A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (34 page)

Deciding to get it over with Stephanie had called Marty and
based on her opinion she had scheduled with Dr. Samuel Nathes,
her appointment was in three days.
Carrie had nodded in
approval, and then had gone back to reading her findings.
Understanding Carrie was trying to help Stephanie had listened and
made appropriate comments.
Interrupting Carrie Stephanie had questioned her about
Della’s ancestors.
Carrie had admitted to not knowing much, but
was sure CJ would be able to speak with Mary Wilson again and he
could ask her.
Feeling like she was hitting a brick wall, Stephanie
had powered up her own computer to begin searching the local
history.
Paging through the periodicals sites, Stephanie breathed a
sigh of relief when she found Raleigh and JoEllen wedding
announcement, for that time period they had to be a prominent
family for the newspaper to publish an article.
Glancing through the next several newspapers Stephanie
discovered nothing important.
The next paper had a short article
on Raleigh joining the Union army, and right under his story was a
short article of a William Miller signing up for the Confederate side.
Clicking the article to enlarge it she read about the two men being
friends but had argued earlier in the day and the local Marshall had
threaten to throw them both in jail.
Stephanie had saved the
article to her computer wanting Chase to read it.
Rising up from the couch Stephanie sees it’s after 2:00 pm
and the men still haven’t come inside.
Walking to the window she
looks out and spots Chase and Andy talking with Jacob and another
man.
Turning away she decides to go to the kitchen to check on
Carrie.
Upon entering the kitchen she sees Carrie at the stove
stirring something in a kettle.
The aroma in the kitchen has
Stephanie’s stomach grumbling for food.
Placing a hand over her
stomach she asks, “What are you cooking now?”
Carrie glances up from the stove, “It’s just a pot roast.
How
are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.
I do want to apologize for leaving you alone in
here.” Smiling Stephanie strolls to the stove then peeks inside the
kettle, the pot roast, potatoes and carrots look delicious.
“Nonsense Dear, you don’t have to entertain me, I came to
help you.”
Replacing the lid on the kettle she confesses, “I did
nose through the freezer and the pantry. I decided to cook this; I
also called CJ and told him to come here for supper.”
Looking a
little guilty she adds, “I hope you don’t mind.”
Grinning Stephanie assures her it is fine.
Moving to the
refrigerator she gets a diet soda then walks to the table and sits
down.
Popping the tab she looks over at Carrie noticing her
watching. “What?”
“I know you are just short of a month pregnant but I had
figured I would be able to tell you’re pregnant.
I see no change
yet.”
Sounding disappointed Carrie moves back to the kettle
checking the temperature, turning the knob to simmer she walks to
the table sitting across from Stephanie.
Laughing Stephanie places her hand over her flat belly.
“I
think you’re rushing me.
I don’t want to end up as big as a barn.”
Observing Lucky by the pantry Stephanie puts her hand down beside
the chair then wiggles her fingers.
Watching the kitten Stephanie
picks her up when Lucky approaches to explore her hand.
Hearing
the soft meow, Stephanie places the kitten on her lap as she begins
to stroke her fur.
Lucky settles down becoming comfortable, she
quickly goes to sleep.
“You are built tiny; I guess I will just have to wait to take you
shopping for maternity outfits.” Carrie laughs, “I think I started
wearing bigger clothes about my third month with Chase.”
The ringing of the phone has Stephanie setting the kitten on
the floor as she rises from her chair.
Picking up the receiver she
says, “Hello.”
After listening for a few minutes she lays the phone
on the counter, moving to the back door she yells for Andy.
Motioning with her hands she explains he has a phone call.
Strolling back to table Stephanie sits back down.
Glancing
under the table she sees Lucky is laying across Carrie’s feet.
Laughing she raises up leaning back on her chair.
“I see you have a
new friend.”
Carrie grins as she nods her head in agreement.
Andy opens the back door walking inside, he moves to the
phone, gripping the receiver he begins speaking as he continues
moving through to the foyer.
Both Stephanie and Carrie look at the empty doorway,
Stephanie whispers, “It’s a woman.” Then remembering his friend
the policewoman is due to come in a few days, she frowns.
Concern for the change in her attitude Carrie inquires,
“What’s wrong with him receiving a phone call from a woman.”
Not sure how much Carrie has been told she begins, “Andy
has a friend that is going to impersonate me to set a trap for the
criminal.
I think that is her on the phone and she is due to be here
in a few days.” Shrugging her shoulders she continues, “I have
always been independent not someone who runs and hides.
I
guess I am just having a hard time with this.”
Reaching across the table Carrie pats her hand.
“It seems
to me you are a smart woman who realizes this is a job for a
professional.
You are not running away, you are just stepping
aside.”
Before Stephanie can respond she hears the back door open,
shifting on her chair she watches as Chase and CJ walk in.
Chase
stops in front of Stephanie, leaning down he kisses her briefly on her
lips.
As he straightens he smiles at his Mother.
“Something
smells good; I think I will go shower before supper.”
CJ sits down at the table as Chase leaves the room.
Picking
up Carrie’s hand he kisses her palm; he laces their fingers together
resting their hands on the table.
“How has your visit been?”
“Lovely.” Carrie’s eyes sparkle with happiness.
Watching them together Stephanie realizes Chase has been
privileged to grow up with these two wonderful people as his
parents.
Their love for each other is evident just by observing
them.
The way their eyes follows the other’s movements and the
way they touch often as if they crave the contact.
Understanding
Chase loving nature comes from the example set by his parents;
Stephanie feels tears forming in her eyes, blinking rapidly she rises
from the chair.
Going to the stove she lifts the lid to the kettle to
inspect the food, giving herself time to recover enough to face the
two people sitting at the table.
Andy strolls back into the kitchen he replaces the phone back
on the base then he informs the individuals in the room he is going
to go shower.
Excusing himself he leaves as quickly as he had
come in.
Replacing the lid on the kettle, Stephanie moves to begin
setting the table. Placing plates, napkins and cutlery on each
placemat, she half listens as Carrie tells CJ about her day.
Not
wanting to intrude Stephanie continues silently selecting the items
needed for the meal.
Since Carrie had done the cooking she felt it
was only fair for her to help.
Chase stands at the door surveying Stephanie.
She looks as
if she feels better.
After the scare this morning he hopes her
morning sickness isn’t a regular occurrence.
He doesn’t think his
nerves will handle the stress of worrying about her health.
Shifting
from the door he ambles into the room stopping at the stove he lifts
the lid inhaling the aroma from the kettle.
He flashes his boyish
grin when he hears his Mother tell him to put the lid down.
Replacing the lid Chase spins away from the stove, moving to
the table he sits down on a chair across from his Father.
Glancing
at Stephanie he winks as she makes eye contact.
Carrying the rest of the condiments to the table Stephanie
sets them on the tray in the center.
Finished with this part of the
meal preparation Stephanie sits down on the chair she had vacated
earlier.
Upon seeing Andy step into the kitchen Carrie rises from her
chair; with CJ helping she transfers the pot roast and vegetables
from the kettle to a deep dish.
CJ carries the dish to the table as
Carrie announces the early supper is ready.
As everyone eats they exchange information about their day.
Chase and Andy seem truly interested in the newspaper articles
Stephanie had discovered, wanting to view them after supper.
CJ
informs them he had gone to see Mary Wilson today and she thinks
JoEllen’s Dad had built her a chest, made of redwood, a “hope
chest” for lack of better word.
Andy tells everyone Maria will
arrive around July 4
^th
.
And Chase reports the fire had been set by
a match thrown on the hay pile, confirming it was indeed deliberate.
Chase shares with his Father his theory about Steven Miller
then expresses he is unsure if Brett is involved.
CJ admits he can
see Steven being a murderer but Brett has always been an
upstanding citizen and even had disowned Steven when it was
proven he had broken the law and was disbarred.
When everyone is finished eating, CJ volunteers the men for
kitchen duty. He tells the ladies to go in the living room and relax.
Aware the men want to discuss the investigation and theories in
greater detail Stephanie follows Carrie from of the room.

With the ladies in the living room Chase confides to the men
his gut is telling him Steven is involved.
Steven has always been
mean, aggressive and holds grudges, the fact the person had call
telling Stephanie he was going to kill both her and Chase made this
seem personal; otherwise, Andy would have also been threatened.

Archie appears beside the table.
Smiling at CJ he nods at
his old friend.
“I have tried to figure out why someone from a
wealthy family would rob and kill.
What could be here that would
make someone do this?”

Andy answers with just one word, ‘Greed.”
The other men
nod in agreement but remain silent.
As Archie sits down at the table, Chase rises up from his chair
to begin to pacing.
Stopping by the back door he turns to face the
others, “I need to get Stephanie hidden.”
Raking his fingers
through his hair he continues, “I think I can get her in a safe house.”
Before Chase can explain his cell phone rings, taking it from his
pocket he checks the number, sliding the screen up he puts the
phone to his ear answering at the same time.
With Chase on the phone the men sit openly listening to his
side of the conversation.
Ending the call Chase strides back to the
table.
His frustration is apparent when he hits the table top with
his fist.
“Steven was released about six months ago.
He was
working for his Grandfather Daniel but hasn’t been seen since
Daniel died.
The day of the funeral was the last time he reported
to his probation officer.”
Closing is eyes briefly Chase opens them
and stares at Andy.
“The FBI said it’s like he’s disappeared.”
“Damn, do you think his Father knows where he is?”
Being
a detective Andy recognizes a person that doesn’t want to be found
can hide for a while, however eventually he will need money.
Contacting family is the quickest way to get money while remaining
under the radar.
Shrugging his shoulders Chase shares his strategy, “I am
going to go visit Brett.
I will tell him Stephanie wants a copy of
Della’s will.” Sitting stiffly on his chair Chase outlines the plan.
“I think if I go to his home I will be able to sniff around, see if I can
catch him off guard.
Once in his home, I can check the situation
without over stepping my rights as Sheriff.”
“Son, what if Steven is there?”
Worry for Chase has CJ
voicing the question upmost on his mind, “Steven is dangerous.
Even if it turns out he is not responsible for this, he has hated you
for years.
Hatred can make a person crazy, and it’s my opinion
Steven has advanced to crazy where you’re concerned.”
“I agree with CJ, you don’t need to go alone, take Johnny or
Nick with you.”
The more Andy hears about this Steven person,
the more he develops the same gut feelings that Chase has.
As the four men remain at the table discussing Chase making
contact with Brett, they try to plan out actions for different
scenarios if Steven is with his father.
None of them are aware of
being watched through field glasses an acre away.
Chapter Fourteen

Lowering the binoculars he curses his situation.
With
people always at the house he is at a loss on how to get inside to get
the needed ledger.
For hours the Fire Marshall had been there
today, and now the Sheriff’s parents are visiting.
At no time has he
observed the woman left alone, either one or both men are always
with her.

Wiping sweat from his brow he begins crawling backwards.
Admitting tonight is wasted he decides to just go back to his
basement.
Thinking about his Father makes him as angry as
thinking about the damn Sheriff.
Both men shamed him, a kind of
shame no man can get over.
But he will get even; he will make
them both sorry they ever wronged him.

Far enough away from the house he raises to his feet,
walking back to his car he plots his revenge. Electing to make both
men suffer he figures he will make the Great Sheriff Peterson watch
as he kills the woman and then he will stare the Sheriff in the eyes
as he kills him.
Wanting the Sheriff to realize he is dying and
unable to stop it from happening.
And for his wonderful Father he
figures he will cut him allowing his life to bleed out slowly, wanting
his useless Father to beg for his life.
Snickering at his fantasies he
comes to the conclusion even if he never finds the treasure he will
be content with their deaths.

Calculating his next move he resolves he will visit the house
the next time just the woman and the Sheriff are alone at the house.
He could show up on pretense of needed to speak with the Sheriff
about something.
No one suspects him of the past break-ins, and
then once he is inside the house he can make his move.
With the
Sheriff caught off guard he can kill them both and afterwards search
for the damn ledger his Granddad talked about.