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

by Phillips, Brenda

  dressed in the skimpy silver outfit. Admitting she looked sexy, he

  could still picture her wearing the tiny halter top, it had barely

  covering her breasts and the short skirt showed her bottom when

  she walked. He remembered her hair had been spiked on top and

  had sparkled with silver glitter. Even though she wasn’t a stripper

  he had felt the other men in the club removing her clothes with

  their eyes.

  Andy had been furious as she played the flirting hostess; he

  had observed Maria seducing the men as they came in the club. It

  was his opinion she had enjoy their attention. He, on the other

  hand, had to fight the urge to rip off his shirt and make her cover

  herself with it. That night Andy’s assignment was to make contact

  with the owner then persuade him to arrange a ‘meeting’ with a

  young girl.

  Shaking his head to clear his thoughts Andy returns to the

  present, locating a parking spot at the airport he remains in the

  vehicle a few minutes allowing the tension to leave him. Exiting

  the car he pushes the lock button as he walks towards the elevators.

  Once inside the building Andy checks the arrival board verifying

  Maria’s flight is on time, making note of the gate, he goes to wait by

  the exit sign. Leaning against the wall Andy crosses his arms over his chest as he people watches he allows his mind to again drift to

  their last mission.

  After waiting at the club for several hours Mr. Miner had

  finally came over to his table. Sitting down he had inquired about

  Andy’s drink then signaled to the waiter to bring another one. Not

  really in the mood for another drink to sip for hours but knowing he

  couldn’t refuse, he nods to show his appreciation. Andy had

  checked his temper over a dozen times concerning Maria and the

  men making moves on her, so when Mr. Scumbag Miner asked if he

  was enjoying the shows Andy had growled his answer.

  Remembering he was there to set a trap for this man, Andy

  apologized as he explained he was frustrated and was anticipating

  assistance with his situation.

  Mr. Miner signaled for Maria to come to the table, as she

  leans over her breast barely stay inside the fabric, Maria had winked

  at Andy before turning her attention to her mark. Asking what she

  can do for him in a husky voice Maria smiled as she moved closer to

  the scumbag kissing his forehead. Andy had clinched his fist under

  the table to keep from slamming it into the other man’s face when

  he told Maria I was “frustrated” going on to explain he wanted her

  to assist me with my “problem”. Misunderstanding their signals

  Andy had almost blown their cover, sensing this Maria had informed

  them only one “lady” was available tonight.

  Maria began giving the “lady” description; it was when she

  said her age I snorted with laughter. Informing Mr. Scumbag

  Miner I required the “lady” to be a lot younger, if I wanted someone

  in their twenties I could have my choice. However due to my

  cravings it is harder for me to find the suitable “lady” on my own. After several minutes of silence Miner nods his head once.

  He rises to leave the booth however he stops to tell Maria to get

  back to work. As she walks around him, the scumbag grabs her

  skirt lifting it up, giving everyone in the club a look at her. Smiling

  over her shoulder Maria continues walking, smoothing her skirt

  when it’s released. Looking back at Mr. Miner Andy sees him

  being watched. Shrugging his shoulders Andy admits to liking a

  fine ass.

  Disgusted with the situation Andy had been overjoyed when

  he was given directions to a motel and informed his ‘package’ would

  be delivered about nine o’clock. Rising from the booth, Andy had

  shaken hands with the mark then had left, without acknowledging

  Maria.

  That night at the motel he had opened his door to a young

  girl about fourteen years old. She had tried to be tough but he

  could see in her eyes she had given up on life and accepted what

  was going to happen to her. It still sickens him to think about the

  men that had used her. He worked for hours trying to convince

  her he was there to help; he wasn’t a ‘job’. She had finally broken

  down crying accepting Andy was telling the truth and had not been

  sent to trick her. It was then she had given him the names and the

  locations of other young girls. Because of her assistance they had

  gotten the warrants to search the club and home of Mr. Miner. Andy had arrived back at the precinct to discover Maria was

  already there, dressed in jeans and a purple t-shirt with her hair still

  wet from a shower. She had tensed upon seeing him, he figured

  she was waiting for him to judge her, he remembers her surprise

  when he told her she had done a great job. She had smiled a real

  smile making her eyes sparkle.

  The sound of the overhead speaker announcing her flight

  had landed brought Andy back from his thoughts. Within minutes

  he sees Maria striding towards him, today she is wearing a summer

  dress with orange flowers on a white background, thin straps across

  her shoulders holds it up. On her feet she wears leather sandals.

  Her hair is longer than he remembers touching lightly on her

  shoulders, the color soft brown with highlights makes her look

  younger than her thirty years. Peering into her dark green eyes

  Andy feels as if he is drowning in their depth. Her beauty is classy,

  with her almond shaped eyes and her fair complexion.

  Grinning Maria walks up to Andy giving him a noisy kiss.

  Stepping back Maria hooks her arm with his as they begin moving

  towards the area marked luggage. As Andy keeps step beside her

  he asks, “Why the kiss?”

  Shrugging she grips his arm as she steps on the escalator

  going down, “I just thought since we are now involved we needed to

  get our first kiss over and out of the way.”

  she laughs.

  Frowning Andy nods in agreement.

  luggage then head home.” Realizing he sounded grumpy, Andy

  clears his throat, “I think your right, for us to be convincing we need

  to practice the kissing part.” Stepping off the last step, Andy pulls

  Maria around to face him, leaning closer he kisses her softly.

  Feeling Maria respond Andy deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue

  inside her mouth tasting her sweetness. Breaking the kiss after a

  few seconds Andy smiles as he takes a step backwards; catching her

  hand in his Andy moves to the luggage circle; viewing the different

  suitcases on the conveyor belt he asks, “Which one is yours?” Standing beside him Maria tries to concentrate on finding

  her bag. Andy’s kiss had been mind-blowing and she had reacted

  like a teenager experiencing necking for the first time disgusted

  Maria points to the dark blue case. As Andy lifts her case from the

  revolving belt, Maria lectures herself about maintaining

  professionalism. She is here to help catch a killer; she wasn’t here

  to seduce Andy; even if she has been in love with him for over three

  years. Resuming the lecture Maria recaps her past verdictsr />
  concerning Andy; he is married to his job therefore he doesn’t have

  space in his life for a relationship. Additionally Maria concedes she

  will need reminded of these facts on a daily basis.

  Andy grips Maria’s suitcase in his right hand as he places his

  left hand on the small of her back. Gliding her to the elevator

  Andy reminds himself Maria is here to work; she is not here to be

  deterred by his clumsy attempts at lovemaking. Closing his eyes

  briefly Andy admits he pressed to have Maria assigned, there were

  other Officers who could have come but he had lobbied for her. It

  was as if his desire to see Maria had overridden all other thoughts.

  Andy's only thoughts had been of Maria; her eyes, her lips, her face,

  her body, and yes he even fantasized about them making love. Waiting by the doors for the elevator Andy sets her suitcase

  on the floor, raking his fingers through his hair he turns to Maria. “I Hiding her nervousness

  “We will get your know this is a usual assignment, but the local Sheriff believes he knows who is responsible and is planning to set the trap. It was his idea to have us romantically involved until we are ready to set the con in motion.” Witnessing her tense he quickly adds, “I promise I will be a perfect gentleman.”

  Peeking at Andy from of the corners of her eyes, Maria nods in acceptance. Once again Marie repeats in her mind ‘Andy is married to his job and by his own admission does not want a relationship’. Feeling disheartened Maria accepts she is thirty years old and destined to be alone. Over the past several years Maria has lost interest in men, coveting only one man. Yearning for Andy to be that man, wanting it to be him she comes home to, him who looks at her with love and desire.

  It seemed like hours before they were at his car, finally sitting on the passenger seat, Maria pulls sunglasses out of her oversized purse sliding them on the bridge of her nose, she lays her head against the seat. “So what has happening since you’ve got here?”

  The rest of the journey to the Cain farm Andy explains about the evidence and the progress on the investigation. Giving Maria the history of the past crimes Andy clarifies in greater detail Chase’s theory. He informs Maria about Stephanie being pregnant and Chase being so in love he wants her protected at all cost. He explains all he can, aware he can’t divulge any information concerning Archie, his fatality or his abilities.

  Pulling into the driveway, they turn to stare at each other when they hear a gun shot from inside the house.

  Chapter Fifteen Stephanie sits at the table flipping through the pages of JoEllen’s diary, looking for any mention of the battle by the pond. Chase stands by the counter watching her, he smiles when he sees her frown. “What did you find?”

  Raising her eyes to glance at Chase then back at the diary Stephanie reads aloud the entry.

  June 18th

  Dear Diary, My Darling Raleigh is dying. I am afraid he will not make it through the night. He ordered me not to send for Dr. Mack, I tried to tell him Sissy and I cannot save him. His leg still bleeds with each beat of his heart. His fever is high and I am sure he is delirious. He speaks of lost friendship and gold.

  I sit by My Love and watch his life leave his body. I know it is just a matter of hours until he is gone forever. The few times he is able to speak he tells me he has to finish the mission, he has to take a chest to the fort, and he speaks of an Archibald Butterworth.

  Finding My Raleigh today laying in the back of the barn I had thought he was already dead. Upon discovering he was still alive my heart filled with joy. But the joy was replaced quickly with sorrow when I see how badly he is wounded; his leg barely hangs to his body. With help from Sissy and Henry we got him inside the house. Henry had cut his pants, the sight of seeing the blood and bone almost made me faint. Knowing he is suffering I had Sissy go fetch the whiskey.

  Sitting here beside him, I wish I could tell him he is going to be a Father. But I will not add to his suffering, he is unaware my stomach is swollen with our child and I will not allow him to know what he is leaving behind.

  Sissy’s concern for me as we tend to Raleigh’s wounds had me snapping at her, I am a grown woman and told her I would do what I must for My Love. Later I did apologize to her, as I do understand she was just looking out for my wellbeing and the wellbeing of the child.

  June 20th

  Dear Diary, With a heavy heart I buried My Love today. I am grieving for my loss and the loss for our child who will never know his Father. Due to Raleigh joining the Union Army, I had a private service for him, the town folks would have come I am sure, but they would have come out of curiosity and not for the wonderful man Raleigh was. I did not want my Raleigh to be gossiped about.

  Reverend Clark gave a wonderful eulogy today. Even with Sissy, Henry and the farm hands I felt loneness to my soul. I wonder if I will ever get over the pain of losing my Raleigh. I sang Amazing Grace, Raleigh loved when I sang for him. Tears flowed from my eyes as I sang the verses, but I held my head proudly in honor of Raleigh. He was a proud man and I will not shame him by making a scene as he goes to meet the Almighty.

  As I stood there watching the men lowering Raleigh in the ground I wanted to jump in the grave with him, as I felt my life was over. It was when I was having these thoughts that our child began moving inside me, reminding me I have a responsibility to fulfill.

  June 21st

  Dear Diary, Henry was tending Raleigh horse today; he came and fetched me to the barn. The wagon was still there covered with Raleigh blood; I told him to burn it. I did not want to ever see the wagon again. It was then Henry showed me the chest, I knew it was the chest my Raleigh had spoken of. I also knew this was why he had been killed.

  This chest is the reason my husband and father of our child is dead. Not wanting to look at it, I told Henry to bury it. Henry informed me it had words wrote on it, “Sole Property of the Union Army.” This however was no importance to me. I didn’t care what was written on the awful truck.

  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 t
urns 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.”