Across the valley, the phone rang as Abby finished serving lunch and Ron picked it up. "Johnson Consulting."
"Oh, hi, Robbie. How's it going?" Rick's ears pricked up, and he grinned as Ron made a face at him.
"Yes, that rascal dad of yours is here, hang on."
Pretending to swipe the phone from him, Rick took the receiver in hand. "Hey, Robbie, the report's ready, come on by and have some lunch first."
"I'll have to take a rain check, literally, Pop. We just got a report of some landslides in the hills back of the ranch. Rob says the Chief was with some geologists from the University this morning when the top of Eagle Point just crumbled." His son explained.
"Was anyone hurt, son?" Rick held his breath, then sighed with relief as Robbie added, "No, Pop, but the caves around Eagle Point could collapse at any second. Mom was going to take Robin up there today to show her where her Great-great Grandmother played as a child. I called the house, but no one's answering."
"I'm going to try your mother, Robbie. Hang on a moment." Rick handed the phone to Abby, then switched on his transmitter.
"Laurie, sweetheart, can you hear me?"
A beeping noise let him know someone was trying to call him, and he put his watch on receive. Suddenly he realized Robin's voice was coming through the static, and he turned up the volume.
"Did you reach the girls, Rick?" Abby was relaying Robbie's question.
"No, Abby. We'd better get out there, something's happened to them." He replied, a cold sensation in his stomach.
"Mama!" Laurie heard her daughter's panic-stricken voice.
"Robin, are you all right?" Laurie coughed, then saw through the faint light that the cave was now sealed in, except for an opening the size of her face.
"Yes, I got out of the way. I'm under the overhang. But. I can't see you. Where are you?" Robin wheezed, the cloud of dust and dirt starting to dissipate in the rain..
"I'm in the cave still. The entrance is blocked in, but I'm okay." Laurie managed to keep her voice steady, despite her rising fear. A wet tongue across her cheek reminded her she was still holding Rex, and she petted him gently.
"Robin, I'm going to hand you Rex, then I'm going to try moving some of these rocks so I can get out." She explained, then ran her hand carefully around the small hole in the rocks, loosening and pulling out bits of shale and rock.
Dropping a kiss on his head, Laurie told Rex, "Just hold still, baby, go to Robin." She put him through the opening and Robin took him from her hands.
"Good dog. Such a good Rex." Her daughter calmed the wriggling dog, then stuck her hand toward her mother. "Mama, hand me your watch, let me see if I can't signal Pop."
Laurie managed a smile. "Good thinking, honey. You should get better reception there."
Unfastening her transmitter, she passed it through to Robin's grasp, then resumed pulling at the rocks around the hole until her fingers were scraped and raw.
As Robin called for Rick, Laurie shone her light around the now rubble filled cave, seeing faint patches of daylight reflecting off the walls. It told her that the roof of the cavern was cracked and unstable, she had to get out of there. Just then Robin came back to the opening. "Mama, I think he heard me, but there's so much static."
Laurie could hear the pain in her daughter's voice. "Honey, go ahead and rest for a moment. Is there someplace you can sit that's out of the rain?"
"Yes, Mama, right here." Laurie watched her thru the hole in the rocks as Robin slowly lowered herself down. A vivid flash of lightening went off, and Laurie held her breath, terrified that the electrical jolt might cause more rocks to loosen and fall. For the umpteenth time she wished she wasn't so scared of electrical storms.
"Boom!" Another loud clap of thunder exploded above them. Robin let out a frightened cry, then Laurie reached out her hand through the opening. "Robin, it's going to be okay. Here, take my hand."
Laurie felt her daughter's trembling fingers in hers. "That's my baby. We'll wait a couple of minutes then try your father or Robbie again." She squeezed Robin's hand and then heard a whispered "Thank you Mama, I'm okay."
"Sweet, it's only natural to be frightened by the thunder and lightening. God knows I'm terrified of it, and your father is so patient with me. It still takes a lot of courage to handle being afraid of something like that." her mother explained.
Rex let out a bark as she shifted him onto her lap and Laurie laughed in spite of herself. "I think Rex says he doesn't like it, either."
Suddenly she had an idea. "While we wait, do you want me to tell you one of Grandmother Kasey's stories?"
"Yes, please Mama. Are there any new stories in the journals you found?"
Laurie turned on her light, then shut it off. "I'd better conserve this flashlight, Robin. We'll look at these together when we get home." She added in a confident tone.
Her daughter was silent for a moment, then asked, "You've told me about Kasey's coming to Silver Rock to work with Grandfather Gene. But, how did Kasey find out her Uncle Bob was her father? Didn't she disown her mother after that?"
"That's one of the secrets she uncovered when she came home." Laurie explained, then went into the back of the cave and pulled the rickety wooden chair to the blocked entrance. "Unfortunately Kasey's mother forced Bob Scott to go along with the charade on pain of not seeing his daughter. The day she found out what her mother had done…. well," she sat down carefully, then spoke to Robin through the small opening.
"I stared at the documents in front of me. "Last Will and Testament of Robert Grant Scott", "Dissolution of Marriage", "Land Grant Registered in the name of…".
So final. My Uncle's legacy reduced to a few legal papers and certificates.
"Miss Kasey, would you like me to start now?" Mr. Robertson's voice brought me back to the matter at hand.
"Yes, Mr. Robertson, thank you." I replied, steeling myself for the reading of my uncle's will. Gene cleared his throat next to me as Mamacita sniffed and put her hand on mine.
Miss Phyllis from the Grand Palace stood discreetly in the back of the room with our ranch hands. Chief Redfern, my father's friend was the only one not present, he was not well and his daughter Rainbird sat next to me in his place. I was thankful that they were there; they were among the few people who thought I could hold my own alongside the other deputies. As I saw the lawyer shuffling his papers, I hoped that I could handle whatever he had to say.
"I, Robert Grant Scott, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath the following to those I leave behind…".
To Sheriff Gene Adams, I leave my 45's, holsters and personal gun case, as well as the deed to the Eagle Rock land between my ranch and your property. I thank you for your friendship and honesty. Your words of wisdom have eased my mind many a troubled day. Gracias."
I looked over at my boss, and from the expression on Gene's face, Uncle Bob's bequest was a surprise. Impulsively I reached over and put my gloved hand on his.
"He always believed Silver Rock was a better town for you being here, Gene."
I think I startled him with my words, for Gene looked down for a moment, then raised his gaze to meet mine.
"It was better with men like him who believed every man had worth."
I nodded my agreement, then refocused on the lawyer's words.
As I thought, my uncle left a sum of money and share in the ranch to Mamacita, as well as smaller bequests to Slim, our foreman, Pablo, Tim and Long John, his longtime ranch hands.
A surprise was the gift left to Miss Phyllis, for "her friendship and companionship". I heard a snicker from one of the men that was quickly silenced by a look from Slim.
I turned and smiled at her, and she returned it gratefully.
"To Chief Redfern, my compadre. He has shared the bounty of his knowledge, heart and family. I leave him the land, water and mineral rights to the canyons above and below the village, as well as the sum of $1000 so that his family will never want. Till we meet again, my friend."
It was Raine's turn to take my hand, and I glanced over and met her eyes. "It will be all right." I whispered.
"Lastly, to my daughter Kasey. Kasey girl, I hope you will forgive my not telling you the truth, but it was the only way your mother would allow me to be in your life. The past twenty-two years have held one joy, the times I have been able to have you with me.
I am so proud that you will be able to help bring justice to this growing land. I leave you all my holdings and estate, including the majority interest in the Double S, the land and house, as well as the rights to Lost Valley. Also, the sum of $10,000 which has been held in trust for you, and all my love."
"My daughter."
Those words reverberated in my ears. Uncle Bob was my father? I should have known, he had been a better parent then my mother ever was! But why? Why had my mother forced him to lie, limited my time with him to a few short months each year?
"She didn't find out until after he died? Mama, that's awful." Robin broke the moment of silence.
Laurie shook her head. "Kasey's mother was a very cold, conniving woman. From what I understand, she tried to change Bob Scott into a wheeler-dealer after the birth of Kasey, and divorced him when he refused to give up his ranch. Then she tried to force her into marriage with a wealthy man who was a swindler…"
A sudden beeping interrupted Laurie, and Robin quickly turned on the watches receiver.
"Pop, it's Robin, are you there?"
Static sounded again, then they both heard Rick's voice.
"Robin? Are you and your mother all right?"
Laurie felt like crying with relief as Robin answered, "I'm okay except for a hurt ankle, but Mom's trapped in a cave here at the entrance of Eagle Peak Canyon. She can breathe and everything, but except for a small hole, the entrance is blocked."
Rick was frantic with worry, but he managed to stay calm. "Bird, just sit tight, your uncle and Ron and I are coming to get you and Mom. Are you under cover?"
"Yes, Pop. Please hurry, though. Mom can't get the opening any bigger." Robin explained, then Rick reassured her.
"We'll be there in just a little while. Let me talk to Mom, honey."
Robin turned to see her mother's face peering through the hole in the rocks. "Mom, it's Pop, he wants to talk to you."
Robin handed the transmitter to Laurie, who took it and quietly said, "Rick?"
"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Her voice sounded faint, and the crackling of the electrical static didn't help any in hearing her.
"I'm fine, darling…. I just need to get out of this cave. We're at the entrance to Eagle Peak, right under the rock formation." Abruptly she stopped talking, something wet was around her ankles. Turning her flashlight on, she gasped.
"Rick, come quick, there's water in the cave, it's flooding!"
"We're on our way, Laurie. Hold on, darlin', I'm coming."
Rick grabbed his jacket and told the others, "We need to go now, the cave's filling with water!"