*marital sexual references
Mystery of the Missing Jewels
by Dana
"Here comes the bride, all dressed in white; here comes the groom...well, I was gonna say 'skinny as a broom', but Jim is anything but that!"
"Oh, Honey, you're so funny!" Trixie replied as she adjusted her veil. "I never thought this day would come. I just knew that Jim wouldn't honor the tradition of not seeing his bride twenty-four hours before the wedding; I almost never got rid of him yesterday!" She turned from the long oval mirror and looked at her sister-in-love sadly. "I will never forgive myself for missing yours and Brian's wedding, Honey."
"You couldn't help it, dearest. We knew you were in another state tracking down that thief!" Honey took Trixie's hands in hers. "Besides, Jim was our best man, and at the time, I know you couldn't have stood being my maid of honor after everything you two had been through. Don't think another thing of it; it all turned out okay, and you couldn't run me off with a stick today!"
Trixie and Honey embraced and sniffed back tears. "I am so glad I am marrying Jim; I never could see myself with anyone else...I remember the first time I realized how much I really loved him." Her eyes clouded with a far away look as she thought of that night so long ago in the Wheeler stable. Embarrassed, Trixie smiled and added, "And now we are going to be double sisters."
Honey, tactfully avoiding her nagging question about that 'look' she saw on her best friend's face, said, "I have never seen a groom with four best men! My goodness, among Brian, Mart, Bobby, and Dan, I wonder who will walk me down the aisle?" Honey giggled as she turned away and critiqued her now petite form in the full length mirror.
"Well, I guess three of the best men will have black eyes if they don't allow Brian to do the honors! Besides, Mart is going to be too busy staring at one of my bride's maids, Dan will have his eyeballs on my other one, and poor Bobby will have to walk Reddy Junior down the red carpet!" They both fell into a fit of laughter. The music began and Trixie immediately sobered.
"Oh, my, do I look okay?" Trixie asked as her hands flew up to her hair, and they rushed down the stairs and into the Crabapple Farm den. Before Honey could answer, she continued, "Okay, I have something old, Jim's mother's locket," she clasped the golden locket that hung daintily around her neck, "something new, the diamond earrings Moms and Dad gave me; something borrowed, Moms' wedding dress; and something blue, the garter belt."
Honey giggled again. "I wonder who will catch it? I'll bet Mart and Dan will be in front of everyone!"
"The penny! Where's the penny?" Trixie said frantically. "I can't go out there without it!"
"At your service, little one." Mr. Belden strode into the room. "You know I couldn't let my little angel meet her handsome prince without the penny in her shoe!" He bent down, and with her hands resting nervously on his shoulders, took off her right shoe, slipped the penny into the toe and placed it gently back on her foot.
"Thanks, Dad, you're the best." Trixie exclaimed with a smile.
"Well, they say that the bride either laughs or cries through the whole ceremony, but I think you'll be different. You will absolutely glow." The wedding march began and Honey slipped quietly out the door of the farmhouse. Mr. Belden offered his arm and said, "Shall we?"
"Let's."
Trixie held her breath at the doorway. In a few minutes, I will be Trixie Frayne. She was somewhat surprised that she wasn't as nervous as she thought she would be. She practically floated down the aisle to Jim and the wedding party. Words couldn't adequately describe the expression in Jim's deep green eyes. She didn't know if she could wait until the end of the ceremony to kiss his sweet lips.
"Who gives this bride away?" the pastor inquired.
"Her mother and I do," Mr. Belden replied. He bent down and kissed Trixie on the cheek. With tears in his eyes, he turned and took his seat with Mrs. Belden.
"Hello, Beautiful," Jim whispered softly.
"Hello, my Prince," Trixie replied as he took her hand.
Throughout the ceremony, Trixie kept stealing glances at Jim. He looked ravishing in his black tuxedo. She was so engrossed in him that she was oblivious to the admiring gazes that she attracted from the guests. He's simply beautiful with that red hair and rich voice...he takes my breath away. He squeezed her hand softly and whispered, "Hey Dreamer, it's your turn."
"Oh, I'm sorry." With a beet red face, she repeated her vows to him and smiled when he mouthed "I love you" to her. They turned and looked at the pastor.
After exchanging rings and finishing the vows, the pastor said, "You may kiss the bride."
At that, Jim turned to Trixie, lifted her veil, took her lovely face in his hands, and looked at her with such longing that she knew if he didn't hurry, she would either pass out or explode into a million pieces of nerves. Ever so slowly, he bent and caressed her lips with his. Their kiss deepened, and she wanted him to hold her and never let her go.
Trixie vaguely heard giggles, and the pastor said, "Ahem, don't you need to save a little for later?" The humor in his voice was clear.
Jim raised his head, and looking at the pastor, replied, "I have plenty saved up."
With a knowing smile, the pastor turned the couple to the guests and introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. James Winthrop Frayne II. Honey was the first to embrace Trixie, and everything else turned into a glorious blur.
After being led by Honey to her room, she quickly changed into a cream colored pantsuit. Diana and Trixie’s cousin, Hallie, carefully put away her wedding gown. She was so glad that Diana caught the bouquet since Mart was seen twirling the garter belt with glee; she wished she had two of them to throw, but Hallie was too caught up in the thrill of Dan's presence to mind much. Trixie left the others to their work as she eased out the back door and caught sight of her man.
"I have a surprise for you, dearest," whispered Jim as he held Trixie tightly to his side.
Trixie looked up at Jim lovingly. "Don't you think that needs to wait till later?" she giggled softly.
Not missing her meaning, Jim ran his hand down her waist. "Not that, silly. Is that all you think about?"
"Me?" she whispered a little louder, "You're the one who can't keep his hands to himself!"
The both laughed softly and, ignoring curious stares, embraced again. "Here he is...look."
Trixie turned and saw Jupiter in all his glory being led to them by Regan, the Wheelers' groom.
"Your ride to the Wheeler estate, Madame." Jim said as he bowed gallantly to her. He lifted her onto the horse and swung up behind her. Then he addressed the crowd, "We'll meet you at the Wheelers' home for the reception. Please understand if we are fashionably late." Jim turned Jupe and they rode toward the mansion.
A few minutes after passing the estate, Trixie said, "I have a feeling we are making a pit stop before we get to your parents' house. Where are you taking me?"
"It's a surprise," Jim responded. He wrapped his left arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. "Have I told you today, Mrs. Frayne, how absolutely delicious you look?"
"Mmmm..." she turned slightly and caught his mouth with hers. They kissed leisurely, and his breath caught in his throat as she ran her hand over his chest and into his shirt. "Do we have to go to the reception?" She looked longingly into his emerald eyes; she was intrigued that they turned a deep shade of passion at her question. She played with the soft hair on his chest and added, "I thought maybe we could play a little..."
"What? and have the whole town of Sleepyside looking for us?" He took her hand and held it to his heart. "I promise that I will be your humble servant as soon as I get you to myself again."
Trixie smiled and snuggled into her husband as they rode deeper into the woods. Her face was pressed to his throat; she could smell his cologne, and thoughts of the evening ahead made her feel warm and giddy. "Look ahead of us," he said, "we're here."
"Oh, Jim," Trixie gasped, "It's beautiful!"
They sat in silence as Jupiter approached the beginning of their new home.
"It's far from finished, love, but this is the best I could do on such short notice."
Trixie jumped off of Jupe and ran to her home. It's frame couldn't be mistaken. "It's a cottage! It's what I always wanted!"
Jim wrapped his arms around her. She turned to him and said, "can we make it like Crabapple Farm? Please?"
He leaned down and kissed her pert nose. "We can make it into anything you wish."
"Oh, I am so excited! I had no idea you were doing this! How did you keep it from me with it being so close to your school?"
"OUR school, Trixie. It is as much yours now as it is mine. Actually, it has only been under construction for two weeks. You were so busy planning our big day that it was no trouble to keep it from you!"
"Oh, you are so wonderful, Jim. Have I told you today that I love you?"
"I love you, too. I'll give you the grand tour later; it should be completed by the time we come home from our honeymoon. Now, let's get to the reception before we are added to the missing persons file."
Wedding gifts were piled high in the formal living room, and Trixie and Jim sat together as they opened their presents. They were thrilled and were sure to thank each giver and pass the gifts around for others to see. Hallie sat next to her, documenting which gifts were from whom. Several times she had to lean toward Trixie and ask her for help catching up.
"What's wrong," Trixie teased lightly. "Should I ask Dan to move from your vision, or would you like to quietly exit 'stage left' with your knight?"
Hallie had to giggle at the thought of Dan in a suit of armor, but she couldn't help but admit where she would rather be. "I'm sorry, Trix. I didn't realize it was so obvious."
Honey was quick to the rescue. "Hallie, I have asked Dan to check on getting Jupe settled in so Regan could leave; would you mind 'helping' him?" Honey winked and Hallie got the message.
Trying not to act too excited, Hallie calmly handed Honey the notebook and pen, and, catching Dan's eye, motioned toward the door.
"Well," said Trixie with a giggle, "I thought you were going to have to break her arm for a minute there!"
Honey scooted next to Trixie on the couch and smiled. "I can't say that I blame her; I am still looking for reasons to get close to Brian."
Later that evening, the Beldens and the Wheelers sat together for dinner and listened with interest as the excited married couple took turns detailing their plans for the future.
"I spoke with Detective Johnson today at the reception, and he informed me that he thinks my idea for an office in Sleepyside is a wonderful idea. He said he hated to see me go, but I think the rookie that has been working with me, Nancy Thornton, will give him a run for his money. She is going to be a great detective, and I know he will be busy training her for my position. He did admit that he had a feeling for some time that I would be branching out on my own. I never hid that dream from him." She looked at Jim fondly. "Now I have a reason to stay close to home." He reached over and held her hand.
"In Trixie's 'spare' time, she is going to help me find good homes for our kids. Bless her heart; she may need a partner in crime fighting." They both pointedly looked at Honey.
"Me?" she asked excitedly. "But I have little Alayna to care for, and Brian and I haven't even thought of me working outside the home." She looked at her husband.
Brian put his arm around Honey's tan shoulders and replied, "It is definitely worth discussing. You know how Miss Trask fusses over Alayna; she has said several times how much she misses a little girl to look after. You know how she likes to hint. Besides, it will give you a change of scenery, and it is something you and Trix had planned for years..."
"Oh, Brian, what would I do without you?" Honey leaned toward him and kissed him with emotion. "Yes, let's talk about it!"
"Well," Mr. Wheeler interrupted, "before the family breaks for the night, we parents would like to present our children with our gifts. But first, a toast."
Everyone stood as he raised his wine glass and declared, "To Trixie and Jim: may they grow old together, have many children, and profess their undying love in their rockers at the ripe age of ninety!"
After toasts and laughter, they were seated again, and Mr. Belden presented Jim with an envelope. He opened it, showed it to Trixie, and she squealed, "Oh, my goodness! You are too generous!"
Mrs. Belden replied, "Your father and I wanted to help get you settled into your new home, and though it isn't nearly enough to complete building it, the money should help you furnish most of the rooms to your taste. I am also at your disposal if you need help decorating and making curtains and such."
"Don't forget Di and me!" Honey added. "We would be upset if we didn't have a hand in decorating your beautiful cottage."
Di nodded her head excitedly. Her violet eyes shone as she said, "Besides, I have access to some art that you would absolutely love!"
"It's our turn!" Mrs. Wheeler said. She left the dining room for a moment and returned with a jewelry box.
Trixie opened it and gasped. "It's exquisite!"
"This is the first Christmas present Jim and Matthew gave me after we adopted Jim, and Matthew and I felt you should have it to pass on to your children." The diamond and emerald studded broach glimmered as she studied it.
"Please put it on me, Jim," Trixie said with a tremor in her voice. He took it from her and secured it to her blouse. She stood and hugged her mother-in-law. "You are all too good to us," Trixie said as her eyes filled with tears. "I feel like I neglected you all for so long; I wish I could so something to repay you for the love you have shown us today."
"Just say you'll never leave us again," Bobby said with emotion.
"I will never leave you again!"
Since Trixie and Jim planned to leave for their honeymoon the next afternoon, Honey, Brian, Mart, and Diana rented them a room at Paradise Lodge, just south of town. Trixie stood in awe as she gazed at their honeymoon suite. "Oh, it's beautiful, Jim! Look at the fireplace and the bear skin rug! This is heaven!"
Jim smiled and said, "Maybe you will want to stay here instead of going on our road trip."
"Never! I want to drive south until we hit the ocean!" She giggled and wrapped her arms around him. "But right now, I want my humble servant to make me his wife for real!"
Jim kissed her throat as he unbuttoned her blouse. "As you wish."
Trixie shuddered lightly as he undressed her and led her to the huge tub in the bathing area. He left her for a moment as he ran the bath water and disappeared into the bedroom. He returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Not knowing what to do next, Trixie stepped gingerly into the tub. Warm water swirled over her shaking body. "Ooh, this feels good!" She sunk quickly into the water, slightly embarrassed by her unclothed state.
Jim popped the cork from the wine bottle and filled their glasses. He sat them on the edge of the tub and removed his clothes. Trixie was amazed at the sight of him, and she could tell he, too, was somewhat embarrassed. Jim moved next to her and handed her a glass.
Trixie was so nervous that she drank the wine too quickly. She immediately felt a buzz; she looked at Jim's glass, also empty, and said, "We need to practice 'sipping'!"
"Let's practice something else." Jim responded softly as he took the glass from her hand. They mingled their wandering kisses with washing each other, and they thoroughly enjoyed the exploration. Trixie nuzzled against his chest and couldn't help running her tongue over his wet throat. "Okay, I can't stand this anymore!" Jim said thickly as he pulled Trixie out of the tub and haphazardly dried her off. "The bed or the rug, Madame?"
"Both," Trixie breathed.
(use your imagination!)
Jim and Trixie lay snuggled close together lost in the moment. Suddenly Trixie giggled.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, really...what is so funny?"
"This rug is tickling me," she was caught in a fit of laughter.
"Where...here?"
"Aaaah! Quit it!"
They rolled around on the rug tickling each other, and Jim pulled her on top of him and said, "I'm hungry." At Trixie's smirking look, he added, "for real food."
The next morning came too soon. Trixie felt a temporary feeling of loss as Jim pulled away from her to turn off the alarm, but sighed contentedly as he moved back to her embrace. "I'm still so sleepy; what time did we fall asleep?"
"Well, you went to sleep around 3 a.m., but the last time I looked at the clock, it was scaring the heck out of 4."
Trixie giggled. "What did you do for a solid hour?"
Jim ran his hands through her shoulder length curls. "I watched my bride."
"Mmmm...so that's why I was dreaming such sweet dreams." She tilted her head for a kiss.
"Mrs. Frayne, are you ready for your road trip?"
With a little yelp, Trixie jumped up on the bed and straddled her smiling husband. "Yes! Where are we going?"
"That, my dear, is a secret!" At Trixie's feigned pout, he added, "I'll give you a hint, though: antebellum homes."
Squealing, Trixie bent and hugged him tightly. With a kiss on his nose, she said, "Let's go!"
Honey snuggled closer to Brian in their king-sized bed. "You know, seeing Jim and Trix so happy today made me remember our wedding; it's hard to believe we have been married almost five years!"
"Yep. Five years next month, and I feel like we're still on our honeymoon." He leaned closer and kissed her full on the mouth.
"Mmmm...." Honey moaned lightly. She loved the feel of his silky lips. He's so strong and soft at the same time. She broke away slightly and looked into his chocolate eyes. "I could get lost in you and never find myself again."
"I'll find you."
After loving each other completely, Brian nibbled Honey's ear and said, "I was serious about you working with Trix."
"Really? That would be so wonderful. I want to help her find loving homes for hers and Jim's kids, too."
"If you work as hard for them as you do for Alayna and me, they will never go without love again."
"You know, sweet man o' mine, I've been thinking," started Trixie as they neared their destination, "we could be going to one of several places...Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana..."
"Well, since we are coming up on Tennessee, where do your sleuthing instincts tell you we are going?" Jim asked with a grin on his handsome face.
"I don't mean any harm, but MISSISSIPPI? What in the world is in Mississippi?"
Jim laughed outright. "A lot is in Mississippi, Trix! I know there isn't a whole lot of positive publicity about it, but it really is a beautiful state. Besides, it is filled with literature, the blues, magnolia trees, and..."
"William Faulkner! Oh, Jim, can we go see his home? Please?"
"Of course, love. As a matter of fact, if you will look in the glove compartment, you will see everywhere I am going to take you." He smiled as she jerked the compartment open and squealed at each attraction.
"I have to say that I married the man of my dreams. Not only does he REALLY turn me on..." she paused at his chuckle, "BUT he also knows how to entertain!" She leaned over, kissed him soundly, and settled back to search hungrily over Jim's plans.
Late that night, they searched wearily for a place to spend the night. They were on an old two lane road, and Jim was worried that they were lost, but he kept his fears to himself. Trixie had the interior light shining on the map, and she demanded imperiously, "Okay, husband, where in the world are we? I can’t find us to save my neck!"
"Well, you can save your pretty neck, because I see a driveway right here. We’ll turn in and ask directions."
"But it is so late! Whoever lives here won’t be awake. Let’s not bother them, honey. Let’s just find a place farther down the road."
Jim worried his bottom lip with his teeth, then sheepishly admitted, "Um, Trix, I think this is probably the only place we will find to sleep for miles. We’d better take our chances."
"You’re right." She held her breath as they neared a towering old antebellum home. It looked deserted. "Do you think anyone lives here?" she asked, barely suppressing a shudder.
"We’re about to find out," he replied, as he put the car in park at the end of the drive. They slowly got out of the car and gazed at each other in anticipation over the hood. "Here goes."
They climbed the enormous porch and had to sidestep a few weak spots in the wood. They could barely see where they were going, and were thankful for a full moon. Jim cautiously turned the ancient bell and the loud ringing made Trixie comment, "That noise could wake the dead."
A man who looked as ancient as the house answered the door. Trixie and Jim gaped at him as he lifted the kerosene lantern and said, "The missus and I have been expecting you. Please, do come in." He turned back to the enormous entry hall and patiently waited for them to enter.
Jim closed the door and felt a slight shiver wash over him; he couldn’t pinpoint the source of his anxiety, but it definitely was not coming from the elderly man.
"My name is Joseph Westmoreland." An elderly lady entered from a room on the left and smiled at the young couple as the reached her husband. "And this is my little bride, Martha."
Jim and Trixie assessed the couple and both smiled warmly. Joseph was wearing a ragged but formal gentleman’s suit of deep brown. His white shirt, now a dingy gray, sported ruffles around the cuffs and collar. Martha was wearing an old, long gown of faded lavender. It was tied under her breasts and the skirt was full and floated to the floor.
Trixie had to grin at her soothing southern accent. "We are so happy to see y’all. I declare, Joseph and I have been expecting you for quite some time now. Please, do come in and sit a spell. I know you are exhausted from your trip. I will show you to your room as soon as Joseph brings your bags inside."
The announcement jerked Jim back to the present. "Oh, Ma’am, please forgive us, but we only need a place to stay for the night." He raised their overnight bag for Joseph and Martha to see. "This is all we need."
"Nonsense, son," Joseph replied indignantly. We insist that you are comfortable in your stay with us. It will only take me a minute to get your bags inside and up the stairs." He turned to the door.
"I’ll be right back, Trix," Jim whispered in her ear. "I have to help him. I can’t let him lift those bags alone."
"Of course," she replied anxiously, and patted his arm. "Go ahead, I’ll be fine."
"Certainly you will be fine, my dear. Come, let’s go to the parlor. I will fix you a nice glass of mint julep tea." Martha took her arm and led the way.
Trixie enjoyed the intriguing new taste of Martha’s tea and listened to her as she entertained her with stories of her and Joseph as a newly married couple. Trixie could see the love and devotion shining in Martha’s eyes. "How long have the two of you been married?"
"Sixty wonderful short years. Joseph is eighty and I am seventy-eight. Unfortunately, we had no children," she looked down and sighed sadly, then looked back at Trixie with her soft grey eyes, "but we have had such a wonderful life together."
Jim and Joseph returned to the parlor and sat with their wives. Trixie could hold her curiosity no longer. "Please tell me, Martha. You said you had been expecting us, and I was really surprised. What did you mean?" Without thinking, she reached for Jim’s hand, and his comforting strength as he squeezed her hand helped her focus on Martha’s reply. This was just too strange.
"Well," she looked to Joseph, "would you like to begin, dear?"
Joseph cleared his throat and explained, "As you can see, our home is not in the best of shape." A slight flush of embarrassment reached his face, and he continued hurriedly, "Martha and I needed help with repairs, so we borrowed the money from a neighbor friend of ours who lives about ten miles away, and we hired a crew to make the needed repairs. Well," he added indignantly, "back in our day, a man’s word was his bond, but the foreman took off with all of our money, and they never spent a day’s work on our house." Martha reached over and gently rubbed his sleeve.
Trixie wanted to cry. Jim’s face was flushed with anger. Trixie whispered, "Then what happened?"
Joseph was so upset, he couldn’t continue. Mary said sadly, "The note has been called in. You see, it has taken so very long...well, as you can see, we have no way to pay him back. My dear husband works in other’s yards as much as he can for income, but he has to travel such long distances for work, and we have a slight monthly income, but it is far from enough to pay what we owe." It was Joseph’s turn to console his wife. Martha struggled to continue. "I have prayed and prayed for y’all to come to us. God promised Joseph and me that He would send someone to help us. The only hope that we have is you. Only you can help us find our family diamonds and other jewels. Joseph’s grandfather hid his wife’s jewels when she passed away for fear of thieves, but he never told anyone where he left them. He died with the knowledge." She looked down and whispered, "For all we know, it could all be just a myth...a legend."
"No, love, we can’t believe that. God sent us these young folks, and we have to have faith that the jewels are around here somewhere." He turned to Jim and Trixie and pleaded, "Please say you will help us. Please." Their old fingers tightly gripped together, Joseph and Martha waited for a response.
Jim looked at Trixie. Oh, no, there it was. That look. He wasn’t going to let her jump into this one with both feet before they discussed it. She opened her mouth to speak, and he planted his hand firmly over her lips. He turned to the elderly couple and said, "Would you please allow us to discuss this tonight, get some rest, and give you an answer in the morning?" Trixie shot him down with her stormy blue gaze, but he ignored her.
"Oh, well, yes of course." Joseph stood and smiled sadly. "Please. Allow us to show you your room. You must be terribly exhausted."
The old stairs creaked eerily as they mounted them and were led to their guest quarters. Joseph said, "As you can see, we have been expecting you. Martha just finished cleaning your room today. I regret that we can’t offer you a better room, but we will be sure to make up for it in food and hospitality. Breakfast is at nine a.m. sharp, and if you will, please be dressed for the occasion." He smiled and turned to the two wardrobes on the far wall. "These wardrobes are filled with clothing that should be proper and serve you well." He turned to the door and said, "Have a peaceful night’s rest." and left, closing the ancient door behind him.
Trixie turned on Jim like a bobcat. "What did you say that for? What in the world do you mean ‘discuss it’? What is there to discuss? We MUST help those wonderful people!"
"Calm down, Trix. You know how you get when a mystery is involved. I wanted to talk to you about this before you jumped in and sank." She crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back on him. He walked up to her and wrapped his strong arms around her waist. No fair, she thought. He knows I love him so much I’d do anything for him, but we must help that couple.
She tried a different tactic. If plan A doesn’t work....beg. "Oh PLEASE, honey. Just think about how we would feel if we were that age and our only hope was a young, strong couple who might be unwilling to help them? How would that make you feel? Would you be able to sleep tonight?
It worked. "You’re right, baby. There’s nothing I can do about that now. How about we get some rest and discuss how to help them in the morning?"
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the mouth. "You’re a good man, Jim Frayne. I love you."
"Good Lord, Jim, look at this dress!" She raised it to her body and gaped at him.
Jim laughed. "He said they were ‘proper’ clothes."
"But they are OLD! Look at this one!" She grabbed another gown and modeled it for him. "Jim, these old clothes need to be in a museum. They’re from the 1800s!"
Dressed "properly", Jim and Trixie descended the long staircase and met the Westmorelands in the formal dining room.
"Well, good morning, children. My, don’t you look lovely, my dear!" Martha exclaimed as she took both of Trixie’s hands in hers.
"Thank you, Mrs. Westmoreland. You look wonderful as well," Trixie replied with a sincere smile.
They took their seats, and Jim said, "Trixie and I would like to thank you for your kindness and hospitality. We were so worried when we were looking for a place to stay last night, that I fear I neglected your feelings when I asked for rest before deciding whether to help you with your search, and I apologize." Trixie gazed at her husband lovingly. She had to be the proudest wife in the world at this moment. Jim continued, "Trixie and I would be honored to assist you any way we can."
"Oh, bless your hearts," Joseph replied. Martha pulled an old handkerchief from the sleeve of her dress and dabbed prettily at her misty eyes.
Trixie added, "We need to come up with a valid reason why we are staying with you, so Jim and I decided that if anyone sees us, we will simply say that I am your great niece and I came to introduce you to my new husband."
"What a wonderful idea," Martha exclaimed, clearly warming to the suggestion.
"Also," Jim added, "no one, and I mean no one, needs to know about the jewels. It is our secret, okay?" Both Martha and Joseph nodded solemnly.
While eating breakfast, the two couples discussed how to search for the jewels. A knock at the front door interrupted their talk. Joseph asked to be excused and answered the door, then led a balding, overweight man into the room. "Trixie, Jim, I would like you to meet our neighbor, Mr. Richard Thornton. Mr Thornton, this is my great niece, Trixie, and her new husband, Mr. Jim Frayne."
Immediately after the introductions, Richard Thornton demanded, "I need to speak to you privately, Joseph. Now."
"Sir, the children understand our situation, and they are going to help us find the.....um.....find a way to pay you in full. Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of them."
"Now see here, Westmoreland, if you don’t have that money for me in two days, I am going to begin foreclosure proceedings on your property and home."
"Please, sir," Martha begged, "give us more time..."
"No," Richard interrupted harshly, causing Martha to place a trembling hand over her breast, "Absolutely not! Two days, and that is final!"
Jim stood from his chair and Trixie grabbed his hand. Calmly, yet with a tone of authority, he declared, "You will have your money, Thornton. Now, kindly leave before I show you the door."
"Who do you think you are?" Richard demanded hotly.
"Family, sir. That’s all that should concern you," Jim replied as he rounded the table. Trixie stood and followed Jim. She hadn’t seen Jim this angry in years.
Before Jim could reach him, Richard turned and left the house without another word.
The entire day was spent looking for the jewels. Every old loose board was pried loose, then repaired. Every wall was searched for hidden nooks and crannies. Nothing was found. Finally, dirty and exhausted, the four of them rested in the library.
"This is the last room," said Trixie, "and then we’re going to bed." She raised her weary body from the chair and headed for the books.
"Trix, I seriously doubt that a bunch of jewels will fit inside a book."
Trixie looked back at her skeptical husband and replied, "They have just as good a chance being in one of these things as being under the floorboards. Both are too obvious, but I am searching anyway."
Twenty-five grueling minutes later, Martha said, "Look at this; can you tell what it is?"
Trixie dropped a book back into place on the shelf and turned to help Martha. Joseph and Jim were already looking over her shoulder. "I can’t read it, hon," Joseph stated. "It’s kinda light, and my eyes ain’t that good anymore."
Martha handed Trixie the paper, and she and Jim took it closer to the kerosene lamp to read. "This script is terribly old," Jim said as he cautiously smoothed the edges of the ancient, crinkled paper. The ink had become lighter with age. The permanent creases in the paper made it even more difficult to decipher.
"Oh, my goodness, Jim, I think this is some sort of directions to the jewels...or to something of great importance. Do you think that Grandfather Westmoreland hid something other than jewels?"
"I don’t know. According to this, the possessions were hidden somewhere besides the house." He studied the writings further. "Yes, there is some sort of building on the grounds. Mr. Westmoreland, what buildings are on this land?"
"Just an old storehouse about a stone’s throw from the back porch, but Martha and I haven’t been through all of that junk in years."
Jim stood and turned to Joseph and Martha. "I know it is late, but do you think we could search through the storehouse tonight?"
Joseph stood as well, and lifted another old lamp. "Don’t see why we can’t."
They combed every single inch of the spider and rat infested structure. "No luck," Trixie announced sadly. Jim wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and placed his chin atop her messy hair.
"It’s okay, honey. Let’s all get some rest, then you and I will study that paper again and we will figure this out, all right?"
Trixie turned in his arms and lay her head against Jim’s solid chest. "Yeah, I’m exhausted. Let’s go." They broke apart, and Trixie took Martha’s hand and lifted her from a large crate. Together, arm in arm, Trixie and Martha led the way to the house, both of them praying for a miracle.
"Fire!" his horse voice called. He pounded on the bedroom door, waking Trixie first, then Jim. "Fire!" Joseph bellowed again through the door. "The storehouse is on fire!" Jim struggled into his pants and shoes, Trixie nearly knocking him over in her haste to grab her old dress.
The four of them fought like mad, forming an assembly line from the old well pump to the storehouse, dashing bucket after pitiful bucket of water on the engulfing flames. Finally, out of energy and hope, they stopped and watch the ancient edifice burn to the ground.
"It’s times like this," Joseph said, sitting on the ground and wiping the sweat from his forehead, "that I wish we had a telephone."
"Come on," Trixie said, "let’s go back inside and I’ll make us some breakfast."
No one said much at the table. Trixie’s brain was turning with possibilities of who or what could have started the fire. Suddenly she turned to Jim and said, "I wish Honey were here."
"Oh? What’s this?" he replied, a look of mock hurt across his face. "And what am I? Chopped liver???"
Trixie popped him on the arm. "Oh, quit. You know I love it when we figure things out together, but you have to admit, your sister and I could really get the mysteries solved when we were younger." Trixie smiled in remembrance.
Jim took her left hand under the table, and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "You will again very soon," he promised. "What do you think she would say about all of this?"
Trixie’s smile widened, and she leaned back against the chair and closed her eyes, not noticing the curious looks they were receiving from the Westmorelands. "I think she would wonder who had seen us searching the storehouse last night. She would worry that someone had heard something we said about the jewels."
"Well," Jim began, "if we had been watched, it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out who did it..."
"Mr. Thornton," Martha piped up from across the table.
Trixie opened her eyes and saluted Martha with her orange juice. "Very good. Now, what is his motive? I think that he heard us talking about the jewels yesterday, then watched to see what we would do. He was probably planning to steal the jewels and your property as well when you couldn’t pay him back."
"But why would he burn the storehouse?" Joseph asked. "I don’t understand. If the jewels were in there, or possibly something else of value, why would he set them on fire?"
Jim responded, "Maybe he searched the place after we went to bed. He couldn’t find anything, so he decided to scare us by torching it."
"You know," Joseph whispered, "we certainly are placing a lot of blame on someone with no evidence."
Trixie leaned forward in her chair. "You’re starting to sound like Jim." She smiled and said, "We should look at that map again, see if we were mistaken, and then search again. But this time, the search should be a bogus one."
"What do you mean, child?" Martha asked.
"She means," Jim said with a wink, "to make it appear as if we know where the treasure is, search for it in another place, and set up the person or people spying on us. Then I can stay up late and keep watch over that spot. If we were watched and that fire wasn’t a coincidence," he added, definitely warming to the subject, "then I will be able to identify the culprit."
"I’m going with you," Joseph said. The excitement in his eyes made him look twenty years younger. "No, don’t look at me like that, son. You need me. If it is not Mr. Thornton, I am the only person who would be able to identify him."
"All right, but don’t make any moves that could get you hurt."
In their bedroom, Jim asked Trixie, "Okay, what gives?"
"What do you mean?" Trixie asked, her eyes full of innocence.
Jim leaned against the door jam, a look of skepticism on his features. "You are acting as if you don’t want to be involved in the stakeout, and that’s not like you."
"I will have you know, James Frayne, that I am a grown woman, and I am mature. Besides, if I wanted to go, what would you say?"
"I’d say ‘no’."
"Exactly. So why bother asking?"
Jim narrowed his green eyes at her back. She was putting on a pair of cut off sweat shorts and a big tee shirt that read, "I survived the plague" on the back. She had never looked more beautiful to him....or more mischievous. He pushed his body from the doorway and slowly advanced on her bending form. He grabbed her hips and she jerked up from tying her tennis shoes. "What?" She demanded.
He turned her in his arms and captured her face in his hands. "Look at me, Trix. Promise me you won’t run out there acting like Wonder Woman, okay?"
"I promise," she whispered.
"Thanks," he said, then kissed her like he had wanted to kiss her all morning.
That night, sitting in a bush with Joseph, Jim replayed the promise in his mind. How had he worded it? Oh yeah, ‘don’t run out there acting like Wonder Woman’. Dang it, he should have been more specific. She was so literal minded...it was too much to hope that she would be at the house right now instead of hiding behind another bush. Knowing his luck, she would run out acting like Spider Man just to spite him. No, he should have taken her with him so he could keep her by his side and grab her before she made an idiot out of herself and got them killed. He automatically rubbed his right hand over his side. He still remembered the bullet he took for her. He vowed to take a hundred more for her if he had to...then suppressed a shudder...he probably would have to before it was over.
Just like clock work, a flashlight shone through the trees of the orchard. Richard Thornton eased into view. He laid the flashlight on the ground and, positioning it toward the towering apple tree, began digging, not caring whether he dodged or struck the ancient roots. Joseph had a fit. He whispered harshly, "He’s gonna kill my tree!"
"Who was that?" Thornton dropped his shovel and snatched up the flashlight. Quickly, he pulled a gun from the pocket of his jacket. "Who’s there?"
Oh, God, Trix, please don’t be here, Jim thought. Jim grabbed Joseph’s hand and eased him farther away from the bush and into the cover of the woods. When they reached a more secure hiding place, Jim threw a rock to send Thornton in another direction, then hid Joseph and warned him not to move or make a sound.
Jim took a long route around Thornton, attempting to circle behind him and distract him long enough to keep him searching for hours. He was praying that Trixie had the sense to be in the house so he could find her and get her to drive to a phone and call the police.
Praying he had everything under control, Jim eased toward the house. "Stop where you are."
Jim turned with his heart in his throat. Thornton was about ten feet away, with his pistol pointed directly at Jim’s chest. Oh, great, he thought, not again. "Turn around slowly and put your hands over your head.....NOW!" Immediately, Jim did as he was told. Waiting to be grabbed from behind, or worse, shot in the back, he was surprised to hear a grunt. Someone fell. Daring to turn around, his heart pounding in his brain, he could barely make out a small figure in the darkness of the woods. Thornton was lying on the ground, out cold, with his flashlight’s beam muffled underneath his body.
Before Jim could focus on the apparition that saved his life, it pounced on him and began kissing him all over his face. "Oh, baby," she sobbed, "I thought he was going to kill you."
Jim pulled her far enough away from his body to see her face. "What the hell are you doing here? I TOLD you to stay at the house!"
She let go of him. "Well, that’s some thanks I get! I save your neck, and all you can think about is me following your commands!" They were so busy arguing and yelling at one another, that they didn’t notice anything going on around them. Jim, intending to leave the argument unfinished, turned just in time to see Thornton reach for his gun. Jim attacked him. They rolled on the leaf covered ground, Jim grasping Thornton’s hands and gun, trying to keep the gun away from Trixie or himself. Suddenly the one on bottom, Jim felt his grip loosening, and began to panic. Please don’t kill Trix. Please, anyone but Trixie.
Finally seeing an opportunity, Trixie swung the thick tree limb at the back of Thornton’s head with all her strength. The limb broke, leaving painful vibrations that jarred her wrists. She fell to her knees and pushed Thornton off of Jim. She had to see for herself he was okay. Jim grabbed her tightly and pulled her under his body. "Oh, God, did I kill him?" Trixie whispered.
"I don’t know. Trixie, I am so sorry. I really am glad you followed me out here. Thank you, baby. Oh, I’m so glad you’re okay." He rained kisses down her face and throat. "Come on. Let’s find some way to tie him up and get the police out here. We’ve got to find Joseph. I left him in the middle of the woods, and God only knows where he is now.
"Can I come out now?" Joseph asked, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and a big grin on his face. "I’ve already been to a phone and called the police. I came back to see if you were okay, but I see I didn’t have to worry."
Back in their bedroom, they lay in the enormous canopied bed, with Trixie too wound up to go to sleep. Every few minutes, she would push the button for the light on her watch to check the time and groan. Five a.m. "Jim, are you awake?" She heard a grunt. "Jim, there’s one thing about that paper that I don’t understand. It sent us specifically to that old storehouse, but it just didn’t make sense to me. The age of the writing and the apparent age of the building, although both were old, don’t add up. That building just looked to be about fifty years old or so, but that paper was probably written in the eighteen hundreds."
Jim pulled Trixie closer to him. "Maybe there was another structure there back then." He let out a huge yawn and snuggled his face against her neck and whispered, "Go to sleep, baby."
Trixie let him snuggle more deeply into her throat. She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, gently scratching his scalp. "But Jim, if the building they were hidden in is gone, then that paper is no good." Her brows creased in concentration and she stopped scratching Jim’s head. "Unless....Oh, my goodness, that’s IT!" She pushed Jim off of her and ran to the wardrobe to get her suitcase out of the bottom of it.
Jim sat up in the bed and rubbed his eyes. He saw her hopping into her jeans and didn’t know whether to laugh at her or be angry and make her come back to bed. Life with her will never be dull, he thought, and he smiled at the picture she made.
With her legs spread wide, she faced him and quickly zipped her pants and squealed, "I know where the treasure is!" She reached for her tee shirt and yanked it over her head. "Will you come help me? I’ve gotta move some stuff!"
Two hours and two breaking backs later, Trixie and Jim carted off the last of the burned debris. Trixie swept the stone flooring the best she could, then they set to work trying to find loose pieces of flooring. Joseph and Martha found them on their hands and knees with their bottoms stuck up in the air. "What in the world are you two doing?" Martha asked with a giggle. She turned to her husband and said, "Joseph, whatever are we going to do without those kids?" He hugged her. He didn’t know what to say.
"Oh, oh, oh, JIM! Look, I found something!" Jim scooted over to her and helped her move the stone. "Should we get the shovel and start digging?"
"You two have done enough work this morning. I’ll do it." Joseph said as he turned to the back porch to get a shovel. He returned and said, "While I’m digging, Martha, tell the young’uns who came to see us while they were out here."
"The police came by a few minutes ago and informed Joseph and me that we owe Mr. Thornton nothing. You see, he lent us the money to get our house worked on, but he also found a crew to work for us. When we paid the foreman before the work was done, we were told that he gave Thornton his money back and was promised part of the money when he foreclosed on our home and property. Mr. Thornton confessed to everything, and the police said that he was also to be convicted for trespassing and assault with a deadly weapon, and to top it off, he has a past record of embezzlement."
"My goodness," Trixie said with a grin, "he should be out of your hair for a long, long time. Just think, Mr. Joseph, now you don’t even need the jewels."
Just then, Joseph’s shovel hit metal.
Gingerly, Jim pulled the metal box from it’s dirt coffin. It was an ancient thing with a lock. They took it in the house and picked the lock, and still had to pry it open. Diamonds and other jewels set in necklaces, earrings, and bracelets shimmered in the morning light that shone through the windows, and even more jewels were loose in the bottom of the box. But the most exciting find was wads and wads of confederate bills tied loosely with pieces of leather. Martha and Joseph gaped at each other. They were filthy rich.
Trixie and Jim bid them a temporary farewell, promising to visit them on their way back, and finished their honeymoon. Traveling through Memphis, Tennessee, on Highway 78, they visited Holly Springs, toured the antebellum homes, went on to Oxford to see Faulkner’s home, and from there on to Tupelo, turning on the Natchez Trace, and following the beautiful old Indian-trail-turned-road as far as it would take them. Finally, they reached the coast and played in the ocean until the tide ran them back to their hotel.
The attachment that had grown between them and the elderly couple only made them miss them more. Lying in bed, Trixie said, "Jim, are you awake?" He grunted. She smiled and hugged up to his back. "Do you think we can adopt the Westmorelands?"
He didn’t respond for a moment, then he turned to her and said, "Are you serious? Do you think they would move?"
"Well, when we first got there, Mrs. Martha mentioned that they never had any children of their own, and I bet they get pretty sad and lonely sometimes. Just think of all the love they could give our kids at the home."
A few days later, they were on the Westmorelands' doorstep, anxiously rehearsing their lines. Joseph answered the door and hollered out, "They’re here, Martha!"
Martha quickly whisked into the entry hall and grabbed Trixie and Jim. "Now, children, y’all come into the parlor and let me fix you something to drink. Joseph, would you bring in that banana nut bread I fixed for them?" She fussed and puttered around the couple, trying to make them comfortable, then settled into her chair.
When Joseph joined them with the bread sliced and ready to eat, Martha sat primly in her seat and declared, "Joseph and I have discussed our future, and we have decided that you children need us," She shot a look to Joseph, and he nodded gravely for her to continue. She daintily cleared her throat and continued, "and these are the reasons why...."
She couldn’t help it. Trixie had to laugh. As a matter of fact, she laughed so hard that she began to sob uncontrollably. Jim had to explain between chuckles why Trixie appeared to have lost her mind.
Immediately after their arrival to Sleepyside, the Westmorelands met and fell in love with their new families and their hundred grandchildren.
The End.
This story was a sequel to Mystery of the Missing Child