The Red House

Dense forest once covered all of Piney Ridge,

but no longer is the

Modern highways have penetrated the darkness,

and brought in the light.

Not so in Ox Head Woods, further south.

Step into it off the abandoned road that hugs its length,

and it's like passing through a wall and closing the door behind you.

Obsolete trails wonder vaguely, crisscross, or break at right angles for no reason.

Only one leads to the Morgan farm.

Pete Morgan's farm has the allure of a wall castle

that everybody knows about, but few have entered.

Its only access to the outside world is a country road that passes by.

Some miles north connects with the highway near the Renton farm.

Joe Renton, like the other farmers here abouts, is up and coming,

raises good apples.

Fine soil everywhere in the valley.

The young people for miles around come to the high school.

The boys graduate a little older than those in the city.

That's because they take time out for planting and helping with the harvest.

They're a healthy lot.

And girls don't come prettier any place.

Are we going swimming Sunday?

Sure, if I'm not needed at the store.

Where do you change into your swimming trunks?

Mmm, maybe I'll wear them over.

No.

Bring them. We'll change at the reservoir.

Who else is coming?

Just us.

Hi Teller, how's hunting?

Bye, kids. Miss me.

What are you doing so close to civilization?

You're growing up, Tibby.

- You're almost a woman. - Almost! I'm woman enough already.

I wouldn't say that.

Oh, what do you know about anything, you never got past the ninth grade.

I'm good at plenty of things they don't teach in school.

What's got into you, Meg? You got the fidgets?

I promised Pete Morgan I'd bring you by the farm this afternoon, and I don't know how to ask you.

Looks like you've asked me already.

What does he want?

You better ask him.

Well, how long will it take?

Not too awfully long, Nath.

We're here already.

OK, Meg, let's go.

Hey, Nath, what's Tibby going to say about this?

What do you think she'll do?

Pete?

Yes, Meg.

I brought Nath Storm, the boy I told you about.

You know, I've...

I've thought about this thing, Meg.

I'm not so sure it's a good thing.

We've been content with the way things were.

Maybe an outsider will spoil it.

But it would be so much easier for you if Nath would come and help out at the end of the day.

- Anything between you and Nath? - Oh, no.

He and Tibby Renton are going steady.

All right, I'll see the boy.

Never could turn you down, could I?

Meg says good things about you, Nath.

Maybe you're not as stocky as you might be.

Stopped growing too soon, Mr. Morgan.

- How's your mother's store getting along? - Oh well, some days we don't even make a $1.

What did you want to see me about, Mr. Morgan?

You know about my leg?

Wood.

My sister and Meg have got a curious idea that

it's hard to climb a ladder with a wooden leg.

- Well, it isn't. - No, sir.

What's more, they've got an idea that things are getting a little run down here,

can't do as much as I used to.

So they've talked me into hiring somebody.

Eh, help along with the evening chores.

I'll pay $0.35 an hour.

Could you make it 4 bits?

It's over an hour's walk home afterwards.

Yeah, I hadn't thought of that.

- I'll pay $0.50 a hour. - Could he start today?

- Sure it's all right with you, Meg? - Oh, yes.

Thanks!

Come on, Nath.

Ellen?

Ellen!

- He's hired Nath. - Good.

I just hope that Pete hasn't become too used to doing things alone.

I do hope it works out.

- You sure you don't want any more, Nath? - No, thanks, ma'am.

Bet nobody'll believe me when I tell them I had supper here.

Why not, Nath?

Well, didn't you know you and Miss Ellen are known as...

the mysterious Morgans?

Are we?

Well, they won't say it anymore.

Not when I tell them what a swell layout you've got here.

And that you spread the best table in the valley.

It's because we're so self-sufficient here.

We seldom have any need to go to town.

What else do they say about us, Nath?

Oh, nothing.

Except things like...

Meg not being your daughter,

or even related.

Why don't they ask me?

Well I... I guess they'd rather whisper gossip than find out the truth.

What gossip?

Well, they say...

Meg's mother and father ran away and left her when she was still a baby.

Well, that's not true, Nath.

Meg's mother and father went down south to find a new farm.

- They left Meg in our care. - They died down there in a runaway.

Pete and I adopted Meg legally. There's nothing to be whispered about, Nath.

She was only two years old then.

There's nothing wrong with being adopted.

I'm grateful.

Sure.

And the next time I hear anybody gossiping about it, I'll say, so what?

Meg isn't the only adopted girl in the world.

Well, I... I hate to eat and run, folks, but... I think I better get started.

It's kind of late so I thought I'd take a shortcut through Ox Head Woods.

- You know your way through those woods? - No, but the winds cleared the sky.

Well, I'd take the long way around if I were you.

I've owned the Ox Head Woods for years and...

I'm as brave as the next man, but I wouldn't cross through those woods at night.

The woods haven't scared me since I was a kid.

- Day or night. - But you said you didn't know Ox Head Woods.

- A tree is a tree, and a trail is a trail. - The trails lead nowhere.

- Let the boy go, Pete. - I don't want him to get lost.

- Close the door, Pete. - I don't want him to get hurt.

Wait, don't take the Ox Head Woods. The foot bridge across the creek is out.

- I'll jump across. - Well there's bog on the other side.

I'll find my way around it. Look, Mr. Morgan, I can't...

- It's a long way around. - I'll save two miles by cutting through the woods.

But you won't save yourself from the screams in the night, It'll lodge in your bones all your life.

- Screams from where? - From the red house.

Well, if I come to it, I'll give it a wide go by.

You can't!

Did you ever run away from the scream?

You can't!

It will follow you through the woods.

It will follow you all of your life.

Nath! Nath!

What did you say to him?

Nath's a brave lad, but he's fooled.

I warned him but he wouldn't listen.

You warned him against what?

Courage isn't enough.

He won't make it.

He'll be back.

He'll be back.

Yes, Mrs. Storm, Nath's sleeping here tonight, so don't you worry about it.

Hard work and a big supper never hurt any boy.

Oh, don't you mention it, we're glad to have him.

Good night.

How did you know he was back?

Nath's all right.

He's going to be a great help on the farm.

How did you happen to get in here?

I ran here.

You scared the daylights out of me last night.

Seems like the truth shouldn't scare anybody. Man or boy.

The truth?

- You and your screams in the night almost... - What are you talking about?

Now, don't tell me I imagined all that stuff?

I went in those words and I heard things.

- What things? - I don't know.

I don't know whether it was the screams you were talking about or... just the wind.

You leave well enough alone, son.

Go in and wash up.

Join us for breakfast, and you can catch the school bus with Meg.

What kind of a guy is Pete anyway?

He's always been wonderful to me.

And kind and generous.

For my last birthday, he sent to the city

and bought me the most wonderful furniture he could buy for my room.

He's always been that way.

But... what about that red house?

I remember hearing him talk about it a long time ago.

But I've never heard him mention it since.

- You haven't? - No.

He's just warned me to stay out of those woods, since I was little.

Do you know anything about those screams?

I don't know, Nath. I may be afraid to find out.

Hey, look whose moved in with the Morgans.

OK, so I'm working there, so make something out of it.

Well,

you've got nerve, Nath Storm.

Where were you last night when I phoned like I said I would?

- Working. - Working?

All night long?

Ah, Tibby, can't a guy even earn chore money at the Morgans...

...without you throwing a fit? - Not if it takes all night.

Hi, mom.

I see you're not bowled over by the rush of business.

Oh, things have been like this all day again.

I suppose folks get tired coming and asking for things I haven't got.

Look, mom.

Why don't you close the store and marry Don Brant.

He's a nice guy.