Arcadias sighed and waved his hand dismissively. “Okay, get a chair from the dining room and have him join the others. What’s one more kidnapping charge?”

“Another consecutive life sentence at your sentencing hearing, that’s what it is,” Annie said. “You’ll die in prison.”

“I don’t like any of this, Arcadias. This started out as just an innocent treasure hunt. But now it’s all gone south. Your obsession with Laffite’s treasure is going to ruin our lives, if it hasn’t already,” Iris said.

Arcadias turned to his girlfriend. “I told you there would be risks, Iris. Don’t play dumb now. You knew what you were getting yourself into.”

“This is all about a treasure hunt?” Keith Jepson asked.

Damien entered the parlor with a dining chair. He set it down and motioned Jepson to sit in it.

“I’m afraid so, Keith,” Rafter said. “What brought you out here anyway?”

The attorney sat down in the chair. He looked at Rafter. “I discovered I have one more document for you and Annie to sign before the adoption can go through. I happened to be in town at the debate and thought I could do some business while I was here. I guess I should’ve just stayed at the debate, huh?”

Annie held out her hand to the attorney. Besides Jepson who just arrived, she was the only captive without plastic cuffs on. “Give me the document, Keith. I want to sign it.”

Jepson started to unlatch his briefcase. Arcadias intervened. “Hold up, you three can complete the signing at a more appropriate time, like when this is all over,” he said grumpily.

“Oh, let her sign the paper. What will it hurt, Arcadias? Have you no compassion at all? She just wants to be a mother,” Iris said.

Arcadias glared at Iris for a brief moment, and then turned his attention to Jepson. “Okay fine, but don’t try anything stupid and pull out something other than a document from your briefcase.”

Jepson nodded and opened his briefcase with shaky hands. He pulled out a document from on top and handed it to Annie along with a pen to sign it. “Sign it and initial it at the bottom next to the X,” he said.

Annie quickly signed and initialed the document. She looked at Arcadias. “Jon needs to sign the paper as well.”

Arcadias shook his head vigorously. “You must think I’m a fool. Your husband is keeping the plastic cuffs on. He’ll have to sign it when we’re gone...long gone.”

Annie handed the document to Jepson. The attorney placed the document back into his briefcase.

Arcadias addressed his brother. “Do you have some more plastic cuff ties?”

Damien nodded.

“Good, secure Mr. Jepson’s hands.” He then turned to Annie. “Read aloud the next entry in the Journal.”

“Read it yourself,” Annie said tartly.

Arcadias looked at Rafter. “I was once married to a feisty woman like Annie. I don’t envy you, Jon. It must be difficult for you.”

Rafter looked at his wife. Despite the fact that her clothes were torn and dirt smudged her face, she never looked so beautiful to him. And it was at that moment he realized just how much he loved her. Annie was everything to him. And if ever there were a man who’d married over his head, it was him.

He didn’t deserve Annie, but somehow he’d ended up with her. “Her wild spirit cannot be tamed, and that’s what I love most about her.” Rafter saw Annie’s eyes fill up at his admission. I should’ve said that a long time ago, he thought.

“Spunky women are the best kind if you ask me,” Ned piped up. “I’ve been married to a spunky woman for sixty-five years. I have no regrets.”

Arcadias closed his ash-colored eyes for a brief moment. When he opened his eyes they landed on Annie once more. “The only reason your hands are not tied up like the others is because you have a lovely reading voice. Now will you read, or do you wish to be tied up?”

“I’ll read,” Annie said, and opened the journal to the next entry.

Chapter 29

White Castle Cemetery—1962

Rose sat between Ned and his parents on the front row. Although the sun shone brilliantly onto the cemetery, her world seemed as black and depressing as her funeral dress.

Rose blinked her eyes, wet from having just listened to the playing of Taps. She could barely see anything. The six honor guards making up the casket team were nothing but a colorful blur as they folded the flag with solemn precision.

Bobby’s coffin rested just a few feet from where she sat. The three honor guards nearest her stood inches away. Rose bowed her head. She couldn’t watch anymore. The volleys from the firing party still reverberated in her heart like screams echoing in a lonely canyon.

Why Bobby, why did you have to try to escape the prison camp march? You probably would’ve survived had you stayed put.

She wasn’t mad at Bobby. On the contrary, her heart nearly burst with pride over his service to America. And yet she felt cheated. Her dreams of raising a family with Bobby were stolen away, never to be returned. War killed their dreams as surely as it killed Bobby and countless other young men.

They had such great plans. They were going to fill the plantation house with children. Laughter would fill every room. But now the big house was as silent as the nearby tomb where Bobby’s remains would be interred in.

Rose swallowed hard. She tried to reign in her emotions, but sobs deep within shook her body violently. For almost twenty years she’d imprisoned her grief, holding out hope that Bobby was still alive. And now she couldn’t restrain her grief any longer. Her sorrow poured out.

Rose sensed movement in front of her. She realized what would happen next and did her best to compose herself. The Hoxleys had elected her to receive the flag.

The flag presenter knelt before her. Rose wiped at her eyes with a soaked handkerchief. She wanted to see this moment.

Whoever the flag presenter was, he held a high rank. Row upon row of colorful ribbons and medals adorned his chest. And then the words came out his mouth, the words she dreaded hearing. She could no longer deny that Bobby was gone from earth.

“On behalf of the President of the United States and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”

Rose took the flag from the officer’s white-gloved hands. She tried to say “Thank you” but the words came out silent. She looked down at Old Glory resting on her lap. The stars pointed upward to the heavens—all part of the military funeral protocol.

Seconds ticked by, and then minutes. People started to leave. A few patted her shoulders as they headed for their cars. Finally, after several minutes, it was just her and the Hoxleys, the funeral director and his staff.

Rose touched Ned’s knee. “I need to ask you for a favor, Ned.”

Ned looked at her, his eyes red and puffy. “Sure thing, Rose, whatever you need.”

“My mother has taken a turn for the worse. Doctors aren’t giving her much hope. She’ll be leaving this world soon. When she does, I need to take a break from Louisiana, go somewhere different and clear my head, do some thinking. I’ll be gone for a few weeks.”

“That’s understandable, Rose. You should do that. Go have some fun. Take all the time you need.”

Rose nodded. “I need someone to look after the house and feed the dog, get my mail while I’m gone.”

“I’ll be glad to do that, Rose.”

“I’ll hire someone to mow the grass. You won’t have to do that.”

“Don’t worry about a thing, Rose. I’ll take care of it all. Your house will be in good hands.”

“Thank-you, Ned. I appreciate it.”

She started to get up, but Ned stopped her.

“Rose, there’s something I need you to understand.”

“What’s that?”