Saving Laurel Springs

by Lin Stepp

  “Yeah, at least that.” He blew out a breath. “The disease worsened to where Judith could hardly talk, swallow, or even breathe—though her mind stayed strong. It’s a place no one should have to go.”

  They sat quietly, two old friends glad to be together again. Billy Wade wasn’t a guy who probed too deeply, and Carter felt grateful for that.

  “I’m sorry about your wife’s death,” Billy said at last, clearing his throat. “Jeannie showed me a picture of her once in one of those celebrity magazines. A beautiful woman, almost regal-like, wearing a long, sparkly dress and going in to some gala event. Can’t remember what now.”

  Billy frowned trying to remember and then turned to Carter with a grin. “Awful fancy city girl for an old country boy like you.”

  Carter grinned back. “Yeah, you got that right.”

  He watched Beau run around the house when Taylor wasn’t looking and then wriggle under a bush to line up a good shot on him. Taylor looked around innocently, not seeing where Beau had gone.

  “Taylor’s about to get taken down.” Carter shook his head. “He’s stayed in too much, Billy. Not had a chance to get out, to socialize and learn to play smart. He’s too serious for a little kid. Worries too much. I’m hoping being here at Laurel Springs will change that.”

  They watched the boys run whooping through the yard—Beau, towheaded like Billy’s wife, Jeannie, and Taylor, his hair as black as Carter’s.

  “How long are you staying here, Carter?” Billy asked after they’d watched the boys fake a few more shoot-out deaths.

  Carter shifted in his seat. “I’m thinking of not going back at all.”

  “No kidding?” Billy sat forward with surprise. “But what about your work? Your position with Quest and all your new games coming out? I read those Time Traveler games are being made into animated movies or something. That will be big, Carter.” He scratched his head. “You’ve made a real name for yourself in the video gaming industry. That doesn’t sound like something you ought to just walk away from.”

  Carter grinned. Billy always had a way of cutting right to the chase.

  “I don’t have to give it up to live here.” He considered what to tell Billy. “I’ll continue to work as a developer and consultant with Quest. And I’ve hand-trained a successor to continue a large portion of my work in California.”

  Carter drank the last of his coffee before finishing his thoughts. “I can still create the ideas—the story line, characters, and sketches for a game. Gather data. Do research. And then send it to my programmer and his team. I can fly back and forth as they produce and develop the game. It takes about a year to get a game out. I can test any ongoing game from here and fly over to help get it finalized and put into production. Quest has a small company jet; I can connect with that for the trips back and forth.”

  “Your boss is okay with this?” Billy seemed surprised.

  “Yeah. He’s okay with it.” Carter’s boss, wealthy magnate Morgan Adelman Benton, creator of Quest One Corporation and heir to billions through Benton Electronics, was also Carter’s father-in-law. There was a lot more to this story than Carter wanted to share with Billy right now.

  “My boss is Judith’s dad,” Carter added, hoping that would be enough to satisfy Billy’s curiosity.

  “Well, heck, that’s sweet!” Billy Wade reached over to punch Carter on the arm companionably. “Since you’re going to hang around, you can help me with the little kids’ football team I’ve gotten myself roped into.”

  “Whoa, boy.” Carter grinned at him. “I’ve got a lot to do already without helping to coach football. That’s the reason I set this time today to come over to talk to you.”

  Billy feigned a pout. “And here I assumed it was all about spending time with an old friend.”

  “That, too, Billy. You know it.”

  “So what’s on your mind?” Billy leaned back in his chair and crossed one ankle over his leg. He was still a big man and well muscled, his hair cut close to his head, his jaw square. Today he wore faded jeans and an old T-shirt that showed his broad shoulders and strong arms. He’d taken his strength and natural dexterity of hand into the contracting and electrical business his family owned. Carter had checked him out. He rated the best in the area. And Carter trusted him.

  “I want to fix up Laurel Springs, Billy, and I was hoping you and your crew would take the job on.”

  Billy’s eyes lit up. “Dang, Carter. It’s good news to think I can have a part in bringing this old place back to life. I do my best as the part-time caretaker here, living on the assembly grounds like I do, but there’s never much money. It’s mostly a series of patch jobs that Hiram Denton and I are able to do.” He paused. “You remember Hiram, don’t you? He’ll want to be a part of any renovations we do, if it’s okay.”

  “Yeah, I remember Hiram.” Carter smiled. “We used to make bets to see who could get the most words out of him. The man never had much to say.”

  Billy laughed. “Still doesn’t. But he’s good with his hands, Carter. And steady. He grew up right across the street from Laurel Springs—where he still lives today. His family worked at Laurel for two generations and now he and his wife, Estelle, both work here. Hiram mows the property, does odd jobs, helps with the farm work, fixes all the bicycles that break down. Estelle works at the store, bakes, makes lunches to sell. Does great baked goods.”

  Carter hardly needed the reminders. He could see Hiram in his mind, a quiet, slow-moving, and somewhat homely man, always such a contrast to his fast-moving, talkative, and outgoing wife.

  “Does Estelle still make those thick bologna sandwiches and fried apple pies?”

  “Still does.” Billy grinned. “Keeps the store hopping with local business at lunch time.”

  He turned to Carter with a more serious expression now. “How much renovation are you thinking about doing here, Carter? Do you have an idea of exactly what you want to do—or do you want me to work up an estimate based on the amount you want to spend and the needs I see?”

  “I’ve got some ideas.” Carter pulled out the leather folder he’d brought with him and took out a set of papers to hand to Billy.

  Carter watched the boys play while Billy looked over the plans. Like most six-year-olds with short attention spans, they’d lost interest in gunfights and lay sprawled under an oak tree now, driving Matchbox cars over dirt roads scratched out where the grass had thinned.

  After reading through the papers, Billy looked up, his eyes wide. He whistled. “Contracting may not be your field, but surely you realize you’re looking at a bucket load of money to do all this.”

  “I’ve made a bucket load of money, Billy. And I can’t think of a better way to spend it.” He caught Billy’s eyes. “You know I always wanted to bring Laurel Springs back to life. It’s what I went off to California for.”

  Billy scratched his chin. “Yeah, well, I guess I remember that talk when you were a kid. But a lot of time has gone by. You married and made a new life.” He shifted and looked uncomfortable now.

  “Spit it out, Billy. Don’t stand on ceremony with me.”

  He scratched his neck. “Well, I guess I was wondering what Rhea thinks about all of this.”

  Carter scowled. “I’ve talked to my parents and to Grampa, and I expect to talk to Lillian and to Nana. They own the land and so the decisions about what renovations can be done really lie in their hands—not in Rhea’s or mine.”

  Billy squirmed in his seat. “Yeah, I know that, but Rhea has been working here all these years. Finding ways on a shoestring to make improvements, to draw in new tourists, to keep the place going.” He searched for the right words. “I’ve sort of found myself a lot of times working more for Rhea than for Lillian or your folks.”

  “You’re saying Rhea has sort of been running things?”

  “Well, yeah, in a lot of ways. Although Lillian does most of the administrative work and keeps the books over at the ad-min building—and your dad keeps up with the prop
erty and farm aspects.” He hesitated. “But it’s Rhea who keeps things going daily. Jeannie works with her a lot, too.”

  He frowned. “While the economy has been down and times have been bad, they’ve scrubbed, cleaned cabins, painted, and mended. Bargain shopped for anything and everything. Run garage sales and rummage sales for extra money. Given historic tours and old-time demonstrations.”

  Billy gave Carter a determined look then. “It matters what Rhea thinks. And what Jeannie thinks, too.”

  “And you think that might be a problem?” Carter watched him.

  Billy crossed his arms. “Well, sure. I heard through Jeannie you’d already had one disagreement with Rhea.”

  “Is that right?” Carter was interested. “What disagreement was that?”

  “Well, I heard how Rhea ran into you at the covered bridge—and how things didn’t go so well.” He dropped his eyes. “Jeannie told me Rhea said she isn’t much interested in reinitiating a friendship with you.”

  Carter bit down on the smile that yearned to slip out. Evidently Rhea had kept quiet, even to her best friend, about their meeting on Rocky Knob. He guessed she didn’t want anyone knowing about that.

  “I’ll deal with Rhea,” he told Billy Wade. “I know you feel proud of all that Rhea’s been doing. I do, too, Billy.” He paused. “I’ve been keeping up with all that through my parents.”

  Carter saw Billy’s surprise.

  “It’s the truth and there’s more.” Again, Carter considered what to tell Billy. “Did you know I’ve been funneling money into Laurel Springs through my parents over the last seven years?”

  “No.” Billy shook his head, obviously surprised.

  “Rhea doesn’t know that, either. So I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell her—or Jeannie—just yet.” He sent Billy a firm look. “I just wanted you to know I’ve been doing my part, Billy. I may have been away but I’ve still kept caring about Laurel Springs.”

  “Well, dang.” Billy gave a low whistle. “This sure has been a day of surprises.”

  Carter returned to business. “So, Billy, do you think you’d like to take on the contracting renovations for Laurel Springs?”

  Billy reached over to clap him on the back. “I’d be downright mad if you asked anyone but me. And Ledford Electrical and Contracting will be glad for such a big job. I’ll start working on the estimates right away if you’d like. The next time we meet, you can tell me the priorities you have in mind. Where you’d like to start. What you’d like to see to first.”

  “I’ll do that. I have some blueprints for a house for Taylor and me that need priority.” Carter pulled them out of the leather folder to pass to Billy. “Dad and Grampa said I can build on Low Ridge on the old Costner ruins. You’ll know the spot; we used to play there. I don’t want to impose on my folks too long.”

  “I sure will enjoy working on that project.” Billy grinned, beginning to unroll the blueprints to look at them.

  Carter stood up. “I’ve got a lot to do today, and I know you do, too. Thanks for the time you’ve given me.”

  “Heck.” Billy stood up and gave Carter a clumsy hug. “You’re my best friend from back since we were kids. I hope we’ll be spending a lot more time together.” He grinned. “I’ll have to see if you can still catch a football one day.”

  “We’ll do that.” Carter smiled as he reached over to gather up his folder and extra papers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Billy’s grin fade to a thoughtful frown.

  “What’s worrying you now, Billy?”

  Billy shifted uncomfortably. “I guess I was just wishin’ you and Rhea could make some sort of peace. So maybe the four of us could have some good times again like before.”

  Carter gave him a sly glance. “I have a better convertible for us to ride around in now.”

  Billy laughed. “Well, that’s a fact!”

  “And I’m working on Rhea.” Carter realized regretfully that his voice dropped and softened as he admitted it.

  He saw Billy watching his face. “You still got feelings there, Carter?” His voice dropped to a softer tone. “You don’t have to say nothin’ if you don’t want to.”

  Carter looked at the face of his old friend. “I never stopped having feelings there,” he replied honestly.

  Billy’s eyebrows lifted in question. “Is that so?”

  “Yes, but that’s a complicated subject and a story for another day.” He sent Billy a telling look. “And nothing to talk about, you hear?”

  “Don’t worry. I can keep a confidence.” He grinned again. “Even from Jeannie when I have to.”

  Carter clapped him on the arm. “I remembered that fact or I wouldn’t have said anything at all.”

  He started down the steps and then turned back to reach his hand out to grasp Billy’s in a firm handshake. “It’s good to be back, Billy—good to see you, and great to be doing business with you.”

  “Back at you,” Billy said, his grip firm in return.

  Billy held his hand a moment longer as a thought came to him. “I hate to put a damper on things, but there’s one worry I ought to share with you if your folks haven’t.”

  Carter propped a foot on one step. “What’s the worry?”

  Billy ran a hand over his head. “Well, there’s been some trouble around the place for a couple of months.”

  “What kind of trouble?” Carter’s interest pricked.

  “Little breakins around the property. Vandalism—but with strange happenings with it. Spots dug up around old buildings, like someone’s looking for something. Doors and windows broken out in some of the old cabins.” He paused, thinking. “A few times folks have said they saw someone but we didn’t get much of a description.”

  “That seems odd for Laurel Springs. Has anyone been hurt or threatened?”

  “It is odd. And it’s hard to imagine anyone could be looking to find anything around here. Most folks know Laurel has fallen on hard times. There’s nothing of much value around the property except in the rental cabins—and they haven’t been targeted. Just the old buildings.” He frowned as he considered this. “No one’s been hurt or threatened, but there’s been a sighting or two of someone dressed in dark clothes with something like a ski mask on skulking around. That ain’t normal.”

  Carter didn’t like the sound of this. “Has the sheriff been called?”

  “Yeah, Lillian called Ursell Wheeler over after the old Tritt cabin was broken into. There’s all that spinning stuff there and the quilting frame and it worried Nana when some of that was pushed around in the breakin.” He paused. “You remember Ursell?”

  Carter grinned, remembering the sturdy, reliable, no-nonsense sheriff. “Yeah, he policed a few of our events around the high school, if I remember right.”

  Billy laughed. “Let us off for a few minor mishaps we could have gotten ourselves in some trouble for at home.”

  Moving his thoughts back to the problem at Laurel, Carter asked, “Did Ursell find anything? Figure out what was going on—or what motive might be involved?”

  “Nah, it’s a mystery, I guess.” Billy shrugged. “Ursell figured it was just some kids goofing around. I hope that’s all, but it strikes me as peculiar, and that’s a fact. I haven’t had a good feeling about it. This has always been a safe place. We’ve never had problems here.”

  “It’s something to keep an eye on—especially if there are more incidents. Thanks for telling me about this.” He scanned the yard to locate Taylor. “You let me know if you hear of any more problems, okay? We might decide to do some stakeouts or something.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Billy followed Carter out to his car. “It’s probably nothing. But I thought you ought to know, with our boys running free around the property. I’ve told Beau to keep a watch out.”

  “I’ll talk to Taylor, too.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Rhea sat on one of the picnic tables at the old Laurel Springs meeting grounds, waiting for the last of the tourists to arrive for the S
aturday morning tour. It had been a tradition at Laurel Springs since the earliest of times to tour the grounds. In earlier years, a matched set of horses pulled visitors around the property in a long wagon with slat seats down either side. Now they used an old tram for the tours—bought used from an area amusement park and repainted.

  Sam Dean, an outgoing, gregarious man and Rhea’s father, always gave the tours with verve and pleasure until his heart attack. Now Rhea gave them. She lacked her father’s hearty humor but found she possessed a good gift for storytelling. Rhea smiled to herself, remembering how scared she’d been the first time she led the tours at seventeen. Now she could do them in her sleep.

  Checking her watch, Rhea stood up to greet the people who’d arrived. There were three couples from the cabins—the Brileys, the Reeveses, and the McMahans—and a group of six college-age kids from the East Camp Road. An even dozen today.

  “Good morning,” she said, putting on her tour-guide smile. “I’m glad you came to take our tour of Laurel Springs Camp Assembly Grounds today. I hope you’ll enjoy learning a little about the colorful history of the campground and about the surrounding area.”

  She made introductions, had everyone put on name tags, and then gestured toward a wide field in front of them, starting the tour. “This is the old meeting ground where revivals and camp meetings were held in the 1800s. The Great Revival, with its outdoor brush arbor meetings, swept many parts of the United States in that era, and this mountainous region enjoyed its share of itinerant preachers passing through for fervent meetings and long days of preaching. The earliest ministers to travel this Appalachian section were Methodist circuit riders. Two famous ones who rode this section of the Great Smoky Mountains were Francis Asbury and William McKendree.”

  “I’ve seen Asbury’s grave in Baltimore,” Jim Briley said.

  Rhea walked over to a rough covered stage near the field’s edge. “The platforms where clergy preached looked much like this hand-built stage. Rough benches were also constructed to seat the outdoor congregation along with a mourner’s or sinner’s bench up front. A Methodist preacher often rode a five hundred–mile radius holding camp meetings that usually lasted three to four days. Meetings were held on the lands of area farmers, where there was ample land for camping and a good supply of water. It is easy to see why this site became popular for camp meetings—with its broad, flat field near both a mountain stream and a spring-fed lake.”