The Harper Generations: Country Roads

Going fishing

Misty

Since the past few days at the fair were enough for us, we told our families we needed a break. With the break, we mentioned fishing. Who doesn't enjoy catching smelling seafood while it wiggles in your hand when you dislodge a hook from its mouth?

While fish didn't bother me, we weren't doing that type of fishing. We packed fishing poles and two coolers of food and beverages, which made it look like we were.

Val and Romeo handed their keys to Tino and Ryan and told them to drive carefully. They couldn't drive the mountains like the roads back home, or we would become one with the mountains. I prefer not to leave this life since I've become accustomed to it.

After entering the courthouse's address, we climbed into the vehicles and headed to our destination. Our first stop was the Randolph County courthouse. It had an archive room with registry books that kept track of people before computers existed.

The drive took an hour before we pulled into the parking lot and exited. Heading inside, I spoke to a woman at the front desk, who showed us the archive room, which had seen better days. She left us to our own devices, which wasn't smart of her.

River blew the dust off some books. "I take it no one has ever heard of a duster or vacuum cleaner before."

"Who would want to come down here and dust? I wouldn't," Ryan said.

"Heaven forbid you touch one speck of dust. You might have to shower fifty times," Preston said.

"Better than living in your hole you call a room."

"Great. We have messy Joe and clean freak Marvin arguing, which is just what I wanted to deal with in a crusty old basement," Michael said.

I ignored the cousins while the girls dealt with their guys since they were dating them. Not my guy, not my problem. I already had a guy who enjoys making the electrical flicker and explode.

I searched for books until I found two, pulled them from their spot, and set them on a table. Tino grabbed two more and stood across from me. We flipped through the books and traced my mom's maiden last name through them. I found Grandpa and Grandma Mary's information and zeroed in on Grandma's maiden name. Tino pulled out his phone and typed on his notepad.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Taking notes," Tino answered.

"Why?"

"Because we didn't bring a notebook and pen with us. I'm also making a lineage timeline."

"A what?"

"A lineage timeline. It shows how everyone is connected through their lineage. It would have been easier if we had a notebook and pen. I could have drawn a diagram."

"Isn't that what we need for the family since we helped spawn so many people in our past lives?"

"If you trace the Gray and Harper families, we would have a thick-ass book showing how everyone is related. The family tree is massive."

"So, what did you deduce with your note-taking skills?"

Tino scrolled through his notes before stopping and staring at his phone. I wasn't sure what he was thinking since his expression gave nothing away. Tino pursed his lips, so it must not be good by that indication.

"What?" I asked.

He looked at me. "You won't like what I discovered."

I drew my brows inward. "What did you discover?"

Tino handed me his phone.

I took it and read through his notes until my face snapped to his. "Are you freaking kidding me?"