Rising Storm by Kathleen Brooks Page B

live," Marshall told them.
    "What do we do about it?" She wasn't too excited about the prospect of an almost 150-year-old cannonball being too near.
    "We need to call Army Munitions." Marshall pulled out his cell phone and started searching for a phone number.
    "What's the number? We can use the speaker phone." Her grandmother dialed the phone and everyone gathered around the phone to hear who answered.
    "Army Munitions," an unidentified woman said.
    "This is Captain Marshall Davies, Rangers, retired. I have a munitions question on a cannonball."
    "One second Captain. I'll transfer you."
    Katelyn looked around and tried not to laugh. Everyone was huddled around the phone staring at it eagerly. She had to admit, she had never seen Joey so worried before. She guessed the thought of her grandmother with a live cannonball was enough to finally get the normally unflappable manager completely flapped. Her grandmother on the other hand looked joyful. This was unexpected action and she loved every second of it.
    Marshall though, was leaning against the wall next to the phone and looking completely bored. It was as if he was used to dealing with live ammunitions over a hundred years old on a daily basis. But, boy, did he look good being bored. She used the time to study his profile. He looked chiseled, like the statues she saw when she was modeling in Italy. His body was long and muscular. His uniform clung to those muscles, covering the nicest six-pack a girl had ever seen, and showed his tapered waist. His face had a strong jaw and sharp angles, but it was his eyes that had always fascinated her. She never knew which color they would be. Sometimes they were hazel, sometimes green, and sometimes brown. She also knew when he was in bed they turned a deep shade of brown and were filled with desire.
    "This is Lieutenant Bell."
    "Lieutenant, this is Captain Davies, retired. I'm the Sheriff in Keeneston, Kentucky. I have an interesting situation on my hands here and need your help."
    "Sure thing Captain, what can I do for you?" he drawled. It appeared Lieutenant Bell was a good ol' southern boy.
    "I'm going to let you talk to the person who found the cannonball, Mrs. Ruth Wyatt." Marshall stepped back and let her grandmother speak.
    "Lieutenant Bell, you sound like you're from the great state of Georgia."
    "Yes, ma'am. From Macon."
    "I'm from Roswell, just outside of Atlanta myself."
    "Well, you're from just up the road. Now, tell me about this cannonball."
    Katelyn had a great time watching her grandmother retell the story. You’d think she was on stage instead of telling the story over the phone. Her hands flew, her face was animated and she moved around demonstrating how she used the shovel.
    "What does the cannonball look like?"
    "It's black. Smaller than a basketball," her grandmother answered.
    "It's a nine pounder and the plug is still in it. I think it's from the Civil War," Marshall filled in.
    "The plug is in it? Geez almighty. That thing is live! You need to talk to our historic munitions expert. Let me get his number. He's the only person in the Army who specializes in live munitions from that long ago. Here it is. I'll transfer you now."
    "Thank you Lieutenant Bell." The line went quiet as the transfer was put through. "What a nice young man," her grandmother smiled and tapped her fingers against the table as she waited to be connected.
    "Hello? Ma'am? Lieutenant Bell said you think you may have a live cannonball from the Civil War?" a voice said from over the phone.
    "That's right," her grandma answered.
    "Well, you don't see that every day. I will need to come to you to collect it and possibly detonate it if I have to."
    "Really? Is it that big of a deal Mr…"
    "Oh, I am sorry ma’am. It's Sargent Sherman, ma'am."
    "I’m sorry, dear, did you say Sherman?"
    Uh-oh. Katelyn knew that tone. Her grandmother rarely got angry, but this was her warning voice.
    "Yes ma'am."
    "Is there anyone else that can help me?"
    "Um, no