by Bobbi Holmes
“Why don’t you just ask Alex,” he said before disappearing.
Heather stood alone and glanced around. She noticed a couple of teenagers who had been playing Frisbee on the beach had stopped and now watched her curiously.
Heather groaned inwardly and started jogging again, heading north. A few minutes later she spied Lily and Danielle sitting in beach chairs behind Lily’s house, while Connor and Evan played in the sand, with Max lounging on a blanket. She sped up, and a moment later Sadie ran to greet her. The dog trotted alongside Heather as they neared Lily, Danielle, and the two boys, Sadie’s tail wagging happily.
When Heather reached Lily and Danielle, she stopped abruptly, slightly out of breath, and said, “Hey, where’s Walt? I need to tell him the ghost who shot at us is here. I just saw him.”
Four
“Let me put Connor down for a nap,” Lily said as she carried her son into the house. Danielle, Heather, and Evan trailed behind her, while Sadie and Max remained outside.
A few minutes later, after getting Connor settled, Lily found them sitting at the kitchen table with Ian and Walt. No one suggested Evan wait in the other room while they discussed the ghost. After all, he was a medium.
“So the ghost who shot at us knew your dad?” Heather asked Walt after they finished comparing notes.
“It certainly sounds like it,” Walt said. “But I can’t even imagine what the connection might be, or what my father could have done to make him so angry.”
“Do you look a lot like your dad?” Heather asked. “Because I’m pretty sure that ghost thought you were him.”
“We’ve a wedding picture of Walt’s parents, and in the picture, he looked like a younger version of Walt,” Danielle said.
“Are you suggesting I am old?” Walt asked with mock indignation.
“Aren’t you over a hundred?” Evan asked sincerely. The adults chuckled.
“Technically,” Walt said, flashing Evan a wink.
“What does this ghost want with Walt’s dad?” Lily asked.
“The easiest way to find out is for us to go home and wait for him to show up. He said he was coming back,” Danielle said.
“All right!” Evan stood up.
Danielle looked at Evan and pointed to the chair. “Not so fast, buddy. Sit back down. I think maybe you should stay over here if it’s okay with Lily and Ian.”
“Certainly,” Lily said. “I think that is a good idea.”
“Aw, gee,” Evan groaned. “I’d like to see the ghost again.”
“And you might,” Danielle said. “There is always a chance he pops in here, and if he does, Lily and Ian won’t see him, but you will. And you don’t want him scaring Connor. After all, Connor might see the ghost.”
“Oh, you want me to protect Connor?” Evan asked.
“Of course,” Danielle said with a smile. “And if that ghost shows up, you tell him Alex is waiting across the street and wants to talk to him. When he leaves, make sure Lily or Ian calls me and lets me know he’s on his way.”
“Okay, I promise. I’d better go stand guard outside Connor’s room.” Evan stood up and raced to the hall.
“Do you really think the ghost will come here?” Lily asked when Evan was out of earshot.
“I doubt it. But I think it’s best Evan is not there if the ghost shows up again. We don’t know what kind of issue he had with Walt’s parents, and no telling what he might say,” Danielle explained.
“I agree,” Walt said. “But I can’t imagine what connection he has with my parents, or why he’s so angry with my father.”
“That ghost probably died up in those mountains,” Heather said.
“That’s what I figure,” Walt agreed. “But what does that have to do with my parents? Who is he?”
“We won’t find out sitting around here.” Danielle then looked at Heather and asked, “You want to come with us?”
Walt and Heather sat alone in the parlor while waiting for Danielle to return with some sandwiches. Max, who had followed them back to Marlow House, now curled up under the parlor desk, napping. Walt reclined on the sofa, while Heather claimed one of the empty chairs facing him. She had just gotten off the phone after calling Chris, suggesting he come over to Marlow House, when Walt asked, “So how is Brian doing today?”
Setting her cellphone on the side table, she glanced up at Walt and shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
Walt smiled. “We had quite the adventure.”
“I’m in no hurry to go camping again,” Heather said.
“But it is interesting how traumatic events can bring two people together. Sometimes two people who seem the most unlikely pair.”
Heather looked at Walt for a few moments and then groaned. “Seriously, Walt? You know?”
“Max saw Brian’s car in your driveway early this morning,” Walt explained.
Heather glanced over to Max and frowned. “Nosey cat.” She looked back to Walt and asked, “Do you think I’m crazy?”
“Do you really care what anyone thinks about your relationship with Brian?” he asked.
Unable to suppress a grin, she said, “Not really.” Her grin quickly faded, and she added, “But his friends, like Joe, will think he’s nuts and will let him know. It’s one reason I’d rather keep this quiet for now. Not because of what anyone will think, but I’m really enjoying Brian—which honestly surprises the hell out of me—yet I’m not so naïve to think this will last, at least not once his friends find out.”
Walt considered Heather’s words a moment before saying, “If Brian lets his friends influence his feelings about you, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.”
“I also understand the desire to keep it to yourself for now.” Leaning back in the sofa, Walt crossed one leg over an opposing knee.
“Like you and Danielle did when you eloped?”
“Exactly. We realized people wouldn’t understand—especially those who believed I was Clint. It’s not that we felt their opinions would change our feelings or keep us apart, but we just didn’t want to deal with it. We simply wanted that time together with no interference and outside drama.”
“You understand,” Heather said.
Walt nodded. “Danielle knows too. But we won’t say anything to anyone. Not until you’re ready.”
Heather cocked her brow. “You seriously believe Danielle won’t tell Lily?”
Walt smiled. “She won’t. We had a long talk about it. The only reason I’m saying anything to you, I wanted to tell you we know, in case you needed someone to talk to. We’ll respect your privacy, I promise.”
When Danielle joined Walt and Heather in the parlor with the sandwiches and iced tea, she had Chris with her. Instead of coming to the front door, Chris and his pit bull, Hunny, had entered by the side yard. Chris had come into the house through the kitchen door, while leaving Hunny in the yard to play. Chris had been just in time to help Danielle carry the food and beverages to the parlor.
After setting the food tray on the coffee table, Danielle distributed the sandwiches and drinks and then took a seat on the sofa next to Walt, while Chris sat on the empty chair next to Heather. While eating the sandwiches, they filled Chris in on the events of that day regarding the unexpected appearance of the mystery ghost.
“And you’re sure this was the same ghost you saw in the mountains?” Chris asked.
“The ghost I saw on the beach today was the same one who shot at us in the mountains,” Heather said. “Why did he follow us here?”
“Ghosts in this state rarely stick around long enough to explain why they’re doing whatever they are doing,” Chris said. “Instead, they keep popping in and out like a flickering lightbulb getting ready to die.”
“But in their case, they’re already dead,” Danielle quipped.
“So when the ghost returns, we shouldn’t expect him to sit down and explain why he shot at us, why he was in the mountains, and why he wants to see Walt’s dad?” He
ather snarked.
Chris shrugged. “Pretty much.”
“If he shows up again, let’s at least try getting his name,” Walt said.
“Knowing when and where he died would help. But it doesn’t sound as if he’s aware of his death,” Chris said.
“At least we’re fairly certain where he died,” Heather said. “Up in the mountains, considering that’s where his spirit was hanging out when we first saw him.”
“Was there anything about his apparition that showed cause of death? Like a knife sticking out of his back, a gaping head wound?” Chris asked.
Heather, Danielle, and Walt all shook their heads no.
“He had a rifle when we saw him in the mountains,” Heather began. “But he didn’t have it when I saw him today.”
“He didn’t have it when Evan and I saw him, either,” Danielle said. “Considering how long he’s been dead—I figure a long time if he knew Walt’s parents—then it’s possible the apparition he shows us may not represent his body when he died. He may have moved beyond that stage. He can summon up a rifle in the same way Walt used to summon up a cigar.”
“I hate to say this, Walt, your dad might have had something to do with his death, considering his insistence on seeing your father,” Chris said.
“Not necessarily,” Danielle said. “He might think Walt’s dad had something to do with his death, but it doesn’t mean that’s what really happened. Look at Stoddard, he haunted me because he thought I killed him.”
Chris looked at Walt and smirked.
Danielle frowned at Chris. “What?”
“When I first met Walt, he told me Joe had arrested you for Stoddard’s murder.” Chris grinned.
“What are you talking about? Joe’s the one who got the charges dropped,” Danielle said.
“Oh, I know that now, but—” Chris began.
“I have no idea what he’s talking about, or how it’s relevant to our current situation,” Walt said.
“I didn’t say it had anything to do with this,” Chris argued. “But when Danielle mentioned Stoddard, I remembered what you told me when I asked what the deal with Joe and Danielle was back then. You said they dated briefly, but then he arrested her for her cousin’s murder, for Stoddard’s murder and for some other murders. Or something like that.”
Walt shrugged. “Well, maybe he didn’t arrest her for Stoddard’s.”
Before Danielle commented, the ghost they had been waiting for appeared.
“Where is Anna?” the ghost demanded. “She needs to hear this.”
They turned to the ghost, who stood in the open doorway leading to the hallway.
“What is your name?” Heather blurted.
The ghost looked from Walt to Heather. “Ask Alex.” He looked back to Walt.
“Alex is never good at introducing us to people he knows.” Danielle flashed the spirit a weak smile. “Please, can you tell us your name?”
The ghost glared at Danielle. “Why should I tell you anything? You lied to me. You said you didn’t know who Alex was.”
“Good one, Danielle,” Heather muttered under her breath.
“Why don’t you just tell us what you came to say,” Walt suggested.
“I want Anna to hear this. Where is she?”
“Tell me the year, please,” Danielle blurted.
The ghost looked at her and frowned. “What?”
“What year is it?” Danielle said.
“What kind of question is that?” the ghost asked.
“Please, if you tell me the month and year, I’ll tell you where Anna is,” Danielle promised.
“It’s August 1904, of course. Now tell me, where is she?” the ghost demanded.
“Anna is at the Frederickport Cemetery,” Danielle said.
The next moment the ghost vanished.
“There he goes, disappearing again,” Heather said with a sigh.
“Well, at least we’re fairly certain when he died, summer 1904.” Chris looked at Walt and asked, “Does that date mean anything to you?”
Walt looked to Chris, his face expressionless. He nodded. “Yes, it does.”
“What does it mean?” Heather asked.
“My parents died in August 1904.”
Five
Rake in hand, Pearl stopped working for a moment to listen. It sounded like a whimper coming from the north side of her property. Leaning the rake against the house, she left it there and walked toward the fencing separating her yard from the Marlows’. Just as she passed the toolshed, she saw it, a nose sticking through the fence into her yard. She smiled.
“Is that you, Hunny?” she cooed. Hurrying toward the pit bull, she craned her neck to peer into the Marlows’ backyard. There didn’t seem to be anyone outside with Hunny. When she reached the dog, she fell to her knees, reached through the fence, and took hold of Hunny’s head, pulling it to her face and accepting the wet kisses.
“How is my baby?” After a moment of loving up Hunny through the fence, Pearl stood up. “Does Hunny want a cookie?” The dog gave a bark and then sat down, tail wagging, while patiently waiting for the promised treat.
“I’ll be right back.” Pearl hurried to her house.
“Your parents’ death had to be somehow connected to the mountain man,” Heather insisted.
Chris arched his brows at her. “Mountain man?”
Heather shrugged. “He wouldn’t give us his name, and we have to call him something.”
“Connected to my parents how?” Walt asked. “My parents died in Frederickport, and like you said, he probably died up in the mountains, considering that’s where we first saw him.”
“Unless he saw you first in Frederickport, followed you up to the mountains, and then followed you back down again?” Chris said.
They considered Chris’s suggestion for a moment, and finally Heather shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” Danielle asked.
“Because I saw him before Walt and Brian. We were walking down a path; I was going first. Brian and Walt were trailing behind me, talking. I sort of barged in on Mountain Man. Totally caught him by surprise. I could tell he didn’t expect to see me. He was definitely not a ghost who had been following us. He was holding a rifle, pointed it at me, and I begged him not to shoot. I didn’t realize he was a ghost. He asked me what we were doing there, and he accused me of snooping. Oh, and he threatened to shoot me like he had the rest.”
“The rest?” Danielle asked.
“Yeah, like he had shot at others up there before me. Also, he asked if I was a woman, which I found insulting. Yet now knowing he was from the early 1900s, I realize my clothes confused him.”
“That really doesn’t sound like someone who had been following you,” Chris said.
“No, it doesn’t” Danielle agreed.
“Try to remember what you can about your parents’ death or at least that time period,” Chris urged.
Walt took a deep breath, exhaled, and then closed his eyes for a moment, considering Chris’s question. When he opened his eyes a few moments later, he said, “Actually, there are some things I remember about that time.”
Danielle reached out and gently took Walt’s left hand in hers. “Go on,” she urged.
“I’m not sure if these are memories, or what my grandparents told me and came to feel like memories,” Walt said.
“You told me your grandparents rarely discussed your parents,” Danielle said.
“They didn’t. Not unless I asked them something, and then they would answer and change the subject. I stopped asking, assuming it was a painful topic for them. But when I was about thirteen, I started asking questions about their deaths again. There were things I remembered, but wasn’t sure if they were memories, dreams or my imagination,” Walt explained.
Danielle gave his hand a reassuring squeeze as she and the others listened.
“I don’t have many vivid memories of my parents. But I have one of my mother. It’s of me climbing up o
n her lap, and she’d sing to me. That’s one I see clearly. With my father, it’s like a series of random snapshots. I remember he had two close friends, Bud and Teddy. I used to call them Uncle Bud and Uncle Teddy. According to my grandmother, they all grew up together. I can close my eyes and see my father with them, like playing horseshoes at the beach or me going with my dad fishing off the pier, and Bud and Teddy were there.”
“What happened to them?” Danielle asked.
“Bud moved from Frederickport a couple of months before my parents died. But Teddy, it was his house that burned down. His wife also died in the house fire.”
“That’s horrible,” Heather gasped. “What happened?”
“Maddie, that was Teddy’s wife, she was a good friend of my mother’s. Actually, they had all grown up together. Maddie got sick about a year before the fire and was confined to her bed. My mother spent a lot of time over at their house, helping Teddy care for her when he was out of town for business. My grandmother resented the time my mother spent over there, feeling Teddy could have made other arrangements.”
“What happened that day?” Chris asked.
“My mother was at their house alone with Maddie when my father showed up. The heater exploded not long after he arrived, it started a fire, and none of them got out alive. From what I understand, they were trying to carry Maddie out, but the walls collapsed, trapping them. Teddy had been in Astoria that week on business and didn’t get back to Frederickport until after the fire.”
“How horrific,” Heather muttered.
“What happened to Teddy?” Danielle asked.
“I’m not really sure. I heard he moved down to Astoria, that’s where his business was,” Walt said.
“He lived in Frederickport and worked all the way in Astoria?” Chris asked. “Wow, a long commute for those days. I don’t imagine many people were driving around in cars.”
“My grandfather once told me Teddy had an office in Astoria and another in Frederickport. He would spend part of the month in Astoria, and the rest of the time in Frederickport. My mother would often stay with Maddie when he was in Astoria. After the fire, Teddy closed the Frederickport office and moved to Astoria.”