Ry nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I’m sure you’re right.”
They walked back to the truck and drove away. Ry had driven to the crossroads before either of them spoke.
“How many lives do you suppose were ruined here?”
“I’d rather not know,” Ry admitted. “What do you suppose she was talking about them spraying? They don’t need to clear the vegetation before they drill.”
Kate shook her head. “Maybe they were trying to destroy the crops so people would sell them the land.”
Ry was horrified by the thought. “Why would they do that?”
“Greed.” Kate spat the word out so harshly Ry turned to look at her.
“Are you okay?”
“No. I’m sick to death of people caring more about a fricking dollar than they do about people.”
“Kate, I’m sure it’s been like that since the dawn of mankind.”
“It still doesn’t mean I can’t be tired of it.”
Ry turned the truck left. “She said it was about six miles from here.” She rubbed her chin. “Do you realize that if she really was eight years old when they started drilling, then she’s now over ninety?”
“I’m surprised the poor thing hasn’t broken her neck trying to walk around in all the crap back there.”
“Can you imagine having to live like that?” Ry asked. A glimmer of an idea planted itself in Ry’s mind.
The old woman was right about one thing, the chimney was no longer standing. Ry drove past the place three or four times before Kate finally spotted part of the foundation sticking out of the weeds. There was a grove of trees behind the house, but they seemed much closer than what Ry remembered from her dream.
She parked the truck alongside the road and took two nearly empty backpacks from behind the seat. Each pack had bottles of water tucked into the side pouches, along with a flashlight. She handed one of the packs to Kate.
“I guess we don’t have to worry about the area being overly populated,” Ry said as they walked across the field toward the house.
When they reached the area where the house had once stood, they found a pile of crumbled bricks from the old chimney and part of a stone foundation.
“There’s not much left, is there?” Kate said as she stared at the ruins. “Ry, I want my life to amount to more than this.”
“What are you talking about? Kate, I’ve told you before that you’ve already made a difference. You make a difference every time you save someone’s life.”
Kate shook her head. “Everything is changing. The new hospital administrator doesn’t care about people. All he cares about is the bottom line. He’s already laid off so many nurses that we’re working crazy hours. He’s let trained people go and replaced them with people willing to work for a lot less money, but they’re so inexperienced. It’s only a matter of time before someone makes a mistake.” She looked at Ry. “I couldn’t stand it if it were me. We’re so understaffed that there are days when I work an evening shift and then have to stay for a night shift as well. I’m bone tired by the time I finally get home. When you’re that tired it’s easy to make mistakes.”
Ry put her hand on Kate’s shoulder. “Is there anyone you can go to about him?”
“No. The head office doesn’t care. He’s cutting costs and that equals more profit. They’re only interested in profits.” She took a deep breath. “Ry, I’ve been thinking about quitting nursing all together.”
Shocked, Ry stopped sharply. “You love nursing. How could you just walk away?”
Kate shrugged. “I don’t know, but something has to change.”
She looked so lost that Ry took her into her arms and hugged her. “I know you, and you wouldn’t simply walk away from nursing without a good reason. You know that whatever you decide, I’ll be there to support you.”
“If I quit my job, you may have to support me,” Kate joked as she pulled away and wiped tears from her eyes. She grinned at Ry before looking toward the trees. “Are those the woods he ran into?”
“I think so, but they seem to be a lot closer to the house than when I saw them.”
“It’s been eighty-plus years, so I guess things would be different. Lead the way and I’ll follow.”
It took Ry an hour to locate the rock wall. “There it is,” she whispered and pointed. She could hear Kate breathing heavier. “Are you scared?”
“I think so,” Kate admitted.
“I’m glad because I’m terrified.” She swung the backpack off her shoulder and removed her flashlight.
Kate did the same.
“Come on, let’s go get it,” Ry said.
The hidden entrance was just as she had seen it. She turned on her flashlight and squeezed through. She glanced to her right and there sat the lantern. Since they had the flashlights, she decided not to try to light it. Who knew how the oil would react after all these years? She stepped out of the way so Kate could squeeze through.
The beam of Ry’s flashlight caught the stack of cardboard boxes of canning jars to her left. She giggled with excitement when she saw the old rusted still next to the boxes. She carefully raised the flap on the top carton. The box was empty. “It’s exactly as I saw it,” she said as she turned the light down to the two basketball-sized stones. She handed her flashlight to Kate.
“Shine the light down here,” Ry said as she knelt on the ground. The rocks were heavier than she had expected. The boy had seemingly rolled them away with ease.
Kate squatted down to help her.
As soon as the rocks were out of the way, Ry grabbed the light and looked at Kate. “Do you realize we’re within inches of a small fortune?”
Kate nodded.
Ry moved the flashlight beam down and peered inside the empty hole. She stared at it, not believing what she saw.
“What’s wrong?” Kate asked.
“It’s not here,” Ry said as she frantically ran the light around the perimeter of the hole.
Kate squeezed down and stared in.
They both sat down in front of the empty opening.
“This can’t be right,” Ry said. “I saw him put the money into the jars and then hide the jars in the hole. I saw him.”
Kate didn’t say anything.
Ry turned back to look in the hole again, then got up and went back to the boxes. She checked all three of them. The top two were empty, the bottom one still held eight empty jars.
“We should go,” Kate urged. “The old woman at the store might tell someone we were there asking questions.”
Ry nodded. She stopped and turned back to the hole.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t know. I just want to leave it as he left it.” She rolled the stones back in place, restacked the boxes and finally found the stick she had seen him use. She carefully wiped out their footsteps. When she reached the opening, she tossed the stick back inside, just as the boy had done in her vision.
As they trudged silently back to the truck, she wondered if anyone would ever again find the hidden spot. Then she began to wonder where the money had gone.
When they finally reached the truck and were inside, Ry stared out across the land. “Perhaps it was best we didn’t find it,” she said. “Maybe it was never meant to be found.”
“Do you think he came back for it and spent it?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know. He was twelve when he hid it there and twenty-one when he was arrested. He had nine years to spend it.”
“Yes. But, he was placed in an orphan’s home. How old would he have been when he left there?”
Ry shrugged. “Eighteen, I suppose.”
“That only left him three years.”
“Within those three years he married and had two kids,” Ry reminded her. “He may have told his wife where the money was after he was arrested.”
“I thought Victor told you the grandsons knew he hadn’t spent the money. Is that why Larry kept going to see him?”
Ry cranked the truck. “
Who knows? I’m sorry I dragged you all the way out here on a wild goose chase.”
Kate placed her hand over Ry’s hand. “I had fun today. How often does anyone actually get to go on a real live treasure hunt?” She squeezed Ry’s hand before she got busy fastening her seat belt. “I’m really impressed you were able to find the place.”
“Let’s go home. I’ll buy you dinner at the café.”
“Are you joking? I still have leftover spaghetti we have to finish. You know how I hate to throw away food.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ry arrived at the shop just after daybreak on Sunday morning. Sleep had been slow in coming the night before. At some point during the night, she realized she hadn’t heard the voices since Tuesday night. She deliberately tried to hear them, but nothing happened. She had finally fallen into a restless sleep somewhere around three. Now she was in a foul mood and hoped work would put her back on track. As she worked she thought about the money and then about the voices. Why had they disappeared? She took off her gloves and looked around in the debris until she found an old metal cheese grater. She picked it up and waited, but nothing happened. After digging around a bit longer, she found a pair of furrier nippers and picked them up. Again, nothing happened. From the corner of her eye, she saw a gleam. She dug through the debris and found a gold wedding band. She had purchased it at an estate sale she had gone to over a year ago. She picked it up and gasped when she felt the wave of love wash over her. The image of a young couple in plain clothes wavered before her. She watched as he slipped the ring on her finger. A shout called her back. When she turned she found Kate at the back door watching her.
“Are you all right?” she asked as she came closer.
Ry nodded and smiled. “I am now.”
Kate tilted her head slightly. “I don’t have to be at work until tomorrow night. They changed my schedule again.”
“They sure are changing your schedule a lot,” Ry said.
“It’s crazy,” Kate said and sighed as she looked around her. “Where shall I start?”
Ry swept her hand across the mess. “All of this has to go. If you find anything intact, just put it over there in one of those boxes.” She pointed to the row of boxes she had lined along the walls.
They worked steadily for over an hour. Kate heard the noise first.
“What’s going on out there?” she asked as she turned to look toward the back door.
Ry frowned. “It sounds like car doors.” She started walking toward the back, but before she reached the door, her brother, Daniel, stepped inside. Ry watched as one by one her family members walked into the room. She couldn’t stop the tears when Lewis came to her.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he hugged her tightly.
Her three sisters-in-law joined them and soon everyone was crying.
“Did we come down here to blubber or help your sister?” her dad bellowed as he came in. “Ry, give Daniel your keys so he can get your truck out of the way. We brought a couple of trailers.” He took Ry’s keys and turned to Daniel. “Move her truck and bring a trailer in. We’ll fill it up and you and James can take it to the dump while we’re filling the other one.” He saw Kate. “Glad to see you two finally came to your senses.”
“Dad, stop it,” Ry said. “Kate came by to help.”
“That’s what I meant,” he said. “What did you think I meant?” He gave her a slight smile and winked, before he started barking orders.
Ry hugged her mom. “I’ve missed you all so much.”
“I’m glad you didn’t call,” her mom said softly. “I really missed you, but it showed some,” she nodded toward Lewis, “what it would be like without you there for our weekly dinner.”
“Where are the kids?” Ry asked.
“They’re at the house. Your Aunt Sophie offered to stay with them.”
Ry rubbed her cheeks. “I feel bad for the kids.”
Her mom swatted her arm. “Stop it. The poor old thing means well, God bless her.”
Daniel suddenly appeared before Ry and pinched her cheeks. “Aunt Sophie said to tell you hi.” He ran before Ry could grab him.
“Daniel, stop horsing around,” their father yelled. “I should have left you at home and brought the kids,” he grumbled.
With her family’s help, the debris seemed to melt away. In no time at all the ground floor was empty and they were heading upstairs. With the trailer parked beneath the back window, tossing the trash out was twice as easy. By nine thirty that evening the job was finished and everyone was starving. Her mom began to unpack a feast she had brought for them. Her family sat on buckets around an old door laid across a pair of sawhorses and ate their evening meal together. Everyone was exhausted, but Ry couldn’t remember when she had been happier.
After they had finished eating, Lewis reached into his shirt pocket. “I almost forgot. I found this outside by the trailer. It’s old so I assumed it was part of your inventory.”
Ry reached for the item he was handing her. As soon as it touched her fingers, a wave of colors washed over her. As the image became clear, she began to smile. When her vision cleared, she found her family staring at her. She looked at the nickel in her hand. “It’s a 1930 buffalo nickel,” she explained. She glanced at Kate and smiled. “It has some condition issues, so it’s only worth about forty cents. I like them because you rarely ever see one anymore.”
“Let’s get this mess cleaned up,” her father said as he stood and pointed to the table. “It’s getting late.”
Together they cleared the stuff away quickly. In no time at all her family had left.
Kate stood at the back door with Ry. “It’s late. I should get going.”
Ry grinned. “Are you too tired to take a ride?”
Kate looked at her doubtfully. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a secret.”
Kate made a face. “I’ve never liked secrets very much.”
“I promise you’re going to like this one.”
“I guess this secret can’t wait until tomorrow?” she asked.
“No. If you don’t want to go, it’s okay. I can go alone.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “You know that drives me nuts. This had better be good because bouncing around in that old truck of yours has already bruised every bone in my body.”
“You’re going to have to trust me on this, okay? It may be a little scary at first, but we’ll be all right. I promise.”
Kate looked doubtful but nodded.
Forty minutes later, they turned onto a small county road. When Kate realized where they were headed, she grabbed Ry’s arm. “I don’t want to go back out there.”
“I promise you, we’ll be safe.”
“How can you promise that?”
Ry shrugged. “Just because I can. Trust me, okay?”
When she parked the truck in front of the house where they both had almost died, Ry had a moment of misgiving. The bullet-riddled walls and fluttering police tape did nothing to make the place look inviting. “If you’d rather not go in, you can wait here.”
Kate smacked her arm. “I told you to stop that.” She eased the truck door open and hopped to the ground.
Ry grabbed the backpacks that she had left behind the truck seat from their previous trip. They carefully picked their way through the rubble. She found the old upright radio in the back bedroom, exactly where it had been on the day she tried to buy it.
“Help me turn this around,” she said as she sat her flashlight on the floor.
“What are you doing?” Kate hissed.
“Come on and help me.”
Together they managed to turn the radio around. The back panel was loose and fell off as soon as they let go. Stuffed inside the case were two bags. Kate grabbed one and Ry took the other. Without saying a word, they quickly replaced the back panel and moved the radio into the same position it had been when they arrived. Ry grabbed the backpacks and flashlight and they ran from the building. Neither woman spoke unt
il they were safely inside Ry’s motel room. After closing the drapes, they slowly dumped the contents of the bags onto the bed. Even Ry was shocked by what came out. It wasn’t the old money from the robbery, but rather a little over two hundred thousand in present-day currency.
“We have the wrong money?” Kate sputtered.
Ry shook her head. “Larry had already sold the old money. This is what he got for it.”
“How did you know where to look?” Kate asked.
“Do you remember the nickel that Lewis found? It must have been from the stolen money. Maybe it was in the box with the woodcarvings and I never noticed it. I don’t really know. But, when Lewis handed it to me, I saw an image of Larry Lawson stuffing the bags into the radio. I tried to buy the radio when I was out there, but he was adamant about not selling it.”
“What are you going to do with the money?”
Ry stared at Kate. “I was sort of hoping that the two of us might find a way to make a difference with this money,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s lease the store out,” Ry said. “We can take some of this money, help those poor people in McDowell and use whatever’s left to help others. I don’t have it all figured out yet, but if I found this money, I’m sure I can find more. Who knows what all we can accomplish?” She took a deep breath. “Kate, I know we have a lot of issues to work through, personal ones I mean, but I want you in my life. I don’t want you to quit your job here and run off to who knows where.”
“So you’re asking me to be your business partner?” Kate asked.
Ry nodded. “For now,” she said and shrugged. “Maybe with time we could work things out and get back to where we used to be. Back to when it was good between us.”
“What if that’s not what I want?”
Ry swallowed her disappointment. “Then I still want you as my friend and a partner in whatever this leads to.” She pointed to the money on the bed.
Kate looked at her for a long moment. “I’m willing to stay here for a while and see how it goes. But I need more than we had before. I want a partner to go through life with. Not one I see during her free time.”
The Treasure Seeker Page 22