Return to Crutcher Mountain (Cedar Hollow Series Book 2)

by Clayton, Melinda

  “Anyway, we started thinking maybe he ought to keep an eye on them others, too, since they seemed to have such a hard time of it. I had been Lindy’s friend at one time, probably the only one she ever had. Didn’t seem right not to keep an eye on them kids. Somebody needed to do that for her, and she hadn’t never had nobody else.

  “By that time Lenny Sue was old enough to be on her own. Rogers learned she was going to University of Arizona, paid for with all that insurance money she had done collected. Townfolks was suspicious about that, too. Meantime, Rogers tracked Leroy down to a foster home.

  “I reckon Leroy was about fourteen or fifteen by then. He was a quiet kid, kept to himself. He remembered Rogers from when he’d come looking for you. When Rogers went up to him outside the school one day, Leroy was ready to talk.

  “Said he’d been trying to get the caseworkers to listen but wouldn’t nobody pay attention to a kid. Said he thought his sister had murdered his mother and Floyd. Told Rogers that Lenny Sue was evil, always fighting with everybody, bad fights. That poor kid was scared to death. Thought he was next, or maybe even you.”

  It was strange to hear that all those years ago someone had worried about me, someone who shared my own genes. Not just someone—my brother. Over the years, I’d often wondered what had become of that filthy little baby. I prayed Richard wasn’t about to tell me Leroy was dead, too. I didn’t want to hear that.

  “Please,” I said. “Just tell me he’s not dead.”

  “Oh, no,” Richard said. “He’s living outside of Tucson, working in a factory there. Got a pretty little wife and a couple of kids. He hit a couple of rough spots along the way, as you might imagine, but he’s made a right nice life for himself. He never did see Lenny Sue again; he never did want to and apparently she didn’t neither. He asks about you sometimes, though.

  “Anyway, after what all them townfolks had told Rogers, and then with Leroy saying the same thing, we—me and Opal and Rogers—knew we’d have to keep up with Lenny Sue in case she ever decided to come after you. She finished all her schooling out in Arizona ’round about ten years ago. She got married for a little while but it didn’t last long. I don’t reckon it would, would it? Then all of a sudden she ended up moving back out here.

  “That raised our suspicions even more. We couldn’t see no reason for her to move back to the place she was born after leaving it all them years ago. It wasn’t like she had no kin out here. Leastways not except for you, when you come back visiting.

  “Then Ms. Platte passed on and you opened up this here Lodge. Me and Opal read about it in the paper, when they did that big write up on it. Said in the paper that Dr. Nora Wright was to be the clinical director. That’s when me and Opal, and Rogers too, knew we had to do something, because that was just too big of a coincidence.

  “So Opal and me applied for them jobs. Rogers called Sheriff Moore and told him everything, all of them suspicions. The Sheriff here, he’s a good man. Listened to everything we said and took it serious.”

  Sheriff Moore knelt back down in front of me. “Ms. McIntosh, with the help of the Huffmans and your parent company, we’ve been monitoring Dr. Wright since she was hired. In the beginning all we had to go on was speculation, but when you questioned me in the diner I knew she was setting you up for something.

  “You spoke as if she and I had had ongoing contact, but we hadn’t. I had never spoken to Dr. Wright. Clearly, she had deceived you. We didn’t know what she had planned, but we decided to increase our surveillance. We knew that if in fact she did make some sort of move against you, today would most likely be the day to watch for it.

  “We had just put our men in place when you entered the Lodge with her this afternoon. When she confessed to killing her mother and Mr. Bowden, we made our move. Ms. McIntosh, we fully believe she meant to do you harm. If it hadn’t been for the Huffmans here, she may very well have succeeded.”

  I looked at Richard where he sat in front of me. Opal had moved to stand behind him. I had so much information to sort through; it would take a long time. But one thing I did know: Richard Huffman was a good man. I couldn’t quite yet process the fact that he was my father, but I hoped to get there someday. I looked forward to it.

  “Thank you,” I said to him, and to her too. It was hard for me to fathom tracking someone for nearly fifty years, intervening when they needed it. It was mind boggling.

  “I didn’t save you the first time,” Richard said, and a tear slid down his cheek. “But by God, come hell or high water, I was going to save you the second time.”

  That is the way of the universe, Billy May whispered in my mind. It is all connected. I finally understood what she meant.

  Chapter 46

  Saturday

  “Jessie, you should write a book.” Valerie Poindexter shook her head in amazement. “You have the most incredible family history.” I laughed. As the town librarian, Valeria thought everyone should write a book.

  We were having breakfast in the diner, Corinne, John, Michael and I. It seemed as if nearly all of Cedar Hollow was there, our tables all pushed together. As Darryl Lane had remarked not even a week before, news travels fast in a little town of two-hundred-sixteen residents.

  John had called and cancelled our flight home the evening before, in light of all that had happened. We’d agreed we all needed a night to regroup. I’d spent the night at Corinne’s house, but none of us had gotten much sleep, staying up most of the night to rehash the events of the past week.

  I’d been right that the phone call Nora had instructed me not to answer had been from John. They knew something was wrong when they hadn’t heard from me by two-thirty. They immediately called the Sheriff’s office only to be told he was already at the Lodge. Upon hearing that, they’d all three piled into Corinne’s car for the trip up the mountain.

  “Where we found Nora being hustled out by two deputies and you sprawled across the bed, lights out. Always the drama queen,” John had remarked.

  “Pot,” I said, punching him in the arm, “meet kettle.”

  Now, sitting in the diner surrounded by friends, I once again had that feeling of home, but this time it wasn’t tinged with sadness. I’d learned so much about myself over the past week, not just about my history, but about myself. Turn your colors back on, the gypsy woman had said, and I believed that was exactly what I was doing. Maybe it had taken a series of shocks to wake me up to my own life; I didn’t know, but for whatever reason I felt more alive, and more hopeful, than I’d felt in a long time.

  I also realized that life was bigger than just me, and as odd as it sounds, that was a relief to me. I was so tired of being stuck inside myself; it was wonderful to focus on other people. I thought maybe I’d give Therapist Number One a call to let her know I’d finally figured that out. I didn’t think I’d make an appointment, however. Given my recent experiences regarding psychotherapists, I thought it might take some time before I was ready to sit in an office alone with one.

  “When are you going back to California, Jessie?” Eugene Cooper’s question pulled me out of my thoughts. I was glad to see the walker he’d been using a few days earlier was gone.

  “I’m not sure,” I answered him. “John and Michael are going back this evening, but I think I may stay awhile.”

  Kay refilled our coffee cups. “It’ll be nice to have you around,” she said. “I know Corinne will enjoy it.”

  “That I will,” said Corinne. “I’ve missed the kids since they all left home. I told Jessie she was welcome to stay with me, but I believe she wants to stay up on Billy May’s mountain. I don’t blame her. It is a healin’ place.”

  “It is,” I agreed. “But there’s also the practical matter of introducing a new clinical director to the staff tomorrow. Luckily, our parent company was prepared, since they’d been aware of the investigation into Nora. But I’d still like to be there to make sure everything runs smoothly. And to see Robby again. He won’t be expecting me.” I smiled at the thought of s
urprising him.

  Michael had agreed to tie up a few loose ends in L. A. for me. He had a key to my condo and would look after it until I returned. I didn’t know exactly when that would be. I had several projects lined up, but I wasn’t looking forward to them. In the back of my mind, I was considering handing them off to Michael, if he was interested.

  Looking over at him absorbed in conversation with Valerie, I wasn’t sure he would be. He seemed to have fallen hard for Cedar Hollow. I couldn’t imagine him stepping back from the Hollywood scene, particularly not for a little backwoods town in West Virginia, but Michael was full of surprises. If anyone could strike a balance, it would be him.

  I caught his eye across the table and winked at him, making him laugh out loud. He had filled out all the paperwork to apply for a volunteer position at the Lodge, and I had promised to turn it in for him first thing Monday morning. It would take a couple of weeks for the background checks to be completed, but I was eagerly anticipating that time.

  I had a lot of things I needed to figure out, none more pressing than what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. In the midst of all the confusion, one thing was certain: I wanted Michael to be a part of it, one way or another. What that would look like, I didn’t know, but I was ready to find out.

  I also looked forward to getting to know the Huffmans. Richard had insisted I take the money he’d saved up all those years, but I couldn’t do that. I didn’t need it. We’d finally reached a compromise. It would be saved for Robby, for whatever expenses he might have in the future, and I would oversee the account.

  I looked up at the tinkling of the bell to see Dennis Lane holding the door open for his father, Darryl. They made their way to our table and Dennis pulled up a couple of chairs.

  “They’re goin’ to keep her another night,” said Darryl. “It was the chemo. Folks always say that’s the worst part. They got her hooked up to fluids, tryin’ to rehydrate her. Virgil is a mess. He don’t hardly know what to do, with her so sick.”

  Darryl had been to Huntington to visit Virgil Young’s wife. Virgil had rushed her to the hospital late Thursday night after she had become ill. Luckily, the garage understood the circumstances and was holding his job until he could get back.

  I had ordered flowers to be sent to the hospital first thing that morning. I didn’t know how Virgil Young felt about me aside from all the stress, but I was ready to make a fresh start. I also had a new understanding regarding some of his anger. Two of his three tickets had been related to his wife’s illness. He’d gotten them on I-64, both times while rushing his wife to the hospital. I didn’t know if our parent company could waive their policy in light of the special circumstances, but I planned on asking.

  “How are you doing, Jessie? I hear you’ve had a heck of a week.” Dennis Lane spoke quietly beside me.

  I laughed. “It’s funny, isn’t it? On the surface, Cedar Hollow is just a sleepy little mining town. People would never guess the things that go on here.”

  “That’s what makes it home,” Dennis said. “Knowing the people, knowing their histories and caring about what happens to them. To outsiders it might not look like much, but we know how rich life here really is. It’s never boring.”

  I smiled. “Dennis, we probably need to sit down and figure out that store.”

  “No rush,” he said. “Like I said before, I’m not going anywhere. This is home.”

  Home. I tested the word on my tongue, looking around at all the familiar faces, people I’d known and loved since I was a girl. This diner, this town, Billy May’s mountain—these were my roots.

  Yes, I decided. It was home, and I was happy to be there.

  Return to Crutcher Mountain Book Club Questions

  Jessie’s ex-husband accused her of being a woman composed entirely of opposites. What did he mean by that?

  Robby has some interesting insights into Mrs. Jamison, the Christian woman from his church. How does he describe her role? Why might he feel this way?

  They gypsy woman on the plane tells Jessie, “You’ve turned your colors off.” How had Jessie turned her colors off? What makes her agree with the gypsy woman?

  Robby states several times that “grownups ask silly questions.” Given the examples he cites, is his assessment accurate?

  When Jessie was a teenager she once remarked to Billy May, “Maybe you should have just left me there.” Billy May responded, “Ain’t nobody got the power to destroy you but you.” Is this true? Why or why not?

  Jessie feels that to enter into a relationship with Michael would be unfair to him. What makes her think this? Would it be unfair?

  Mr. Huffman describes going to great lengths to find Jessie. Did he do enough? Why or why not?

  In the opening chapter of the book, we are led to believe that Lindy was a neglectful mother. By the end of the story, did that perception of Lindy change? If so, how?

  Nora questions which is most important in determining the personality of a child: nature, or nurture. In your opinion, which has the greater influence on a child? Why?

  At the end of the novel, Jessie states that she has learned a great deal about herself during the week, not only about her past, but about herself. What sorts of things has Jessie learned? Do you think her life will be a more peaceful one as a result?

  More Books by Melinda Clayton

  Appalachian Justice, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 1

  Entangled Thorns, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 3

  Shadow Days, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 4

  Blessed Are the Wholly Broken

  Self-Publishing Made Simple: A How-to Guide for the Non-tech-savvy Among Us

  About the Author

  Melinda Clayton is the author of Appalachian Justice, Return to Crutcher Mountain, Entangled Thorns, and Blessed Are the Wholly Broken. Melinda has published numerous articles and short stories in various print and online magazines. In addition to writing, she has an Ed.D. in Special Education Administration and is a licensed psychotherapist in the states of Florida and Colorado.