Chapter 3
"No, oh Barnabas, no!" she gasped, then saw the look on Carolyn's face.
"What can we do, he's pure evil!" she choked.
"Fortunately, since his coming isn't a surprise, we can prepare for his and Angelique's appearance. I can also take precautions against any mind tricks he tries." her cousin added.
"Barnabas, if this Blair's as bad as you say, I'm sorry, I want to take Laurie home." Rick interrupted, then frowned as she shook her head.
"No, Rick, that's not going to help. Blair's a, a warlock. He could come after me anyplace. I'd rather stay and fight, darling. And I think I know of something that could help!" she said excitedly.
The next morning Rick woke to the smell of coffee. Turning on his side he could swear the scent was coming from right next to him.
Without opening his eyes, he murmured, "if my angel got out of bed to get me a cup of coffee, I'll kiss her."
He felt a feather-light kiss on his lips. "I did and I'm going to take that kiss."
Opening his eyes, he saw Laurie leaning over him, and feelings overwhelmed him.
Lifting his arms to her, he drew his wife into an embrace. "Mmmm, that's worth getting out of this nice warm bed anytime." she whispered, then giggled as he nuzzled her throat and neck. "Darling, that tickles!"
"It does, hmmm, what about this?" Rick kissed her shoulder, then under her chin, then her nose, then engaged her lips until they had to break apart for air.
"And all I had to do was bring you a cup of coffee", she sighed, snuggling against her husband.
Abruptly a soft knock on the door announced breakfast, and reluctantly Rick sat up, then taking Laurie's face in his hands, softly told her, "Everything's going to be all right, but just in case, I'm going to book us a flight home tomorrow, no arguing."
"Yes, Rick, no arguing." she agreed, then smiled again into his eyes. "I love you, darling, nothing will ever take that away from me."
"I love you too, and no one ever will destroy how I feel, Laurie." he assured her, then released her so they could get dressed.
As the clock struck ten, the small group of Collins family members focused on the family attorney, Charles Dawson, who had all the paperwork ready to go over.
Clearing his throat, he smiled at Barnabas, then said, "As the attorney for Cassandra Collins is not present, I'll go ahead and get on with the reading of your cousin's will, Barnabas."
"By all means, Mr. Dawson, go right ahead." an eerily familiar voice sounded from the doorway.
Startled, Rick turned to see a blonde woman walk in, dressed in black designer clothes.
"And you are?" Mr. Dawson said, stiffly.
"Mrs. Cassandra Collins, the widow of Mr. Roger Collins." Rick stared, then felt a squeeze on his hand and glanced over at Laurie.
Realizing his wife was angrily looking at the woman, he realized this was the witch who had ruined and taken lives so long ago. "Mrs. Collins, I'm glad you finally came, we've had some papers we've wanted to give to you for some time now."
Smiling like a Cheshire Cat, she glided up to the attorney's desk, then held out her hand.
"I'm ready, Mr. Dawson." she turned and smirked at Barnabas.
"Here you are." the attorney said, then handed her a small stack of paper.
As she took the papers, Mr. Dawson stood up and said, "Mrs. Collins, if you wish to take a look at those papers, you'll find they're all in order."
"In order for what, Mr. Dawson?" Angelique looked puzzled, then her eyes darkened. "This is a what!" She yelled.
"A copy of the no-fault divorce degree that Mr. Collins executed 17 years ago, plus a restraining order filed that year with a non-expiration clause. You are to keep 100 feet from the grounds of Collinwood, as well as any member of the Collins family, their spouses, friends, children and vehicles." the attorney told her, almost gleefully. "Excuse me, I need to make a phone call." Dawson excused himself hurriedly.
"But this is insane, you can't expect me to ..." Angelique sputtered, then shrunk back as Barnabas stepped forward, holding the beaten silver cross in his hand.
"You are in violation of the restraining order now, Angelique. I suggest you vacate the premises now. Oh, and tell your friend Blair he's included in the legal order, under some of his aliases" he ordered.
"Barnabas, please, I didn't mean anything, please." the witch switched tactics, backing away and becoming the helpless widow.
"Too late, Angelique, now go!" Barnabas ordered, standing in front of Carolyn and David just in case.
"I'll go, Barnabas, but don't think you have seen the last of me yet!" the woman snarled, dropping all pretense. Turning toward Laurie and Rick, she grated, "This is all your fault, Laurie Simon, you took him away from me and you will pay."
Suddenly she was gone, and Rick shook his head. "Good work, Barnabas, that was a great idea in filing that paperwork." He looked at Laurie's face and saw fear in her eyes. "Laurie, please, it's all right, she's not coming back." he told her, putting his arm around her.
Taking a deep breath, Laurie looked at Rick, then nodded. "I'm all right, if you and Barnabas hadn't brought that cross... it must be very powerful."
"It is, Laurie." Barnabas held it out to Rick, wrapped up again in the same old cloth.
Rick put it in Laurie's briefcase, then everyone sat down as Mr. Dawson came back into the room.
"All clear, Barnabas?" he asked nervously. "Yes, Charles, sorry about her behavior. won't be back again." the older man assured him.
'Thank you for warning me. Now, let me continue with the reading of Mr. Collins will." the attorney replied, relieved.
Putting on his glasses, he read the legal opening, then came to the bequests.
"To my beloved son, David, no father could ever have been prouder of the man you have become. To you I leave half my shares in the Collins Shipping Company, the ownership of the buildings on Front Street, and the balances owed on your accounting business. I also leave my half of the value of Collinwood, with the hope that you and Carolyn will continue to make it your home. I also leave you my personal effects, with the provision that what items you do not wish to keep be donated to charity.
Finally, I leave you the sum of $100,000, to be paid out in $20,000 increments for the next five years. God Bless you my boy, I will always love you."
David put his head down, wiping tears from his eyes, then looked at Carolyn.
"I never heard him say that, I knew he cared, but, I guess I didn't know how much."
Carolyn put her arms around him, "He loved you very much, David. He wasn't able to always say it, but you know he did."
After a moment, Mr. Dawson continued, "To my beloved niece, Carolyn. No daughter could ever have taken care of her mother or I better then you have. As your mother already left you her half of the business and Collinwood, what I want to leave you is the freedom to continue your education. Mr. Dawson has in trust for you a $40,000 scholarship to the college of your choice, with the hope that you will find happiness in your chosen field. Also, I leave the sum of $50,000, and my gratitude for being David's friend as well as cousin. I love you very much, Kitten."
Carolyn turned to Laurie, and burst into tears. "I was okay until, oh Laurie he was so good to me. Even when I was a teenager, he did try to understand."
Laurie comforted her cousin, "He always did, Carolyn, always. Uncle Roger used to put on that grumpy act, but when you were sick or upset, it was like he hurting too."
"I know." Carolyn took a Kleenex from David, who put his arm around her shoulder.
Barnabas looked at the two cousins, then quietly said, "Roger knew what he was doing when he insisted you two should be together. He realized long ago you would always take care of each other."
"Thank you, Barnabas." Carolyn told him, then fell silent, realizing the attorney was waiting on them.
"To our Cousin Barnabas, who has taken on the responsibility to caring for this family, my grateful thanks. You have protected and watched over us all these many years, sometimes sacrificing your own needs.
To you I leave the other half of the shares of the Collins Shipping business, with the hope that David and Carolyn will listen to your wise counsel. Also, I leave the title to the land along the cliffs east of Collinwood, with the hope it will always be left in its natural state. To this end and for the possible defense of this ideal, I leave the sum of $50,000."
Barnabas shook his head, "Mr. Dawson, I witnessed this will specifically as I was not a beneficiary."
"Barnabas, Roger told me he wanted you to witness it, but he reserved the right to add this bequest. He told me you might object, but that you were to accept it as his gift to you, for your friendship and care of the loved ones in your care." Mr. Dawson took off his glasses and polished them, as Barnabas cleared his throat, moved.
Laurie reached out her hand and squeezed his shoulder, and Barnabas put his hand on hers in gratitude.
"Finally," the attorney concluded, "To my great-niece, Laurie Collins Scott Simon. She may not have been raised a Collins, but she has lived her life and treated others with the dignity and honor of her family name. For the love she has shared with me in the twilight of my life, I will be forever grateful. I hung on as long as I could, my dear."
Laurie put her hand over her mouth, realizing he had understood the message Barnabas had relayed to him. Tears rolled down her cheeks as Mr. Dawson added, "I leave the miniature of my sister, Margaret, her grandmother, as well as my controlling interests in Fairhaven Farm."
Startled, Laurie looked at Carolyn. "Fairhaven? That's where Rick and I get our horses to raise,...oh."
Rick shook his head, bemused. "Darlin', you always wondered why they refused to charge full price or shipping!" He pulled Laurie to him, then used his handkerchief to dry her tears.
Almost whispering, Laurie said, "He wanted to make sure we could make it, Rick, oh bless him."
To their surprise, the attorney continued, "Also, to her husband, Richard Simon, I leave my gratitude for his continuous love and care of his wife. Also, my silver revolver, and the sum of $10,000, so he can bring Laurie and their family to visit anytime."
Rick nearly choked, then looking at Barnabas, sputtered, "I only talked to him a few times, how did he know...?"
"He never wanted for you to worry about the cost of coming here, of course he thought he'd be here to greet you. As for his revolver, he used to ask Oscar about your work." Barnabas grinned at Rick's embarrassment.
'Darling, he loved reading detective novels, when I told Aunt Elizabeth and him about you and A.J., he thought you were like a Sam Spade." Laurie smiled at the memory.
At that, Mr. Dawson stood up. "I will be forwarding all of you the necessary paperwork, and Barnabas, thank you for taking care of, um, Mrs. Collins."
They each thanked the attorney, who clearly was glad to be done with this appointment.
As they left the attorney's office, Rick spotted the local diner. "I don't know about you, but I could use some lunch. My treat." Carolyn started to protest, then David intervened.
"I won't turn it down, besides Rick's never had genuine heartburn chili!"
Later, Rick sat in the library, holding his stomach, while David hovered with some antacid.
"I told you, Rick. I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but two bowls?"
Rick tried to be mad, but he ended up grinning at the young cousin. "David, you're the one who kept offering me seconds. It was good though."
Just then Carolyn came in with some milk. "Here Rick. Laurie said it helped after the last time you had diner chili."
"Thanks, Carolyn." Rick took the glass from her, then saw she had some flowers in her hand. "Maybe I should go with you and Laurie, I mean...."
"It's okay, Rick, I don't think Angelique will be around Mother's grave, she wouldn't dare. We'll be right back." she answered, then smiled as Laurie came in and planted a kiss on her husband, then her cousin. "You guys behave, no swinging from the chandelier."
Rick laughed as David looked at her, puzzled. As the two women left, he elbowed him.
"She's means no wild stuff, it's something my mom used to tell my brother and I when she'd go out to the store."
David got it, then chuckled. "And did you?"
"What do you think? Of course; A.J. and I had more fun and got into more trouble!"
As Rick launched into a story, Laurie and Carolyn walked down the path to the family mausoleum, then Carolyn unlatched the gate. As they walked in, Laurie felt the sting of tears as she saw the two gravesites. Standing in front of them, she and her cousin laid the bouquets first on her Aunt Elizabeth's, then Uncle Roger's.
"Mother, Uncle Roger, Laurie's here." Carolyn spoke as if knowing they were listening. Laurie put her arm around her, then added. "I told you I'd be back, I'm sorry it took so long. Aunt Elizabeth," Laurie tried not to break down. "Aunt Elizabeth, thank you for being there for me all those years. I'm proud to carry your name, and I'll always be there for Carolyn, and David and Barnabas." Carolyn kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Laurie, I know you will."
"Uncle Roger, I can't believe you helped us all those years. Thank you for being our angel when times got rough. I love you, and Rick was so surprised that you remembered him like that. Thank you for him and for me." Laurie told him.
Standing and saying a prayer, Carolyn and Laurie wiped away tears, then Carolyn went to let them out. Surprisingly, the gate wouldn't open.
"Darn it, I'll have to have David put some oil on this latch, it's sticking." Carolyn groaned, then yanking at the door, found that it wouldn't move.
"Here, I'll help." Laurie tried to wiggle the latch, then climbing up, looked to see the latch was stuck solid. "That's weird. Carolyn, it looks as if it was welded shut, there's no gap."
"Oh, great, what are we going to do?" Carolyn was frustrated and sat down on the stone bench next to the door.
"Let me call Rick, I've got my transmitter with me." Laurie turned on her watch, then a sinister voice froze her.
"I'll take that, Mrs. Simon." A man came toward them out of the shadows, and Carolyn cried "No!"