Ghosts of Sherwood
T.S. Maynard
W.J. Maynard
Copyright © 2021 by T.S. Maynard
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 1
Sherwood Forest has always been a place cloaked in legend. Stories about the foreboding trees and the people who lurked within haunted children’s dreams. Most feared the forest and avoided it at all costs, but the Sheriff of Nottingham had no choice. The only trade route to his kingdom was the perilous path that cut through the timberland. On one fateful night, the Sheriff transported his most valuable prize through the darkened trees of Sherwood—Maid Marian.
The horse-drawn carriage rolled through the narrow moss-covered trail, while a group of camouflaged men dressed in animal skins and armed with bows slithered through the trees undetected. The leader of these men was Robin Hood. Wearing his classic green bycocket and trousers, he inched closer and surveyed the situation. A formidable contingent of sword-wielding guards flanked the carriage. Robin Hood whispered to the burly man beside him, “Little John, take three men around back and await my signal.”
Little John nodded, but just as he was about to carry out the order, he paused and rubbed his chin. “Why am I called Little John?” He motioned to his impressive frame.
Robin’s jaw dropped. They were preparing to rob the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Little John picked now to question his name?
Unbowed, Little John pointed at Robin’s hat. “And Robin Hood? Not once have I seen you in any sort of hooded outfit. You should be Robin Hat.” John motioned to a balding man in a clerical robe. “Do we even know if Friar Tuck attended seminary?” His pocket vibrated.
Robin scowled.
“I’ll let it go to voice mail,” Little John said.
Robin squinted his eyes and curled his nose as the vibrating continued. Little John swallowed hard as the vibrating continued. It was killing him not to answer. When the buzzing stopped, Little John stormed out of the bushes and performed a flying karate kick that dropped the first guard like a sack of potatoes. John grabbed the next guard and hurled him like a rag doll.
With the element of surprise lost, Robin motioned the rest of the men to attack. By the time they emerged from the trees, only one guard remained. John snatched him with one hand and punted him like a football. He opened the carriage, grabbed a treasure chest, and yanked the startled Main Marian down.
“The princess is rescued. Mission accomplished,” Little John said before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone.
In one moment, a child’s world of make-believe vanished. Sean Van Owen, a ten-year-old boy, glared at his father, Alex. “Dad! You promised no phone.”
“During the game,” Alex replied, as he turned away from Sean to focus on the message. “It’s over now, so turn the light on.”
Sean flicked the light switch, and the little magic remaining from playtime disappeared. The soldiers revealed themselves as nothing more than pillows with shirts and baseball hats. The carriage was a twin-size bed, and Sean’s Robin Hood costume consisted of green pajamas and a baseball cap with a feather sticking out of the back. “Dad, Little John doesn’t lead the attack.”
Wearing a white t-shirt and sweatpants, Alex pulled up his voicemail and played the message. “As long as the good guys won, right?”
Sean grumbled. “He definitely doesn’t do kung-fu.”
Alex put his finger to his lips for Sean to be quiet. “I have to check this.”
“What else is new?”
Alex grimaced and paced as he listened to the message. Sean had seen that worried look on his dad’s face many times before. “We’re not going to spend the day together, are we?”
Alex dropped the phone from his ear. “The United Bank deal is going south—next weekend, I promise.”
It was a promise Alex had made many times before—and broken. Given his responsibilities as an underwriter for big initial public offerings, Alex assumed that one day his son would understand that his work was important, and he couldn’t shirk his responsibilities to the company.
A new silver Porsche Taycan zoomed into the underground lot of a fifteen-story luxury apartment complex. After parking in a guest spot, Alex and Sean hopped out and headed to the elevator. Alex pressed the call button, and a sign posted on a bulletin board caught his attention. For Lease Apartment 517. In the advertisement’s corner, a picture of the real estate agent, Mark Stanway, smiled with giant, bleached white teeth and an orange spray tan. He was a cliché for an agent, if there ever was one. The elevator doors opened, and Alex and Sean hopped in. Sean pressed the button for the fifth floor.
After a brief ride up, Alex and Sean walked down the hallway and stopped at apartment 517. Alex knocked.
A warm voice called out from inside, “One second, Mark.”
Alex’s jaw almost hit the floor, but he regrouped and gave Sean a reassuring smile. A moment later, the door opened, revealing Anna, a natural beauty with long brown hair and striking brown eyes.
“Alex. Sean. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Obviously.” Alex eyed her. “Sean, go watch television for a moment while I talk to your mom.”
“Alex, I’m just about to head out,” Anna said.
Sean hurried off to the living room but glanced back, sensing the heightened tension.
Alex stepped in and whispered to Anna, “Who is Mark?”
“He’s my realtor. He’s showing me some places today.”
A giant weight lifted off Alex’s mind. “Oh. Wait, why are you moving? You just moved into this place.”
“Six months ago,” Anna reminded. “This was always temporary.”
“Yeah, a trial separation,” Alex said.
“Six months is a long time to try something. Sean needs a house. Something permanent,” Anna said.
Alex pursed his lips, his frustration growing. “Don’t do this. Don’t take Sean away from me.”
Anna shook her head. “I’m not taking anything from you. You’ve missed your last three weekends. Speaking of which, what are you doing here?”
The expression “cat’s got your tongue” was created for a moment like this. Anna busted Alex, and he knew it. “I got called into the office, Anna. I don’t have a choice.”
“I can’t today, Alex. And the move will be good for Sean. He needs room to play and be a kid. Not this concrete box.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “I don’t know many kids that live in a $10,000 a month box.”
“This may come as a shock, but it isn’t always about money.”
Alex chuckled. “Says the one who doesn’t make any.”
The dig bristled Anna’s skin. She searched for her keys and purse so she could leave. “It just so happens I’m interviewing for a job.”
Alex scoffed. “Another charity gig?”
“It’s a paying job, but yes, it’s for a charitable organization.”
Alex seized the opportunity to negotiat
e. “I tell you what, if you watch Sean this afternoon, I’ll make a donation to this charity.”
Anna found her keys on a small desk in the hall. “I already said I can’t. I’m looking at houses.”
“Take him with you. It will be his house too—at least half the time.”
“I can’t. Mark asked me to dinner afterward.”
“So, it is a date!” Alex pointed at Anna as if he caught her red-handed.
Anna stopped and looked at Alex. He wasn’t making this easy. “No. It’s not a date. It’s a... I don’t know what it is, but he asked, and I said ‘yes.’”
Alex swallowed hard and held back his emotions. He couldn’t believe he was losing Anna. Maybe this wasn’t a date, but it didn’t matter. It was the first step for Anna to dip her toe into the dating pool.
“Why would you do that?” Alex asked, his voice cracking.
“I guess I was lonely, Alex.”
“I told you, things will change once I make partner. I’m close, Anna.”
Anna found her purse under the desk. “And then what? We live happily ever after?”
Alex threw up his hands. “Yes. Isn’t that what everyone wants?”
“Do you work fewer hours when you make partner?”
Alex didn’t have a response, at least not one that would help his case.
Anna pressed her argument. “And this isn’t about making partner, and you know it. It’s always been about this… thing with your dad. You need to prove him wrong or something.”
Alex clenched his jaw. “I haven’t seen him in years.”
“Which only makes it worse. It’s like you’re competing against this ghost, and there’s no way to win.”
Alex switched topics. “Don’t go to dinner with this guy. Take Sean and me to dinner.” He called out in a booming voice, “Sean? You want to go to dinner with your mom?”
Anna held up a finger. “Stop. Do not do that, Alex.”
Sean ran back, smiling from ear-to-ear. “We’re going to dinner together?”
Alex knew he had Anna caught. She glared at him and fumed. Before she could protest, Alex’s phone rang. He checked the caller ID and answered. Alex held up a finger and mouthed, “One sec.” He took a couple of steps away from Anna and Sean. “Hey, Ted. Yeah, I’ve got the spreadsheet ready.”
Anna smiled at Alex. Now she had him caught.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Alex hung up.
Anna leaned down to Sean’s level and grabbed his shoulders. “Sean, you’re going to have dinner with your father. He’s also going to show you his office. Mommy is going to dinner with a friend. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Anna leaned over and kissed him on the top of his head. She stood up, but no kiss for Alex. Instead, she escorted him and Sean to the door.
A moment later, Alex stared at Anna’s door closing in his face. He motioned for Sean to follow him back down the hall. Sean ran up and pressed the elevator call button. Seconds later, it dinged, and the doors opened.
A man in a pressed suit with a bouquet of roses exited. He flashed a cheese ball smile with bleached teeth that were so white they almost glowed. “How you doin’?” he asked as he walked past.
Alex did a double-take. It was Anna’s realtor, Mark Stanway. Alex’s blood boiled as he watched Mark saunter down the hall.
Alex and Sean entered a lavish corner office furnished with an ergonomic leather chair, mahogany desk, and fine artwork. Sean jumped into his dad’s chair and started spinning it like a ride. Alex caught the back of the chair and stopped it. Irked, Sean glanced back at his dad, the killjoy. Alex searched the small bookshelf along the wall, grabbed a thick title, and handed it to Sean. “Here you go. That’ll be fun.”
Sean read the title, Investing 101. He turned up his nose and pulled a book from his backpack titled King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table.
Alex raised an eyebrow at his son’s dismissal of his choice. “It’s okay to read those for fun, but if you want to get ahead, you should check that out,” he said, tapping the investing book. The wall clock caught his attention. “Time to go to war.”
Alex exited the office and joined a line of other Sunday executives heading towards the conference room. Massive double doors boomed shut behind them like the gate of a castle.
The spectacle left Sean intrigued and a little impressed. He picked up the investing book to give it a chance, but after skimming the first page, he dumped it aside in favor of King Arthur.
Over the next several hours, Sean alternated between reading and spinning in his dad’s chair. He finished the last page of the book and looked around the office. With zero options for fun, Sean gave the chair another hard spin and looked up, bored out of his mind.
The doors of the conference room swung open and exhilarated executives filed out. Several patted Alex on the back as he walked down the hallway to his office to find Sean spinning in the chair. “How you doing, champ?”
“Bored,” Sean replied.
One executive popped up behind Alex. “You should’ve seen your dad in there, kid. He absolutely refused to surrender. He was a one-man army.”
A second executive offered his take. “He single-handedly slayed that dragon.”
Alex smirked. “Thanks, guys.”
The two execs left as Sean beamed with pride at his father. “Did you really do all that?”
“Well, metaphorically speaking...” Alex struggled to find an explanation that his son would understand. Coming up empty, he offered, “I convinced United Bank not to take their offering to another underwriter.”
Sean deflated. “Oh, cool,” he said, but to a ten-year-old, it was anything but cool.
Ted Biltmore, a distinguished older man, entered the office. “Alex, that was very impressive. The partners and I just spoke. That put you over the top for partner. We’ll make a formal announcement tomorrow. Congratulations.” Ted shook Alex’s hand.
Alex couldn’t hold back an enormous smile from spreading across his face. Even Sean smiled from seeing his dad so happy.
“Thanks, Ted. I won’t let you down.”
Ted nodded, then left.
“Good job, Dad.”
“Let’s celebrate—a nice dinner? What do you say, buddy? Let’s call your mom, too.” Alex pulled out his phone to dial.
“She’s out with a friend, remember?”
“Oh, yeah.” Alex put the phone back in his pocket. “Okay. It’s just you and me. Anywhere you want to go.”
Sean’s eyes lit up. “Chuck E. Cheese!”
Alex furrowed his brow. “Don’t you want a nice steak house or sushi?”
Sean shook his head and crinkled his nose.
Alex hung his head and chuckled under his breath. “Never thought my first meal after being made partner would be with a giant mouse and Skee-Ball, but Chuck E. Cheese it is.”
Sean hopped out of the chair, eager to leave, when the familiar ring of Alex’s cell filled the room. “Not again,” Sean groaned. He was so close to freedom and fun.
Alex eyed the caller ID—Lloyd Van Owen. One moment ago, he was on top of the world. Now his shoulders slouched, and his eyes widened with anxiety. He took a deep breath and answered.
“Hello, Alex. It’s your father,” a husky voice said.
“Hey, Dad. It’s been a while,” Alex replied.
“Yes, it has. I need you to come to the house tonight.”
Alex shook his head. This was unbelievable. “Just drop by, huh? After what, twelve years?”
“Yes,” Lloyd replied.
“I can’t. I’ve got Sean and...”
“Perfect,” Lloyd interrupted. “Bring him along.”
“Another day, maybe,” Alex said. Chuck-E-Cheese now sounded a lot better, given this alternative.
“Please, Alex. This can’t wait,” Lloyd said, his voice now wavering.
In all his life, Alex had never heard his father’s voice crack. Lloyd had always been confident, bordering on arrogant.
“All rig
ht.” Alex hung up, lost in thought.
Sean stared up at his father. “You okay, Dad?”
Alex nodded, then looked at his son. “How would you like to meet your grandfather?”
Chapter 2
Alex steered his Porsche through a two-lane road that split the Virginian forest. Sean attempted to read in the car, but all the swerving made it next to impossible. Plus, something troubled him. He kept eyeing his dad.
Alex could feel the weight of his son’s stare. “What is it?” he asked.
“Are you and mom getting a divorce?”
“No. Why would you say that?”
Sean looked at Alex with giant puppy dog eyes—the kind you can’t lie to, no matter the question.
Alex turned his focus back to the road. “I don’t know, son. I hope not.”
Sean nodded, appreciative of his father’s honesty, but it still depressed him to have his fears confirmed. He leaned his chin against the door and stared out into the forest. The two drove in silence until Sean lurched forward in his seat and choked himself on the seat belt, trying to see out the window.
“Stop the car!” Sean shouted.
“What? What is it?” Alex leaned forward and scanned the road, fearing he was about to hit something.
“I saw Robin Hood,” Sean said, still craning his neck to get a better look into the woods.
“Seriously, Sean? Don’t yell like that when I’m driving. And take a break from those books.”
Alex turned into a grand circular driveway. Sean’s eyes lit up as the car approached a massive compound featuring a luxurious mansion. This was better than Chuck E. Cheese, and Sean couldn’t wait to explore.
Lloyd, early seventies, waited by the steps with a giant smile. A throwback to tycoons of yesteryear, Lloyd exuded an imposing presence in his double-breasted suit and steel gaze. “It’s good to see you, son,” Lloyd greeted as Alex exited the car.
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