A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (41 page)

Clearing his throat Archie confesses, “During the first couple
of years, I was depressed and angry, I stayed mostly in the attic.
I
may be wrong, however I think this is the place.”
Smiling Stephanie assurance Archie, “This is closer than what
we had figured so it’s a good place to start.”
Stepping closer to Archie Maria gazes up at him, “I want to
tell you I am sorry I upset you.
That was not my intention; I truly
was just trying to help.”
Archie lays his hand on her cheek, “I know Miss Maria.
I am
too sensitive sometimes, when I think of a séance I think about
people trying to release demons.”
Huffing out a breath, “I have to
learn to be open to all the options; I need to be with My Love.”
Glancing at Stephanie, “I want to do this as soon as we can.”
Removing his hand from Maria cheek he smiles sadly and fades.
Bending to pick up his shovel Chase announces to Andy, “At
least we will be digging inside the barn.”
As anticipation forms in
the pit of his stomach Chase winks at Stephanie, “I know this is
going to be the right place.”
Nodding to Andy Chase confirms, “I
feel it in my gut.”
Laughing Andy picks up his own shovel as he
follows Chase.
Spinning on her heels Stephanie moves to the quilt, as she
begins to pack up the food Maria joins her.
“When Archie touched
my face it was cool, not cold.”
Puzzled Maria touches her cheek
the same spot as Archie’s hand had been.
“I can’t believe I met a
ghost and didn’t freak out.”
Laughing at her thoughts, “You tried
to tell me, but then things got crazy, but I did suspect something I
just didn’t think you meant a real ghost.”
Kneeling on the blanket Stephanie stops putting the food in
the basket, “Maria, I know this has been a lot to take in, but when it
comes to Archie, I don’t think of him as a ghost.
He is my Uncle.
I love him.”
Picking at a loose thread on the quilt, “Until I met
Archie, I didn’t think true love existed.
But his love for my Aunt
Della taught me love can grow and flourish.
Their love for each
other has made me realize love can overcome all obstacles.”
“I understand; I really do.”
Maria gathers up the garbage,
stuffing it in a plastic bag to be thrown away at the house.
“It
seems I am always saying the wrong thing today. I meant no
disrespect to Archie or you.”
Smiling sadly Stephanie begins putting the items in the
basket, “I wasn’t criticizing you; I guess I was trying to explain my
relationship with Archie.
I meant it when I told him I would miss
him.
He is the only family I have.”
With the basket packed
Stephanie and Maria stand up, Stephanie lifts the blanket after she
folds it she drapes it over her arm as she starts the walk back to the
house, leaving Maria to bring the basket.
Passing the open barn doors they hear a shout of glee,
eyeing each other for a second the ladies then hurry inside.
Stopping beside the hole they look down as Chase and Andy
continue to brush the dirt from the trunk with their hands.
Both
men look up at the ladies with wide grins on their faces.
“Oh my
goodness, you found it!”
Stephanie laughs out loud.
Grabbing
Maria she spins around in a circle.
Maria laughs along with Stephanie, her excitement
contiguous.
When Stephanie stops spinning, Maria looks down at
the trunk, “Wow that is a really huge chest.”
Staring at the trunk
she estimates the chest is three feet wide, two feet deep and two
feet high.
Both men grab the side handles, “On three let’s lift.”
Chase
begins counting, “One..two…three.” Grunting they tug upwards,
however it only moves a few inches.
“We need to remove more of
the dirt.
Then we can slide the shovels under the bottom and lift
up.”
Scratching his chin Andy looks down at the trunk, “That may
work.
This is heavy; you said JoEllen wrote one man buried this?”
Doubting one man could have carried the trunk placing in here,
Andy stares down calculating the weight.
Eager to get the gold out of the ground Stephanie shifts her
weight from one foot to the other as the men dig further exposing
the trunk.
grinning.
Smiling in responds Archie stares at the trunk.
Thinking
about the content he prays this will end his dilemma, with the trunk
now located maybe his duty to protect the coins is over.
Was this
the cause he was stuck here, to keep the gold from thieves?
Would he now be able to join his Della?
Maria takes a step backwards pulling Stephanie with her as
the men try again to lift the chest.
This time the women count,
when they reach ‘three’ the men using both hands tug on the
handles, as the chest breaks free from the ground Stephanie squeals
with delight.
Maria smiles at her enthusiasm, bending down on
her knees she helps guide the chest up and over the edge of the
opening.
Stephanie stoops beside Maria, “This is so amazing.
I didn’t
really believe the gold would be found.”
Grinning at Chase she
takes another step backwards to allow him and Andy to climb out of
the hole.
Using the bottom of his shirt Chase wipes the sweat from his
face.
“Do we have any water left?”
Reaching into the basket setting on the ground Maria
removes two bottles of water, handing one to each man she
watches as Stephanie examines the markings on the lid.
Noticing
their next obstacle Maria questions, “There are two locks on the
front. Anyone have the keys?”
Sensing Archie, Stephanie glances over her shoulder
“We found the chest, just where you said.”
Taking the bottle away from his mouth Andy grunts, “Hell,
now what?”
Raising her eyes to Archie Stephanie asks, “Archie, is this the
chest you were transporting?”
Glaring at the strongbox Archie just nods his head.
This is
why he had been killed, why all his men were killed.
This trunk
was the cause of Della’s parents and Mitch being killed.
This trunk
has cause a lot of bloodshed.
Not wanting to remind the others of
this fact Archie remains silent.
“Well since Archie confirms this is the chest he was to
deliver, I think we need to get it to the house.”
Handing Stephanie
his empty water bottle Chase bends down to grip the handle.
With
Andy on the other side they lift the trunk, walking slowly they begin
carrying the chest across the barn.
At the barn door they set the chest down; they rub the
sweat from their hands, using their shirts.
With a nod from Chase
Andy once again grip the handle then they lift the chest.
As the
women follow slowly behind the men, they all move slowly to the
patio.
Depositing the chest in the middle of the floor, the men
shake their hands; loosen the muscles from the stain of the weight
of the trunk.
Chase kneels on the floor to inspect the locks. The rust and
dirt will make it impossible to remove without damaging them.
“I
hate to break these, but Honey I don’t know any other way to open
the chest.”
Chase notices the medal chest also has rust this may
be easier to break in through one of the weak areas.
“Let me get
my tools from the mud room, I may be able to open it without
damaging the locks.”
Stephanie had sat down on a chair at the table, as she looks
at the box she asks, “Archie, do you think us finding this will release
you?”
Peering up at Archie, Stephanie sees him frowning as he
stares at the chest.
The contents of this chest could never make
up for the loss of lives it has caused.
The excitement of finding the
gold is out of her system; the adventure has ended.
Rising from
her chair Stephanie moves to stand beside Archie, placing her hand
over his she gives him a sad smile when he raises his eyes to her.
Andy and Maria exchange looks but remain silent.
Walking
out the door Chase senses a change in their attitudes.
Concern for
Stephanie Chase asks, “What’s wrong Honey?”
Stopping in front
of her Chase searches her eyes; not liking the sadness he sees,
Chase leans over kissing her lightly on her lips.
Laying her hand on Chase’s arm Stephanie halts him from
moving away, “Chase, maybe we shouldn’t open the chest.”
At his
raised eyebrows she continues, “Well the chest has caused a lot of
pain.
Do you think it’s cursed?”
Frowning up at him Stephanie
endures his silence as Chase ponders her question.
Placing his hand over hers Chase respects Stephanie’s fears,
“Honey, this gold did not cause the pain; it was the greedy humans
that did the killing.”
Nodding toward the chest he continues, “This
chest was found on your property, therefore it belongs to you.
If
you don’t want it open, if you just want to leave it as is, that is your
choice. A decision I will honor.” Smiling slightly he rests his
forehead against hers.
Clearing his throat Archie moves to stand by the trunk,
“Chase, you are correct in your analyze of the situation.
This metal
box did not do the killing; it was men with gluttony in their hearts.”
As everyone turns to stare at him Archie briefly closes his eyes, upon
opening them he assurance them, “I felt hatred for this box, but
now I have an understanding of the circumstances surrounding mine
and the other deaths.”
Holding up his hand to stall interruptions,
“I think you should open the chest and use the gold however you
see fit.
This gold now belongs to Stephanie; I deliver it to you for
your sole possession.”

It took Chase and Andy several hours to penetrate the side
of the chest; even covered withrust the steel was sturdy. Once
the side was accessible Chase began removing the coins.
As he
handed them to Andy, Andy would pass them to Maria and
Stephanie.
The women then stacked the coins in columns of
twenty. Placing the last coin on the table, Stephanie sits back to
stares at the multitude of columns.
Slowly Stephanie begins to
count as she does this; the others stand around the table staring at
the coins.
“Oh my, there are three hundred piles of coins; each
stack has twenty which means there is a total of six thousand coins.”
Eyes wide with amazement Stephanie stares at Chase.

Maria looks at Stephanie, grinning she exclaims, “You are
defiantly a rich lady.”
Moving from the table Maria leans down to
inspect the locks on the chest; looking over her shoulder she
observes, “I think these locks are silver, I bet they would be worth a
fortune.
You may want to check into these too.”

Andy strolls over to examine her findings.
“Chase I agree
with Maria, these seem to be made of silver.
The price for pure
silver is almost as high as gold.”
Whistling at the bounty of the
treasure he grins at Stephanie.

Chase picks up a stack of coins, as he slides the coins back
and forth in his hands he mulls over the gold prices he had checked
online this morning while everyone was still sleeping.
Just in the
ball park he figured Stephanie has about three millions dollars lying
on the table.
Not sure about the silver from the locks, he would
have to check online at the actual listings.
Chase sets the coins
back on the table.

With Maria and Andy inspecting the chest Stephanie uses
this time to whisper to Chase, “I think we should give them each a
stack of the coins.
They want to open a security business; this may
help with the startup fees.”
Witnessing the agreement in his
expression Stephanie smiles as Chase turns towards Andy.

“Andy, Maria, Stephanie and I want to speak to you for a
moment.”
When they move to the table Chase picks up two piles
of coins, he hands one to each of them.
As their eyes open wide
he explains, “Stephanie wants to contribute to your fund for your
new business venture.”

Maria sets her coins back down on the table, “I can’t take
this. I really appreciate the kind offer, but I did nothing to deserve
this.”

Andy glances down at the coins in his hands then lays them
on the table, “Maria is right, these belong to you.
I too appreciate
your generous offer, but I must decline.”

Standing up straight to her full 5’3” height Stephanie gathers
up the coins and hands them once more to Maria and Andy, “Chase
and I consider you our friends, it will insult us if you do not accepts a
finder fee.
After all, Andy you dug a lot of holes today.”
Grinning
Stephanie begins placing the coins in the plastic tub Chase had sat
on the table.
“Last night I told Chase what I wanted to do if we
found the gold, he agreed with my plans.
The coins left will allow
me to start a clinic in this town in memory of my brother Mitch.”
Glancing up at Chase her eyes sparkle with tears, “I am the happiest
woman with what I have, I have a wonderful man that loves me; he
asked me to marry him.
I am pregnant with our first child, I have
an amazing extended family, I have brilliant friends, and I have a
career I enjoy.”
As tears slide down her cheeks Stephanie turns to
Maria and Andy, “Allow us to help make your dreams come true,
please.”

Placing his arm across her shoulders Chase marvels at
Stephanie’s magnificent character.
She is the only person he
knows who puts others before herself.
Her selfless behavior
concerning the gold should lift the curse she assumes is associated
to the chest.

Maria moves around the table as Stephanie faces her; she
grabs Stephanie hugging tightly.
“Congratulation you two and may
joy follow you through your life journeys.”
As the ladies step
apart, Andy takes his turn giving Stephanie a bear hug.
Releasing
her Andy spins towards Chase extending his hand, after a hearty
handshake they all begin arranging the coins in the tub.

Dropping the last coin in the tub Chase snaps the lid on; with
help from Andy they carry the tub inside the house.
Deciding to
put the coins in the bedroom Chase and Andy head toward the
foyer.
As they climb the stairs they take a break, setting the tub
down. “Chase, Stephanie is an amazing lady. You take good care
of her, if not you will answer to me.”
Rubbing his chin he
confesses, “I have grown fond of Stephanie and since her brother
Mitch is dead, I feel I should take his place as family protector.”