She opened the first page and read the date. December 25, 1911. In beautiful, delicate cursive, Hilda had described her fifteenth Christmas.
Today was a perfect day. Father and Mother gave me the most wonderful gift for Christmas. Imagine my surprise when I woke to discover a note on my pillow. I opened the letter to find a hand written message informing me to go to the stables. It wasn’t signed but I recognized my Mother’s bold handwriting. Excited, I threw on my robe and raced down the stairs, through the door, across the yard and into the stables. I followed the instructions of the letter and stopped at the third stall and peered inside. Staring back at me was the most beautiful black mare I have ever seen. Not one part of her was anything but solid coal black. She whinnied and leaned her head over the stall door. Immediately, I fell madly in love. Hearing laughter, I turned and saw my Father and Mother watching from the shadows. Both emerged, huge smiles on their faces. Mother told me my new horse’s name is Breeze. They helped me saddle her and I rode across the fields still in my robe. The cold air stung my tender cheeks as we raced out of sight. It was if I was flying and free. As long as I live I doubt I’ll ever have a better gift.
Lacy closed the book and held it to her chest as if it was very precious. It had been Hilda’s last Christmas. She received no other Christmas gifts, never sat down to another Christmas meal with her family. Tears spilled over her cheeks. Her heart filled with happiness. She was holding Hilda’s diary. Words written by a young girl over a hundred years ago. She blinked at the tears. “You have no idea what this means to me.”
“I think I do. I want you to have it all. The whole trunk is yours. Everything that has any meaning is in that old trunk that had once belonged to Granny.” He reached over and placed his hand on her arm. “I’m in the winter of my life and feel my days are numbered. I have no use for any of the things any longer.”
His words caused her pain. She was just getting to know him. She wished they had known each other longer. Fate had brought them together too late.
“Enough mushy stuff.” He waved toward the trunk. “Go look and see if you can find any other treasures.”
Lacy placed Hilda’s diary on the bed. It didn’t matter what she found in the trunk, none of it would be more valuable than the diary. Being very careful, she pulled other items from the trunk. Old photo books, yellowed documents, and boxes of trinkets. Dust tickled her nose as she rummaged deeper. The items had been packed away for many years.
“The receipts for the other pieces of Hilda’s jewelry I sold are in the metal box. Maybe you can call the customers that bought the pieces and get all of Hilda’s jewelry. I’m sure if you explain that she was your ancestor they’d part with the jewels.”
Lacy opened the metal box. There was a string of pearls and a delicate silver filigree bracelet inside. “Was this Hilda’s?”
“Yes, I couldn’t sell all the pieces. I wanted something to remember my Granny. She wore the pearls to church every Sunday. The bracelet was too tiny for her thick wrists but she would take it out from time to time and look at the fine workmanship. I’ve never seen a more elegant piece of jewelry.”
Lacy held the bracelet up to the light. It was amazing. “Wasn’t she afraid to wear them in public?”
“Russell never reported them stolen. Why, I don’t know. Maybe he was too distraught over the disappearance of his daughter. He only reported his wife’s jewelry missing.” Billy motioned with his hand and ordered, “Bring me the pearls.”
Lacy held to the side of the trunk and pushed herself off the floor. She held the pearls out to him. “Lean down.” Lacy leaned over and he placed the pearls around her neck. She felt the perfect round orbs with the tips of her fingers. “They’re yours.”
Shocked, she replied, “No, I couldn’t. They mean too much to you.”
“You mean too much to me. Nothing would make me happier than for you to have the pearls and the bracelet.” He smiled. “Find the other pieces of Hilda’s jewelry and you’ll have everything my Granny stole. You are Hilda’s descendant. It is only fair you have what was hers.”
“I’ll pay you for them.”
“No. I have no need of money now.” Pressure on her chest caused her pain. Realizing he was making her uncomfortable, he laughed. “I have lived a long life, Lacy. Even though there has been tragedy, I would not hesitate to do it all over again. I had a lovely Granny, a devoted wife and seventeen great years with my son.” He took her hand and clasped it in his. “Don’t feel pity for me. I am more than ready to meet my maker. This old body is worn out and everyday it is more of a struggle to drag out of bed. It is my time.” He squeezed her hand tight. “Enough sadness. Tell me about your family.”
For the next hour Lacy described the tragedy of her parents’ death. She talked about Nina and Beth and about their strength. How much she admired Grant and Josh. What a difference Maria and Juan had made in their lives. Only speaking of the positive, she poured out her heart to a man she had come to admire too late in life. How she wished she had met him sooner.
****
Lacy trotted across the field looking for Grant and Nina. Juan said they were chopping weeds in the potato garden across from the pasture. At the end of the field she saw Nina’s big, tan floppy hat she wore to keep the sun off her face. Lacy broke out into a sprint which wasn’t easy in sandals. The loose dirt caused her to stumble several times.
Nina dropped the hoe and ran out to meet her. Her creamy, flawless skin dewed with perspiration. It was obvious she thought something terrible had happened. A normal person didn’t race across a field in the heat of the day unless they had something important on their mind. She was too out of breath to speak by the time she came face to face with Nina.
“What happened?” Hand in the air, Lacy held up a finger to let Nina know she was too winded to speak. When she still couldn’t speak, Nina removed her gloves and placed her hands on her shoulders. “Breathe, Lacy. Take deep breaths.”
Lacy handed the diary to Nina. She opened it and read the first entry out loud. Her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. She pushed her hat back on the crown of her head. “Oh my. Where did you find Hilda’s diary?”
Hand on her chest, Lacy explained, “Billy Graves gave it to me.” Her fingers touched the pearl necklace still around her neck. “He also gave me her pearls and bracelet.” She stretched out her arm so Nina could see the silver bracelet. The sun caught on the magnificent silver filigree. It fit her wrist as if it was made for her.
“It is the prettiest piece of jewelry I have ever seen.” She reached out to touch the bracelet with the tips of her fingers. “It looks expensive and unusual. I wonder who designed it. Where did Billy get the diary and jewelry?”
Lacy laughed out loud. “Anna Bell Graves stole them.”
Confused, Nina asked, “Who?”
“Billy Graves’ great-grandmother. She was Russell Reynolds’ cook, Darrell Talbert’s mother.” Lacy did a little dance in the middle of a row stirring up a cloud of dust. She felt like she had been given diamonds. “I have Hilda’s diary! Where’s Grant?”
“He took the truck to pick up Josh. He’s in the bottoms planting corn for the corn maze.” Nina tucked her arm into Lacy’s. “It’s time for lunch. You can tell everyone what happened while we eat.”
Lacy explained in vivid detail all that happened while visiting Billy as they walked back to the house. She took a deep breath of spring air. It smelled great and she felt better than she had in a long time. Neat rows of potatoes grew beyond her eyesight. Bright green collards grew in the next field. The animals ambled in the pasture. Everything seemed perfect. She loved the farm.
By the time they stepped into the yard, Grant pulled up in the truck. Lacy stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Dylan on the back of the truck sitting on the side with one arm wrapped around Shadow.
Nina asked, “Is something wrong?”
“What’s Dylan doing here?”
“He told Josh he would help out today.” Cock
ing her eyebrows, Nina gave her a hard look. “Is something wrong with Dylan helping on the farm?”
“No, of course not. I’m just surprised to see him hanging out on a farm. He doesn’t seem the type.” Dylan placed his hand on the side of the bed of the truck and vaulted to the ground. When he saw her, he threw up his hand in greeting. She forced a smile to her lips and gave him a slight wave. He was wearing shorts and she admired his great legs.
“Sexy man.” Of course Lacy agreed with Nina. Dylan made her warm and tingly all over. But then it was more than his looks. There was something deeper that drew her to him. She never considered herself the type to be drawn to bad boys, but it seemed she didn’t know herself very well.
Shadow bounded off the truck and ran straight for her with his tongue hanging out in a big doggy grin. She dropped to her knees and stroked the squirming, energetic, border-collie. As most dogs, he gave unconditional boundless love.
Arm and arm, Lacy and Nina crossed the yard and stopped in front of the truck. Grant gave Nina a quick kiss on the lips. “Hey, baby. Did you get the potatoes weeded?”
Lacy answered, “No, she didn’t because she was interrupted.”
“What’s this?”He reached out to take Hilda’s diary.
Lacy stepped back and shook her head in the negative. “Not until you wash your hands. I’ll explain at lunch. I don’t want to have to tell my great news ten times. I’ll wait until everyone is together.” Most of the time the family was scattered during the day. The only time they seemed to be in the same place was when they sat down to a meal in the kitchen.
Josh stepped around the truck and let out a shrill whistle. “Nice pearls but they don’t go with your tee-shirt and blue jean skirt.” He touched the white orbs.
She slapped at his hand. “What do you know about style?”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “More than you think.”
Beth opened the kitchen door and yelled, “Lunch is getting cold. I didn’t slave over the stove all morning for nothing. Someone had better get in here and eat this food.”
Dylan slapped Josh on the back. “Do I get an invite for a home cooked meal?”
“You worked, you eat.”
“Nice place.” Dylan commented as he did a sweep of the place with his eyes. “I’d love to live this far off the road. No streetlights, no loud music, no gunshots.”
“Gunshots? What kind of neighborhood do you live in?” asked Nina.
Josh answered for Dylan. “In the hood. He lives right in the midst of the worst gang the FBI has ever investigated.”
“It’s an ugly world out there.” He laughed as if to ease the seriousness of Josh’s description of where he lived.
Lacy had never considered just how dangerous the life of an undercover agent could be. One little slip up and the type of people he investigated wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.
They all filed through the back door into the kitchen. “Follow me and I’ll show you where you can freshen up before we eat.” Josh and Dylan veered to the right toward the guest bathroom, Grant and Nina veered to the left toward their bathroom to wash off the dust.
Lacy placed Hilda’s diary on top of the refrigerator out of harm’s way. “Can I do anything to help?”
Maria handed her the pitcher of tea. “Yes, you can fill the glasses.” With a curious look she asked, “What did you put on the refrigerator?”
“I’ll explain while we eat.”
Hands covered with Duke blue oven mitts, Beth leaned into the oven and removed a dish. “Blueberry dumplings.” Beth took a big whiff. “I picked the berries this morning.”
“That’s what I call fresh.” Lacy poured the tea into the glasses and placed them by the dishes already set on the table.
Beth stopped moving for a second. “Where did you get the pearls and bracelet?”
“As I’ve already said, I’ll explain when everyone settles down at the table.” To change the subject, Lacy asked, “Have you picked a location for your new house?”
A huge smile on her face Beth placed a large bowl of spaghetti in the center of the table. “Yes, we have decided to cut just enough timber to build a modest house on the south side. I’ll show you the plans after we eat. It will have lots of windows and large airy rooms.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“I’m so excited. I can’t wait to break ground.”
Grace and Juan entered through the kitchen door. Grace replied, “We washed up at the barn. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Beth pointed toward the refrigerator. “Will you please put the salad and dressing on the table?”
Before Juan could offer, she handed him a basket of bread which he placed on the table. He opened the drawer and took out the tongs and placed them in the huge red salad bowl. Lacy thought it funny how her mother had bought dishes in school colors. Red for NC State because that was where Nina had gone to college, Duke blue because that was where Beth had gone to school and now her. The table looked like a rainbow because the plates were sunny yellow, her mother’s favorite color.
“How’s school?”
Juan grimaced. “Still having a little trouble with calculus, but Grant’s tutoring me.”
It amazed her how quickly Grant and Juan had bonded. Seemed Grant stepped into the role of father with ease. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Juan. Truth be told, he looked after all of them.
Beth continued to bustle around the kitchen even after everyone had settled at the table. Josh stood and held the back of her chair. “Come and sit down, Beth. It’s time to eat.” His face was lit with love. She slipped into the chair and he took his place next to her.
Everyone clasped hands and Grant blessed the food. “Amen.”
Beth ordered, “Dig in everyone.”
The meal was full of talking and laughing. Conversation flowed around the table. Lacy looked at Dylan’s plate and had to repress a giggle. It was piled high with spaghetti. It was obvious he rarely got a home cooked meal.
Josh asked Dylan, “How’s the undercover work going? Do you have any leads?”
“A couple. I have until the end of the week, then I have to go back to gangbanging.”
“Are you going to miss campus life?” Josh asked.
“I’ll miss the free time. I’ll miss the peacefulness of the campus and my apartment is awesome.” Lacy would miss Dylan when he left the campus. It was doubtful she’d see him again when he went back to his old life. The thought made her feel melancholy. Even though they had little in common, she had strong feelings for him. What would she do without him?
Bret’s face popped into her memory. At the most inopportune times the attempted rape would wind back into her mind. Despite her best efforts she couldn’t shake the feeling of fear it invoked.
“How will your new assignment be different? Exactly what is gangbanging?”
Dylan shifted his attention to Juan. A dimple winked charmingly when he smiled. “When I’m investigating a gang, I pretty much live with them. It takes months to get members to trust me. Then it takes months of investigating to take down the ringleaders.”
Lacy saw all the wonders of the world in Juan’s eyes as he listened to Dylan describe his exciting life. What Juan didn’t understand, that life was also extremely dangerous.
“How did you explain your absence?” Grant passed Dylan the basket of garlic bread.
“I told them my mother was sick and I had to visit with her for a couple of weeks.” Dylan broke the bread in two pieces and took a bite. Mouth full of bread, he stated, “Everything tastes great, Beth.”
She smiled from the compliment. “Save room for dessert.”
“Do you ever make connections with the gangbangers you investigate?”
Dylan hooked an arm over the back of Juan’s chair and studied him for a second. “Oh, yes. When you live, commit crimes, and party with some of the gang members you can’t help but become emotionally involved.”
Shocked Juan asked, “Commit crimes?�
��
“Yes, commit crimes. It takes a criminal to catch a criminal. I see the darker side of humanity. We become one big family. But at the end of the day I know I’m there to take them down. It’s my job to get the drugs and murderers off the streets.”
Josh explained, “Dylan is great at what he does, Juan. He’s thorough and meticulous. He knows how to get people to trust him. He has a way of talking his way out of trouble. The South Side Crips are notorious and it didn’t take him long to infiltrate the gang.”
“It must be satisfying work.” Nina asked as she twirled spaghetti onto her fork, “Is it the challenge that intrigues you?”
Lacy saw the pain in his gray eyes. He was remembering something terrible. She could see it in his face. He paused with the fork nearly to his lips. “It seems to be my talent.”
Grant gave Lacy a pointed look. “Where did you get the pearls and bracelet?”
Nervous now that she had everyone’s attention, she toyed with her napkin. “Billy Graves. He also had Hilda’s diary.”
“I didn’t think you were making much progress with Mr. Graves.”
“Something happened this morning to change our relationship.” Her fingers moved over the pearls. “I offered him money but he wouldn’t take anything. Now we have a connection because of Hilda.”
Grant asked, “Has the diary helped you?”
“I haven’t had time to read it. I thought later tonight when the house is quiet I would read some of the entries.”
Dylan asked, “Who is Hilda?”
“One of our ancestors who lived in this house over a hundred years ago. I have been trying to find out how she died.” That was all Lacy would confide to him. She wasn’t about to tell him she heard whispers of the dead.
Juan hummed the melody from the X-Files. “She has a mystery to solve.”
Everyone laughed. “I would like to know what happened to her.”
Grant reached over and took her hand. “Maybe the diary will shed some light on her life.”
Secrets of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Book 3) Page 11
