The Blessed Blend (27 page)

Marshal Vilzakovsky returned. “Since the state vital stats offices are closed until tomorrow, we’ll postpone any action until this matter can be determined.”

Judge Connelly said, “My courtroom, nine a.m. Be prompt!” Turning to Mr. Kent, he asked, “You got that?”

Mr. Kent nodded. “Very well, sir,” he replied before turning to Niall, who had just returned to his place beside his wife.

“We shall resolve this issue on the morrow,” he told the Wallaces. “If there have been any improprieties, you can be certain there will be dire consequences as a result.”

There was a whole different air about the intruding party as it left than when it had entered. Niall and Leona had sailed into the tent with their entourage like conquering monarchs and left like whipped dogs. Callie offered a couple of colorful epithets in their wake which made even Euan wince. Brother and Sister Wilcox blushed and asked the Lord’s forgiveness on Callie for using such language as well as for calm to return to the celebration.

Callie thanked Brother Wilcox for their prayers and good wishes but added, “There’s no excuse for what they did other than outright meanness. This was supposed to be a happy day for my family, not a showcase for them to try to prove who’s boss.”

Brother Wilcox smiled and put a hand on Callie’s shoulder. “God is the boss in all situations, Callie. He’ll hold this matter in His hands no matter what happens.”

Callie leveled a look at the preacher. “Yeah, tell that to me again if those assholes take my kids away.”

As Brother Wilcox sputtered, Papa said calmly, “Ain’t no one takin’ them kids anywhere. Not today. Not tomorrow. Now, let’s get back to the reason we’uns is all here today.”

Turning to Euan he smiled and said, “You’uns ain’t cut the cake yet, young’un. Be a shame to waste such a purty thing.”

Euan and Callie returned to the table with the cake while Brother Wilcox exhorted the assembled guests to toast the couple. Several family members were passing out the cups of
kanutsi
while other family members were pouring stronger libations from several opened bottles and a few crock jugs. Papa handed Euan and Callie each a cup of
kanutsi
and offered his blessings for their life together. “You can toast each other now,” he advised.

Looking at each other, Euan and Callie each raised their cups. He offered his toast first in Gaelic and then in Scots-English. “Tae m’ bonny bride an’ the love o’ m’ life an’ the mathair o’ m’ bairns,” he said, his eyes full of love and his voice thick with emotion. “Tae Callie Hawken-Wallace.”

Everyone raised their cups and took a drink. Callie looked up at Euan and raised her cup. First in Cherokee and then in English she said, “To my husband, the love of my life, the father of my children, my warrior - Euan Wallace.” She raised her cup and drained it.

Kenny yelled, “Cut the cake, dammit!”

Laughter followed his irreverent comment and Euan and Callie cut and offered each other a slice of their wedding cake. All of the cake was cut up and passed out as the wedding feast began.

Darlene and Nancy Jo directed the other women who were dishing out the portions from the heavily-laden tables. There were baked hams, fried and roasted chicken, braised venison, and roast beef, vegetables of all kinds, breads and cornbread muffins, and canned fruits. Plates were piled high and folks dug in with gusto.

Along with eating there was a bit of drinking and then the music and dancing started. Of course, the first dance was for Euan and Callie. She still wasn’t much of a dancer but Euan didn’t care as he whirled her around the cleared space in the tent. They smiled and laughed as they watched Mountain Rose and Red Wolf attempting to imitate their parents dancing and then simply started swinging each other around, their giggles and smiles eliciting happy responses from those watching.
 
Other folks joined in and danced reels and jigs and two-steps until the sun went down.

And up on the mountain a chorus of howls rang out.

Euan and Callie were at the Hancock County Courthouse at eight-thirty the next morning, along with their children and all pertinent documentation. Jim, Darlene, Papa and Jolena Robertson, Caleb, Eli, Layla, and all five of the Grannies were also present. At eight-forty, Sheriff Tatum walked up the steps with a file under his arm and entered the building. He nodded at them and entered the courtroom.

“I hope they call us in soon,” Papa said. “I’m still feelin’ the effects of yesterday’s doin’s.”

Jolena scolded, “Well, nobody told you ye had to sample a snort of every blessed concoction served up at the bar.”

“Woman, I didn’t sample everything!” Papa retorted. “I tried a sip of just a few things. I sat up all the night before last tending the
kanutsi
and didn’t get to bed until late last night. I ain’t hung over. I’m just plain wore out.”

Euan fidgeted, shaking his leg a bit. Callie noticed and put her hand on his thigh to get him to be still. She leaned against him and willed them both to feel as much calm as could be mustered given the circumstances. Neither of them had slept much, due to a combination of worry, anger, and fear. Callie had even entertained the thought of taking off with the twins and hiding in some of the local caverns way back in the woods.

Euan had almost agreed to it.

He was beyond angry at his parents. Even saying that he was furious would have been a gross understatement. They were threatening all he cherished in this world - his wife, his children, and the first real peace he’d had in years. At the moment he loathed the fact that he shared any degree of kinship with the people who had brought him into this world.
 

The twins had been fretful and had refused to sleep in their own bed, and had slept with Euan and Callie. Callie had been so upset by the attempted seizure of her children that she had cried after they had retired for the night and the twins had cried along with her. Euan had held them, trying to calm them down while inside he himself was seething.

The only good bit of news had been when Kilkirk had called early that morning to say that the
packages
had been delivered and the details therein were being already released by the media. “Aye, lad,” he had said, “this looks to be a hell of a scandal! I’ll bet Pritchard is already on the phone to your parents advising them to go on vacation somewhere without an extradition policy.”

They could go to hell as far as Euan was concerned.

“I need more coffee,” Jim said. “Wish they’d let us bring some in here.”

Darlene shrugged. “The café’s open across the square, but it’s almost nine.”

Callie trembled and Euan’s arm tightened about her shoulders. Red Wolf sat in Callie’s lap as she held him securely. Mountain Rose nestled against her father but held onto her mother’s arm. The rest of the family sat closely bunched around them.

Granny Robertson spoke. “It’ll be alright, young’uns. We’uns is all goin’ home here pretty soon.”

Granny Vardy nodded. “The truth is on our side and the blood runs true.”

The bailiff opened the door to the courtroom. “Come on in,” he said. “The judge is ready.”

They entered the courtroom silently and sat together. Leighanne Johnson, the court recorder, came in through a side door and took her place to the right side of the bench. She smiled and gave them a little wave. Rusty Hardison, the bailiff, stood at attention near the empty jury box. Sheriff Tatum sat near the bailiff. He nodded at the Robertsons.

There was heaviness about the place that seemed to collar a person’s spirit like a yoke. Callie wondered if it wasn’t echoes of all the things that had happened here, the parade of human sins and raw emotions which had played out day after day, year after year, decisions of life and death. Justice all too often was not blind and had often been wielded with prejudice against the innocent. No matter how solidly one stood in the right, fate could still cut the legs out from under a person without warning or reason. She had heard stories of such things all of her life and was terrified that her own family would shortly be subjected to something similar.

The door to the judge’s chambers opened and Judge Connelly entered the courtroom. “All rise,” directed Bailiff Hardison as he called the court to order. The room echoed with the sounds of shuffling as those assembled rose to their feet.

“You may be seated,” said Judge Connelly. He looked at the members of the Robertson clan. “I see y’all are here. Where’s the other party?”

Everyone looked about. Neither the Wallaces nor Mr. Kent were there. The US Marshals weren’t present either.

“We’ll give them a few minutes. If they aren’t here by nine-thirty, all y’all might as well go home,” the judge averred. “Mr. and Mrs. Euan Wallace, do y’all have any documentation to present in this matter?”

“Aye, yer Honor, sir,” Euan replied as he held up the files. One contained his passport, Callie’s birth certificate and passport, the children’s birth certificates, and their certificate of marriage. A second contained his financial information and a third contained documentation of Callie’s assets. The fourth contained verification of his parents’ illegal dealings. This last one he had brought in the event he needed to provide evidence against his parents.

Judge Connelly directed Euan to hand the documents to the bailiff. Bailiff Hardison received them from Euan and walked them over to the judge. Judge Connelly opened the files, calling out each item for the recorder to list. When he opened the last one he perused several pages and then looked at Euan. “Is this what I think it is?” he asked.

Euan nodded. “Aye, yer Honor, sir,” he replied.

Judge Connelly put it back into the folder. “I think we’ll wait to see if we need it,” he stated. Looking over at the recorder, he said, “Leighanne, strike any mention of that last file. If things get interesting, I’ll open it then.”

Twenty minutes had ticked by.

Just as Judge Connelly was about to bring the gavel down and dismiss the hearing, the two US Marshals and Mr. Kent entered the courtroom. “Well, it’s about time you gentlemen showed up,” the judge said. “When I say nine a.m., I mean nine a.m. on the dot!”

Marshal Driscoll apologized. “We’ve been waiting for the Wallaces. We’ve tried several times to contact them, to no avail,” he said.

Mr. Kent requested permission to speak. When Judge Connelly motioned for him to do so, he said, “The Wallaces were not in their hotel room this morning. Upon questioning, the staff confirmed that they checked out last night. A check at the airport revealed that their jet left just after midnight. Their flight plan has been petitioned from the FAA to determine their destination.”

Adjusting his tie, he swallowed and continued, “It would appear that they have departed the United States. In light of that, as well as the apparently unauthorized alteration of the birth certificates for the minor children, and with my authority as a representative of the British Government, I formally withdraw the order to remove the children from their parents.” He paused and added, “If it please the court.”

“Hell, yes, it pleases the court!” Judge Connelly said. “This proceeding is adjourned!” He brought down the gavel and rose from the bench as he directed Bailiff Hardison to return the files to Euan. “All y’all can go on home, now,” he said with a smile.

Euan and Callie hugged each other tightly, and tears came to Callie’s eyes. Red Wolf and Mountain Rose hugged their parents before jumping up and down as they hugged their grandparents and other relatives, who swung them up in loving arms to pass around. Callie’s family gathered around her and Euan, sharing hugs, offering congratulations, and thanking God for His mercy upon them.

Mr. Kent and the two US Marshals stood to one side. As Euan took Red Wolf and Mountain Rose by their hands to leave, Mr. Kent cleared his throat and requested, “Mr. Wallace, a moment of your time, please.”

Callie’s heart lurched. Were they going to arrest Euan on account of his parents? Well, that would be par for the course. Just when one mess appeared to be straightened out, here comes another one!

The twins held onto their father, their brows knitted and looks of anxious distrust on their little faces. “What do you want with my daddy?” Mountain Rose asked of Mr. Kent. “Are you taking him from us?”

Startled by the child’s bluntness, the Embassy attaché stared down at her for a brief moment before giving a nervous smile and replying, “No, Miss Wallace. We…there is a matter we need his help with. We only need a few minutes to ask your father some questions.” He looked at Euan and continued, “If he’s willing, that is.”

Before Euan could respond, Callie asked, “About what? He’s my husband and the father of my children, so whatever concerns him concerns me.”

Marshal Vilzakovsky replied, “It would appear that Mr. Wallace’s parents have committed some felonies in regards to forging documentation and requesting the intervention of the United States Government based upon said documentation for the purpose of committing an act of fraud and attempted kidnapping of United States citizens. Warrants for their arrest are in process.”

“And they are under indictment in the UK for suspicion of fraud for this affair, as well as being wanted for questioning for possible fraud and tax evasion based upon documentation received by both the Finance Ministry and the news media,” Kent interjected. “We were wondering if you know where they are or might be headed.”

Euan took a deep breath. He had an idea, of course and it would not be the answer these people were looking for.
 
“They hae vacation homes in several places, sir,” he stated. “My best guess would be aen in a country with nae extradition treaties.”

“And do you know of such a residence?” Marshal Driscoll asked.

Euan nodded. “Aye, sir,” he replied. “Trinidad. They hae a villa there in Couva. It would be the closest. If they left last night, they are probably already there. There’s also a coffee plantation in Guyana near Corriverton, almost right on the border with Surinam.”

He looked at Kent and said, “M’ fathair ne’er travels wi’oot a large amount of bearer’s bonds, at least twenty million pounds’ worth. An’ there may be accounts he’s managed tae hide that he can draw on as well.” Pausing a moment, he added, “I believe there may be ties tae the cartels, sir, ‘though I have nae proof o’ it yet.”

Kent nodded. Unless Niall Wallace made a mistake, he was beyond the reach of Scotland Yard, Interpol, and the CIA. His knowledge of and inclusion in the world banking systems made him very valuable to those who could best keep him out of the reach of the law. That same knowledge made the senior Wallace a threat to the system he had been part of as well as a risk to national security.

“Mr. Kent, m’ brother, Andrew, was ne’er privy to our fathair’s dealings,” Euan said. “If he had kenned it he would hae turned him in. My grandfathair an’ uncle hae been involved in at least some of it.”

“And how do you know so much about it?” asked Driscoll.

Euan looked the man in the eye. “As a matter o’ self-defense, I made it m’ business to ken what was going on so as tae keep m’ own assets completely oot o’ anything they were involved in. I was the aen wha’ turned ‘em in.”

Kent and Marshal Vilzakovsky each handed Euan their cards. “We’ll be in touch, Mr. Wallace,” the US Marshal said. “Please remain available.”

“We still ha’ tae file the paperwork for m’ permanent residency, sir,” Euan advised. “I’ll be happy to assist ye with all the documentation I hae an’ tell you whate’er I ken, but I want m’ wife an’ bairns left oot o’ this.
Period
.”

Marshal Driscoll offered his hand. “Understood. We’ll contact you for a briefing within two weeks.”

Euan shook hands with both of the marshals. Kent offered his hand as well and Euan accepted it graciously before asking, “Will this bit o’ business keep m’ wife from receivin’ a spousal residence permit or keep m’ bairns from dual citizenship?”

Kent smiled. “I doubt it, Mr. Wallace. For our needs it
would
be better if you were able to resume at least temporary residence in the UK. You will of course alert the proper authorities should your parents contact you or if you should discern where they are?”

“Ye hae my complete cooperation, sir,” Euan replied.

As the attaché and marshals departed Jim said, “Let’s go across the street and get some coffee before we go home. I need to clear my head.”

Euan felt Callie’s arm slip around his waist and he looked down at her. The love and relief in her eyes was a treasure beyond price. He bent down to kiss her brow and said softly,
“Mo cridhe, mo leannan, mo bith.
Let’s go home, Callie.”

Callie smiled and lifted Red Wolf up on her hip as Euan swung Mountain Rose up in his arms. “Fine by me, Mr. Wallace,” she replied. “We’ve got kids to raise, a house to build before the next set of kiddos gets here, and I’d like to celebrate our marriage right and proper if’n you don’t mind.”

Euan chuckled and pulled Callie close. “Och, lassie, tha’s a huge order there, but I’m certain for aye tha’ I can meet it fit braw!”