Little Black Book

The carriage house was dark. However, the full moon bled through the windows and highlighted Edward’s six-foot pubescent frame, black hair, and blue eyes as he leaned over the second story rail. It was late, and yet Edward hadn’t moved from that spot since eight in the evening. His mind was whirring at speeds that hadn’t been reached since he was a small boy. His imagination was wrapped in the little package his Uncle had found behind the wall. Edward wondered if what he and his Uncle had found was valuable. If so, how would they go about finding the results? He yawned and let out a slight sigh. “Well if it is true, then I’ll have made some money, but if not I’ll be no better off” he whispered underneath his breath. His Uncle’s snoring found its way up through the floor planks and drew his attention away from his contemplation. A wolf howled in the distance, and a cold wind blew through the chinks in the carriage house walls. His attention glided back across the room to the package. The contents lay across his work table. A compass, a silver pen, and a little black book. Edward walked across the room, and lit the candle that was on the table. He slowly opened the tattered pages of leather bound book. A page fell to the ground and he scurried to pick it up. It read “Last Will and Testament” and was signed by a “William Adam Ferrell”. Edward placed the page back in the book and then flipped the page and started to read. “To the reader of this book, you have stumbled on the greatest find of your life. Having no heir, family, or friend I have found myself at a loss concerning my belongings, and financial securities”. The flame flickered out due to a sharp wind cutting through the wall. Edward grabbed a match, hurriedly relit the candle, and began to read again. “I know that you are most likely questioning the validity of this find, or if someone has already found its contents. Let me put your mind at ease. My name is William Adam Ferrell, and for my entire life I’ve been considered an outlaw. There was a bounty on my head upwards of fifty-thousand dollars due to my incessant robbing of stagecoaches”. Edward whistled loudly, and then immediately held his breath to listen for his Uncle’s snoring. All of a sudden, Edward heard his Uncle say “Boy I know you’re reading that book we found, put it away and go to bed. There’s plenty of daylight tomorrow for that sort of thing”. Edward responded “Yes Uncle”, closed the book and laid down on his mattress. “A real outlaw’s memoirs” Edward thought as he slowly fell asleep. Next morning, Edward awoke early and jumped out of bed. He was excited to read the book. However, the book and is contents were gone! Fear gripped him. Had someone stolen the book? Wait, who knew about it, other than him and his Uncle? Just then, Edward’s Uncle called upstairs; “Breakfast is ready”. Edward scurried downstairs and rushed to the table. He spouted off breathlessly “Uncle did you take the book”? His Uncle looked at him with a grin and said “Yep, I sure did”. “I Also read it, and it would appear that it’s genuine”. Edward let out a sigh of relief, and then shoved an egg into his mouth. “Can I read the rest of it?” Edward asked through a full mouth. Edwards Uncle shrugged his shoulders and handed him the book. Grabbing it quickly he opened up to where he had left off. “Not only did I rob stagecoaches, but I also robbed several banks in the process. Having been shot only days ago, I fear that the grim has come for me. Therefore, I’m leaving in a place, discoverable herein my entire wealth and belongings. Should you locate it, you will have fair days for some time. Best of luck and may you have a better day than mine”.

Edward stopped reading. He turned the page over and saw a map. It was crude at best. However, the details were enough that you could make out the surrounding landscape. A willow tree, on the top of a hill that jutted out like an Eagles beak. Edward pondered over the look of that hill. Somewhere, he had seen that exact place, but couldn’t put his finger on where. His Uncle broke his train of thought as he said, “That looks like Parson’s Hill”. Edward jumped. “Of course! That’s it!” Edward said. He looked at the map once more, and then noticed a tiny speck that looked like a random line, but had a not beside it. It read, “Fracture hill. Beware of edge.”.

Edward was in the buggy before his Uncle could even hitch the horses. In less than an hour they scaled the hill, and found the tree, but the elusive edge was missing. All of a sudden Edward felt the ground sink beneath his feet. He a short distance, and landed on something hard. His legs were bruised by the fall, but he rubbed his eyes while rising to see where he had landed. It was a small like cavern that was filled to the brim in gold. Twenty-thousand dollar’s worth. Just then he noticed the rattlesnake ready to strike.

The End