Alvarado Gold (22 page)

He nuzzled my neck and hummed a few bars of Ebb Tide. I’d heard it playing in the back ground during one of our phone conversations. He decided it would be “our song." Little did he know, then, how many albums I had by the group who made that song popular. We had so much in common, yet we were a world apart. I wanted so badly to make it work, but I had to rebuild my trust. Not so much in him, but in myself. Lingering behind the inevitable cloud on the horizon, I knew a relationship with Gary would not be possible unless I revealed my secret. If I did that, I’d no longer be who he thought I was. If I let him see the real person inside, one who bargained with God and who turned her back on Him when she lost, would he still love me?

****

While we waited in the hot, afternoon sun for Clay to find the turnout, I reached into my jeans and retrieved the rock. “I put this rock you gave me into my pocket this morning for good luck. I guess it worked.” Gary took the rock from my palm and with one quick overhand movement started to toss it across the road and into a field full of weeds. “Hey. Wait. I want to keep it.”

“Why?” He smiled. “I didn’t think you were superstitious.”

“Sentimental, I guess. It was the first rock of that mountain we’re moving.” I looked up at him and noticed his demeanor change as pleasure affirmed itself in his expression.

He brushed a lock of hair from my forehead. “Do we still need to excavate?” 

“I’d consider the project close to completion.” I slid my arm around his waist and looked into his mesmerizing violet eyes. I knew I shouldn’t have said that or reacted to him with my touch. I shouldn’t give him hope where there was none. I could ask God to forgive me. Ask Him to return to my heart but would Gary understand when I told him what had happened?

He slipped the rock into his pocket. “I’ll keep it then, just in case.”

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Leaving a cloud of dust in its wake, the van and its inhabitants barreled down the two-lane road. Mel and Clay jumped out and echoed, “Are you two okay?”

“We’re fine. Gary’s truck has two flat tires; otherwise, I think it is all right. Kind of hard to tell.” I winked at him.

Clay snorted, “That was Donnie, wasn’t it?”

As she wiped her glistening brow, Mel joined the conversation. “He’s trying to beat us to Alvarado. He sure does manage to find everything out quickly. How do you think he does it?”

“He’s a Barnes, Mel. It’s in our blood. He was either in the motel lobby and we didn’t spot him or he got the information from the fax, too. The girl at the desk said the fax machine had jammed. She could have easily given him enough information if she had kept part of the printouts. He could have told her he was with us. He’s already proven he isn’t above that kind of thing.”

“He’s dangerous.” Clay leaned up against the truck and folded his hands over his broad chest. “Sooner or later we’re going to confront him. What are we going to do then? Fight him for what belongs to all of us?”

“I think he’s desperate.” I stepped in. “We don’t know what kind of life he’s lived. We weren’t on our own at seventeen; all of us had our folks until we could fend for ourselves. He didn’t and he thinks we abandoned him. I’m beginning to feel sorry for him.” I walked away from the others and gazed down the road to Alvarado. There wasn’t any sign of life. Just rustling weeds and blowing dust. I suddenly felt very lonely.

“Can we get going?” Susan yelled from the back window. “I’m roasting in here?”

“Let’s go. We can all fit into one vehicle. Do you think your truck will be all right?” Clay motioned toward the fallen old dinosaur.

“It’ll be fine.” Gary took my hand and we walked across the roadway. “I’ll get it later.”

Under Gary’s instruction, Clay drove into Alvarado, to the corner of Rusk and South Fourth. The entire block, which was covered with a school complex and other, larger buildings, reminded me of a military academy. A few boys played baseball and others sat in the stands and cheered them on. Donnie stood looming over an old man who appeared to be the gardener. A shovel rested in his hands, planted squarely between his feet. He stood his ground against Donnie, even though I was sure he’d received more than he’d bargained for. The sign on the front of the building read, “Alvarado Boy’s Home.”

“Mr. Dickinson here tomorrow.” The gardener spoke in broken English. “I know nothing about land. I work weekends.” His eyes nervously darted in our direction as we walked toward them.

“Leave him alone, Donnie.” Clay reached out and touched his sleeve as Donnie jerked away. “It's obvious he doesn’t know anything.”

Donnie narrowed his eyes at us and spat out, “How do you know? He probably isn’t telling everything. Is this where it is? Is this where it is supposed to be buried? In the middle of a city block?”

I walked past Clay and tried to make my full height of five feet six match Donnie’s overbearing posture. “I refused to tell you anything, Donald, until you tell me a few things. Why are you so angry with all of us? What did we do to you?”

“You know why. The gold. My father left me the key. He told me the gold was mine. Your families didn’t want to take the time to find it. None of you cared about us or me when my parents died. I’ve wanted to find the gold for a long time. When Grandpa died, I knew it was my last chance. I knew he’d tell you where it was and no one would tell me.”

How was I going to make him realize we were trying to help him? He wouldn’t listen; I wasn’t going to give up on him so easily. “Donnie, try to understand we didn’t know about you. Our parents were hardly speaking to each other since your dad and Uncle Clay looked for the gold the first time. We were all kids ourselves. Did you give any of us an opportunity to help you?” Donnie hung his head, which signified to me he hadn’t tried to find us. “Give us all a chance. You don’t even know us. Grandpa didn’t tell us where the gold was. He just left us some clues. I think he wanted us all to find it.
Together
.”

He started toward his pickup when Mel and Susan, who’d finally learned to maneuver her crutches, made it up the sidewalk. They’d just reached where we were gathered when the gardener interjected, “You know of Senior Hansen’s oro?”

“You
do
know about this land.” Donnie stepped around me and spat out at the old man, “What do you know?”

With one large step, Gary crossed Donnie’s path. “You were told to leave him alone. Do you want your lip bloodied again? I can arrange that for you.”

Donnie swung around, missed Gary and connected with Clay. I managed to duck, just in time, as Clay’s right cross-reached Donnie’s chin. “Enough,” I screamed. “This isn’t getting anything accomplished. We’re going to settle this like adults and as a family. Understood?”

Donnie nodded his head and wiggled his jaw back and forth as Clay rubbed his knuckles. After he talked with the old man, Gary returned to the group of smoldering cousins. “There’s going to be a fiesta here tomorrow to celebrate the anniversary of the opening of this home. Mr. Dickinson, the director, will be here then. The gardener is sure he can tell us about the development of this property.”

“We’ll all meet here tomorrow at ten.” I glanced between Donnie and Clay. “Until then, I don’t want any more conflict.”

Without a word, Donnie walked toward his pickup. I started out after him when Gary reached out and stopped me. “Leave it alone, Addie; he’ll come around. His pride is hurt. That’s all.”

“It’s more than his pride. He’s got some serious issues and he feels like we’re to blame for them. I wish I could make him understand we’re not.”

“Give him some time to lick his wounds.” Gary drew me closer and dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Talk to him tomorrow; everything will look differently then.”

“Well, I’m ready to head back to the motel. This boot thing is itchy and I’ve had about enough Texas brawls one day.” Susan crumpled into the seat of the van. “Gee, Clay. I didn’t know you had it in you. Some right-cross.”

“My hand will hurt for a week. You know, I think he plugged me once when we were kids. I guess the score is even now.”

“We don’t need to settle anything else with him. We need to mend whatever is wrong.” I announced unbending. I was adamant we’d fix this family’s problems.
A time of war, and a time of peace.

Mel turned around from the front seat. “Addie, after what he did to you, how can you be so generous?”

“I want him to understand we didn’t abandon him. I don’t know all that happened between Uncle Joseph, Mom and Uncle Clay but
we
didn’t do it. It wasn’t our fault he felt left out. We all suffered. After that summer, we hardly saw each other but part of it was his own choosing. He needs to realize that.”

As we drove away from the Boy’s Home, Gary delivered the directions from the backseat, “Make a right at the next corner, Clay. If you drop me off at my folks’ house, my dad can help me with the truck.”

“Do you want me to help you?” Clay suggested.

“No. I just need to find a couple of old tires in Dad’s garage.” Gary glanced over at me, “Want to join me, Addie? You can meet my parents.”

Mel and I couldn’t contain our laughter. “I need to tell you something about our first day in Alvarado. I think your mother and I may have already met.”

“Really. How did that come about?”

“We met her at the library. It’s a long story.” I winked at Mel. “She probably won’t remember me. I’m sure she keeps very busy.”

“Trust me. She remembers everyone.” Gary put his arm around me. “She wouldn’t forget someone like you.”

Great, just great
.

Chapter Thirty

Clay turned the corner into a quiet, well-groomed neighborhood. The houses were pristine with neatly cut grass and white fences. Gary motioned for Clay to stop in front of a house I recognized immediately as a Prairie-Style. The wide overhanging eaves and straight horizontal lines made it one of the more impressive homes on the block.

“This is it. I’ll bring her back to the motel safe and sound.” Gary spoke to Clay through the driver’s side window as he slid his arm around my waist. “Thanks.” Clay put his fingers to his brow and saluted us off.

Susan, who’d sat beside me, busily rubbed the side of her leg as she tried to relieve an annoying itch. “This thing is miserable. I wonder if it would stop if I filled it full of baby powder?”

“I heard that was the worst thing you could do. It’s probably swelling a little. It’s awfully hot.” I felt like I was abandoning them. I couldn’t make Susan feel any better but this was supposed to be our adventure and I was going off with Gary. “Maybe I should try to find something for you. Do you guys want me to stay?”

“No. We don’t.” Mel flashed a smile at me. “Go along now. Susan will be fine once we get back to the motel and she can put her leg up for a while.” She tapped Clay’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

I stopped on the sidewalk to take in the expansive home. “Your folks have a wonderful place.”

An older man stood from a white wicker swing as we approached the porch. “Where’s the truck, son?”

“In a ditch over on 206.” Gary moved his arm to my shoulder. “Dad, this is Addie Brown.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Gary’s father extended his hand and grasped mine in both of his. He turned toward the entrance and called, “Mama, come out here and meet Gary’s friend.”

Mrs. Wright appeared in the doorway. She didn’t falter as she extended her hand.

Knowing she’d remember me made me a little nervous. Mel and I acted like silly teenagers that afternoon and I really hoped Mrs. Wright wouldn’t mention the encounter. I’d thought about making some excuse about being tired from the trip. Or, I could tell her the truth.

I decided to just bring it up myself, “The article was very helpful. We think we may have found what we’re looking for. I’m sure Gary told you why we were here.”

“Yes. He told us a little bit and it all sounds very exciting. Come in. Ya’ll look like you could use a cold drink.” She smiled in my direction. “Would you like to freshen up, dear?”

Until that moment, I hadn’t had time to notice that any trace of curl had long since vanished from my hair and my pink polo shirt was stained, smeared with dirt across the side where I’d leaned against the truck. So much for impressing his parents, I thought. At least it didn’t appear she thought I was a total dimwit. A good start, I guess.

After I combed my hair and tucked in my shirt, I joined them in the living room where Gary had filled them in on the morning’s events. “At least you two weren’t hurt.” Mrs. Wright reached out for my hand. “That old truck is such an eyesore anyway. It’s been in a ditch a few times before, right, Gary?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He glanced over at me with a foolish grin on his face. “Put it there once myself.”

“More like twice, Son,” his father teased.

“That’s not fair, Dad. You didn’t want me to hit that cow, now, did you?”

“Most likely you were going a little too fast.” Mr. Wright winked at me. “But that was always your story. I’ll rest my case.”

I enjoyed the banter between them and the way they included me. He was at ease with their ribbing and I took great pleasure as I watched. I liked Gary’s parents. They were hometown, apple pie, easy to know people. I wondered how much he’d told them about our relationship.