[ TT ] `` Treasure hunter ? No , I 'm more of a treasure protector . ''

It ’ s real. I don ’ t care that you don ’ t believe it. It ’ s real and belongs to this family. My family. My seed. 
 
 Josiah Cole ’ s declaration was interrupted by a flurry of coughs that caused him to sit up. The people standing around his bed shifted uneasily and a few of them patted their eyes with tissues. The rooms in Ashford Convalescence House took in immense natural light, yet the centenarian ’ s pupils remained agape and grew larger the more he spoke. Josiah went on, coughing after every few words. 
 
 It ’ s in our blood, Ty. You got ta find it and make this family as great as it was, as great as it ’ s meant to be. Can ’ t nobody get to that rock but a Cole. 
 
 Who he was speaking to was a mystery. Out of the five adults in the room, two children, and one still in the belly, no one was named - or was going to be named - Ty. One woman peeled away from the group and headed towards the window. A shorter woman followed. The view showed Rock Hill ’ s rusty landscape gloomed by white plumes of smoke emanating from an industrial park that took up half of the panorama. The taller woman had her hands folded in front of her pulsating her fists and palms. Still gazing out of the window, she spoke softly. 
 
 It ’ s too much, Shel. I can ’ t see him like that. He doesn ’ t even know who we are. 
 
 The last ten years, seems like you can ’ t see him at all, Gracie. He knows we ’ re family. 
 
 Well, the last ten years, it ’ s been too much. She brushed her hair from her eyes and spoke again. I wonder if there ’ s any truth to Granpa Jo ’ s babbling. 
 
 She paused to give her older sister a chance to retort. She didn ’ t know why she was surprised when, after two minutes of silence, Shel sulked away and rejoined the group. 
 
 Josiah coughed and moved his hand toward the nightstand. The discolorations and pockmarks on his knuckles didn ’ t hide the scars gathered from a hundred years of hard use. His calluses grazed a glass of water and a man in his late thirties picked up the glass and raised it to Josiah ’ s lips. 
 
 Thank you, son. You always know what I need. His eyes cooled as he sipped and then brightened when he saw Josey wife ’ s bulbous stomach. You have to find it for him, Josey. For my grandchild. We had it once but it ’ s gone. You ’ re the only one that seent it. Promise me that you ’ ll find it. 
 
 When Josey gave his word, Josiah closed his eyes. The group remained in place until they heard snoring then filed out of the room. 
 
 
 That evening Josiah Cole passed away in his sleep. He was 102 years old and never travelled outside of Floyd County, Kentucky. Shel wrote her grandfather ’ s obituary a month before his grandchildren and great grand children had that one last day with him. It was five pages in total, but she only printed the introduction. Her eyes welled when she reread the words and it was the last time in her life she cried about family. 
 
 *Josiah Wesley Cole was born on June 17, 1912 to Samuel and Elizabeth Cole in Franey Layne, Kentucky. Josiah was a proud son of Kentucky and third generation coal miner. A hurrier as a kid and a pickman since thirteen, Josiah worked the Eastern Coalfield until he retired at age sixty eight. He married his wife, Lucille, in 1945 with whom he had four beautiful children: Josiah “ Josey ” Jr., Lorraine, Leotha, Kathy and four labradors ( all named Whiskey ). His passion and talent for stone carving was well known in Eastern Kentucky. His rock figures have been on display in Jaylene ’ s World of Wonder since 1986. Josiah is survived by his five grandchildren, Josiah “ Lil Josey ” Jr., Mishelle, Grace, Lila, and Michael and by his three great grandchildren, Joseph, William, and Jessica. He lived a rich and wonderful life and died peacefully in his sleep on March 2, 2014. * 
 
 And he went on and on and never shut up about his damned rock. 
 
 Shel flinched at her brother ’ s voice. 
 
 Dammit, Josey, don ’ t startle me like that. And don ’ t joke about grandpa he only died two days ago. 
 
 C ’ mon, Shel, I just want to see you smile. I know how much he meant to you. 
 
 How much he meant to us. He kept this family together after the accident. 
 
 The door opened and the rest of Josiah Cole ’ s clan marched in along with a gaunt man in a suit, holding a briefcase and a serious expression. Shel has been living in her condo for fifteen years, and this was the first time she had all of her siblings there at once. She pointed at the couch and invited them to drink the sweet tea on the coffee table. The serious man sat down and signaled for everyone ’ s attention. The family stared at the briefcase like it was God ’ s own candy jar. His Kentucky drawl hung on every word. 
 
 *To my family: * 
 
 *Today is July 1, 1988 a day that I know each of you will never forget. Two hours ago I heard about your parents ’ death and an hour from now I will call each of you and lie about how they died. Why I haven ’ t told you while I was alive does not matter. Just know that I ’ m writing this now to explain myself and tell you that I lied to protect you all from powerful forces. Your parents were killed protecting this family ’ s legacy. Our treasure. If they would have lived they would be the ones telling you about the rock and the power it holds. I will not tell you how to find it in this letter, as the forces that killed your parents will undoubtedly acquire any clue that leads to it. For this treasure you are not the hunter. You are and always will be the protector. I trust the contents in this box will be enough to guide you. * 
 
 *I feel a hole burrowing through my heart. I hope you think I done you all well and will not miss me the way I already miss your parents. * 
 
 *I hope not to see you all for a very, very long time. * 
 
 *Love, 
 Granpa Jo* 
 
 The lawyer held a box pulled from his briefcase. He passed it to Josey and signaled for him to pass it around. He picked up an envelope in the briefcase and spoke again. 
 
 Your grandfather wanted to make sure each of you had a good look at the photo inside this envelope. He made it very clear that no one but a Cole could see its contents. His instructions on what to do with his cabin, truck, and the rest of his estate were to divide them evenly among you all, but the treasure - whatever that may be - will only be divided to those who search for it. 
 
 He handed the envelope to Shel, closed the briefcase, and gave everyone his business card. When he walked out of the condo and slammed the door shut, a flurry of voices filled the room. Josey was the first to speak. 
 
 How could they let that old man write a will in his condition. Can you believe that? 
 
 He didn ’ t write this when his mind was gone. The date of the will is verified. July 1, 1988. Gracie said in a harsh tone. I don ’ t know why I expected money. Granpa Jo always had rocks in his head. Lil Josey, pass me the box. 
 
 Josey handed Gracie the box and everyone except Shel huddled around to see its contents. Shel ’ s eyes were transfixed on the photo the lawyer gave to her a few minutes prior. She was supposed to take a look then pass it around but the image kidnapped her attention. She sat on her couch with both feet planted on the wooden floor and did not hear the bickering voices of her siblings. After a few moments she dropped the photo on the floor and stood up. Her sudden movement caught Gracie ’ s attention, and the tall brunette strode over to the photo and picked up from the floor. She squinted her eyes then dropped her jaw. 
 
 The image showed Granpa Jo not a day over thirty five years old. He was wearing a loose long sleeve shirt and trousers cinched tight by twine or a thin rope. A pick axe rested on his shoulder and a Labrador was sat down on his left. Five children were in front looking everywhere but towards the camera. Gracie flipped the photo over and mouthed the words written in faded ink. 
 
 Josiah Cole, with his children, Josiah, Lorraine, Leotha, Kathy, and Tyson on their first day in Franey Layne. July 1, 1908. 
 
 She inspected the image once more, now noticing everyone in it was wearing a necklace with a small, pitch black pendant. She whispered. 
 
 Rocks.
