The Thrill Seekers: Derbyshire Castle

By Dan Weatherington

Like so many of the nouveau rich, Lynn and David Logan first sought excitement by buying things like cars, houses and this castle. But, in time, buying things became boring and the two traveled the world looking for excitement. They had climbed the Himalayas, swam with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa and they had been sky diving over some of the world’s most beautiful places. When that too became boring, they sought excitement by helping those who couldn’t help themselves. They still loved helping others. It still excited them to no end. Today, they were visiting a remnant of their desire to buy things. They had seen pictures, but today they would see Derbyshire Castle for the first time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dan Weatherington
• Release date: Aug 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301990764

Dan Weatherington

Dan Weatherington was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, the only son of Harry Rodman and Mary Weatherington. Much of his childhood was spent at his aunt's home on the Pamlico River, the influence of which is obvious in his novel Brandywine Bay. And, influences of which are shown in the novel The Seventh Gift of God. Dan attended grammar school in Raleigh and high school at Carlisle Military School in Bamberg, South Carolina. His college years were spread between The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, the University of South Carolina and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He and Judy married in August 1969 and remain married today. She worked to allow him to complete school and together they have two children, Wendy and Leslie. At age 31, Dan was elected to join the Masons. By the time he was forty, he had found a niche in Masonic research and writing. Most of his work has been of a Masonic nature and has been published in Masonic publications throughout the United States and Canada. He is Dean Emeritus of Wilkerson College, North Carolina's College of Freemasonry, has been the Chair of the Committee on Masonic Education of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina for several years and writes quarterly columns for the Philalethes, a publication of an international Masonic research society. In addition, he publishes the Lodge Night Program, a quarterly educational booklet distributed to almost four hundred Masonic lodges across North Carolina. The novel Recognizing Prince Hall will hopefully be a tribute to the gallant men who have done much to erase racism in North Carolina Masonry and their efforts to accomplish this task. His novel Blemished Harvest documents his career in the Mortgage Banking industry and how he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1986. While many would have given up after such a diagnosis, Dan and Judy still continue to be active in their community and own and operate businesses in their hometown.

Book preview

Chapter 1

New York, N.Y.

David hesitated as he reached for the doorknob. Did he really want to go outside? Though the front steps of Manhattan’s Upper East Side mansions were ornate and impressive, no one ever actually sat outside. Maybe the people who lived along Fifth Avenue felt it would bring about thoughts of southern rednecks resting on the porch after the moonshine still had been tended and the mules fed for the night. But, regardless of what thoughts it might conjure up with the neighbors, David and Lynn Logan loved sitting outside on the stone steps of their townhouse. They loved it especially now. The last days of summer were in full bloom and soon, the trees across the street in Central Park would be turning nine shades of gold. In a few weeks, a chill would be in the air and it would be too cool to enjoy the beauty right outside their door. Besides, the Logans were southern rednecks. They were born in the south. If the people here had a problem with the Logans enjoying what they owned, it was their problem, not the Logans.

Once more David reached for the doorknob. He knew what was to come. He knew there would be Paparazzi camped out across Fifth Avenue and they would jump to their feet as soon as the door opened. He also knew that as soon as they saw it was David, they would go back to what they were doing.

Break a leg, he thought to himself as he pulled open the door. He wasn’t an actor and this wasn’t a stage, but across the street was the audience. And, as usual, as soon as they saw it was David and not his wife, they let out a sigh, and went back to playing cards or whatever it was they do.

David lifted his newspaper and motioned at his audience. He also said, Evening, guys though he knew they couldn’t hear him, they were too far away. He also knew they didn’t care. A couple of them motioned back, the others paid him no mind. When the Logans first moved to Manhattan, photos of David did appear in the New York papers, but what the readers really wanted was pictures and stories about David’s wife, Lynn, and, for good reason.

Lynn Logan was one of the world’s most desirable women. She was rich. She was beautiful. And she was intelligent.

She was rich. Soon after she graduated from Duke University, Lynn developed a software program that revolutionized the textile industry. When her company went public, it yielded her a fortune nearing a billion dollars and the 40 percent ownership she retained gave her an annual income well into the millions.

She was beautiful. Lynn Logan possessed a natural beauty well known by New York society. She was the envy of Park Avenue and Wall Street. These paparazzi weren’t like their counterparts in Hollywood who wanted to see their subjects at their worst. To the west coast paparazzi, a picture of Jennifer Aniston or an A list star in tattered jeans or no makeup had value. The photographers who were camped out across the street from the Logans wanted to reflect Lynn Logan’s intense beauty at its finest. Even in tattered jeans, no makeup and mussed hair Lynn Logan was beautiful, but it would just be another photograph of the beautiful Lynn Logan. What these paparazzi sought was the sterling image of the lady at her best. That is what New York society wanted to see. That picture had value.

She was intelligent. Lynn spoke six languages fluently, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke and held four degrees. The Logans had traveled broadly and Lynn seemed able to communicate wherever they were.

Lynn Logan was rich, beautiful, intelligent and also very married. She and David were madly in love and had been as long as they, literally, could remember.

When they were children, they played pirates along the shores of North Carolina’s Pamlico River, they attended school together, and they graduated together. They shared lunch in kindergarten, they held hands in the sixth grade, and the night they graduated, they both lost their virginity at the exact same moment.

David, didn’t see Lynn as the attractive creature she was. He wasn’t naive, he knew how beautiful she was. In school, he had heard enough jealous comments from the girls and fought enough boys who made dirty remarks about what they wanted to do with her to know she was special, but to him, she was Lynn . . . she was his girl.

David was slim but muscular and certainly pleasant to look at. But Lynn didn’t see David as average or nice looking or anything else . . . all she saw was the boy she had loved since kindergarten. He was sweet when they were children. He was kind and thoughtful when they were teenagers, and now, he was still all of those things, but he was also a fantastic lover.

Above all . . . Lynn and David Logan were very married.

Chapter 2

Derbyshire Northern England

You know it can’t work unless they come here.

I know.

Obviously, money means nothing to those people.

Obviously. Who would believe anyone would pay 6 million pounds for a castle and never see it?

Maybe no one would believe it, but those people have done it. The others always wanted to look at the castle before they bought it. These people, these Logans, bought the place three years ago and we haven’t heard one word. It’s Amazing.

It appears they won’t be coming to us. Maybe we should go to them..

For what reason? We can’t just appear on their doorstep. We have to have a reason.

I don’t care how wealthy these people are, money is always a valid reason to call on someone.

This is true.

Draw me a check in American dollars.

For how much?

A third of what they paid, three million dollars. That should get their attention. But, make up some odd amount. I believe I know how to handle it.

You are going to New York?

I am going to New York.

Chapter 3

David sat down on the stone steps and casually opened his newspaper. He knew Lynn would be coming out soon and the moment she made her presence known, the peace and quiet he was enjoying would end.

Just as he had predicted, the instant Lynn Logan stepped out the front door, the entire camp across the street erupted and the paparazzi came running. Lynn’s ability to handle what might have been an uncomfortable situation amazed David. In all the years he had known her, not once had she ever slighted a person or been less than respectful. As the photographers ran up to the steps elbowing each other for position, Lynn raised her hand and said, Whoa guys, calm down. I don’t know why you would want my picture, but just calm down. It’s a beautiful evening, come sit down and join us.

The photographers were amazed by Lynn’s gentle kindness, they looked at each other and did as she asked.

Can I ask you a question? one of the paparazzi asked Lynn.

Certainly, she smiled.

How does it feel to be one of the world’s most beautiful women?

I don’t know, answered Lynn in a very sincere tone, You would have to ask one of them.

They all laughed. Then, one of the men asked David, How does it feel to be married to one of the world’s most beautiful women?

I’m going to give you an honest answer, said David, It feels damn good.

David slipped to the side letting Lynn field the questions the guys were asking. He glanced at his wife. She is beautiful, but, he thought, what if these people actually knew that Lynn Logan was more than a face, more than a beautiful body. What if these people knew that over the past thirty months Lynn had devoted her time, her ability and millions of dollars helping people who couldn’t help themselves? What if they knew that the lady they were talking to with her gorgeous features, flowing auburn hair and fascinating body had helped thousands of people improve their lives? David loved Lynn for so many reasons beyond beauty. Sure, he loved her beauty, he adored it. But he also knew that youth and physical beauty were fleeting things. He knew that one day, no one would be camping out across the street in Central Park just to get a glimpse of his wife. Yet, he also knew of the countless reasons to love his wife that could never fade. He knew that Lynn had devoted her success, her fortune and her precious time to give new meaning to the old saying, Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

No, the Paparazzi didn’t know those things and hopefully they never would. Lynn had been given so many gifts, but even in their entirety, they were minuscule compared to what she had given to others. If they knew these things, David wondered, would their questions only be about superficial beauty?

As the paparazzi were enjoying their time asking Lynn questions, a van truck with speakers on the top pulled up and stopped in the middle of the street. It sat silent and unnoticed for a moment then blasted in deafening tones. Step right up ladies and gentlemen and watch David Logan and his whore wife put on their show.

Everyone on the steps turned and looked at the truck. On the side was painted God’s Temple – Dallas, Texas.

The paparazzi began snapping pictures. As he was getting up, one of them shouted, David, who is this guy?

I have no idea, David responded as the loudspeakers once more blasted Come on up ladies and gentlemen, and watch David Logan and his whore do what they do best.

David stood up, ran to the van and jerked open the door. Inside was one man holding a microphone. The photographers were holding a tape recorder in one hand and snapping pictures as quickly as they could with the other.

You’re not going to have your whore wife come pay me to go away? the man yelled.

David grabbed the man by his jacket and yanked him from the truck. Who the hell are you, Mister, and what is your problem?

Lynn saw what was going on and ran across the street to David.

The man from the truck bellowed, Oh, now your whore comes to your rescue.

In a split-second all the training David had received in the Marines came out in one blow to the man’s face. Blood spewed from his mouth onto his shirt. The man fell to the street. The cameras kept clicking.

One more time, fella, shouted David, Who the hell are you?

The man pushed the words, Wiggins, Wiggins, through a bloody mouth, Or doesn’t that name mean anything to you?

Who the hell— said David as Lynn shoved her face up to his ear. Wiggins, David, listen to the accent, the Texas drawl, Blade Wiggins, First Evangelical Church, Holiness Texas. This guy must be a relative, or something.

What do you want, fella? asked David again.

I want what’s mine and you just gave it to me, fella, he said mimicking the way David had called him ‘fella’. The man jumped into his truck and sped off spinning tires all the way to the corner.

The front cover of the morning newspapers were filled with pictures of David hitting Wiggins and both Logans standing over him. The headlines read, Billionaire’s Husband Attacks Man of God. By the next day, most of the newspapers had picked up the story and Reverend Wiggins appeared on Good Morning America and the Today show.

David was watching the Wiggins interview on TV when Lynn walked in.

To listen to this guy, you would believe he was innocently riding up 5th Avenue and I attacked him out of the blue.

That afternoon, David got a visit from his attorney Myron Thomas. You’re being sued for ten million dollars.

By who?

Come on, David, who do you think? It’s all over the papers. His name is Ernest Wiggins. What do you want to do?

I’m not going to pay that son-of-a-bitch one penny. He came up to my home blasting over a loudspeaker calling my wife a whore. What was I supposed to do?

What you were supposed to do was call the police and let them take care of it, not jerk the man out of his truck and beat the hell out of him in front of a dozen photographers.

There was only eight.

From all the pictures in the papers you would have thought there was eighty.

Is this guy serious? Does he really believe he deserves ten million dollars?

He’s dead serious, David, he’s got pictures and he’s got witnesses. You hit him first.

I don’t deny that.

Do you want to settle? Do you want to make him an offer?

You’re the lawyer. You tell me.

You want to take this thing to trial, don’t you? asked Thomas in a tone that implied he already knew the answer.

Yes.

Then, take it to trial.

Okay, let’s do it.

No, not me, David, I’m your lawyer, but I’m also your friend. As your lawyer, but mostly as your friend, I advise you that you don’t need me for this case. Problem is I have a conscience. This Wiggins guy has hired Wade Simpson as his attorney.

Wade Simpson, the guy on TV?

Yep, that Wade Simpson.

The guy–

You don’t have to tell me. The man’s a slime, but he wins cases. He only represents people who appear sad and downtrodden . . . like Ernest Wiggins. And the key is he wins his cases within the first five minutes of the trial.

What do you mean?

"Within five minutes of the time he first