The Stairway to Never

By A. E. Lawrence

Josef Barrington becomes a wealthy man because he takes heed of the voice in the night. When he obeys the command to build a special stairway in his mansion, he thinks the stairway is another step toward his destiny. However, it soon becomes apparent that the stairs have become the device of his destruction.
On a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, Peter White is flying his airplane over East Ridgeville when he spots an old, ill-kept mansion. When he makes inquiries about the property, he learns that it’s known as the Barrington Haunted Castle. Thinking he might purchase the property, he takes his girlfriend, Claire Whitley, to East Ridgeville to see the realtor. There, they hear that Josef Barrington had killed his wife and three children almost a hundred years ago and was duly hanged.
Peter and Claire go out to inspect the mansion and discover a strange stairway in the living room. Although they think of the stairs as just a whim of a crazy old man, they are forced to change their minds one stormy night when the stairway becomes a gateway to the bizarre.
They soon realize that Josef Barrington did not kill his family. The stairway and what lay beyond were instrumental in their disappearance. And Peter and Claire are about to meet the same fate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. E. Lawrence
• Release date: Aug 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370886425

A. E. Lawrence

Mr. Lawrence received a bachelor of art degree with honors in 1986. Although his major was English/Creative Writing, he did not begin his writing career until much later. However, during his college years, he did develop the premises for many of his novels, including: “The Stairway to Never,” “Field Mouse: The Fooder,” “Field Mouse: The Price of Innocence,” (The sequel.) “Wanda and the Mutts,” “The Oppositron,” “No More Tomorrows,” “The Seeding,” and “The Angry Spirit of Never Moore.”

Book preview

Book One

The Stairway to Never

by

A. E. Lawrence

Chapter 1

The sun was a blazing jewel set at its highest point in a washed-out blue sky, providing welcome relief from the lingering chill of the harsh winter of 1850-51. With the coming of the warm season, the plants were straining to blossom, and the air was already redolent with springtime fragrances. Most of the land surrounding the small town of East Ridgeville, Ohio, was either thickly wooded or under cultivation. However, there were also several large pasturages that had been hewn from the forest decades earlier.

Now that the snow and ice were gone, it was time for branding, and the pastures were alive with lowing cattle and riders who were cutting out cows with newborn calves. It was a lazy day. The cattle were lulled into tolerating the riders, and the riders were letting the beasts move at their own pace. It was a wondrous spring day, and all was right.

Josef Barrington was taking advantage of the fine midday to take a tour of his ranch. He was astride his horse, Moon Shadow, a sturdy Thoroughbred he had imported from England. The horse was purported to be a mix of Byely Turk, Godolphin Arabian and Darley Arabian; a fine riding horse with the intelligence of the Arabian stock.

At thirty-four years, Josef was an imposing man. Tall at six foot two inches, broad of shoulders, slim of waist, powerful of fists; he had met only a couple of men he couldn’t beat into the ground. His slate-grey, deep-set eyes were quick and intelligent, his nose straight and strong, and his mouth was set rigid above a square jaw that had withstood many a fist. His reddish-brown hair was cut shoulder length and he sported pork-chop sideburns. He had an iron will and the brains to get what he wanted out of life. And what he had always wanted more than anything was to get rich.

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As Josef neared the fence line, he could smell the tangy odor of the herd as a gentle wind wafted toward him from the west. It was a smell of destiny, a niche in the world where he had found peace, at last. The combination of a strong horse under him and a pasture full of cattle seemed to be the cure for his wanderlust.

He reined in Moon Shadow next to the split-rail fence and looked over the pastoral scene.

Jude Buckett, his foreman, saw him and rode over to meet him from the other side. Touching the brim of his hat, the man spat a stream of tobacco off to one side before speaking, Morning, Mister Barrington. Counted fifty-seven calves so far. Ain’t a bad crop.

Josef nodded, That’s so, Mister Buckett. Though I could always want more. He looked over Jude’s shoulder toward the field and stared for a moment. That a new hand you got over there?

Without glancing back, Jude nodded, Uh, yes, sir.

Josef had expected him to go on, but the man took on an uneasiness. Finally, he said, Do I know him?

Looking down at his saddle horn, Jude mumbled, I ‘spect so, Mister Barrington.

Seeing that the man wasn’t giving out more information than he needed to, Josef said, He looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t rightly place him. So, who the hell is he?

Jude finally looked up. Ain’t exactly a he, Mister Barrington. It’s Carly Carlson.

Josef blinked. The hell, you say. He was at a loss for words. Carly Carlson was the oldest daughter of Caleb Carlson, a man he didn’t particularly care for. The man was a buffoon. He had inherited family money and seemed determined to squander it on failing enterprises. The man had absolutely no business sense whatsoever. Josef only knew the daughter by her reputation as a strong-willed girl who did as she pleased, the rest of the world be damned. He had seen her a few times around town, usually at the Mercantile. Some folks spoke disparagingly of her behind her back but tolerated her because of her family’s stature in the community. Josef couldn’t help but admire her beauty, but her conduct was not in keeping with her social status. Daughters of leading citizens simply did not wear britches and straddle a horse.

Jude had known that this encounter would probably take place, but he was taken aback by his boss’s displeasure. Carly had always been a tomboy. He used to work for Mr. Carlson before the man’s cattle company went bankrupt several years back. Mr. Barrington bought out the holding and hired Jude to work for him. But during his employment with Mr. Carlson, he came into contact with the Carlson children and admired Carly’s independent nature. He didn’t particularly subscribe to girls wearing britches, but it just seemed natural for Carly to mount a horse like a man and do a man’s work. Mr. Carlson seemed to feel the same way Jude did: the child had a natural flair for riding, and there was no stopping her. Her one saving grace was that she could dress and act like a proper lady when the occasion arose. No one could fault her when she was dressed in her finest and riding in a carriage or sidesaddle on her chestnut bay. And she was, more likely than not, the center of attention at cotillions and soirees.

She was tall for a girl; standing at five feet and eleven inches, she was two inches taller than her father. Her hair was as black as midnight and flowed almost to her slim waist. In contrast, her eyes where pale blue and seemed to shine from within. Her nose was straight and proud, and her lips were full and generous and gave hints of mischief when she smiled. Her hips were narrow (much to her mother’s dismay), and her legs were long and supple. She would have been a perfect mate for any man, except for her propensity for ignoring her station in the community.

Both men had been silent as Josef tried to fathom the situation. Why had Jude hired the girl? What would old man Carlson say when he found out his daughter was riding herd on Josef Barrington’s ranch? Finally, he asked the obvious question, Why, in the Lord’s name, did you hire her, Mister Buckett?

Jude shrugged. I was short a man, and she found out somehow. She can punch cattle almost as good as me, so why not?

Josef shook his head. It ain’t right, is why. Girls don’t wear britches and mount horses like that. It’s disgraceful.

Jude shrugged again. Want me to let her go? It’s a fact that I’ll be short a hand if I do.

Curiosity was getting the best of Josef. He stood up in the saddle, whistled loudly and pointed to the girl. When he got her attention, he waved her over.

She reigned her horse around and galloped toward them.

As she pulled up close to the fence, Josef said, Good afternoon, Miss Carlson. Does your father know you’re doing this?

Carly smiled. No. Are you going to tell him, Mister Barrington?

Her directness startled him. It took him a moment to collect his thoughts. I would think that informing your father that you’re herding cattle would be your responsibility, Miss Carlson. I think it would best suit you to put on a dress and act like a lady.

Carly’s eyes flared for an instant then cleared. She smiled. I am a lady, Mister Barrington. I, however, enjoy working with these fine brutes. Her smile widened. I’m speaking of the animals, of course. Mister Buckett was short a man and I was available to help out. What’s the harm? Does a female, in your estimation, have to wear a corset and bow and scrape to the male ego?

Josef could see the color rising in her cheeks and, though he was insulted at first, he smiled inwardly. Male ego? It seems your ego matches mine and even more so. I merely question the propriety of a girl doing a man’s work. Which, by the way, can be dangerous at times. Are you so sure of yourself that you’re willing to risk being injured? If that should be the case, I would be held accountable, to be sure. I’m not sure I want to be put in that position.

She raised her chin slightly and locked eyes with him. I am responsible for myself, Mister Barrington. I asked for the position, and I am quite capable of looking out for myself. I shan’t be any more of a burden for you than any of the other riders. Or do you plan on firing me?

Jude had been watching the two go at each other and was beginning to enjoy the confrontation. He could see that his boss was perplexed. He could also see that Carly was holding her own against the man. It was proving to be an interesting afternoon.

The girl’s precociousness both irritated and excited Josef. She had a smudge of dirt on her cheek that did not detract from her beauty. Her hair was windblown, and her pale-blue eyes seemed to pierce his brain. It was making it difficult for him to come to a decision. He wanted to fire her, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. At that moment, he realized why old man Carlson allowed the girl to have her way. She was a force to recon with, a two-sided creature who could be a proper lady on one hand and a pugnacious cowhand on the other.

He had been lost in thought, but now he realized that the girl was waiting for an answer. He shrugged amicably but his attempted smile faltered. I didn’t hire you. Mister Buckett did. Without another word, he wheeled his horse around and spurred the animal to a full gallop. The girl had touched a place in his soul that had laid dormant. How old was she? Seventeen, eighteen? Far too young for him. But the encounter made him realize that it might be time for him to start thinking about finding a woman and starting a family. He wasn’t getting any younger, and there had to be someone to take over his affairs when he passed on. The idea had flitted across his mind before, but when he had looked around at East Ridgeville’s eligible female population, he was put off. He wanted a woman with whom he could challenge life. All the women he had encountered tended to be frivolous and needy. He wanted a partner, not a dependent.

Although he knew that it was an impossibility, Carly Carlson kept imposing on his thoughts.

Chapter 2

Life had not been kind to young Josef. His mother had died when he was only three years old, and his father was an alcoholic who didn’t like the idea of spending his hard earned money on some snot-nosed kid. At age twelve, Josef quit school and went to work for Mr. Crackenbush, the bottle maker.

The most important lesson he learned from the old man was how to operate a successful business. Still, after mastering the trade, he got bored, quit and joined the Army. There was something inside Josef that made him want to move on, a voice that told him that destiny was calling him for greater things. Sometimes that voice was so real that he wondered if he was going crazy; a chilling voice heard in the night as he lay in his bed and stared at the shadows painted across his room. The Army challenged him mentally and physically, and he rose quickly in the ranks. And, with authority, he learned leadership. After eight years of soldiering, the voice in the night grew stronger, and he finally mustered out and settled in a small town called East Ridgeville, which was about 30 miles west of the state capital of Cleveland, Ohio.

His first venture was making boots for the Army. Although he hadn’t known anything about the trade, he had met a man who did. Henry Wells was operating a hole-in-the-wall shoe repair shop in Cleveland when Josef came in to get his boots heeled and resoled. The man impressed Josef with his workmanship, and Josef had a pocketful of mustering-out pay. By the time his boots were repaired, he had a proposition for the cobbler.

In a little over a year, Josef and Henry had the Barrington & Wells Boot Company up and running and were supplying the military with high-quality boots, belts, rifle straps, binocular cases and other items. Three years from the day they opened their doors, they had over a million dollars in the bank. But, having made his fortune, the night-time voice began nagging at him to move on again, that his true destiny was still out there waiting to be discovered.

Some people considered family and friends the measure of a man, but Josef’s ambition didn’t lead him in that direction. Although he had had carnal encounters with camp followers and prostitutes when he was in the Army, he felt that it wasn’t time to develop a lasting relationship with a woman. First, he had to reach that point in his life where the voice was finally silenced.

In which direction to move on again came to him one morning when he was sitting on his front porch reading the town’s newspaper. It was a small article on the third page, which he would have ordinarily ignored that jumped out at him. Theodore Bitterman, the proprietor of the General Mercantile Store, had placed a help-wanted ad, looking for someone to drive a freight wagon to Akron to haul lumber back to East Ridgeville. The town was growing as more Easterners headed West to find their fortunes and cut lumber for building homes was at a premium.

With his sizable bank account to back him up, he began quietly buying land around East Ridgeville and, within six months, he had eight hundred acres of wooded land. He also ordered equipment for a sawmill and hired Rolph Piedmont, a man who owned a small mill in Pennsylvania.

The lumber mill prospered under Rolph’s leadership and within six months, the Barrington and Piedmont Lumber Company was not only supplying East Ridgeville and neighboring towns with lumber, but was sending wagon loads of lumber further west, following the people