Fic: The Tall Tale (2/5)
Title: The Tall Tale (2/5)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): John-Boy (Narrator), John/Olivia, Zeb/Esther, Ike Godsey, Maudie Cleghorn
Fandom: The Waltons
Genres: Drama, Holiday, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: What is stalking the shadows up on the Mountain?
Chapter Summary: John-Boy gets a first-hand account from Maudie Cleghorn.
Date Of Completion: May 16, 2021
Date Of Posting: October 18, 2021
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Lorimar Productions does, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1024
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: All chapters can be found here.
Sporadic Internet access messed up my posting schedule so this will probably go past Halloween. Oh, well, Halloween is fun any time of year, amirite? :)
II
IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR
"Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."
Satchel Paige
American Baseball Player
20th Century
The next time down at Ike’s, he greeted me with, “The hairy beast is back.”
“What?”
“Yup, Mr. Skeptic, It showed up at Maudie Cleghorn’s.”
:When was this?”
“A couple of nights ago.”
“Did she tell you the story?”
“Her son Billy-Bob did.”
“Huh. So what happened?”
“The creature showed up at her cabin.” Ike arranged some tomato cans in a display on the counter. “Maudie took a shot at it.”
“A shot! Did she hit it?”
“Not sure. Maudie’s a good shot, but the beast went away under its own power.”
“I’d like to interview her for the Chronicle.”
“Don’t know if she’ll talk much.”
“Won’t know ‘til I go see her.”
“‘Spect so.”
I headed out to the Cleghorn place when I left Ike’s. This time I had driven over, and my little car chugged up the Mountain.
The trees were at their full peak for color. It was a glorious day, too nice for dark monsters.
I pulled up to the Cleghorn cabin. As cabins go, it was pretty good. It didn’t look saggy and forlorn like so many places around here. Matt Cleghorn had been very handy with his hammer, rest in peace.
Flowers were laid out in neat beds in front of the cabin, and chickens pecked at the ground in a wire enclosure surrounding the coop. A freshly-painted barn was close by, and there was a woodpile stacked up against the side of the house. There were no signs of the Cleghorns.
I shut off the engine and made my way to the front door of the cabin, a large pumpkin set beside it. The door opened before I could knock.
“Come on in, John-Boy,” said Maudie Cleghorn.
I shut the door behind me and admired the neat interior of the cabin. A fire crackled in the hearth. A large pumpkin on end with several smaller pumpkins lining the mantel. A broom was in the corner.
“Have a seat.”
I took a straight-backed chair while Maudie sat in her rocker. She was dressed in a green cardigan sweater with patches on the elbows and a faded blue housedress. Sharp brown eyes regarded me almost with amusement.
“You’re here about the monster, ain’t ya?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
"Have a seat."
I took a straight-backed chair while Maudie sat in her rocker. She was dressed in a green cardigan sweater with patches on the elbows and a faded blue housedress. Sharp brown eyes regarded me almost with amusement.
“You’re here about the monster, ain’t ya?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She rocked slowly. “He stood about eight feet tall. Hairy beast.”
“Miz Cleghorn, are you sure it wasn’t shadows? I mean, it can get pretty dark here on the Mountain.”
Maudie snorted. “You don’t think I know the difference between a shadow and a monster?”
“But this real life. Monsters don’t exist!”
“Is that what you writer fellas do? Go around already knowin’ the answers?”
Chastened, I said, “Sorry. Please go on.”
Maudie rocked a little harder. “Not much to tell. Heard some strange howls, then underbrush crashing. Thought it might be a bear, but it sure wasn’t.”
“Have you ever heard this howling before?”
“Not that I know of. It was pretty unusual.”
“I’d guess so.”
“I shot it with my ancestor’s flintlock. Bodie Calhoun used it in the Revolution. He’s a lotta great-grandfather.”
“Did you hit the monster?”
“Must’ve. Went off into the woods.”
“Can you show me where it was when you shot at it?”
Maudie pointed. “Right outside the window.”
“I’m goin’ to take a look.”
“Be my guest.”
I went outside and poked around. No blood, but I saw a tuft of hair. Could be some nocturnal animal. Grandpa might know. I wrapped up the hair in a handkerchief and decided to let Maudie see it.
“No critter I know has tough, thick hair like that,” she said.
“It is kind of peculiar. I’m gonna show it to Grandpa.”
“If anybody can identify it, it’d be Zeb Walton.” Maudie continued rocking.
“Very true.”
“Got any more questions?”
“Where’s Billy-Bob?”
“Out huntin’.”
“Was he out hunting last night?”
“Few nights ago. That’s when the creature showed up.”
“Right.” I made a note “Has the creature returned?”
“Nope.”
“But you and the flintlock…”
“Betsy.”
“Betsy, are on vigil now.”
“You’d be right.”
I stood and tipped an imaginary hat. “Thank you, Miz Cleghorn.” I turned to leave.
“John-Boy?”
I turned back. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Be careful out there.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Have to admit, I was feelin’ a little jumpy when I left the cabin. Luckily it was daytime.
I shook my head as I got behind the wheel of my car. Talk about spookin’ myself! I started the engine and drove down the Mountain. If I looked in the rearview mirror, what of it? Just bein’ a good driver.
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