Hearts of Grey Read online

Katie spun around in her chair to find Michael standing behind her. “Meeting Melissa,” Katie answered back.

  “What’s to worry about? You’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Next to you, Mom, I mean,” Mike said as he glanced over at his mom.

  “Oh, Michael,” Annabelle told him.

  “It’s okay. All boys think their mom is beautiful, but I’ll have to agree with Michael. And I’ll never object to being second to you,” Katie told Annabelle.

  “You two want something, don’t ya?”

  “I’ll take one of those biscuits,” Michael told her.

  “Sure, but just remember one thing,” she answered.

  “And what would that be?” Mike asked.

  “Next time, butter up your biscuit, not your mother,” she told him.

  “Very funny,” Michael told her as he started laughing.

  Just then, Mike’s father walked into the kitchen. “Are we all ready?” he asked.

  “I think so. I wouldn’t want to be late,” his wife answered.

  “Doesn’t really matter. I mean, it’s all a conspiracy, ain’t it?” Katie told them. All three of them just turned and looked at Katie with a questionable look on their faces.

  “What’s a conspiracy?” Mike asked.

  “Trains. Well, busses and boats too, I suppose,” Katie told him.

  “What?” Michael asked her.

  “Look at it this way. Why is it if you’re on time, the train is late? But if you’re late, then the train is on time. Sure sounds like a conspiracy to me,” she answered.

  Mike’s dad just started giggling. “You know, I’ve never thought about it before, but I do believe that you might be right. It sure sounds like a conspiracy to me too,” he told her.” Come on, ladies, we’re fighting a conspiracy,” he said with a slight hint of humor to his voice.

  All four of them walked out of the house, and each of them took their seats in the family car, a very shining green Oldsmobile. As Mike’s dad turned the key, the engine came to life. Nobody said a word as the Oldsmobile made its way through the Tuesday morning traffic. They arrived at the train depot with ten minutes to spare. As they entered the depot, one look at the board that held the posted arrival times confirmed the conspiracy. The train was running a half hour late.

  “See, just like I said. It’s a conspiracy,” Katie told them.

  “Well, I guess you were right, so I guess we’ll just have to wait for a while. And, Katie, may I say that you look simply stunning today,” Mike’s father told her.

  “Well, thank you so very much, and may I say that your daughter will be proud to have such a handsome man as a father,” she answered.

  He answered with just a huge smile on his face. As they found an empty bench and took a seat, they started the half hour waiting game.

  “So I hear that you guys are throwing a welcome-home party for Melissa,” Mike’s father asked.

  “Oh, yeah, this Saturday at Katie’s house,” Mike told him.

  “Oh, did Mike tell ya all about our banjo showdown between Mike and myself?” Katie asked both of Mike’s parents.

  “That’s why you pulled your banjo out of the storage closet. I was wonderin’ why you did that,” Mike’s mother said.

  “Storage closet? I thought you said that you were good at playing the banjo?” Katie asked Mike with a discouraged look on her face.

  “Oh, he is, but he only played with Melissa, and ever since she went away to college, I don’t think he’s touched it very much,” Annabelle answered her.

  “Mother, I can defend myself? Please! Yes, Katie dear, I am good, but no, I haven’t touched it since Melissa left,” Mike said.

  “Well, all I can say is I hope you get all of the cobwebs off it before Saturday,” Katie told him.

  “So is this showdown just between you and Mike, or can anyone join in?” Mr. Gibbes asked.

  “Well, I reckon if you want to join in, that would be all right. You play the banjo too, Mr. Gibbes?” Katie asked back.

  “Please call me Frank. Yeah, I do, but I play a meaner fiddle than the banjo,” he answered her.

  “Well what good would a southern get-down be without a fiddle? In fact, the more musical instruments we have, the better the music. Well, that’s the way I see it at least,” Katie said.

  “Agreed!” Frank answered. “This should be one hell of a shindig. Good friends, good food, and some really good southern heart-pickin’, foot-stompin’ music. That’s one heck of a homecoming,” he added.

  “Well, even without all of that fanfare, I just be glad to have my daughter back home if only for a little while,” Annabelle added.

  “Can’t argue with that. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, dear?” Frank said as he looked at his wife.

  “One day is too long to be without your child,” Annabelle replied.

  Just then, they announced the arrival of Melissa’s train on track four. Katie tried to stay behind them as they walked down the wooden platform that led to the train, but Mike wouldn’t let her.

  “What are you doing? Come on up here,” Mike told her.

  “I’m okay. I’m right behind ya,” Katie answered.

  “Well, maybe so, but my girl walks at my side, not behind me,” Mike told her.

  Katie hurried her stride to catch up but still stayed behind Mike and his parents, just not as far.

  As they reached the first door of the first car, they stopped and watched as people started exiting the train. But there was no mistake when she exited the car. Melissa was a spitting image of her mother, tall and slender with the longest jet-black hair that Katie had ever seen. Truly a very beautiful woman indeed, Katie thought to herself.

  “Mother, Father!” Melissa said as she ran up and threw her arms around her mother’s neck. Her mother returned the hug. Then she turned to her father, giving him even a bigger hug.

  “How’s my favorite girl?” her dad asked her.

  “I’m good, Daddy, just happy to be home,” Melissa answered. Then she saw her best friend in the world. She released her father from her hug.

  “Michael,” she said in a soft sincere voice.

  “Melissa, glad to see ya,” he told her.

  “Yeah, yeah, give your sister a hug,” she demanded. Mike and Melissa fell into a very affectionate hug. Katie stood silent as she watched the reunion unfolding before her. Yes, she was still very nervous.

  Melissa stood up straight and smiled. “I missed all of you so much. It’s so good to be home,” she told them.

  “Well, we’re just as glad to have you home, little sister,” Mike said.

  “Little sister?” she asked.

  “You’ll always be my little sister, just not as little as you once were,” Mike told her.

  But Melissa didn’t hear him. Her attention was locked on someone else. She took her hand and pushed her brother out of the way. She stood there staring at Katie. Now, Katie was nervous.

  “And you, you must be Katie,” Melissa said.

  “Hi, Melissa . . . I’m so glad to meet you,” Katie responded.

  “Mother, you said that she was cute, but this girl is just beautiful.” She turned and looked at her brother.” This cute adorable thing is your girlfriend?” she asked him.

  “Melissa, I’d like to introduce the love my life, Katie. Katie this is my sister, Melissa,” Mike said.

  Melissa just turned and looked at Katie. “Forget about him. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you, Katie,” she said.

  “Well the pleasure is all mine,” Katie told her. The two young ladies gave each other a very friendly hug. Katie wasn’t nervous any longer.

  As they walked back to the car, Melissa and Katie walked next to each other, talking and comparing their dresses and the way that they did their hair and other silly girl stuff. Mike and his father followed behind with Melissa’s luggage. Annabelle walked next to her husband empty-handed. She looked at the two young ladies walking in front of her.

  “You’re a very lucky man, Micha
el. Now you’ll have two beautiful women to hang around with,” she told him.

  “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking,” Mike replied. But in the back of his mind, he was wonderin’ just how lucky he really was. God, I hope she doesn’t tell Katie all of my secrets, he thought to himself.

  When they got back to the house, the two ladies were still locked into their conversations. And every once in a while, they would both turn and look at Michael and laugh and then turn away.

  Yep, she’s telling her everything, Michael thought. Oh hell!

  As they entered the house, the small talk soon ended. And without anybody saying anything, everyone just knew that Katie and Melissa were soon going to be the best of friends, very good friends indeed.

  “So what do you have planned for today?” Annabelle asked Melissa.

  “Just relaxin’ and unpacking,” she answered. “And, Michael, I’m going to steal Katie for a while. She can help me unpack. I have the cutest dress that would look simply grand on her,” she told him.

  “Well, that, my charming sister, is all up to Katie. You’ll have to ask her,” Mike answered.

  “Well, how bout it? Would you like to help me unpack?” Melissa said as she looked at Katie.

  “Sure, I’d love to,” Katie replied.

  As the two young ladies started up the stairs, Melissa turned and looked at Michael at the bottom of the stairs. She help up her closed fist and extended her thumb up into the air, giving Michael the sign of her approval. The two ladies disappeared upstairs, but every once in a while you could hear them laughing.

  “Sounds like your sister has a new friend, doesn’t it?” asked his dad.

  “Yeah, it certainly does at that.” Mike replied.” So can I ask you and Mom a question?”

  “Sure, son, what’s on your mind?” his father asked him.

  “So what do you two think of Katie?” he asked them.

  “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t think you could find any girl that’s more charming and loveable, and you’ll never find a girl that’s any prettier. She’s simply, in one word, adorable,” his father told him.

  “I agree with everything that your father said, but I’ll add this—she’s worried about making an impression, and I told her just to be herself, and she would be fine,” his mother added.

  “When did you talk to her?” Mike asked.

  “That, my son, is a secret that you don’t need to know. Katie can tell ya if she wants ta,” his mom told him.

  “Wow, okay. Gee, I was only asking a question.” he said.

  “Well, son, if Katie is going to have a future in this family, as I think she might, you’ll have to understand that Katie is going to talk to me as often as she thinks she needs to. And those conversations are between me and her. And that, my son, is all I’m going to say on the subject,” she told him.

  “You really think that she’s going to have a future in this family?” he asked.

  “Why, yes, I do. Why? Don’t you?” she told him.

  “Well, I never gave it much thought, is all,” he answered.

  “Like hell you haven’t, Michael,” his father jumped in. “I’ve seen how you look at her and how she looks at you. Your mother and I aren’t blind, Michael. And neither is Katie. In fact, your sister has already told me that she saw it too, and she hasn’t even been home that long yet.”

  “Is it that obvious?” Mike asked.

  “Does the sun come up every morning?” his father responded.

  “That much, huh? I didn’t think it showed that much,” he answered.

  “Well, it does,” his father replied.

  Upstairs, the two new friends were getting along with each other, better than Katie ever expected that they would.

  “So what are you studying in school?” Katie asked.

  “My major is American history. I want to be a teacher,” Melissa answered her.

  “American history? Wow, that’s very interesting. Are you studying all of it, or are you specializing in a certain period?” Katie asked.

  “Oh, all of it. I think the history of America is simply mindboggling. Picture this, America started off as just thirteen colonies, and it grew into this great land that we live in now. I’ll love to see what the future holds. The possibilities are endless,” Melissa told her.

  Katie wanted to tell her about her secret, but she knew that she couldn’t. Not yet anyway. Heck, she hadn’t even told Mike about it yet. So telling his sister just wouldn’t be right.

  “So I get it that you really like my brother. Is that true?” Melissa asked.

  “Well, we’ve only known each other for a couple of days, but I really think that I’ve fallen for him. Is that all right with you?” Katie asked.

  “Well, I saw the way that he looks at you. I have no problem with my brother being happy. In fact, I’m really happy for him. Well, for the both of you, I should say,” Melissa answered.

  “Well, I’m glad that you’re okay with it. It really means a lot,” Katie told her.

  “Well, all I can say is welcome to the family,” Melissa told her.

  “Thanks, I’m glad to be here,” she answered.

  “Good. Now look at this dress. This would look so good on you,” Melissa added.

  Something Not Right

  Grady looked around the huge house, and something suddenly dawned on him. Someone had been tearing up this old house. Several of the rooms had their floorboards torn up, and several of the numerous rooms had their walls torn down as well.

  It wasn’t like the normal decay of an old house. It was as if someone was looking for something. Grady knew that when a house sat empty for a long time, a lot of nails would work their way loose. He didn’t know why this happened, but he knew that it did. It’s as a hinge—when you use it, it works as it was supposed to. But quit using it for a while and suddenly, it would be jammed. But the opposite was true with nails. As long as you walked on the floors, everything was fine and dandy. But stay out of that room for an extended period of time, and several of the nails would somehow lose their grip. But this wasn’t the case here. These nails and planks were deliberately pulled up. But whoever was ripping up this house was jumping from room to room.

  Grady sat there scratching his head. Was it possible or could be possible that someone other than him and Katie knew about the secrets that this house was supposed to contain. And if there was someone else that knew the secret, how could they have known? The secrets that this house held were over one hundred years old. Who else could possibly know the secrets that this house held? Secrets that could very easily rewrite the history of America and the South. Could there be someone else that was searching for the very thing that had brought him and Katie to Matterson House in the first place?

  Grady knew that from this moment on, the two of them would have to keep their secrets to themselves. They might not even be able to tell Mike even if they wanted too. It might prove to be a really bad idea. But he did have one relief from all of this. Whoever had been searching through Matterson House hadn’t been there in years. And that was a good thing. He just hoped that it stayed that way for a very long time. The longer the better.

  But it didn’t make much sense. Whoever was searching through this house couldn’t be looking for the same thing that he was, could they? After all, what Grady and Katie were looking for was supposedly hauled away in eight wooden wagons. It was a massive move, so why would they be looking through the walls? Surely, it wouldn’t or couldn’t be hidden in the walls or under the floorboards. Or could it? But still, it was apparent at least to Grady that they had been searching for something. But what? he wondered. He had no idea.

  Susie’s Dirty Tricks Revealed

  Mike stood outside of Melissa’s bedroom. The door was closed, but he could hear the voices from inside. He knocked on the door. Melissa opened the door.

  “Yes, what can I do for you, brother?” she asked him.

  “Could I speak to you for a second?” he asked her.
r />   “I guess so, but I’ll tell ya right now. Katie is a sweetheart if that’s what you wanted to know,” she told him.

  “Well, thanks. I’m glad that the two of you are getting along so well, but I really need to talk to you,” he said.

  Melissa just stood there staring at him as she slowly opened the door and let him into the room. Katie was sitting on Melissa’s bed surrounded by several piles of clothes. Michael shut the door behind him. He took a seat on a chair in the corner of the room.

  “What I’m about to tell ya has to stay between the three of us. Mom and Dad can’t know, okay?” Mike told her.

  “Okay?” Melissa said with a very questionable tone to her voice. “What’s up?”

  “It’s about your friend Susie Barnes,” Mike told her.

  “What has she done now?” she asked.

  Mike and Katie slowly explained to Melissa everything that has happened in the past few days in regard to Susie Barnes. Melissa sat there totally shocked beyond belief as they told her about the events of the passing days.

  “She did what to Rick’s face?” she asked in a very concerned voice.

  “She ripped his face open with her fingernails. They’re really deep,” Katie told her.

  “You’re kidding. Is he going to be all right?” she asked.

  “Yeah, he’ll be fine, but he’s more than likely to have scars for the rest of his life,” Mike told her.

  “That bitch has gone psycho. And she threatened to hurt Katie. Oh, she’s gone way too far this time. And all you did was to wave the ring in her face?” Melissa asked Katie.

  “Well, honestly, I did say a few sarcastic things to her as well but nothing that would justify what she did. Especially to Rick. He wasn’t even a part of it,” Katie told her.

  “Oh, I believe ya, but if I confront her, I want all the information ahead of time. Right before I knock the bitch on her ass. Rick and I dated a few times. He’s a real nice guy. But this is just wrong, dead wrong,” she proclaimed.

  “Well, Katie and I wanted you to know before you ran into Susie and heard a different story,” Mike told her.

  “Yeah, we’re telling you the truth,” Katie told her.