Garnet or Garnets Curse

know about my family. I am the child of Victor Dragos and for that I must pay the price,” I started to explain.
    “Darling, children do not pay for their father ’ s sins. We are only held accountable for what we do, not for the sins of others. Have you done some great wrong, or caused harm to anyone or anything?” she asked.
    “No, I know of nothing,” I returned.
    “ Then find peace in knowing that God will deal with you according to your deeds,” she said sweetly.
    We traveled along in silence with plans to stop at Mrs. Tuller’s for lunch. Then we would search over the village for Ox. Maria was at peace that we would find him soon.
    I, too, had a new peace. It was Maria. When this was all over, I vowed I would share with her everything about the curse and my real identity. She knew God. In her Bible could be the answer to end the curse. Maybe she could help me sort out the mystery of my staged death and help me find my father.
    When we pulled up in front of Mrs. Tuller ’ s cafe, she was standing on the porch. As soon as she recognized Maria ’ s rig she came running out to meet us, “ Maria, where have you been? My husband has been trying to find you. Ox is on the loose and he has gone mad, ” she said, wringing her hands and crying.
    Maria jumped out of the carriage so quickly that she turned her ankle. I hopped out and helped her up the steps inside the cafe. I knew she was in pain, but she was more concerned about Ox. One look at the cafe and we knew something terrible had happened.
    “ Maria, just look at this place, ” Mrs. Tuller said. “ Ox came in here and said he wanted some cookies. I thought it odd that he was not with you, but I wrapped up what he wanted anyway. When I asked him for the money, he said he did not have any. So, I told him to come back later with his mother. He then went into a rage, slamming his fist through the glass cabinet. He cut his hand badly, see the blood, ” she said, pointing to the white cloth.
    “ Do you know where he is now? ” Maria asked, steadying herself against the broken cabinet.
    “ I sure do! When he left here, he went all over the village busting up things. He threw rocks through the windows and even stomped down flower gardens. Maria what in the world has happened to Ox? He was never like this before, ” Mrs. Tuller said.
    Maria had a pained look on her face, “ I know, I know, but where is he now? ” she asked again.
    “ The people were scared to deal with Ox, so they sent for Lieutenant Raymond. When the lieutenant showed up, he tried to stop Ox. He shot his gun up in the air and Ox took off running. Right now, he is hiding in the old warehouse at the end of the street. Half the people in the village are gathered around down there to see what is going to happen. ”
    “ Thank you, Mrs. Tuller, ” Maria said, walking toward the door. “ Total up the damages and I will take care of it. Come Margo, let ’ s get down there and see what we can do. ”
    When we arrived at the scene, we fought our way through the crowd looking for Lieutenant Raymond. There were a dozen or so other officers circling the building and some men carrying makeshift weapons. They were talking about smoking Ox out of the building.
    Lieutenant Raymond pulled Maria to the side to speak to her. A few minutes later, I saw Maria hobbling toward the warehouse alone. I ran out to join her, but she told me it was best she go in alone.
    I stood at the front of the crowd with Lieutenant Raymond for what seemed like forever, but it was only a few minutes before we saw Maria coming back out. She stopped midway of the walk and called out, “ Martin has agreed to let Lieutenant Raymond take him into custody, if everyone will PLEASE just go home! ”
    The people ignored Maria and I could hear a buzz of comments behind me. “ I ain ’ t leaving until I see that animal locked up! ” shouted one man. His remark was joined by other shouts and slanders. I turned around to see the faces of angry men, mothers with children on their hips and little boys pushing to the front to get a look at Ox. The scene made me feel sick, knowing that poor Ox was really a victim of his own mind.
    Lieutenant Raymond glanced my way and then he stepped out in front of the crowd. “ You heard the lady; it is over. Go home folks, we have this under control! ”
    “ How are we going to rest with a dangerous man like this running loose? ” a woman called out. “ Yeah, and what about my roses? ”