Hello, Dustin said. The man wore denim overalls and a plaid flannel shirt. His face showed deep grooves of a life gone past.
The man nodded to him. You the cop? he asked.
Agent, now, Dustin replied. He shifted his bag onto his shoulder and came forward to shake the old mans hand. Dustin Blake, sir. How do you do?
The man took his hand in a surprisingly strong grip. Jeremy Myersbut they call me Coot. Welcome. You dont look like someone who needs much help.
We all need help, Dustin said.
That brought a slight smile to Coots lips. Burned out on the job? Or did you go wacko and beat up on some piece of scum that deserved it? Young man, thats the thing today. No respect. Kids spit in teachers faces and the poor teachers cant do a thinglessn it gets called child abuse. So, you did your job too well?
Dustin grinned. Something like that.
No need to explain to me. Youll have plenty of time to talk. Hell, all people round here want you to do is talk. Dont let me keep you, though. That bag must be heavy.
Nice to meet you, Coot, Dustin said.
Just open the door and go on in. The main house is open until sunset, and after that youll need your key.
Thanks. Dustin went in. It might have been any bed-and-breakfast in any rural section of the South. The entry led to a bright, cheerful parlor with the check-in desk being a bar, behind which was an equally bright and cheerful kitchen. He walked up and the young woman at the desk smiled.
You must be Agent Blake, she said.
You must be Agent Blake, she said.
I am.
Hi, Im Ellie Villiers. And youre wondering how I knew who you are. Well, we dont take in that many guests and we dont take anyone without a reservation, she explained. She was on a wheeled chair and she swung down to the end of the bar, where she plucked a set of keys off the wall. We have you in the Andrew Jackson suite. She was a gamine of a young woman, tiny with short dark hair and a perky manner. She gave him a warm smile as she rolled back to him and leaned close. Its not much of a suite, really. Its just a big rooma ballroom in the old days. But it has the only private bath in the house and a door to the back porch. Were careful who we give it to. Not that we have strict rules or regulations, but we do cater to those fighting their own demons, whether they come from a booze bottle, a pill bottle, stress, what have you. She smiled at him. You sound pretty cool. I heard that the bosses at the bureau think you need some downtime, thats all.
Talking about me, huh? he teased.
She shrugged. This is rural Tennessee, Agent Blake. All weve got to do around here is talk. Oh, thats not really true. Theres a gorgeous stream and cliffs and historic trails. Youll love it out here. But waityoure from Nashville, right?
Born in the heart of the city, he told her.
Well, then you kind of know the area? I mean, you must have driven out of the city now and then. Of course, some people just get on the highway and keep going. They miss out on all this beauty, and so close to the city, too. Sad, although I guess thats just the way life is.
He laughed at her philosophy. Sad, but true. And my first name is Dustin, okay?
Sure, thanks, Dustin. So the one key opens the main door in front. We try to remember to lock it at sunset. The other is to your room, which is just down the hall and to the left. Theres a continental breakfast every morning from six to nine. Its right behind me in the dining room. If you need anything, give me a holler.
I will, and thank you, Ellie. He started to turn away, but then paused. Hey, are there any hack ranches around here?
She seemed surprised by the question. Why would you want to go to a hack ranch when youre going to the Horse Farm? They dont do trail rides, but youll be working with horses, so None of my business! Sorry, the question just surprised me.
I used to come to this area when I was a kid. My folks are historians, so we did the Civil War trails around here, national parks, all that. In fact, we often did them on horseback, and I love to ride. I was just wondering...
Theres a placeHooper Ridge Stables. Just go back on that road and down a ways. Youll see a sign. Theres not much else out here besides private property, the old chapel thats just outside the national park and...and a few therapy centers and lots and lots of cows. But its too late tonight because they dont rent after five. When you want it, though, its there. Still, once youre been to the Horse Farm...
I thought most of their animals were rescues, Dustin said.
Oh, they are rescues. And if theyre old or hurt, they dont do much, just get fawned over by the staff and the patients. Clients. Whatever. But when theyre healthy, well, at the Horse Farm they become really healthy and theyre beautifully trained. She swung the chair closer to the counter. In fact, the ownerMarcus Danbyused to go by the local farms, and the owners all knew that if they had a broken-down horse or they brought in a wild one or a kicker, they could sell it to Marcus. Saved a lot of the poor bastards that way. I wonder whatll happen now that hes gone.
Whod he leave it to? Did Marcus have any family?
Her eyes became very wide and she shook her head. No. The only reason Marcus inherited the property was the fact that he was the very last member of his family. I mean, when he was a kidway before I was bornhe was a total black sheep. Then he straightened out, and I dont know if he made peace with his people, but...he was the last.
So who inherits his property? Dustin asked again.
Ellie shrugged dramatically. I guess Aaron. Aarons managed the place for him for a long time. Hes a good guy. But who knows if hell be as good as Marcus. Although...
Although?
She couldnt have gotten any closer to him, not with the counter between them. But she tried.
Theres a rumor out that he died with drugs in his system, she said, dropping her voice. Marcus, I mean, not Aaron. Can you imagine that? Founding a therapy center and then biting the dust because after decades you suddenly decide to shoot up again? she asked, sounding incredulous. Gossip, he realized, was delicious to Ellie. But then, she probably searched for any excitement out here. He lowered his head and smiled. They werent at the ends of the earth. Nashville was only twenty miles away. But he knew that people from the country usually stayed in the country.
No matter how the man died, he apparently did a lot of good before his death, he said.
He did. He helped so many people....
Dustin picked up his keys and finally turned to leave. Thanks, Ellie.
Oh! If youre hungry, the café down the road is open until nine or ten, depending on whether they have people in there. The foods actually really great. The best corn bread.
Nothing like it.
And the cheese grits are to die for.
Another important factor, he agreed. Thanks for the suggestion.
Pleasure. Make yourself at home. Old Miss Patterson is in one of the bedrooms upstairs and Carolyn Martins up there, too, along with Cootyou met him outside? Dustin nodded. He likes to come for the winter. He lives in the hills but hes a smart old bastardknows hes too old to plow snow and manage up there once the cold hits. Oh, I forgot to mention. The living area here is for everyone and theres a room back of the dining area with games and stuff.
With a nod of thanks, he headed over to his room. Setting his bag down, he took out his computer and Wi-Fi connector. There was a lot he wanted to look up, background he hadnt gotten to yet. But neither had he stopped in the city to eat; it might not be a bad idea to check out the local diner and the clienteleespecially since he was hungry.
First, though, he called Olivia Gordon, Malachis cousin, to explain who he really was and what he was doing there. She evidently knew that an agent was coming in; she couldnt have missed that fact, since he was scheduled to start at the Horse Farm the following day.
She didnt answer. Hed try her again in the morningor maybe hed just show up. Either way, he didnt want to leave a message. Messages were recorded, and in his life, recordings could come back to bite you. But he also assumed that Malachis cousin was an intelligent young woman. She knew he was coming, so shed figure it out.
Examining his room, he discovered that he probably did have the best. His bathroom was nice and large with way more closet space than he needed, and his key worked on the back door, as well. It led to the rear porch area; if he ever needed to, he could exit without being seen.
He left his room, carefully locking the door behind him. He did it out of instinct, not because he suspected anyone wanted to go through his belongings. But you never knew.
He left his room, carefully locking the door behind him. He did it out of instinct, not because he suspected anyone wanted to go through his belongings. But you never knew.
He waved to Ellie as he left, and also waved at Coot, still rocking on the front porch, as he walked out to his car.
The café was even closer than hed realized from Ellies directions; it was just down the road. It was a true diner, converted from a pair of old connected freight cars. The tables were small but neat and clean, and his waitress, a heavyset woman named Delilah, was warm and friendly. The place was empty when he entered, but as she took his orderthe daily special of pot roast, with a side of grits, okra and a serving of corn breadthe door opened and four young men walked in, followed by an older man. The boys were joking; the older man looked weary.
The boys from Parsonage House, Delilah murmured to him, nodding.
Parsonage House? he asked politely.
Its a center for wayward boys. At least thats what we used to call them. Addictsand other kids whove gotten into some minor trouble. None of them are hardened criminals. The Parsonage runs a program for them, and they offer all kinds of therapy. Including horse therapy. She paused, wagging her head. We have a famous facility for that, you know. When he murmured that hed heard of it, she continued. The Parsonage has a good success ratealthough some people around here arent so fond of having it in the neighborhood. But me, I like the boys. They come in every few nights, after their N.A. meeting at the old chapel, Delilah told him. Some of themwell, quite a few of them, actuallymake it. Some of them, though, they come back, and they come backand then we hear theyre up at the state prison or theyve wrapped themselves around a tree off the highway. Drew, over there, he works for the Horse Farm. This is a sideline for him. Guess he likes the company of people now and then, seeing how most of the time hes with critters.