by Londyn Skye
When Levi finished dressing, he sat down on Maya’s bed. Her nude body was still fully exposed. He let his eyes roam over it again, still feeling the high from being inside of it. He ran his hand down her arm and intertwined their fingers. He lifted her hand, kissed it, and brought it close to his chest. With his other hand, he caressed her face, leaned down, and kissed her passionately on the lips again. He pulled back and momentarily gazed into Maya’s eyes. “I lo- …” He caught himself and swallowed hard, suddenly scared of how easily that phrase was about to roll off his tongue.
Maya looked at him when he paused, and she could see the fear in his eyes. She suddenly became afraid too, afraid of what her reply might have just as easily been.
“I-I’m late,” Levi said instead.
“I know. Go on.”
He covered Maya up. “Rest well.”
“Trust me, afta’ that, I certainly will,” she smiled.
The words were a further boost in Levi’s already heightened ego. He smiled in return and kissed Maya’s hand again. He then departed, feeling proud that he had succeeded in his quest to bring Maya as much pleasure as she had brought him over all the years he had known her.
When Levi was gone, Maya rolled over and nestled into the blanket that still had their scent on it. She then fell quickly into a much-needed deep sleep for a good portion of her Sunday afternoon off. When she finally woke up, she went out to the creek to bathe. She stayed there a good while relaxing in the water, unable to stop herself from smiling at the constant recurring memory of her night with Levi. The beautiful visions made her wish that he was wading there with her, holding her, caressing her, and making love to her all over again.
Maya finally made her way back to her little cottage when she was finished bathing. With Levi heavily on her mind, she had a helpless smile on her face the whole way there. She walked into her room and was about to hang her towels up to dry when something laying on her makeshift bed caught her eye. She laid her towels down on a table and walked over to her bed where there was an elongated wooden box with a red bow tied around it. She untied the bow and opened the lid on the box. She gasped and immediately began to tear up when she saw what was laying inside.
Suddenly, Maya heard a noise behind her. Startled, she turned around to find Levi leaning against the doorway of her room. “I put in an orda’ to get you one ‘a them floatin’ capsules,” he began, while gazing at Maya, “but they said it won’t be ready for anotha’ five hundred years.” He walked closer to her, picked her gift up off the bed and put it in her hands. “So, until then, I figured this telescope was the closest I could get you to layin’ up on that powdery moon and gettin’ a betta’ look at all those magnificent stars up-close.”
“Thank you,” Maya replied with the utmost sincerity in her voice as her waiting tears cascaded down her cheeks. “I’ll always cherish this,” she whispered.
“Just as I always will you,” Levi replied, gently placing his hand on Maya’s face. “I appreciate everything you’ve eva’ done around here for me and my boys. I’m grateful for you, Maya.” He wiped away her tears and then kissed her tenderly on the lips. “Truly grateful,” he said, looking her in the eyes.
Maya smiled and nodded, once again, too stunned by his words to reply. Levi wiped away the last of her tears, walked away, and left her alone to enjoy his sincere gift of gratitude.
In that summer of 1834, Levi Collins indeed needed serious repairs to his barn roof. With how horribly his wife had mishandled the finances, he needed every dime to get it fixed. But he now stood staring up at the tarp that he had strategically placed over the hole, content to let it stay there. He suddenly did not care if that barn crumbled into a million little pieces. He felt the money he had spent on Maya’s telescope was worth the sacrifice.
… James had to force himself to close an awe-inspiring journal that detailed the relationship of Lily’s parents through her father’s eyes. The things that he was learning about him had him so intrigued. He wondered why Lily seemed not to know any of this about her mother and father? Considering the dates of the entries he had just read, James was now curious to know what Levi’s reaction was going to be when he found out that Maya would soon be giving him a gift that was far more precious than the one he had just given her. He was determined to find the answer, as well as what other startling revelations lie in the secret journals of Levi Collins. But James was also on a far more important mission. He snuffed out the fire in the cave he was hiding in and tried to sleep before setting out toward Ohio in the dead of night to begin his search for the very gift that Maya had delivered to Levi nine months after their enchanting night together.
Chapter Eight
“Who the hell’s in here?!” Harrison yelled, cocking a double barrel shotgun. “I’ll blow your fuckin’ head off!”
“Harrison! Don’t shoot! It’s just me! It’s James!”
“Adams?!”
“Yes, it’s just me,” he reiterated, as he cautiously stepped out of an empty horse stall with his hands up.
Harrison exhaled a sigh of relief, slowly lowered his rifle, and lifted his lantern. “Jesus! You look like a goddamn mountain man with that beard. What the hell’re you doin’ in here?”
“I needed a place to hide out tonight.”
“To hide?”
“Yeah, I’d’ve knocked, but I didn’t think you’d be up this time ‘a night.”
“Trust me, I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for that new son ‘a mine. Lauren was up feedin’ ‘em and and said she glanced out the window and saw someone dashin’ into the barn.”
James heard the pride in Harrison’s tone when he spoke of his newborn. He was immediately struck with envy over the fact that his friend’s baby was alive and well. “Got yourself a son now, huh?”
“Yes, he’s finally here.” Harrison nodded with a proud fatherly smile. “Zachariah Lee Mitchell. A one-month-old bald-headed wonda’ that doesn’t believe in sleepin’ between the hours of midnight and six a.m.,” he joked.
“Congratulations. I couldn’t be happier for you and Lauren.” James truly meant it despite his envy.
“Thanks,” Harrison smiled. “What about you? I know you and Lily were expectin’ a few months before us. How’s your little one?”
“Dead,” James replied bluntly.
The smile immediately faded from Harrison’s face and his heart sank into his stomach.
“My little girl is dead,” James reiterated, lowering his head and shaking it to ward off tears.
His words felt like a knife in Harrison’s gut. He immediately felt regret over speaking so joyously about his newborn. “James, I’m so incredibly sorry,” he said, sincere empathy in his tone. “I shouldn’t’ve brought it up. I…”
“No, it’s okay. You couldn’t’ve known.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask, but wh-what about Lily?”
“That’s what I came to ask you, actually. But based on this conversation, it’s obvious you know just as little about what’s happened to her than I do.”
Harrison shook his head in confusion. “What? Why would I know anything?”
“This confirms that you neva’ got any of my letta’s.”
“No. What letta’s? I’s up in Dayton for several months workin’ on a major murda’ case. I had my mail forwarded there, but I neva’ got any letta’s from you.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“What were the letta’s about?”
James ran his hands through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s a long story.”
“Well, come on in and tell it to me. I got all night to listen. Zach’s gonna make sure ‘a that.”
He slapped James on the shoulder and the two of them went into the house. Harrison immediately gave James a glass of whiskey when they walked in. From the little he had already heard, he knew James would need something strong to take the edge off. Harrison then left his buddy alone for a few minutes while he went to the kitchen to warm him up some le
ftover stew, and to let his wife know that all was okay. By the time he returned, James’s glass of whiskey was empty. Harrison grabbed the entire bottle of whiskey from the cabinet and set it on the table to let James refill his glass as needed. No sooner than he sat it down, James indeed picked it up and poured himself another. He guzzled the second shot and exhaled loudly to cool his burning throat. Harrison did not push James to talk. He poured himself a glass of whiskey too and comforted James with his presence while he waited patiently. After drinking his whiskey, Harrison went to check on the stew. As soon as he walked away, Lauren came downstairs with the baby. Harrison was returning with the bowl of food and panicked when he saw his wife walking over to show James their son. He was worried that it might upset him.
“Hi James,” Lauren said, swaying side to side with Zachariah in her arms.
James stood up to greet her. “Hello, Lauren. Nice to see you again. Sorry for the late-night intrusion. I didn’t mean to scare you. I would’ve knocked, but I figured y’all were sleepin’.”
“Sleep? What’s that?” Lauren joked. “This little guy doesn’t believe in lettin’ us do that anymore,” she said, smiling down at her son.
“So, I’ve heard,” James replied, caressing his bald head.
Lauren smiled at the way he touched him so gently. “Do you wanna hold ’em?”
“Sweetheart, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Harrison intervened.
“No, it’s okay Harrison. I want to,” James replied.
Lauren looked a little confused as to why her husband had just tried to stop her, but she went ahead and gladly handed the baby over to James. James took him gently into his arms, gazed at the wide-eyed little boy, and managed a genuine smile. He sat down on the sofa with him and just stared. He already felt such love for Zachariah for no other reason than the fact that he was the son of a man he loved like a brother. James’s tears began stirring as he sat there wishing that it was Rose gazing back at him with bright, curious eyes. He lifted Zachariah up and kissed his tiny forehead. “You two are blessed,” he then said to Harrison and Lauren. “Guard this little guy with your life.”
“Trust me, we will,” Harrison said, reaching over to caress his son’s head. “Zachariah, that’s your godfatha’ you’re starin’ at, buddy.”
James looked up at Harrison surprised.
“At least that’s what Lauren and I are hopin’ anyway,” Harrison added.
James glanced over at Lauren as well. She smiled and nodded.
“I’d be honored,” James replied.
“So would we,” Lauren said.
“I’m convinced that you’d guard my son with your life if anything eva’ happened to us,” Harrison added.
James glanced back down at Zach. “I swear I would.”
Zachariah yawned and he suddenly struggled to keep his eyelids open.
“I see you even have the magic touch. He gets good and sleepy in your arms. I need you here more often this time ‘a night,” Lauren joked. “I guess I’ll take ’em on upstairs and see if he’ll actually sleep through the night for a change … and myself for that matta’,” she teased.
James stood up and kissed the baby on the forehead. “Goodnight, little guy,” he whispered as he handed him back to his mother. “Goodnight, Lauren.”
“Goodnight, James. And thank you.”
James nodded.
“I’ll be up in a bit,” Harrison said, kissing his wife before she departed.
James was quiet for a moment as he watched Lauren walk up the stairs. He then walked over and picked up a picture of Zachariah on the fireplace. “I’d truly be honored to be your son’s Godfatha’ Harrison,” he said while staring at the photo. “But I don’t know if I really deserve it. I didn’t wanna say that in front of Lauren.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
James walked back over, poured himself another shot of whiskey and sat down. Instead of drinking the shot, though, he just stared at it. “I’m a fugitive, Harrison. I escaped from prison a few days ago.”
“A fugitive?” Harrison replied, disbelief obvious in his tone.
“Don’t worry. I won’t stay here long. I don’t wanna get you in trouble with the law.”
“What were you convicted of?”
“Murda’,” he answered bluntly. “And a long list of otha’ things.”
Silence.
James finally stopped staring at his liquor and turned to look at his friend. “I killed a man, Harrison … three of ’em actually. And what should scare you most is the fact that I don’t have a single regret about it.”
“James, I’ve known you for nearly eight years. If you did somethin’ that drastic, I have no doubt it was for good reason.”
“Then you do know me well.” James finally guzzled the shot in his hand. He then began explaining in graphic detail the violent and vile things that transpired the day he tried to escape with Lily and why he ultimately felt the need to commit three homicides. Without once interrupting, Harrison hung on his every word in utter shock over the tragedies that Lily had suffered through that led to the death of their baby.
“Holy shit!” Harrison said, shaking his head. After absorbing the entire sordid tale, he let his body fall back on the couch.
“Holy shit is definitely what all this has been,” James continued. “So, while I’s stuck waitin’ on the trial to begin, I wrote several letta’s to you and William, hopin’ to get some help with my case and with findin’ Lily,” he further explained.
“You know I’d’ve done everything I could for you if I’d’ve known the shit you were stuck in.”
“I have no doubt about that. When you didn’t respond, it was the first sign that I’s up shit’s creek from the outset. I neva’ stood a chance at that trial. I’d heard stories about entire towns turnin’ on a criminal to ensure a conviction, but I neva’ believed it was truly possible until it happened to me. They even gave me the death penalty for what was clearly self-defense or, at worst, manslaughta’. But I’m sure that’s not the offense they wanted me to hang for any damn way.”
“That doesn’t surprise me at all when I consida’ the fact that you were dealin’ with a town full of narrow-minded racists. What does surprise me is the fact that you escaped a maximum-security prison. How the hell’d you pull that off?”
“Lily’s half-brotha’s orchestrated the whole damn thing, if you can believe that.”
“Her brotha’s? No, I can’t believe that.”
“Yeah, it’s anotha’ long story, but they have their own good reasons for wantin’ me out. They actually want me to deliva’ a message to Lily.”
“Must be pretty damn important if they were willin’ to commit a felony for it.”
“Yeah, it’s shockin’ what they need me to tell ’er. It’s gonna rock Lily to ’er core.” James shook his head. “I know it rocked mine.”
James briefly explained the history of Lily’s life and the dynamics between her father, mother, and brothers. He then reached in his satchel and handed Harrison the letter from Wyatt and Colt.
Harrison took a moment to read it and then glanced up at James. “As an attorney, I’ve heard some of the most outlandish, sordid tales. But I don’t think even the greatest author on earth could weave this kind ‘a plot. If it wasn’t you who just handed me this and explained this whole story, I’d say you belonged in a goddamn asylum.”
“And if it wasn’t for Lily’s brotha’ handin’ that to me and livin’ through this personally, I wouldn’t believe any ‘a this shit eitha’. I guess afta’ that crazy trial, Lily’s brotha’s figured I’d do anything to find ‘er and give ’er that letta’, which you know is the God’s honest truth. That’s why I’m here now. The doctor who was helpin’ me escape with Lily was supposed to bring ’er here to you, if all else failed with our plans.”
Harrison shook his head. “It’s quite possible that your doctor friend may have come by here with Lily. Lauren and I left the day afta’ your weddin’ and went to Da
yton. I had a major murda’ case I’s workin’ on that had a change of venue. We went ahead and stayed up there with Lauren’s parents afta’ the trial, so we could have the baby there. We just got back to town a few days ago actually.”
“Damn. That’s certainly on par with my bad luck as of late,” James replied, shaking his head.
“I know you can’t travel back to Fayetteville now, but can you maybe try to write that doctor a letta’ and find out where he took Lily?”
“That’s the otha’ bafflin’ part ‘a this shit. His wife came by the jail and told me that he neva’ came back home. And that was at least a good two months afta’ he left with Lily.”
“Damn.” Harrison shook his head. “Have you contacted William?”
“I went by his estate, but it’s still empty. I assume he’s still in Manhattan with his sons. That’s part ‘a the reason I’m here too. I’s hopin’ you’d help me get a letta’ to him. I can’t show my face at a post office, or any time durin’ daylight hours for that matta’. I’m quite sure my wanted posta’s are plastered everywhere by now, especially at post offices. So, if I write a letta’, can you mail it to William for me?”
“Of course.”
“I’m gonna make my way north to Manhattan along the original plotted map that Griff gave us. If my luck turns around, maybe I’ll find Lily along the way, or at least some information as to her whereabouts.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I’m hopin’ that Lily is already up there with William, and I’m just ova’reactin’ about all ‘a this.”
“I gotta be honest with ya’.” Harrison leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “First and foremost, your doctor friend is missin’. That sounds suspicious to me. A good, hard workin’ town doctor ain’t just gonna up and disappear from his family for nothin’. And secondly, if Lily really was safe in Manhattan with William, she would stop at nothin’ to come lookin’ for you, just like you would for her. So, don’t try to convince yourself that the shit you’re smellin’ right now is roses. I hate to be so callous, but I think you might need to prepare yourself for the worst.”