A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (37 page)

Hate filled me, I know if Raleigh had not joined the war, he
would still be with me, he would still be able to hold me at night, we
would still laugh during the day and he would be here to see his child
grow to adulthood.

I hate the war, I hate the Union Army, I hate the Confederate
Army and I hate that chest.
I hate everything involved in the loss of
my Raleigh’s life.

Henry had requested to take the chest to the Fort, I was firm
when I told him to bury it and I meant just that.
I will not aid in any
way with this war, the war that took everything I hold dear to my
heart.
I watched as Henry dug the hole and buried the evil chest
behind the work shed.
Making up my mind to never come to this
place again; I made Henry promise to never speak of this to anyone.

My one true love is gone but with everything I am; I will make
sure our child knows his father died a hero.
He died honorable, he
died doing what he felt was right based upon his principals as a man
and a soldier.
Just as I did what I felt I had to do based upon my
own principals as a wife and soon to be Mother.

As Stephanie reads the entries Chase moves to the table and
sits down, listening to her read he holds the drawing, studying the
buildings. When she finishes with the last entry Chase points to
the place marked ‘work shed’.
“This is a map, the map to the gold
Archie was assigned to transport to Fort Crockett.”

“Is it really this easy?” Stephanie stares down at the drawing.
“Well it may be harder than you think; I don’t think the work
shed is still here and I am pretty sure the buildings have changed in
the last 100 or so years.”
Stilling holding the paper Chase walks to
the window to looks out.
Gazing at the paper then back out the
window Chase narrows his eyes as he tries to imagine the property
as it was when JoEllen had drawn the map.
The sound of a knock on the front door has Chase tensing, he
hadn’t heard a car.
That means someone has walked here.
This
house is too far from the main road for unannounced visitors.
He
turns to Stephanie placing his finger over his lips he signals for quiet.
Chase silently strides to the pantry and removes his gun from his
holster, sliding it in the back waist band of his jeans he walks to the
foyer then approaches the front door.
Stephanie rises from her chair moving to the door she peeks
out watching as Chase pushes the curtain out of the way to view the
person outside.
As he releases the curtain he tells her, “Its Brett
Miller.”
Opening the door Chase is confronted with a gun being
shoved into his stomach.
Staring into the eyes of Steven Miller, he
sees hatred.
“So Steven you decided to show yourself.”
Chase
glances at Brett spotting the blood on his leg, looking up he sees
how pale Brett is, sensing Brett is close to passing out Chase turns
back to Steven, “Your Father needs to go to the hospital.
He will
die without medical treatment.”
Snorting with laughter, “Good, I want him to die, slowly.
I
want him to suffer.”
Grabbing his father by the front of his shirt
Steven motions for Chase to back up.
As Chase steps backwards,
Brett is pushed towards him.
Brett stumbles before falling to the
floor.
“Give me your gun Sheriff,”
Stephanie covers her mouth with both hands to keep from
screaming.
Watching through the crack of the door she knows
Brett doesn’t have much time left, he is going to die soon if he
doesn’t get help.
Worried for Chase has her looking around the
kitchen for something to help him.
Seeing the map on the counter
she realizes Steven knows about the gold.
That is why he broke
into the house he was looking for information about the treasure.
Would Steven trade Chase for the map?
Even as this thought goes
through her mind, Stephanie recognizes Steven is too far from
reality to trust.
Dismissing the map as an option Stephanie tries to
think of a way to assistance Chase.
Chase concerned for Stephanie tries to stall, “What do you
want Steven?”
He takes a small step backwards, changing
direction Chase moves towards the living room.
Knowing
Stephanie is just inside the kitchen; Chase’s need to keep her safe
has him repositioning away from Stephanie.
“I want your gun and I want it now,” Steven hears his father
groan but he doesn’t even glance at him lying on the floor.
Keeping his eyes on Chase he holds out his hand for the gun.
Chase places his hands on his hips not moving to remove the
gun from his waist band.
Sensing Steven is enjoying his father’s
pain he realizes Steven will kill anyone in his way; Chase tries to
delay for time.
“Steven you can’t get away with this, you know I
had already figured out it was you who killed Mitch Cain, it was you
that ran Stephanie Tuney off the road and it was you that broke in
here.”
Laughing Steven growls, “Of course the Great Sheriff
Peterson figured it out.
I came to that conclusion when your
flunky came by this morning to ask Brett some questions.”
He
swiftly looks at Brett on the floor then back to Chase.
“The
dumbass didn’t even know I have been sleeping in his basement.”
Snorting with disgust, “He thought he could just disown me and I
wouldn’t care?
I wouldn’t hurt him like he hurt me?”
Dropping
his hand back to his side, using the toe of his shoe Steven kicks Brett
on his wounded leg.
Hearing the moan from Brett he smiles.
“After your Deputy left I went upstairs, you should have seen the
shock on the old man’s face.
When I got a knife from the drawer
he knew I was going to kill him, the look of terror in his eyes still
brings me pleasure.”
Standing straight he glares at Chase
demanding, “Your gun now or I will shoot him right here in front
you.”
Recognizing Steven is on the verge of losing his hold on
reality Chase steps back again, “I know Brett was wrong to disown
you and I’m sure he realizes his error.
If you allow me to get him
medical treatment I’m sure he will be the caring Father to you that
you want.”
Chase sees Archie appear behind Steven, with a slight
shake of his head he conveys to Archie not to intrude.
The tension eases slightly in Stephanie when she notices
Archie in the foyer.
Closing her eyes briefly she says a prayer of
thanks for the aid sent to Chase.
Wanting to help Chase herself
but not knowing how, Stephanie remains quietly hidden as Chase
had directed, understanding his reason as she listens to the ranting
from the mad man holding a gun to her one true love.
Turning
back to the door she peeks through the crack.
Glancing down at
Brett on the floor Stephanie sees his life fading from his eyes.
Sorrow fills her at his loss of life.
Looking back at Chase she
watches Archie move to his side.
Quickly she glances at Steven to
check for a reaction concerning Archie; seeing no change in his
expression she breaths a silent sign of relief.
Stephanie notices Steven is almost as tall as Chase, but his
body structure is more bulky.
His face is weathered looking and
his eyes are just thin slits.
Unable to see Steven’s eye color
Stephanie resumes her study of his remaining features, his nose is
long and crooked, he has thin lips and right now they are sneering at
Chase.
Aware this man is evil; Stephanie shivers with fright as she
concludes Steven’s hatred for Chase heightens his evil persona.
Distress for Chase has her nervously biting her thumbnail.
Needing to keep Steven occupied until he can come up with
a plan Chase crosses his arms over his chest.
“What I don’t
understand is how Daniel found out about the gold?
Because all
this is about the Union gold isn’t it?”
Spotting the sneer on
Steven’s lips Chase knows he has hit a nerve.
Satisfied he has
diverted Steven from his gun; Chase maintains a casual stance as his
mind races to find a way to keep Stephanie safe.
“My Granddad told me the legend.
The stories passed
down from Granddad William, he was the one that shot the Union
coward.
He had seen the man run so he followed him; seen him
get into a wagon and leave.
The chicken came right to this house.
Granddad William knew he would, having been friends with him
since they were kids.”
Smiling as he remembers the tale Steven
glances down at Brett, then quickly back to Chase.
“Once they
were in the barn the coward called the farm hands to come help
him.
As the men came into the barn William had fired his rifle at
the Union bastard.”
Hate rang in his voice, “Granddad Daniel said the hired help
had then wrestled William to the ground.
As they punched and
stomped him William heard Raleigh tell his men they had to hide
the trunk.
He told them no matter what they had to protect the
trunk.
Us, Millers we ain’t stupid, William knew inside the trunk
was the Union gold, his Sargent had told them they were tracking a
wagon with gold to pay the Union bastards.”
Steven focus on the floor he notices the blood pooling
around Brett, striking him again Steven continues with his story.
“When William was beat almost to death the men had tied him to a
horse then sent him down the road.
Not caring if he lived or died,
they just left him.”
“He had shot their boss, I’m surprised they let him live.”
Chase responds calmly. Moving slowly he leans against the door
frame.
Glancing at Archie he sees him listening intently as Steven
relates the events of the day of the battle.
Feeling empathy for
Archie, realizing he is acquiring details for the time after he had died
Chase waits silently.
Snorting Steven spits on Brett lying at his feet.
“Granddad
Daniel said the whole town was on the Confederate side, it was just
these brainwashed few that supported the Union.
Anyway, a man
found William tied to the horse; he helped William get to his
parent’s home.
They had the Doctor come to their house and he
lived.
The Union coward had died.
So justice was served in my
opinion.”
Sneering at Chase, “I guess I take after Granddad
William more than I do my own sperm donor.
I’m not afraid to kill
to get what I deserve.”
“It seems to me you are also like your Granddad Daniel.
I
found evidence he was the one who killed Lee and Rebecca.
Did
you know he had done that?”
Chase continues speaking in a
subdue tone, “Do you know why he ran them off the road?”
“I know Granddad killed them, he had tried to persuade
them to permit him to search for the gold.
The Cain’s thought they
were better than him; smarter too.
They told him there was no
gold; it was just a fool’s story.”
Laughing at the stupidity of people
he informs Chase, “Granddad Daniel was no fool, he proved that
when he ran their big fancy car off the road.
Thinking they were
smarter didn’t help them.”
“But what did it accomplish?
Did he find the gold?”
Chase had seen Archie tense as the death of Della’s parents was
revealed, had seen the fury in his eyes.
“Granddad Daniel, he couldn’t find the information about
the gold.
But he knew what to look for, he told me the year and
he also knew that ledgers were kept to document everything that
happened on this property. I just have to find it. That is what
Granddad Daniel told me to do, find the ledger.
He told me to find
the ledger then find the gold.”
“If you were told to find the ledger, why did you murder
Mitch?” Loathing Stephanie is listening and will overhear all the
details concerning her brother; however Chase knew he had to keep
Steven talking, therefore distracting him from the gun.
Chase is
relying on his training, recalling the instructions concerning hostage
situations; to remain calm, to show empathy, to keep the perp
preoccupied and above all do not antagonize.
Chase accepts the
training strategies and negotiations as a professional Police Officer;
however as a hostage he struggles to devise a plan to end this
without casualties.
Chase figures his best option to finish this is to
continue to wait for the chance to reach his gun.
His basic instincts
are to control the situation to put an end to this madness; it’s just
taking longer than he anticipated.
Narrowing his eyes Steven snorts with disgust, “The preppy
Doctor was going to come here and make this house into a clinic.
I
couldn’t have a bunch of people here all the time.”
Keeping eye
contact with Chase he scoffs, “Brett here wanted to help him with
the process.
As if I could allow a clinic to be here.
Granddad
Daniel told me a while ago that I had to keep my promise to him.
The only way to do that was to kill the Doctor.
I came up with the
plan to make the Doctor overdose.
The idiot that was holding the
Doctor got too rough and killed him so I had to improvise.
I had to
shove the heroin in his nose.
I had to do it, because I was forced to
hire incompetent help.
It would have been easier if he just had
taken the drugs, but he struggled.”
Kicking Brett; Steven smiles when he hears his Father groan
again.
“Then I discovered the Doctor had a sister, he had left
everything to her.
Brett’s secretary told me they had found her
and she was moving here to stay.
The bitch would make it difficult
to search.
All I had wanted was for this house to be sold so I could
buy it, but everyone has made me do things the hard way.”
Shrugging his shoulders, “I just have to find the ledger to find the
gold.”
“Why would you assume you would buy the house?
Couldn’t someone else purchase it?”
Anger flashes in Steven’s eyes, “Do you think I am stupid?
I
would have made it impossible for anyone else to buy this house.
The love struck secretary said she could draw up fake papers giving
me the first option on the house.
She said it would be totally legal,
it amazes me that women will do anything for a man if promised
marriage.” Laughing sarcastically he looks down at the man on the
floor.
No longer moaning in pain, the man is lying motionless.
Enjoying the thought Brett is dead he stomps on his leg, hearing a
weak sound Steven frowns.
The faint sound from Brett has Chase conscious that time has
shortened for him.
If he doesn’t get help soon he will not make it.
Wishing he could communicate with Archie he tries to figure out a
way to let him know he needs Archie to distract Steven.
Chase just
needs a few seconds to retrieve his gun.
Hearing the details of why Mitch was murdered fills
Stephanie with loathing for the man standing in her foyer.
Wanting him to pay for his crimes she closes her eyes trying to
figure out how to help Chase.
Feeling a chill on her cheek she
opens her eyes to see Archie standing in front of her.
Knowing he
detects the revulsion in her eyes Stephanie whispers, “We have to
help Chase. Brett Miller is almost dead; I see his life slipping away.
I’m afraid Steven will stop relating his accomplishments and will
shoot Chase.”
Shriving with fear she lowers her voice more, “I
think you should make a noise, get him to look somewhere besides
at Chase.
If you throw something behind him, he will turn around,
that will give Chase time to get his gun.”
Thoughtfully Archie considers this plan.
Nodding he fades
as he moves to the foyer.
Studying the items available to utilize,
Archie appears behind Steven.
points to a vase by the stairs.
demonstrates he will drop the vase behind Steven.
Before Chase can respond Steven demands, “I am tired of
waiting and I am tired of you.”
Taking a step towards Chase he
scowls, “I want you to yell for the bitch, I know she is hiding
somewhere.
I watched as her other bodyguard left this morning.
So don’t deny she is here, as I pointed out already I am not stupid.”
Glaring at Chase he takes another step closer.
Rising the gun
higher Steven points it at Chase’s chest.