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~*~* Buried Jewels*~*~ ----Part Four---- *Blue* |
------*~*Buried Jewels*~*~------
Part Four
----***A Bond of Friendship***----
CHAPTER VII
Opening up the package, Julie had discovered, there was a great deal of money in an envelope, there was also a plane ticket and reservations for Julie to fly to Ho Chi Minh City. She would be meeting with Juan Chang Lao. There were further written instructions for her.
The words written by her father, kept echoing in her mind. Don’t give up Hope, Your brother is alive. She believed Sinbad V-Alpha-S-W-R-Charlie was somehow connected to Michael and it had something to do with her father’s contact or maybe Michael’s location.
When she was thinking about her dad’s code name. , realizing that it was something she would know, her father said in the letter, she would know, there was more to this then Julie had realized right now, her father would have never used codes unless something was terribly wrong, especially if there was someone he felt he couldn’t trust.
Suddenly, it dawned on her, maybe she had been going about this all wrong, of course obviously, Michael was Sinbad Alpha who was Alpha? The only Charlie, she ever remembered as a child was Charlie Abernathy, he would sometimes go riding with them…
He had been Captain Hook., Charlie‘s dad, what was his name? Though he had passed away a few years ago, his name began with a V she was almost sure of it and he owned South Wind Ranch, that was it!…But what about the Alpha? Where does that play into all of this?
It must be something so obvious to both she and Michael, yet so unordinary to someone else., Only they; she and her brother and dad would have known. Memories of him so vividly clear, as if it were yesterday, remembering him laughing teasing them, giving them code names, she recalled one late Summer evening, he had been listening to them while they were playing.
Pretending to fly or ride into enemy camp. She asked herself. Who would they have trusted, without a doubt, their dad, mother, and other family members and friends. Yes, that was it; friends they had known all their lives, Charlie had to be her father’s contact, the only obvious one to her, he had been in Vietnam with her brother.
The house phone rang. She answered. It was Greg telling her the vet had arrived. She locked up the house and walked to the barn, the vet met her as she went inside. “Miss Tracy.” Good evening, Mr. Webb how are you?” Julie asked. “The baby is too weak to turn, I’m afraid it is going to be a difficult birth, it’s breach.” Mark Webb said.
The three of them worked with the mare until 3:00am when at last, the filly was born. “Oh she’s beautiful.” Julie exclaimed. “Now, we need to get her up on those spindly legs.” Greg laughed. The vet worked with the mare getting her back up. While Greg and Julie was helping the little filly onto those scrawny wobbly legs. “Look at her head, she looks like a little pumpkin“ Julie laughed…Yeah, she does, look like a Pumpkin head. “Greg agreed.
They both agreed to name her …Goblin Mountain’s Wind Dancer, Gobby for short. She is absolutely beautiful.” Greg said. Julie paid Mark Webb after he had given Greg antibiotics for the mare; Abigail. Michael and Julie had named all their animals, human names. He had loved Jonah; their German shepherd, he was always wrestling around with him. “There is something I would like to talk to you about, Greg.” Julie said.
“How about we ride in to town and get something to eat at Mary’s and we’ll discuss it.” Greg offered. Julie smiled. “I’ll get my jacket.” They stopped off at the house, she went in to get her purse, leaving a light on in the kitchen and locked the door behind her.
After ordering their food, Julie had decided to trust Greg and mentioned the package her dad had left for her. As much as she cared for her uncle he had really done all that he could, this was her problem not his. “So You believe Charlie is your dad’s contact?” Greg asked her. “Yes, I do, I cannot be 100% certain but it’s the only logical answer,
Charlie would visit us when Michael and I were kids and we often played up on the hill with Jimmy Jacobs, however I don‘t understand, the Alpha.” She finished. “That is simple enough, old Veronnis Amburgey has a brother named Alpha.” Greg said. Are you kidding?” Julie asked incredulous.
“No I am not kidding, I think he’s still living, out on Redmond Road, the last I heard and another thing, I do know he was in Nam; he did a tour of duty there, then returned home retired from the service.” Greg said.
Julie was thoughtful, what would Veronnis Amburgey’s brother have to say about my brother?” Julie asked. “One way to find out, how about we take a drive out there in the morning?” Greg offered. ‘We’ll do that. Apparently my father knew something that we don’t.” Julie finished.
Greg insisted on paying for the meal, when someone walked into the café. Greg turned to get a good look at him, sizing him up. He looked to be in his mid twenties maybe thirty. Julie watched the man when he glanced her way, tipped his white Stetson in her direction.
CHAPTER VIII
Julie and Greg walked out the door, telling the Owners; Ross and Mary King, goodnight. There was a comfortable silence on the drive back to the farm. When Julie spoke first. “I wonder who the newcomer was.” Greg was silent for only a second. “I was wondering the same myself. We don’t get very many strangers around here too often. He said.
“ There was something that seemed remotely familiar about him…But I have been thinking, I believe I should prepare for the trip.” She stated. “You aren’t planning to go alone? Greg asked her. “What other choice do I have, there are a few things I need to do, after we find Alpha Amburgey later today, but first things first, we need some sleep.” She laughed.
Greg was thoughtful. “Miss Tracy, forgive me if I seem rude, I know it’s really none of my business but I really don’t think you should take this trip alone, a woman in a foreign country, any thing could happen, I don‘t think Your father would have wanted you to do this on your own.” He said. “I will be fine, Greg, of course there are a few things I will need to take care before I leave but I know You understand, this is something I must do.” Julie finished.
When they turned into the drive. Greg drove the truck as close to the back door as he dared. When he saw something move from his side mirror. “Don’t get out!.” He said. Alarmed, Julie asked. “What is it, did you see something?” “I saw something move passed your car, a shadow moving on the other side of the house.” Greg said.
The drive was angled at a slope, driving up You couldn’t see one side of the split-foyer Ranch-style house., but as soon as one drove up, there was the side two-car garage and either taking the entrance around back to the kitchen door, going through the garage or the front entrance of the house, but no one used the front entrance, Frank had always used the back entrance or went through the garage and his daughter did the same.
With the house being situated with the front facing Down hill, you couldn’t see in the back at all, it would be easy for someone to get the drop, on someone, seemingly coming from out of nowhere, surprising a person. Greg believing that Julie should get a dozer in here, bringing the drive all the way around to the back as well, what made matters worse was the dividing rock wall.
Between the double car garage and the entrance to the kitchen. Greg, leaned over opening the compartment in the dashboard, reaching inside for his pistol. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.” He stated. The tone in his voice brooked no argument. “Be careful.” She said. Greg gave her a nod, when he got out of the truck. She leaned over, locking the driver side of the door.
He walked around the side of the house, careful not to give away his presence. He looked over the dividing rock wall, seeing nothing, when he heard something coming from around the back side of the patio. He strained to listen hearing a cow in the distance. He walked along close to the side of the house.
When he heard whining, then again. He turned the corner of the house, seeing the culprit.. in fact four culprits, a mother dog and her three pups. Apparently someone dropped them off deciding they wanted nothing to do with a ready-made family.
He walked to the clearing in view of his truck, Waving at Julie. She got out when he motioned for her to join him. He smiled pointing. “Look who didn’t need an invitation and decided to drop by to see you.” He said, smiling again. Julie looked for herself, seeing a German shepherd with three very young pups. She laughed. “What are you going to do with them?” Greg asked her.
“Keep them.” She simply said. He laughed again. “How did I already know that?” She glanced at him, then smiled. “Hmm, I wonder whether we should disturb them tonight or wait until in the morning to introduce them to farm life? Though I bet they are hungry, starved.” Julie taking notice of the mother, she looked real thin.
Julie found her keys inside her purse, unlocking the kitchen door. Greg followed her inside. Sitting her purse on the island countertop., she looked throughout the kitchen cabinets and in the pantry for some food to give to the dogs.
“I know I saw a bag of dog food in here somewhere, the other day, apparently dad had a soft spot for strays, he would keep an extra bag just in case one came along, he was always like that.” She said. Finding the bag of Kibbles and bits, Julie opened it, then turning on the back light leading out to the patio on the west side of the house.
She looked at the dogs. The mother; cautiously watched her. Julie gave a short whistle. “Here, girl, I won’t hurt you or your babies, look what I have here.” She coaxed in a gentle voice. Finding a dish, she poured the dog food, sitting it down on the concrete patio. “Come on, it’s ok.” She said.
The German shepherd watched her, then as if sniffing the air, picking up Julie’s scent and the enticing smell of the food. She slowly walked toward it. Her pups followed in pursuit of their mama. Julie cautiously held her hand out for the dog to smell. She put her nose in Julie’s hand, then wagged her tail. Julie gave her praise, reaching down petting her. Then leaving her alone to eat.
Greg had been watching from inside the kitchen. In amazement, how many people would take a chance with a full grown dog and one with pups at that, reaching out their hand to pet them. He had cringed inside, waiting for the mother dog to lash out biting her, but instead she sniffed her hand and seemed to gladly accept the friendship.
Then, again how many would willingly take in a grown dog with three young pups? Thinking we don’t give animals enough credit. Perhaps the dog sensed Julie’s love for all animals, knowing where to come, who would care; taking them in, a bond of friendship when they needed a home the most.
Morning came early. Once again Julie felt as though she had gotten only an hour of sleep. When she heard scratching on the back door. She got up, sleepily walked toward the side door where she had fed the mother dog last night or should she say, this morning.
She pulled the handle for the vertical blinds and saw standing there the mother dog with her babies snuggled against her while she was thumping her tail against the concrete. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She really was a very pretty dog, although she needed to have some weight put back on her.
Julie unlocked the patio door, opening it wide. Good Morning, Ladybug how are you and your babies this morning?” She said. The mother dog answered with another wag of her tail. “ Are we hungry again?” Julie wondered how long they had gone without food. She had an idea, nothing like leaving a door open wide without saying a word, offering an invitation for her new family to come inside.
She left the patio door open, reaching inside the pantry, for the bag of dog food and went back out onto the steps to get the bowl she had left out earlier that morning. She poured a large portion of food into the bowl, but didn’t leave it outside, she looked at the mother dog, then went back inside, taking the food with her.
“Come on girl.” Julie said. Washing her hands, Then, went to the refrigerator, searching for the packages of sausage and bacon to prepare breakfast. She was in the middle of putting the biscuits in the oven when Greg knocked upon the door, Julie waved her hand, he walked in. “I see your guests are ready to eat again.” He commented.
She smiled at him. “Well, she hasn’t decided whether she can fully trust me or not, but I was thinking with her smelling the food and the breakfast cooking, the temptation will be too great and she will have to venture in sooner or later.” She replied.
He laughed getting up form the barstool, looking out the door, watching her as she sit on the patio, her pups playing close by. “I think you’ve made a friend, well friends should I say.” He said. Julie stirred the scrambled eggs, then turning off the stove burners, she reached into the top cabinet for plates and silverware.
She smiled at Greg, motioning him to look at the door. “Here she comes.” She laughed. ‘She knows who the great cook is.” Greg said. Julie laughed. She had made enough gravy to feed an Army having poured some gravy over the mother‘s dog food.
Normally she wouldn’t do that, but the dog was so malnourished, if she didn’t get some food in her, with her pups still nursing, she would likely die from lack of the vitamins and minerals she needed.
The gravy had cooled by the time the mother dog came inside. She looked around and then smelled the food. Cautiously wearily she walked to the dog food bowl, sniffing. But then she, looked up at Julie and Greg and went back outside. Julie and Greg looked at each other, surprised. When suddenly the mother dog reappeared with her pups.
She was going to feed her pups first. The most selfless thing, Julie had seen in several years. She spoke to the mother dog. “Go ahead girl, let them eat, then I’ll fix you a special treat, there’s more where that came from.” Julie said soothing the dog.
Before she began the clean-up, she added more gravy and dog food after the pups had gotten their fill, afterward the mother was obviously satisfied, having eaten all she had wanted after her pups. Julie reached in the cupboard, putting a chewy bone for the mother, into the bowl.
It having vitamins and minerals. Her dad had gotten it for a Collie that came to the house a few weeks ago and then disappeared. The mother grabbed the bone taking it outside, her pups followed. She finished the dishes, putting them away.
They both walked out onto the patio, standing watching the mother dog play with her pups. When Greg commented. “I believe she knows she has sure found a best friend in You.” He smiled. |
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| Alias | Date | Reply |
| Epox |
3/18/2006 3:39:00 PM |
I'm going to part 5 now. Do the dogs symbolize anything? |
| ky_bluebird |
3/19/2006 1:50:00 AM |
Hmm, I cannot give it away now can I??? *lol* ok a ~Hint~.....Julie's Brother Michael had always loved their German shepherd and basically all animals., But the dogs which came to Julie's home have bonded with Julie only., it seems other then the pup; Max whom has taken up with Greg.....The Dogs really bond with Matthew Travers, besides what's in a name??? Remember that part it basically gives it away...~smiles~....~Love and Hugs~, Sis.....Take/Care! |
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