. They may have been too strong.

I’ll give it a go, but no promise Hardison. I’m no that old yet.

Michael was glad to have something to do away from the compound. He met Erica and George for lunch in Baltimore before heading out to Washington to investigate Tasha Jordon. Mike, can we tag along, George asked him. Sure, but why, it’s a simple probe to see if she is safe to hire for the corporation.

Yes, but we get more bang for our buck than you do because we are nicer than you, Erica said to him sweetly.

You guys that bored, Mike asked.

Yep, we are, and Washington is nice this time of year. By the way, your Mom doing Easter again this year? Yes, and yes, you two are invited. Mike laughed at Erica.

They planned to leave in the morning. Erica was posing as a reporter doing a follow-up on the people let go by the city. George would be the gas man who was there to fix a leak that just appeared over-night. Michael would see her after they did their jobs to interview her job on the mountain.

Tasha lived alone, in a small condo, just outside the city business section. Erica called her to set up a meeting at a café near her home. She wanted her away from the condo for George to do his magic on the gas line and check her laptop and mail. He knew his job, and although he was a big man, he was quick and efficient.

Erica had her order lunch, and they ate and chatted, getting to know each other. Erica was hoping to build some confidence so Tasha would answer questions.

"I have to be honest with you Tasha, I have no clue what a city planner does or why they do what they do. I know many people get angry with you, I should say the planners, for so many reasons. Erica played interested but dumb.

Well, it’s because people would build a house on top of a mud swamp if the land were cheap than expect the city to pay when the house sank into the swamp. People don’t always know where or what is best for the type of building they want to erect. Everything needs a good strong foundation to start with, not mud swap or even sand. You see what I mean, Erica. Yes, I do, so there are laws and regulations that a city or state must follow? Erica asked her. Most state laws, some city but unless its to do with road work or new roads going in its all state laws we have to follow. It is a good thing we have them take that high rise in New York that was only half-built and toppled over because they bypassed regulations regarding foundation laws. Do you see what I mean?"

I sure do. Glad I live in a one-floor home built on the side of a mountain. Erica lied. Now tell me how the cut- backs happened and who got chosen to be let go. Erica inquired.

It went by seniority, low man on the pole, get what I mean. Oh, the union did their best to get us severance pay and medical for a period of time, but that was all they could do. The city needed to slim down in all departments. It is costly to run a city and make it profitable. Tash told Erica. They talked about how she had to study city law and building codes that change constantly. It took her three years to go from mailroom to planner, working and learning every day and after work. Erica liked her, reminded her of how Mike has to know it all before giving an opinion on anything. Shy, proud of her accomplishments and should be. She was embarrassed to talk about herself but not about the job she did.

Now, if George found her clean, they had it made. The city gave her an exemplary recommendation on her abilities to handle the job. Lets just hope Mike doesn’t fall over his own feet and tongue and gets her interested in this new job Mike call Tasha and set up a job interview with her. She was more than happy to apply for the job. Tasha just wasn’t sure she wanted to move that far from her Mother as she was not that healthy. Mike was slightly tongue-tied when he first met Tasha, ginger hair, green-blue eyes that flashed when she smiled. She was no taller than his Mom was. Tasha, your name says Russian English, but you look more Scot or Irish, Mike said quietly. She laughed at him. I was adopted Mr. McCloud, my Mother is of Russian decent six generations back, and my father is English. He was born there. I, on the other hand, was born in Scotland, not sure exactly where. My Mother came to the United States and became a citizen after the required time of two to three years. So was I. She passed when I turned five. We knew the Hardison Van Buren family from the time we arrived. Mom was Olga’s friend. We lived in three rooms at the back of the house. My birth mother died of a rare heart defect, not a disease passed on or a heart problem. I have been examined by my Mother’s heart specialist every ear since Mom passed. My adopted Mother is alive but not that strong. That is the only drawback, Mr. McCloud. I don’t think I can leave her behind even though she says to go. Why not bring her, we have a top-notch heart specialist on board, and our hospital, although small, we have the best available to us. Mike saw the amassment in her face. What do you think, Tasha? He asked her.

I think Mom and I would enjoy living on a mountainside. Mr. McCloud, let me get our things in order. When would you need me to start, Wait we didn’t discuss wage or medical. How remiss of me. She blushed and told him.

That is on this contract I have here, Tasha read it over and let me know as soon as possible, will you? I leave for home in two days. Mike told her.

Tasha explained it all to her Mother. Tasha had her fingers crossed her Mother would not be too upset to leave Washington for a small mountain town. Tasha, when can we go? Do they have a place for us already? I can’t wait to be out of the city. The noise, the traffic, and the rude people. Anna told her daughter.

I guess they do, Mr. McCloud didn’t say. He wanted my answer after I read the contract and signed it first, Tasha replied to her excited Mother.

What are you waiting for, you need a new job, and I will never be able to find work in my condition, her Mother gave her a hug and a huge kiss. okay, we go, we start packing what little we have to take. I’ll sign it and call Mr. McCloud now and let him know.

Tasha called Mike within an hour of her return home. Mr. McCloud, Mother and I have decided t take you up on your offer. There is one huge thing, where would we be staying, and is it handi-cap capable?

"Yes, it is, and you have a choice of