Hearthville Serial: Book 4 – Chapter 4

Excerpt:

Nat unfastened the jug from his belt and sat it down. He then slumped down to his stomach on a bolder with his head positioned where he could see down in the ravine, but not well. He used his binoculars but there was so much growth he could not see what was going on below. He crawled, easing farther off the rock beneath him, as he attempted to see beyond a clump of bushes below. He used his feet to catch on a deep crack in the rock to balance himself. But his curiosity caused him to ease too far and he began to slide. Attempting to grab and grip the bolder so as to stop from sliding he knocked the jug off the bolder and down into the ravine.

Hearthville Serial 4
Book 4 (Title Undecided):
A Paranormal Suspense Gangster Horror

By Charles Peters

Copyright 2019

All Rights Reserved

Chapters

Chapter 4

In the woods on the Bare Estate, there was mischief about.

Fourteen year old Nat Wilkins sat high up in an oak tree in a large deer stand that rested fastened to a giant limb. With a mostly empty brown jug of moonshine in one hand and a cigar in the other, he aimed his hunting rifle around, looking through the scope. A pair of binoculars hung around his neck that included a camera. He eased the hunting rifle down for a moment. He put his cigar down into an ashtray made of an old melted vinyl record, bent up to have sides, and painted gold. He held on to the brown jug as he again held his weapon up and looked through the scope.

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He saw a large buck through the scope of the rifle. Nat talked to himself, “Don’t worry man. You are beautiful and free and wild and I bet you get lots of pussy. I am not going to shoot. Nat rested his rifle safely down and pulled his binoculars up to his eyes. He again fixated on the buck and snapped a picture. “God. You are beautiful.” Then Nat saw a rabbit. He snapped a picture of the rabbit.

Nat put the brown jug to his mouth and swallowed the last drop of moonshine. He had not drank much. The jug had been pretty much empty to begin with though he had not realized it when he stole the corked jug off the old moonshiner’s truck. “Oh fuck, I should have known it felt too light.”

Nat fastened his hunting rifle to his side, snapped the the jug to his belt with a “necklace” chain and began to climb down the tree. Nat missed a rung on the ladder. “Oh fucking hell.” He swirled a bit but kept his grip. The brown jug bounced against him and the ladder but did not break. He got his foot that had missed the rung back up on the ladder. “Be careful dumb ass,” he told himself.

Nat reached the bottom of the ladder. He checked the jug that still hung from his belt. “Okay, back to the moonshiner’s camp on the Ramsey Estate.”

Nat climbed over the fence and walked along rough jagged rocks that jutted from the bank above the small, narrow ravine below. Nat heard someone scream, “Let go of my leg.”

Nat heard another voice coming up from the Ravine. “No way. I’ve got you and I am not letting go.”

Nat unfastened the jug from his belt and sat it down. He then slumped down to his stomach on a bolder with his head positioned where he could see down into the ravine, but not well. He used his binoculars but there was so much growth he could not see what was going on below. He crawled, easing farther off the rock beneath him, as he attempted to see beyond a clump of bushes below. He used his feet to catch on a deep crack in the rock to balance himself. But his curiosity caused him to ease too far and he began to slide. Attempting to grab and grip the bolder so as to stop from sliding he knocked the jug off the bolder and down into the ravine.

***

Daniel Bare sat on the front porch to the Bare Mansion with his girlfriend Natalina Conroy Wilkins. Daniel lazily sat on a bright, yellow, wooden swing chained to the white rafters of the porch. Natalina, intently and with a determined expression, rocked in a forest green rocking chair as though the chair had places to go. Together, Daniel and Natalina were waiting for the arrival of Natalina’s sister and her children: Bess and Billy.

Daniel said, “Don’t worry, my father will not mind you moving in with us.”

Natalina stopped rocking. She said, “This is a small town.”

Daniel said, “Not so small.”

Natalina said, “People know who you are. They will know who I am. I don’t want to start my life off here with a bad reputation.”

Daniel said, “This is a mansion with lots of rooms. We don’t have to share the same bedroom. I just think it is stupid for you to pay rent on a place when you can live here. Hell. We can set up an apartment for you and Nat here and even give you your own address.”

“I guess. That sounds kind of good. And I could pay rent. I suppose when my sister Maureen gets here I will tell her of my new plans. We had planned on her going Apartment hunting with me.” Natalina looked at her watch. “I wonder where she is. She should already be here.”

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“Traffic was probably heavy coming out of Conyers.”

“Yeah. I hope that is the reason.” Natalina stared at Daniel for a moment. “Please do not get spooked by what I am about to say.”

“Okay.”

Very slowly Natalina rocked forward and then backwards. “We have not known one another very long. We still have a good bit to learn about one another. Mentally, I know that. But still, at times I feel so attached to you and that scares me. I am falling in love with you and that terrifies me.”

“I have had girlfriends but never before have I fallen in love. I was not even sure what being in love might feel like. I now know. I am not falling in love with you. I am in love with you. And it is solid. I am standing flat footed. My feelings for you are not going to change.”

Natalina stood up from the green rocking chair. Daniel stood up from the yellow swing. Daniel took Natalina in his arms and hugged her close. Their lips touched in a passionate kiss.

As their lips separated Natalina whispered, “I do love you.” She backed away and looked into his eyes. “It scares me.”

“There is no reason to be scared.”

“Oh yeah, there are reasons. There are always reasons. Nat is not always an easy child. I love him with every fiber of my being but I know he can be handful. And you know, he and I are a package deal. Are you sure that you want to be his father?”

“Hell yeah. And when we have other children I will still think of him as my child. I will do right by Nat.”

“He was kidnapped when he was eleven and it did something to him. He was gone for around two weeks. I had almost given him up for dead and then one morning I found him sleeping in his bed as though nothing had happened. He had no idea that he had been missing or what had happened to him while he was missing. Physically he seemed perfectly fine. But like I said, it did something to him. For example, he now has very serious claustrophobia. I keep his clothes where he does not have to go to his closet. The claustrophobia is that bad. And he sometimes has panic attacks that may or may not be connected to the claustrophobia. The attacks are awful.”

“Whatever issues Nat has, we will deal with those issues together. Issues aside, he is an amazing child.”

“He is. He can be very sweet. And his obsessions can be charming and interesting. But he is also rebellious. He sneaks around to smoke. He drinks. He has done pot.”

“He is just fourteen. How does he get his hands on that stuff.”

“He has his ways. Like I said, he can be a handful. Are you sure you want to have deal with Nat.”

“I am sure.”

“Okay. Don’t get mad.”

“I won’t.”

“You are a police officer. If you find him doing pot, will you arrest him?”

“Of course not. I will let him know that I don’t approve and tell him not to do that kind of stuff around me. I will remind him that I am a police officer and my not arresting him is problematic for me. It makes me look bad.”

Natalina nodded. She grinned. Then her expression became more serious. “You would not spank him or do other punishment.”

“No. If you punish him that is fine. I will not judge. But you know, on the one hand I want to think of him as my son but at the same time I realize that his upbringing is based on what you want. I will do what I can to help but I will not punish him. I think if I tried the only thing I would accomplish is to cause him to hate me. My cousins Johnny and Lilly were raised my father after their parents died and it was difficult. Part of their rebellion came from the fact that he was not actually their father. Too often he made bad situations worse and I do not want to repeat his mistakes. Now, don’t misunderstand. Johnny and Lilly turned out great. I have no problems with them. I love them. But the situation was not always easy for them or my father.”

“I understand. And I agree with what you are saying. You want your job to be to love him, and spoil him, and not to discipline him. I have no problem with that.”

“Good. Speaking of spoiling him, you know Hollis is already talking about taking him fishing and doing grandfather type stuff with him.”

“Nat told me. He was thrilled with the idea of going fishing with your father. He wasn’t sure why your father did not want to plan on you coming along with them. He kind of senses that things are not always easy between you and your father.”

“We will make the four of us going to go fishing together another date, but Hollis wanted to spend time with him, without me butting in as I sometimes do. And as far as things not always being easy with my father, Hollis likes the head butting. I guess I do as well, at least to some degree. It is safe to say that none of the Bare family, my cousins included, like yes men. We expect to be challenged just as we challenge others.”

Natalina smiled. “That is good to know. So, I don’t have to worry about pissing Hollis off.”

“No. But understand, he has his bluster. Just remember he doesn’t take disagreements too seriously and neither should you. He gets mad but he gets over it. At times he and Lilly will fight like cats and dogs about something. Then the next day it is amazing how chummy they are. There is no doubt how much Hollis loves Lilly. He loves her the same as if she were his daughter. Because I love you, he will love you the same. I am sure of that.”

Natalina laughed. “Okay. If you say so. I will count on there not be a problem with me living here. I guess we need to figure out which rooms can be used to accommodate Nat and myself. Are you sure there are rooms that can be converted to be sort of like an apartment? I mean worked on without upsetting Hollis.”

“Johnny and Lilly still have bedrooms here even though they now live in the barn that they renovated into an office and living quarters. But there are four empty rooms on the same floor as my bedroom. I will talk to some people about adding a kitchenette to the rooms and making whatever other changes that you want. I would guess they measure around 1300 square feet added together. I will make clear that the construction needs to be done as quickly as possible. While they are doing that you and Nat can sleep in Johnny and Lilly’s rooms. There is no reason for you to continue staying in that over priced Hotel.”

Natalina laughed. “Your father owns that Hotel.”

“That does not mean it is not overpriced.”

Maureen drove up. Billy and Bess jumped out of the car and ran up to their Aunt Natalina. Bess hugged her and Billy asked, “Where is Nat?”

Daniel said, “I think he is playing down at the creek. We can hike down there together if it is okay with your mom.”

Maureen said, “Sure.”

Daniel and Billy began to walk. Daniel asked, “So what is your name?”

“I am Billy Bingo. I am ten.” With a sly grin Billy added, “Sometimes people mistake me for a lot older.”

Daniel cocked his head. He made a joke. “You do realize I am a cop and a Fake ID is illegal.”

Billy nodded. “Like the Bare family is totally law abiding.”

Daniel wasn’t sure what to say. There were moments of silence as they walked beyond the barn and into the pasture. They walked toward the ravine and the creek.

Billy said, “Don’t be angry. I just say stuff. It pops out of my mouth without my even thinking. So does Nat like you or is he pissed that you are dating his mom?”

“I wish I could claim he likes me but on some days I have my doubts. Regardless, I am very fond of him. Do you like Nat?”

“Oh, sure. And I think I like you? I definitely like the idea of my aunt dating a rich man and living in a mansion.”

“Wait. We just decided that Natalina would live in the mansion with dad and me. She kind of resisted the idea. Your mom was coming to help her apartment hunt.”

Billy said, “Sometimes I just know stuff. Other times I am a total idiot. Right this second, I kind of have it in my head that Nat is in danger. I am not liking this feeling.”

“What kind of danger?”

“I am not sure. An image of a small squirrel statue flashed in my mind. The area is real grown up but there are sort of like steps up from the creek to the squirrel and beyond. Nat is on some kind of rocky area above the ravine and the creek. I sense that he is scared and that he has reason to be but I am not sure why.”

“The squirrel statue is at a secret entrance to the cave on the Ramsey estate. Have you ever been here or to the Ramsey estate?”

“No.”

Daniel called Natalina. “Honey, Billy is really spooking me out.”

“How?”

“He says Nat is in danger. Somehow he knew about the entrance to the cave on the Ramsey estate. He described it perfectly. Is there some reason that he should know about the cave entrance?”

“I am handing the phone to Maureen.” As Natalina handed the phone to Maureen she explained what Daniel had just said.

Maureen said, “Unless Billy came here with his dad Frank, he has never visited Hearthville before. He is not always right when he gets his strange feelings but he is sometimes right. If he is telling you stuff that is correct that he shouldn’t know, I suggest you take him seriously.”

“I am not sure what to do. If Nat is in danger I don’t want to also put Billy in danger.”

Billy said, “I am going with you. Forget about sending me back to the mansion.”

“Billy is a good runner. Just let him run with you to the cave. He will be okay. If Nat is in danger, you need to get to him.”

Natalina took the phone. She had lost the calm she had been trying to maintain and sounded upset. “Hollis just came out onto the porch. I explained the situation the best I could. I know I should stay calm but I am kind of freaking out. I know Billy is sometimes right and you know what you and I were just talking about. Hollis has run back inside to get a gun and he told me to run get his four wheeler out of the barn.”

“Do that. And Billy and I are fixing to take off running to the cave. I do have my gun on me. Billy hasn’t said what the danger is but… I don’t know. This is weird.”

“”I know honey. And I understand this could be a wild goose chase. I pray it is a wild goose chase. But don’t assume. If Nat is in danger, get to him.”

“Come on Billy this get going.” Billy and Daniel started running. “Damn. Billy is fast. I’ve got to catch up to him. I am going to hang up for right now.”

“I am at the barn. I am getting the four wheeler for Hollis.”

They hung up.

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