by Bo Drury
“How long do they plan on keeping you here?”
“Three more days, the doc said this morning. Then they will put a walking cast on my leg and turn me loose.”
“Doris and I are going out to stay at the ranch. I will come back in the morning and check on you. If you need anything, call me.”
“How is Doris?” Before Harry could answer, he added, “Harry, ya'll be careful out there.” Scott looked serious and scared. He didn't seem to want to lose the person he thought was his only friend.
Harry waved from the door. “See ya tomorrow, kid.”
Leaving the hospital, Harry thought of Rosa. He should find out where she was and talk to her. He had a feeling she held the key to the mystery surrounding them. She had been there the whole time, knew the history and everyone involved. He would get hold of Josh tomorrow after he moved Doris and make arrangements to see Rosa.
Going back to the motel, he packed up their small amount of gear and loaded it into the jeep, then carried Doris out.
“I need to get some crutches,” she said. “You can't keep carrying me around.”
Harry didn't mind. It kept her dependant on him.
Pulling up in front of the rambling house, Harry couldn't help but admire the beauty of it and the surrounding grounds. Orlando was walking up from the barn and Jeb came out the front door to greet them. He was pushing a wheel chair.
Surprised, Doris asked, “Is that for me?”
“It was my mother's. I figured it would come in handy for you, so I had Orlando dig it out of storage.”
Harry set her in it, noticing it was electric. “No hot-rodding around just ‘cause you got wheels, Miss.” They all laughed as Doris figured out how to work the controls and steered the vehicle toward the house.
Harry unloaded the jeep and carried the luggage in, turning toward the guest wing. Doris had Melody's old room; Harry thought better of telling her, knowing how she felt about the place. Getting her settled in, he went to his old room, laid his things down and checked it over. He would make sure Doris had her patio doors locked before he left her. Looking in on her, he found she had her laptop set up and was busy at it already.
“I will come back for you when lunch is ready. No reason you can't wander around and check it out for yourself, though.”
“I'll be fine, Harry. Go do whatever you guys do and let me do my work.”
“Fine, I'll be back.” She is one hard woman to be nice to, he decided as he stalked down the hall and out the door.
Jeb and Orlando were still standing by the jeep talking when he came out. They stopped and watched him approach. “You get her settled in?” Jeb asked.
“Yeah. I stopped and looked in on Scott before I came out. He looks some better. He didn't have anything new to add about what happened to him. Hasn't a clue who put him in the cavern.”
Jeb was visibly upset, as was Orlando. “We were just talking about that. It had to be someone on the ranch, but what motive would they have to do such a thing?”
“Jeb, did you know the boy your sister was going to run away with?”
Surprised by the turn of conversation, Jeb answered, “No, I was in the service at the time and stationed in Washington.”
“How did you know about the pregnancy?”
“Mother told me everything. She was very upset. I think she was mostly afraid Rebecca was going to take Scott away, and Mother had grown attached to him. She wasn't about to let her leave with him.”
“So you never knew Delbert Longley.”
“No.”
“Did your mother ever meet him?”
“Not that I know of.”
Harry debated whether or not he should divulge the information he had learned from Maggie. He wouldn't give out her name, but he was curious how they would react to the news that Delbert was still in the area. “I have learned that Delbert Longley lives and works around here someplace.”
Shock would be the word to describe the reaction from both of them. Harry was curious of Orlando's reaction. He wasn't surprised at Jeb, but Orlando gave him reason to wonder. There seemed to be more to Orlando's relationship to the family than he was aware of. How did he fit into the picture?
“How did you find this out? Who told you this? Have you seen him?” Jeb demanded to know.
“No, I don't know what he looks like, although I got a description of him. My source thinks he works on a ranch around here.”
“You mean it could be one of my hands?” Jeb was incredulous.
“I guess it could be, but not likely.”
“I think I know most of the men well enough to assure you it is not one of them,” Orlando spoke up thoughtfully. “What does he look like?”
“Slim, brown hair, suntanned like he works out in the sun, five foot eleven inches. Wears a cap most of the time.”
“That fits a lot of people.”
“True. He is not very sociable. Sounded like a loner.”
“That, too, fits many people I know,” Orlando said. “Is he Mexican or white?”
“That I don't know. I assumed he was white. I never thought about Rebecca taking up with a Mexican.” Seeing the expression on Orlando's face, he knew he had made a bad choice of words. “Sorry, Orlando, I didn't mean anything by that.”
“Si, I understand,” he tossed back as he headed for the corral.
“Damn! Jeb, I am sorry. I meant no disrespect by what I said.”
“Never mind, he is too sensitive about it. He has always lived white but knows he is a Mexican. Mother never let him forget. He was in love with Rebecca when they were young. She cared for him but Mother put a stop to that.”
That was interesting information. It gave him something to think about. That helped in understanding Orlando's affection for Rebecca's son. Harry watched Orlando's retreating back and wondered how close he and Rebecca became before Mama put her foot down. After all, she couldn't have the daughter of the big Stockton ranch taking up with a common vaquero. He would have to ask Scott about his father. Was he ever told anything about him?
Harry thought about the dream he had, about the beautiful Rebecca in the photograph and how she turned into Melody in the dream.
Melody. He had to find her.
Going back to the house, he looked in on Doris to find her fast asleep, the laptop still running and on her lap. He started to turn it off, then decided to leave it alone. He wanted to do some prowling and if he woke her now, he would feel bad about leaving her alone.
Tiptoeing from the room and down the hall, he got out his boots. They were stiff from having been wet but were dry now. They would limber up with use, he felt sure.
He started to get in the Mustang then changed his mind and got into the jeep. He saw Orlando watching him; he waved, Orlando turned away. Still in a huff, he supposed. He really did regret offending him; he liked Orlando.
Driving slow up through the pasture, he studied every rock and bush between the house and the fishing hole. Thinking about it, he decided there was probably an opening someplace closer to the house. Getting out of the jeep, he started backtracking, crisscrossing his path.
After a couple of hours of this he gave up. It should be time for dinner; he had missed lunch and was feeling pretty lank. Walking back toward the jeep, he was suddenly attacked by three big dogs who wanted to play.
The unexpected appearance of the dogs startled him. Where had they been, to suddenly appear like that?
Walking in the direction they had come from, he found an entrance to the cavern. They had been inside. Evidence of their hunting skills lay there. Bones of various small animals were strewn about.
This might not be the entrance he was looking for, but it was one to investigate. He would have to come back in the morning, prepared to enter. He looked about for landmarks to make it easy for him to find. How had they missed it before?
After marking it with a couple of broken branches stuck in the ground, he made his way to the jeep and went back to the ranch house. Jeb and Dor
is were at the table when he got back.
“Where have you been?”
“I found another entrance to the cavern between here and the fishing tank. In the morning I am going back with equipment and explore the thing. I want some help.”
“Well, you're sure not going alone. Let someone else go in there. Call Josh. Let him send one of his men down in that hole, Harry. You've done enough.” Doris was emphatic.
“You know I can't quit now, Doris. I still think Melody is in there someplace.”
“If she's in there, she's dead and you know it. How would she survive the flood that moved through there? Let it go, Harry; you cannot find her.” Doris was near hysteria. “I hate this place. Nothing but bad things have been happening here.”
“Doris, settle down. What has happened to upset you like this?” Tears were running down her face.
“I had a terrible dream, Harry; I want to go back to town.” She reached for his hand. “If you go back in there, you may not come out. Someone will die in there.” Tears filled her eyes and ran down her face.
Harry was at a loss. He looked at Jeb, who appeared dumbfounded by what was taking place.
Harry went around the table and put his arm around the sobbing girl. Whatever had brought this on?
“Doris, I think you are overwrought. Let me take you back to your room.” He picked her up and carried her down the hall. He knew he shouldn't have left her for so long.
Jeb followed them. “Do you want to give her a sedative?” he whispered. Harry decided that would be a good idea. He nodded. Jeb was back in a matter of minutes with a tablet and a glass of water.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You know I wouldn't give you anything that would hurt you.”
“Don't leave me.” She looked up through tears.
Harry could see the fear in her eyes. “I'll be right here,” he said. He couldn't believe what had happened. This was not the Doris he knew.
He turned out the light and sat on the edge of the bed. Light from the pool area filtered through the curtains, casting shadows on the wall. Harry sat there until he knew she was in a sound sleep. Leaving the room and carefully pulling the door to, he stood in the hall, wondering what he should do.
Going back to the dining room, he found his dinner plate still there. Jeb had gone to the lounge. He would join him later. He ate the lukewarm food and drank his tea. It was good; he had been hungry. He was glad Jeb had hired someone to fill in as cook while Rosa was away.
Leaning back in his chair, he realized he was very tired—too tired to socialize, although there were questions he wanted to ask Jeb. They would have to wait until morning. He needed to call Josh and tell him about the entrance he had found.
His thoughts seemed muddled. He was wearier than he thought.
Standing, his legs felt leaden. He started for his room; he needed to lie down for a while. It seemed a long way down the hall to his door. Once inside he fell across his bed, wondering what was wrong. He needed to take his boots off. As he watched, the light in his room faded away.
Outside, someone stood watching through the windows. The interior of each of the guest rooms was visible. “Ah, they are both asleep. Too bad. They will never know what happened.”
Peanut shells scattered onto the ground as the wait continued for the strong drug to take effect. “Doris was right; they should have stayed in town.”
Now her patio door was within reach. “She will be the easiest to carry; she will be first. Too bad, she is lovely. She has Harry to thank for this.”
[Back to Table of Contents]
* * *
Chapter 15
Harry woke to someone slapping him in the face over and over. What the hell is going on? He threw up his arm to protect himself. Who was this nut beating on him? He opened his eyes.
It was Orlando. “What are you doing, man?”
“What happened to you, Harry? You were out cold. Josh wanted you on the phone, I came to find you. Stand up and let's walk around and try to get this stuff out of your system.”
“What kind of stuff are you talking about?”
“Knock out drops of some kind.”
The front of his shirt was wet; he looked down. “It's coffee. I've been pouring coffee down you, trying to get you to wake up.”
“Well, you missed my mouth.”
“It's good to see you getting back to normal,” he said with a wry smile.
“Where's Jeb?”
“He's not here; I don't know where he is. Josh called the house and when no one answered, he called me.”
“Why didn't Doris answer?”
“Doris? I forgot she was here.”
“I'm okay. See about Doris.”
Orlando let go of him and left the room. Harry could hear him knocking on a door down the hall but didn't hear Doris answer. Then Orlando returned and said, “No one there, Harry. She's not in her room.”
Harry tried to move forward. The pounding in his head was horrific.
“See if she is in the lounge.” He knew she wasn't; they had given her that sleeping pill.
“My god, what has happened? Doris was so afraid and I didn't listen.” He felt sick.
Orlando came back, “She's—”
“I know, not there.” He told Orlando about finding another entrance and how he planned to explore it in the morning. “Call Josh. Tell him what has happened and that we need help out here.”
“It's late.”
“I don't care how late it is. Get him on the phone,” he demanded.
Orlando dialed a number and handed the phone to Harry.
“Josh, this is Harry. We got big trouble out here. Doris and I came out to the ranch. Doris is gone and I was drugged. We need help now before something happens to Doris, if it hasn't already.” He felt the muscles of his stomach cramp up as he said it.
Hanging up, he prayed, Please, God, don't let my fears be true.
He closed his eyes, hoping when he opened them he would have a clearer head. “How long does it take for this stuff to wear off?”
“I don't know what you were given, so I don't have any idea.”
Staggering to his feet, he stumbled across the floor to the bathroom. A splash of cold water in his face helped, but he still felt logger-headed. His senses were dull, he couldn't think. Doris...poor frightened Doris. I set her up for him, put her to sleep so she wouldn't scream or struggle. My gosh what have I done? He shook himself. This will never do... Get a grip... It's up to you to save her. You can't waste time feeling regrets now... Get a move on... Think!
Turning to Orlando, he said, “Get me a lantern or a flashlight and some rope. Wake up a couple of the men to help us. I'm going in the cavern now.”
“What about Josh?”
“Have someone tell him where we are. Let's move. I don't know how long he has had her.” Fear washed over him, fear for the woman he cared for—his woman.
Orlando met him at the jeep, bringing along a couple of hands Harry had not met before. They nodded to him and climbed into the jeep. Each of them realized the seriousness of what was going on.
The crisp night air had helped to clear his head. They needed to work fast. Bouncing along in the jeep, he watched for the markers he had placed near the entrance to the cavern. It was difficult to see in the dark. He was afraid he would miss it.
He spotted it—the two branches he had stuck upright in the ground.
“Stop. This is it.” He piled out of the jeep, grabbing the rope as he went. Rushing toward the entrance, he stumbled and fell. Orlando grabbed him, pulling him back to his feet. His coordination was still off.
Each man had a flashlight. They entered the dark hole in the ground with some reluctance.
“Harry, you know this may not be the right place.”
“I am hoping this will lead back toward the house. There has to be another way in here.”
Moving forward at a frantic pace, he just missed dropping into space when Orlando grabbed him and y
anked him back. They had come upon a sheer drop in the cavern floor. When Orlando shone his light downward, he could see nothing but black beyond the glow of the light.
“That's deep; I think this is as far as we can go.”
“No!” Harry couldn't accept that. “Lower me into it.” He began to tie the rope around his waist.
“Harry, you can't go down there. It won't lead back to the house, it's too deep.” He argued, “If anyone went off into this hole, it killed them. That opening needs to be sealed.”
Harry stared into the dark abyss before him, unbelieving. Where was she? How did he let this happen? He let out a mournful cry and fell to his knees.
Obviously uncomfortable with witnessing his agony, two of the men turned away. Only Orlando stayed by his side and showed understanding of the pain he was feeling. He put his hand on his shoulder. “We will start a search as soon as it is light, Harry. There is little we can do in the dark. Let's go back to the house.”
Like a man in a trance, he let Orlando lead him from the cavern to the jeep and drive back to the main house. All the time, Harry was beating himself up, thinking what he should have done. Clearly he heard Doris: "Should ‘a, could ‘a won't cut it, Harry. Study the graph."
As soon as they reached the house, he went to her room. There has to be a clue or something to point us in the right direction. Her papers were still spread out on the bed where she had been working before she went to dinner. She had seen something that scared her, made her want to get away from here. What was it?
Orlando had followed him to the door of her room. “You gonna be okay? I think I will try to get some sleep until daylight. Josh called back, said he would be here around five. I'll be in the lounge if you need me.”
Harry nodded absentmindedly; he was looking over the small notes on the chart. He felt there was something he was missing. Where was it?
A chill filled the room. He glanced toward the patio door. It was ajar. Getting up to close it, he saw Doris's shoe wedged in it. It must have fallen off as she was carried out. Harry picked it up and looked out on the pool.
Filled with dread, he walked toward it, afraid of what he might find.