A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Forty Four
After lunch, Richard walks into his office. Sitting down at his desk, he turns his computer on as his cell phone rings. "Hello, Richard Winslow."
"Yes Mr. Winslow, its Chris Stinson. I'm returning your call about the horse you purchased last weekend."
"Yes, it was supposed to be delivered yesterday afternoon. I missed my son's practice to be home for the delivery and no one showed up."
"I do apologize that the horse wasn't delivered. I wasn't in town yesterday and we had some mechanical problems with our truck."
"And no one could call to explain what was going on. My son's expected that horse to be there when they got home from practice and were very upset that it wasn't."
"I am sorry, our driver thought he would have the truck fixed in time to make the delivery but it didn't work out that way. I will personally see that the horse is delivered tonight, at your convenience of course."
"Alright, I've got meetings until three and then my boys have practice until five. We'll be home after that."
"I'll personally deliver the horse tonight, no later than six p.m."
"Alright, we'll be waiting. Did you speak to Mr. Lawson about selling Blue?"
"Yes, I've approached him. That's why I wasn't in town yesterday. I had to go over to Oakdale to see him."
"Is he willing to sell the horse?"
"Yes."
"Does he know who's buying it?"
"I told him it was a private buyer."
"Okay. How much is he asking for the horse?"
"He wants to know what you will offer for it."
Richard takes a moment to think before he says. "I'll offer eight hundred." Richard says.
"I'll let him know your offer and will see what he says and I'll tell you when I bring the horse tonight."
"That will be fine."
"Thank you, Mr. Winslow. And I do apologize again that no one contacted you yesterday to let you know that we would not be able to deliver the horse."
"As long as the horse is delivered tonight it will be fine."
"Thank you." Chris says, looking out the window of his office.
"I will see you this evening."
"Yes, this evening." Chris replies and they hang up a few seconds later.
Jeffrey is lying on the couch with his eyes closed when Sam comes back in. She walks quietly over to the chair as Jeffrey says. "I'm not asleep."
"I was letting you rest."
"I am resting, which is something you need to be doing too, you're tired." He says, opening his eyes and looking at her.
"I need to go get your prescriptions filled. We should have done it before we came home."
"Then go ahead and go, I'll be alright."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'll lay here and rest."
She stand ups and then walks over to him. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Okay."
"I have my cell phone. If you need me you call me and I'll be back as soon as I get your prescriptions filled."
"If I need you I'll call. Can you get me the phone?"
"Yes." She says, walking over to the table by the door. Reaching for the phone, she takes it over and hands it to him. "Do you need anything?"
"No." He says, looking up as he takes the phone.
"Maybe I should see if…."
"Sam, go, I'll be okay."
"I'll be right back, do not go anywhere?"
"I won't, go." He says, smiling.
She leans down, kissing him. "I love you."
"I love you too." She leaves as he lays back, closing his eyes.
When Sam walks out of the building, Ralph reaches for his phone and calls Simmons. Two rings later, he picks up. "Hello."
"He's alone, did you talk to her?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
"She wants to wait."
"What! Why? It's the perfect opportunity to take him."
"She's paying us, she calls the shots."
"You explained the condition he's in. He can barely walk and he definitely couldn't fight anyone off."
"She wants to wait."
"A few weeks ago she wanted us to do it right then and now we have a golden opportunity and she wants to wait."
"We follow her orders and she said to wait."
"She's changed her mind."
"If she has, which I doubt, we'll still be paid so we wait!"
"And what if she decides to tell the cops."
"Why would she do that? She'll be cutting her own throat."
"She doesn't have to tell them that she was a part of the plan."
"You don't know Olivia, once she decides something, you can't change her mind. So, we wait until she's ready to move. Is that understood?"
"Yes, we wait." Ralph barks, hanging up the phone.
He throws the phone into the other seat and then looks at the building. After about five minutes, he opens the car door. Getting out he looks around before he walks across the parking lot. As he walks up to the building one of Jeffrey's neighbors comes out and holds the door for him. "Thank you." Ralph says, with his head down and turned away.
He walks into the building and after checking the mailboxes to see which loft Jeffrey is in, he climbs the stairs to the top floor. Jeffrey is asleep when Ralph knocks the first time. And when he doesn't answer he knocks again, waiting for a few moments before he knocks for the third time. Seeing the doorbell, he pushes it too. Jeffrey jumps and then takes a deep breath as pain shoots across his chest. He lays there for several seconds, trying to catch his breath and until the pain stops.
Ralph knocks for the fourth time and rings the doorbell for the second. Jeffrey continues to lay there. After a few seconds, he sits up. Slowly standing up, he walks over to the door, holding his ribs. He unlocks the door as Ralph is reaching to knock again. "What?" Jeffrey demands.
"Mr. Mayor." Ralph says.
"What do you want Mr. Schultz and how do you know where I live?"
Ralph ignores the last part of the question and says. "I wanted to talk to you about Stacey."
"Stacey, why?"
"I'm still in love with her and…."
"I have no control in her personal life. If you love her then you need to tell her yourself." Jeffrey says, starting to close the door.
"That's where you can help. She won't talk to me, but she'll listen to you."
"I'm her boss. I'm not involved with her personal life and I don't want to be."
"Come on, man. Can't you help a man out."
"Mr. Schultz, I just got out of the hospital. I've got three broken ribs and a concussion. I'm not even supposed to be moving around. It hurts for me to be standing here right now." Jeffrey says, taking a deep breath and winces slightly "So if you want to get Stacey back, you'll have to discuss it with her." He says, starting to close the door again.
"But I need your help." Ralph says, hearing the door open downstairs.
"I don't see how I can help you." Jeffrey says, in a tired voice.
"You know Stacey."
"I'm her boss." Jeffrey says, sighing.
They both hear someone coming up the stairs and Ralph realizes that he's run out of time, nodding he turns to leave as Jeffrey closes the door. He's walking back to the couch when Sam comes in. "J, what are you doing up? You're supposed to be resting and not up walking around."
"Someone was at the door, I went to see who it was." Jeffrey says, as Sam helps him back to the couch."
"Was it the guy I met in the stairway. He was in a real hurry to get out of here."
"Yes."
"What did he wait?"
"He wanted to see if I could help him get Stacey back.
"Stacey, I don't understand."
"He's Stacey's ex-husband." Jeffrey says, sitting down on the couch.
"He's Stacey's ex-husband."
"Yes." Jeffrey says, laying back down.
"Why would he think you would help him get Stacey back?"
"I don't know." He says, closing his eyes as she pulls his medication out of her purse.
"You know, I think I've seen him before." She says, sitting the prescriptions on the table beside him.
"You probably have seen him around town."
"No, I think I saw him when we were in DC."
"In DC, when?" He asks, opening his eyes and looking at her.
"After the break in, the night Richard was released."
"You saw him in DC the night Richard was released and you didn't tell me."
"I only saw a man's profile that looked like him. I didn't see his whole face. Why?" Sam asks, as Jeffrey moves to sit up. "What are you doing?" She asks again, as he reaches for the phone.
"I'm calling Frank."
"Why?"
"Because I want Frank to pick him up for questioning."
"Why? It's not a crime for him to ask you help with Stacey, although I don't know why he would. And it's not a crime for him to be in DC around the time that my apartment was broken into. I saw a guy that resembled him but I only saw his profile."
"If he was in DC, he could have been the guy that broke into your apartment. If you didn't realize he matches the description that Reva gave us that weekend."
Yes, but so do a lot of men."
"But they weren't in DC when your apartment was broken into." Jeffrey says, as he dials Frank's number and Sam sits back.
After a couple rings, Frank picks up. "Springfield Police Department, Chief Cooper speaking.
"Frank this is Jeffrey."
"Hi, are you calling about the accident because we're still investigating."
"No, it's not about the accident I need you to come by the loft."
"What's going on?"
"I need you to look into something that happened in DC."
"If it happened in DC, you'll…."
"It's been reported to the Reston Police, but new information… Could you come by the loft, it'll be easier to explain then."
"Okay, but I've got to speak to the parents of the boy that hit you last night."
"Let that go, this is going to be hard enough for them."
"We have to do and investigation, at least speak to them."
"Alright, but let them know that I will not be pressing charges, also advise Chris of that as well."
"Okay, I'll be over after I speak to them."
"Thank you." Jeffrey says, hanging up a few moments later.
"What did he says?" Sam asks
"He's going to come by after he talks to the parents of the boy that hit me.
"Are you hungry?" She asks, nodding.
"Umm, yeah." He says, settling back.
"I'll go fix you something to eat." She says, standing up. About ten minutes later, she brings in a tray with food on it.
"Did you fix yourself something to eat?" Jeffrey asks, as she sets the tray on the coffee table.
"Yes." She says, handing him a plate before taking one for herself and sits down.
While they are eating Jeffrey looks up, watching her for a few moments, he says. "I want you to go rest after you finish eating." He says, taking a drink.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not, you're tired."
"What if you need something?"
"I'll get it."
"You're not supposed to be moving around."
"I won't unless I absolutely need to, but you're exhausted, so don't argue."
She look at him and smiles. When they finish eating, she takes everything into the kitchen. Putting the dishes into the dishwasher before she goes back to the living room. "Do you need anything?"
He sits up. "Help me to the bathroom."
She helps him up and into the bathroom and then back to the couch. He lies down and then says. "Can you bring me something to drink and the remote and then I want you to lie down and sleep?"
She hands him the remote and then goes to the kitchen. Getting him a soda, she brings it back and then asks. "You will call me if you need me."
"Yes, go lay down."
She leans down, kissing him softly, "I'll be upstairs if you need me." She leaves him on the couch, going up stairs as he turns the TV on.
About an hour later she is still laying there wide awake, thinking about the night before, remembering the moment she knew something was wrong and feeling the feelings of helplessness all over again. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath she feels the tears burning as she rolls to her side.
Ten minutes later, Jeffrey turns the TV off. Laying the remote on the table he closes his eyes. Sam tried to cover the tears by burying her face in the pillow. But in the silence Jeffrey catches a sound that he can't place. Sitting up, he tries to listen, but he can't pinpoint where it's coming. Getting up slowly he walks towards the bathroom and as he passes the stairs, he hears it again and he stops, listening to make sure the sound was coming from upstairs.
Slowly climbing the stairs he stops in the door and realizes the sound he's hearing is Sam crying. Walking into the room, he says. "Sam."
She rolls to her side and asks. "What are you doing up here? You're not supposed to be moving around."
"Look at me." He says. She turns to him and from the door he can see that she's crying. "What's wrong?" He asks, walking over to the bed.
"I'm fine. What are you doing up here?" She asks, sitting up as he sits down on the bed.
"Don't try to hide from me." He says, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I'm really fine." She says, looking at him.
"No, you're not. You're still upset about last night." He says, putting his arm around her. She sniffs as she tears up again. "Shhh, it's okay and I'm going to be okay." He says as she lays her head on his shoulder
"I'm sorry, I know you're going to be okay, but I was laying here thinking about last night and how I felt knowing something was wrong but I was powerless to stop it or help you. It felt like Belfast and Russia again."
"Shhh." He says softly stroking her hair.
"Can you hold me?" She asks, sniffing.
"Let me lay down."
"I'm sorry." She says, pulling away. "You're supposed to be resting."
"Sam, stop." He says, reaching for her, hearing the guilt in her voice. "I will hold you whenever you need to be held and in whatever condition I am in, do you understand."
"Okay, but lay down." Sam says, moving away from him.
She stacks the pillows and then he lies down and she lies down beside him. "Close your eyes." He says softly, stroking her hair again as he starts to hum.
Ralph sits in the car after leaving Jeffrey and passing Sam in the stairway, his head turned away from her again so that she would have less chance of recognizing him. Laying his head back, he closes his eyes. If he had, had a little longer he might have been able to convince Jeffrey into leaving with him. Sitting up , he looks up to the top floor and the windows facing him. He wasn't sure if the windows were the windows to Jeffrey's loft, but still he was that close to taking him.
He jumps when his cell phone rings. Reaching for his pocket, he quickly realizes that it's not there. He looks around the car and spots it laying on the seat beside him. Picking it up, he glances at the screen and realizes that its Simmons calling him. He tosses the phone back onto the seat and then settle back. After a while he decides to leave. Putting the car in gear after he starts it, he leaves to find some sort of release for the pent up adrenaline flowing through him.
Richard wraps up the last meeting for the day around two thirty. Walking into his office, he stops at Amelia's desk. "I'm leaving for the day. Once you've finished those letters you can go."
"Yes sir."
He walks into his office. Grabbing a couple of files, he leaves. He pulls up to the boy's school about ten minutes later. The boys are waiting with their classes when he pulls up. He reaches over to open the door as RJ opens the door for Will. When they are settled, he pulls away from the school as Will asks. "Is she there yet?"
"Not yet, but she'll be delivered later."
"She was supposed to be here yesterday." RJ says.
"I know and I spoke with Chris and he's going to bring her tonight, himself."
"Can we go riding when we get home?" RJ asks.
"We'll see." Richard says, turning onto the road for the farm.
"Daddy, can I have my game boy back? I won't hit anyone anymore, I promise."
"Will, you know you can't have it till next weekend." Richard says, looking at him in the mirror.
"Yes sir." He says quietly.
About thirty minutes later, they pull up to the farm. RJ and Will get out as Cassie walks out of the house. Richard grabs his briefcase before he gets out of the car. Walking towards the house, he hears Cassie tell the boys. "Go change your clothes and I'll fix you a snack."
"Yes ma'am." They go in as Richard walks up.
"Hi." She says,
"Hi." He replies, putting his arm around her, kissing her softly. "How are both of you?"
"We're good. Did they bug you about the horse?"
"No, but it was the first thing that Will asked about."
"Did you find out why they didn't deliver her yesterday?"
"Yes and she should be here in about an hour. Did you get things arranged for the wedding?"
"Umm, Reverend Rutledge called. He's got to cancel. He says he's got a conference he has to attend."
"The wedding is next week." Richard says, walking into the house as Cassie steps back.
"I think I've got the solution." She says as the boys come downstairs. They sit down at the table while Cassie fixes them a snack. "We'll talk about it later."
"Okay." Richard says, taking his briefcase back to his study. Sitting down at his desk, he takes the files out and begins to look them over.
About five minutes later, Cassie comes back to the study. When she walks in he looks and puts the file down. "You said you had a solution for Reverend Rutledge cancelling."
"Yee, but you might not like it."
"We're not eloping." He says smiling.
She smiles back as she says. "No, that's not what I was thinking. I was thinking…" She pauses and he looks at her. "…I was thinking we could ask Josh."
"Josh."
"Yes, he's an ordained minister now. So he could oversee the service. If it makes you uncomfortable because I was involved with him then we could ask Father Ray to do it, or Jeffrey."
"Jeffrey is one of my groomsmen. When did Josh become an ordained minister?"
"After he was released from jail when Alan was shot."
"Do you want him to do this?"
"I don't care. We can have a county judge marry us."
"We had the Bishop marry us in San Cristobel so we could have Father Ray do it, if that's what you want.
"We can do that if you're uncomfortable having Josh marry us…."
"No, Cassie I don't care about that. If Josh will marry us then I'm okay with it, if you are?" He says, getting up. "Have you talked to Josh?" He asks, walking around his desk.
"No, I wanted to ask you first."
"Then we can ask him." He says, as Will runs in.
"Daddy, it's here." He shouts, breathing hard.
"Did you run from the road?" Richard asks, as he nods. "Alright." Richard says, smiling as Will takes his hand tugging on it. "Are you coming?" He asks, looking at Cassie.
"I'll be out there in a moment. I'm going to call Reva."
"Okay." He leaves with Will as she picks up the phone on his desk. He and Will walk outside as Chris gets out of his truck. RJ is standing by the trailer as Chris walks to the back of the trailer, opening the door as Richard and Will walk up. "Chris." Richard says, holding out his hand.
Chris stops and shakes his hand before he unlocks the door on the trailer "I'm sorry we didn't bring her yesterday."
"Thank you." Richard says, as Chris opens the door. The boys start towards the trailer as Richard reaches out to stop them. "Let him unload her first." He says, as Chris backs the horse out of the trailer. When he has her out of the trailer, he attaches a lead rope to her halter. Richard leads the way into the barn with the boys and Chris following him. Richard leads them over to the stall that the boys had picked out for her. Opening the door, he holds it open for Chris to lead her inside. "Will go get the water hose and fill her water trough and RJ go get her some oats and hay?" Richard says.
"Yes sir." They says, going to do as he asked as he walks into the stall with Chris
"She's a beautiful horse. And she would make good breeding stock." Chris says, unhooking the lead rope as Richard runs his hands over her shoulders and neck.
He continues to rub the horse down, letting her get used to him, his scent and her surroundings as the boys brings the oats, hay and water. When they're finished, they stand at the door, watching Richard. "Can we ride her tonight?"
"I think we need to let her get used to being here and around us before we ride her." Richard says, showing her the oats and water trough. "Why don't you come over here and pet her." He says, looking at the boys
They walk into the stall. Will turns to walk behind her. "Will, don't walk behind her, she might kick you." Richard says, as Will stops and walks the other way "Hold your hand out and let her smell you RJ." Richard says, looking at RJ.
"What if she bites me?"
"She won't." Richard says, as RJ holds his hands out tentatively and laughs as the horse sniffs his hand. Richard bends down and picks Will up. "Now hold your hand out so she can smell you." He says, to Will.
"She'll bite me."
"No, she won't, go ahead." Richard says, encouraging him. Will holds his hand out and then pulls it back. "Go ahead, I've got you." Will reaches out and then smiles as the horse sniffs his hand.
"That feels funny." He says, holding his hand still.
"Run your hand over her nose." Richard says, as RJ and Will both run their hands over her nose.
"What are we going to name her?" Will asks, still stroking the horse. "What about Bathsheba?"
"Where did you hear that name?" Richard asks as Will shrugs his shoulders.
"We should name her Lady Tammy." RJ says quietly as Richard looks at him.
"You know I think you're right RJ." Richard says, looking at the horse.
"Her mane and tail are the same color as Tammy's hair." RJ says.
"Yes, it is. So we'll name her Lady Tammy."
"That a good name." Will says, as Cassie walks up to them. "Hi, Mommy, what do you think?" He asks, looking at her
"She's beautiful." Cassie says, reaching to stroke her nose.
"We named her Lady Tammy." RJ says, looking at her.
"I think that's a perfect name for her." Cassie says, looking at RJ.
"Her mane and tail is the same color as Tammy's hair." RJ says, stroking the horse.
"Why don't we leave and let her get used to the barn?" Richard says, glancing at Cassie.
"We need to get dinner started." Cassie says.
"So, let's go." Richard says, turning the boys towards the door.
"RJ and Will go on to the house and RJ you need to start your homework." Cassie says.
He turns to complain but looks at Cassie and says. "Yes ma'am."
The boys head for the house, while Cassie, Richard and Chris walk out of the barn. They stop at Chris truck. "Did you talk to Mr. Lawson?" Richard asks.
"Yes, I spoke with him after I spoke with you."
"Did he accept the offer?"
"No, he's counter the offer with two thousand."
"Two thousand dollars?" Cassie asks.
"Yes."
"Isn't that a little high for a horse?"
"Not really, if you consider an Arabian can go for much more than that." Richard says. "Okay." He says, turns to Chris. "I'll offer one thousand."
"Okay, I'll tell him and I'll get back to you."
"Thank you." Richard says, nodding Chris gets in the truck. Starting it up, he leaves. Cassie and Richard head for the house.
As they are walking across the yard, Cassie asks. "Why is he negotiating for you?"
"The man that owes Blue, is the man that I punched last weekend. Chris thought it would be better if we kept the sale anonymous."
"Why?"
"Because if Mr. Lawson realizes that I'm the one buying the horse, he might demand a higher price or refuse to sell the horse at all."
"Alright."
"Did you talk to Reva?"
"No, she wasn't there. I talked to Hawk. I think they're having some serious problems right now."
"Why?"
"Because Josh is insisting that Jeffrey can't be told that he's a Lewis."
'Why?"
"Reva says, he's afraid that she'll leave him for Jeffrey."
"What?"
"I know." Cassie says, as they walk into the house.