"Great," Hunter grumbled. "I guess they'll just move politely if we ask."
"Oh, Dani. Are you positive?" Abby asked.
"There was a tearoom there. Lottie pulled back a board and uncovered the coal chute in the alley. There must have been a plank or a ledge just inside it. She kept an old coffee can there – that's where she hid the money." Dani used Hunter's arm to pull herself to her feet. She held on until the world stopped leaning.
"So it's possible if the ledge burned or gave way, it fell into the coal bin or the basement during the fire. That's going to make it tougher to find, if someone hasn't stumbled on it already." Hunter kept his arm around her as they walked slowly back toward the fire.
"Why don't we offer to buy those guys some food or something, if they'll leave?" Abby suggested.
"Then they'll want to know what's so important. Maybe we could pay them to help us instead," Hunter answered.
"But…" Abby began.
"Not to look for the coins... We could tell them we're hunting old stuff, artifacts, souvenirs," he interrupted her objection. "We offer to pay them for pieces from the eighteen hundreds and get them to go hunting. It might keep them busy long enough for us to look for the coins."
"Might work. What do you think, Dani?" Abby turned to her friend.
"Whatever you two decide – I just need to keep going while I'm on a roll. Things don't always come to me this easy, so I need to get on with it," Dani explained.
After a little more arguing between Abby and Hunter, Hunter left to approach the guys near the fire. There was some laughing and nodding, and then the men melted away from the fire and out of the alley. Only one man stayed near the flames when Hunter rejoined the girls.
"I'm paying him to keep the fire going and keep watch for us. He's got a bad leg and said he doesn't want to be wandering around looking for junk. Had to trade my light to get one of them to go. Hope we won't need it."
"We should be okay. Dani, are you sure you're up to this? You seem awfully…" Abby stopped because she couldn't describe her friend's problem.
"Things are... Well, they seem to be happening different than before. But I'm okay, really. I just want to get this done and get out of here. This place – I feel like I could get lost here – never find my way back. It's really strange," she said as she shivered.
Hunter tilted her chin up to force her to look into his eyes. "I won't let that happen, I swear." He kissed her on the forehead then put her slightly away from him. "Where to, Dani? We need to get going before those men return."
Dani carefully picked her way to the side of the narrow alley just past the fire being tended by the one man and began searching with her light. "Look for a hole that will indicate a basement or an underground coal bin," she instructed.
Picking up a narrow splintered board, she began poking ahead of her at the ground. At last, she found a hole at the edge of a rubbish pile. Bending down and pushing aside loose bricks, she felt along and found a piece of metal that angled down into a large hole. "Over here, Hunter, Abby," she called softly. "I found something."
They quickly joined her and helped clear away the old bricks and debris from the opening. Abby made sure they didn't push aside a coffee can in their haste.
Once the opening was cleared, Hunter took Dani's light and stuck his head down into the hole to check it out. "There's just ashes and dust down there – and dirt walls." His voice sounded far away and hollow. "Not a cellar, definitely a coal bin. There might have been a door on the other side – just a dark hole there now." Hunter righted himself and wiped his face. "About eight to ten feet deep, and probably that width too. There could be a can in the junk at the bottom. It looks pretty thick down there."
"I'll have to go down to see," Dani said. "Tie me off, and you and Abby can let me down."
"You sure you want to do this? I can go— Could be I'd find a coffee can," he teased in a good imitation of Slow Joe, Abby's source.
"Thanks, but I still doubt if Abby and I could pull you back out. I should go." She took the end of the rope. Dani made a loop around her waist and tied a knot before pulling on her gloves. "I'll take the small light. You and Abby need the larger ones up here."
"Okay, but I'm shining this one into the hole with you. Here, Abby prop this light up with a plank." Hunter tied the rope around his own waist, leaving enough slack to let Dani down, but not enough to let her hit bottom if his hands slipped. He tugged on his gloves and they moved to the very edge together.
Dani turned backward to the edge of the hole and Hunter helped her drop over the lip. He let her down slowly until she touched bottom with her feet. "Keep the rope on in case I need to get you out in a hurry. I'll give you more slack to move around," he called down.
"Okay. How about tossing down that stick I had up there. I don't want to kick up too much dust in this small area." Dani moved the beam of her light over the box-like area. Scurrying sounds in the corner made her cringe.
"Here, Dani. Reach up," Hunter's head appeared above her and he reached down with the stick outstretched in his hand.
"I got it, thanks." Dani used the stick to poke around in the dust and ashes directly under what was left of the metal coal chute. Finally, she heard a clank and dropped to one knee to feel for the object. A bean can – recently discarded as evidenced by partial remains of a paper label. Her search revealed several similar cans until at last she hit one that made a thud instead of a metal sound. This can was larger and buried deeper than the others, and she held her breath as she uncovered it.
Joy bubbled up as she felt the weight of the can. She knew it contained something much heavier than coffee. Holding the small flashlight beneath one armpit, she used the end of the stick to pry up the metal lid of the can. A wad of burlap material filled the top and she worked to pull it out.
"What is it, Dani? Did you find something? Are you okay?" Abby excitedly called down when Dani stopped moving and began picking at something.
"We found them. We really did it! There are gold and silver pieces here. They're not corroded at all. Still bright and shiny," Dani called softly and smiled up at them. Then something scurried in the dark corner once more.
Dani stopped laughing to order, "Now get me out of this hole!"
Hunter waited until she tucked the can inside her shirt and moved directly under the opening before he began to strong-arm her up. Abby helped brace him and took up the spare rope as he pulled. Once Dani's head was through the hole, Abby grabbed her and helped her climb over the rim as Hunter steadied Dani with the taut rope.
"Quiet, guys. Some of those men are coming back to the fire. Our lookout whistled a warning just a few seconds ago," Abby cautioned when what she really wanted to do was jump up and down and shout over their find.
Dani untied the rope and Hunter returned it to the backpack. Dani carefully slipped the old coffee can into the backpack and took out the last bottle of water. She rinsed out her mouth then took a long drink before passing it around as Hunter shouldered the pack. He walked them to what had once been the main street and stopped.
"I'll go deal with these guys. You two rest a few minutes and wait for me right here."
Abby looked at Dani and whispered, "Can you see the ghosts?"
Dani reached for Abby's hand and shook her head no. "Not unless I'm touching something and clear my mind. What do they look like to you?"
"Sort of like the holograms we used to see on sci-fi movies. They're transparent and fade in and out. They seem easier to see here and there sure are a lot of them. Guess I'm as odd as you and Derek, huh?"
"Not odd – just very special..." Dani assured her.
Chapter Eleven
The three of them wearily sat down on the concrete retaining wall when they at last climbed out of the storm drain where they first entered several hours before. Dani groaned as she looked at the hill they needed to climb to reach the street above. Exhausted, she didn't know if she could take another step.
A slow rain partially rev
ived them in the waning light of day and Hunter took the can out of the backpack to look at what they'd found.
Abby moved closer and Dani directed her light on the coins Hunter spilled into the palm of his hand. Silver and gold glowed under the flashlight beam.
"I'm no expert, but there should be quite a fortune here," Dani told them. "Most of these coins have hardly been circulated. I see everything from Lady Liberty silver dollars to twenty-dollar double eagles. Looks like Alicia and Billy will do okay."
"That's fantastic," Abby smiled tiredly. "Now let's get the heck out of here. I'm so hungry I could eat a bear, hide and all, and then sleep for a week."
Hunter agreed as he dumped the coins back into the can and replaced it in the backpack. "I could definitely do with a big steak and the fixings."
"Have you taken a good look at us? We wouldn't be allowed to eat at the dumpster near a soup kitchen." Dani poked his arm and laughed.
After struggling to the top of the hill, they walked slowly to where they left the SUV. They were soon on their way to the hotel.
"Sure glad this isn't my auto," Hunter said as his jeans left a muddy smear on the upholstery.
"I'd just throw it away and buy another one. This muck and smell will never come out," Dani agreed.
"Yeah, we'll have to burn these clothes." Abby yawned. "I don't know if I want a shower, food, or a bed first."
"Well, I definitely want a shower," Dani wrinkled her nose. "No way can I eat smelling like this, and I definitely don't want this crap in my bed."
They did rock, paper, scissors and Hunter won first turn in the bathroom once they reached the suite.
Dani ordered large steak dinners to be sent up from the adjoining restaurant and added a bottle of champagne so they could celebrate their find.
She and Abby peeled off their filthy smelly clothes and shoes and slipped into hotel robes while waiting for Hunter to finish in the bath. Then they opened the can of coins and began sorting them on a side table they moved in front of the sofa.
"Some of these will probably be worth a lot to a collector, won't they?" Abby grinned. "Wait until Alicia finds out. She'll have a fit."
"Are you going to take a finder's fee? You definitely deserve it."
"I should, if only to cover our expenses, but I don't think so. You deserve at least ten percent – you decide what we should do," Abby told her friend.
"I'd rather it go to the baby. Besides, I've already got my payment. I met Hunter – for whatever good that will do me," Dani told her friend and blushed furiously.
"If you guys wouldn't be in there forever, you could join him in the shower, you know," Abby teased. "I won't be embarrassed."
"Maybe not, but I would." Dani laughed. "I'll just pretend you did not go there."
"You don't know what you're missing. Having someone to wash your – um – back can be a real blast. So I've been told," Abby finished at Dani's shocked look, and then giggled.
* * * * *
Pleasantly relaxed after her shower, a wonderful tasting steak and salad, and a second glass of champagne, Dani smiled. Her exhausted friend had fallen into bed as soon as they'd eaten and she wasn't sure where Hunter disappeared. Dani ran her hands across the top of the coins again, concentrating on Lottie. Her fingers paused over an unusual twenty-dollar gold double-eagle. The only one like it from the can, and the only one Dani had ever seen. She picked it up and rubbed the raised etchings carefully.
Lottie laughed and rolled away from the large man. "Why Harrison, you randy old goat. We don't have time fer that. Maggie will pitch me out on the street if I don't git myself down there fer the next feller. It's Saturdy and the parlor'll be full."
"Tell you what, Lottie girl. I got a gold eagle I'll give you if you let me stay the night."
Lottie held her hand out for the money, tucked it inside her pillowcase, and then began sliding her hands over the warm male body in her bed.
Hunter jerked Dani back to the present when he pressed a kiss behind her ear. She dropped the coin, turned to him, and slid her arms around his neck.
Between gentle kisses, he told her, "I looked up the twenty-dollar gold piece you like so much. We'll need an expert to look it over, but an 1870-CC, which stands for Carson City, by the way..." He let his voice trail off as he deepened the next kiss.
Then Dani pulled back, knowing he had something important to say. "Tell me, Hunter."
"Well, that is a very rare coin. Only thirty-five to forty minted. And if it's what we have here, the most recent one was auctioned off." He drew her to him and kissed her again.
She fought free of his lips. "Hunter, how much? I'm going to strangle you if you don't tell me."
"Will you stop talking and let me kiss you properly, if I tell you?"
"Yes, yes. How much?"
"299,000 American dollars."
Dani's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow! This will be a very happy Halloween for Alicia and little Billy."
"And how about for me?" Hunter whispered.
"We'll see what we can do. Lovely Lottie's been showing me a few things." Dani laughed as she surrendered to Hunter's kisses.
~The End~
About the Author
Rebecca J. Vickery has been married to the same very patient man for quite a while now. She has one son, a special daughter-in-law, and three wonderful grandchildren.
She enjoys the challenge of adding a special twist to her stories of romance. Usually they involve the paranormal, mystery, adventure, suspense, or a bit of fantasy along the way to a happy ever after or happy for now ending.
You may visit Rebecca at these sites online:
rebeccajvickeryauthor.com
www.facebook.com/rebeccajvickery
rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/
Other Works by Mrs. Vickery
~ Novels ~
Surviving With Love
Looking Through the Mist
Following Destiny
Seeking Shelter
~ Novellas ~
Clint's Choice
Rena's Summer Vacation
Love Kills
Lady Constance Yankee Spy
Christmas Tears
Night of the Blue Moon
Dad's Favorite Holiday
Raising the Lost
A Haunting Love
The Trouble with Fishing
The Rescue
I Love God's Creatures
~ Collections ~
Becca's Paranormal Collection: Book 1
Carried Away by Love ~ Sweet Romance Collection: Book 1
Finding Love the Hard Way ~ Sweet Romance Collection: Book 2
~ Non-Fiction with Co-Authors ~
Color With Taylor – Book 1: Variety
Madi's Secret Color Garden – Book 1: Land and Sea Creatures
~ Flash Fiction ~
Releasing the Beast
Cappuccino and Christmas Snow
Carried Away by Love Page 16
