Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:38:18 GMT From: "tedmack@juno.com" Subject: The Vanderkill Legacy chapter one This story involves a romance between and adult male and a minor boy. Please proceed at your own risk. The Vanderkill Legacy- chapter one. Harold Vanderkill looked forlornly out of the front window of his grand home. He missed his adopted son Ronald badly. The boy had stormed out of their upper Manhattan home during a heated argument nearly a year ago. Now it was Christmas Eve 1869 and the now eleven year old boy had not been heard from in all that time. Harold was the son of the Railroad magnate Jacob Vanderkill but he had been disinherited by the old man. He was now living in the 56th street Fifth Avenue home that had been built by his maternal grandfather. There was a knock on the door and Harry told james his faithful butler to come in. "If you will excuse me sir but there are some important matters at hand." "What is it James?" "You see sir I know that Mary would not say anything to you. She is IN the kitchen preparing dinner. It seems that she and her family have been evicted from their apartment. Since Patrick was injured at work he has not been able to work and with what she earns here they have not been able to pay the rent. They have to get out the day after tomorrow. I don't know what we can do but I knew that you would want to know." Thank you James. I think that I have an idea. Come with me." Harry then led James out of the house. James followed around the side and down the sloping hill to the back. Since the house was on a slope there was an old shed like area under the back. Harry opened the door and walked in. The area was partitioned into three parts. Discarded items were strewn about. It looked like no one had been down there in some time. "Well, what do you think?" Harry asked. "Maybe was cab get Mr. Corbett and his boys to fix it up. I don't know how much money we have left in the till but perhaps we could offer them some money now and some more after the first of the year,. We have some furniture stored in the attic that could go down here. We could actually set up a small sitting room and three small bed rooms, That way young Patrick and little Mary jane could each have their own rooms as well as Sean and Mary." "I know it's Christmas Eve but I'm sure the Corbett's will understand." "Good you go and do that and I will go and talk with Mary but we will keep this a secret. I don't know a thing." With that Harry went back inside the house and James wen to see the Coebetts. A short time later Me. Corbett and his three strapping lads were at work beneath the house and Harry was back at his window thinking of his missing boy. The boy he loved. It was starting to snow. ******** *********** *********** ********** Three young boys was darting across the street. Two appeared to be about eleven years old. The third couldn't have been more than five or six. The youngest one stumbled and fell calling out "Danny. help." as he went down. Danny rushed back yo help his brother. "It's all right Sammy, I got you." he said as he helped Sammy across the street. " Gee, Ronny," he said to the other boy, " We need to find some place to hid. It's gonna get dark soon. It's snowing and its really getting cold. I don't think Sammy can go much further." "Don't worry. I know a place where we can hide. Murphy and his boys won't find us there." "Where are we anyway? I never been this far uptown before." "Don't worry Danny. Come with me. Want me to carry Sammy?' "Naw, I got him." Ronny led them up to a huge house. He took them up to a window that led to a basement room. The window opened right up. Turning to Danny he said," You go in first then I'll hand Sammy down to you and then I'll follow." "What if someone's home?" "Nah, the Holloways always go away for Christmas. no one is home, guaranteed." When they were inside Ronny groped around until he found a candle and a book of matches. Moving away from the window he lit the candle and put it down. "Look, there are a couple of old mattresses and some blankets. You set them down and that's where we can sleep." With big eyes Sammy looked up and Ronny and said, "Do you think that Saint Nicholas can find us here? All I want is a tin whistle." Ronny replied,"You be a good boy and go to sleep. Saint Nicholas can't come if your awake you know." With that he kissed the boy and went back to Danny. Danny grabbed Ronny's wrist and said, I'm scared. and why did you tell him that. You know we ai nt got no Tin whistle. What's going to happen when he wakes up in the morning and there's no whistle?" "Don't worry about it." Ronny replied. I know where to get the whistle and maybe some candy too. You just wait here. I'll be back soon." "You're gonna leave us here all alone. What is you don't come back. And where will you get a whistle? You know we don't have any money and Murphy's boys are out lookin' for us." "I said don't worry. I know someone who can help. I'll be back as soon as I can." With that he pulled Danny close and kissed him on the lips. Then he turned and pulled himself up through a window on the opposite side of the house from where they came in. Outside the snow was now sticking to the ground and it was getting dark. Using the cover of some trees on the uptown side of the house he slowly made his way to the front. Once he reached the sidewalk he shivered from the cold and darted across the street. then he stood nervously in front of the house he used to call home. Steeling his nerves he ran up on the porch and nervously rang the ball and jumped back ready to dart away. James opened the door and stared in surprise. "Why, master Ronald . . ." he started to say before Ronny cut him off. " Look, James, I know I am not wanted here but it's Christmas and there's this boy Sammy. He's only five years old and all he wants for Christmas is a Tin whistle and if you can help me get him one I would be grateful. Then I would be on my way and I won't bother you any . . . ' Before Ronny could say any more James, who was faster that he looked, reached out and grabbed Ronny by the shoulder and was piloting him inside. "Why don't you ask your father?" James asked as he piloted the young boy inside. Keeping a firm grip on Ronny who was trying to slip away, james knocked on Harry's door. "Yes James." came from inside. James opened the door a crack and said, "Someone to see you sir." He shoved Ronny inside the door and closed it firmly behind him. The man and the boy looked at each other. It was an emotional moment. Flustered young Ronny finally blurted out,"Look, I know you don't want me here and I won't bother you long but there is a five year old boy with his brother and we got no place to stay and its Christmas and all Sammy wants is a small tin whistle and if . . . ' Harry opened his arms and said, "Oh my boy, I have missed you so much. We've looked everywhere for you. Please give me a hug." The two of them looked at each other and each took a tentative step closer. After a small pause Ronny suddenly leaped into his adoptive father's arms. Soon the two of them were in tears. After a while they broke the clasp and Harry asked Ronny, Who are these boys and where are they?" "They are my friends. Danny is my age and Sammy is only five. Murphy's boys are after us Murphy wants us to be prostitutes and says he'll kill us if we don't do as he says. I have them hidden in the Holloway house." "All right. Let's see what we can do. I bet Mary's husband Sean is he by now and Mr. Corbett and his sons are down stairs. Mr Corbett has his horse and sleigh here too. Harry yanked open the door to the room and sure enough james was standing right there." "Everything all right between you now sir?" James asked. "Sure thing James but now we need to go rescue Ronny's friends." Soon the Vanderkills, The Clancys, and the four Corbetts with James were in a sleigh going down the street.They were armed with sticks and bats. As they pulled up in front of the Holloway house ronny jumped out and led his father to the open window. The other me spread out. Eighteen year old Jimmy Holloway hid behind a tree. At the window Ronny called out for Danny. He told him to hand Sammy up to them and then they pulled Sammy up. Harry Vanderkill grabbed the sleeping Sammy and carried him to the sleigh with the others following. Just as they got near the sleigh a man suddenly appeared with a pistol in his hand. "Wait a minute there. Those kids are coming with me. They have an appointment with Mr. Murphy and anyone who wants to argue will get a bullet in their chest. Come here you brats. You belong to Colin Murphy." Just then Jimmy Holloway came out from behind his tree and whacked the man over the head. He crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes. One of his brothers ran to look for a policeman. Don't worry about us, Jimmy said. We'll fetch the cops and see this one behind bars. You get them kids somewhere warm and safe. So while Jimmy and his brothers fetched the police the men took the boys to the Vanderkill home.