by Cooper, DJ
John said, “Yea, Matt is always trying to finagle something. I just never thought he would stoop to this. I just don’t know what to think anymore.”
Sam replied, “Well, he shot your ole’ lady there guy, I don’t think I would trust him much if I were you either.”
John said, “I know, we’ve been friends since middle school. I can’t believe he could do something like that. I just don’t get it.”
“Hey, maybe it was just… just an accident.”
“I thought about that, but then why will he not discuss Morgan or anything at all? I feel like I don’t even know him anymore.”
Sam nodded and shrugged. He turned to go, leaving John to get back to the grave digging.
Three holes were dug and once the canvas was sewn to cover their faces, a body was placed in each pit. There were no coffins or fancy show, they were buried with the clothes they died in. Faces washed and hands folded, neatly tucked in a cocoon, they were laid to rest. A small service was held before the lunch meal. None of the children were permitted to leave the barn for any reason, they would not be attending the small funeral.
After some words from Danny and Tawny, the bodies were covered. Small, hand lashed, wooden crosses were set into the ground, each with a name carved into it. Sam assured everyone better markers would be made, but for now this would have to do. The lunch meal was quiet, at first no one spoke.
Mark got up and headed for the stove to add some wood, it was cold this December afternoon. After he returned to his seat, John asked him, and a few others to meet with him in the box truck out front. It was a space that was now used as another room for smokers and meetings; something just to keep them out of the elements. All agreed and headed out to the truck after the meal.
At the gathering John stood and began to speak to the group saying, “We need to talk about Matt.”
Some murmuring preceded Mark, who said, “I am pained by this development in things, but wonder if I should sit this out,”
“Why is that?”
“He is, after all, my son.”
John with a softer tone said, “Precisely, I don’t want us to not see him for who we all knew him as. I don’t know what is going on but I think you will help us keep a clear path on this.”
Mark nodded and sat down just as Tawny stood to speak saying, “I think we should keep him on some kind of house arrest until we find out about Dez’s condition. See if she and the kids want to have a say in this.”
Sam put his hand up saying, “I agree with that. We haven’t really seen anything from him except that he shot Amy. I think most of us would prefer to believe it was an accident. I, honestly, would have let that go if he would have cooperated with talking to you John.”
John nodded and said, “That is also my biggest concern. Any other thoughts?” He called out.
Loel put his hand up to be heard and waited for John to acknowledge him, then said, “With all that we have going on, who will guard him?”
Frank nodded in agreement as Toni stood up saying, “How about we don’t and just keep an eye on him. Right now we don’t really have anything to base a house arrest on. Keep him assigned to a task in the rear and just watch his actions. Maybe he didn’t realize who he fired at or even what was going on.”
Danny and Connor both nodded, jumping when Janice appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. At the opening to the back of the truck, she spoke, “There is coffee in the barn and I agree with Toni, there is no reason to treat him like a criminal… YET. Once we start down the path of guilty until proven innocent we are no different than the old government.” She emphasized the yet, but was clear in her look, it was a look of resolve on the matter. It was voted on and the result was, that Matt would walk about free among them, but would be closely watched.
Something still felt off to John, he couldn’t put his finger on it, but Matt was different, and not in a good way. John looked to Sam and Roger saying, “Something is very wrong in what is going on with Matt. I’ve known him for years and if there is one thing I can tell you, it’s that he is up to something. We haven’t always seen eye to eye on some things, but I never thought he would stoop to something this low.”
Nodding, Sam agreed and said, “Roger was telling me his sister and mother were disagreeable on the trip.”
“That’s another thing,” John said with a confused tone. “I’ve known Renee for years and I know she can be catty, sneaky and conniving. Mark tells me all the time about her and Kimmie, and how it drives him nuts they are so fake. But I have never known either of them to be outright disagreeable and adversarial like they were on the road.”
Sam replied, “Was there anything in their actions that might shed some light on what is going on with Matt. I’ve known him for some time and this is very odd behavior.”
John said, “I’m not sure, we have had a lot of betrayal going on… and right about now? I don’t know who I can trust in that family.”
Sam caught sight of Tawny and waved her over saying, “Tawny, come here for a minute.”
Tawny looked Sam’s way and put up her hand in a half wave showing she would come momentarily.
Sam looked at John saying, “I want to see what her take is on all this.”
Tawny came up to the two of them and listened to John explain what he had just told Sam. The two of them asked what she thought of the whole thing.
She cleared her throat, saying, “I know things most don’t.”
John tilted his head in confusion, saying, “What does that mean?”
Tawny sighed, saying, “This is between us for now. Agreed?”
They both nodded as she continued, “Sam, you know, but John you don’t. Dez and I have been friends for many years, I was named as guardian of her kids when they were minors in her will, that’s just to give you an idea of how long. She came to me about three months ago and told me she thought something was wrong. She worried about her will and updated it. The kids no longer needed a guardian, but she wanted to make sure their interests were preserved.”
John asked, “Does this have something to do with Matt?”
Tawny said, “Yes, as a matter of fact it does. The reason she changed things is because of him, she felt like he was trying to gain control of her assets. He tried to push marriage at first, but she wouldn’t have it. His last attempt was to push a contingency plan by her attorney before the problems but, she’d already put it all in a trust. The attorney contacted her two days before everything went bad about what Matt had wanted the attorney to do. I feel like he’s been trying to swindle her and I think she felt the same.”
John asked, “What should we do then?”
“I’m not exactly sure.”
Sam said, “I have an idea.”
John looking over to him asked, “What’s that?”
“At the evening meal, someone bring up what will happen to this place and all of us if Dez doesn’t make it.”
Tawny looked at him, shocked, saying angrily, “What? That’s not even cool.”
John said, “Wait, he could have a good idea here.”
Sam continued, “My thought here is to watch Matt.”
Looking at Tawny he asked, “Do you know where the trust papers are?”
Tawny replied, “Yeah, I’m one of the executors. I have my own copy.”
Sam pursed his lips saying, “Good, I have a feeling we are gonna need them.”
The plan was set, John would ask the question while Tawny was out of the barn, presumably to use the outhouse. They would hope for discussion to begin and wait to see what Matt did. After a bit of time Tawny would come in and catching the conversation, reassure everyone things would be ok. At some point she would reveal the trust set up Jeremy, Charleigh and Ariel and see how it went. If any questions arose be raised about their age she would reveal she too was an executor. This was put in place by Dez, in the event Jeremy and Charleigh were unable to execute the will and trust to ensure it remained with the family through Ariel.
Tawny assured them, “There is a clear line of succession that would ensure he would never gain interest. In the event there is no one available, it will pass to the Christian church in town to aid with homeless. She never did tell me what caused her to make the changes, just that he would never get it. I think she was more interested in the other things in the trust. The farm wasn’t the biggest investment, just a little piece of land, but now it seems that it was the best one.”
Chapter 4
“A new day”
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
The doctor rounded the corner to the makeshift waiting area. His scrubs having several blood stains, while his mask draped lazily around his neck. His facial expression showed fatigue as he approached. They looked at him anxiously, waiting for word on Dez’s condition.
Jeremy stood, his tone was one of worry, as he asked about his mother, “How is she?”
The doctor pursed his lips in thought as he swiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Sighing before speaking, he said, “If she makes it through the night, I think she has a really good shot.”
Charleigh sobbed openly as Jeremy spoke, his words choking in his throat, “Is it a good chance she will make it through?”
The doctor looked briefly at the group and began to speak, saying, “I can’t make any guarantees. Personally, I think she will pull through just fine, but I don’t want anyone to get their hopes up. A stomach wound can be tricky, if we missed anything it would not be good, and her condition could change on a dime.”
Ryan walked over and shook his hand saying, “Thanks Doc, we know she’s in good hands. Can you tell us anything about Rita?”
The doctor glanced around the room, as if looking for someone, looking back to the group he said, “She had a husband here, I should see about discussing her with him first.”
Rich stepped forward extending his hand as he said, “I’m Rich, Rich Davidson, I’m Rita’s husband.”
The doctor shook his hand as he said, “First off Rita is fine. She wants to talk to Destiny, but I can’t see that happening, at least not for a little while anyway. Mr. Davidson, might I suggest that Jeremy or Charleigh accompany you into her room and explain the situation?”
Jeremy stood and said, “I can go.”
Charleigh reached out for his arm saying, “I’ll go, we have met before, we aren’t necessarily on good terms but at least she knows who I am.”
Dickie said, “I think it would be best, you know, girl talk.”
Jeremy nodded at her putting his hand out ushering her past him saying, “Her highness has spoken.”
Charleigh glared at him as she passed, she was at least a foot shorter than her brother but fiery when provoked. He winced when she smacked his arm as she walked alongside Rich, following the doctor down the hall to Rita’s room. Charleigh asked, “Have you and Rita been married long?”
He smiled, saying, “Just about a month.”
Charleigh nodded and said, “Congratulations.”
“Thank you, I can’t wait to meet Matty.”
Charleigh smiled at him saying, “He’s a sweet boy, a little troubled though. But I feel like we are all going to know a bit more about him soon enough.”
Reaching Rita’s room Rich entered apprehensively,
peering around the curtain. Rita smiled at him and stretched out her arms for a hug. Charleigh hesitantly peered around the curtain as well and cleared her throat. Rita released her grip on Rich and looked past him immediately recognizing Charleigh.
Motioning her into the room she said, “Charleigh, how good to see you. I’m so glad you’re ok. How’s Ariel?”
Charleigh with a look of surprise, hesitantly said, “We are all fine and so is Matty.”
Rita teared up. “Matty? You’ve seen him?”
Charleigh nodded. “He’s at the farm with the rest of the group, he looks really good. He doesn’t know about you yet, I’m pretty sure he still thinks you’re dead. Honestly, we all did.”
Choking back her tears Rita righted herself. “Where’s your mom? I need to talk to her.”
Charleigh explained what happened. Telling her, “Morgan shot her and she’s recovering from surgery just across the hall.”
Rita lowered her head. “This is exactly what I feared.”
Charleigh asked, “How could you know she would do this?”
“Matty told me, back in the woods where I was attacked by Morgan and Cindy. They killed Kevin you know? He was Morgan’s husband, and Matty witnessed the whole thing. He told me what happened and that he had to protect Dez because they were going to kill her too.”
Charleigh stood in tears. “We are hoping for the best, if she gets through the night, she has a good chance of recovery.
“I want to go see her.” Looking to Rich she said, “Please get the doctor and ask him for me?”
Rich nodded and exited the room while Rita reached for Charleigh’s hand saying, “I know you don’t like me, but there is so much you don’t know about Matt.”
Charleigh touched her hand saying, “We’re all beginning to see. Let’s just move forward. I am glad you’re ok and I know Matty will be thrilled.”
Rita nodded, looking down and wiping a tear from her eye. Charleigh smiled at her and said, “I can see an incredible change in you.” Reaching out to touch her hair, “Much better.”
Rita laughed saying, “What? You didn’t like the orange blonde look?”
Both started giggling. “Well let’s just say the natural color of your hair is more inviting, that warm brown seems to be your perfect color.”
Rita smiled, “How lucky for me I was born with brown hair.”
Laughing Charleigh fluffed her own long brown hair, “I think brown is sexy.”
They both giggled again, Rita smiled at her, “I’m so sorry for all the trouble I caused in the past. It wasn’t your mom or you, but Matt.”
Charleigh smiled back at her, “You do look really good, much different. You also seem different, I hope we can let the tensions of the past be behind us.”
“Me too.”
The doctor entered the room with Rich. “I know you want to see Dez, but she’s not even awake yet.”
Rita said, “I want to be there when she wakes, it’s important.”
Looking to Charleigh she said, “You and Jeremy can wait with me, it concerns all of you and I want to talk to him as well.”
Charleigh looked at the doctor and nodded. The doctor excused himself and went to get Jeremy. Returning a few moments later, the three went to Dez’s room to wait.
Once in the room and behind closed doors Rita looked intently at both of them, then looked to Dez. “I feel so awful for all the mean things I said and did to her.”
Charleigh said, “She wasn’t really bothered by it, she always said it was not her you lashed out at but the situation. She really was sympathetic to the situation.”
A quiet whisper could be heard as Dez spoke, “Do you mind not talking about me like I’m dead?”
The three of them clamoured over to the bed all talking at once, asking if she was ok.
Charleigh in tears. “Mom…You’re ok.”
Dez half smiled, “I am not so sure about that, I feel like someone hit me with a …a BUS!
Jeremy laughed. “Yep… she’s ok.”
Rita approached her saying, “Dez? It’s Rita.”
Dez reached out for her hand and said, “I know, I’m glad you’re ok.”
“I need to talk to you. This is important.”
“I’ll try and listen, but things are a little fuzzy.”
“I need to let you know, I found some things out and you’re in danger.”
Dez laughed and then coughed saying, “I’m pretty sure we’ve figured that out.”
Rita said, “I mean besides Morgan, she had help.”
&nbs
p; Dez looked at Rita more serious saying, “I know Rita, I’ve known for some time now.”
Rita looked shocked as Dez continued saying, “It’s you that’s in danger. Matt will kill you to get Matty. I know all about Morgan and his plan to get the trust.”
Rita stood aghast saying, “You knew?”
Dez said, “Yea, but I was so busy watching what Matt did, I completely missed the Morgan thing too. I’ve known about the two of them for a while now but really didn’t think it was all that. I thought for sure they would communicate, and that was when I’d planned to expose it and confront him. I’d hoped it was just his constant need to have someone stroke his ego. He always had a lie and I often felt like I was just paranoid.”
Dez continued, “It’s always been you that was in more danger. I asked Amy to watch out for you as soon as I found out Morgan was attached to the group. Arthur kept me up to date on the progress. No one has any idea outside this place that you are alive… do they?”
Jeremy said, “No Ma, I think it is contained here.”
Dez looked over to Jeremy. “Is Ryan here?”
“Yea, he’s out with the nurse.”
“Go ask him to come see me please?”
Jeremy nodded and headed for the door as she turned to Charleigh saying, “Honey is Ariel here?”
Charleigh nodded, “Yea, she’s with Dickie and the baby.”
Dez squeezed her hand and said, “Can you go get her for me? I’d love to see her?”
Charleigh stood and exited the room, to do as her mother had asked. Rita stood uncomfortably shuffling her feet, staring at the floor as Dez spoke, “Rita, you and I haven’t been on the best of terms, but I think Matt had something to do with that. My heart is warmed that you wanted to protect me and I need you to know something. I’ve protected Matty and given instruction for his permanent care in the trust that has been set up from my assets.”
Rita began to speak, but was silenced as Dez continued, “I know you want to see him and he very much misses you and feels guilt over your death, or so he believes. Honestly though. I want you to stay with Ryan for just a little while longer.”