“Company is coming!” announced Lois.  Very few people traveled the remote area along Turkey Creek.  Ms. Lois told me a story about the visit her family encountered: 

    It was a spring day in the 1920’s, Lois Noel was a small, young girl.  She was playing outdoors and heard an automobile climbing the steep hill that led up the mountains toward Bethel.  The sound of the car seem to be getting louder and louder.  The car was coming closer rather than going farther away.  It was very seldom that anyone took the left turn along the creek that led to the Noel’s ranch.  Lois was sure the car was coming her way.  She started running toward the house yelling, “Company’s coming”! 

    Mrs. Noel wiped her hands on the flour sack apron and pushed open the screen door.  The car was bouncing up the steep road and leaving a trail of dust.  The car stopped with a jolt just short of hitting the yard gate.  Mrs. Noel quickly glared at Lois and said, “You keep quiet”.  Mother and child stood on the front porch starring a the car and company.  There was a well-dressed young man and a girl that jumped out as soon as the car stopped.  “Howdy Mam”, shouted the man as he waved his hat.  “Me and my gal just needed a few things; is your man around?” By this time, the two uninvited visitors had pushed their way into the house.  Lois hid behind her mother until the man asked about her Pa.  She stepped to the side of her mother and said, “My Pa, he is in the barn, and he’s almost finished, and he’ll be in here soon.”  Ma glanced down and said, “Oh, yes , I’m starting supper, what’s your business with my husband?”     The young girl was looking all over the living room and she seemed real nervous.  She turned to answer Mrs. Noels’ question, “Why, I think you’ll like our little surprise.” 

   The man looked at her and said, “Darling, shouldn’t we wait for the men folk?”  Mrs. Noel was getting irritated at  the two strangers behavior.  Lois was wandering why the girl keep smiling at her.  Then the girl reached out to pat the top of Lois’ head, she looked at Ma and asked, “Mam wouldn’t you like to have some nice photographs of this fine child?”  “We have a camera in the car” “Oh, so you take pictures?”  Mrs. Noel replied.  The man interrupted, “Why don’t you fix us some groceries and we’ll talk when the men folk get here.”  Mrs. Noel shuffled Lois to the kitchen and kept her close while she quickly prepared some food.  It wasn’t clear what these two strangers were really doing, but she was sure it was not on the up and up.