Once again, I'm sorry that the past chapter wasn't very good, or least
n my opinion it wasn't. (I'm a perfectionist when it comes 2 really just
about anything. Of course, SOME people (like Freidon, my co-author 4
another NT story, and Isayssoccer.) know I am! Anyways, I hope this time, I please u and me! R&R!
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I sighed heavily with relief. Luckily, we were finally at our destination, Mount Vernon.
Thankfully. If I had to be stuck with Riley and Ben, teasing me about Abi, for one more
moment, the things I would've done to them. Ah, yes. My hands should've snatched Riley's
laptop while he wasn't looking, or at least one of his new video games he had with him for
some apparent explanation. Probably so it wouldn't take the risk of being stolen. But, I didn't! Ugh! Oh, well. At least I had my sanity, and also, I would get other opportunities to
make sure he didn't have his 'precious darlings.'
And Ben? Well, I should've made up a nickname out of the top of my head and used it against him. But, I'm not the best at making up things of that nature. So, I'd just have to get him back someway, somehow, later so the score is even.
As our tour group was headed towards the blue, large dining room at the other side of the
mansion, Ben tugged Riley and me aside right next to Washington's study, which was bordered by ropes hanging across the sides from its entrances. "So, Ben. Where is this next
clue you're talking about?" Riley blurts out randomly.
"I don't know. That's the reason I pulled you two over."
"Oh. Well, do you have any ideas?"
"One. It might be outside somewhere, but I don't know where to start."
"Maybe in the gardens?" I suggested.
"The gardens? Abigail, why did you say, the gardens?" Riley questioned, thinking that I had
said the most stupid answer in the world. Which is wasn't the best guess, but gardens are
pretty good places to bury objects. Or, for instance in our case, a clue.
"Well, gardens are pretty good places to bury things and are unsuspected."
"Oh yeah. The only thing I can bury there is seeds," he responded back sarcastically. Then, he
gave me this look that really fired up.
"Okay, what look on your face was that?"
"The I-was-right-and-you-were-wrong-one-so-get-over-it one."
I gave him a glance that I hoped would've frightened him. But after about a second doing
that, Ben instructed me a serious tone, "Abigail. Stop. Now."
"Riley started all this!" I pointed over at him, defending myself every way I could. But, according to the staring I was getting from Ben, I was losing. Badly.
"Abigail, just get over it. Okay?" There was a moment of silence for me before he continued.
"Now, unlike my friend, I think that the gardens would be a good, starting place to look. But
which one?"
'Oh, yeah,' I thought. 'There are two gardens. Not just one.' I looked towards our group, who
was about to go outside. "I think we should go the opposite of our group."
"Okay. That's a great idea," Riley commented sarcastically. "One problem. What is the
opposite, genius?" He stared with the exact look he gave me just several moments ago.
I gave him the glare I had been wanting to give Riley all day long. When he faced me in
the eyes, he fearfully, but slowly backed up.
"Abigail, what made Riley back up in fear?" Ben questioned.
"Your fiancé is not nice! Make her stop!"
"Abi..." Ben voice hid a serious tone in it.
"Okay! I'll stop! Just, don't call me that!" I begged.
"You mean...?"
"Yes!"
"See, Riley. That's all you have to do. Works everytime."
"Thanks, Ben." Riley stepped back to his place. "Now where were we? Oh, yeah. We were to
where genius here," He faced toward me. "Was going to tell us which garden to start at."
"Right. I think according to logic, they should start out in the Upper Garden. So, we would
go to the Lower one."
"Right. Come on." Ben made his way over to the front door as Riley and I trailed right behind
him. From Riley's body language, I could tell he hated his friend going for his fiance's suggestions, although most likely, I would be right about it. And besides, he and Ben have
been friends for a long time while Ben and I were engaged just only a couple of months back.
And though Riley's getting used to me gradually, but slowly, he still used to the things used
to be before little me popped in. So, I guess it's normal for anyone. Even him.
The three of us entered the backyard where two gardens appeared in front of our eyes. The
Upper Garden, which was also known as the Pleasure Garden, and the Lower Garden, or the
Kitchen Garden since it was closest to the kitchen. Since we went out towards the way of the
kitchen, we paced straight to where the Lower Garden started.
"Okay. You and Riley go in different directions to see if you can find any indication that
could lead us to our next clue." Ben instructed to us, ducklings. "I'll see if I can't find
anything near the entrance and keep a lookout."
"So," I said, facing Riley. "Which side do you want to search in?"
"You pick first. I'm not picking. You might get mad again." He gave an expression that told
me that he wasn't very happy with me nor Ben.
"Okay, then." I pointed towards one direction. "You go that way. And I'll go this way."I
pointed to another area. "Okay?"
"Whatever." Riley walked in the direction I pointed towards first. I turned a 180 and went
into my direction. Since I really didn't know where to start hunting, I bent down in a small,
grassy area with several bushes and started to rustle in them. My arms were scratched
continuously, the tiny pains making me tighten up. But, at the time, I really didn't care for
two reasons. One, if we find this clue, we'd find the treasure and live happily after, until
whatever next came up. And two, no pain, no gain on this.
After about 5 minutes, I looked up and suddenly panicked. Ben wasn't at the entrance like he
said he'd be. I turned in all directions and lucky for me, he was headed towards the middle
of the two gardens. "Just a false alarm," I told myself. "It's okay." But, why was he headed
in that direction?
At that moment, the answer sprang into my mind. In the middle of the two gardens, there
was a small area where George Washington had experimented with a lot of plants. He called
it his pleasure garden. If Washington had a clue to the rest of the Knights Templar treasure,
then for no one to find it, he must have buried it there.
I stood up and exited out of the garden and to the middle. There, I saw Ben hunched over,
kneeling on the ground. I kneeled right beside him and saw the unpredictable. To my shock
and excitement, a small, skinny memory box lied in front of us.