The Lilac Tunnel: My Journey with Samantha

The next morning, I’m wearing the red-checked dress and riding in a horse-drawn carriage to the Mount Bedford train station. As I board the train, I’m grateful for my borrowed clothing. The other passengers are dressed as elegantly as Grandmary in her tailored skirt and jacket. And the train car is fancy, too, with carved woodwork, velvet curtains, and plush chairs. Samantha and I take seats behind Grandmary, and I notice Elsa and Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins are no longer with us. Samantha explains that servants ride in a separate coach car. Something tells me their coach car is not as comfortable as this one. I feel bad for the Hawkins’, and even grumpy Elsa. What did I do to deserve this car? And why should they, who worked so hard to prepare for Piney Point, have to ride somewhere else?

During the day-long trip to Piney Point, we switch trains several times. As we board the last train, I squirm in my seat, trying to adjust the long underwear I’m wearing under my dress. Grandmary insisted I wear it so I won’t “catch cold” on the trip.

Samantha notices and gives me an apologetic shrug. She says she has to wear long underwear from September until the end of June. That’s Grandmary’s rules. But as we settle onto a steamboat to cross Goose Lake, the last leg of our trip, I’m actually grateful for the long underwear. A damp fog hangs over the water and there’s a chilly breeze. As we approach the shoreline of Piney Point, the steamboat blasts its whistle, and Samantha strains her eyes to see Uncle Gard, who should be waiting for us on the dark dock.

When their eyes meet, he breaks out into some sort of jig, which makes me giggle. I have a feeling I’m going to like him. The steam engine of the boat hisses softly as we come to rest beside the dock. The next thing I know, Hawkins is helping me off the boat.

Uncle Gard swoops Samantha into his arms. He’s handsome, with dark hair and a mustache. When she introduces him to me, he makes a dramatic bow and kisses my hand, which makes my cheeks flush hot. There’s an old man with white hair and blue eyes standing behind him. Samantha introduces him as Admiral Beemis, Grandmary’s friend from England. He’s a retired ship captain who visits Piney Point every summer. And then, I see a pretty ginger-haired woman on the shore, waving at us and shielding her eyes from the sun. Samantha says it’s Miss Cornelia. That’s Uncle Gard’s friend. It’s her first time here, too.

As we walk ashore, I breathe in the cool, pine-scented air. Samantha leads the way up the steep wooded path to the house, which looks like a giant log cabin. I’m eager to go inside, but Samantha veers left. She asks if we can go to the Wood Tick Inn. The sound of that makes my skin crawl, but Samantha takes off on the path and I have no choice but to follow her.

Along the way, Samantha shows me the outbuildings. Rose Cottage where Uncle Gard will sleep, and the boathouse where the Admiral stays. I tell her it’s very spread out. She cooks her head and says it’s funny. We all stay in different houses at Piney Point, but it’s the only place where Grandmary, Uncle Gard, the Admiral, and her are all together. She loves having the people she cares most about in one place. And now I’m here, too. Samantha gets a happy glint in her eye and says that she’ll race me to the Wood Tick Inn. She takes off down the path before me.

Pretty soon, we’re settling into a tiny one-room cottage with windows overlooking the lake. There are two twin beds in the room and a chair made out of tree branches. Gratefully, there’s no sign of wood ticks. I sit on the bed and bounce up and down a couple times. Samantha says they’re comfortable, but sometimes she sleeps on the porch of the cottage so she can lie under the stars. I ask her if it’s like camping, and she nods her head. And as it turns out, staying in Wood Tick Inn does feel like camping. After dinner, we wash up in cold water from an outdoor well and talk by candlelight. Even though we’ve only known each other a few days, we have so much to laugh and talk about. The last thing I remember before drifting to sleep is the mournful sounds of the loons on the lake.

The next morning, I wake to a sharp knocking on the roof above my bed. When I bolt upright, Samantha says it’s a woodpecker. I look at Samantha and see she’s already dressed in a navy blue dress and bonnet. What is she dressed for?

Samantha asks if we should go for a swim with Uncle Gard. She has another bathing dress I can wear. I look at what she’s wearing. How can anyone swim with all those clothes on? I stare at the dress that covers her from knees to elbows. She also has long stockings and shoes. She sees my expression and says that we could also pack a picnic and go up hike up the hill. A hike sounds better than swimming while wearing all of those clothes, but I can tell Samantha is excited about swimming. Maybe I can sit on the shore and watch.