Secrets of Thunder Valley- The Locket Read online

  Secrets of Thunder Valley

  The Locket

  By Shelly VonWest

  Copyright © 2018 Shelly VonWest

  Cover Art by Shelly VonWest

  All rights reserved.

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  http://www.authorshellyvonwest.com/

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Chapter One

  The sun sits low in the sky, kissing the tops of the treed canopy causing the leaves to turn radiant shades of golden orange and rust. As waves lap at the lonely sandy shore, the only other sounds of life are haunting cries from a gang of crows; fighting over a found morsel.

  Fall is descending upon the lake and with it, turning all signs of summer into fading memories with ghostlike whispers promising that winter will soon blanket the small mountain resort.

  As she approaches the last long bend, Ellen’s stomach ties itself into a million slip knots that feel like they tighten with every breath she takes. Her return to Thunder Valley is the last thing she wanted, but coming home is the only option left.

  She glances at the empty seat next to her and reminds herself that everything happens for a reason. The last time she visited was under much happier circumstances. She regrets not having come back sooner, the flood of questions and a myriad of sympathetic smiles or even a few disapproving glances will be the hardest part. The promise of a little rest and relaxation was the final factor that convinced her to return to her hometown, to the arms of the people that raised her.

  As she speeds along the last stretch of road and before she enters city limits, her breath hitches at the back of her throat. All the pent-up feelings flood her like a fountain overflowing from the torrential rains of life. The panic and trepidation overwhelm her. She turns the little sports car into a scenic pullout giving no warning to the truck behind her, sending him into a skid complete with tires and brakes smoking. The driver wails his horn. Startled, she glances at the passing trucker with regret as the passenger pumps his flannel clad arm in the air with his middle finger aggressively wagging in the air.

  “I guess I deserved that.” She mumbles to herself as she places the car in park before she jumps out gasping for air. She tries to take a deep breath—she chokes.

  “Damned altitude.”

  As she looks around her surroundings, Ellen realizes why she is having a pseudo panic attack, the quaint town that lies nestled in the valley, is just around the next bend. Over at the rock wall, she glances down at the forest of trees while holding at bay tears threatening to make a comeback. Never has she shed so many unwelcomed tears since she was in college. Those days are long gone and how she wished more than anything she could return to the autonomy of being a theater student in New York City. Someone that nobody paid any attention. Someone that nobody had ever heard of.

  Now, she’s lucky to buy groceries without ending up on the front cover of a rag magazine, flaunting her disheveled appearance while fabricating more lies about her break-up.

  She sighs then after taking another deep breath, this time without choking, she slips back into the car grasping the wheel; her knuckles white, she places the car in drive.

  “She’s here Tim… hurry… she’s here!” Ellen’s stepmother shouts while throwing open the leaded glass front doors, then stopping to wait at the top of the front steps of the wrap-around porch.

  As Ellen pulls up, Kathy waits with heightened anticipation to reunite with her stepdaughter, which is long overdue.

  “Ah, just in time,” Kathy says over her shoulder to Tim, “She’s just parked!” She can hardly contain her excitement.

  “There’s my girl.” Tim says with pride. “You are a sight for sore eyes.” He says while taking Ellen’s cases from her. “Seems you’ll be staying a while judging by the amount of luggage you brought.” He jokes.

  “Sounds fine by me.” Kathy gushes while wrapping her arms around Ellen pulling her into a warm squeeze.

  As she looks up at the house towering over her, Ellen shades her eyes from the glare of the sun filtered by the cloud cover. “The house looks great, I love the color you chose.”

  Kathy beams, “We love it too, it’s called cornflower blue. I think the color suits the style of the house.” She continues to rattle on, “We debated on the shutters though, do you think the white is too boring or stark?”

  “No, I don’t think it’s boring at all. I also like the deep red on the planter boxes, it’s cute how it matches the barn and the other outbuildings.”

  “We’re glad you like it. We went back and forth over the blue but wanted a true Americana feel.”

  “You succeeded. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with my old room and the rest of the house. From the looks of your posts on Facebook the two of have been busy remodeling this place.”

  Tim and Kathy look at each other with knowing glances before Tim speaks. With perceptible hesitation, “About that honey, we’re having you stay in the back-guest room, we’ve done something else with your old room.”

  Ellen’s eyebrows shoot up in an arch forming a question mark of sorts, “Oh? Now my curiosity is piqued for sure. I can’t imagine what upgrades you made.”

  “Let’s get you settled into the guest room and then I’ll show you what we’ve done. It’s a good thing… for us at least.” Kathy says over her shoulder as she leads the way up the massive staircase to the landing, then takes the second staircase that leads to the right wing of the house. As the wooden stairs creak under Ellen’s feet she had forgotten just how much she missed this old house and all its quirks.

  Kathy leads Ellen past the other rooms to the end of the hall to the room that overlooks the grounds and a side view of the lake.

  “We wanted you to stay in the largest guest room.”

  She looks away for a moment to survey the room, then with a hopeful look on her face, she looks back to Ellen, “Especially since we didn’t know how long you will be staying.”

  Thud! Thump!

  Kathy and Ellen jump at the loud noise coming from the hall. “I’m okay.” Tim yelps.

  Both ladies scurry to the hall to see what caused the clatter.

  Tim is in the hall struggling with the expensive monogrammed leather luggage. Beads of sweat dot across his upper lip as he wrangles the duffel bags strapped across his torso and the cases lined up like a train trailing behind him in a snake formation.

  “Thank goodness these cases come with sufficient wheels, otherwise I’d be in trouble.” He chuckles.

  “Dad! You should leave them for me to bring up.”

  “Nonsense but now you mention it, I could use help bringing them in for the home stretch.”

  As she snatches some bags from him, Kathy clicks her tongue, “Tim, no wonder you suffer from back problems, you’re not a packhorse, you could ask for help.”

  “Well, if you had let me get the elevator fixed…”

  “We have closed the Inn, why would we need that elevator working now?” She huffs.

  “We still live here don’t we and I’m sure as heck not getting any younger, now am I?”

  Betwe
en giggles Ellen wrestles the rest of the luggage from her dad, placing it in the walk-in closet. As she emerges, the look on her parents’ faces are matched to one another with the same question on their minds.

  “Relax you guys, the room will work great!” She pauses, “But, I don’t know how long I will stay. Is that okay?”

  Releasing a sigh of relief, “Oh… yes, eh……” Kathy stammers, “What I mean to say is you know you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need, there’s no time limit. In fact, the longer the better. You’ve been a virtual stranger, so you know, it thrills us you are here.”

  Ellen also releases a sigh of relief, “Good, I won’t worry about overstaying my welcome then.”

  “Oh, heavens, where are my manners? After the long drive, I bet you’d love a refreshment.”

  “I would love a snack although I want to see what’s with all the secrecy over my old room.”

  “Ok, but let us warn you, it’s not what you think. You’ll never guess what we did with that room!”

  She follows her parents down the back stairs to the main level toward the lake side of the house where her old room was located.

  On the approach, she notices they replaced the wood double doors with a pair of etched glass doors.

  Her dad looks at her with measurable pride, “Here it is… our workout room!”

  Kathy watches Ellen for her reaction with a wide grin on her face.

  They transformed the room from a teenager’s room to a full-fledged workout space complete with a mirrored wall set behind a rack of free weights and bench. A treadmill, stationery bike, and elliptical machine are sitting in front of the windows that offer a sweeping view of the lake.

  “Well?” Tim asks.

  “I love it, you thought of everything. Good for you taking charge of your health. I never thought the day would come you would lift weights Dad.”

  “After the heart attack, I didn’t get many options. Although, after trekking to town last year through the snow, in makes sense to spare ourselves the trouble and we brought the gym to us instead.”

  “I love turning on a yoga video and standing here in front of this window right here and find my inner chi.” Kathy says with complete seriousness which causes Ellen to snicker.

  “I’m so proud of you both, you did a great job in here.”

  “Use it whenever you want. I imagine you must keep up that figure for that upcoming big role?”

  Ellen turns away heading to the window to gaze out at the lake. She says more to herself than her parents, “If I must.”

  Chapter Two

  Ten days into her stay at her parent’s estate, she has not left the property. The main reason is for fear of being discovered by late season tourists. The shoulder season will bring a few stragglers but by mid-November, it’s locals who remain which Ellen feels she can handle, she even looks forward to seeing her old townspeople.

  She ponders over who still lives here and who she might see when walking down Main street.

  Her phone buzzes on the dining table interrupting her musings. Glancing at the caller ID she releases a puff of air.

  “What is it dear?” Kathy asks while sipping at her black coffee in the huge mug stating ‘Dog Mom’ on the side.

  It’s funny because they don’t even own a dog, only a cat.

  “Nothing. It’s just Vincent—again.”

  “What more could that man want? I don’t know why you don’t change your manager… how about a nice woman who isn’t so high-strung?”

  Ellen chokes on the bagel she had just shoved in her mouth, “I don’t think there’s such a thing but if you know someone like that, please point me in that direction because I’ve about had it with Hollywood dictating my every move.”

  “You should have stuck with Broadway.” Tim says in his firm fatherly voice.

  “That sounds like a tone of voice that is best saved for saying I told you so.” Ellen chides.

  “Maybe that’s how I intended that to sound. As a glowing star on stage, you sold out for the opulence and glitter forgetting somewhere along the line you have actual talent. You know you are not just a pretty face Ellie.”

  “Thanks for reminding me of that Dad.” She snaps as she snatches the phone off the table then exits out the side doors. Her dad responds, but she doesn’t stick around to hear. Besides, she already knows what he will have said, and it would only have caused another argument. A few minutes later she hears his old truck rumbling down the drive. She lets out a soft snort, hoping he wasn’t tearing out of here for her benefit.

  Wandering down the path toward the docks, she tilts her head toward the sky to allow the sun peaking through the clouds to tickle her nose.

  He never approved of her decision to leave her life in New York as a star on Broadway, for the supposed glamourous life on the big screen. Moving to Hollywood seemed the natural thing but now she’s wondering how to hit the reset button. More than anything, Ellen wishes her life was less complicated.

  In the early days, she was always broke having to work multiple jobs struggling to make ends meet… and even that was not enough. The constant need for more acting workshops, new headshots, and cab fare for going to auditions meant she was always scraping.

  When tinsel town came knocking, there was little chance she would turn it down. Her first role in a major motion picture was that of a supporting role but the money offered was more than she would make in a year in small parts on Broadway. In the down time she worked as a personal assistant to the rich and bored.

  In hindsight, despite the lack of pay, she was blissfully happy. She was dating, but nothing serious. Despite her financial hardships, she got to live in a beautiful flat that overlooked the park. This was courtesy of her best friend’s father who had set her up as an heiress. Tabby insisted that Ellen move in with her to keep her company. But Ellen knew it was also to keep her from getting into trouble with all the power-hungry grubbers she attracted on Wall Street. Being an attractive woman, whose daddy owns one of the largest International stock brokerages has significant pitfalls.

  “Ellen?”

  A male voice from behind her which she doesn’t recognize interrupts her thoughts.

  Turning around she releases a soft gasp as the man standing before her bears the strong resemblance of a boy from her childhood. The one who she became betrothed at seven. Even though it has been long forgotten, the memory of promising to marry by the jungle gym makes her smile.

  She runs her hand across the top of her head trying to slick back stray wisps of blonde hair that are waiving above her head from the gentle breeze. Her blue eyes sparkling in the morning autumn sun, she looks radiant despite her lack of makeup and her casual workout clothes.

  “Ellen that is you!” He says with a wide grin. “Your parents told me you were coming for a visit.”

  Ellen searches his handsome face to confirm that he is in fact the first boy to have a claim on her heart. She knows he’s waiting for her to respond. “Um yes, I am visiting.” She replies.

  She notices that a few strands of his dark brown wavy hair have fallen across his forehead while his piercing blue eyes bore a hole straight through her. How could she doubt her first instinct? Its him! She’d never forget those eyes!

  “I’m surprised to see you I thought you moved to Europe to pursue your art?”

  “I did. But I, well we moved back.”

  “We?” She asks feeling nervous.

  He clears his throat, “Yes, my daughter, and I moved back just this summer.”

  “I see. How old is your daughter?” Ellen asks aware that it sounds like awkward small talk.

  “She’s six, her name is Francesca.”

  “Pretty name.” She replies with a lift to her voice to hide her discomfort.

  “What brings you back to town? I’ve seen your work, it seems you’ve become a big star.” He breathes through glistening white teeth.

  “I wouldn’t go that far.” She blurts while feeling bashful.
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br />   “Nonsense, you are big stuff around here.” Kathy chimes in joining them on the dock. “Don’t let her downplay her accomplishments. I should be ashamed to admit it but once tourists learned of our connection to her, we had no trouble keeping the place booked, even during the off season our halls filled with curious travelers.”

  He chuckles then looks at Ellen’s whose face is anything but amused, “I’m sure it was nice when you got to close for good?”

  She grunts, “You do not understand. If it weren’t for Tim’s health forcing the closure we’d be busting at the rafters especially considering recent tabloid activity.”

  Her hand flies to her mouth as the words tumbled without so much as a filter.

  “Oh Mom, please let’s not bring that up just now. I came here to escape that, remember?”

  “So sorry Ellie, I meant nothing by it. We know what you’ve been through has been horrible.” She rushes to her side grabbing her into a sideways hug. Ellen resists at first but the hug feels nice.

  “I’m sorry, I must have missed something, what tabloid activity?” His eyebrows shoot into a question.

  “Are you living under a rock?” Kathy chuckles, “Never mind. There’s been some unwanted drama in Ellie’s life, so we invited her to come here for rest and sanctuary and here I am drumming it all up. I am sorry Ellie.”

  “It’s okay Mom, when I get to a better mental space, I’ll be in the mood to talk about it.” Ellen turns to Benjamin, “It’s nice to see you Benjamin. Where are you staying?”

  He chuckles, “You know, you can call me Ben. No need to be so formal!”

  Feeling her face blushing, “Sorry, I forgot you like to go by Ben.”

  “No worries. We’re at my folk’s old place. I’m working on fixing it up. They neglected it for such a long time I fear there’s a lot of work to still complete. We’ve already installed a new roof, foundation repairs and the whole house got new electrical.” Looking at Kathy he smiles, “It also seems that I have plenty of time on my hands these days, so I welcome the challenge.”