INDEPENDENCE DAY SUPPER, FIREWORKS AND HIGHWAYMEN part 2 by Leo F. Kohl

Sorry for the delay folks. I know I said to come back in a week and it has been two weeks, but the author and I had a little palaver and we decided that maybe two weeks between sets would be better. Now without further ado I present to the world INDEPENDENCE DAY SUPPER, FIREWORKS AND HIGHWAYMEN part 2 by Leo F. Kohl.


They continued down the Winery Drive, until they were met by two gentlemen dressed in “Livery” costumes, who asked them where they were going. Francois replied, “To Nicholas Longworth’s July Fourth Party! I am Francois Pinaud, the owner of Pinaud’s winery on the other side of Cincinnati!”

“Yes, sir!” One of the men in livery responded. “You are on the list! Are the other two part of your operation?”


“Yes!” Francois answered somewhat gruffly, “but why all the questions? This is my apprentice foreman, and inside the coach is his wife! But why are we being so questioned? We are invited guests!”

At that moment, a rather slight man, about 5-foot, 8-inches tall, with bushy, white side-burns and twinkling, bright green eyes, came down the road and said to the two men in Livery, “That’s all right Karl! Stan! This is Mister Pinaud and his entourage! Let them in!”

“Yes, sir! Mister Longworth!” both men said in unison, then saluted the gentleman who had let them enter the winery.

Before Francois signaled the horses to move, Mister Longworth climbed up on the driver’s seat, as Marty made room for him to the outside. Longworth reached over and took Francois’ hand and said, “Welcome to Longworth’s Winery, Monsieur Pinaud!” He looked at Marty and asked,

“And who do I have the pleasure of addressing?”

“Marty Alhoff, sir! Glad to meet you, sir!” Marty answered. “And that’s my wife, Louisa,
back there in the coach!”


“Welcome all three of you to Longworth’s Vineyards and Winery. Sorry for the question and answer session back there, but since you are here, I had to make sure it was you, Francois, and not one of the riff-raff that have suddenly sprung up here in Cincinnati! Sheriff O’Leery has warned me against a pair of road agents that have been operating in our area at night on week- ends and specifically, a Holiday such as today!”

Francois then told Longworth, “There are two cases of different wines in the coaches’ boot. Would you be so kind as to have one of your attendants unload them, as they are our gift to
your party?


“Certainly!” Longworth replied, then asked Francois, “May I ask the names of the vintages you have brought us?”

“Oui! Certainement! Yes! Certainly!” Francois answered. “The first vintage is called ‘Marechal Foch,’ and being an early season fruit, is the first of the grapes we crush and make the wine. These we have brought you are from last year’s crop! The other is a wine named ‘Clarice,’ after my dear wife, who passed away in France. It is a sweet wine of my own fashion- ing! I do hope you will like both! Salud!”

“Why, thank you so very much, Monsieur Pinaud!” Longworth exclaimed , as a big smilelit up his face. “We’ll serve it to our guests and announce from whence it came! If you do not mind, we’ll let our guests pass judgement on your offerings!”

“That would be fine with me!” Francois replied, then added, “and please, call me Francois! I feel better when I can speak with people on a first-name basis! It feels more friendly under those conditions! Conpris? Do you understand?”

Longworth replied haltingly in French, “Je suis compris! I understand!”


With that, Francois asked Longworth, “Parlez vous Francais?”


To which, Longworth laughingly replied, “Un tres petit! A very little! Only a very little!
When I was studying to become a lawyer, I had to learn French, but not enough to carry on a full conversation, I’m afraid!”


“That is all right!” Francois replied. “We always have English in which to converse! Ne
c’est pas? Isn’t that right?”


Longworth chuckled and replied, “You are right! So very right!”


“Oh! I almost forgot!” Francois exclaimed. “Herman Lister, one of my leading Vinegres, asked me to extend to you his warmest regards!”

Longworth replied, a wistful expression on his face, “Please return the favor to Herman!
He was one of the best workers I had working for me in my winery and vineyard! You are so lucky to have such a fine individual working for you!”


To which, Francois replied, “You are right! You are so very right!“

Excellent! Excellent!” Longworth replied. “Return my best to Herman when next you see him, please!”

Longworth then personally introduced Francois, Marty and Louisa to his assembled guests. No sooner had introductions been completed, than the Chef announced that supper was ready. The Chef was one of the foremost in Cincinnati, and had prepared a feast of steak barbequed on grills over coals from oak wood, along with various side dishes. The guests sat at tables strategically placed in the open area, with umbrellas which provided shade from the glare of the late afternoon sun. Longworth sat with Francois, Marty, and Louisa so he could have the opportunity of getting to know them a little better and find out more concerning their personal backgrounds. He became very excited when he learned that Marty had mined for gold in California, and even more so, when he was told by Francois that Marty and Louisa planned to leave for California sometime in September and establish a winery in the region in which Marty had mined for gold. It was then that supper was served to the guests and the area became quiet as the assembled guests consumed the delicious meal.

As dusk began to fall, and night was soon to be upon them, Longworth stood up and an- nounced to all his guests that they would be treated to a display of fireworks never before seen in the Cincinnati area, and hoped everyone would enjoy what they were about to witness. When the last glimpse of daylight had disappeared, everyone heard a loud “Whump!” from an open area some hundred yards from where they sat, as the darkness was split by various colored lights that burst, then burst again to make the entire party area light up as though it were instant daytime! Everyone in attendance applauded the opening fireworks display, then “Whump!” “Whump!” “Whump!” a whole series of bursting and cascading lights lit up the area, and for the next half-hour to forty-five minutes, different pyrotechnic displays drew “O-h-h-hs” and A-h-h-h’s” from the assembled guests, who were absolutely enchanted with the beautiful displays provided to them.

Soon, the fireworks display was over, and under some kerosene lamps provided by several attendants, Longworth served his guests the first of Francois’ wines, Marechal Foch, and asked each to properly taste the wine and judge its qualities. If they signify with a “One,” it means the wine was excellent! A “Two,” conveyed that it was good, but not great! A “Three,” signified that the wine was of poor quality! Longworth then introduced Francois to the guests, and indicated to them that it was he who had provided the wine for the final program of the evening. Francois stood up and thanked everyone for sampling and judging his wine, as he chuckled loudly when he told the assembled group he hoped to receive no “Three’s!”

It took about fifteen minutes for the group to properly taste the wine, then Longworth called out to them, “Are there any ‘Three’s?’” No one in attendance raised their hand! “Seems we’re off to a good start, so far!” Longworth commented. Then he called out to the group, “Are there any ‘Two’s?’” Four people raised their hands. “Maybe you better have your taste-buds checked by your doctor!” Longworth replied laughingly. “Now! For the down and dirty count!

Are there any ‘One’s?’” Forty-six people raised their hands, as Longworth exulted, “Fantastic!”
Francois beamed at the results of the tasting, and these folks, all wine lovers, proved his wine to be among the best!


The same procedure continued with Clarice, and the results were a little better; no “Threes,” only three “Two’s” and forty-seven “One’s” Everyone at the Supper Party liked the products from Pinaud’s Winery, and many asked where he was located, so they could visit, and perhaps, purchase some of the wines in his inventory.

The very pleasant evening ended with the wine-tasting and everyone stood up and prepared to depart Longworth’s Winery. Everyone who was in attendance told Longworth how much they enjoyed the dinner and especially the fireworks displays; then thanked him for inviting them. There were quite a few who came up to Francois and thanked him for providing the wine for all to taste. As the carriages and surreys were being brought up by Longworth’s attendants, Marty informed Francois concerning having seen the two pairs of legs on the other side of the hill, and noted to him that his “Scout’s Senses” were coming through in that regard and they have never failed him since the trek across country back in ‘49.


Marty told Francois, “Hope they’re wrong, for all o’ us concerned! But whatever happens out on the road, please do as I ask you to! I have a feeling we’re being singled out! In particular, myself, for having killed some o’ the friends o’ one o’ the Road Agents out in California!”

Marty turned to Louisa and told her what he had seen and what to expect. At first, she was incredulous, but soon came to the realization that Marty was extremely serious in this matter, so she told herself she would do whatever her husband wished her to do.

The two liveried attendants, Karl and Stan, brought Francois’ carriage up to them, then
helped Louisa into the carriage as Mister Longworth bade them all a “Goodnight!” Before they left, Longworth asked Francois if he might visit his winery sometime and note how his operations were conducted. Francois told him he could visit any time he wished, but he hoped it would be soon, since the summer harvest would soon be upon them and he and Marty would be extremely busy. Longworth told him he understood and would let him know as soon as he could.
Then Francois and Marty mounted to the drivers’ seat, and Francois cracked his whip as the four-horse team walked slowly up the drive past the tree-covered knoll, now enveloped in the blackness of night.

On the other side of the tree-covered slope, now cloaked in the night’s darkness, another,
yet more serious scene was unfolding. Two men, one tall and slender, the other heavy, tall and with broad shoulders, stood on the porch of a house that was set back into the hill, while both men discussed what actions to take concerning robbery and other potential mayhem. The large, heavy man with the broad shoulders told the tall, skinny one,”If we don’t move soon, that carriage’ll be beyond where I, for one, care to go ‘cause O’Leery has his deputies scouring the roads; an’ he knows me from when I was out in California! Besides, I’m positive that the feller with the black beard is Allhoff, an’ I have a score to settle with him fer killin some o’ my friends out in California!”


The tall, skinny one said to his companion, “Whatever you say, Steve! If we’re gonna carry this off tonight, we better get saddled up an’ get a move on!”

The larger man, Steve Bearess, told the slim young man, Ron Rotzinger, “All right, then,
le’s get the horses saddled! We might have to gallop ‘em fer a while to catch up, but that should- n’t take too long!”


Both men went to the stable where their horses were in two of the ten stalls that lined the walls of the barn. The property had once been owned by Rotzinger’s parents, and when they died, it was passed on to him; this was where the two “Highwaymen” were “Holed-Up,” since the house was not visible from the main-traveled roads. Both men quickly saddled their horses, then rode swiftly from the large barn. They galloped at a fast pace down a little-used drive until they reached the main road, upon which they turned left and galloped rapidly until, way up ahead of them, outlined in the bright moonlight, was the carriage they sought.

Come back in two weeks to find out what happens next!