Secrets of Thunder Valley- The Locket

by Shelly Von West

  She plays the conversation with Vinny over in her head as she walks along the lake. She realizes she isn’t in the least bit interested in the role that has landed in her lap.

  The morning is still and quiet but for the occasional eerie cry from a lake loon calling out. With her hands tucked in her pockets for warmth she silently chastises herself for not bringing a pair of gloves on her walk.

  Feeling agitated, she blurts aloud, “I don’t want to play a victim that falls in love with her captor.”

  No sooner is the words uttered she hears a voice from behind her, “Hey Ellen!”

  Ellen whirls around to look for who is speaking to her.

  She releases a sigh of relief as she confirms that it’s Ben.

  “Hi Ben!” She responds shyly.

  He is dressed in a pair of snug-fitting jeans tucked into a pair of tan suede work type boots and a deep blue puffy jacket that enhances his eyes. She watches as his long legs make quick work of closing the gap between them with effortless strides. Wearing a knit hat pulled down over his ears, all she can do is focus on his handsome face smiling at her.

  A distinct wave of nerves cascades down her spine. A feeling she has not felt since she was a young girl heading off to the big unknown to pursue her dreams.

  Ben is now standing in front of her. The cold air turning their breath into little puffs of steam matching the low-lying mist that is hovering just above the lake.

  “How are you?” She looks past him noticing that he’s alone.

  “I’m doing good.” He replies without losing the sumptuous grin. “How are you? I heard about all the weird stuff going on at the manor.”

  Scrunching her nose, “What have you heard?” She asks with a slight edge to her voice.

  Looking down at the ground he picks up a stick and flings it toward the lake. As it lands with a splat in the water, she watches as it causes a jagged ripple in the otherwise glass-like surface.

  As he turns back to her he shrugs, “I suppose the scratches and bruises on your face confirm what I heard. I also suppose that you don’t want to talk about it.” He snickers.

  “I don’t mind talking about it but just be clear, aliens did not abduct me.” She laughs, “Though we had an intruder in the house. He was there for the sole purpose to cause us some serious bodily harm.” She says with a somber face.

  His smile fades, “In that case I’m guessing you would like to run back to LA once the holiday is over?”

  “Now remember, that’s always been the plan. I am on studio break right now but after the New Year, I have to be back on-set. We have a movie to finish.”

  “Oh, that’s right.” He chuckles while kicking at something in the grass below his feet.

  Noticing several deer eating from a bush in a clearing several hundred yards ahead of them, she holds her finger to her lips and quietly says “Shh.” She points to the elusive and timid wildlife. He nods with an amused look on his face.

  As they quietly watch, breathing in the cool morning air with the feeling that time just might stand still. The moment is then rudely interrupted by a noisy flock of geese flying overhead in a ‘v’ formation with the head goose barking out orders to its squad.

  The small group of deer seem to be oblivious to the human interlopers and the south bound birds overhead until the snapping of twigs, coming from behind a small cluster of evergreen bushes. As Ellen turns to look, she notices the unmistakable shape of a long-distance camera lens.

  “Shit!” She blurts. “They have discovered me.”

  “Wha… what?” Ben says unaware of the intrusion.

  Nodding toward the bushes, “The paparazzi have found me.” She sighs, “I don’t know how I ever thought that I could sneak away.” She says while pulling the collar of her coat up closer to her chin and then pulls her hat down to cover more of her head and ears.

  “Would you like me to stop him? I can go over there and tell him to leave.” She shakes her head, but he continues, “It’s trespassing. Last time I checked this property is owned by Tim. He has signs posted.”

  She shrugs, “Couldn’t hurt I guess. Just don’t let it escalate to a yelling match and for heaven sakes don’t let it get physical. These guys thrive on the altercation.”

  “Just let me handle this.” He says in an assured voice.

  His long legs make quick tracks over the bushes where suddenly, the photographer jumps out of the trees madly snapping away. He’s no idiot, he knows that Ben intends to put a stop to his interruption, so he’s getting a few shots before the interchange ensues.

  “You there! Do you realize you are trespassing?”

  “Screw you!” The man barks.

  “Get out of here! If we catch you around here again, you’ll have hell to pay!” Ben’s deep voice penetrates the calm surroundings as if a volcano were erupting.

  The man says nothing but laughs his way back toward the forest service road from where he was likely to have parked.

  Shaking his head in disgust, Ben rejoins Ellen by the lake.

  “Well, I guess that went well considering he only told me to screw myself.” He says chuckling.

  “Yes, that went quite well, and no punches were thrown. A vast improvement over my experiences in LA.” She softly grunts, “Ironically if I were with my agent Vinny he would have caused a scene just to get the paparazzi to take more pictures.”

  Ben laughs, “Wait, your agent’s name is actually Vinny?”

  “Yes, that seems cliché doesn’t it?” She laughs.

  “I don’t know if I was thinking cliché as much as it sounds like he’s your bookie.”

  She continues to giggle.

  “That’s so funny because if you saw him, he looks like anything but a slimy bookie or loan shark. He looks more like a remnant from a boy band circa 1995.”

  “Seriously? In what way? Nu Kids on the Block or more like Boyz to Men?”

  “Neither, I would say Lance Bass from NSYNC. He styles his wardrobe and hair almost as if he is stuck a time capsule.”

  “Wow! That was not at all the impression I would have gotten just from what little you have told me of him.” He says laughing.

  She joins in the merriment forgetting about her troubles if even for the moment.

  They reach the dock in front of her parent’s home.

  Ben looks down at Ellen with his piercing eyes boring a hole right through her. Chills travel through her core as she says awkwardly “Well, it was nice running into you.”

  “Would you like to meet for coffee this week?” He blurts.

  “Uh, sure. When?”

  “Tomorrow?” He says with a slight quiver of his voice.

  “Oh! Uh…”

  “If you can’t, don’t worry, it’s short notice.”

  “No!” She says a little too emphatically as his eyebrows shoot up in surprise, “I mean, that’s great. I am just so used to having a packed schedule that it seldom leaves room for spontaneity. A habit I’m glad to break.”

  “Good then let’s meet at Thunder Valley Roasters.”

  “I’ve never heard of them. Are they new?”

  He smiles, “Yes, they just opened a week ago on Main Street just down from the hardware store.”

  “Oh right. That’s the one that is right next to Amber’s boutique.”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  After agreeing on a time to meet then they part ways. Heading up to the house she sees movement in the windows of the exercise room. Working on reaching an itch under the cast, she passes the planter that nearly killed her just weeks ago. Despite the winter sun beating on her head, a nasty chill pokes at her spine.

  When she barely enters the house, she hears Kathy’s voice call out to her, “Ellie? Are you there?”

  “Yes, I’ll be right in.” She replies while kicking off her shoes and hanging her coat on the rack in the mud room. Still itching, she stops to grab a chopstick out of the silverware drawer then heads down the hall.

  Entering the exe
rcise room, she is pleased to see the vigorous activity that her middle-aged parents are engaging. Kathy is working up quite the sweat on the elliptical while her dad is benching.

  “Look at you two. I’m sufficiently impressed. Especially you dad, I think you’ve recovered quicker than me!” Ellen praises her parents.

  “I’m still sore but I’m not letting that get in the way. I need to stay in shape or someone younger and more fit will snatch that hottie over there on the elliptical machine away from me.”

  Kathy giggles, “Oh Tim. You are always the flirt, but you have nothing to worry about.”

  “Okay, you two. I gotta get ready to meet Amber at her shop this morning. What did you need?”

  “Oh, nothing, I just couldn’t help noticing you walking with Benjamin by the lake.” She says with a smirk.

  “Mom! We simply ran into each other along the shore. You know that he hardly lives far from here.”

  “True. I just thought it was nice that you were getting out in the fresh air and with a nice male companion.”

  “How can you say that with a straight face? Do you have any idea how old-fashioned you sound?” Ellen laughs, “Back me up here dad.”

  “She’s right. And I don’t mean you Ellie, I mean your mom. You need color in those cheeks and spending time with someone of quality like Ben can’t hurt either. I don’t imagine those Hollywood types offer much substance. Don’t you ever feel you need real relationships?”

  She shrugs, “Regularly, but that is part of the deal. It’s something you sign up for without ever actually knowing it,” she takes a breath, “at least until you felt so empty that you hardly recognize the hunger pains for substance, which you have grown accustom to not having.”

  At the end of her ramble, the room falls silent as both Kathy and Tim have ceased their activity as if to digest Ellen’s sad confession.

  Breaking the awkward silence, she chirps, “Well! On that note, I think I will get ready and head down to the boutique. I wish this arm would stop itching though!” She says through clenched teeth as she shoves the chopstick in the cast again.

  Kathy clears her throat, “Uh yes, that’s likely to continue bugging you until it comes off. Be sure to tell Amber hello from us and take her some of that banana bread I made yesterday. Remember how she used to gobble that down when she was a girl?”

  Ellen giggles, “Um, I used to come down in the middle of the night and sneak a generous slice of the bread.”

  “I’ll let you in on a secret, I knew what you were doing. My first clue was the trail of crumbs on the counter, the misplaced plastic wrap around the plate and finally the dribbles of milk on the counter next to the empty glass. You weren’t great at covering your tracks.” Kathy smiles warmly.

  “Wow! You never said a word about it.”

  “No. Why would I? It flattered me that you liked my baking so much that you would sneak around in the middle of the night like a little bandit. It always made me feel good, like I was really filling in for your mother.”

  Ellen’s head snaps up, “Oh Kathy, you are not just a fill-in! You have been a wonderful mother.”

  Tim chimes in, “It’s true, I couldn’t have asked for a better mother to Ellen.”

  She swipes away a small tear, “Thank you, but I couldn’t help but doubt myself.”

  Ellen wraps her arms around Kathy in a hug. “You needn’t doubt yourself if I ever gave you reason I am so sorry!”

  She looks surprised, “Oh heavens no! I just always felt like I needed to tread lightly as I didn’t want to mar the memory of Melody.”

  “Melody is a memory, but you are my mother.”

  Swiping at another tear, Kathy turns back to the machine to resume her activity while saying over her shoulder, “Thank you for that.”

  Tim winks at Ellen with a smirk on his face just as he too resumes his lifting.

  “I’ll let you guys stay focused here. I’m going to bounce.”

  “Have fun dear, let us know where you are.” Tim says then he pauses and clears his throat, “I’m only keeping tabs because of recent events. I realize that you don’t need us to hover.”

  Ellen sighs, “I know. I’ll keep you posted. Love you guys and don’t overdo it!”

  “Ellie?”

  “Yes?” She answers as her eyes widen as she fears she’ll never get to leave at this rate.

  “Where is the dog? Have you seen him this morning?”

  She snickers, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I have seen signs of Butch this morning. You may not want to go to the mudroom unless you are in the mood to take a tally on the number of ruined shoes. He seems to have made himself quite comfortable.” She says with a hint of teasing to her voice.

  Laughing, Kathy quickly responds, “Oh dear! I suspected that he was up to no good. Well I guess that’s what we get for adopting a 2-year-old German Shepard. I just wish he would stop chasing the cat around the house. I think she has taken refuge under the sitting room ottoman permanently.”

  Laughing inward, “No comment.” Ellen says as she turns on her heel to head upstairs.

  As Ellen gets ready, she remembers that the script that Vinny insisted she look at should arrive soon. The fact is she is simply not interested in the story line. Shaking her head, she can’t believe that she is in the position where she can pick what projects she accepts or in this case, declines. What takes most hopefuls years to achieve she has done in just a handful. That she has been very fortunate, and luck has been on her side does not escape her attention.

  Taking a final glance at herself in the mirror, she is surprised at the reflection staring back at her. The wounds from the attack healing, she still looks a frightful mess. It’s easy to forget the damage until it is staring back at you.

  The photographer this morning with his super power lens probably got each scrape and bruise in high definition. Once Vinny hears about that or sees the images, he will freak. But then again, he likes it when we get front page coverage, no matter if it’s good or bad.

  With the rain now coming in sideways, Ellen runs down the front porch stairs toward her car with her head lowered, almost knocking down the package delivery person. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” She blurts as the delivery man reaches down to pick up the wet package. Noting the return address, she instantly knows that it’s the script from Vinny.

  “Not to worry.” He says nervously, “If I can just get your signature here.” Then he hustles to his big white box truck at a clipped pace. Then before she realizes what is happening, he quickly whips out his phone and takes a picture Ellen standing beside her car with a bewildered look on her face.

  Chapter Eight

  Amber giggles, “If you weren’t a successful starlet, I would suggest you pursue decorating as your vocation.”

  “You are too kind Amber, but I think that you give me far too much credit. Maybe I should remind you that I am only doing as you have instructed.” She laughs.

  “Nonsense, you have a keen eye. Just know that you have a job with me should you ever grow tired of the spotlight.”

  Still laughing Ellen says, “Be careful there, you never know, I might just take you up on that offer.”

  Amber stops fussing with the decorations dangling from the mini white tree, turning away from the check stand she studies Ellen’s face. With a raise of her brow, “You aren’t happy with your life, are you?”

  A nervous laugh escapes her lips. “Whatever do you mean?” She says acting surprised.

  Amber shrugs almost regretting having been so bold.

  “I just don’t see a person contented with their life. I should think that you would be on the top of the world. You have everything you ever wanted.”

  Turning away to adjust small twinkle lights in the window display Ellen can disguise her displeasure at having been called out.

  “Well presently I am not contented, that much is true. Ever since I arrived, strange things have been happening the least of which my home and family has been under siege. B
rutally attacked I might add. Then there is the locket….”

  Amber joins her at the window and fiddles with the sleigh that is all set to hold a stack of wrapped presents in the window display.

  “I know. It’s been utter lunacy for you, but still I cannot help but to feel it goes way beyond that. You were unhappy before you arrived.” She waves her hand in the air as if she were shooing away a fly, “Before you say it, I know you are embroiled in scandal so it’s natural that will change your outlook, but I am speaking to even beyond that. Are you certain that being a famous actress living the Hollywood life is for you?”

  Ellen whirls around and looks Amber squarely in the eyes.

  “No, I’m not certain at all. If I’m being honest, I thought it was everything I ever wanted and now that I have it, I’m disappointed.”

  “It’s not what you thought it would be, is it?” She says as her blonde curls are bobbing around her shoulders.

  Ellen doesn’t answer right away. Instead she watches as Amber continues to flit around her quaint little shop with a spring in her step that she hadn’t noticed until just now and that distinctive glow.

  “Amber?”

  “Uh, huh?” She murmurs as she reaches the second wrung on the step stool.

  “I think there’s something that you are not telling me.” Ellen says with a smirk on her face and hope lacing her voice.

  Amber continues with hanging little ornaments strung on a fishing line in the window ignoring Ellen’s question.

  “Yoo-hoo!” Ellen sing-songs while handing her another ornament to hang. “Wait! If my suspicions are correct, you should let me hang those and for goodness sake get off that ladder.”

  Looking shocked, “How could you possibly know?” Amber says with her eyes wide.

  “You have that unmistakable mother-to-be glow.”

  She scoffs, “And how would you know what that looks like?”

  Shrugging, “I don’t know, maybe women’s intuition. Anyway, your skin is positively radiating, and your feet have not touched the ground, you are floating and teeming with happiness.”