Under the Hill(14)

“Wow,” Seth said. “But you’re lucky it’s a small building. Most excavators could be in and out in a day, once the shoring is in place, and could fit it in between their other projects.”

“Yeah, I know it’s fast, but please, please don’t tell me to ask the board to slow down. Do you know how long it’s taken to advance the project this far? And we’d really love to be able to be open this winter. We’ve never been open in winter before.”

“Do you expect a lot of visitors?” Meg asked.

“Not swarms, but I’m hopeful we could attract a few. There are often parents visiting their kids at the colleges around here, and we’re seeing more of them in Granford since Gran’s opened. And genealogists will trek through anything to get their research done. We’ve calculated that the entry fees or memberships paid by the new researchers should offset the additional cost of heating the place in winter—which should be done anyway, to preserve the collections. Working quickly now won’t impact the cost of the project, will it, Seth? The excavators didn’t seem to think so, and as you said, for them it’s not a big job.”

“Probably not, as long as you don’t run into anything unexpected, like a rock ridge running under the building, or a spring.” Seth looked at his watch. “I’ve got a job in Easthampton, so I’d better go. Meg, you want a ride back?”

“I can take you home, Meg, if you want to hang around a little longer,” Gail volunteered eagerly.

“That sounds good,” Meg said. “You go ahead, Seth.”

“I’ll take the plans and proposals with me to look over, Gail, and I’ll try to get back to you by tomorrow. Fast enough for you?”

“That’s terrific, Seth. My board is really excited about this, and I’d hate to lose the momentum. I appreciate your help. Which reminds me: if we ask nicely, will you do the heating and plumbing stuff?”

“Sure, although I might have to bring in a couple of extra people. I’ll try to keep the costs down, though.”

“I know you’re fair, Seth. Thank you so much for making this work!”

Seth gathered up the papers from the table and as he headed for the door, Meg could hear him whistling. He was a man who truly loved his work.

Gail turned to Meg. “Hey, I haven’t had a chance to say congratulations to you guys.”

“Oh, about our engagement? Thank you. Apparently everyone in town knew we were getting married before we did.”

“You make a great couple. Seth’s a terrific guy.”

“I know—everyone keeps telling me than.” Meg smiled. “Before you ask, no, we haven’t set a date. I’ve got to get through this harvest, and he’s crazy busy with all the projects going on in town.”

“I know! It’s like a contagious disease—everybody suddenly wants something new, or at least renovated. But I think it’s time for all of us. The plans for the library look wonderful. Since they’re going to have a dedicated genealogy room, I’m going to get together with their staff and sort through the documents we each have and see what’s the best distribution of materials.”

“Great idea! What’re you planning to do with the records during construction?”

“More of the same thing we’ve always done—parcel them out around town. I thought maybe you’d like to take some of them, the ones about the Warren family and the settlement of the south end of town.”

“I’d love to, at least for a while, although I don’t know when I’ll have time to look at them. Not until December, I’d guess.”

“Don’t worry, I know where to find you. So, you want to see what else we’re planning?”

“That’s why I’m here. Seth tells me your building is about the same age as my house. Maybe I’ll learn something useful about colonial construction. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you don’t run into anything unexpected!”

“Amen to that!” Gail replied fervently.





Available now!





A Early Wake

And look for the third book

in the County Cork Mystery Series,

An Early Wake,

coming in February!





Books by Sheila Connolly





Once She Knew

“The Rising of the Moon”

Reunion with Death

“Under the Hill”





Relatively Dead Mysteries





Relatively Dead

Seeing the Dead





Orchard Mysteries





One Bad Apple

Rotten to the Core

Red Delicious Death

A Killer Crop

Bitter Harvest

Sour Apples

“Called Home”

Golden Malicious

Picked to Die





Museum Mysteries





Fundraising the Dead

Let’s Play Dead

Fire Engine Dead

“Dead Letters”

Monument to the Dead

Razing the Dead





County Cork Mysteries