Gold Raven (41 page)

Authors: Mercedes Keyes

BOOK: Gold Raven

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"They are in Louisiana – Lake Charles – the place Morris gave to me."

Manny sighed with relief. "Good. Now – back to what I need to say to you. Son, I am – so very sorry that I brought Katherine, into our lives. At the time I was blinded by the belief that I had everything under control. God knows, if I had foreseen the outcome of the decision I made, I would have never gone through with it. Sad to say, I admit compromising my stand to keep you all safe and there with me. I chose the easy solution and ended up losing you all. I have had not a day of peace since. After I lost you, I thought I would lose my mind. And… years later – I lost your mother and Hope as well. Anyway, it cannot be undone – all I can do is beg your forgiveness and move on from here. Now that I have found you, I do not intend to lose you again. You have to help me help you."

Mike nodded understanding. "Yes…and – Hope and I – we want to find our mother…because neither of us will know a moment of peace until we know what became of her."

Manny understood his need; because it matched his own. Yet – there was a powerful longing in him to hear his son say, that he had been forgiven. That he understood what he had gone through and that he was happy to find his father. Instead, the first thing from his lips had been that he wanted to find his mother. So be it, Manny accepted that – because he needed to find her too.

"Yes son, I agree but first, we must get you out of this. Know this as well, it is over – all that you have done to survive up until now – is no longer necessary; do you understand? This will be the end of it."

"I just want my family back. I just want to find my mother."

"Good. Now, what story have you given?"

Mike went on to tell him in hushed tones all that had taken place within the camp upon the soldiers arrival. He relayed what he had said to the captain about why Santiago was in the camp – and why he had disclosed their location. Nervously, he also told him about lying to the captain about him being the camp's sponsor…saying that he had paid for all their supplies.

"I only brought you into it – because I thought if he believed it – he might not attack the camp. It was of little good – because he killed them all."

"Including the women and children?!" Manny asked shocked.

"I can't be certain…but – where are they?"

Manny sighed, wiping his hand over his face. "If I can't get you out of this – you may have to prove your innocence before a judge. I want you to stick to your story and I will back you all the way…understand?"

Mike nodded, praying it would not come to that. He was missing his family and just wanted out of there and back to them. Manny stood realizing what he would have to do to get his son out of his predicament.

He felt guilt but quickly dismissed it in the face of what he could not accept; that was, leaving th
e fort without his son. There was no way he could agree to being separated from him again; so he knew what he had to do. He just prayed he was enough like Morris to carry it out. He implored his son before he left him to never mention his past life, deeds, or the weapons again.

"Who in hells name do you think you are!?" Captain Pryce bellowed in outrage. "You come into my fort turning everything upside down as if you have some ordained right to give and make commands. I –(he jabbed his chest)- I am the one in charge here, Mr. Webster. I say what goes and does not! I decide the fate of any and all. I am the judge here!" He went on as he shook from within. Pacing back and forth, as Manny sat in a chair facing his desk with one leg crossed over the other, waiting for him to end his tirade. He hoped that living with a master manipulator for more than forty years of his life had taught him something about the game.

"I know it with every fiber of my being that your son is that wanted, outlaw leader! He has robbed and he has raided! You come in here thinking just because you are an owner of a lucrative shipping business then that alone gives him the right to get away with any crime he commits. All of my life I've seen the rich and privileged parade their wealth as if they were beyond the law, watching as their fancy pant brats turn their noses up at the poor, like your son! They get bored with life and for the sake of adventure – seek ways in which to break the law! Doing what they wish with no consequence for their actions and when they are caught – just as yours is now – dear old daddy runs in to the rescue! Thinking his money can buy him out of it! Well this is one time when one of the high society rich boys will get his comeuppance-…"

"Enough! I’ve heard enough!!" Manny shouted shooting to his feet, stopping the captain cold. "I have little patience for such prattle and I care to hear no more! You can spout on for days with this trivial, idiotic babbling for all I care! I am a man on a mission with a business to run! You are a man who has made a tragic error in judgment! It is clear to see that your arrogance and misplaced pride will not allow you to admit your error! It is obvious that you are determined to pin on my son a crime and reputation he does not deserve – simply to justify your own crime! And I will not stand for it!" Manny bluffed, knowing now was the time to back his prey into a corner.

"I have committed no crime!" The captain denied, sweating.

Manny stood
staring him straight in the eyes, giving him the needed silence to grow his fears and insecurities. Slowly he walked towards the captain, using his size to his advantage.

"Then where are they?" Manny asked with soft dread.

"Who? I don't know of wh
o you speak?"

"The other prisoners; the women; the children. I know how many there were. You see I would have to, every time I sent supplies to them, my son would inform me of the camps growth, and thus, more would be needed."

Manny let this information settle in. Pryce swallowed as the tide slowly turned before him. "You see, while I will indeed give credit to you for mentioning traits of those with wealth, privilege and name – by no means have I, or my son lived as you believe. My son is a philanthropist. His camp was what he claimed it to be, and you sir – not only acted unlawfully– but you were taken in by the very one you should have distrusted. He took his revenge out on my son and those within that camp…and you became the instrument by which he succeeded. Now you hold my son claiming him – the bandit." Manny turned from the captain confident and silent – allowing him time to digest what he had laid before him.

"He fits the description!" Pryce blasted, upset.

Manny turned from midway across the room, his brow raised indicating Pryce’s statement was a foolhardy one. "Captain Pryce – I – fit the description! Two of my men – fit the description! And I dare say, should I line your outfit of troops up – there will be among them, at least three that fit the description!" Manny stopped and eyed him boldly, again letting his words sink in. "What evidence have you – besides – he fits the description – hm?" Manny walked back towards him. "Well? Where is it? Show me the fruits of his crimes." Manny stood with his arms crossed waiting. "Well?"

"He's hidden them! He's hidden them all!"

"What has he hidden?"

"The weapons! The land deeds!"

"Where?"

"In that bloody camp!"

"Did you search the camp?"

"Of course we searched!"

"And what have you found?"

Pryce's nostrils flared with anger and frustration, a feeling of absolute humiliation reddening him.

"Nothing…you found nothing. Do you at least have an eyewitness to his crimes? Anyone willing to come forward and announce – "Aye – he is the one!" – do you? Just one witness?"

"Of – course – not!" Pryce replied slowly.

"Yet – you wish to hold my son, and call him a bandit!"

"He and his men killed many of my soldiers!"

"And rightly so, they were under attack! Because you, took the word of a common outlaw, who should have been the one arrested! Funny how you set free someone you knew to be an outlaw, to conspire with in order to bring in someone you suspected as being one. What kind of logic is this? I'm afraid it shows that you lack sound and rational judgment; that is hardly the qualities of a leader of men." Manny voiced his observations and waited for Pryce to come back at him. Pryce's mind was in shambles. Everything he had said in his defense, Manny threw back at him.

Manny walked to the office window looking out; giving an air of calmness. "Captain Pryce…I will be leaving this fort tomorrow morning – first thing. My son will be leaving with me."

Manny turned to look at him again waiting to hear any objections. Pryce stood steaming in place, but could find no words to justify Mike’s further incarceration.

"You failed to mention what happened to the women and children in that camp." Manny pushed.

"I sent some of my men to escort them to a more equipped facility to handle their numbers."

"Ah, at least one decision of yours bears some semblance of humanity. However, the overall attack showed a blatant, irresponsible disregard for innocent human life, that I will not forget captain. I know people in high places; I hold three government contracts with connections and influence. I also know that what you've done is a crime punishable by court martial."

Pryce gulped.

Manny walked to the door, with one last parting bit of advice.

"Captain Pryce, you forget my son." Again, Manny made eye contact. "And I – will forget your deeds. Never to be mentioned again. The choice is yours."

Dawn – the following morning:

"Head’em out!" Manny bellowed from his mount. The small wagon train pulled out of the fort gates with Manny in the lead riding tall in the saddle. Mike lay with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes.

Despite his sore body – he was free! He was free and with his father, nothing else mattered. He could not help but lay thinking of the man who had sired him.
'Maynard Ramsey Webster – who of men can be compared to you – my father…who?'
He smiled again and this time chuckled aloud. The wagon he traveled in was open on both sides to allow him fresh air. Manny rode alongside the wagon to look in on him.

"You alright son?"

"Yes
, but - the captain? How did you do it? How did you get him to release me?"

Manny smiled. "I – son, am your father. Morris Roland Webster – reader of men, poker player extraordinaire – was my father. It is all in the eyes and knowing when to bluff, manipulate and cheat. He was a master of the game…and I am…the master's son."