Unsettled Graves: A Crossroads of Kings Mill Novel (The Crossroads of Kings Mill Book 3) (13 page)

Camden and Joshua high-fived each other as the men of South Carolina forcefully made their way across the orchard to face the enemy head on. The scene was seamless. Tonya didn’t know where the present ended and the past began. There was a collective gasp all around her as, once again, the blue cross of stars on the red linen cloth wavered and fell. Seconds later, it rose again and Jared lay buried in the fray of others continuing their march forward.

Her heart stopped. She wanted to rush out there and see if he was okay. Was he wounded or had this been a mortal blow? Either way, he’d been trampled over like a pile of leaves. The stampede might have killed him. Vickie held onto her, holding her back. Could she see what she was witnessing?

Running feet and Camden literally screaming broke her out of the fog she’d been immersed in.

“Did I just see that kid disappear?” Camden’s dad asked among the voices of the rest of the group, all asking what had just happened. “What’s going on here?”

Camden turned to her, his face ashen, his eyes wide, frightened and glowing with unshed tears as he looked from her to Vickie, silently searching for answers to why Joshua was no longer sitting in front of him. The boy had just vanished into thin air.

Tonya couldn’t focus. Nothing helped. Not the coffee, the long talks with Vickie, or her dad deciding to stay home with her and work from home at Kenneth’s insistence to get her through everything that had happened in such a short time.

Camden’s parents had not been amused when the Wilton Women explained the truth about what they had witnessed. Neither one believed the whole ‘ghost’ phenomenon or Tonya’s ability to ‘touch the past’. Now she knew where Camden had gotten his attitude. His father had been a real piece of work, insisting that he would make everyone who’d influenced his son in such a negative way, pay…and pay dearly.

Tonya had taken Camden back to his apartment after the reenactment to recover from his father’s vicious blow out in Gettysburg. Mark Phillip’s had informed his son that he was to pack his bags and they would leave as soon as they got back to Kings Mill. They weren’t going to stay another minute around the crazy, ghost worshipers.

The man had been unreasonable, narrow-minded and at moments, just nasty…to everyone, mostly her for influencing Camden to believe in all the hocus pocus crap. When they had reached his apartment complex, all Camden was worried about was what had happened to Jared and Joshua…his father be damned.

“They’re gone. All I know is somehow I was able to get Jared back to his proper place in time. According to Andrew, he thought he saw Jared’s soul cross over when he’d been struck down by the musket ball to his chest on the battlefield.”

“What about Josh? Where the hell did he go?”

“I don’t know. Maybe a part of him was tied to some outcome of the battle. After all, he was a child of the Soldiers Orphanage. Maybe seeing the battle set him free?”

They’d sat quietly on the couch. Tonya hadn’t known what more to say and Camden had become quiet and distraught. He’d withdrawn into himself trying to come to terms with everything.

“Maybe you should get packed. You’re parents said they’d come to get you as soon as they checked out of Millie’s. I don’t want your dad to…”

“Fuck my dad!” Camden exploded. “He has no idea…
none
! Not about me, what I want, or what’s happened to me since I’ve been here.”

“What’s happened? Other than you now believe in ghosts…and time travel.” Tonya laughed, trying to make light of the awkwardness.

“I’ve learned there are bigger things in life than the high and mighty Phillips’ name. Hell, even Kenneth Miles isn’t as power hungry or a control freak as my father and he’s an international billionaire.”

“Everybody is different. Truthfully, I think your father cares about you. It’s just he doesn’t know how to show it.”

“No. You don’t understand. My dad wants me to be NFL material because he couldn’t be. His living his dream through me. Always has. It’s always been about Mark Phillips…the prestige, the perfect wife, perfect son, perfect job…playing the part of the perfect family.”

Tonya had seen that but tried to find a positive outlook.

The doorbell rang, and at first, Camden had no desire to answer it. He knew it was his folks. He reluctantly opened the door and his father barged his way in.

“Where are your bags?”

“I’m not going with you.” Camden folded his arms across his chest. “I’m twenty-two, I can make my own decisions as an adult.”

Mark walked over and stood toe to toe with his son. “You don’t want to make a scene, Cam. Get your stuff and we will discuss this later…when you are in a rational state of mind and not being
influenced
.” The slur was intentional. The hatred on his father’s face towards her was palpable.

“The only thing Tonya has influenced me with is to learn what an ass I was when I came here. She taught me to care about something and someone bigger than myself, which is something I think all of us can take a lesson in.”

Tonya cringed. She knew Camden had pushed the limit with his father when the bulging vein in Mark’s forehead stood out in relief. He man’s perfect jaw hardened even more so as he flexed and unflexed his fists at his side.

“You have five minutes to put your stuff together, son.” His voice was deadly calm and straight forward.

“Count away. I’m not leaving.” Camden stood his ground.

The forceful slap echoed around the apartment before Camden was literally slammed up against the wall, his father’s forearm across his throat.

Tonya and his mother gasped at the same time.

“Do not defy me…
ever
!” Mark’s arm flattened against his son’s throat even more. Camden made a slight choking sound.

Tonya rushed forward, trying to pull Mark away from Camden. “Stop! Leave him alone! You’re hurting him!”

“Get out.” Mark flung her away.

Stumbling, Tonya fell on the couch but rebounded. Now it was her turn to stand her ground. She wasn’t going to go anywhere with Camden’s life in danger from his own father.

“No…I’ll call the cops.”

Mark laughed. “You do that, little girl. Go ahead…we’ll see how far that goes.” He turned back to his son and pressed a bit more against his throat. “Tell her to leave, Cam. You really don’t want her to see us like this.”

The evil in the man’s face, his intentions, it was clear. The longer she stayed, the more he would hurt Camden. She looked to her friend. He stood rigid, no emotion showing, no fear…nothing. His Adam’s apple bobbed against his father’s arm.

“I’ll be okay, Tonya. Go on. I’ll see you later.”

But he never did. He was gone that evening.

#

“How’s the paper coming?” April asked a week after Camden had left.

“It’s not.” Tonya got up from her workstation to put a file she’d been working on back into the file cabinet. It was a good time to do so. She really didn’t want to discuss her paper. She didn’t want to discuss anything.

“Time’s ticking away. You have to have it turned in by next week.”

“On what? The Susquahanna tribe is extinct. I’ve researched every avenue I can and it reads like a boring text book. Where the tribes were located, the skirmishes, the disease, and of course, the final massacre up near Lancaster…there is nothing new to tell.”

“I think you’ve just hit a wall and with the past week of things happening, it’s emotionally thrown you for a loop. Trust me, I’ve been there.”

“I’m fine. Jared is back where he belongs in his time…I’m learning to deal with my whole time fluctuation issue thanks to Vickie.” She shrugged. “What more could I want?”

“A phone call from Camden?” April raised her eyebrows. “An explanation why he decided to go out for the varsity team?”

“I know why. Mark Phillips is why.” She slammed the filing cabinet closed. A part of her wished she’d have called the cops on the ass after the way he’d treated her friend.

All she carried about was the fact she’d seen him on the latest video of William & Mary’s football team in practice for opening day in September. At least he wasn’t dead. Camden was the backup quarterback to this year’s senior guy. He was good out on the field but she knew from some of the close-ups, his heart just wasn’t in it.

“Where do you want me this weekend for the Block-Off Main Street Festival?” Tonya asked, changing her focus to something more positive. Other than the James Addison festival every November, this was Kings Mill’s first year to hold an event of this kind. The downtown businesses had gotten together to host the third weekend in July as a huge block party kind of festival.

“I want you to take the weekend off. Have some fun,” April said.

“Really? You of all people know that I need something to focus on. Don’t do this to me, April.”

“You’ve been working too hard. First on this paper and then with everything happening lately…I think you need some time.”

Tonya pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m going to be at the volunteer recruiting booth anyway. You know I will, so just tell me where to set up.”

“Fine. Can you take the morning shift? I have a tour at the mill in the morning, but I will be there around one o’clock to relieve you. I’m having everything placed at the northeast corner of Main and Addison. Charlie will be by right after the parade around ten o’clock to set up the canopy and table.”

“I can stay there all day if you want. I was planning on taking my notebook and working on my paper in between guests.” She had to have the paper finished and turned in by the following Tuesday. The paper so far was nothing. It wasn’t going to get her anywhere.

“We’ll see. I know we’re short staffed since three of our volunteers are going away on summer vacation but I think we can manage. Aunt Vickie and my mother have also volunteered to help if needed.”

Tonya smiled wanly. “If they want to stop by and keep me company that would be great. But really, I’ll be fine.” She returned her attention to her paper.

“Tonya…” April sighed.

Lifting her gaze from the blue glare of her laptop, Tonya couldn’t bear the pity in April’s facial expressions or tone of voice. “You’ve worked so hard on this paper…I really hope you get this scholarship.”

“Yeah. Me, too.”

But there was nothing to write about that hadn’t already been said. The paper was going to be in Dr. Moreland’s slush pile.

#

With her backpack of supplies and folding sports chair flung over her shoulders, Tonya rode from her old high school to be dropped off by the transit bus at the far end of East Addison. The local mass transit buses had hired some of the public school buses to cart people into town from local high schools where people could park and ride into the closed off areas of town. Visitors spent two dollars per person for an all-day pass, but her little red, white and blue volunteer button got her in for free.

An old abandoned warehouse district had been refurbished into small shops and specialty stores. The large field across from it had been converted into the bus stop for the weekend event. The stores in the warehouse were taking full advantage of the beautiful, busy Saturday morning to bring out their wares for an outdoor Sidewalk Sales to entice the visitors into shopping right off the bus.

The Coffee Nut was one of the stores. They had free coffee and bagels for volunteers, so Tonya grabbed her meal and headed to her position, three blocks away on the corner of Main and Addison, the main intersection of town. Her odd point of contention. People walked over the cobbled area without a thought. Nothing happened. The intersection was just bricks. The Kings Mill Police Department had barricaded the streets earlier so it was odd not to see any activity other than pedestrian traffic, walking across the bricks.

The canopy tent, two plastic folding tables, and chairs leaned up against the Bank of Kings Mill building on the corner. April said Charlie, one of the Historical Societies custodians, was going to put it up for her after the parade. So she unfolded her canvas sports chair and got comfortable to watch the race and parade until then.

Tonya.

Someone called her name. Looking around there were only a smattering of people in the area. No one she recognized or who might know her. Then again, the wispy sounding voice could’ve been someone calling out to another girl named Tonya.

The block party weekend event was going to be big. The local restaurants were going open air, vendors and street shows were scheduled every hour on various intersections, local bands and every organization in town was hosting an information table or something to show their support for Kings Mill community. It was a big deal, kicking off with a 10k fun run followed by a parade.

Millie told her the tavern was booked the entire weekend weeks in advance. The mill site was extending their exhibits to include more activities for town visitors. All day passes from the downtown event got you into the historic mill site and a free homemade cookie.

Eating her bagel Tonya knew she should be working on her paper while waiting for the race to end since she was basically at the finish line. But there was too much going on. So she people watched as stores opened, bringing out their sales, restaurants set up their patio tables and cordoned off their areas… and people continued to walk, unphased, over the old cobblestone square. But she still wasn’t comfortable.

Tonya.

There it was again. Who was calling her name? Her phone buzzed, letting her know she had a text message. She looked at the number. It wasn’t one she knew or had programmed into her smartphone.

Hi Tonya. Camden here. Sorry, using a friend’s phone. Dad disconnected mine, permanently.

She typed back: Are you okay? I haven’t heard from you. I saw you made the football team… Go Tribe!

Uh…yeah. Thanks.

It’s been kind of dull around here lately. Miss working with you…Miss you.

Miss you, too. Good luck on your paper next week.

You, too.

Right. Gotta go. Talk with you later.

She hated getting texts. It was hard to know what the other person was actually feeling. Unless they used emoticons. But at least she knew he was okay. She’d debated to add the fact she missed him. It wasn’t like they’d been dating or serious but she did miss him, even fighting with him.

So his dad had taken his phone away. Tonya wondered what else he’d taken away to keep Camden in line. It didn’t seem fair. And as brief as the conversation was, something just didn’t feel right.