Ms. Got Rocks (29 page)

The TV journalist was announcing.

"The ATF agent has been identified as Agent Sean Callaghan from Washington, D. C. Agent Callaghan was shot and killed in the early hours this morning during a running gun battle with escaped alleged international gun dealer Jasmine Harris, of Boston. Harris, who had escaped from an un-disclosed prison facility in the greater Boston area October first. She was shot and killed while leading the high speed chase in a silver Mercedes through Boston and into the suburbs. The Mercedes was struck by a large truck as Harris was speeding down the wrong side of the freeway. Harris allegedly escaped from the disabled vehicle and a running gun battle ensued between her and the ATF agents. Agent Callaghan is survived by his mother and father in Ireland. No funeral services have been announced at this time. The President has sent his condolences to the fallen agent's family in Ireland.

C
hapter 30

R
ocky had a completed pile of hand knit winter socks even with using a left-hand throw of the yarn to accommodate her missing fingertip. There were twelve pairs of lovely socks in the drawer and she was out of sock yarn. She had her heavy parka from Anchorage, but it was too heavy for California, except for a few most extreme days.

It was imperative for her to knit a few sweaters and a poncho would be convenient. A poncho to replace the poncho that Tony threw into the landfill with the rest of her belongings that horrible day in Anchorage, Alaska. It was imperative to keep her mind busy as she mourned Callaghan and already missed what might have been. His funeral was held in County Down, Ireland. Rocky couldn't find the money to fly over and her plane didn't have the range to cross the Atlantic. Many socks had tears knit into them.

It was readily apparent that Rocky needed to shop for winter clothes and a warmer business suit. She could not continue appearing for business appointments wearing jeans and a torn flannel lumberjack shirt.

On the work front, the animal rescue shelter in Auburn had set a date and a deal on her photo shoot for the Christmas pictures of pets. They were delighted with the idea for a winter fundraiser. Rocky hoped it worked out for both of them. She knew it would be fun to do,even as sad as her Christmas would be. Her winter calendar was filling with fun events but nothing that would bring home Callaghan or fill the checkbook.

The divorce was final that day. Did that mean at the close of business or the start of the day? Her brain wanted to fuss with that for a while.

Rocky started her day with a big cup of coffee and a croissant with chocolate in the center to celebrate. She looked at her stunning engagement and wedding ring that she had paid for, and slipped them off her finger. Taking a big sheet of clean paper she filled it with her name. The court had awarded her the use of her maiden name again as she requested. Rochelle Siobhan Clancy she was again. Rochelle Siobhan Clancy would begin paying spousal support to Tony. Even though it was not a great deal of money per month it was still galling. If the shoe were on the other foot Rocky would never see the money. Rocky promised herself to pay every month faithfully and considered it a cheap price to pay to be rid of Tony Hardwyn.

Rocky had a slight twinge of sadness, a sense of failing herself, certainly not of failing Tony. It would a very, very, long time coming before she was willing to do that marriage commitment again, especially now that Callaghan was gone.

She had a twinge of sadness that Jazz would never be here again to climb mountains, sadness that Justin never gave her a nano-seconds notice, and more sadness because she would never see Jen again.

The potential for good things in her life all gone sideways or never developed. This day would be a day for regrets and sadness. Even the chocolate was not doing it's perk me up job.

"The only people I ever have to talk to are the dogs. Something has to change, or I'm going to go nuts."

Attempting to shake off the blues, Rocky loaded Lovie, Phoebe and Thumper into the truck. The front was getting quite a squeeze play with the rapidly growing rabbit included on the trips. None of the four would consider leaving Thumper home, however.

They took a drive in the first crisp morning of the fall. This morning Rocky could smell the old apple trees that were left loaded with ripening fruit. The air was heady as they turned off the freeway onto the old little road into Applegate.

Rocky sold her diamond engagement and wedding rings to MacPawn, and the truck was loaded with darkroom equipment and a wide bed printer for posters. Rocky felt light and relieved. On the way home, she stopped and picked small apples from the tree bending over the fence. It was bending from the weight of the little apples. There was apple sauce coming up.

She would be finishing the darkroom that afternoon. There was enough sheet vinyl left from the kitchen to put flooring down,too. The apples were cooking down into applesauce to can later after dinner. There were enough things to keep her busy, but not uplifted.

“All the comforts of home,” Rocky grinned at the thought.

When they got home, the mail was waiting. The envelope from the flight surgeon was there. He had denied her pilot license. Rocky could not fly even cargo flights. She could reapply for another medical exam in six months.

It was just twilight, when she heard a horn hooting at the gate. Knowing it was Justin,she stopped for a minute and straightened her hair and shirt. The car at the bottom of the hill was not known to her. An old crusty Volvo, that looked as though it led the charge of the Light Brigade on its own.

"Wonder what that crazy wants." The car horn was still hooting away.

When she got to the bottom of the hill, Callaghan was climbing over the gate. Rocky stood stock still in shock at seeing him, alive but who knew about well. The man was bruised and with one arm in a sling, even so, he still looked absolutely wonderful to her.

"Hello Got Rocks, are you just going to stand there and not let me in?"

"Ah, where is the Lexus?" She walked to the gate and took the padlock off the hasp and pulled the gate to the side.

"I'm supposed to be dead and the only question you can ask is about my car?" Callaghan has put on the Irish lilt to his speech. "The Lexus is in storage for awhile. This is my new car."

"It is in worse shape than my truck."

Callaghan laughed again and drove the Volvo through the gate and stopped by her and the dogs. He reached over and pushed the passenger side door open. The dogs hopped in and Rocky sat in the ripped passenger seat.

"Is the date for Monopoly still good?"

"Not if I can think of something better to do and I can." Rocky stretched across the seat and kissed him as though there was no tomorrow, which might be correct considering this was Callaghan she was kissing.

Later, they sat on the porch and in the chilling moonlight ate homemade soup and hot biscuits. Callaghan with his arms wrapped around her, told her the events leading to the car chase and the death of Jazz Harris. He told of how Jazz  shot him and wounded two other federal agents. He did not directly say that he was the agent who killed Jazz, nor did Rocky ask. He explained how he and the other two agents were whisked into hiding by his department to protect him from Jasmine's family and that he was going back into hiding tonight for he didn't know how long. Unwinding himself from Rocky, he jumped from the porch and pulled out a manila envelope from the car. Returning from the beater Volvo, he handed Rocky a packet of papers. It contained the signed bill of sale and deed to his ranch next door. Rocky was stunned.

"You are getting this to hold for me, until I come back. Should I not come back, then it is legally yours. Sign right here. Dredge it for me. Keep the grapes and peaches watered."

"I'll keep the gold separate, you will have a nest egg when you get back. I can send you statements of how much I dredged." Rocky stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

"No, you can't contact me, for both of our safety. Her family can't know where I am or that you know where I am. For me, Rocky sign it, please."

"I don't think that would be too much of a secret, because you are here right now."

"Yeah, except we know where all of them are right now and they are not here. All of them are in Africa, expect for Daddy. They are trying to save all the deals she made that are falling apart without her.

"She told me that her Father never leaves Boston."

"He is in his eighties and still very dangerous, but he is heartbroken about his only daughter."

"So, for the moment, you are under the radar."

"For long enough to see you and take care of this business for us. And say goodbye to the farm."

"I'll watch the peaches and grapes, they will be fine. Do your parents know?"

"Aye, that was the phone call the President made. He told them I was going into hiding, but he didn't tell them where."

"Are you going back to Ireland?"

"I can't tell you. I don't think it is going to be very long, her brother is going to have to take over her job. He didn't have the job in the first place because he,well, he can't find his arse with a road map."

"He probably will have his plate full just keeping the business going."

"Plus his old man has zero patience, I almost feel sorry for the kid brother."

"Callaghan, I don't and neither should you. If Jazz had a chance she would have killed you without a second thought."

"Babe, she did have the chance and I will always wonder if she pulled the shot."

"Callaghan, you knew her better than I did, but I knew her on a more personal basis, and if she missed, it was a mistake."

The morning star was still above the horizon, when Callaghan whispered all the things Rocky had always hoped to hear. They walked down the porch steps, the dogs walking in file with them. He opened the car door and Phoebe jumped into the passenger seat and looked as if she planned to stick like glue to Callaghan. He ruffled her ears and she hopped out and ran behind the porch.

"I will be back to finish the Monopoly." Callaghan said his eye glittering in the barely dawn light.

"We have more to finish then Monopoly." Rocky was crying without an ounce of embarrassment.

"Count on it." The old Volvo beat its way down to the gate and Callaghan left the key in the padlock and disappeared into the morning mist from the river.

C
hapter 31

A
week later, Whiskey Gap was elbow deep in snow. The land line phone and electricity were out. This type of storm happened once every hundred years plus or minus a few at this elevation. The area was getting slammed with heavy wet snow and high wind. Rocky was anxious to head up to Truckee to finish that final snow shot for the calendar. The other calendar  pictures were finished.

The road was closed from Applegate east, she going nowhere today. The truck probably would not make nice with the snow laden, icy roads, anyway.

This was the first really cold morning and Rocky gratefully shoved the dry firewood into the wood stove and started the sausages to cooking. The dogs were outside running around like wild things, burying their faces in the freshly fallen snow and thinking daydreams of their home in Alaska.

That brought back memories of flying the bush mail run when Rocky landed the plane and it froze into the strip almost instantly. It was extremely cold and she had to cross country ski over to Skwentna and get someone to help her get the plane unstuck.

That disaster alone paid for the ski lessons and the emergency equipment in the bird.

As soon as Rocky cleared the walkway to the water pump and the truck, she was hunting up the cross-country skis. She knew there was a set somewhere around there. When she found them, she would go over to Callaghan's and cover the water pump. Hopefully, it wasn't already frozen and the piping split. Thumper would get a ride along in the backpack with the heat tape if she needed it.

The fire was snapping cheerily in the wood stove, and the old blue enamel coffeepot was making cowboy coffee. The cabin smelled great, like home was supposed to smell. All was well over at Callaghan's. The dogs were scratching at the door to get back in, and Rocky was thinking it might be best to check out the grocery supply, haul in more kindling and get the water jugs filled.

The afternoon light turned terrific, eerily lovely with the pale yellow hue of snow clouds.

After the last round of shoveling, Rocky started recording the sky and clouds with the camera, there was probably another hour of light and the branches of the trees right behind the house were loaded with snow. Rocky shot all that speed of film she had and wished that she had stocked up again in the city. She switched to the digital camera. The gallery would be glad to get the snow scenes, and the originals would do very nicely framed in her bedroom.

It was early afternoon, when the light failed enough to drive her inside Rocky took the film in the dark room and looked at her shots. She was hanging the last of the prints to dry and thinking nothing more strenuous than a hot bath and dinner. The phone interrupted that. The service was obviously restored.

“Rocky are you okay? The snow up to the eaves yet? I tried to get up there this afternoon but the road isn’t plowed clear down here, almost,” Margie was rattling away ninety miles an hour. “I got called into work, with so many accidents on the freeway,  it is going to be a long night shift.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot that folks down here do not know how to drive in this snow stuff,” Rocky commented.

“I know, it is awful, but anyway, I wanted to tell you that Squaw Valley Ski Resort has fired the cross country instructor they just hired. The head honcho is the guy that Dev and I skied with after you left. Anyway, he called Dev wanting to know if there was someone Dev knew that could do the job right away, and he is holding the job for you, call him or fax him. I’ll e-mail you the numbers when I get off work tonight or call Dev in a few minutes ‘cause he is flying out to Dubai tonight,” said Margie finally stopping to catch her breath.

“Wow, that is wonderful, that would be wonderful. I’m not too terribly out of shape,” Rocky answered around a huge ear to ear smile.

“Gotta go, I’m at the parking lot and the sucker is jammed with cars. What a night. See you,” Margie disconnected.

She hung up so fast Rocky did not even get to thank her. Serendipity was wonderful. Rocky danced around the living room with relief.

By late afternoon that day the snow was still falling. The clouds were looking like big, heavy, irritable, gray bags hanging from the sky. Only at the horizon was the sun blasting its way through the snow clouds.

Rocky and her furry family stood in the cold of the porch and watched the sunset.

What was Callaghan doing right now?

There went the quiet poetic moment. Someone had gotten though on the closed, unplowed county road. Whoever it is, they were blasting their vehicle horn like there was no tomorrow.

Rocky yelled to the dogs, who were already racing down to the bottom of the driveway, Thumper, putting her jackrabbit lope into high gear was pulling ahead of the dogs. Rocky was pretty sure one of the neighbor's truck got stuck.

Earlier that morning when it began snowing, Rocky parked the truck at the bottom of the driveway with the winch facing the county road, just in case.

The dogs were making a running path through the snow, but Rocky was soaked to the hips when she arrived at the Sheriff squad car idling at the county road.

“Hello Justin, long time since I’ve seen you up here.” Rocky said, but she was thinking what the heck does he want?

“Well, yeah kinda, say, your Mom’s chairs have been released from property. I picked them, and the other things up. I brought them up ‘cause I knew you would want them right away.”

“You have them with you? How did you get them into the squad car?” Rocky asked, trying to see into the squad car from across the fence.

"I have one chair in the trunk and one is under arrest in the back seat,” Justin chuckled. “I saw the snowplow in Clipper Gap when I drove in, I knew you would be snowed in for a couple more hours.”

Rocky unchained the gate and it took both of them using the shovels from their vehicles to move the gate wide enough for the squad car to drive up close to the truck.

“I have to make a sweep up into Applegate and then I will go back to the office and get the other chairs. Do you want the rugs in the back of the truck; they will get pretty wet?” Justin said as he lovingly pulled the rolled up Persian rugs out of the front passenger seat of the squad car.

“I’ve got a tarp in the toolbox; they will be fine with the chairs,” Rocky said, as she swept snow from the red metal toolbox.

“Uh, do you have time for coffee or have you had supper, I made soup and garlic bread?” Rocky invited her high school friend from across the truck bed.

“Not this time Rocky, thanks; there are too many accidents out on the highway. I need to be getting back.”

“Sure, I understand, well then, another time,” Rocky said.

“Just some coffee in my travel cup please, if it is made. I have no idea how late I may get back, I can see your porch light from the road, turn it off if it is too late for you, I’ll bring them back up tomorrow,” Justin was now back into the squad car.

“Bring your dogs if you come up tomorrow; we can get some cute snow pictures with them, for that Christmas card,” she said.

She bent in the window of the patrol car and kissed him on the cheek. Justin smiled, touched her snow soaked hair and put the squad car in reverse, but he said nothing.

Rocky walked back to the old truck and it started. It sounded like the crusty old codger it was. The truck maybe a codger, but after clearing the snow off and loading all the pets into the front, the truck zoomed up the driveway in first gear.

Justin forgot to get his coffee.

The chairs looked perfect in the living room, back where they were supposed to be.

Rocky carried the box of dishes into the kitchen to wash them. While the wash water was heating on the wood stove, Rocky wandered back into the living room. She admired the old chairs and even though the rugs were in desperate need of cleaning, they still looked good to her.

The shining clean bare wood floors accented the faded blues, maroons, and gold of the rug pattern. Lovie, Phoebe and Thumper were already asleep in a pile on one of the rugs. Rocky folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the door frame. She wanted so badly to talk to Callaghan. He didn't know about the chairs or the new job. Although she felt frustrated not being able to talk to him, she suddenly felt at home and at peace.

# # #