A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (36 page)

along with the GPS.
The tension between his shoulders blades he
acknowledges is not from the traffic, but from him impending
meeting with Maria.
Just thinking about her makes him edgy.
Remembering the last time they were together he cringes.
He had
been brought in to assist with her undercover operation.
Maria
had been a hostess at a local strip club.
Her assignment was to get
close to the owner allowing her to acquire evidence he was pimping
underage girls.
Andy had seen Maria in the hallways at the police station
many times over the last three years since her assignment to his
precinct.
Nevertheless; he hadn’t been prepared to see her
dressed in the skimpy silver outfit.
Admitting she looked sexy, he
could still picture her wearing the tiny halter top, it had barely
covering her breasts and the short skirt showed her bottom when
she walked.
He remembered her hair had been spiked on top and
had sparkled with silver glitter.
Even though she wasn’t a stripper
he had felt the other men in the club removing her clothes with
their eyes.
Andy had been furious as she played the flirting hostess; he
had observed Maria seducing the men as they came in the club.
It
was his opinion she had enjoy their attention.
He, on the other
hand, had to fight the urge to rip off his shirt and make her cover
herself with it.
That night Andy’s assignment was to make contact
with the owner then persuade him to arrange a ‘meeting’ with a
young girl.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts Andy returns to the
present, locating a parking spot at the airport he remains in the
vehicle a few minutes allowing the tension to leave him.
Exiting
the car he pushes the lock button as he walks towards the elevators.
Once inside the building Andy checks the arrival board verifying
Maria’s flight is on time, making note of the gate, he goes to wait by
the exit sign.
Leaning against the wall Andy crosses his arms over
his chest as he people watches he allows his mind to again drift to
their last mission.
After waiting at the club for several hours Mr. Miner had
finally came over to his table.
Sitting down he had inquired about
Andy’s drink then signaled to the waiter to bring another one.
Not
really in the mood for another drink to sip for hours but knowing he
couldn’t refuse, he nods to show his appreciation.
Andy had
checked his temper over a dozen times concerning Maria and the
men making moves on her, so when Mr. Scumbag Miner asked if he
was enjoying the shows Andy had growled his answer.
Remembering he was there to set a trap for this man, Andy
apologized as he explained he was frustrated and was anticipating
assistance with his situation.
Mr. Miner signaled for Maria to come to the table, as she
leans over her breast barely stay inside the fabric, Maria had winked
at Andy before turning her attention to her mark.
Asking what she
can do for him in a husky voice Maria smiled as she moved closer to
the scumbag kissing his forehead.
Andy had clinched his fist under
the table to keep from slamming it into the other man’s face when
he told Maria I was “frustrated” going on to explain he wanted her
to assist me with my “problem”. Misunderstanding their signals
Andy had almost blown their cover, sensing this Maria had informed
them only one “lady” was available tonight.
Maria began giving the “lady” description; it was when she
said her age I snorted with laughter.
Informing Mr. Scumbag
Miner I required the “lady” to be a lot younger, if I wanted someone
in their twenties I could have my choice.
However due to my
cravings it is harder for me to find the suitable “lady” on my own.
After several minutes of silence Miner nods his head once.
He rises to leave the booth however he stops to tell Maria to get
back to work.
As she walks around him, the scumbag grabs her
skirt lifting it up, giving everyone in the club a look at her.
Smiling
over her shoulder Maria continues walking, smoothing her skirt
when it’s released.
Looking back at Mr. Miner Andy sees him
being watched.
Shrugging his shoulders Andy admits to liking a
fine ass.
Disgusted with the situation Andy had been overjoyed when
he was given directions to a motel and informed his ‘package’ would
be delivered about nine o’clock.
Rising from the booth, Andy had
shaken hands with the mark then had left, without acknowledging
Maria.
That night at the motel he had opened his door to a young
girl about fourteen years old.
She had tried to be tough but he
could see in her eyes she had given up on life and accepted what
was going to happen to her.
It still sickens him to think about the
men that had used her.
He worked for hours trying to convince
her he was there to help; he wasn’t a ‘job’.
She had finally broken
down crying accepting Andy was telling the truth and had not been
sent to trick her.
It was then she had given him the names and the
locations of other young girls.
Because of her assistance they had
gotten the warrants to search the club and home of Mr. Miner.
Andy had arrived back at the precinct to discover Maria was
already there, dressed in jeans and a purple t-shirt with her hair still
wet from a shower.
She had tensed upon seeing him, he figured
she was waiting for him to judge her, he remembers her surprise
when he told her she had done a great job.
She had smiled a real
smile making her eyes sparkle.
The sound of the overhead speaker announcing her flight
had landed brought Andy back from his thoughts.
Within minutes
he sees Maria striding towards him, today she is wearing a summer
dress with orange flowers on a white background, thin straps across
her shoulders holds it up.
On her feet she wears leather sandals.
Her hair is longer than he remembers touching lightly on her
shoulders, the color soft brown with highlights makes her look
younger than her thirty years.
Peering into her dark green eyes
Andy feels as if he is drowning in their depth.
Her beauty is classy,
with her almond shaped eyes and her fair complexion.
Grinning Maria walks up to Andy giving him a noisy kiss.
Stepping back Maria hooks her arm with his as they begin moving
towards the area marked luggage.
As Andy keeps step beside her
he asks, “Why the kiss?”
Shrugging she grips his arm as she steps on the escalator
going down, “I just thought since we are now involved we needed to
get our first kiss over and out of the way.”
she laughs.
Frowning Andy nods in agreement.
luggage then head home.”
Realizing he sounded grumpy, Andy
clears his throat, “I think your right, for us to be convincing we need
to practice the kissing part.” Stepping off the last step, Andy pulls
Maria around to face him, leaning closer he kisses her softly.
Feeling Maria respond Andy deepens the kiss, slipping his tongue
inside her mouth tasting her sweetness.
Breaking the kiss after a
few seconds Andy smiles as he takes a step backwards; catching her
hand in his Andy moves to the luggage circle; viewing the different
suitcases on the conveyor belt he asks, “Which one is yours?”
Standing beside him Maria tries to concentrate on finding
her bag.
Andy’s kiss had been mind-blowing and she had reacted
like a teenager experiencing necking for the first time disgusted
Maria points to the dark blue case.
As Andy lifts her case from the
revolving belt, Maria lectures herself about maintaining
professionalism. She is here to help catch a killer; she wasn’t here
to seduce Andy; even if she has been in love with him for over three
years.
Resuming the lecture Maria recaps her past verdicts
concerning Andy; he is married to his job therefore he doesn’t have
space in his life for a relationship.
Additionally Maria concedes she
will need reminded of these facts on a daily basis.
Andy grips Maria’s suitcase in his right hand as he places his
left hand on the small of her back.
Gliding her to the elevator
Andy reminds himself Maria is here to work; she is not here to be
deterred by his clumsy attempts at lovemaking.
Closing his eyes
briefly Andy admits he pressed to have Maria assigned, there were
other Officers who could have come but he had lobbied for her.
It
was as if his desire to see Maria had overridden all other thoughts.
Andy's only thoughts had been of Maria; her eyes, her lips, her face,
her body, and yes he even fantasized about them making love.
Waiting by the doors for the elevator Andy sets her suitcase
on the floor, raking his fingers through his hair he turns to Maria. “I
Hiding her nervousness

“We will get your
know this is a usual assignment, but the local Sheriff believes he
knows who is responsible and is planning to set the trap.
It was his
idea to have us romantically involved until we are ready to set the
con in motion.”
Witnessing her tense he quickly adds, “I promise I
will be a perfect gentleman.”

Peeking at Andy from of the corners of her eyes, Maria nods
in acceptance.
Once again Marie repeats in her mind ‘Andy is
married to his job and by his own admission does not want a
relationship’.
Feeling disheartened Maria accepts she is thirty
years old and destined to be alone.
Over the past several years
Maria has lost interest in men, coveting only one man.
Yearning
for Andy to be that man, wanting it to be him she comes home to,
him who looks at her with love and desire.

It seemed like hours before they were at his car, finally
sitting on the passenger seat, Maria pulls sunglasses out of her
oversized purse sliding them on the bridge of her nose, she lays her
head against the seat.
“So what has happening since you’ve got
here?”

The rest of the journey to the Cain farm Andy explains about
the evidence and the progress on the investigation.
Giving Maria
the history of the past crimes Andy clarifies in greater detail Chase’s
theory. He informs Maria about Stephanie being pregnant and
Chase being so in love he wants her protected at all cost.
He
explains all he can, aware he can’t divulge any information
concerning Archie, his fatality or his abilities.

Stephanie sits at the table flipping through the pages of
JoEllen’s diary, looking for any mention of the battle by the pond.
Chase stands by the counter watching her, he smiles when he sees
her frown.
“What did you find?”

My Darling Raleigh is dying.
I am afraid he will not make it
through the night.
He ordered me not to send for Dr. Mack, I tried
to tell him Sissy and I cannot save him.
His leg still bleeds with
each beat of his heart.
His fever is high and I am sure he is
delirious. He speaks of lost friendship and gold.

I sit by My Love and watch his life leave his body.
I know it
is just a matter of hours until he is gone forever.
The few times he
is able to speak he tells me he has to finish the mission, he has to
take a chest to the fort, and he speaks of an Archibald Butterworth.

Finding My Raleigh today laying in the back of the barn I had
thought he was already dead.
Upon discovering he was still alive
my heart filled with joy.
But the joy was replaced quickly with
sorrow when I see how badly he is wounded; his leg barely hangs to
his body.
With help from Sissy and Henry we got him inside the
house.
Henry had cut his pants, the sight of seeing the blood and
bone almost made me faint.
Knowing he is suffering I had Sissy go
fetch the whiskey.

Sitting here beside him, I wish I could tell him he is going to
be a Father.
But I will not add to his suffering, he is unaware my
stomach is swollen with our child and I will not allow him to know
what he is leaving behind.

Sissy’s concern for me as we tend to Raleigh’s wounds had
me snapping at her, I am a grown woman and told her I would do
what I must for My Love. Later I did apologize to her, as I do
understand she was just looking out for my wellbeing and the
wellbeing of the child.

With a heavy heart I buried My Love today.
I am grieving
for my loss and the loss for our child who will never know his Father.
Due to Raleigh joining the Union Army, I had a private service for
him, the town folks would have come I am sure, but they would have
come out of curiosity and not for the wonderful man Raleigh was.
I
did not want my Raleigh to be gossiped about.

Reverend Clark gave a wonderful eulogy today.
Even with
Sissy, Henry and the farm hands I felt loneness to my soul.
I
wonder if I will ever get over the pain of losing my Raleigh.
I sang
Amazing Grace, Raleigh loved when I sang for him.
Tears flowed
from my eyes as I sang the verses, but I held my head proudly in
honor of Raleigh.
He was a proud man and I will not shame him by
making a scene as he goes to meet the Almighty.

As I stood there watching the men lowering Raleigh in the
ground I wanted to jump in the grave with him, as I felt my life was
over.
It was when I was having these thoughts that our child
began moving inside me, reminding me I have a responsibility to
fulfill.

Henry was tending Raleigh horse today; he came and fetched
me to the barn.
The wagon was still there covered with Raleigh
blood; I told him to burn it.
I did not want to ever see the wagon
again.
It was then Henry showed me the chest, I knew it was the
chest my Raleigh had spoken of.
I also knew this was why he had
been killed.

This chest is the reason my husband and father of our child is
dead.
Not wanting to look at it, I told Henry to bury it.
Henry
informed me it had words wrote on it, “Sole Property of the Union
Army.”
This however was no importance to me. I didn’t care
what was written on the awful truck.