“There ya are,” Dad said with a smile as the children ran to greet him. He picked them up and gave them each a big hug and a kiss, then pulled out a caramel candy.
“You’re spoiling them, Dad,” I said as we hugged.
“Well, isn’t that what granddads are for?” he asked. He gave Danni a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, which she returned.
“So, how’s Mom doing?” I asked.
“She’s doing alright, but her arthritis is acting up a bit and she’s been pretty tired lately, so she stayed home to get some rest,” Dad said. “She said to tell y’all she loves ya and she misses ya.”
“Be sure to tell her we love her and miss her, too,” I said.
“I will,” Dad said. We planted flags and placed flowers on Grandpa’s grave, then sat and listened to Dad tell us stories about growing up with his father.
“Will Grandpa Greg come visit us the way Grandpa Elijah does?” little Elizabeth asked.
“Oh, I reckon anything’s possible,” Dad said, giving me his famous “we need to talk” look. Danni noticed the look Dad gave me and intervened.
“Come on, kids, it’s been a long day,” she said, holding out her hands. The kids grabbed her hands and left for the visitor center to use the bathrooms. When they were out of earshot, Dad turned to me.
“Have they really seen your great grandfather?” he asked. I’ve never lied to Dad before, and I wasn’t about to start now. I thought for a moment before answering.
“Yeah, Dad, they have. Several times. He comes by to visit with them, tell them stories,” I said.
“But that’s not all, is it?” Dad said. I shook my head.
“No, Dad, it’s not,” I said. Dad nodded his head as he thought.
“To tell you the truth, I’m not surprised,” he said, pulling a small box from his pocket. “Dad gave me something the day I left for boot camp back in ’78. ‘Just in case,’ he said. Then he told me something I never forgot. Claimed Grandpa Eli gave this to him the day he left Indianapolis for the war. Warned him he might face some hard times and promised him that justice was riding with him no matter what.
“Dad was convinced Grandpa Eli was watching over him, protecting him. He never told anyone about that. Grandpa Eli was your best man, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, Dad, he was,” I said. Dad chuckled as he nodded his head.
“I thought so,” he said. “Your mother thought he looked awful familiar. Who was the woman with him?”
“That was Grandma Lizzy,” I said. His eyes grew wide at that.
“Really? Who were those other fellows with him?”
“You’d never believe me, Dad,” I said.
“I don’t know. Try me,” Dad said.
“Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bill Tilghman, Wild Bill Hickok, and Bill McDonald, one of the greatest Texas Ranger captains in history.” I asked.
“Is that a fact?” Dad asked.
“Yes,” I said. “In fact, Mom even danced with them.” Dad laughed at that.
“Your mother actually danced with Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday and Wild Bill Hickok?” Dad asked.
“She sure did,” I said. “Had a pretty good time, too, as I recall. You reckon I should tell her one of these days?”
“I think she’d get a kick out of that,” Dad said. “But there’s more to this story, isn’t there?”
“Yes, Dad,” I said. “A lot more. And before you ask, yes, Danni knows all about him. I’ll tell you all about it one of these days.”
“I look forward to that,” he said. “Just do me a favor and don’t wait too long,” Dad said, wincing just a bit. “You know, son, I was going to put this on your grandfather’s headstone. But after what you just told me, I think you should have it.” He handed the box to me, and I opened it to see a small crucifix. I held it in my hand and looked on the back, where I saw the initials “EJ.” I put it back in the box and slipped it into my pocket.
“Thank you, Dad,” I said. “I appreciate it. I’m sure Grandpa would understand.”
“I’m sure he would. He thought the world of you,” Dad said, looking at Greg’s headstone. Just then, Danni and the children returned.
“Well? Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yes, everything is fine, sweetheart,” I said. “I just told Dad about Grandpa Eli.”
“I’ll bet you have some pretty interesting conversations around the dinner table,” Dad told her. Danni chuckled at that.
“Yes, you could say that. In fact, there’s hardly a dull day around our place,” she said. We talked for a bit longer, then Dad looked at his watch.
“I’d better get going,” he said. “I promised your mother I’d be home in time for dinner.” We exchanged hugs, said our goodbyes, then left for home. The children, worn out from the day’s events, fell asleep almost as soon as we hit the road out of Houston.
…
“Well, what do you think?” Adrestia asked after Max placed a new portrait on her gallery wall. It was a picture of a woman sitting in a rocking chair as slimy worms with small shark-like maws lined with sharp teeth crawled up her legs. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open in a silent, eternal scream.
“Reckon the right side needs ta come up jes’ a titch,” Eli said. Max looked at the portrait before adjusting it.
“You’re right, Eli,” Adrestia said. “But that’s not what I was talking about. I was referring to Mr. Eastland. You saw him earlier. What’s your assessment?”
“Boy’s in a world of hurt,” Eli said. “I’d like to get him outta there, take him someplace where he can get back on his feet. I’d take him to my refuge right now, but I honestly don’t think he’d survive the transition,” he added, his Texas accent all but gone. “He’s nothing but skin and bone.”
“You’re right,” Adrestia said. “So what do you suggest?”
“We need to get him outta there, legal and proper, then put some meat back on his bones,” Eli said. Adrestia looked at him before responding.
“But to do that, you need to have something to show a judge,” she said. “Something believable.”
“Why don’t I have Drake meet with him?” Max asked.
“You mean that apprentice of yers?” Eli asked.
“Yes,” Max said. “He has some very interesting mental abilities.”
“Really? Is he…”
“Immortal?” Adrestia asked, finishing Eli’s question. “No, he hasn’t progressed to that stage. At least not yet.”
“So, what can he do?” Eli asked.
“For one thing, he can download Eastland’s brain feed, and convert it to video. He can also pull enough info from that to legally nail the people abusing him,” Max said.
“Brain feed?” Eli asked.
“Yes,” Max told him. “Cameron Drake has the ability to download everything in a person’s mind, then save it to computer. From there, he can search out all of Eastland’s memories, provide video and even analyze the man’s own thoughts.”
“That sounds like it would take a while,” Eli said. “I honestly don’t think we have that much time.”
“You’re right,” Adrestia said. “Dr. Skitz will keep Eastland alive as long as the insurance money comes in. But that is about to end pretty soon. The insurance company has just about paid the maximum on Eastland’s policy for this year. When the money stops coming in, Skitz will end Eastland’s daily regimen.”
“So what do we do?” Eli asked.
“I’m in the middle of a couple cases right now, but I can make some time in the next day or so,” Adrestia said. “I’m immortal, not omnipotent, after all. Max and I can get Cameron on board and we’ll make a… wellness visit… to Mr. Eastland. I’ll give him something that will hopefully help him survive the trip to your refuge and Mr. Drake will get his brain feed.”
“Then what?” Eli asked.
“Talk to your grand-daughter-in-law,” Adrestia said. “She still has close ties to Judge Stone. Let her know the situation. Maybe she can get the judge to issue an order releasing Eastland into your custody.”
“And if she can’t?” Eli asked.
“Then we’ll free him without it,” Adrestia said.
…
The children were still asleep when we pulled into our driveway. I helped Danni get them settled into bed after a helping of leftover lasagna, then checked on the horses. I filled up their water trough, made sure they had enough hay, and went back to the house when I heard a familiar neigh. Looking around, I saw Grandpa Eli riding up to me. He stopped, climbed off his horse, and tied it to the hitching post in front of the house.
“Everything alright, Grandpa?” I asked. “We just put the kids to bed. Had a long day going to Houston.”
“Visit yer Grandpa Greg’s headstone?” Grandpa asked.
“Yeah,” I said.
“I understand you tol’ yer pa about me,” Grandpa said quietly.
“Yes,” I said. “It kinda just came out.” He smiled and nodded his head.
“Ah understand, son. Kids can say some of the darnedest things at times, can’t they?”
“They sure can, Grandpa,” I said, laughing. “Dad gave me something today,” I said, reaching into my pocket. I pulled out the box with the crucifix and showed it to Grandpa. “Says you gave it to my Grandpa Greg right before World War II.”
“Sure did, son,” Grandpa said. “Yer grandpa went through hell in that war. Ah wanted ta make sure he got back home safe. I’m mighty glad yer pa gave that to ya. You hang onto it, y’hear me?”
“I will,” I said. “So, what brings you by this evening?”
“I need to talk to you and Danni about a case I’m working on,” Eli said. I noticed that his accent was gone and realized this was something serious.
“Of course. We’ll do whatever we can to help,” I said. “C’mon in.” Grandpa followed me into the house and gave Danni a hug. “Care for a beer?” I asked.
“Of course, son,” Grandpa said. I grabbed three beers from the refrigerator and motioned for Grandpa and Danni to follow me to the back porch. When we got there, I pulled out the small metal case Grandpa had given me and offered him a cigarette, which he readily accepted. I pulled one for myself and lit both our cigarettes.