Reap the Wild Seeds

By Loyd E. Hill and Marvin R. Query

REAP THE WILD SEEDS In it, he has shown a vivid knowledge of
people, his characters and their adventures, their loves, their heart aches of
disappointment, hopes for the future. Many of these were of devious nature.
As many of the results show that they were not always achieved in a totally
honest nature
I suspect that Mr. Query has a technical mind as many of the twists and
turns require an inquiring mind to follow. The fi nal results and efforts are
worthy of your reading.
I am very proud to have contributed to this exciting novel, and hopefully, the
movie that follows.
Loyd E. Hill

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483636566

Loyd E. Hill

About The Authors Loyd E. Hill and Marvin Query This is Mr. Hills' second published book in two years. This book and a November 2012 publication of a book on the game of Bridge, titled 17 Things That You Should Or Should Not Do In the Bridge Game. Prior to that, Mr. Hill had Self Published and passed out books to members of the Hill Families and the Menius families. These were copied and bound and provided for those who ordered them at a nominal price. 17 Things That You Should Or Should Not Do In The Bridge Game Is currently available through Amazon and the publisher Xlibris. Mr. Hills' previous writings have covered many years, but this is his first venture into Fiction with Co-writer Marvin Query in the writing of a romantic novel that is filled with a young Marine ,Leggett Strange's love for a beautiful Sue Clark, an Army Nurse in the heat of the Vietnamese War in the 1960' and 1970'. Marvin Query has spent many years writing this Fiction Novel--- REAP THE WILD SEEDS In it, he has shown a vivid knowledge of people, his characters and their adventures, their loves, their heart aches of disappointment, hopes for the future. Many of these were of devious nature. As many of the results show that they were not always achieved in a totally honest nature I suspect that Mr. Query has a technical mind as many of the twists and turns require an inquiring mind to follow. The final results and efforts are worthy of your reading. I am very proud to have contributed to this exciting novel, and hopefully, the movie that follows. Loyd E. Hill

Book preview

PROLOGUE

It was noon when she exited the chauffer driven limousine. The bright, blistering sun was radiantly shining, and creating lasers dancing off the limbs of the giant Oak, Maple and Elm trees that encompass the Uwharrie Mountain top where Tara Strange Perry was making her way up the cobblestone walkway.

She had visited this Family Retreat many times before, but this visit was much more personal. Still it did not alter the fact that, even with the emergency of this visit, there was much more beauty to explore, and the many more marvels of nature yet to be discovered.

At the very summit sat the enormous ten-room log cabin that had been carefully crafted, designed and constructed by some of the elite architects and builders in the State Of North Carolina. The logs had been hewed from red wood timbers, cut and transported in from western states. There had been no short cuts or cost cutting efforts, whatsoever, in the planning and construction of the retreat. There were large round columns with hand-carved designs of leaves and branches that graced the wrap-around porch. Large hand-crafted window seals appeared on the windows of the bottom floor; with the same design being used on the second floor, only being scaled down to half the size as the first floor windows. The entire front door was mostly stained glass, consisting of a whole array of birds in flight. The birds in it were large enough that they could be viewed by travelers on the road at the bottom of the mountain.

Tara stepped onto the porch, a puff of wind ruffles her long brunette hair and, with her hand, she moves it back into place. Her tall, slim and well figured body trembles with excitement as she opens the door. She pauses on the marble-covered floor of the enormous foyer. Almost, as if by persuasion, her eyes drift upward to the large chandelier that resembling a giant hanging basket full of flowers and ivy, overflowing downward, from all around. It was hanging from exposed red wood rafters that encircled sun panels. She moved through the beautifully decorated den, highlighted by a huge rock fireplace that covered the whole length of one wall. She proceeded on through the kitchen and into the dining room. This, too, was very expensively decorated. Now that the family had grown so large, the ornate table had been built to entertain at least thirty family members, business associates and guests, at any one time. She planned the dining room to open to the deck for the most splendid view of the mountain range that surrounded the retreat. Next, she reached her office. In addition to her desk, there was the information storage system and the best electronic equipment available. All of the equipment had been carefully selected to serve well this successful business woman.

Reaching behind one side of the window curtains, she pressed a button. Immediately, a section of the well paneled wall opened and exposed a large safe. She removed a black notebook and quickly closed the safe, and turned the dials to lock it. Placing the notebook under her arm, she proceeded back to the front door. She had what she had come for. After carefully setting the alarm, she left. She began making her way toward the garden.

The walkway that led to the garden was lined with Japanese Apricot, Japanese Flowering Cherry and Cherry Plum Trees. Among the many shrubs that graced the entire mountain side were Holly, Mountain Laurel and Bee-balm, along with many other plants. Her hair, again, ruffled in the breeze with each step she took. She had visited the estate many times, and still marveled at the many wonderful scenes. Her focus then regressed to the lake that glittered in the valley below, like a mirror, collecting the reflections of the mountain ranges that surround it. She arrived at the garden, which is surrounded by a two-foot high brick wall. Going through a flower-draped arch, she took a seat on one of the three French-style benches that rested on the concrete floor.

Here in the garden stood a six-foot tall statue portraying a marine in full battle gear—in strapped-up boots, camouflage pants, shirt, helmet, M-16 rifle and a back pack. She studied his strong face. She noticed that his eyes appeared as if they were staring in the distance, searching for something. The statue had been crafted by a company in New Jersey, using granite from a local quarry in Rowan County, North Carolina. The statue is of her brother, Leggett Strange. Since she had not seen her brother since he was about seven years old, Tara had the statue made from a picture on his passport that was provided by the sheriff of another county, many years ago. The copper plate that rested between his combat boots provided the following narrative—

LEGGETT PAUL STRANGE

BORN DECEMBER 17, 1956                  DIED DECEMBER 17, 1978

REST IN PEACE, YOUR HERITAGE LIVES ON

With her head resting in both hands, her eyes became misty, Tara’s eyes drifted back toward Leggett’s granite face, and she recalled what he had written in his diary. The diary she held under her arms said, I HID THE MONEY IN THE BEST HIDING PLACE IN THE WORLD!

It was the money he left them, along with many intelligent people in her family and company that brought THINK TANK INTERNATIONAL (TTI) to the gigantic empire that it is today.

Tara stood and placed her hand on Leggett’s cold hard arm. She said, We are in somewhat of a dilemma. Some of our family members, with my approval, have blown up the home of the brother of the President of the South American Country of Columbia. The explosion killed the President’s brother and everyone inside. There was an estimated four billion dollars in cash and bonds completely destroyed. Now I must return to my home in the Caribbean to await the action of the President of Columbia. I need to be with my family now. If all goes well, I will return.

Retreating down the same path from which she came, Tara arrived at the waiting limousine. She had arrived by chaffered car from the airport in Rowan County, North Carolina. Lisa Stone Perry, her daughter, had chosen to remain in the car as her mother had gone to secure the property, retrieve the diary and say goodbye to her brother, Leggett.

The chauffeur was standing at the end of the walkway with the door of the limousine open. Tara and Lisa would be leaving America soon to return to the island in the Caribbean, owned by Tara’s family, and THINK TANK INTERNATIONAL (TTI).

As the limo pulls away, Tara placed Leggett’s diary on the seat beside her. She would never forget that in it embodied the words that had changed this poor mountain farm girl into one of the richest women in the world.

Tara and Lisa were returning to Rowan County airport where they would meet Tara’s sister, Kelly and daughter, Toby. At the airport, they would board the Company jet, Amanda Raynee, for their trip back to their Caribbean Island home.

Kelly Cook Bates and Toby Bates DeVille had arrived at the airport a short time earlier, from a similar trip. They had been to Traphill, North Carolina, to secure another estate. Not only was it Kelly’s birthplace, it was also being used by family members as a vacation resort and by the company for business meetings.

As they boarded the plane, the tall, redheaded, freckle faced pilot welcomed them back, How was your trip? he asked them.

Just fine, Tara and Kelly answered in unison.

Just great, Lisa and Toby agreed.

Captain Sawyer O’Neal was the pilot’s name. He and the husbands of the two daughters were best of friends. They had attended college together. He had received his pilot’s license at the age of eighteen. He was now considered one of the best pilots in the world.

Sit back and relax, ladies, Sawyer said, with a patented smile as the jet taxied down the runway. Leave the driving to me.

All of the girls took books to read except Tara. She placed the diary on her lap, and rested her head on the back of the seat, as her mind drifted back in time. She recalled leaving the cave, in which she, her brother and sister had once hidden.

CHAPTER 1

The leaves on the trees were barely beginning to change color, that mid-September day. It was 1963, when the Strange children—Tara, Leggett and Kelly were hiding under the front porch of the cabin in anticipation of hearing the results of their mother’s latest visit to the doctor. Mother and Aunt Mable were discussing the information that the doctor had provided. What they heard left them spellbound; in fact, it left them breathless, almost to the point of nausea.

The misfortune being discussed had come in a double-dose this past year. A year earlier, their father, John had had a fatal heart attack. Six months, almost to the day, Mary had become weak and frail. Now she had been diagnosed with incurable lung cancer. The doctor had given her a diagnosis that she had, at most, six months to live. The three children had been left in the dark concerning this matter until now.

Adopt them for me, Mary was begging Mable, her sister. Keep them together as a family. Their lives have been filled with so much misfortune and sadness. They need someone strong, like you to look after them.

Mable, a typical old maid, lived next door to the ten-acre Strange farm. She had led a typical life of a spinster mountain-woman life on her own seven-acre farm. She was short in statue, a little overweight, and almost always wore her hair in a bun. During almost all her waking hours, except when eating, she had a chew of tobacco between her cheek and gum. She grew tobacco on her farm, and spiced it to her liking. Now, she was sitting on the porch with Mary and listening to Mary’s plea.

Mary, Mable began, I am too old to start raising kids. I don’t even know anything about how to do that. And I can’t afford to do it; the small check that I get from the government is hardly enough to cover my own needs.

The three children, hiding under the porch, had heard every word that their mother and Mable said. Then the real shocker came as Mable continued her denial to adopt the children. Mary, she said, you should consider placing the children in an orphanage.

Sadly, Mary realized that what Mable had suggested was probably best and made the decision that this would have to happen. Tara is fifteen, she said, and after a couple of years, she will be old enough to be out on her own. Maybe then she could bring Leggett and Kelly back here to live. She continued, Maybe, you can check on them every once in a while. I think that is best, Mable agreed.

And, yes, I will keep an eye on them, and I will keep the taxes paid on the farm so that, if they ever can return, they will have this place to come back to.

Once their mother and Aunt Mable had left the porch, the three children came out from underneath the porch and went to a nearby tree. They sat under it, still feeling the effects of the discussion they had overheard. Shocked as they were, they began to decide what options they had. Their lives were about to change drastically.

Leggett told his sisters, We have to think up a plan to stay together.

Yes, both sisters agreed. We have to come up with a plan.

The next evening, the three children went to an old cave. It was almost impossible to see, because it was located on the side of a mountain that was covered with underbrush. Leggett found it a year or so ago and it appeared that no one had been there in many years, if ever. Perhaps it had been dug out by a bear and not a human. Anyway, here is where the children decided to go and make their plans. Leggett had called the cave, the best hiding place in the world.

Tara said, We will fill the cave with enough clothes, food and water to last for two weeks. She explained, I will go find a job, and come back after you. We will not have to wait until I turn eighteen to be together in the cabin; we will do it in two weeks."

That way we can always remain together, Leggett said, with a hopeful heart.

Yes we can! Kelly said, with excitement.

Tara had her doubts about the plan working, but they could not think of anything else to do. Leggett, who was three months away from being seven, and Kelly, who was six, never doubted that the plan would work.

Mary died three months later, at the youthful age of thirty-six, one day before Leggett’s seventh birthday. The funeral was simple and much like all the others among poor mountain people. Her body was placed in a cheap pine box and nailed shut. Each of the three kids placed flowers, which they personally picked, on it. After a short reading from the Bible and a closing prayer, her body was slowly lowered into the grave.

The children realized that they were now orphans and each was thinking about the plan that they had made, three short months ago.

After the funeral, Aunt Mable placed the three children into her 1955, black and white Ford Fairlane car, and took them back to the cabin. I will have to go into town, tomorrow, she told them. It might take a while to get you three accepted into the orphanage. Do you all want to stay at my place until I get you all approved?

If you don’t mind, Tara said, we would like to stay here. You are welcome to check on us at any time. I will make sure we all get ready for school tomorrow.

If that is what you all want to do, it’s all right with me. I will be down the hill, if you need anything. I will drop by to check on all of you to make sure everything is OK, and I will drive you to school and back, Mable told them. She went back to her car. She glanced back, making sure none of the children had seen her take a Kleenex from her pocket and wipe the tears that were falling on her cheeks.

It took Mable two weeks to make arrangements with the orphanage to accept the three children, and during those weeks the children were transporting water, non-perishable food and clothes to the cave.

On Monday, before they were to leave for the orphanage the next day, Mable reminded them to pack their small suitcase and to make sure the cabin was secure and the fire put out.

At noon, on Tuesday, Mable arrived, but there were no children in sight. After surveying the property, and unable to locate the children, she went back home in disgust.

Tara had her two younger siblings wrapped in her arms, inside the cave. They were crying and Tara was trying to calm them. She reminded them that some things in the early part of their lives will be forgotten, but this memory will remain. She slipped out of the cave to go in search of work to fulfill her part of the plan.

Leggett and Kelly were not so fortunate. As dusk settled, they became so scared that they went to the cabin to sleep on the porch. Aunt Mable was waiting. She gathered them up, placed them in her car, and they were off to the orphanage.

CHAPTER 2

Fourteen years and six months later, none of the Strange children had made any effort to re-establish the unity of the family. All three had gotten caught up in their own lives, time had simply slipped away.

On June 17, 1978 there were two identical letters delivered, except for the name of the receiver, and the address, the hand written letters were the same. There was about two hundred miles in separation between where the first letter was delivered and where the second one was delivered. No return address appeared on either. What was written in the letters, however, would forever change the lives of two sisters, who once lived on a tiny farm in Traphill, North Carolina.

Tara Strange Perry, one of the recipients, opened her letter and began to read. The letter was from her brother, Leggett, whom she had not seen in nearly fifteen years. After anxiously reading the letter, she screamed out of control, waving the letter above her head, and paced back and forth across the room.

What in the world is wrong with you? Ed, her husband asked, showing great concern.

This letter is from my brother, Leggett. You know, the one I told you about. We separated nearly fifteen years ago, along with my sister, Kelly.

Yes, I remember, Ed said. He was the one you left inside the cave when you went to find a job, he added.

Well! This letter is from him, Tara screamed, her body still trembling. Through the services of a private investigator, he has found out where we live, and about our family. Not only has he learned about us, but he has also located Kelly and her family.

That is great, Ed replied, in his always affectionate manner. Yes, it is great! Tara yelled, But he does not give me any details about his, or Kelly’s location. Do you think he is playing a joke on me?

I am sure he has a good reason, Ed told her, as he straightens his bow tie. This was a last minute adjustment. As he prepared to leave to open their restaurant, which they had owned for some time, he added, I am telling you, dear, that he must have had a good reason.

Tara turned, and gazed into her husband’s dark blue, eyes. If he did not want to talk to me, he could have, at least, let me know Kelly’s locale, so I could get in contact with her.

As Ed moved his tall, lean body toward the front door, he hugged her and offered encouragement to his bewildered wife. At least, he said, you know now that you will get to see him and your sister in December.

I won’t be able to think about anything else, Tara told him, as he walked out the door.

Sure you will, he replied and blew her a kiss, and was gone.

In Wilmington, North Carolina, Kelly had just opened and read Leggett’s letter; Damn him, she remarked when she finished reading his letter.

What did you say? was husband John Bates reaction to his trembling wife’s remark.

Kelly handed John the letter, then she picked up the telephone and dialed the operator. Hello, Kelly said when the operator answered, Do you have a listing for a Leggett Strange in Traphill, North Carolina? After a short pause, the operator replied, I am sorry, but I have no listing for a Leggett Strange in Traphill, the operator said. Is there another way that you think he might be listed? she inquired. Kelly said that she had no other information and thanked the operator for her effort.

Why did you think he might be in Traphill? John asked her, realizing how upset and disappointed she was.

I thought he might have returned there to live, Kelly murmured.

The letter does not indicate he is living there, John told her. It only states that he wants you and Tara to meet him at the courthouse in December.

I know, Kelly remarked. I just want to see him so badly, and would love to talk to him now. It would, also, be wonderful to find out where Tara is living, so that I can talk to her.

John was a tall, rough and handsome man dressed in his fishing outfit. He looked so cute to Kelly, with his short, black hair protruding from beneath his baseball cap. He and Kelly owned a fishing business, but things were not going well, right now. Business had been slow the last couple of years and was beginning to take a toll on the family budget. "I say that he must have had a