Hortons Bend

so don’t worry. We’re good.” Brody muttered thank you and waited for her to speak again. “Paul I just have a few other things to say. I won’t bring this up again. Ever. Whatever was out there shook me up so that’s that. The other thing is….well……..you need to let this go. Don’t go back there Paul. Just stay the hell out of Horton’s Bend. Think of yourself. But mainly think of Lacy. Something’s out there alright. But you don’t need to find it. Nobody does. It needs to stay where it is. Just let this go. OK?” Brody agreed to her wishes but felt himself reverting back to his lying ways. How could he tell her what his plans for tonight involved? Brody realized he was grateful for her loyalty but knew he could tie up the loose ends tonight and walk away. He knew within his heart that he may never be satisfied knowing what lay beneath the soil but it was not worth the risk. He promised to see her Monday to finish the inventory as quickly as possible so that Darwin could make her future plans become concrete. Brody’s lies to Darwin caused him to think of other lies that he might have committed that day.
    They weren’t really lies. Brody simply didn’t divulge his and Darwin’s visit to Horton’s Bend to Jeanie. He didn’t see any reason and she had been the one coming out and stunning him with her request. It was all too much to absorb any more. The one sure thing he did know was that it was almost behind him. His thoughts began to center on Mrs. King’s visit and a plan that they conceived for Saturday night. Brody would arrive at Jeanie’s house and wait until close to sunset. At near dark, he would hide in the cab of her truck and she would drive him out to the Horton place. Brody would slip out of the vehicle with the plate and walk down onto the river’s flood plain. He didn’t know what he would do with it once he got there. Probably get the hell out as quick as possible. He knew he wasn’t going to cover it up. At least not with a shovel. Brody had no regrets about the upcoming trip to Horton’s Bend but he did have mixed feelings in wishing that at least he should photograph the copper plate. It was just the archaeologist in him but he was slowly letting it go. All of it.
    Chapter 13
    Brody slept very little Friday night. He and Lacy enjoyed a foreign film on the IFC channel and found himself getting sleepy around 10pm. They said their goodnights but Brody continued to stare at the ceiling until well after 1am. He caught himself exhaling somewhat loudly and stopped as to not disturb his wife. No sense rousing in suspicion in Lacy. Not when so much rode on her trust. His days of betrayal would soon be behind him once he carried out this last act of attrition. It seemed bordering on a crusade. Lingering doubts rose and upset him once again. Why in the world is he doing this for the old woman? He owed nothing to Jeanne King. He was sorry for her losses but all of that was before he even moved into this area. He had heard of her oldest son through local collectors who had great admiration for his interest in the local history. The youngest son, J.W., was rarely mentioned by the collectors and it was mere happenstance that he found out the young man was in a coma. Brody certainly felt for her troubles but could do very little to help that situation. He suspected that a nursing home or convalescent center lay in his future. Brody shifted the pillows again to feel the cool side of the pillow. Short of getting up to watch some late night television he didn’t think he would ever fall into slumber. It eventually came though just as it does to everyone.
    As Brody finally found rest, Ragland and Curtis were making their way to their own humble abodes. Each had a stomach ache from the onions on some chili dogs that had eaten earlier. Neither man was used to “stake out” food as Ragland called it. Ragland was the most relieved of the two in their ability to go home since Curtis was about to change his mind when a dark SUV had pulled next to theirs around 11pm. It was Steve Price who decided to check up on them. He explained that he had ridden out earlier and could not find them parked anywhere. Curtis admitted that they had ridden to the store to get a quick bite to eat and that they had returned as quickly as possible. Price did indeed feel some compassion for these two but neither could tell it on his face. He was curt and to the point when speaking to them but told the weary spies