Treasure at Willow Manor

As Rayna sat starring at Willow Manor, she wondered, "How long had it been since she walked through those gates?" Her eyes welled up with tears remembering the last time she saw her beloved grandmother and Willow Manor. She was eighteen and headed to college. The first time she had ever been away from home. While grandmother visited her in Boston, she never took the time to return to the manor. Now it has been twenty years, and she had no choice but to return. Grandmother had fallen ill and needed her help.

Slowly, she made her way through the exquisite entry that had seen many a prestigious guest in its time, now to be quiet, dusty, and dark. She cringed at the thought of the rest of the manor being in this state. A home that once housed twenty-plus servants and most of the family is now home to grandmother, her nurse, Angie, and trusted handmaiden, Claire. Claire met Rayna with a squeal of excitement and a warm embrace. Angie came running in to see what the commotion was all about. While Rayna hired and paid Angie, they never really got along. Seeing that it was only Rayna, Angie left in a huff. "Come, come, child," Claire said. "I know your grandmother will be thrilled to see you."

As she walked down the hallways that seemed so full of life once before, Rayna remembered running up and down the halls, listening to her grandmother's tales. One specifically jumped right into her mind. Grandmother told her of a treasure in Willow Manor. As she got closer to her grandmother's room, she could smell her perfume, and it took her right back to when she was a child.

"Now listen closely, Rayna," grandmother would say. "And I will tell you the tale of Willow Manor." "My great-great-grandfather William built this home in the early 1800s, and that is where our tale begins. Before the manor took on a life of its own, it was a small humble home. William told his children and grandchildren that while building the house, he had buried a treasure. They laughed and regaled at the intriguing bedtime story, not really, giving it much thought. His grandson, Phillip, was a budding writer and thought, "what better tale to share than the bedtime story my grandfather told me." He took out his journal, a simple black leather book with tanned bindings, and began to write.

"To start your journey, look out at the pond. You will see two trees that are growing together and look like a heart. That is where you start. Facing the sunset, the number of steps you need to take is the house's number of rooms. Turn toward the barn, and you will see the great willow tree. On its bark is the number of steps you need to take to find your treasure."

Rayna's grandmother pulled out a worn and tattered journal with the initials P.T on it. "This, my dear, was my great uncle Phillip's journal and held all of his favorite tales, including that of Willow Manor." Rayna sat in awe as her grandmother carefully opened the pages and recited the tale. "That isn't a very long treasure story, grandmother," Rayna exclaimed. "I know, dear," said her grandmother, "but some of the shortest tales hold the best adventures."

Rayna walked into her grandmother's room smiling. "While I love seeing that beautiful smile, Rayna, my dear, what has brought this one on?" her grandmother asked. "I was thinking about the treasure of Willow Manor." She said with a smile. Grandmother then began to smile. "Rayna, dear, would you go to the study and find me the journal?" Grandmother asked. Without hesitation, Rayna ran to the study and searched aimlessly for the beloved journal.

As she entered her grandmother's room, she asked, "do you think we could figure it out, grandmother?" "Why, of course, my dear!" Her grandmother exclaimed. She sat at her grandmother's bedside, listening to her tell the tale once more. As she sat there entranced once again, her mind began to wonder. If all of the clues would still be able to be found and if there was a treasure. Her grandmother noticed the quizzical look on her face and asked what wheels were turning in the girl's mind. "Well, she said, do you think all of the markers are still around, and what type of treasure do you think we will find?"

At this time, Claire had joined the duo and, too, was wondering about the treasure. Angie walked in, grumbled about it being a waste of time, and walked out. Meanwhile, Rayna was trying to find out how many rooms the original house had. There had been additions and changes over the many years.

The new trio made their way down the hall to the long-forgotten study and looked through the even long-forgotten history. "I know it is here somewhere," Rayna said. "Well, child, if you tell me what it is you are looking for, I might be able to help." Grandmother said. "There were diagrams of what the original house looked like around here somewhere." "Ah, those….well, all but one was lost to the fire. The last copy was then taken to the town records clerk, for historic preservation."

Rayna rushed to her car, yelling she would be right back. When she returned from seeing the records clerk, she had more questions than answers. "Grandmother!" Rayna yelled. "Quit that screaming; you'll give her a spell," Angie stated. "What is all this fussing about?" Grandmother asked. It turns out that the original house had six total rooms and two different barns located on the property.

"Well, my dear, I guess that means we will have to see which way the tale takes us. For now, go wash up it is supper time." "Yes, grandmother," Rayna said. After supper, Rayna returned to her grandmother's room. "Grandmother, she said softly, could I hear the tale one more time," "Of course, child," her grandmother said.

The next morning, Rayna jumped out of bed, having slept very little, if at all. All she could think about was the treasure and spending time with her grandmother. After breakfast, they began looking for the clues.

They looked toward the pond in hopes of finding the trees that formed the heart. After a few minutes of searching, they found the spot. This is the spot where their adventure began. Looking at her compass, Rayna found west. The trio took six steps and realized that they all ended up in slightly different spots. "Well, this is going to be even more interesting," Grandmother stated, having discovered that the measurements would not be exact. They looked around and found the site of the first barn. As they walked toward the old barn, they looked intently for a great willow tree. "Do you think it could have been taken down, Grandmother?" Rayna asked. "No, child, I do not believe that is the case. I believe the great willow tree we are looking for is the one this manor was named for." Her grandmother replied.

They stopped and looked around at the property, each remembering the last time they had enjoyed its beauty. The trio found the great willow tree and sat in its shade. Claire had packed a picnic lunch, so they enjoyed the food while sharing the many tales each loved about the manor.

Rayna began inspecting the tree for the next clue. She saw that many family members had gotten to this very point over the years and initialed the tree. Believing that it was a tradition, she began carving her initials along with her grandmother's and Claire's. As she went to sit back down and tell her grandmother that they hadn't found the clue, she noticed a root at the base of the tree. Carved into it, she saw the number 21.

"Grandmother, does the number 21 mean anything to the tale?" she asked. "Hmm, let me think," her grandmother said. After a few minutes had passed, her grandmother said, "William was twenty-one when he built the house. Why do you ask?" "I believe it is the final clue." So the trio took the twenty-one steps back toward the house and found an old garden. Rayna dropped to her knees and began digging. Her grandmother and Claire laughed and exclaimed that they hadn't seen her so happy in such a long time.

After a few intense minutes of digging, Rayna pulled an old metal lunchbox out of the hole. She looked at her grandmother, and with tears in her eyes, her grandmother told her to open it. The box contained a string of pearls, a 1795 liberty cap (half-cent), and a five-dollar 1815 treasury note. "We're rich!" Claire exclaimed. Also tucked within the lunchbox was an old letter. Rayna handed the letter to her grandmother and said she should be the one to read it.

"Well done! I hope you had as much fun finding this as I did hiding it. Sincerely, William" Grandmother read. As they walked into the house, Rayna said she could get the items appraised, and Claire just giggled. Grandmother had become quiet. "Are you alright, Grandmother?" Rayna questioned, concerned.

"Yes, child, I am great. We have found the treasure of Willow Manor, but that is not what I am the happiest about." Grandmother replied. Rayna and Claire looked at her puzzled, unsure of what she meant. Seeing the confusion, her grandmother said, "Let me explain. I haven't been feeling well and today was the first day I have been out of the house in a very long time. I spent the day on a treasure hunt with my granddaughter and one of my closest friends. We laughed, joked, and told stories. The life that was missing from the manor and myself has been restored. And that my loves is the best treasure I could have ever found."

Rayna saw the happiness in her grandmother's eyes and knew that the tale couldn't be finished. So she gathered the lunchbox and the items within it and brought it back to the old garden. She buried the treasure without a second thought. Before bed, she walked into her grandmother's room and asked, "Grandmother, could you tell me the tale of the treasure at Willow Manor?" With a smile that could light up a room, her grandmother pulled out the journal and began the tale once more.