South River Incident

by Ann Mullen

  I turned and headed upstairs, feeling happy inside. It was time to turn this house into a home! I wanted it all, and I was going to have it.

  I bundled the sheets, blankets and bedspreads into balls, and tossed them down the steps. Claire picked up one of the balls and mumbled something about the kids being asleep, and was gone in a flash. A minute later, I heard the hum of the washing machine start and the sound of rushing water splashing in the tub.

  By the time we heard the kids come to life downstairs, Claire and I had dusted the furniture with a damp rag, and damp-mopped all the floors. The second load of sheets was ready for the dryer.

  “Pretty good timing,” Claire said, walking down the stairs carrying the mop bucket. “We couldn’t have planned it any better.”

  “You’re so good at cleaning,” I said. “If I had to do this job by myself, I’d still be on the first room. My cooking is horrible and my housekeeping skills could use some improvement.”

  “The more you do it, the better you get,” Claire laughed. “I’ve had years of experience. I can clean a house in no time flat. I can show you ways to cut your cleaning time in half, if you’re interested.”

  “Sure, I am. I need all the help I can get.”

  It was noon before I noticed the time. The rooms upstairs were ready for company, and the downstairs had been cleaned and mopped. The kids had eaten breakfast and were talking about wanting more food. I was putting fresh sheets on my bed when I glanced at the clock on my makeshift nightstand.

  Claire was in the kitchen making a snack for the kids, when I walked into the room.

  “Don’t you think they should be here by now?” I asked her. “I’m worried. They should have been home a long time ago.”

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Maybe you should try calling. Mom has her cell phone. I know, because I took it to her at the hospital.”

  I went to the wall phone and started to pick up the receiver, when all of a sudden, it rang.

  “Hello,” I said, putting the phone to my ear. “Hello... Hello... Who is this? Hello!” Irritated, I slammed down the receiver and glanced at Claire. “It was just someone playing tricks.”

  The phone rang again.

  I snatched up the receiver and barked, “Hello!”

  “Is the lady of the house on a rampage?” Billy chuckled.

  “Where are you?” I demanded. “I’ve been worried sick!”

  “We’re at your mother’s house.”

  “What are you doing there?” I asked, baffled.

  “Your mom refused to come stay with us unless she had a few items so we swung by here. My cab’s so full, I’ll probably have to drive home with a suitcase in my lap.”

  “Let me talk to her!”

  “Forget it, Jesse, she’s almost finished. Besides, I just told her she had five more minutes, and then I’m dragging her out of the house.”

  “Please hurry. The last time I looked at the sky it was pretty intense. I think you were right about the storm not being over.”

  “I tried to tell your mom that, but she doesn’t want to believe me. She will see. I’m usually right about these things.”

  “Trust me, Billy. She’s my mom and I know how she can be.”

  “We should get there in about an hour. The roads aren’t too bad, considering what we’re up against,” Billy said. “Ah, she’s ready. Jesse, I have to get off the phone. Your mom’s waiting on me.”

  I was so relieved they were fine that I hung up the receiver before I remembered to ask Billy if he had seen my gun. Regardless of the chaos in my life, it was still missing.

  “It sounds like everything’s all right,” Claire said. “Mom wouldn’t come without some of her stuff, huh?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “That’s our mom!”

  “I’m the same way,” Claire admitted. “Isn’t it odd that I’m just like Mom, but she always liked you best?”

  “I can’t believe you would say that. It isn’t true. I’m probably the least favorite one of her children. Are you serious or were you making a joke?”

  “Sometimes I did wonder.”

  The phone rang.

  I looked at Claire and waved her off as she motioned for me to sit at the table and have a bite to eat. Later, I would discuss the possibility of her seeing a therapist. She was still laughing when I picked up the phone.

  “Hello, Jesse speaking.”

  There was no reply. Someone was there, but they didn’t say anything.

  “Hello!” I shouted. “Idiot.” I ranted, slamming down the receiver.

  For some reason, I had the strangest feeling about this second nobody-on-the-other-end call. If it wasn’t Billy or Mom, who was it?

  “Claire,” I walked over and spoke quietly into her ear. “I don’t want the children to hear what I have to say. Let’s have a private talk.” I motioned for her to follow me.

  She made sure the kids were settled in with their snacks before leaving them. Thor and Athena lay at the feet of the innocent, waiting for the last crumb to fall.

  “I don’t want to scare you, but there’s a lot going on that you don’t know about. I think it’s time to tell you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I tried to explain my theory in as few words as possible. “I think the woman who broke into Mom’s house has also been here. I don’t know what she’s after, but I think it’s connected to the murders of Roy and Mary Keen. I’m afraid she might come back while we’re here and that could prove dangerous. She knows we’re onto her. That phone call was not the first hang-up I’ve received.”

  “She wouldn’t dare do anything in broad daylight.”

  “Wake up, girl,” I grabbed her by the arm. “Two people are dead. Laura and Brad Westover were their friends, and I think they all were involved in drugs. My guess is something went sour and we’re right in the middle of it.”

  “Wait a minute. I thought they were cops!”

  “Roy was a cop until he got kicked off the force for stealing drugs and money from the evidence room. Brad was his partner.”

  “But isn’t Brad still a cop?”

  “Yes, and Roy is dead.”

  “And Mary is dead.” Claire began to take heed of my suspicions.

  “Mary’s body turned up in Mom’s backyard. Laura Westover broke into Mom’s house, and I believe she has prowled around mine. She left clues. We came home the other day and the back door was open. The dogs found a woman’s glove outside, and my Glock is missing.”

  “Your gun’s missing?”

  “Don’t worry, I have a backup. We’re not totally defenseless. That’s not all,” I muttered. “Laura left a threatening message on my computer. She told me to stay out of her business or die.”

  “How do you know she was the one who sent it?”

  “Billy traced the message back to her. It was either her or Brad because it came from their e-mail address.”

  I started to tell Claire about our visit to Roy’s house the day he died, but decided against it. I didn’t want to discuss the details of that horrible scene. I was sure the house had been torn apart in a fit of jealous rage, and it was most likely the rage of a woman scorned. I believed that woman to be Laura Westover. I couldn’t prove it, but to me, that made both Westovers dangerous.

  “Do you think they had something to do with Roy and Mary’s deaths?”

  “If they didn’t, I think they know who did. I think they’re both in on it as deep as you can get.”

  Our discussion was brought to a halt by a knock at the front door. We both let out a scream. Instantly, Benny and Carrie burst out crying. The dogs started howling. Utter chaos ensued. Claire ran to the children while I ran to the bedroom for my gun. I made it back to the living room in time to see Chief Standing Deer walk through the front door with a concerned look on his face. Sarah followed him inside.

  “What’s all this noise?” He demanded to know. “Sounds like a bunch of silly squaws. They’re either talking or crying all the time.”r />
  “Oh, stop it!” Sarah brushed past her husband. “Can’t you see they’re scared? This is serious.” She came over to me and put her small hand on mine. “How are you, dear?”

  “I’m fine. You just scared us to death, that’s all.”

  Sarah turned her back to everyone and whispered to me, “You can put the gun away, dear.”

  I had forgotten I still had the gun clutched in my hand by my side. I quickly stuffed it into my purse and out of sight. When I looked back again, Claire had the kids calmed down and they were sitting by the fire, listening to the chief tell one of his stories. Sarah met me as I walked over to them.

  “I need to talk to you, Jesse. May we go to another room?”

  “Sure,” I replied, leading her to my bedroom, and then closing the door. I had no idea where this was going, and was almost afraid to ask.

  “The chief is worried. He says there’s trouble ahead. He sees danger coming your way. He wants you to know about his fear.”

  “You’re starting to scare me,” I caught my breath.

  It was no secret that everyone in Billy’s family respected the chief. If he said something was going to happen, it usually did. He was a man of few words, but they were powerful ones. Yeah... but he also said that I was going to have a baby. I guess he can’t be right all the time.

  That last thought snapped me back to the real world.

  “The chief doesn’t have a thing to worry about. We’re fine.”

  “He wants you to be careful and keep your eyes open. He says there’s a trespasser roaming the woods. He found tracks leading to this house.”

  Her statement triggered an alarm in my head, but I pushed it aside.

  “Perhaps it was one of Billy’s brothers.”

  “That may well be true, but there was one set that belonged to a woman.”

  “How...”

  “The chief knows,” she announced with pride. “He’s a wise man.”

  “But...”

  “I know you don’t understand the way of the Cherokee, but in time you will come to see the great pride and strength that makes them who they are. I am proud to be one of them, even if it’s only by marriage.”

  “Let me ask you something,” I begged. “What’s this thing they share that makes them so insightful? They seem to communicate in a way that the rest of us cannot. I’ve seen it in everyone in this family. It’s like a...”

  “Spirit?” she suggested.

  “Exactly!”

  “You are a quick learner. You see things for yourself. Listen to your heart. Trust in the chief. He will not lead you astray. Beware, and heed his words. Watch your back. Be very careful.”

  “I will. You can bank on it,” I said. “I will be extremely careful.”

  I wanted to avoid the subject of my relationship with Billy. It was personal, and I was still trying to figure out how I could manage to fall in love with a man, and decide to marry him in only a few days’ time. Has it just been a few days or has this been in the making for a while?

  Sarah wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily.

  “Since we have the matter of your safety settled, let’s talk about your wedding. Is it true that you and Billy have decided that you want to get married on Christmas Eve?”

  I felt a lump in my throat. A rush of happiness filled my heart as I saw a vision of Billy’s face. I decided it was time to make a commitment. I said out loud to others that I would marry Billy in a moment of confusion and insecurity, but it was time to say it in my heart. I had butterflies in my stomach and I was tired of them being my only companion. I wanted to fill that space with Billy’s love.

  “Yes,” I admitted. “Billy and I want to get married Christmas Eve.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “That’s all I need to know. I’m not going to ask you any of the questions I have in the back of my head. That’s your business.”

  “You have questions about Cole, and we can talk about them if you want to. I know this happened fast, but let me reassure that I am not in love with Cole. Like all the other men in my life, he was filling a void until the right one came along. Billy’s the right one. I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”

  She clapped her hands together and said, “I guess we have a wedding to plan! I have some very good ideas. When you’re ready, I can go over them with you.”

  The shrill of a telephone ring blared outside the bedroom door.

  “I need to go answer that,” I said, leaving her behind.

  “Hello,” I said, grabbing the phone after the second ring. My fears began to rise at the prospect of who might be at the other end.

  “Jesse,” Mom’s crackled voice blasted in my ear. Our phone connection was poor and I could barely make out what she was saying.

  “Mom, you’re breaking up,” I yelled into the phone while placing a hand over one ear. “I can barely hear you.” Then the static cleared.

  “I’m on my cell phone. Is that better?” she asked.

  “Yes, it’s much clearer. Where are you? Where’s Billy?”

  “You’re not going to believe this, but Billy ran off the road. The truck’s in a ditch, and we can’t get it out.”

  “What?” I screamed. “Is he hurt? Are you hurt?” I started to cry.

  “Jesse, we’re both fine. We’re not hurt, but I’m not so sure I can say the same thing about the truck. I’m going to give Billy the phone. He wants to talk to you.”

  His voice was music to my ears.

  “Don’t cry, Jesse. We’re both fine, but we will need some help getting the truck out of the ditch.”

  “Is your truck damaged?” I stopped the flow of tears, relieved to know they were safe and unhurt.

  “It might have a scratch or two, but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.”

  “Where are you?”

  “We’re at the bend in the road in front of the church at Turkey Ridge Road. I hit a patch of ice and slid down the embankment. The front end of the truck’s sitting in the stream. I can’t back up and I can’t turn around. The incline is too steep. I’m afraid the truck might turn over. It’s a pretty precarious situation. We’re going to need some help.”

  “Do you want me to bring my Jeep and a rope?” I was ready for action.

  Billy let out a chuckle. “I don’t think that’s going to cut it. I think we’re going to need more brut power than what you have in that Jeep, and a line stronger than a rope. I’ll call the chief. His truck has a winch. He can come and pull us out of the stream easily.”

  “Wait a minute, he’s here.” I motioned to Billy’s father and then handed him the phone. “Billy needs to talk to you.”

  Their conversation was brief.

  After hanging up the phone, the chief turned to me and said, “I am going to help your mother and my son. It might take a while since I have to go to Stanardsville, and the roads are bad. The traveling will be slow.” He glanced at his wife. “You will stay here until I return.” His eyes wandered around the room. “They do not need to be alone.”

  His wife stood by his side, nodding in agreement. “I shall do as you wish. I will stay here and watch out for them. Do what you have to. Don’t worry about us. We’re pretty tough women.”

  “This, I believe.”

  Once the chief was out the front door, Claire surprised me with her outburst. She was to the point of being livid.

  “I can’t believe you would let him push you around like that,” she said to Sarah. “I’d never stand for that kind of treatment. If a man told me what to do all the time, I’d go insane. What gives a man the right to think that he can tell us what to do? They’re all the same. Once you marry them, they turn into whiny, crybabies, with a mother complex. They live to boss us around.”

  I had no idea where all that came from, but it was obvious to me that Claire’s opinion of Carl and their marriage had sunk to an all time low and it wasn’t just because of his infidelities.<
br />
  “You interpret incorrectly, my dear,” Sarah responded. “He leads, he doesn’t push. His manner of speech is what you don’t understand.”

  “You can call it whatever you want to call it, but to me, I’d say he’s a control freak.”

  Sarah shot a questioning look at me.

  “She didn’t mean that he was a freak. She meant... ah...”

  “I just meant that he had to be in charge.”

  “You’re right about that, but only to a point.”

  “I can promise you that nobody pushes Sarah around. She can take care of herself. She might be small, but she carries a lot of weight.”

  Sarah winked at me. Her voice was soft when she spoke to Claire.

  “He talks in a funny way, but I know what he really means. Once you get to know him, you will, too.”

  “As long as you can deal with it,” Claire said and seemed to relax a little. “I’m not the one who has to live with him.”

  “We have a wedding to plan,” I blurted out. “Since we have a little time on our hands maybe the three of us can put our heads together and come up with something.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Claire beamed. “I was just getting ready to put the kids down for their afternoon nap.”

  “I noticed little Carrie had a hard time keeping her eyes open while the chief was telling one of his tales.” Sarah smiled adoringly. “They’re such beautiful children.” She stared at Benny and Carrie as they rolled around on the floor with Athena and Thor. “They love those two dogs, don’t they?”

  “Yes, they do,” Claire admitted. “What is it about kids and animals?”

  “They’re young and restless,” Sarah responded. “They see the world as one big adventure. They don’t see any danger. They’re innocent ones. We must always protect them. The world can be a harsh place.”

  Instantly, as if an alarm went off, Claire and Sarah turned to me and smiled. They had a devious look on their faces.

  “What?” I suddenly became aware of their gist. “No, I’m not ready for that responsibility just yet. Give me time to get married first and then I’ll consider it. I’m afraid that children will have to wait. We’re not starting a family any time soon. We’ll get married and then in a few years we’ll have a few kids.”