Death By Stalking
Page 13
Rosie studied me quietly before speaking, “You have nothing to fear from me.”
“Yes, I do. The fact that I can finger you will make you sweat at night, and sooner or later, you’ll come for me. But remember, Rosie, if you take me on, you take on Asa, and you’ll never escape her. The only way out of this mess is for you to leave so I don’t have to worry. You hightail it out of Kentucky as far as you can get, and I suddenly have a lapse of memory. Capiche?”
Rosie licked her lips. “Gage had it coming, Josiah.”
“I never said he didn’t, Rosie. I’m just saying I don’t want to suffer the same fate.”
One of Rosie’s dogs was yapping around her ankles, and she leaned over to quiet it. When turning to face me again, she had an oddly serene smile on her face. “I’ll study on your words.”
“I’d better never see you again, but I wish you well wherever you go. You got a raw deal, Rosie.”
Rosie shut her door, and I hurried to my car.
What have I told you repeatedly about Kentucky being a “dark and bloody ground!” It even turns saints into sinners.
Epilogue
I was having a celebration dinner with Hunter after his triumphant return from New York. Both brothers had taken their mother’s painting to New York for the auction. The Thomas Cole painting sold for enough money to pay off all Hunter’s debts and keep both him and Franklin solvent for many years to come.
While Hunter hurried home to me, Franklin stayed in New York several days longer to eat, drink, and be merry, throwing off a year of terrible strain.
“What happened while I was gone?” Hunter asked, pouring wine into my glass.
“June’s museum project is on, and she and Charles are discussing where to build it.”
“You mean arguing?”
“That’s how they discuss things. June wants a new building on the outskirts of town, but Charles wants to refurbish a tobacco warehouse in a not-so-nice district.”
“I’m with Charles on this one.”
“Don’t confess that to June, or you’ll never be summoned to dinner again.”
“I understand Rosamond Rose sold her house and is moving to the West Coast.”
“June bought it and Gage’s property as well. She’s going to give it to Charles as a Christmas present with the stipulation he can never sell her Thoroughbreds after her death, but give them a permanent home on Gage’s farm after they retire from racing.”
“I wish all horsemen in the racing business treated their horses with the same consideration.”
“Hear! Hear!” I said, raising my glass. “Enough about June. Let’s toast to your success.”
“I owe much to Asa.”
“You would have found your way eventually. Asa just sped up the process.”
Hunter lifted his glass as well. “Here’s to a happy and healthy life for both of us.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I laughed while clinking his glass.
We had a lovely dinner at Wickliffe Manor, watched an old movie, and fell asleep. I woke up early and left Hunter snoring on the couch, but not before I slipped a letter on the coffee table addressed to him from his mother, written days before she died. I had discovered it when going through her papers. She had meant it to be read with the discovery of the painting, but I knew Hunter was not ready to read it then.
“Mrs. Wickliffe, I did as you wanted,” I whispered. “Go into the light. Both boys are fine. Your job is done.”
A soft sigh winged down the massive stairway and passed my face out the front door.
I followed.
The End.
The information concerning Madame du Berry’s chairs, early Kentucky furniture, derby glasses, antiques in general, and forgeries is correct. Porter Clay, John Bonewitz, Thomas Cole, and Ann Bateman were real people and accomplished artists in their respective fields. I don’t claim to be an expert, but found antiques to be a fascinating research subject and am now a fan. I look at old furniture in a different light. Each piece of handmade furniture has a life and a history all its own—a time capsule that speaks to us if we understand its language.
I love to learn new things. Don’t you?
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Other Books By Abigail Keam
Princess Maura Tales
Josiah Reynolds Mysteries
Last Chance For Love Series
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“Ms. Keam writes such that readers want to know more of Josiah’s life and the ending will not disappoint their need to know.”
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About The Author
Hello, my friend. I hope you enjoyed Death By Stalking. I have such fun writing about Josiah and her quirky friends. If you like to read in other genres, I also write The Princess Maura Tales, a high fantasy series and The Last Chance For Love Series, a happily-ever-after sweet romance series. I would love to hear from you.
abigailkeam@windstream.net
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