A Knight in the Ville: Beneath the Bricks

By Steven E. Winters

The Memorial Day weekend was just a few days away, and soon hundreds of former graduates of Sistersville High School and their families would begin streaming into town to attend the annual Alumni festivities. However, one visitor was coming to Sistersville with no intention of joining in any of the celebrations. His was a mission of hatred and revenge, and he was someone Curtis Knight knew well.
But before Sergeant Knight could deal with his old foe, he had a larger problem on his hands. There was a deadly force living unseen in the Ville...and it was hungry for flesh.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496902931

Steven E. Winters

Born and raised in Tyler County, West Virginia, Steven E. Winters was fascinated with the folklore and legends of the Ohio Valley region. With those legends in mind, he wrote A Knight in the Ville, a five-book series based in and around Tyler County. Mixing historical facts with fictional characters, he focused on making his stories short and easy to read. Encouraged by the success of that series, he is now releasing his first short-story collection. Winters served as a law enforcement officer in West Virginia and North Carolina for twenty-three years before retiring in 2003. He now works as a private contractor for a large utility company, which gives him more time to focus on his writing. He currently resides near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

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J ennifer Arbogast quickly placed the spaghetti into the pot of boiling water on the stove top and kept a watchful eye on the sauce simmering in the pan beside it. It was nearly 6:00 p.m., and she was already running late with supper. Her husband, Greg, had to be out the door no later than 6:30 in order to make it to the chemical plant in time for his shift. Greg was a loving husband and father, but he could be a tad grumpy when he worked nights. Jennifer knew how hard Greg worked for her and the kids, so if he was occasionally a frumpy bear, as their daughter called him, she could tolerate it. Besides, after he finished these next two shifts, he would be on his seven-day break.

As Jennifer scurried about the kitchen, her daughter, Maggie, walked in and began setting the dinner table. Maggie was only seven years old, but she was a mature little girl who helped her mother around the house without needing to be asked. This was a far cry from Maggie’s ten-year-old brother, Tommy, who had little interest in anything but baseball and video games. Maggie, dear, could you turn the oven off, please?

Sure, Momma. Want me to get the rolls out too?

No, no, no. I don’t want you handling that hot tray! Just turn it off and I’ll get them as soon as I finish tossing this salad.

Okay, Momma, Maggie answered, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Go call your brother and father to dinner, Maggie.

Maggie walked to the base of the stairs in the living room and yelled, Come and get it, Daddy! You too, Butthead!

Jennifer laughed out loud in the kitchen. Maggie might have been younger, but she had no fear of her older brother.

After dinner, Maggie and Jennifer gave Greg kisses and hugs as he left for work. Maggie and Tommy cleared the table, and Jennifer placed the dishes in the dishwasher after giving them a quick rinse in the sink. Tommy had to be at the baseball field at 7:30 for Little League practice, so the kitchen cleanup would have to wait. Getting Tommy anywhere on time was a task in itself. He never had a sense of urgency, and this frustrated Jennifer. Tonight was no different. It was 7:20, and Tommy was still not dressed in his practice clothes. She scolded him as they rushed out the door. Thankfully, the city park was only a two-block walk from their Riverside Drive home.

While Tommy practiced, Jennifer and Maggie enjoyed a brisk stroll on the Sistersville River Walk, accompanied by some other moms and children. The paved walking trail followed the Ohio River from the park all the way down to the hospital. It was a beautiful, scenic route, with the rolling green hills rising high on each side of the valley and the setting sun’s rays producing sparkling diamonds, which seemed to dance atop the water’s surface. They completed two laps before stopping to rest on one of the benches alongside the trail as a coal barge slowly drifted by on the water.

After practice, they walked up the park hill to the Dairy Queen for some ice cream before heading home. Maggie helped Jennifer clean the kitchen, while Tommy headed upstairs to take a shower. When they were finished, Jennifer gave her daughter a playful swat on the butt. Better get washed up and into bed soon, Maggie. We’re going to surprise Daddy with a big breakfast in the morning!

Yes, Momma! Maggie replied, giving her mom a quick kiss before heading upstairs.

By 10:00 p.m., the house was quiet. Jennifer poured herself a glass of wine and melted into her chair in the living room, where she slowly flipped through the pages of a magazine. It was the time of day she cherished most—no kids, no cleaning, no cooking, no husband. She felt a few pangs of guilt for having such selfish thoughts, but she knew a few more sips of wine would quiet them. As she kicked off her shoes and reached for the comforter on the back of the chair, her eyes caught a glimpse of the table beside the front door. Where was Tommy’s new baseball glove?