Shades of Gray (21 page)

Unable to stop
the blow, Gray turned his shoulder into the assault.  He grunted as Reece’s
shoe caught the side of his ribs.  Stumbling sideways, he landed on his hip. 
He may not have moved fast enough to escape the malicious kick, but at least he
had protected his injured arm.  Reece’s footsteps grew distant, and Milly
rushed to the far side of the house.  Her head turned in a slow arc, following
outside movement.  Holding her hand to her mouth, she screamed, bobbing up and
down and shaking her hands as though they were on fire.  Leaving the window,
she rushed to Gray’s side. 

“Please Mr.
Gregory,” she begged.  “You have to stop him.”

Gray looked up
at her from beneath shaggy bangs.  He let his half-hearted expression speak for
him.  

“Please,” she
begged.  She draped his arm around the back of her neck and pulled at his
waist.  “He went into the fire.  I saw him from the window.  He needs your
help.”

Gray glanced
over at her, wondering if she meant for him to bring Reece back to safety or if
she intended for him to fight the fire.  Either way, she had him on his feet
and was ushering him to the door.  Staggering outside, Milly held to his torso,
leading him to the property’s edge. 

“Milly,” Gray
said, finally able to separate his body from the concerned woman.  “There’s no
need for worry.  The fire is contained.”

“But the smoke
is so thick.”

Even if the
rope had burned through, the only danger was to the saltpeter.  Gray had
cleared all debris away from the front of the cave before confronting Reece.

“Dry leaves
burn like a wildfire.  The woods are completely safe.”

A piercing
shout sounded from inside the thicket, challenging Gray’s statement.

“Mr. Mullins!”
Milly shrieked and clutched Gray’s arm. 

“Darn fool,”
Gray murmured and rushed into the woods.

Milly was
right about one thing, the smoke was thick.  The deeper he moved into the heart
of the foliage, the denser the air became.  He held his shirt over his face and
breathed into his sleeve.  Fanning the air in front of him, he tried to clear a
path to see more clearly.  A red wall of fire illuminated in front of him, and
heat scorched his throat.

An intense
flame burned on the ground, rolling back and forth.  The moans were not the
sounds of trapped water being expressed at high temperatures.  The smell of
human flesh melting away from bone suffocated him, and Gray’s stomach fell to
his feet.

“Gray,” Reece
shrieked. 

The wailful
sound implanted itself deep in Gray’s mind.  He moved forward and then
stopped.  He had seen animals trapped inside burning buildings before.  It was
his experience that once fire consumed the majority of the animal’s flesh, the
poor beast was better off if allowed to succumb to the blaze.  The few times he
had tried to save his pets, they had never survived.  Their suffering had
lingered, prolonging an agonizing death.

“Gray,” Reece
moaned again.  Haunting echoes accompanied his mournful plea.

Gray moved to
his side and beat the flames with his hands and arm.  No cries or protests came
from Reece.

“I’ll carry
you out.  Milly might have some salve.”  It was the only thing he could think
of to offer Reece hope.

Reece’s lips
moved as though he tried to speak, and Gray leaned closer.  With only a few
breaths left in his body, Reece spoke words as clear as though he suffered no
pain.  Gray could not believe that a dying man would choose these words to
escort him into death.  The burning stench permeated his senses but not as much
as Reece’s confession.  Laughter shook the drawn body and then silence filled
the air.

Chapter 24

Bright yellow
and white flames had crackled and popped, burned brightly, and then
extinguished in the cave as Gray had planned.  The fumes had provided more than
enough billowy smoke to indicate a massive fire.  The smell of charred flesh
overpowered the smoldering embers, and narrow funnels of smoke now swirled
upward like lethargic tornadoes.  Gray knelt at Reece’s side, frozen by what he
had heard.  The dead man’s haunting laugh and ominous words reverberated
through his entire body, shaking every muscle loose of its hold.  He reached
his arm, grabbed a fistful of burned material, and shook the corpse.

“You son of a
. . . how did you find her?”

A woman’s
delicate hands pulled at his shoulders.  Milly leaned forward and positioned
her face in front of him, trying to make eye contact.  “He can’t hear you, Mr.
Gregory,” she said, searching his features.

Gray shoved
Reece’s corpse away and then wiped his hands on his thighs.  Bits of ash flaked
off of the body, and the crisp skin split open at the throat like a chicken
being slow roasted on a spit.  Clear liquid escaped the raised tear, slowly
trickled down his neck, and dripped to the ground.  Leaves and moss absorbed
the moisture as though it sucked life from the decaying remains and stored
nourishment for future use.  

“I won’t let
him do it,” Gray said.  He cleared his throat and spit to the side of Reece’s
head. 

How had the
vile man learned about Lily?  Gray had taken extensive precautions from the
moment she was born to conceal her existence.  It had not been easy to allow
the community to believe she had died.  Knowing that she was growing from an
infant into a toddler away from Oak Willow, increased his isolated torment
every day he was away from her.  Although he tried to be there as often as
possible and share in her accomplishments, he generally heard about her first
steps and scraped knees from Marta.  He dragged the back of his hand across his
forehead and then wiped the sweat on his pants. 

Milly sank
down next to him, her skirt mushrooming around her hips, and patted Gray’s
shoulder.  “I doubt he can do anything now.  It was very courageous of you to
try to save him, but he won’t be able to aid anyone.”  The corners of her mouth
pulled tight in an annoyed scowl, and she shook her head.

“Aid anyone?”
Gray asked and glanced behind him.  If one of Reece’s staff had been nearby,
surely he would have made his presence known before now.  Demolished crates and
barrels was all that surrounded them.  When he had positioned the explosives
last night, he had readied himself for Reece to intrude.  His rifle still
leaned against the bark of an ancient oak tree.  He didn’t know if he would
have the fortitude to shoulder it after his fight with his nemesis. 

Dull pain
spread throughout his arm like fire in a dry forest.  Starting at his shoulder
and working his way downward, he tested his limb, using his other hand to feel
the bone through the muscle.  The smoothness in his upper arm assured him that
there was no break or splinter.  He continued to work his fingers past the
elbow toward his hand.  The pressure he applied grew lighter as he neared his
wrist.  A light touch was enough to know something was not as it had been
before his fight with Reece.  It would need to be set, but not now. 

Milly dabbed
her eyes with a cloth and tucked the material back into her apron pocket.  Her
eyes were red-rimmed and she sniffled.  It was hard to tell if she was bothered
by her employer’s passing or if the gruesome sight and stench had overwhelmed
her. At least she wasn’t hysterical.  There wasn’t time to deal with a frantic
female.

“Reece would
resurrect himself from the grave if he thought my hell would continue,” Gray
told her in answer to her earlier comment about Reece’s willingness to aid
others.  “I won’t let him hurt anyone, ever again.  Do you hear me?” he shouted
at Reece’s lifeless body.

Milly looked
over her shoulder to the edge of the woods, and then turned her head back
toward Gray.  “Sir, please.  Someone will hear you.  They might mistake your
grief and think you are glad Mr. Mullins has passed away.  After all the good
he has done for this town, not to mention, being my employer for the past
fourteen years, he will be missed.”

“Good?” Gray
asked.  Was her grief fueled by her newly established lack of employment rather
than her concern for the passing of an upstanding member of society?

 “Yes,” she
answered.  Did she hope Gray was in need of a household staff?  “Only this
morning, he sent a man to Crest Ridge to look after an orphan.”

Gray bent
forward and grabbed his head.  That’s what Reece’s laugh had meant before he
died.  It wasn’t enough that he knew about Lily, he had sent a man to Crest
Ridge to kill his daughter.  Reece had always been capable of horrific evil,
but Gray had never thought he could be this wicked.  Gray’s years of sacrifice
may have been for nothing, but he wouldn’t allow Reece to murder his daughter,
even from the grave.  As soon as he sent word to Kat, he would go after Lily
and bring her home to Oak Willow.  

Turning to his
side, he caught Milly’s hands in his.  She didn’t pull away, but seemed proud
of the rough calluses that spread across her palms.  Perhaps this was her way
of proving her devotion to hard work. 

“Milly,” Gray
said.  “I need your help.  Tell me what you know.”

“What I know? 
About what?” she asked, looking at him as though she tried to help him through
his pain.  Her untimely appeal for employment would have to wait.

“When did
Reece learn about the orphan?” he asked.  Thinking about Lily being parentless
knotted his stomach in a tight ball.

Milly pulled a
string from her pocket and measured the width of Reece’s remains.  “Two days
ago, I believe.  It was the same day Miss Katherine returned, now that I think
of it.”

“Did Kat
mention the girl to Reece?”

“Miss Bailey,
do you mean?” 

“Yes.  Kat. 
Miss Bailey,” he said between clenched teeth.  He squeezed his lips shut,
resisting the urge to grab the woman by the shoulders and shake her until her
bonnet fell from her head.

She marked off
the distance of his height and knotted the string a few feet past his head. 
“No,” she answered, and readjusted her cap.  “Miss Katherine returned late in
the day.  He sent Levi to Crest Ridge that morning.” 

Gray stood to
his feet and stepped in front of Milly.  Reece’s shroud would have to wait.  “I
need for you to go to the church and bring Kat home.”

Milly nodded
her head and rolled the string around her hand.  “I suppose you’re right.  The
poor dear will be devastated by the news.  You should have seen her this
morning, dressing for the ceremony.  She looked so beautiful in her wedding
dress, but then, I imagine all brides do.” 

“Milly!” Gray
scolded.  He could appreciate her continued concern and her desire to maintain
an uninterrupted income, but she needed to listen to what he told her.  “I
don’t have time to explain.  You must go to the church and bring her home.”

She tilted her
head and looked from his bent arm to his face.  “There’s no need to be troubled
about Miss Katherine.  Wallace Tykes is with her.  He will see that no harm
comes to her.”

“Wallace?  The
town smithy?”  Gray held to his wrist.  The throbbing increased.  His stomach
rolled and his vision flashed white.  He would need to strap his arm to his
chest if he planned to be of any use to anyone.  Knowing Wallace was with Kat
only agitated his thoughts. 

Stories had
circulated throughout the community about Wallace since Gray was a boy.  A
fugitive from Canada, wanted for murdering his wife seemed to be the main bit
of gossip, which was retold whenever the man’s name was mentioned.  Most people
feared the simple minded man, but men like Reece used his huge size for their
benefit, hiring him to perform unsavory jobs.  Believing the stories, there was
no doubt in Gray’s mind that Wallace would murder Kat.

“I know the
rumors.”  Milly’s voice drifted in from the edge of his fear.  “But that was a
long time ago.  He is not the same man he once was.  You should have seen his
face when he heard he was going to escort Miss Katherine to her wedding.  You
would have thought he was her intended groom.”

Gray paced the
path in front of Milly, considering Reece’s last words one syllable at a time. 
Katherine will die at eleven, and Lily at ten. 
He swiped his hand
across his forehead and then repositioned his arm.  “What time was Reece to
arrive at the church?”

“Eleven, after
he picked up the pastor.”

Gray closed
his eyes and swallowed, realizing the reason for the exact time.  “Wallace
isn’t with Kat to protect her,” he said.  “He has been ordered to kill her if
Reece doesn’t show up on time.”

Milly shook
her head as though disagreeing.  Apparently, her loyalties were still tied to
Reece.  “Wallace is very kind,” she argued.  “Besides, Mr. Mullins would never
associate himself with anyone who maintained a penchant for terrible deeds.  He
would never hold his past against him, but he wouldn’t condemn him, either.” 

She walked the
distance around Reece, most likely trying to determine the best means to remove
him from the site without harming his reputation.  The appropriate thing to do
would be to leave him and let the wolves carry him off, one bite at a time.

“Milly!” Gray
snapped for a second time.  While still looking at Reece, the woman turned to
face him.  “Reece told me his intentions with his dying breath.  Wallace will
kill Kat.”

The silver
headed woman glanced upward.  Her cloudy eyes opened wide and her mouth formed
a large “O”. 
 

“You must
believe me.  Wallace will do any job,
any job
, for money.” 

Five years
ago, Gray had considered enlisting the man’s services to solve his conflict
with Reece.  It was then that he realized the validity to the town gossip.  Not
only willing, Wallace had offered to make the experience prolonged and
painful.  It was this enthusiasm that had halted Gray’s decision.  As much as
he wanted Reece dead, he could not stomach the idea of one person enjoying the
torture of another person.

Milly lowered
her view, seemingly torn between her loyalty to her previous employer and to
the possible fault of a redeemed man.

“Mr. Gregory. 
I know you have not been the best of friends with Mr. Mullins.  Perhaps you
misunderstood.”

Gray lowered
his head and glared at her.

“But if you
are correct,” she stammered.  “The church is only an hour away.  There is time
enough to get there and prevent any harm from befalling her.”

“You don’t
understand.”  Gray’s body grew rigid, and he flinched.  “He has both of them.”

Gray paused,
contemplating how to save both Kat and Lily. The church was an hour away but in
the opposite direction of Crest Ridge.  How many hours had Reece devoted
himself to his plan?  Gray looked over to the dead man.  Did he run into the
fire intending to commit suicide?  It would be the perfect setup.  Gray would
be blamed for his death, and would be unable to prevent Kat and Lily’s deaths. 
Reece’s echoed voice jolted Gray.  From this angle, he thought he could see the
corpse shake with laughter. 

Reece had
arranged for Gray to endure the ultimate hell.  Dante could not have planned it
as well.  Gray pulled his timepiece from his pocket.  He had time enough to
save one, but not both.  There was always the chance that Reece had lied to
him.  But if that was true, why were ruffians assigned to each of them?  Kat
was a grown woman who knew how to evade a maniacal man.  But Lily, although she
had her aunt and uncle, she was a little girl, and his child. 

Milly removed
her apron and hooked it over Gray’s shoulder.  “Both of who?” she asked and
helped him maneuver his broken arm into the sling.

“Kat and
Lily,” he answered.  A plan began to formulate in his mind, and he was certain
he heard Reece groan.

“Is Lily the
orphan in Crest Ridge?” Milly asked.

“Not yet, she
isn’t.”  He nodded a thank you to the servant and then raced toward Polly.  He
hoped the mare was ready to run.  Kat and Lily’s survival depended on it.