Treasure Beneath Another’s Roof: A Tale of Gold, Cunning, and… Something More
Edward arrived in the village to visit his grandfather, Thomas—to breathe the fresh country air and escape the clamour of the city. But this time, he didn’t just bring a rucksack of clothes; he carried a proper metal detector. From the moment he stepped inside, the old man squinted at the strange contraption until curiosity got the better of him.
“What’s that contraption, Eddie? Planning to go fishing, are you?”
“Grandad, it’s not a rod. It’s a metal detector—nearly professional grade. I read online that gold was hidden round these parts years ago. Thought I’d have a go at finding it.”
The old man chuckled, his gaze drifting toward the field beyond the garden. After a thoughtful pause, he murmured,
“Heard that tale from my own father, I did… And truth be told, I reckon I’ve an inkling where that gold might be. Trouble is, there’s a house standing on the spot now.”
Edward nearly leaped with excitement.
“Could you persuade them to let me search their land?”
Grandad shrugged, eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Persuade? Aye, that I could. But I doubt they’d let you dig. Even if you found owt, by rights, it’d be theirs. House is theirs, land’s theirs. Still… if you’re set on trying, there’s another way.”
Edward frowned.
“What d’you mean—‘another way’?”
“Well, their daughter’s home visiting from the city. Harriet, her name is. Bright girl, good sort… modest, too. Now there’s a treasure worth finding.”
“Grandad, not this again! I didn’t come here for courting. I came for the gold.”
“And who says you can’t have both?” The old man laughed. “Treasure means different things to different folk. Befriend her, share your notion, and she might just talk her parents into letting you scan their land. Find the gold, and who knows? They might even cut you in.”
Edward hesitated, but the spark in his eyes didn’t fade.
“You’re certain the gold’s there?”
“Certain as the nose on my face. My father whispered it to me—a hundred years back, during the Troubles, some official fled with gold in his wagon. Half the village turned upside down searching, but it was never found. Then that house went up… and the trail went cold.”
“And you’ve known all this time and never looked?”
“How was I to look? Dig up the whole field? Didn’t have a fancy gadget like yours. But now you’re here…”
“All right. But how do I even talk to her?”
“That’s not my department—that’s fate’s. We’ll stroll by casual-like. I’ll start nattering about the blight on the apple trees. You pick up the thread, introduce yourself. Be a man about it!”
Edward wavered, then agreed. Ten minutes later, they stood at the gate of the old house. Grandad struck up a leisurely chat with the owner while Edward locked eyes with the girl who’d stepped into the yard. Harriet—dark hair, hazel eyes, and a warm, easy smile. He near forgot why he’d come.
They talked. Walked to the lake. Then she asked him to help hang a new grapevine trellis. The metal detector stayed in its box. Each evening, Edward returned to Grandad’s just to sleep. He spoke no more of gold or gadgets. He’d found something richer.
A week later, he packed to leave. Grandad sat puffing his pipe on the bench, grinning.
“Well? Find your treasure?”
Edward glanced at the darkening sky and smiled.
“Aye. Just not the one I was after.”
“Told you, didn’t I? Real gold’s not in the ground. It’s in people.”
So the metal detector stayed—dusted over in the shed. And Harriet? She stayed in Edward’s heart.
