Another Deception Read online

  After watching the woman for a while, he decided that she was harmless. He had never seen her around before so figured she must be a visitor. When she burst out singing a song, he grinned and dropping back, stopped following. Retracing his steps to where his gear was, he kept thinking about her though, wondering who she was and where she was from. Even so, he managed to catch a mess of fresh trout for dinner.

  A short while after he got home with his catch, he asked,

  “Granny, have you seen a strange woman around town lately, real red hair, and kind of tall?”

  His Grandmother Romona was seventy years old but still fit. She doted on the boy, she and her husband had raised from the age of six after both his parents were killed in a car crash. Her husband Robert had been gone five years, so it was just the two of them now. She perked up when he asked the question, because at twenty-eight he showed no sign of settling down and having a family she could enjoy in her golden years.

  “You met a woman and did not get her name?”

  His granny answered his question with her own, as she kept on preparing their dinner with the trout he had brought in, but she was more than a little interested.

  “No, didn’t really meet her. I just saw her on the back side of the mountain there at Bear Creek, while I was fishing.”

  “That’s posted land. What was she doing up there?”

  “I’m not sure but it looked like she was just hiking. I spotted her as she was coming back down from the peak. I just thought you might have noticed her around town. No big deal.”

  Romona thought it was a pretty big deal if Hidey was curious enough to ask. She made a mental note to check with some of her friends about any new comers to the area. She wondered if this could be the one to make him forget about that witch Jillian, who had taken off for the glitter of the city with some modeling outfit.

  Shaking her head, as she finished up at the stove she murmured,

  “Five years gone by and she still isn’t back.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Nothing, I was just thinking this fish is going to be delicious. Set us up at the bar and it will be ready to eat.”

  He was already up reaching for the utensils. Romona taught him from an early age that if you ate her cooking, you best be ready to help with the work. He did not mind and by the time the fish was done, he had laid the bar with placemats and table settings for two.

  Three days later, he spotted Jean again. He was getting out of his truck when across the street at the bakery he saw the unmistakable red hair. Before he thought about it, he threw his hand up in a big wave only to receive a wondering look and hint of a smile as she glanced over her shoulder to see if there was someone behind her. When she saw there was not, she gave the smallest wave back and got into the little Subaru she was driving, thinking how friendly the people were.

  Hidey felt disappointment, but chided himself thinking, you idiot, she never even saw you in the woods and here you go waving as if she was supposed to know who you are! He went on into the store with his list but his mind was still on the redhead. Canadensis was actually just a small mountain village, so how hard could it be to find out who she was, he wondered. He had an idea and stopped at Pete’s Pizza. Feeling slightly awkward, he made small talk with Pete, an old school friend as well as owner and cook at the place. It was not a busy time so Pete took a pizza from the warmer and led Hidey to a table.

  “I haven’t had lunch yet, help me eat this.”

  Hidey helped himself to a large slice of the pizza and they each had eaten two, before he shared why he was there.

  “You haven’t seen a redheaded lady in here in the last few weeks have you?”

  Pete answered thoughtfully,

  “Redheaded? Well, there is that kid of Jo Ann’s…”

  Interrupting, Hidey shook his head.

  “That would be Amber and no she couldn’t be more than sixteen. Pete, I said a woman. I’m not sure if she lives here, but I saw her two weeks ago and then again today and was just wondering if we had some new people in town.”

  “You want me to let you know if we get a redhead in for pizza? You know sooner or later they all end up here for a pizza fix.”

  He laughed at his attempt to be humorous, but sensing that Hidey was unusually serious, he picked up the dishes and walked back around the counter. Hidey stood to leave. He shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing important and felt a bit of irritation for it really was not. So why am I so curious? Aloud he said,

  “See you later buddy.”

  “Just a minute Hidey, I said no one like that was in here, but if you check at the post office, Nettie would know if there are any new comers to this area. Everybody gets mail.”

  This made good sense to Hidey and he agreed.

  “Great idea, why didn’t I think of that? Thanks Pete!”

  Heading to the door, Pete stopped him again.

  “Wait! You never said why you are looking for this woman?”

  “No, I didn’t, did I?”

  “Well?”

  “Nothing really, I spotted her hiking up on my place and thought I’d tell her it is posted property.”

  “Yeah, right and when did you start caring if someone walked across your land? Get outta here!”

  Back in his truck, he wondered why he did have this compulsion to find her. She was nothing like Jillian, who came to his school in their senior year and made a huge splash amongst the guys, making all the girls jealous. She had chosen him, causing him to float through his last year of high school and the next four years of college. Then bam! She entered a fashion contest and winning offered her an opportunity to become a model for, of all things, underwear! After a year of snatching only fragments of her time at home, he decided he would just make the move to Manhattan to be with her. As a graphic designer, he could work anywhere. It was to her surprise and his devastation, when he knocked on her apartment door to face another man, who was obviously more than just a visitor. He never told anyone about the incident, not even his granny. The unwelcome thoughts of his ex-girlfriend caused his mood to change and instead of going to the Post Office, he went home.

  Twice more, over the next couple of weeks, Hidey got a glimpse of Jean but was never where he could approach her. Once, while she was pumping gas and another while he was standing in the parking lot at Pete’s talking to friends, Carnet and JT, she passed by. He waved but she quickly looked the other way.

  He found himself thinking of her on a daily basis and one day impulsively stopped by the Post Office and asked Nettie if she knew who she could be.

  Describing her as a vivid redhead, it was to his surprise when Nettie smiled and said,

  “Like the one behind you?”

  He turned, finding himself staring into the very face he was having a hard time getting out of his head.

  “Hidey, meet Jean, and Jean, the guy who just almost knocked you down is Howard, better known as Hidey around here.”

  Jean gave him a friendly smile.

  “How are you, it is nice to meet so many friendly people around here.”

  “Uh, happy to meet you ma’am.”

  To Hidey’s dismay, Nettie announced,

  “You were looking for a red head, is she the one Hidey?”

  He groaned in response and quickly explained,

  “I saw you in the woods.”

  He turned a bright red while Jean looked confused.

  “You see, I was fishing and you were hiking on my land. I mean….what I wanted to tell you was, that even though it is posted land, it is okay for you to hike up there whenever you like.”

  Jean kept just looking at him, now embarrassed. She had no idea she was trespassing! Oh, dear! She gave Nettie the package she had come to mail. Turning back around to Hidey, she apologized,

  “I’m sorry. I did not know the property was posted. I guess I should have asked someone before I took that trail.”

  Hidey cleared his throat.

  “Aw, feel free to use
the trails. The posting is mostly for the hunters and my grandpa put those signs up years ago, way before he passed away.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “No, it’s okay. He’s been gone a while.”

  “Well, I’m sorry anyway and thank you for permission to use your trails. I really would like to go back up before I leave.”

  He felt a stab of disappointment that she was just a visitor.

  “I can tell you are from the South, but where?”

  “Mississippi.”

  “Oh.”

  He could kick himself. She was moving toward the door. He hurried to catch it for her and asked,

  “So how long you here for? Unless you’d rather not tell me.”

  She smiled,

  “No, it’s okay. I have three more weeks before going home.”

  “I see.”

  She reached her car and as she went to open the door, he said,

  “If you go around the bend from where that trail starts, there is a farm house sitting back a ways from the road. My Granny would love the company if you have time to kill sometimes…and if you want, I could show you some even better trails than that one you took …if you want me to.”

  “Thank you. That is very nice of you.”

  She did not wait for a response, but left him standing where he was, feeling a bit foolish.

  He made a face and went back in to see if he could find out something more about the woman. Nettie was impressed for Hidey was a favorite of hers and had shown no interest in anyone since Jillian.

  “Hidey, she is here writing and will be leaving soon.”

  “She said three more weeks.”

  “She will still go home in the end. Are you interested in her?”

  He shrugged.

  “I could be.”

  Looking at him from over her glasses, she reasoned.

  “Be careful Hidey. You are my friend and I don’t want to see you get hurt… again.”

  He responded wryly,

  “If you’re talking about Jill, don’t.”

  Nettie said defiantly,

  “She was my best friend Hidey. I know how she really hurt you.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. I am just curious. There is something about her…I don’t know what, just something.”

  Someone came in and while Nettie busied herself helping the customer, Hidey slipped out the door and left. He knew Nettie meant well and she was probably the only other person who did know what really happened when he went into New York to surprise his girlfriend.

  5

  The fair was in full swing and Brenda’s cabin was continuously flowing with family and friends with Honey being the gracious host. Jacks met many people for the first time and realized that even though Honey did not have immediate family living, there was an abundance of more relatives, who came back to Neshoba County for the fair and reunion with other members of the family. He and Honey were staying at the cabin for the duration while their house in town housed another cousin from Colorado.

  Food was the major happening amongst the fair cabins and dishes, as well as recipes, were shared during this time.

  Jacks’ growing up as he did an orphan, was overwhelmed by this sort of interaction with such a large gathering of people. He slipped out on occasion just to walk around the grounds, watching as people rode rides, ate food from the venders or just having fun.

  On the third day, the fair grounds were full of activities going on and he wandered around to the livestock competition. The 4H club was in process of the judging of the year’s projects. He was enjoying the kids’ enthusiasm as they anticipated receiving ribbons of winning colors, so he slipped into a bleacher seat to wait for the results. Almost immediately, another man sat next to him with only a nod for a greeting and Jacks gave him a friendly nod back. He did not notice the man left until a younger person asked about the seat next to him.

  “There was someone, but I think he must have left.”

  “Thanks. Is this yours?”

  Jacks frowned as he looked at a small box the kid picked up in order to sit down. He started to say no, when his eyes fell to a marking on the package. He reached and took it, as his face paled for it was one he recognized. One that someone knew he would know and he was sure where it had come from. Sitting for a few minutes before getting up, he realized the previous man had left it for him. Glancing around to see if there was anyone watching he got up and left.

  His insides were shaking as he maneuvered his way back to the cabin through the throngs of people, all the while searching to see if he could spot the man who had left the package. It was useless, for he was most likely long gone.

  Returning to the cabin, he found it filled with people and lots of laughing and joking going on, so it was easy to disappear to the bedroom he and Honey were occupying. With the door closed and securely locked, he sat on the edge of the bed with the box, both anxious and hesitant to open it. Do I really want to do this? He asked himself. If I do, am I ready for what it may be? What if this is just another trick to lure me back to him? If I do not open it and it is true about my mother, then I will be responsible for whatever happens to her… Jacks, you have to do this. Remember, you are not alone, you belong to a great family, and God is your Father. He still could not bring himself to open it and it dawned on him that Honey should be with him when he did. He shoved the package underneath the pillow and decisively went to the door. What if it is a danger to her? I should protect her! He turned and started back to retrieve the thing but just as he was about to pull it out, his voice of reason within him warned. She is your wife, your partner in all things and to keep this from her could cause a separation of your oneness. You have to wait for her. Again, he went to the door and this time with purpose, he opened it and went in search of Honey.

  It was Friday and there were more people in and out than before. By bedtime, he still had not had a moment alone with Honey. When they were both finally in the room for the night, he retrieved the package from under the pillow and turning a grave face to her, said bluntly,

  “This is what we have been waiting for. A stranger gave it to me today or at least he left it for me to find. I have not opened it.”

  Honey stared at the small brown paper wrapped package with interest tinged with dread before taking it from his hands. There was nothing on it except for a red mark she recognized as the same marking as his birthmark. She sat down beside him on the bed where he sat and handed it back to him.

  “You should open it.”

  “I wanted to be with you when I did.”

  “I am glad you waited. You should not be alone when you see what is in it.”

  “What if I wished I hadn’t?”

  “What if you don’t and wished you had? Jacks, I know how important it is for you to finally know the truth. We know what Asa is capable of so we will not fall for his tricks this time. Open it!”

  Jacks tore the paper off the box and slowly lifted the lid. There was a piece of paper and Honey reached to take it out. Honey gasped in horror but quickly calmed seeing that Jacks face was stark white. There was a portion of someone’s pinky finger still moist with blood.

  “What in the world?”

  Jacks exclaimed as he replaced the lid and pushed the box to the rear of the chest. He then reached for the paper Honey threw down when she saw that it was splattered with blood. It was small and the words were typed. He read aloud,

  “Lips of red and hair like coal, who could be this lovely soul?”

  Looking up at her husband, she whispered,

  “What does this mean?”

  He turned the paper over but there was nothing else.

  “Why does he torment me so?”

  Jacks put his head down with his hands covering his face. Honey put her arm around him. She knew his strengths were many and his one weakness was his family…or lack of one.

  “Jacks, it will be okay, I think he intends for us to use this to do a DNA.
I know someone who works in a lab who we can trust to do it and then if it is a match with your own, we can go from there. It could be another one of his lies. Just remember, he had you believing you were his grandson before, so we cannot let him manipulate us again!”

  She got up going to where he had put the box and put it out of sight in the bureau and sitting back down next to her husband, she wrapped her arms around him in an attempt to comfort him. Listening as he mocked himself.

  “All my life I wished for a mother and father like normal kids. Now, I would rather she be dead than to be under his control. Is that such a horrible, unchristian thing to feel?”

  “No.”

  Honey whispered back, full of compassion for the little boy who never knew mother or father.

  “No, I think it is a very understandable feeling…we will get through this I promise, together and with God.”

  “How long will it take for you to get lab results back? If this is a match and my mother is still out there, we have to find her, Honey. All my life I have expected her to be the one to find me. You know, I must have dreamed a thousand different scenarios of how that would happen.”

  Jacks was calmer by the time they got into bed but sleep eluded them both until the early morning when talked out, they both fell into a restless sleep. Jacks’ dreaming of Asa’s face before him, as it was in the beginning of their relationship. He was motioning for Jacks to jump from a cliff, his beguiling voice proclaiming that if he did, he would discover he could surely fly. Honey dreamed of angels but one in particular. He said his name was Ragas and she felt the warmth of his safe presence.

  Like a cloud of billowing brown smoke, surrounding the little fair cabin and the grounds around it, were demonic entities causing as much havoc as they could manage, which were great considering that prayers were few and thus their restrictions low. It was exactly the kind of conditions they loved to work in. While most people came with good intentions of having good family fun during the fair, there were always the ones who came with alcohol and drugs, causing more than one fight and illicit sex of every sort abounded.