Her Forever Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 3)

by Agnes Alexander

  Her F OREVER Dreams

  A COVERTON MILLS ROMANCE, VOL. 3

  by Agnes Alexander

  Her Forever Dreams

  Copyright © 2011 Lynnette Hall Hampton

  Originally published as A Rose for a Forever Love

  Fire Star Press Printing 2017

  Originally published as A Rose For My Forever Love

  Cover Design Livia Reasoner www.firestarpress.com

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  P ROLOGUE

  The second week after Christmas nonsubscribers to The Coverton Mills Gazette rushed out to buy a copy so they could read the sensational story of the paper’s owners. Everyone in town was talking about the fact that Eve Armstrong had gone berserk and shot her husband and her son. Nobody knew why.

  Father Saves SonCOVERTON MILLS— On January 4, 54-year-old Seth Armstrong, local businessman and co-owner of the Coverton Mills Gazette, jumped in front of his son and saved Hunter Armstrong’s life. Hunter Armstrong, 24, is co-owner, editor and publisher of the Gazette.

  According to witnesses, Armstrong and his son were looking over the new equestrian facility at Armstrong Farm when Eve Armstrong, 53, walked in and opened fire on her husband and son with a hand gun.

  The first bullet caught Hunter in the right shoulder. His father then jumped in front of him and was hit by the next three shots. One landed in his left side, one grazed his right temple, and the third shattered his right hip. He is listed in critical condition at Memorial Hospital.

  According to horse trainer, Theo Beeler, he and two other hands rushed into the barn to see what was happening.

  When Eve Armstrong saw them, she ran out, got into her Cadillac, and sped away. No motive has been given for the assault.

  The incident is under investigation.

  January 7, a new headline appeared.

  Eve Armstrong Found DeadCOVERTON MILLS—The body of Eve Armstrong, 53, was discovered last night in a secluded area near Rightway Lake. She died of an apparent self-inflicted bullet wound to the head.

  Mrs. Armsrong’s body was discovered in the late afternoon by Clete Atkins who was rabbit hunting in the nearby woods. She was being sought for the attempted murders of her son, Hunter Armstrong, and her husband, Seth Armstrong, who remains in a coma at Memorial Hospital.

  January 10, a short headline announced the interment.

  Eve Armstrong InterredCOVERTON MILLS— In a private ceremony, Eve Armstrong, 53, was laid to rest in Coverton Mills Memorial Gardens.

  Surviving are her husband of 34 years, Seth Armstrong; three children: Ashley Armstrong Bradshaw of Atlanta, Jessica Armstrong, and Hunter Armstrong of Coverton Mills. Also surviving are two grandchildren.

  The day after the interment, Seth Armstrong began to awake from his coma.

  C HAPTER 1

  “This is the turn off to Armstrong Farm, is that where you want to go, Doreen?”

  “Yes. He owns this as well as the Gazette and a couple of other businesses in town.” Doreen Weaver made a note in the black notebook she always kept with her. “No sense in one man owning so much, is there?”

  Virgie Fox ignored her question. “How do you know he’ll talk to you?”

  “I don’t know. We’ll just have to see what happens when we get there.” Doreen’s voice was a little sharp. Lord, she wished she hadn’t needed Virgie to get her to Coverton Mills, but her money was about gone and Virgie had this nice new car. Another advantage was that Virgie was a lonely old maid neighbor and didn’t have anyone to worry about her. Everything was going to work out if Doreen could just stand Virgie’s yammering a little longer. After I get what I want, she can go to hell as far as I’m concerned. At least then I won’t have to listen to her whine and complain all the time.

  Virgie frowned. “I wish you’d tell me what this is all about. You’ve been obsessed with getting in touch with this Armstrong man ever since you read about his wife shooting him and that happened more than a year ago.”

  “Actually, it has been almost two years,” Doreen snapped. To top it off, Virgie is not only an idiot, but she’s the nosiest person I know. Why don’t she just shut up and drive?

  “But you said you only found out about it a couple of months ago,” Virgie continued.

  Doreen sighed and decided the best way to keep Virgie quiet was to answer questions with as few words as possible. “That’s right. I got the word from a friend who lives up here.”

  “But what’s this deal got to do with you? I wish you’d tell me what you’re up to, Doreen. Maybe I could help you get it accomplished quicker and we could get back to Florida. I don’t like it here.”

  “It’s better that you don’t know what’s happening, yet, Virgie.” Doreen felt a headache coming on.

  “Well, do you think it’ll take long? I heard there might be bad weather tonight and I don’t want to get caught in these mountains if it snows. You know I’ve been in Florida too long to remember how to drive in snow. Besides, it didn’t snow a lot in Alabama where I moved to Florida from.”

  Doreen snarled. “Virgie, you’re the one who insisted on coming along on this trip. Now, if you don’t want to go to the farm with me, go back to Asheville and check into a motel. I’ll use your car and come here alone tomorrow.”

  “I’m not loaning you my car. You’re not the best driver in the world and this baby cost me a lot of money. Besides, I’m afraid you’re up to something and I don’t want you getting into trouble.”

  “Do you think you could stop me, if trouble was what I was looking for?” Doreen wondered how much longer she could keep her temper in check. It would be easier if she could get to her luggage and take one of her ‘feel good’ pills, but that was impossible. Virgie insisted all their luggage be put in the trunk.

  Virgie sighed. “I’ve never been able to stop you so far. You’re always into something, and it mostly has to do with some man you’ve picked up or those drugs you like to mess around with. Why don’t you quit that stuff, Doreen? You’re too old to go to prison if they catch you.”

  “Nobody’s gonna catch me unless some stupid goody-goody turns me in.”

  “I’m not going to turn you in. You know I’d never do a thing like that. I’m just trying to help you.”

  “You’re just jealous because you aren’t able to attract a man and you’re five years younger than me.”

  “That’s not so. I don’t want no old man in my life. I’m happy just the way I am.”

  “Yeah, right!”

  Virgie stuck her mouth out, but she didn’t answer as they neared a sign that advertised Armstrong Farm with an arrow pointing to the right. She eased the new Lexus up the paved road and Doreen knew she was trying to think of something else to argue about, but she didn’t have a chance to say anything. They had come to a parking area near a large barn. Virgie pulled in the center of two spaces in case another car arrived. She didn’t want anyone parking near her Lexus and dinging her doors. She turned off the motor and turned to Doreen. “Now we’re here, what are we going to do?”

  “You’re going to wait here while I go check this place out.” Doreen opened her door and got out. She held the side of the car to give her knees a chance to limber up. Damn arthritis. Maybe I should have that knee replacement. I never dreamed turning fifty-six would be so
hard. I hope I can accomplish what I need to get done here before it gets much worse. If I’m laid up with surgery, I might not be able to do what they’re telling me I have to do.

  A man ambled from the barn. He was tall, thin, but it looked like he had a fairly good build under the heavy down jacket he wore. His heavy, dark beard intrigued her, and Doreen wondered if he was a good lover.

  “Can I help you, ma’am?” he asked in a thick mountain drawl.

  “I’d like to look over your stables.”

  “Do you have a horse you want to board?”

  “Maybe.”

  The man looked at her with curiosity in his dark eyes. “I’m Theo Beeler, one of the horse trainers here at Armstrong Farm. I’ll be glad to show you around.”

  “Thank you.” Doreen realized he wasn’t as old as she first thought. Probably in his early- to mid-thirties. He’d sure look better if he’d shave the beard. Probably look younger, too. She wondered if he liked to get high and party with older women. Some young men did.

  Virgie got out of the driver’s side of the car and Doreen said to her, “Mr. Beeler is going to show me the facilities. Since you’re not interested in horses, why don’t you wait in the car? It’ll give you a chance to start that book you picked up.”

  •♥ •

  Virgie knew Doreen was determined to do whatever she had in mind and she was determined to do it alone. Virgie only wished she knew what it was all about, but it didn’t look like she was going to find out. Not yet, anyway. Doreen had always been secretive.

  When they became friends and neighbors a few years ago, Virgie soon learned Doreen could be headstrong at times, if not downright stubborn. Why does she act as if she doesn’t need anybody in the world? Why can’t she accept help when it’s offered? I’d be a dependable friend if she’d let me. Wasn’t I the first one to help out when her husband took off and left Doreen to follow his dream? I remember he said he loved the society woman he’d romanced at the beach and was going to follow her to the ends of the earth if he had to. Virgie let these thoughts run through her mind as she got back into the car. She decided she wasn’t going to spend any more time worrying about Doreen, because she figured the woman would tell her what was going on in due time.

  She picked up the romance novel she’d found in the motel room where they’d stayed last night. She liked the sexy man on the cover. She knew she should probably have turned it in at the desk as they left, but instead, she tucked it in her purse when they checked out. She began to read, and wondered when she’d get to the juicy part. Maybe she didn’t live the exciting life Doreen, or the women did in the pages of these romance novels. She didn’t really want to, but she sure didn’t mind reading about them. It made her feel all gooey inside.

  •♥ •

  Doreen turned to Theo. “I’m ready for you to show me around now, Mr. Beeler.”

  “If you’ll come this way, Ms. uh…”

  Doreen figured she’d better give him a false name. “Turner.” It was the first thing that came to her mind.

  “Thank you, Ms. Turner. I’ll show you this barn. It’s our main one. Several of our best horses are stabled here.”

  Doreen followed him into the large aisle flanked on each side by rows of horse stalls. Theo Beeler was explaining about the facility, but she only half heard him. She was busy scanning the stables and the area inside. She had to memorize the layout of this place.

  When he took a breath, Doreen said, “Mr. Beeler, I’ve researched Armstrong Farm on the internet. I know it’s a world class operation, but that’s not what concerns me.”

  “Then what does, Ms. Turner?” He cocked an eye at her.

  “I was told an attempted killing took place here. There’s a rumor that it might be safer to stable a horse elsewhere.”

  “Let me assure you, Ms. Turner, the horses are perfectly safe here. Mr. Armstrong insists on the best security for the animals. We have a state-of-the-art alarm system and the area is checked periodically.”

  “So, the attempt wasn’t on the life of one of the more valuable horses.”

  “No, ma’am. It was against the Armstrongs.” He eyed her. “The incident happened a long time ago and there has been no trouble since.”

  Doreen knew she was going to have to play dumb to get any information out of this man. He was smarter than he looked. “Well, that sounds good. I hope Mr. Armstrong wasn’t hurt at the time, though.”

  “He was laid up for a while, but he’s fine now.”

  She nodded. “Let me ask you, Mr. Beeler, are the horses exercised daily?”

  He half-smiled and she knew it was because she’d changed the subject. She now knew how to handle him. Switch tactics during the questioning.

  He said, “Yes, ma’am, they’re turned out every day. When we bring them inside during cold weather, we keep the ventilators going so we can close them up at night. This barn is heated, and we keep the temperature around forty-five to fifty degrees.”

  “And I hope they’re kept on a good diet.”

  “Of course. Mr. Armstrong is picky about the feed we buy, especially the hay. If we don’t raise enough in our specially seeded fields to go through the winter, he will only buy from farmers he knows who produce good grain.”

  Doreen walked to one of the stalls. “This is a beautiful horse. I bet he has won some ribbons.”

  “That’s Powder. He’s Mrs. Bradshaw’s horse. She shows him sometimes, but she mainly likes to ride him.”

  “Mrs. Bradshaw? Should I know her?”

  “She’s Mr. Armstrong’s oldest daughter. The one married to the lawyer.”

  Doreen could tell by what looked like jealousy in his eyes, this man had a thing for Seth Armstrong’s oldest daughter. Mr. Beeler must be a spurned lover, or maybe he was one of the farm hands who had never been able to fulfill his unrequited love for the rich owner’s daughter. Whichever the case happened to be, she could tell from his voice he sure didn’t like the woman’s lawyer husband.

  Doreen shook her head and said, “I thought she might be someone I’ve met on the circuit. I don’t know the Armstrong family.”

  “Mr. Armstrong has three children and they all keep their horses here.”

  Doreen turned and smiled at him. “That’s nice. Does Mrs. Armstrong have a horse, too?”

  Theo Beeler frowned. “You don’t know what happened here, do you?”

  She put on her most innocent face. “Should I?”

  “Not really, but if you’re from the area, I don’t see how you wouldn’t know. It was talked about for months.”

  “I’m moving here from Florida. I was only checking out places before I have my horse shipped up.”

  “I see.” He nodded. “Well, I might as well tell you. You’re going to hear it, anyway.” Doreen looked at him and he went on. “A couple of years ago, Mrs. Armstrong came running in here with a gun and tried to shoot her son, Hunter. He’s the youngest of the Armstrong kids. Mr. Armstrong got between Hunter and the bullets and saved his son’s life.”

  “Why in the world would a woman want to shoot her own son?” Doreen put on her most shocked face.

  “That’s the big question, Ms. Turner. All I know is that when I came in, Mrs. Armstrong was screaming something about Hunter not being her son. Then she said she didn’t want to hurt him, but he had no right to live in the family home. When she saw she’d shot Mr. Armstrong, she ran out sobbing and screaming. I didn’t try to stop her because I knew I had to get him help as quick as I could. He was bleeding all over the place.”

  “I hope they got the poor woman some help for her mental condition. She had to be unbalanced to do such a thing.”

  He shook his head. “I’m sure they would’ve, but they didn’t get a chance. She killed herself before anyone could find her.”

  “That’s a sad story.”

  “Yes, it is, but as I said, it happened some time ago. Everyone has put it behind them and moved on with their life.”

  “Has Mr. Armstrong rema
rried?”

  He raised his eyebrow at her. “No.” His voice was kind of sharp. “Why do you ask?”

  Doreen knew she shouldn’t have asked that question. She played innocent and smoothed it over by saying, “Just curious, I guess, but since he hasn’t remarried, I can’t say as I blame him. It’s probably hard to trust a woman now.” She took a deep breath. “Thank you for sharing with me, Mr. Beeler. Now I’ll have no worries if I decide to board my horse, China, at Armstrong Farm. I’m sure he’ll be well taken care of.”

  Mr. Beeler nodded. “I’m glad I was able to put your mind to rest.”

  “You certainly did, and it’s a lovely place. I think China would be happy here.”

  Theo Beeler smiled. “When do you think you’ll bring your horse up?”

  “It’ll be a few weeks. Do you have a card so I can get in touch with you?”

  “Of course.” He took a card from his shirt pocket. “Here you go. The stable office number is there if you have other questions.”

  She started toward the door and he followed. “Thank you, Mr. Beeler.”

  “It was my pleasure, Ms. Turner.”

  “Thank you, too, for telling me about the shooting. I was afraid something might happen to China. I’ve had him for three years, and he’s family.”

  He smiled. “A lot of the folks around here think that way about their horses. Ms. Jessica sure does.”

  “Ms. Jessica?”

  “That’s Mr. Armstrong’s other daughter. She’s not married and teaches over at the high school.”

  “I see. It’s good the family sticks together and they all have an interest in horses.”

  “They sure do. Hunter’s girlfriend has one here, too. He gave it to her for her birthday. They come and ride together.” He laughed. “Mostly they ride on weekends because he publishes the local paper. He’s busy most of the time during the week.”

  “It’s sweet they have that interest to share as a couple.”