Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The French Chateau Case. Chapter 5. Missing Fitters.
Jennifer caught Cynthia in the kitchen talking to the cats and overheard what she was saying, which is why she asked how old she was. “Um, are, are you going to tell Steve right away?” asked Cynthia, “Please, could you wait until after Mandar talks with him? Otherwise I will not have a chance. I have memorized the rule book and know that someone must be 18 or older to join.
But Mandar has such a cool way of talking and maybe he can convince Steve to give me a chance anyway. I just want a chance. I can be really helpful in many ways.” Then she got some cups out of the cupboard for the coffee and knocked two of them on the floor, breaking them. That is when she swore, fairly loud, just as Sky was walking into the kitchen.
“Well Midnight,” she said, quite discouraged, “guess it is back home for us.” Meower.=That okay, we have each other, two missing fitters. Cynthia hugged him. Jewel put her head down when she heard they would be leaving. Sky asked what was going on and Cynthia told her story to Sky and Jennifer. She had been in a foster home since she was 1 after her mom died, and swearing was encouraged in that home.
As she grew up she finally could hardly say 3 words without swearing. She had been put in a special school for kids that did not fit in regular schools. “We learned a lot, but nothing good,” she said, “we learned to drink, do drugs, steal, fight, lie, cheat, if it was bad, we learned how to do it.” She had been abused by her foster dad from the age of 6 to 10, when she was moved to a special orphanage for misfits.
That is what they were told repeatedly. Then when she was 14 Mandar was touring the orphanage and spotted her. She treated Mandar terribly, calling him names and swearing at him. But he took her out, gave her a job and began teaching her, correctly. Sky and Jennifer went to talk with me in the library and I then called Cynthia who came right away bringing in coffee for me and Baldwin, plus tea for Mandar.
I put Cynthia out to the team and we held a vote and she was accepted 100%. Cynthia is just 16 but is amazing at solving puzzles, problems and can fight well, use a handgun as good as Sky, Jennifer, Kat and Dawn. Mandar had a man he recommended to us also, Wee Willie, he called him. At 6ft 3 inches and 250 lbs, he seemed quite big. Rock had a cousin come out to help us right away too, Bear, and he was 6ft 4 inches and 280lbs.
Astrid brought a friend back with her also, Oskar, 6ft 2inches and 240lbs. All were voted in as members right away, but would still have to pass our tests later. Well, by the time everyone had returned, it was too late in the day for us to do anything. “We will get an early start in the morning,” I said, “Matt could not give us anything to help, the men arrived in armored trucks, light brown in color, but no identification on them.
They knew about our abilities obviously, which is why they used such vehicles. They moved quickly, knowing exactly what to do ahead of time. They were well prepared, knew the layout of our chateau and said nothing while here, apparently, according to a couple of the girls. Instead of taking their wounded, they shot them in the head to kill them so they could not talk.
This is tied to our case at the other chateau, I’m sure, so that is where we will start in the morning, so be ready to leave early. Teams 5 and 6 will remain behind to guard things, Team 4 will come with us. Teams 1 and 2 are guarding the clinic, Team 3 will be here unless we need them. Sky will stay behind on the computer, Honey will stay to help with the girls, Snow, Tiia and Bandit will also stay behind. Get some sleep, we leave early.”
“Cynthia,” said Sky, “I am making you one of Steve’s bodyguards, letter A. Do you know what that means?” “I never let him out of my sight,” she replied. “Good,” said Sky, “unless Steve needs you for something else, then he will replace you.” With our new members, there are 23 of us, mad as hornets, plus 9 from Team 4. We left early in the morning and arrived at the other chateau around 7am.
That should catch them at home. Muffin, Rusty and Ginger immediately went off looking for the cats outside. Amazingly, my back was feeling incredibly good. I went to the door and Aari opened it, but when he saw me he began to close the door again. However, Rock pushed the door open and in we all went…
To Be Continued.
©2024 Steve McLeod.
Saturday Stories. #16 Hiking, Part 2.
Good morning everyone and welcome back to Saturday Stories and we are continuing our hike which we began last week. This story is from years ago when a friend and I went on one of our hikes. It was spring and a very nice, sunny and warm day. If you missed Part 1 just click on HERE, then click the tab box that shows up. So, we had made it to our destination and while we were having lunch a bear decided to join us.
Krissy and I got away to higher ground before he showed up however, but we left the remains of our lunch behind so that hopefully the bear would leave us alone. “At least we ate some of our lunch before the bear showed up,” I said. “But that is my chocolate cake he is eating,” said Krissy sighing, “I baked that for you.” “He is eating my cake?” I asked, “Okay bear, enough of you!”
Black Bear getting at my bird feeder.
I then tossed a rock down the hill hoping to scare him away. That rock hit a larger rock which then tumbled down the hill scaring the bear away. “You did it!” exclaimed Krissy. We went down to see if anything was left. “That big rock is sitting on the cake,” said Krissy, just staring. I pushed the rock aside and she was right, the cake had been right underneath the rock. “Amazing how it landed right there,” I said.
Krissy sighed again. We decided to start heading back since we had that big hill to climb again. Because of the direction the bear ran, I thought we should maybe go back a bit before climbing the hill. It was much steeper in this area however, but Krissy loved that part. She liked a challenge. We then hit a tougher area of that climb.
Another pic of him.
We had made it to a ledge but it was straight up from there to the next ledge about 10 feet higher. “That is not far,” said Krissy. “But there is nothing to hold onto,” I said. “Stand on my shoulders,” said Krissy. “I think it would be better for you to stand on my shoulders,” I said. “But I won’t be able to lift you up,” she replied, “you can lift me. And I’m strong enough to let you stand on my shoulders briefly.”
I was not so sure about that, but she was right, she could never lift me up once she was on that next ledge. She got down and I climbed onto her shoulders and she stood up, shaking a bit. This is not going to work, but I had to go fast or Krissy would never be able to hold me. I stood up, grabbed a small tree on the next ledge and I was soon standing there looking at Krissy.
Now he is on the ground munching on sunflower seeds from a hanging feeder that he broke.
This next part should be fun. I did have some rope which she tied around herself, and I tied the other end around a tree. Then I proceeded to pull her up. It worked quite nicely. From this ledge it was somewhat easier to make the rest of the climb. Once at the top we sat down to relax and enjoy the view. Krissy started sneezing. “My head is pounding,” she said. “You better not be getting worse,” I said. “If I do you will have to look after me,” she said, “remember what mom told you.”
“Yes, she did mention something about that,” I said. We still have to climb down this hill on the other side, and that was the steep side. We walked over to the other side and looked down. “Wow, this is going to be fun!” exclaimed Krissy. “It is going to be very a steep climb down,” I said. “That is what makes it so fun,” she added. Well, guess we will have to wait until next time to find out how that went. I hope you all have a great weekend and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2024 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 