Gladstone 2,Missing in Denver

Gladstone 2: Missing in Denver

by

John Miller

copyright John Anthony Miller 2013

Smashwords Edition

Gladstone 2: Missing in Denver

copyright 2013 John Anthony Miller Smashwords Edition

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. Exception is made for short excerpts used in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to persons living or dead is coincidental.

Cover Design by Mary C. Findley

Cover Image credits: Image of woman from 1Photos.com. Wikimedia Commons, background glowing sunset image from Kozzi.com.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following friends for their participation in the writing of this book. Without their support and help this book could not have become a reality. Angie Morgan, Brian and Cathy Giles, David Argo, Gerald Britt, Jimmy and Lisa Smith, Julie Arnott, Ken and Angie Hall , Kimberly Hudson, Mary Findley, Michael and Debbie Fetty, Renee Parton, Ron Reeves, Shawn Scott, Sonia Montini , Stefan and Uta Bresler, Stewart Bint, Walter Miller, William Hosky, and, last but not least, MOM.

Part One

Bullets flew all around Jack’s head as he lay on the ground. He looked to his right and saw Sheriff Reeves slumped over the wagon. Shawn lay on his back at the other end. Stewart lay next to him, dead, blood covering his body. To his left Kimberly was down also, her body in a twisted position. He saw Susan still trying to fight off John Smith’s men all by herself. Jack tried to stand and fight but he had been shot and could scarcely move. As if he were in a movie, the sounds of the bullets stopped. He heard a single gunshot that echoed through the canyon and seemed to last forever. Then the bullet hit Susan in the chest. He saw the bloodstain spread over her shirt. She fell down on her back.

Jack screamed, "NOOOOO," and started crawling over to her. Susan turned her head to Jack and smiled at him. Jack slowly crawled over to where she lay but it seemed to take forever. All the while he kept his eyes on her as he crawled. Susan just lay there beaming at Jack as he made his way to her. Jack reached Susan and he pulled her tight against him.

She stretched a hand up and touched Jack’s cheek. It’s okay, Jack. The spirits will find me.

Susan! SUSAN! Jack sat straight up in bed. He brushed his forehead and the sweat dripped from his hand. Shit, another bad dream. He lay back down and gazed at the dark ceiling, thinking about Susan and the nightmare he just had. He listened, worried he might have awakened Julie, his landlady, with his cries for Susan. There were no sounds of movement in the house. It had been over a week now since the gun battle with Haskell Crane and John Smith. The nightmares started only a few days ago and Jack couldn’t understand why he was having them now. Jack twisted his shoulder in a roundabout movement and grimaced from the pain when he moved it behind his head. His wound was healing fine and there should not be any complications from it later on.

Jack got out of bed softly so as to not wake Julie. He put his clothes on, picked up his cowboy boots, and slowly opened the door. He walked down the dark hallway. Halfway down the stairs he saw a shadow in the darkness at the bottom of the stairs. It was DJ, Julie’s dog, sitting there staring at him. He gently put his finger to his lips and said, "Shhhh."

DJ wagged her tail and didn’t make a sound. Jack stopped, petted DJ on the head, and went into the kitchen with DJ following him. The coffee wasn’t made yet and he didn’t want to make a lot of noise so he got a Coca-Cola out of the refrigerator.

He walked out of the kitchen and DJ followed him out the front door. Jack sat down on a bench on the front porch. He watched DJ take off for the stables. Jack opened his Coke and took a swig. It was still dark outside. Jack sat there in silence and thought about the events of the past week. He had learned that the SUVs that John Smith and his men had arrived in had been parked about two miles east of where the gun battle had taken place. Three of the SUVs had C-4 in the cargo area and the fourth vehicle had the detonators. Sheriff Reeves asked Jack what should be done with the explosives. Jack thought it would be a good idea to keep the C-4 and any weapons that were in working order in case of an emergency later on. So they had stored the explosives in a shed behind Gerald’s garage and the detonators were in a safe in Kim’s gun shop.

Nine automatic weapons were still in functioning order and Kim had them and the ammunition stored at her gun shop for safekeeping. The sniper rifles had never been used and she had three of them stored there along with the ammunition. Sheriff Reeves and Susan had each retained a rifle to learn to shoot them because they were so different from their Winchesters. Susan mainly wanted the sniper rifle because she liked the way it looked. She called it a fancy rifle and also liked having a scope on it. Jack had also found out what they had done with the bodies of Haskell Crane, John Smith, and their men. They dug four twenty-foot deep holes, placed the men’s bodies in the SUVs and buried them together in the large, makeshift graves. They poured concrete in the holes over top of the vehicles and then replaced the desert dirt. They buried them about a mile east of the grassy field, where the grass ended and the desert started. Even though these men had tried to kill everyone in the town, they held no malice. Pastor Fetty held a small service and said some words over them

They didn’t leave any markers for the four tombs and just left the men to rest in peace. Jack also learned they had repaired the road that he had blown up with the dynamite. Jack had broken up some of the cracks in the concrete and placed the dynamite under the loose pieces as a trap for Haskell. He had also planted dynamite on the shoulder and some in the desert dirt alongside the road. Stefan, Brian, and Shawn dug up a twenty-foot section and with the equipment they used from the third warehouse, they had the road repaired in two days, and also made minor repairs farther east.

The sun was just starting to rise and Jack took another sip of his cola. He looked to his left and saw Wilma the coyote coming around the house. She stopped halfway up the front porch steps, looking up at Jack. He gave her a smile and scooted over on the bench, patting it. Wilma walked over to Jack and jumped up, then lay down beside him. She laid her head in Jack’s lap and he stroked her head. He sat there petting Wilma and thinking about what he was going to do today.

Jack had also learned how Susan got her name. Her real name was Suuzanwakania, which in her language meant beautiful warrior. Her people were called the Sannahowia, and since they had lost the war with a neighboring Indian tribe there were no other survivors. Except for Susan there were no traces of the culture here and no records of them ever existing out west. The townspeople shortened her name to Susan because they had a hard time pronouncing her real name.

She liked the name Susan and had told everyone that it was natural to get a new name when becoming part of a new tribe so it made her happy. Jack had only been up and around the last few days and spent some time with Susan at the stables, watching her groom horses and play with Diamond the rattlesnake. He was still not fond of Diamond but he endured it for Susan’s sake.

Wilma raised her head and turned to the right, looking out across the porch. Jack heard the sound of jingling in the distance. The sound got louder and he spotted Sheriff Reeves riding toward Julie’s house. Sheriff Reeves rode over to the side of porch where Jack sat.

‘Morning, Jack; Miss Wilma. Wilma responded with a wag of her tail. You two are up early this morning.

I couldn’t sleep, Sheriff. So I came out here to enjoy the morning.

Nothing wrong with enjoying the morning with a friend, now, replied Reeves.

No, sir. I think Wilma here has taken a shine to me. Wilma wagged her tail at Jack’s comment and laid her head back down in his lap.

Sheriff Reeves reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He leaned over to Jack and handed them to him. Gerald fixed your car for you. He changed the oil and gave it a complete once-over. He parked it out on Main Street with the other cars.

Jack looked at the keys and then put them in his pocket. I will have to go by there later on and pay him for his time.

Nonsense, Jack, you don’t owe him anything. The town thanks you for helping us out with Haskell and his men. He was glad to do it for you. If anything, we owe you.

Jack stared blankly at Sheriff Reeves. I didn’t do anything that special, Sheriff.

In any case, we are in your debt, son. Jack’s blank expression shifted over to a smile. So, Jack, are you going over to the stables and see Susan today?

Most likely I will be. I do want to stop at Walter’s this morning and ask him about a cell phone. My phone doesn’t work here in the canyon and I miss talking to some of my friends in Denver.

Sheriff Reeves stared at Jack for a moment.

Don’t worry, Sheriff; the town secret is safe with me.

I’m not worried about you, Jack. I know you can keep a secret. It’s outsiders that we don’t trust.

The front door squeaked open and Julie came out on the porch. I thought I heard voices out here. ’Morning, Ron; Jack. And hello to you, Wilma.

Good morning to you, Julie, said Jack. Sheriff Reeves tipped his hat and Wilma turned her head and gave a quiet howl. I hope you don’t mind. DJ was up this morning and when I came outside she took off out the door and around the house.

That’s okay, Jack, I know where she went. She is over at the stables with the other coyotes. DJ thinks she is a member of the pack, bless her heart. You men want some coffee this morning? It should be ready in a minute.

That sounds good, replied Reeves. Jack motioned for Wilma to sit up and she sat up on the end of the bench. Let me go in and get it. I need to start moving around more. Jack stood and walked past Julie into the house. Julie looked around the screen door, made sure Jack was inside the house and out of earshot, and moved closer to Sheriff Reeves.

Ron, I’m worried about Jack.

What seems to be the problem with him?

Julie’s voice went almost to a whisper. He is having nightmares. I can hear him screaming out Susan’s name in the middle of the night. When I go make his bed in the morning the sheets are soaking wet with sweat. I feel bad for him. I knew he was out here because he wakes me up. I just don’t want him to know I can hear him.

Sheriff Reeves thought a minute before he spoke. The boy has been through a traumatic experience, Julie. He just needs some time. But I will ask Michael to check on him just in case we’re wrong.

Yes, please do, Ron. I am quite fond of that young man. Julie took a few steps back from the sheriff.

Jack came back out onto the porch juggling three cups of coffee. He had two cups in his left hand and the third cup in his right hand. He handed the cup of coffee in his right to Julie. Her face went pale as she watched Jack’s right hand shake while he handed her the coffee cup. Sheriff Reeves saw this and shot a concerned glance at Julie.

Julie took the coffee cup from Jack. Thank you, Jack.

Jack walked over to the sheriff and handed him a coffee cup. Jack’s left hand didn’t shake like his right hand did. Much obliged, Jack. Jack sat back down on the bench next to Wilma and sipped his coffee.

So, Jack, what are your plans for the day? asked Julie.

Like I told the sheriff, I’m going to see Walter about a phone so I can call my friends in Denver; catch up on what’s been going on there and check on my printing press.

"That sounds