Oklahoma's Gold (25 page)

"We want to visit Two Turtles as soon as we can." Of course, she had a Christian name, Emma explained. But according to Cordelia, she refused to be acknowledged that way. So, Two Turtles it would always be.

"Do you really believe your grandfather was capable of any of that?" Daniel asked.

"The land dealings? Maybe. The other? I certainly hope not," Emma commented. "That's why it's so important to pay a visit to our Indian friend."

"Now, it's your turn, Daniel," Jess encouraged. She could see how anxious he'd been to share his news. Although she couldn't imagine how it could top theirs.

"Not really much of a story here," Daniel started. "More like a development. But before I start … Jess, did you get the records we talked about?"

Jess nodded, "Cordelia says he checked the book out last fall."

"What are you two talkin' about?" Emma asked.

They explained about the card found in the history book. "Looks like Lucas had taken a strong interest in your granddaddy's land deals," Daniel remarked.

"Well, I'll be! What else has our reputable realtor been up to?" she urged.

"Okay. Here goes. First, I started asking Lucas questions about the land deals and what kind of business this company up north really had in mind. Of course, he says he already explained that at the meeting. Anyway, we went back and forth, and then I suggested it was strange how so many Indian families had met with peculiar hardships, especially those owning land beyond the west end of town." Daniel leaned toward the women and was whispering by now, his voice intently serious.

"Lucas just got real quiet for a moment. Then he asked me if I was trying to imply something. I told him no. I was just making conversation." Daniel stopped to take a swig of the soda he'd bought. "About this time, Lucas got a phone call from his business buddies up north, so he went into the other room for a bit of privacy, I guess.

"While he was gone, I decided to take a peek at what he'd been studying when I first came in. Now, don't look at me that way, ladies. I think under the circumstances that a little impropriety is excusable, don't you? Okay, then. Where was I? Oh, yes. His desk. Seems our good town realtor has plans to close up shop." He paused to let that news sink in. And it did, quickly.

"What?" they both exclaimed.

"Yep! I got a look at a deed that wasn't for property around here. And guess who the buyer is? One Lucas Martin for a small villa in Martinique." He saw their look of disbelief. "And that's not all. I also saw a plane ticket, one way, made out to Lucas Martin for where else, but Martinique."

"Maybe he just wanted a vacation home and is planning to visit. People do that, you know," Jess suggested.

"But with a million dollars in travelers checks to accompany him?" Daniel asked.

"What!" Again in unison.

"You bet. He had them sitting there right next to the plane ticket. Right there in the drawer."

"The drawer! Daniel, it sounds like your snooping got a little carried away," Jess scolded.

"Well, you don't think he'd be careless enough to leave things like that out for me to see, do you?"

"Yes, but Daniel," she still protested.

"Oh, stop it you two," Emma said. "What's done is done. Now where do you think he got that kind of money?"

"I've been thinking on that one, ever since I left his office. Maybe he's been pilfering money from real estate sales. You know, a little here, a little there."

Emma shook her head. "No. It would have to be a lot here, a lot there. A villa, plane ticket, and traveler’s checks? You're talkin' close to a couple million. Now, I don't believe Lucas makes those kinds of sales. Couldn't come up with that amount of money."

"Well, it obviously came from somewhere. Something with deep pockets," Jess figured.

"How about that northern land developer? They'd have deep pockets," Daniel suggested. "Maybe they’ve given Lucas some start up money."

"Two million dollars worth? That sounds a bit steep to me," Emma said.

"Well, I still say that's his only connection to big money. But we seem to be getting away from the most important issue."

They looked puzzled, so he answered for them. "The fact he's leaving town, and soon. Why would he want to do that if he's got this big land development deal going? Doesn't that take a couple years to complete?"

"Unless …" Jess started.

"Unless he never intended to follow through and just wanted to get his hands on enough money. And so he could leave here for good!" Emma finished the statement for him, and though she said the words aloud, it seemed unbelievable.

 "Why that sneaky, connivin', no good—if I get my hands on that snake, I’ll show him how decent people feel about his kind!" The old woman was fuming.

"We have to prove the wrong doing first, Miss Emma," Daniel warned. "Can't go accusing people without due cause."

"I know the law better than most. You don't need to remind me of proof. So, let's go find our proof. Let's take a drive and visit Two Turtles."

As they walked to the truck, Daniel was thinking about the one other thing he found out. The photos showing Lucas as a boy with two adult Indians, and the writing explaining how they were his foster parents. Right now, he wouldn't bother telling Emma and Jess. It really didn't seem important, just surprising.

The sky was shadowed with dark clouds hinting at an approaching storm. Daniel, Jess, and Emma had decided to make a quick run out to the old Indian woman's farm since they had almost two hours of daylight left. The red truck sped fast down the road, kicking up and leaving dust, dirt and stones in its path, trying to outrun the rain. Daniel had argued they should wait until morning to pay a visit. However, Emma revealed this foreboding sense she had, a hunch of sorts, that it was imperative they contact her tonight.

"I can't really say why, but a real strong feelin' is tellin' me to go now," Emma had explained.

Daniel had rolled his eyes. What was it with these women and their premonitions? Didn’t anyone use plain common sense anymore? They were exhausted and soon to be hit with what looked like one hell of a storm. But none of that mattered because Miss Emma had a hunch.

He muttered under his breath as he reached over to turn on the windshield wipers. The first drops came down in huge plops of water. His eyes focused intently on the road ahead as he watched for the evidence of flash flooding. Sudden streams of water across their path could send the vehicle hydroplaning across the road. He'd be wise to slow it down some, but the even darker clouds off to the east, fast approaching, were a greater threat than flooding water. Daniel grimaced. He strongly wished for a hot shower and a soft bed to lie in right about now.

"There's the turn off," Emma announced and pointed to the narrow dirt path that constituted a driveway in these parts. She heard Daniel curse as he led his truck over the bumpy, chuck-holed surface. Emma patted his shoulder. "Just want to thank you. I know tomorrow would have been easier. It's just …"

"Yeah, I know. That hunch of yours," Daniel finished for her, trying not to let the frustration show in his voice. He was thinking how if he ever got his hands on whoever started this mess, well, that man would be sorry the day he was born.

He noticed Jess looking at him, studying his mood, no doubt. He tried then to relax the tense muscles in his face, look a bit more pleasant. She probably thought he was a raging hothead. The realization depressed him. He didn't want her thinking of him that way. And of course his caring about her feelings also depressed him. She didn't seem to be interested nearly as much in him as he was in her. In fact, she seemed to recoil every time he tried to get close, as if his presence repulsed her. Now there was a great impression.
Let's try building a relationship on
that, like beauty and the beast
. The irony of the situation left him in a bitter mood.

They'd reached the end of the drive. In front of them was an adobe fixture of sorts. A house no bigger than some folks' kitchens. But it looked clean and tidy. There was a small garden off to one side. On the other was an overhang with a cement patio floor. A couple of wooden chairs, one a rocker, were placed near the front. More importantly to the three visitors was the rocker now occupied by a woman they assumed to be Two Turtles. She sat quite still, not rocking at all, with a rifle resting on her lap.

"This must be the welcoming committee," Daniel joked bitterly. He put the truck into gear and turned off the ignition. All three just sat in their seats, waiting to see if Two Turtles would make a move. Of course, she just continued sitting there still as a statue, as if they were playing a game of wills . And with that realization, Daniel opened his door, thinking the woman would feel less threatened to see him first. Sure enough her face relaxed when she recognized Daniel. The ice was somewhat broken. He had instructed Emma and Jess to wait in the truck for a few minutes, until he'd had time to explain their visit to Two Turtles.

Emma and Jess watched on anxiously through the windshield, waiting for Daniel to give a signal. Soon, they both approached Daniel and the old Indian cautiously. When they reached the porch, Daniel made introductions.

"This here is Emma Thomas," he gestured. "And Jess Clinton."

Two Turtles studied Emma for a moment before speaking. "Emmit Thomas' daughter."

Emma nodded and impulsively held out her hand in greeting. It was the right move because Two Turtles smiled, then gave a warm, hearty handshake.

"Your father was a true and dear friend. He made me realize as a young child that there were others, besides my brothers and sisters, who could be trusted." She made the statement with a bold, stern look in her eyes, almost as a warning to them that trust would not come easily. She nodded at Emma then turned to set her gaze on Jess.

"And you are the niece of Fred Clinton."

Jess nodded her head in agreement even though Two Turtles' words were more a statement than a question.

"I do not know your uncle well, but I have heard my people say that he is a fair person." From a Choctaw, this was as great an honor as any that could be given, and should be considered a valued gift. Daniel recognized this and responded quickly that her words were appreciated. Two Turtles nodded once more and then spoke to their mission. She was obviously not one to waste time long on idle talk.

"So, Miss Thomas, I hear you want to ask questions about your grandfather, John Wallace." Her eyes narrowed and the name had struggled from her lips as if she protested the sound of it.

"Yes. I've heard you're one who might remember stories from those early days in the forties." Emma looked on anxiously.

Two Turtles stared off into the plains and reflected for a moment. "Yes. There are stories to tell." She then looked straight into Emma's eyes. "But I'm not certain you will want to hear them." It was a challenge, a dare of sorts. The Indian woman waited to see if Emma was strong enough to bare it. Of course she didn't know the Thomas woman well enough. Otherwise, she'd have known the courage of her visitor would not allow any choice but to accept the challenge.

"I want to know," Emma said. The words came out just as Daniel and Jess would have expected.