Conclusion
The next morning...
After breakfast, Miss Amy stood from the table and gave Asa a nod. “It’s time, let’s do this.”
Cheyenne grinned at her then leaned in close to Jolene to say, “I love when she bosses them around.”
“Miss Amy is a pip for sure. It’s pretty brave to boss these large guys around.” Jolene giggled then she asked, “I’ve never been on any kind of... adventure. Can I come?”
Cheyenne nodded. “Yeah, help me stock a couple of coolers first.”
“I can help with anything you guys need. Show me the way.”
After loading everything up, they set off and soon enough they found the ruins of the old stone house. It was only a mile away.
Asa studied it when he got out of the second truck. “I saw this years ago and never guessed that it might be where this treasure is.”
Amy nodded. “It is on your property too, so most of those dreamchasers and thugs were right on that fact, I guess. If it is still here.”
Asa looked over at her and asked, “If?”
“Sure, Asa. Someone could have dug it up and you would have never known.”
He sighed. “Yeah, maybe. So many lives were lost or ruined because of this blasted fucking treasure. I lost men who were young and they will never get to see old age. And I lost the woman I loved. I want it to be gone. If we find it then turn it in, we need to make sure we spread the word everywhere. I want peace. I want to just be left alone.”
Miss Amy nodded. “Amen to that.” She looked around then ordered, “Ok, Wolverines, start your digging over there.” She pointed at some fallen stone ruins.
The guys all started digging but even after an hour, they didn’t find anything. They only had three shovels so they traded off in shifts and kept at it for most of the afternoon but still found nothing.
Asa was frustrated and he let everyone know it. “This is too much. We need more shovels and maybe we shouda been smarter than this. Like get a few metal detectors.”
Cheyenne took her turn digging and she’d been at it for a half hour. “So, now you think of that?” she asked him then paused and wiped sweat from her brow.
“Well, Miss Smarty Pants, you coulda thought of it too.”
She grinned at him. “True dat, Dad. True dat.”
“Dat isn’t even a real word.” Asa shook his head at her but he didn’t hide his smirk.
Jolene took Cheyenne’s shovel from her as she giggled over their banter. “Gimme DAT shovel. I’ll take a turn. Go and get yourself some cold water.”
Cheyenne laughed at her use of the word, then she nodded and took a handkerchief out to wipe her face down as she went over to one of the coolers.
In the next hour, Cheyenne and Jolene made sure the men had cold water bottles as well.
Amy forced them all to take a break and get hydrated as she told them they were looking like dried out rats, not healthy wolverines.
The girls kept giggling at her bossing them. Then while the digging continued, the two women wandered around a bit.
After a few stroll through and around the property, Jolene stumbled and fell.
When Cheyenne helped her up she saw something sparkling in the weeds. She immediately called out to the men.
Asa, Mad Dog, Rock and Stroker came over to them.
Cheyenne pointed down at the sparkle.
Miss Amy came over then and she nodded. “Yeah, that says a lot, doesn’t it?
” She turned and looked at the other area and shook her head.
“Those ruins you were digging at are only part of the stone house.” She walked over to some nearby brush and waved at the men.
“Can you all use your shovels to move all this away? It’s mostly dried up. ”
They went and got their shovels then went about uncovering more of the old place.
Like she guessed at, this revealed a much bigger room.
The gold sparkle in the brush was part of what used to be an old fireplace and when they exposed it they found an opening in the stone.
They went back to some rigorous digging.
This went on for about twenty more minutes.
“Oh, fuck!” Suddenly, Rock yelled at everyone to step back.
They all rushed backward as a large whooshing sound could be heard. The ground rumbled and bounced as dust flew everywhere.
Most of them landed on their asses in the dirt.
Finally, Asa got up after cussing a mean streak. He then stumbled over to the now massive hole in the ground and looked down. “Well, fuck me!”
Stroker helped Miss Amy up to her feet.
“Are you okay, Miss Amy?” Cheyenne asked her.
“I didn’t break nuthin’!” She snickered. “Someone my age needs to beware of treasure hunting.” Heading forward, she stepped up next to Asa. Staring down, she shook her head.
In this large hole, there were three chests, all old and falling apart. Sparkling jewels had spilled over and were spread out along the dusty ground. Emerald, sapphires, glistening diamonds. Along with gold and silver. There were also lots of old looking gold coins.
“There’s gotta be millions down there,” Jolene exclaimed in awe.
They had finally found it. They found the pirate’s treasure. And it did not disappoint. In today’s market, they could be looking at a billion dollars in precious gems, metals and gold.
They all went quiet at the final realization that they finally unearthed it all. This whole, long drawn out history and battles would finally be over.
Breaking the respectful silence, Miss Amy leaned her head back and laughed.
Everyone looked over at her.
She kept on laughing until tears ran down along her cheeks. This went on for a full minute then two. She almost looked hysterical as she even stumbled around a bit.
Asa felt concerned as he went over to her and gently grasped her arm to steady her. “Are you all right, Miss Amy?”
She was panting for air as she swiped her tears away and told them all in a gasping breath, “I-I am better than alright. I want—someone to take a few pictures of this. Then s-send it to Agent Linda, so she can show it to Amos in prison. I... was picturing his face just now. His shock and undeniable awe. His absolute astonishment to finally see it in its truly rich magnificence. After all the lying, scheming and hunting he did. After the pain and misery he caused to so many over its very existence. And then I pictured his sour, disappointed, gutted expression as he finally realizes the total and inescapable knowledge that it will NEVER-EVER...be his.”
Everyone stared at her as her statement sunk in and then they all laughed loudly as a group.
After a couple of fun minutes taken out at dear old Amos’ expense, they all finally quieted down. Cheyenne and Mad Dog had taken many pictures with their phones from all the wonderous angles they could achieve.
They were busy discussing how to get the treasure moved up top. Then after that, all they had to do was get it somewhere and turn it into the proper authorities, so it would be safe.
Suddenly, they heard footsteps coming toward them... a lot of footsteps.
Looking over, more than a dozen men had come up on them. They all carried machine guns aimed at the Wolverines.
Stroker, Rock, Mad Dog and Asa, all grabbed for their weapons.
Cheyenne raised her rifle up as well.
“Don’t do it!” a voice yelled from behind the line of men, holding guns on them. “They will kill you.” Then he stepped out from behind the line of men to show himself.
Upon seeing the man, the whole group gasped in shock.
“No fucking way!” Asa yelled.
TO BE CONTINUED