Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After

“Where haven't I looked, yet? Gotta think like weaselly little 'Lucky Leo' and figure where he would hide his gold in this God-forsaken shabby cabin in the mountains. There has to be more than what was under the floorboards in the bedroom. Not so 'Lucky' now, are you? You fool! Thinkin' you could stand up to me and refuse to hand over your stash. A bullet between your eyes fixed your way of stinkin' thinkin'. Didn't it? Why'd poor Rachel imagine she could save you? Never had a lick of sense, that girl. Gave up a good life to take off with a loser like Leo. Now she has no life at all. Spilled her guts out all over.

“Together they worked years up here and one measly bag of gold dust is all they showed for it? Even with a child capable of following her head and stomach to the mother load? Goes to show this Georgia gold rush wasn't all it was cracked up to be in the first place. Now California is another story from what I've been hearing. That's the real deal. If I can take Nellie-Rae there I'll be rolling in the good life. Funeral today. Guess I better make a showing for my dearly departed sister and her fool-hardy spouse. Make it look like I'm grieving to make my story stick. Drag the girl up here again to make sure there's nothing left in that worthless mine or hidden around here somewhere. If it's worth it I'll blast it out, not take years with a pick. Then we'll be off to the rich fields out west before its over out there.

“Ready to go, Big Blackie?” 'Uncle' Ray Leach finished checking the gold filled saddlebags, mounted his big black horse before turning back toward the other barn residents, Old Grey and Brownie, “And don't you two be telling any of my secrets or I'll plug you exactly like I did your owners.” He rode off laughing to himself.

The ride into town took a little longer than I figured. Guess I spent too much time daydreaming about my pretty little niece, Nellie, and her particular talent for sensing large amounts of gold and how I best could exploit such a gift. Of course, I could use her for other purposes, too. She may still look like a scrawny kid but she must be filling out a bit. When we're riding Blackie home together I'll sit her in front of me so I can get a good feel. Couldn't get a decent look the other night under her coat and all. At age sixteen she's as much woman as child. She'll make a fine bed warmer for her old uncle this winter. That'll keep her in line.

When he arrived at the church mourners were already in the graveyard surrounding the open graves. Look at the crowd! They must have been well liked. There she is up front looking very grown-up in black. And, yep, she's filling out quite nicely. Can't wait to get to know her better up close and personal. But these kindly people making all over her don't know who I am so I'll hang back and say my good-byes when they leave. Looks like they are filing over to the house. Potluck time. It'll be a while yet. I should go grab her out of the fray. She may thank me later.

“Mr. Leach. Glad to see you made it in time for your sister's funeral. Any more disturbances up at the homestead?”

“How you doing, Sheriff Claiborne? All's been quiet on the home front. Any more leads on the culprit?”

“Nothing. None of my questioning has turned up clues. Must have been some drifter. I don't get cold blooded murderers in these parts too often. Such a shame. Good folks. They were well liked.”

“Yes, quite a crowd. Thought I would wait and pay my respects when it thins out some more. Nobody knows who I am.”

“Good opportunity for folks to meet you especially if you'll be taking over caring for Nellie-Rae. I'll introduce you around.”

“May be too hard on her to hang around here after what happened to her family. She seems like the sensitive type. I may have to think about relocating for her sake.”

“For now, may as well come over to the parsonage for some good eats.”

“Sure, I'll go say my good-byes to the victims and be over shortly. Thank you.”

When he was alone he stealthily jumped down into each grave, opened the caskets and helped himself to an item off each corpse. “You won't be having any need of these where you are going, Fine Friends.” He got out as the grave diggers came to fill in the dirt.

“Hey! What do you think you're doing?”

“Simply paying my respects, Gentlemen. This was my sister and her husband. I got here late for the service and only needed to say good-bye. You understand, right?”

“Certainly. Sorry for your loss, Sir.”

By the time he brushed himself off and headed for the house, people were excitedly pouring back into the church. Now what? He wondered.

Quietly, he eased into the back row but was astonished at what he witnessed. There at the front was his pretty, gold sensing, niece dressed in her black mourning garb with a white shawl wrapped over the bodice and a white lace doily on top of her dark hair gazing up at a gangling, red-headed, red-neck mountain bumpkin repeating words the parson told her to repeat. Then the parson announced, “I now pronounce you man and wife. Cody, you may kiss your bride!”

“Wait ! Wait! I object! What about the 'does anyone object question'? I object! I object! She can't get married! She's too young! I own her! She belongs to me!”

“Sorry, Sir. You're too late. They're man and wife now. Who is this man and why should he say he owns you, Nellie?” Parson Graves asks.

“That's the man who claims he's my Uncle Ray. But I never knew anything about an uncle.”

“Look! Look! I can prove it. My picture is in this locket. It belonged to my sister, Rachel.”

“Sheriff Claiborne. I requested my mother be buried with her gold locket. Means he stole it. Probably like he stole other valuables from our home the day they were killed. Better look for my pa's gold pocket watch, too.”

“I think you better come with me, Mr. Leach. I need some answers. Let these two lovebirds carry on with their honeymoon so they can live happily ever after.”