Alvarado Gold

by Victoria Pitts-Caine

  They both nodded their heads and moved to chairs at the table. I hated to be so rough on them but I’d seen too much damage done by employees who didn’t know what they were doing.

  Since Sherry and Mitch hadn’t been issued their company shirts yet, she wore a short, spaghetti strapped dress. “Addie, can we turn down the air conditioning? I’m freezing.”

  “No. That’s one of the first things you need to learn. The documents have to be kept in a climate-controlled situation especially when they’re in the open and not under glass. There’s a sweater on the back of my chair. You probably should bring in one yourself tomorrow.”

  “Okay. Let’s begin Restoration 101. Here’s what we need to do. First, each set of documents will be kept together as they are labeled on the bags from the dig. Always wear gloves. Don’t try to lift them, slide them onto the table. If you don’t think you can do it yourself, ask for help. From that point we will be cleaning and smoothing before placing them between two sheets of glass to be mounted. I’ll be working on all of the torn documents. I don’t think there are too many but there’s bound to be a few. I’ll let you watch me piece them back together and clean them. After everything is mounted, we take them to the digitizing room where they’ll be scanned into a computer. That way when they’re on exhibition at the museum, the viewers can look closely at the documents on screens in front of the display. Our job here is to conserve, not as much as to restore. Have either of you ever done anything like this before?” I knew the answer before they gave it.

  Silently, they both shook their heads no. A long, long summer lay ahead.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The morning moved slowly. Sherry didn’t quite understand the cleaning procedure, so I’d sent her up front to ask Catherine for some data input forms. Since Sherry seemed fairly adept at the computer, I planned to use her to do the cataloguing. Mitch, to my surprise, caught right on. In her absence, I decided to ask him a few questions.

  “Mitch, what was your major?

  “History. I really don’t know what I’ll do with it. I’ll probably go back and get my teaching credential someday but this job seemed so interesting.”

  “It is interesting work but you have to dedicate a lot of time and patience to it. I don’t think Sherry has gotten the knack of it yet.”

  “She always did well in school. I just think she doesn’t know where she’s going. Have you thought any more about Friday night?”

  I should have kept my mouth shut, especially about Sherry. Now he thought I was interested in him. I’d have to keep this strictly business. “Everyone in the main service area goes out together on Friday after work. That was what I referred to, Mitch. I’ve made it a policy not to date anyone at the office.”

  “Oh. I see.”

  He sounded so deflated that I felt a little sorry for him. “You knew Sherry in school, then?”

  “Yes. She was a history major, too. In fact, she was the reason I signed up for this job.”

  “Mitch! You and Sherry?” Whew. Thank goodness. Then why was he always following me around?

  “She never looked twice at me.”

  No wonder. Nerd boy wasn’t exactly a catch. I don’t know why I said this, but as happens to me on occasion, my mouth works, before my brain thinks. “How about a new haircut and some contacts? I could take you shopping at lunch sometime. I think you’d catch her eye then.”

  “Really, Addie? That would be terrific.”

  Yeah, terrific all right. Now what maternal instinct had brought that one on? Poor kid, I’d help him out. I’d probably get rid of him, too. Not a bad plan.

  At lunch I decided to do a little of my own restoration work. I brought out the letter and the map and smoothed them out on the light table. Both the pieces had little flecks running through them. They looked like they’d come from the same paper. I took out my magnifying glass and went over the map, inch by inch. When I came to the area near the outcropping of rock Gary said was the cave, I thought I could detect a lightly written group of words. They’d been either erased or faded. I strained my eyes but couldn’t decipher them.

  When we went to Barnesville, it would be the first place we’d look. I planned to call the cousins that night and make sure our plans were firmed up for September. I walked over to the storage cabinet and took out a large piece of acid free paper. I placed the map and the letter on the sheet far enough apart so they wouldn’t touch each other and rolled up the documents into a tube. This would prevent any further damage from folding.

  I’d finished up just as Mitch and Sherry came back. “Sherry, I’ve decided to make use of your computer skills and have you enter the data. You’ll take notes and fill out the input forms while Mitch and I work. Is that all right?”

  “It will be fine. I’ll probably do better at that anyway. I’m sorry, Addie. I shouldn’t have taken this job. I didn’t tell Jack I was going back to school in the fall.”

  “He won’t be happy to hear that but we might be able to use you part-time, just in another capacity. Well, let’s get back to it. We only did five documents this morning.”

  When three-thirty came around, I happily called it a day. Working and teaching at the same time exhausted me. Once I found the appropriate jobs for them, both of my new assistants were doing amazingly well. I think Mitch truly seemed interested, might even make a career of it; just as obvious, Sherry was just looking for a summer job.

  Mollie greeted me at the door with terry cloth strips in her mouth. The light on the phone machine blinked “two.” I picked Mollie up and playfully wrestled the sock away from her and pressed the button.

  “Addie, it’s Susan. I wanted to call and tell you about the wedding plans. It’s Friday, August 24, the weekend before we leave for Texas. Give me a call.”

  My life certainly had gotten busy lately. A wedding, a dinner date and a trip to Texas all lined up in less than a week's time.

  The second message wasn’t so pleasant.

  The caller breathed heavily into the phone. Then a rough, male voice growled, “Don’t even think about coming back to Texas. You’ve been warned to stay away. Something could happen to the four of you. Something unfortunate.”

  I collapsed into a chair, not even realizing how tightly I was holding onto Mollie until she began to struggle a bit and I released her to the floor. I also didn’t realize how badly my hands were shaking until I reached to replay the recording to see if caller ID picked up a number. Nothing.

  I hadn’t talked to Donnie since we were children. I had no way of knowing if it was him. Why the phone call now? How did he know we were planning to return in September? And if it wasn’t him, who?

  Chapter Fourteen

  My mind spun. No, it has to be Donnie but how did Donnie know we planned to go to Barnesville? Did David Darrow tell him? When Darrow gave me the letter, he acted like he didn’t know why Donnie appeared upset. His words were, “He’s afraid you four will take something precious away from him.” We never told Mr. Darrow we were going to Barnesville. The red digits blinked out 4:15 on the clock near the phone. Good, after seven on the east coast.

  On the third ring, Mel picked up. “Can you talk?” I blurted out knowing she’d recognize my voice.

  “Addie, what’s wrong? You sound upset.”

  “I am. I just received the most frightening message. We were warned again.” I sank into the couch. My head pounded. “No, threatened not to come back to Texas. Did we ever tell the lawyer we planned to look for the gold?”

  “No, we never talked about it except among ourselves but I’m sure he told Donnie he gave you the tortoiseshell box. Maybe Donnie thought there were clues in it. He had some sort of idea we had something or he wouldn’t have had the private eye on me at Neiman Marcus. Plus he told us to stay away from Barnesville in the letter you read at the airport. He must know we’re coming.”

  Mel sounded cool about the whole thing. Maybe I overreacted. I just couldn’t understand why we posed such a threat. “I guess you
’re right. He knew we went through the stuff at Grandpa’s house. I’m sure anyone could put two and two together and figure out we’d probably turn up something. We know he has the key.”

  “Don’t be so shook up. You’re tougher than that. Besides, there will be the four of us. Clay won’t let anything happen and the guy you met at the BLM is coming, too, isn’t he?”

  Mel had a calming affect on me. I felt better just talking to her. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. The voice was just so intimidating. Here, let me play it for you.” I switched on the message and cringed as I played it for Mel.

  “I see what you mean. No caller ID, huh?” Mel hesitate a moment before she continued. “Addie, don’t erase that. Maybe you should hang on to it.”

  “In case the boogie man gets us in Barnesville?” We both laughed and I changed the subject. “I meant to tell you when I called yesterday; I found this letter written in Spanish in the mountain of papers I brought back with me.” I remembered the pictures of the churches, too, but decided I wouldn’t tell her about them now. “It translates out to tell exactly where the gold is buried.”

  “No way! Well, that will make it easier. What more could we need? A map and a letter. We’ll be millionaires in no time.”

  She could always make me forget my troubles and that’s exactly what I needed to do. I sat up and reached for the glass of ice tea I’d left on the coffee table the night before, swirled it around in the glass and returned it to its place before I answered her. “Very funny. There’s a reference in the letter to a Mr. Hansen’s property. We’re going to have to get Gary to help us find out where this property was in 1870.”

  “Gary?” she chuckled. “You on a first name basis with this guy now?”

  “He apologized. I told you about the flowers. We talked again last night. He’s coming out to San Francisco right before we leave for Texas and wants to go to dinner”

  “And?”

  “I accepted.” I answered truthfully in hopes Mel would change the subject. Thankfully, she picked up on my mental cue. “Good. Did Susan call you?”

  “Yeah. Are you coming out to her ‘second’ wedding?”

  “I have to, I’m maid of honor. The timing is bad with the trip to Texas the following week but Richard and I will fly out to California for the weekend of the wedding.”

  “What’s the deal, anyway? I remember the first time I received an announcement they were married, not a wedding invitation.”

  “They went to Vegas which was awful for Susan. I felt so sorry for her. She and Mom had planned the biggest wedding, eight attendants. The flowers were ordered, the invitations printed, everything. Brad’s mom kept saying things to Susan behind Brad’s back. Every gift she accepted there was some remark to make about it. Susan took her pieces of the silver and china patterns to look at and the woman made some comment about how they’d never be able to afford to have anyone over for dinner. Brad finally had enough and they just got in the car and drove off one Saturday afternoon and called that night from Nevada telling Mom they were married. Susan worked for two years to pay back every penny to Mom and Dad.”

  “Poor Susan. How awful it must have been for her.” If I remember correctly, it would have been the summer she’d turned twenty. I wondered why Mel, who is extremely protective of Susan, hadn’t torn Brad’s mother’s hair out. She stepped in to mother Susan when Aunt Lyndie died. Susan took their death the hardest. “Is she still speaking to this woman?”

  “She’s on decent terms with her because of Brad and the kids. But you can bet she isn’t on the invitation list for this second go-around. Brad knew the big wedding was always Susan’s dream and he wanted to fulfill it for her. Grandma’s wedding dress worked out just right for her plans.”

  “I need to call her later. Don’t mention my phone message to her or Clay. I don’t want anyone else to know about it. I want this trip to be fun. Just the four of us getting together, being family. Now, I feel it has turned into something else.” The last thing I wanted was for this to turn into some cloak and dagger thing. Donnie’s behavior really ticked me off but I didn’t know him or what he was capable of. Perhaps he not only had the key from the box but the key to our family’s secrets. His outburst made me feel this secret ran far deeper than any of us imagined.

  “Stop worrying about it. He just figures if he threatens us we won’t come. If he’d think about it, we could all work together on this and find the gold. We have more clues than he does.”

  “Yeah. You’re right. I’ll be talking to you before we leave. I guess you’ve already gotten your flight to Texas, too?”

  “I’m flying into Forth Worth from Virginia but didn’t make any further plans. My flight's on Thursday, August 31. I’ll be getting in around noon.” Nice surprise. Richard must have made her flight plans for her. Mel was pretty cool but organization wasn’t exactly her forte.

  “With two flights for you in less than a week,” I questioned, “won’t you have jet lag?”

  “I’m used to it,” Mel chuckled. “I’m using my frequent flyer miles for both trips. Richard keeps track of those for me.”

  Mel was lucky she had Richard to do the little things she’d forget. Since I didn’t have someone looking after me, I needed to make my own arrangements. “I’ll make some calls tomorrow. Get some motel rooms. Stuff like that. Do you know if Clay and Susan have their plans set yet?”

  “She’ll will fly into Arizona and drive the rest of the way with Clay. They’ve made their plans. You need to get on the ball, girl.”

  “Guess I do, don’t I? Talk to you soon, then.”

  I hung up the phone and realized they were as excited about this as I’d become. We’d only gotten in on Sunday and they were making their plans to go back. I would make my reservation tonight. Mel had made me feel better about the threat but the little voice in my head made my pulse quicken when I thought about it. I hated that little voice.

  Chapter Fifteen

  My life between mid-June and mid-August moved faster than a Texas whirlwind crossing the dry, dusty land my ancestors once called home. Already August 12, I lazily stayed in bed that Sunday. Where had my summer gone? All my plans were made to leave for Barnesville on August 30, the Wednesday after Susan’s wedding.

  Susan would fly to Arizona and make the last leg of her trip with Clay. They’d pull in on Friday. Mel would arrive on Thursday. Since I’d be there first, I’d have time to look at the county records and see if the map and the letter offered any further clues.

  I wondered when Gary would leave. He’d needed to come to San Francisco for some meeting. I’d shared my schedule with him and he said he hoped all of his work would be wrapped up in time. I didn’t have to wonder about him too long. The phone rang.

  “Hello.” I must have sounded sleepier than I intended.

  His smooth voice, with just a touch of Texas twang, made me smile. “Did I wake you?”

  “No. I was just being lazy. Mollie and I are lying in bed with the Sunday Chronicle.” I moved my feet to the edge of the mattress so I could truthfully tell him I planned on getting up. What time was it anyway? Ten?

  He lowered his voice and the Texas accent drew out slow and rhythmically, “Lying in bed?” He laughed, “I’ve been up since dawn.”

  Over the last eight weeks, we’d become friends and I’d come to realize he had a genuine interest in our adventure.

  “I have some great news.” I heard the excitement in his voice.

  I tried not to have any in mine. “Yes?” I didn’t want him to think he’d swept me off my feet, even though he had. Eight bouquets of flowers in the eight weeks I’d been home. Two boxes of candy and one rather large, brown bear with a cowboy hat and six-shooter, not to mention a phone call every day. Sixty-four of them. I’d also become very interested in the project he was working on for his mother’s church. They were mapping out the old churches and cemeteries in Johnson County. It quickly became obvious why he knew so much about the Barnesville area. For such a small
community, it had two churches. The cemetery was behind what the founders called the First Church, the one in my picture. Then the railroad bypassed it and by 1905 it was almost a ghost town. The bustling community, with a bank and the first cotton gin in the area, along with the Barnes family, who raised cattle and prized thoroughbred horses, had moved on.

  In the beginning, I thought he reacted with too much interest in our trip and the gold. The way he pounced on the idea right from the start made me think his intent was elsewhere. His excitement about going along showed in our long conversations as he told me about the caves, the Indian sweat lodge and the history of the surrounding area. I began to trust him and felt comfortable with him, longing for the evenings and weekends when we could talk. I had to concede…I was falling in love with Gary Wright. I used to scoff at people who found their true love on the Internet. I wish I could personally thank Alexander Graham Bell.

  “And what’s the great news that couldn’t let me be idle another hour or two?”

  “I’m coming out on August 24. Need a date for Susan’s wedding?” I could feel my face getting hot. I didn’t plan to share him with my whole family. Not just yet, anyway. I wanted him to myself. My heart’s desire, to get to know him, in person, might be jeopardized by my jumble of relatives.

  I tried not to hurt his feelings, “Yeah…I guess.”

  “I don’t have to go if you don’t want me to, Addie.”

  “No. It’s not that.”

  “I was just going to get in early and I’d like to see you.”

  “Are you ready to meet this tribe of mine? My cousins and I have just been reacquainting ourselves with each other. We’ve been scattered for so many years.” I wanted to be close to my family. Well, I’d gotten my wish. I just hoped they didn’t give me a bad time about Gary.