Small Town Secrets

By E.C. Crawford

Emily Richards is wanting to find out the history of a certain famliy called the Rollins'. So she requistioned the help of their former maid Mrs. Garrison. What Emily finds out is not exactly what she expected as the older woman takes her back into the deep south of the 1960's. As the tale deepens so does her curiosity for she not only learns about that family she also learns about several others who just happens to all be intertwined together. She also finds out there is more ways to love a person and even more ways to kill them. Emily reliazes that there is a fine line between love and hate and that these people seem to love to hate each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 17, 2009
• ISBN: 9781469104997

E.C. Crawford

E.C. Crawford currently lives in Russellville Alabama with her family, friends and her faithful companion Bit Bit who has sat beside her a many a night while she wrote this book for you to enjoy.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

IN THE BEGINNING

I sat before the shabby little house wondering if I actual had written down the right address. I double checked the piece of paper were I had written it down. Yep! This was it. 749 Cambridge, Road.

The house was little more than a shack but homey. I thought to myself as I picked my way up to the rusted gate. It gave a mournful creek as I slowly pushed it open. All the while I feared I just might need a tetanus shot before I left here today.

As I walked up to the front porch I noticed over to one side a little garden were the remains of some vegetable was lying on the ground rotting in the humid weather. The flies had already started to consume the vegetable lying there on the ground. I picked my way through the debris trying not to get any the fowl remnants on my shoes. There was a smell that I wasn’t sure if it was the remains of the said mentioned vegetable or some dead animal hidden amongst the vegetation.

Seated there in the middle of the porch was a little colored lady, with the whitest hair I have ever seen in my life. She was gently rocking backwards and forwards in a rickety old rocker. Holding my breath, I walked up the steps, hoping that they wouldn’t collapse before I got to the top.

She never moved a muscle as I made my way up the stairs. When I got to the top I noticed she was holding a small paper fan. A few of the flies had drifted up from the garden landed on her arm while she slept. She slowly lifted her fan and shoed them away never opening her eyes and never even acknowledging that I was there. She was dressed in a flowery cotton dress with a bright yellow apron covering it. Smacking her toothless gums she mumbled something that I couldn’t quite understand.

Slowly I made my way over to were she was seated and cleared my throat. Humph! Mrs. Garrison?

The older woman gave a startled cry and sat straight up in her chair knocking the fan from her hand. Oh! Dear me chil’ wha ever was Is’ a day dreaming about? grunting she bent over and picked the fan up with her gnarled fingers.

I’m sorry Mrs. Garrison. I didn’t mean to startle you. My name is Emily Richards and I was suppose to meet you here today.

The older woman smacked her gums and smiled Yep! Is’ remember some ting about someone com’n ta sees me ta day. Some ting about some sort of a book. she squinted her glassy eyes as she tried to focus on me. That be you?

Yes Ma’am. I’m here to ask you some questions about a family named Rollins. I was told you might know something about them?

She smacked her gums again What you so fired up about them there folks for?

I’m writing a book about the family and I was told you used to work for them.

Yep! Is’ sure did. Is’ guess Is’ knows more about them folks than Is’ do about my own. she gave me a toothless grin and waved a hand towards a seat next to hers. Well chil’ then make ya self at home there and Is’ will get started.

I sat down in a matching rocker, that looked no better than the one the older woman was resting her frail body in and I also wondered a few times during the interview if the thing would hold me up.

Well. Is’ guess the best place to start with this business is at the beginning. Wouldn’t ya say? she grinned a toothless grin as I nodded in agreement. I settle back against the rocker and waited patiently for the older woman to begin.

Now most folks in this great big world are up ta some sort of meanness and when they be do’n their meanness they thinks they can gets away wit it. Well, chil’ Is’ here at tell ya it just ain’t so. They may have gotten away with it in mans eyes. But, sho’ nuff chil’ Is’ here ta tell ya the Big Boss up stairs! she pointed her gnarled finger towards the sky and shook it ferociously. He knows what they done and he be the one to dish out all them there punishments! Is’ sho’ nuff like ta see some of them folks faces, when they arrive at those pearly gates and find fire behind them there doors! She cackled loudly. Startling me. She made a funny face and grabbed her chest, flung her head back, tongue hanging out from her mouth.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her funny antics. When she suddenly sat up she looked at me seriously. At the time this tale starts Is’ was just getting my self married to my husband Frog. Well that’s what everyone called him. His real name was Frances Robert Oral Garrison, mighty fine man he was too. Not bad on the eyes either. she gave me a knowing look and winked.

Well, enough about that, ya didn’t come here ta hear about Frog and me.

"Now were shall Is’ start. Oh yeh, Is’ had been working wit Mr. Rollins for about a year when he had done went an got married to Miss Sandra Dempsy.

CHAPTER TWO

FALL OF 1968

She lay motionless on the bed. Her body’s life force slowly drained from her weakened body. A single tear slid down her face. Why me? she cried. Her lips barely moving as she tried to force the question from her dried and cracked lips.

She tried to move her head when she heard a movement beside the bed. A dark shape stood over her and whispered into her ear. Die…bitch!

She felt another cut into her already wounded arms. This knife wound like the previous inflictions went straight to the bone causing her to scream out in pain. She tried to rise from the bed but couldn’t her strength had left her body a long time ago.

Please! she whispered. Stop!

I’ll stop when you’re dead and not until then! came the familiar voice.

Sandra began to panic as she tried again to rise from the bed. She finally gave up collapsing back against the blood soaked sheets. She realized it was useless, she had lost to much blood and the alcohol she had consumed earlier before she came to bed hadn’t helped matters either.

She could smell the blood as it poured from her body and this had made her nauseated. She knew that each wound inflicted was fatal and it was just a matter of time before she would die. This thought frightened her. She then began to laugh hysterically. She tried desperately not to move which caused the pain to worsen.

While she was lying there she thought she heard two voice talking in a low murmur. They were coming closer to the side of the bed. She tried to focus on them, but, couldn’t. Damn! she had wished now she hadn’t drunk so much before she came to bed. Well there was nothing she could do about it now.

She heard the second voice, which she hadn’t recognized, say something about making it look like suicide. She made a small attempt to laugh, which came out more like a guttural sound than a laugh.

Suicide! How, in God’s name could this ever be called a suicide? No one in their right mind would ever believe this was a suicide! the small attempt she made at yelling caused her to choke on the blood pooling at the back of her throat.

She then passed out just as the first man bent over her prone body. She’s just about done in. Wouldn’t you say?

The second man leaned over and felt for her pulse. About is an understatement. She’s dead! he placed an arm round the first man as the started to leave the room.

I’m glad it’s over. The first man said wearily.

The other man took out a cigarette and lit it and then smiled in approval. As he blew the smoke in the air he said All in a days work my young friend. All in a day’s work.

They continued down the corridor to a narrow stairway, neither one of them seeing the woman standing behind them. She was grinning as she watched them leave the house. She softly whispered to no one in particular. As she entered the now vacant room. All in a days work gentlemen. All in a day’s work.

She went over to the bed and slowly traced a gloved finger down the bloody cheek of the dead woman. You die so well my pretty. You definitely die so well. She turned and left the room laughing as she went.

CHAPTER THREE

Is’ the one that fount her. she shook her head as her eyes misted up.

Yep! Is’ fount her first they don’t know it though. They think that husband fount her first. Well, Is’ seen her afore they come and took her away. It were pitiful too, old Doc said it were suicide! Is’ never believed it though. she shook her head as if in deep thought.

When Is’ fount her, Is’ thought the chil’ were asleep! That’s until Is’ seen all that blood! she sniffed then took out a small hanky and wiped her eyes.

Is’ mighty fond of the chil’. Is’ never wanted anything bad at happen at her. she wiped her wrinkled eyes again as she gave a loud sniff.

Is’ never seen dead folk afore that morn’n it done scart me plum ta death. Is’ nearly fainted dead away. If’n it weren’t for the fact that Miss Sandra were lying in all that blood. she gave a slight shiver as if she could actually see the woman lying right in front of her.

When Mr. Rollins came Is’ hid in the closet until he went for help. Then Is’ snuck out the room. He never knew Is’ were even there. she sniffed again.

When the Doc looked at her body he told everyone it were a suicide. Said she were doped on them there drugs and alcohol. Can ya explain ta me how someone can cut there arm plum ta the bone all the way up each arm and it be called a suicide? she looked at me as if I could explain that very thing to her in precise detail. Not waiting for an answer she began again.

Now where was Is’? Oh yeah! The next part is about her babes. The only bright spot in the chil’s life. Is’ saw both of them come into the world. now don’t get me wrong Miss Sandra she liked her booze. Yes sir, she did. But, she never let them young’ns go without. Gave them everything they need and some things they didn’t.

The only thing she had problem with was showing her love. She thought the only way ta a persons heart was through their bank account. Can’t says Is’ blame her though, it were the way she was raised herself."

Now Darby, her oldest, was the spitting image of his papa. That’s were the likeness ended though, the rest were his mama. Even though she drank like a fish, she were the sweetest person on this here earth. It played on Mr. Rollins like a burr on a horses butt.

Then there was Miss Kim. She was her mama made over right down ta her good looks. This even rankled the old man even more. Ever time he looked at the girl he wondered if she were really his. She had none of his features. Sort of gave Miss Sandra a perverse pleasure that she had one up on him.

"Ya see their marriage, if’n ya could call it that, was not happily ever after. It was more like hell in a hand basket. Ya see Mr. Rollins he liked ta eat out a lot. If’n ya know what Is’ mean. He was a whore through and through. Ta put it lightly. That were reason that Miss Sandra took up drinking. Ya see she loved the dirty rotten scoundrel. Don’t know why though. She done caught him right after they had married with some cheap tart going at it in their own bed. It done done something ta her. She weren’t the same since. That be the reason they had separate bedrooms and all. I suppose she couldn’t sleep in the same bed were he kept up his whore’s. Don’t blame her either.’ she shrugged her shoulders.

Well, Is’ got a little side tracked there. Back ta were Is’ was going with this here tale. Like Is’ said earlier Mr. Rollins were rankled about Darby being like his mama. Road the poor boy ta death. It’s a wonder he didn’t end up like his poor mama. Drinking himself into a hole somewhere. His papa always made him fell useless. The poor chil’ would lay awake at nights crying till he were plum exhausted. Then he would finally drop off ta sleep. Is’ seen him a many a time with dark rings around his eyes were he would have a restless night.

"Well. More of that later. What Is’ got t a tell ya now is about a different set of chil’n. it started about two weeks afore school. Is’ believe it were the last part of July.

CHAPTER FOUR

EARLIER IN THE FALL OF 1968

"Come in boy’s join our little meeting!" the three young boys entered into a very large room lined with books on three sides of the walls. The smell of old leather waft through the room. It had windows covering the one remaining side facing a very large pond. In front of the windows was a huge oak desk covered with several stacks of papers seated behind it was none other than Mr. Rollins himself. A grin, which looked more like a snarl crossed his face.

Rising from his seated position he waved a hand towards several men seated around the room. Let me introduce you to my companions. Over here he waved a hand to a chair nearest him. "As you boys well know is Coach Roberts.

"The man arose from his seated position and wiped his sweaty palms down the front of his pants legs then offered each one of the boys his hand. Smiling nervously he sat back down.

Standing next to him looking like he wanted to be any where but there was old Doc Pearson. He looked nervously at Rollins. Then too shook each one of the boys hands vigorously. He hastily stepped back nearly tripping over his feet. He grabbed the back of the chair that the coach was still seated in, he righted himself then with his empty hand, he straightened his jacket.

"Sssorry!" he took a big drink of the scotch he had been nursing since his arrival to this dreaded meeting they were forced to attend.

Rollins looked at the older man, which caused the man to swallow hard. It was a silent warning for him to watch what the hell he was doing and he knew it.

Now boy’s here is our most prestigious mayor. Mayor Townsend come over here. the man grunted as he lumbered his huge body from the chair stationed directly opposite the couch.

Well, well boys glad to meet you! If you boy’s need anything, anything at all come see ol’ Mayor Townsend! he pump their hands one by one and gave them each his best voters smile.

Ok, Townsend I think your over doing it just a tad. They’re not old enough to vote yet. So you don’t have to try and win their votes just yet. Rollins laughed at his own dry wit.

Mayor Townsend harumphed then turned around mumbling to himself. Just getting the edge on my opponent there while I can Rollins. It won’t be long before they’ll be the one’s to decide if I’m in or out of a job. he tittered as he maneuvered his great bulk over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a liberal drink of whiskey then downed it with one gulp.

Ok then but, we don’t need to scare them now do we? Rollins winked at the older man as he turned and seated the boys in a chairs next to his desk.

Now lets get down to business shall we gentlemen? I’ve asked each of you here for a specific reason. he reached onto his desk and pulled several sheets of paper from the stack lying there.

Before me here, he waved his hand over the papers and grinned. Is your future collage, jobs, and girls. he gave them a wink as he shuffled the papers. The most important of them all is money. Lots and lots of money. For you and us. You see we need your help. There’s going to be a shipment coming in and we need you to deliver it to various people in our community. Then in return you’ll get the money that they are paying for this shipment and deliver it to old Doc Pearson and he in return gives it to me. Then within the end of the week you will get a payment of a thousand dollars each. This is not a game boy’s. This the big time. Do you understand?

The three boys looked at each other apprehensively. Then Chad Everett, the oldest of the three spoke up. I just have a few questions. One, is this safe? I don’t want anything to happen to my brother. he waved a hand at the youngest of the three boys.

Safe? Well let me see. he tapped a finger against the side of his cheek. A slight smile crossed his features. Why yes it’s perfectly safe. No harm will come to you or the others. I’ll personally see to that. a slight hint of a lie snuck into his voice as he closely watched each one of the boys face.

Chad just quite didn’t believe this man whom he had never met before. The only reason they came there tonight was because Darby Rollins had asked them. After all he was their friend and this was his father seated before them. He didn’t think Darby would cause them to get hurt. Besides, a thousand dollars was a lot of money. Especially if him and Byron both were getting it. He was the oldest of the Everett children and now