A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (26 page)

Walking to the refrigerator Chase begins removing the
fixings for breakfast placing them on the counter. He understands
the need to think, to discover the truth, to come to conclusions each
individual can live with.
For him the decision to stay here and
continue to investigate the crimes is easy.
Having grown up with
stories about a ghost and a haunted house, he was not afraid of
Archie.
Chase the man and Chase the Sheriff believes Archie is a
man to be trusted.
If he did not trust Archie, he would take
Stephanie out of this house, even if she was kicking and screaming
to stay.
Andy will need time to think; to sort this out for himself.
Chase will give him the time he needs and he will honor whatever
decision Andy makes.

Realizing the conversation for now has ended.
Archie
informs them he is going to the attic to think.
Before anyone can
comment he fades.

Torn between staying with the men and going after Archie,
Stephanie glances at Chase.
Seeing him staring at Andy she turns
and sees Andy lost in thought.
Sympathy overwhelms her,
realizing Andy had just really accepted Archie, only to have his
perspective turned upside down.
He must feel as he has walked
into a crazy asylum, actually a haunted crazy asylum.
Grinning at
her thoughts she reaches across the table placing her hand over
Andy’s on his mug.
When he looks up she sees his eyes focusing;
when his eyes clear and he recognizes her she smiles.
Removing
her hand from his she says softly, “You need to look inside yourself,
if you really think Archie will hurt me, you or Chase, you need to
leave now.
But if you decide to stay, you will discover Archie is a
wonderful, loving and honorable man.”
Keeping her voice low she
concludes, “He will never hurt us.”

Having finished preparing breakfast; Chase places three
plates on the table. Taking a seat he tells them, “Enough talk, eat.”
Having been raised by his wonderful Mother, he remembers her
always saying, “Food is the best medicine for times of trouble.”
Concentrating on his plate he begins eating his omelet.
Both
Stephanie and Andy follow his lead and eat.

Upstairs Archie paces the floor.
Hearing Andy’s words go
through his mind like a recording.
The knowledge of his fears
weighs heavy on his heart.
Archie had begun thinking of Andy as a
friend, someone he could talk with, a person he could help and
learn from.
Hindsight has him wishing he had told Chase privately;
between them they could have told Andy.
A united front, doing it
this way felt as if he had divided the home.
Shaking his head he
again wishes he could have spoken to Della, she would have known
the best way to handle the situation.
His Della was smart as well
as beautiful.
She would have anticipated the questions and the
concerns.

He had been so excited with his abilities; he had not looked
at the ramifications. Stopping to look out the window Archie
moves the curtain out of his view.
Pausing again to consider the
implications of his actions he releases the curtain.
Turning he
resumes pacing; he begins making a mental list of pros and cons.
On the pros side he could help with the actual safety of Stephanie,
he could do more than observe he could and would protect her,
moving objects meant he could defend and fight an intruder.
He is
sure there would be more pros when he could think of them, but he
goes ahead and moves to the cons side; he can only think of one.
The fact Andy is now convinced he is dangerous to everyone, not
just to intruders. With a sureness he knows to his soul; he
acknowledges he would never hurt his friends.
It is inconceivable
he could ever hurt a relative of his Della; just the thought makes him
feel sick.

Wanting to understand Andy behavior he understands how
Andy’s upbringing, his selection of a career and his social
environment is the point of his decisions.
Deciding to give Andy
time to adjust Archie also resolves to prove to Andy he is a man to
be trusted.

Archie becomes lost in his thoughts as he thinks about the
time he has spent in this house, the years of not being seen or heard
by anyone.
His loneliness, the feelings of isolation, the fear he was
being punished.
Then the wonderful night he met Della.
His time
with her was a gift, a blessing from above.
Was it a coincidence it
was Della that was able to see him, or was it destiny?
What if this
was connected too, what if he was here to protect Stephanie.
Has
he been stuck between here in the afterlife to help a descendant of
Della? Now having more questions he decides he will discuss this
with Chase, he is logical.
Chase will be able to put this in
perspective.

The sound of a car stopping in the driveway halts his
thoughts. Floating back to the window, he watches as Deputy
Johnny exits the cruiser and walks to the front door.

Not wanting to interrupt, Archie decides to stay in the attic
to allow the people downstairs to visit with their friend.
Turning
away from the window he drifts to the rocking chair and slowly puts
it in motion.
Sitting in the old rocking chair he closes his eyes
picturing Della sitting in this same chair rocking as she knitted.
Smiling at these memories Archie allows thoughts of Della to waft
through his mind.

Sitting at the kitchen table Johnny feels the tension thick in
the air.
Stephanie trying to offer comfort keeps smiling at him, if
only he could tell her this wasn’t helping.
Clearing his throat,
wishing he had called first he decides to get down to the business at
hand.
“Sheriff, we received a message from the FBI.”
Noting
Chase and Andy are now giving him their full attention, he
continues, “They wanted me to tell you the information you are
waiting for is ready.
They said you would need to pick it up.
Due
to chain of evidence they could not release it to just a Deputy.”
The disgust is relevant in Johnny’s voice.

Closing his eyes Chase feels as if he should have stayed in
bed cuddling Stephanie.
Opening his eyes he admits to himself the
day has been eventful, stressful and full of drama.
Addressing
Johnny in his Sheriff’s tone he states, “Thanks for the message.
I
will call and make arrangement to get it.”
Glancing at Andy he
asks, “Will you be here to help with protection?”

Andy looks Chase directly in his eyes; he nods once and then
goes back to writing in his notebook.
When Johnny had come in,
he had sensed it wasn’t a friendly visit.
The evidence is important
to this investigation. It may help solve two murders. Realizing
Johnny has no clue about what this represents.
Andy had
observed them, the respect Johnny has for the Sheriff is apparent.
Even feeling slighted by the FBI, Johnny will never question the
Sheriff about the procedure in place or ask what kind of evidence
Chase is waiting on.

Andy looks up from his notebook and notices Stephanie
watching him.
Her eyes see too much, he realizes she knows his
problem with Archie is only temporarily on hold.
Giving her a
slight smile, he returns his attention to the notebook.
Thinking
about Archie earlier he had decided to make a list of pros and cons
concerning his new abilities.
Reviewing the list it has become
obvious the pros outnumber the cons. Admitting to himself he
may have jump to conclusions and therefore may have missed
judged Archie.
Rising from his chair Andy opts to go for a walk to
rethink his earlier assessment.
Looking down at Stephanie he says,
“I am going for a walk around the property.
I won’t be gone long.”
With that said he strides out the door.

Chase and Johnny had been discussing the day to day
running of the department.
Chase had explained the importance
of Johnny being in charge while he is busy here protecting
Stephanie. Chase did not go into detail, nor did he apologize for
the workload now bestowed on Johnny.
Looking up when the
door closes Chase raises his brow, “What’s up with Andy?”

Shrugging her shoulders Stephanie replies simply, “He said
he is going to walk the grounds and think.”
Smiling she raises her
eyes to the ceiling, her smile gets bigger when Chase understands
her meaning.
Stephanie knows they are truly a couple when they
can understand each other with just a look.
Enjoying the sensation
of being a couple, she watches Chase go over the reports with
Johnny.
Tuning out their voices Stephanie allows her mind to
wonder to the “gifts” bestowed upon Archie until she hears Marty’s
name mentioned.

“What about Marty?
Is she ok?”
Concern now in her
voice Stephanie stares at Johnny, anxiously waiting for his respond.
Grinning like a school boy Johnny tells her, “Marty is fine,
she and I are going to the movies tonight.” Blushing he adds, “I
took your advice and asked her out, she said yes.”
Thinking about
Marty puts Johnny in a better mood, he still can’t understand why
she agreed to go with him but he wasn’t going to permit her to
change her mind.
Happiness shines in Stephanie eyes as she exclaims, “That is
wonderful.
Did Chase tell you we are having a cook out and want
both you and Marty to come?
It’s this Saturday.”
Her
excitement is infectious and both Chase and Johnny grin in
responds.
Nodding his head, Johnny tells her, “I will let Marty know
tonight.
Hopefully she can get off work to come but I can’t confirm
she will be able to.
Saturdays are always busy at the hospital.”
Disappointment dims the excitement in Stephanie’s eyes,
however she nods her understanding. She had hoped Marty
would be able to come Saturday. Needing to have girl talk she
misses her new friend.
Sensing her distress Chase sits down across
from her, he takes her hand raising it to his lips he kisses her palm.
As he lays her hand down on the table, Stephanie smiles.
As they sit looking into each other eyes, Johnny feels like an
interloper, faking a cough he raises from his chair when he has their
attention, “I am going to head out now.”
Glancing at Chase he
utters a quick good bye then walks out the door.
Driving back to town Johnny reckons there will be a wedding
in the near future.
Admitting he had never seen the Sheriff so
happy and so content.
They both watch the other, needing
contact even it’s just with their eyes.
Witnessing their love, he
feels an overwhelming urge to surprise Marty early for their date.
Switching the radio on, Johnny hums along with the music.
The
irritation he had felt over the FBI forgotten for now.
Chase continues to sit with Stephanie at the table, both lost
in thought.
The noise from the door being opened have them
turning towards the sound.
Chase observes Andy’s expression,
trying to figure out his disposition.
Noticing his posture is more
relaxes; Chase considers Andy as he walks to the coffee pot and fills
a mug.
Turning towards the table, Andy sees two pairs of eyes
gawking at him.
Moving to the chair he vacated earlier, Andy sits
down.
Holding up his hand to stall the questions he knows they
want to ask Andy states, “First let me inform you both I have come
to a conclusion about myself.
I will not apologize or defend my
beliefs.” Seeing their nods of understanding he continues, “Archie
is a new concept for me to adjust too.
Not just the new stuff, but
Archie in general.
I have never believed in ghosts, or any other
supernatural things.
Now I feel I have walked into a world I know
nothing about.
For me that is not acceptable.
I am a person that
needs to know, to be able to analyze the facts and handle it.”
Placing his hands around the mug Andy adds, “This is very
disturbing for me, I feel as if I have lost control of the situation.
The cop in me has always been able to tell if someone is playing me,
I have been able to judge people’s character.” Lifting his mug he
takes a drink then sets it back down, continuing “I will say the shock
of Archie and now the shock of the latest development has me
doubting my own sanity.
So I resolved to think of Archie as a
person, not as a “ghost” and I find I believe him.
My first
impression of him was a man with a high regard for honor, justice
and family.
For me to logically get through this I have to think of
the man Archie, not the spirit.
I should have never doubted his
character.
I know my first impressions are right.
I will still need
time to fully adjust to this bizarre life you both seem to accept
without question. ” Finished speaking, Andy sits staring down at this
coffee.
Stephanie glances at Chase, then back at Andy.
She realizes
Andy has had to adjust his concept of the unexplained supernatural
existence.
Smiling she admits to having had her doubts.
The fact
he is trying to accept this, to try to come to terms about Archie,
shows to her he is a man with principals.
Rising from his chair, Chase walks to the counter picking up
the coffee pot, he returns to the table filling everyone’s mug.
Placing the empty pot on the table Chase sits down looking at Andy,
“You are dealing with this better than most, I think.”
Deciding no
more was needed to be said on this matter, Chase changes the
subject, “I am going to contact my friend at the FBI and set a time to
get the report.
Hopefully this will help solve two murders.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, Chase checks the time on
the wall clock.
Seeing its already late afternoon, Chase grabs his
cell phone and punches in the number for the FBI.
After a brief
conversation he ends the call.
Laying his phone on the table he
turns again to Andy, “Daniel said I can be there anytime, he is
working at the office today. I think I will go change clothes and
leave in a few minutes.”
Andy nods in agreement.
Reaching
across the table Chase picks up Stephanie’s hand.
Rising from his
chair he pulls Stephanie up with him, still holding her hand they
walk out of the room.
Chapter Ten