Mr. Wellington gave Faxon the list of the four men and he suddenly had the feeling that now there may be hope in finding the man it seemed everyone was now looking for.
CHAPTER EIGHTTEEN
Harper had spent the last two weeks getting up every morning and going for a three mile run around the property. After her run she would mix up a protein shake, she hadn’t cooked bacon and eggs since coming back home, it reminded her to much of Faxon. Her diet had changed and sometimes she didn’t eat at all, her weight had dropped ten pounds.
Even before she had come home she was spending her evenings taking an on line course studying to get her private investigators license and she had increased her studies determined to prove something to herself.
She had the security system upgraded around the house and a ten foot fence with razor wire around the property with electric and sensor monitoring. The stables had their own system. Harper had insisted that Jose’, Aunt Rachel and Conner go to the range and shoot once a week, and carry their choice of small arms around the property. Rachel and Conner actually enjoyed going to the range and it became something they enjoyed doing together.
Harper came into the kitchen from her early morning run and started putting protein powder into the blender she was taking the milk from the fridge when Aunt Rachel came in.
“Harper, how long are you going to be on this sadistic routine? You look gaunt. You run every morning then lift weights, then you go to your martial arts trainer then back to the stables and you work out your horses till nearly dark every day. I know what this is about Harper, why don’t you just call him?”
“Have you been taking online courses in psychiatry Aunt Rachel?” Harper turned on the blender and smiled at Rachel knowing any answer she gave would be drowned out by the noise.
“No one needs to be a psychiatrist to know what’s wrong with you,” Rachel said after the blender had stopped.
Harper drank the protein drink from the blender container as she leaned against the counter. She wiped her face with the towel around her neck.
“He’s moved on to someone else, he’s a real ladies man. I’m working out hard because I’m out of shape and I have a show coming up this weekend. Next week I promised Sam I’d come into the office and help out. I do have a life you know.”
Harper worked out in her home gym, she never drove the SUV. She came back and went to the stables to work with the horses. Kate showed up at around 4:00 straight from work to train with Brave. After they were through for the day Harper sat in the office with Kate, they talked about the upcoming event. It was a hometown event, The New England Invitational and they were both favored to win by the local press.
“Since the event is so close do you think he’ll be there,” Kate suddenly asked?
“I think this is the first time you’ve said anything about him Kate. Is it that obvious?”
“Harper, you’re kidding right, there’s one thing you’re not and that’s a person that can hide her emotions. What happened between you two? I never met him but it was obvious there was something between the two of you, besides him keeping you safe. Jason told me when he met you it looked like you were a couple that had been together for a long time.”
“I had a chance to find out who killed my mother and father and he let the police have the guy instead of us getting the information from him ourselves. That may sound cold to you but I have to get justice for them Kate. If I don’t I’ll never be able to get over their deaths, so no matter what I have to do, the guy that had them killed is going to pay, I just can’t let that go.”
Saturday morning early Harper had her king cab truck hooked up to the fifth wheel trailer. All the tack and saddles were loaded and Jose’ was helping Harper with the horses when Kate pulled up. It wasn’t a long ride to the county fair grounds and a lot of competitors would be there. This was the first event Harper would be competing in since she had come back home. It was obvious she was leaner, she had a hard look. Kate had several other riders come over and talk to her including her father. Harper walked the course with Walter and when they got back to the trailer Kate was there with Jason, she had already dressed in her ridding clothes and there was a tall young man with Jason.
“Harper Lewis this is my cousin Mat Lions,” Jason said.
Mat had brown hair and very blue eyes and a dimple when he smiled which seemed like all the time. He tried to engage her in conversation without any luck. She accepted Mats best wishes today and went into the trailer.
Kate took a first place in the hunter class with Brave that day. She’d been dominating the competition over the last two months. The jumpers were next and Harper had drawn the last spot building the excitement of the crowd. The course was difficult there were more three rail jumps than usual and two with water it was if they made the course impossible to go through without fault. Harper was listening to Walter Keys her trainer give her the same instructions as always just before ridding out.
“Stay calm and give him his head Harper, are you listening?”
She missed him, she wished he was there, maybe in the crowd watching, and maybe he’d congratulate her if she won.
“I’m listening Walter, we’re both in the best condition we’ve been in years.”
She continued to search the crowd.
“It’s not always about being in the best condition, you have to have the right attitude Harper, Neck Rider will feed off of your emotions and confidence.”
She didn’t see him in the crowd there was no one there for her. The bastard that had her parents killed was killing her too in a way. He was taking any happiness she could possibly have and killing it too. She couldn’t forgive not getting the information from Ronald Beale if she did she’d be dishonoring her parents. A tear ran down her cheek and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. Then she got angry she’d be alone the rest of her life if that’s what it took, but the bastard that had her parents killed would pay.
She rode in a circle before getting the start. Neck Rider threw his head back and lifted his front feet high eager to please. She let the reins go loose and urged him toward the first fence. He bolted toward it, Harper thought his strides were off and that she had him too excited letting her anger transfer to the horse. He blew through his nose hard and cleared the first three rail fence easily. Harper didn’t pull him back and she couldn’t control her angry thoughts, it was almost as if she wasn’t there. Like a war horse Neck Rider charged the next two rails with water. He tossed his head and cleared the fence and water. He only had a short distance before another three rail fence, this was the one none of the other horses had cleared clean. Harper could feel every muscle in the tall horse, his strong strides pushed them, and then he jumped.
Neck Rider cleared the fence easily, she could hear the crowd gasp, Neck Rider charged through the course. Jumping wasn’t a timed event but the big bay Hoisteiner finished without a fault and in a record time.
The crowd in the stands erupted in applause it was quite obvious who the crowd favorite was and who had won. The other owners and competitors were angry for the past weeks others had exchanged places finishing first and now Harpers first time back she had dominated the competition. It took a while for the award ceremony and for the crowd to disperse before Harper made her way back to her trailer. She was congratulated by Walter before he left. And by an excited Kate and Jose’, Jason and his cousin didn’t attempt any conversation but gave their congratulations. Harper never smiled once, Jose’ tended to Neck Rider and she went to go inside the front part of her trailer when an older couple approached, she immediately recognized Mr. and Mrs. Wellington.
“Bravo Harper you gave the crowd quite a show today,” Mrs. Wellington said in her demure manor.
“I offer my congratulations Harper you’re doing more for the sport than anyone in years. There’ll be right ups in main stream newspapers not just jumper’s enthusiast publications,” Mr. Wellington said. “However there for a moment I thought I was watching the training
of a war horse.”
Harper invited the older couple to come into the trailer with her for more privacy. There were people still taking photographs. She had them sit at the small table and booth seat while she got them a glass of water. Kate helped Jose’ with the horses leaving them to talk privately not knowing who the older couple was but saw the love and respect Harper had for them.
“Thank you for the water dear,” Mrs. Wellington said.
“I guess champagne would be more appropriate to serve and I have no doubt some of my competitors were prepared, I guess I don’t feel like celebrating.”
“Well that’s obvious dear,” Alexis said. “There’s no happiness on your face Harper, you’ve lost weight, and your eyes don’t have that sparkle that I saw when first we met.”
“Now Alexis it’s not our place to point out Harpers unhappiness, we’re not her grandparents,” Alexander said.
“I wish that you were. I won today but you’re right sir, Neck Rider was feeling my mood and he charged the course. That’s not the equestrian way, and it was as you said more suited to a war horse charge. I feel honored that he did it for me.”
“Harper dear, you’re fighting yourself, you love him and your pride is letting you suffer for it,” Alexis said. “I take the liberty to speak my mind because of my age hopping I don’t get told off and that you don’t unleash one of your infamous tirades, and just so you’ll know Faxon is in the same state.”
Harper stood in the small kitchen, now her head was up and looking at them, just the mention of his name and she knew they had seen him.
“His smile is gone, he looks miserable and blames himself for your leaving him,” Alexis continued. “Since we knew the story about your parents he told us what happened when you weren’t with him. As hard as it was for me to believe what you would have done to that man to make him talk, it was equally as hard for me to believe that if Faxon could do it again he would have tortured that man himself to get the information so that you would have remained with him, and to have saved you from doing the unthinkable yourself.”
Harper hung her head again partly for causing him so much pain, and partly for not being able to let go of the issue.
“It’s hard to explain, it has to do with the way my father raised me. To forget what happened would be to deny my parents the ability to rest in peace. Until the man responsible has paid the ultimate price for their deaths I can’t continue my life, I can’t let it go.”
“Then you’ll have to come to the conclusion that you may never have peace in your life, or love,” Alexander said. “What you may have to do could possibly leave scars that may never go away. I would suggest you put this resentment away and go back to Faxon.”
“I agree,” Alexis said.
“You said you saw him? You must have had information about the list,” Harper said.
“You know how long the list was Harper,” Alexander said. “My military connections did give me some information. There’s several government agency’s after the man that’s responsible, because of different reasons but he is being pursued. I was able to narrow the list down to four, if you want the names you’ll have to go get it from Faxon.”
Harper didn’t press the older man she had a lot of respect for them both, and knew no matter what she said he wouldn’t give her any more information.
“None the less young lady we enjoyed your performance today,” Alexander said. “We’ll say a prayer Harper, a prayer that you find peace and love and that you come to an understanding of what it means to have someone like Faxon in your life. That man truly loves you Harper, he’d be willing to give up everything for you.”
As Alexander and Alexis were leaving the trailer Alexis stopped.
“Alex I’d like to tell Harper one more thing dear I’ll be right there.” Alexis shut the trailer door and turned around to face Harper. “I just want to say one more thing. I’m sure if your mother were here she would say the same thing. Women often have to forgive our men, we’re the strong ones dear, they make mistakes that sometimes hurt us, but they’re too damn stupid to know what to say to make us feel better. It’s not a weakness Harper for you to go to him. He’s hurting Harper.” Alexis kissed her cheek and left.
Harper encouraged Kate to go with Jason and Mat, then after she changed out of her riding clothes she went back home with Jose’. Harper worked putting tack and saddles away, brushing the horses, making sure the automatic water buckets were working and even gave them some oats before going up to the house. She was tired and mentally wore out, her mind kept thinking about her conversation with Alexander and Alexis. She pulled her boots off at the door as Aunt Rachel and Conner were just going out.
“If it’s alright I thought we’d take the Porsche,” Rachel said.
Harper looked up quickly, “no, you have your own car.”
Rachel and Conner looked at each other.
“I told you didn’t I,” Rachel said.
“Don’t gloat sweetheart what you don’t realize is that you’re more like Harper than you are willing to admit,” Conner said.
“You bought that car for him, didn’t you?” Rachel looked at Harper, “and you don’t want anyone else to drive it, not even you. And we are different in one way, I can keep my man.”
Harper was angry but was too tired to fight with Rachel. She walked around them and went upstairs to take a shower. After she sat on the side of the bed thinking about what had happened that day. She reached over and picked up her cell phone and dialed Ned Devine’s.
“Yes I’d like to speak to William, yes the upstairs bar tender.”
Harper waited while the girl downstairs transferred the call to the upstairs bar.
“Hello this is William.”
“William, its Harper. I just wanted to call, I was having a bad day and I thought if I could just talk to someone it would make me feel better. You know what they say about bar tenders, they’re like psychiatrist.”
“Damn Harper, give me just a minute to get someone to cover for me,” he said.
He got one of the waitresses then slipped out back on the stairs.
“Harper Faxon’s not here, I don’t know where he is but I guess the question is why the hell aren’t you here with him? He hasn’t told us anything but that you went back home.”
“It’s hard to explain William, how’s he doing?”
“That’s a crappy thing to ask Harper. He’s a fucking train wreck. One night we had a guy get in a fight with another customer, and this guy was a big guy, I mean six foot six, three hundred pounds and Faxon kicked the shit out of this guy, put him in the hospital. Two nights ago there was this guy about five foot ten a buck eighty and Faxon let the guy beat him nearly to death. If I hadn’t hit the guy in the back of the head with a beer bottle it would have been Faxon in the hospital.”
“Is he ok now, what happened to him, who took care of him?”
“It took him two days to get out of bed, no stiches just bruised up good. The girls here at the bar took turns taking care of him.”
“Good, I mean, I’m glad he has you and the girls to help him. I miss him William, but I’m afraid what’s done is done.”
“What the hell does that mean? Listen Harper you don’t think that any of us thought you were Faxon’s partner do you? Don’t you see, none of us wanted to call you a client because we knew that stubborn son of a bitch wouldn’t have anything to do with you. We all saw the way you two looked at each other and how shitty you both feel is proof we were right. Damn Harper how long you gonna torture the poor guy?”
“It’s a little ironic you happen to put it that way, and I don’t know the answer to that question William. Please don’t tell him I called it’ll just make things worse. You’re a good friend William, and try not to let him do anything stupid again.”
Harper hung up the phone and lay back on her bed and cried.
The next morning instead of her routine of going for a run and then working out she got dressed in a nice woman’s bu
siness suit and went to the office.
Kate was the first one to meet her at the front desk. “Hey look at you. Do you have some appointments today?”
“I told the old man I’d come in and talk to him about the Lewis Towers project, and then I thought I’d go with Jason to a meeting that he has with the regional superintendent for Arlington Hospital.”
Harper walked down the hall and didn’t knock on Sam Shepard’s open office door she just walked in and sat down.
“You’re dressed nice,” Sam said.
“I thought I’d go with Jason today.”
“Well when you used to go to a business meeting that involved a contract you’d dress a little more, let’s see, you know a little more sexy, get the guys attention. Is this about Faxon too?”
“I shouldn’t have to dress like a hooker to get a contract signed Sam, and you can leave Faxon Bennett out of this conversation.”
“Harper you lived with the guy, now I’m not stupid, you come back with a chip on your shoulder as big as a two by four, you’ve lost weight, and now you’re wearing a business suit, come on, what the hell girl slap the guy around and straighten him out and get on with it.”
“It’s not that easy, it has to do with mom and dad.”
“Ok, I’ll leave it alone. I only want what’s best for you girl.”
Jason came into the office. “Kate said you wanted to go with me to the meeting with the hospital administrator.”
After her conversation with Sam they decided to drive Jason’s Mercedes instead of Harper pickup truck. The hospital was going to be built in Littleton so they had agreed to meet at a local steak house. When they came in the hospital regional superintendent was waiting just inside the front doors. His name was Laurence Strickland, he had already met Jason.
“Larry the boss wanted to meet you, this is Harper Lewis,” Jason said.
Laurence was a good looking young man about the same age as Harper about six feet tall, same as Harper, black hair and eyes, he was slender.
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