Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3)

by Marianne Spitzer

  “Hang in there, I’ll get everyone.”

  Lena ran out of her room and down the stairs yelling, “I found mom. Everyone come here. I know where she is. She’s in a cave by the river. Hurry we need to find her.”

  Lena’s yelling had woken the men. They were donning their hiking gear when Steve walked into the main house.

  “What’s up?” Steve asked blinking the sleep from his eyes.

  “Lena knows where Annamarie is. Daniel put her in a cave somewhere along the river,” Carl said.

  “Theo asked, “I didn’t think we had caves, where could she be?”

  “I know,” Steve said. “When we were fourteen we took a canoe trip down the river starting at the south side of town. Near the thickest part of the oaks behind the Logan cabin Daniel spotted a cave near the top of the cliffs. He tried to get to it from the top, but the ledge was too narrow, none of us wanted to investigate. I’ll bet that’s where she is.”

  “Do you think you can find it,” Carl asked slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

  “I think so,” Steve answered furrowing his brow.

  Lena’s amulet warmed against her neck and when she touched it a purple spot appeared in her hand. “Here, Uncle Carl,” she took his hand and dropped the spot into his hand. “The closer you get to mom the warmer it will get. Don’t forget rope.” She smiled at her confused uncle.

  Carl turned his hand over and the spot remained on his hand. He could feel its warmth. He shrugged and said, “Let’s go.”

  The men walked out of the door following Carl.

  Daniel’s spirit flew toward town at a record pace. His rage was growing. He began to momentarily possess each and every animal he saw leaving a piece of his rage in each one. Seven squirrels were making a racket in Scott Kremler’s backyard. Scott, thinking they were rabid since they were attacking each other, shot each one with his BB gun. Closing his screen door behind him, another squirrel jumped off the porch rail and hung on his screen making the strangest squealing sound. He shot it right through the screen door. He slammed the wooden door hoping to keep the insanity outside when he heard a growl behind him.

  Scott’s wife screamed as their usually loving, friendly golden retriever was baring his teeth at her. The dog had her backed against the kitchen wall. Scott shouted, “Open the basement door.” As soon as the door was open, Scott picked up a metal kitchen chair, yelled, and pushed the chair at the dog. It walked backward until it was close to the door. Scott yelled loudly and the dog turned and ran down the stairs. Scott’s wife slammed the door,

  “What was all that about,” she asked. He shook his head as he grabbed the phone to call the sheriff to report the incident. They were going to need animal control. He saw more squirrels and the neighbor’s cat fighting in the backyard.

  As soon as Greta took one report and hung up the phone, it rang again. She called the sheriff on the radio to let him know about animals going crazy all over town. She had taken eleven calls and suggested people call the animal shelter, they were equipped for this type of situation. It didn’t stop the phone from ringing.

  At Mrs. Loretta’s, her two Siamese cats were eating. Out of the blue, one began to hiss and the other began to nip at the first. Mrs. Loretta worried they would hurt each other grabbed one by the scruff of the neck to put it in the bathroom. The other nipped at her while she walked to the bathroom. Closing the door, she grabbed up the second one and placed it in a closet. She grabbed the phone to call the vet. Something was very wrong with her cats. Angry when the answering machine picked up, she yelled, “Where are you. My cats are sick, really sick. Call me back soon.” She slammed the phone down.

  The phone ran at the Logan’s. George answered, “Hello, yes, I understand. She has been taking the tranquilizers you prescribed. They seem to be helping. I’ll tell her, thank you.”

  “Tell me what,” insisted Maureen her hands on her hips.

  “Calm down, Maureen. It was Dr. Norse. He said the neurologist isn’t worried about the size of the spot. If you remain calm, you should be fine.”

  “Of course no one is worried. I’m the one with the spot. Alright, don’t look at me that way. I’ll continue to take the pills and try to relax.” She walked to the sink, filled a glass with water, and swallowed her pill. Smiling at George she said, “Happy now?”

  “Yes.” He kissed her on the forehead. “What about Annamarie? You need to forget that she’s a witch.”

  “I promise, but there is something I must tell you.”

  “What, dear?”

  Before she could answer, they heard a loud thud against the back door.

  George opened the door to find the neighbor’s German shepherd and a goat from the farm behind their house fighting on the porch. George closed the door. There was nothing he could do. The goat was nearly dead. He looked out across the field and saw the farmer’s bull attacking the cows in the pasture. He heard the loud bang of the farmer’s gun as he shot the bull. George could see several cows lying in the field.

  Maureen walked over to see what he was looking at. “What’s going on, the animals have gone crazy. Do you think Annamarie is controlling them?”

  George looked at her and she glanced at the floor. She looked up and nodded, “Okay. I’ll stop picking on her.”

  Her thoughts ran in a different direction and she decided she was going to figure out another way for people to believe that Annamarie was a witch. The pain in her head hit her so fast and hard she had to grip the counter to keep from falling. “Okay, okay,” she mumbled. “I’ll leave her alone. I promise.” The pain left her immediately. She caught her breath and decided she would never win a fight with Annamarie and she’d leave her alone.

  Daniel and Garret could sense the chaos going on in town. They laughed and were so caught up in what they had done; they were unaware of Annamarie’s impending rescue.

  The phone in the sheriff’s office rang non-stop. People who were unable to contact the vet or the animal shelter called the sheriff. Greta was writing as fast as she could and relaying the messages to the sheriff and Steve.

  Animals were still going berserk all over town. Very few pets were involved. Daniel and Garret had left most of them alone except for Mrs. Loretta. Daniel’s hatred for her festered since junior high when she reported him to the sheriff for riding his dirt bike too close to her property line.

  The city’s squirrel population was reduced drastically as more and more were being shot by frightened residents. Chipmunks a quarter the size of the squirrels were seen attacking them. Field mice were battling each other on people’s patios.

  Within two hours the animal insanity had stopped. Peace had settled over Timmus Woods, but the animal shelter workers and the vet were busy picking up animal carcasses and the wounded animals. The vet needed to be sure he didn’t have a rabies outbreak on his hands.

  The purple spot grew warmer in Carl’s hand the closer they came to the river. He turned to the left on a path and the spot grew cold. He changed directions and it warmed again. With each step he felt the spot grow warmer. He could see the end of the woods and knew they were near the cliffs above the river.

  Clearing the trees, Carl found himself on a wide path that ran along the edge of the cliffs. He turned one way and felt the spot cool, turning the other the spot warmed. He ran in that direction and the spot became warmer. When he felt it nearly too hot to hold he stopped.

  He walked near the edge of the cliff and called out, “Annamarie, can you hear me?”

  Annamarie thought she was hallucinating, but she called back, “Carl, is that you? I’m down here in a cave.”

  “I can hear you. Keep yelling so I can find you.” He scanned the area looking for a spot to climb down.

  Annamarie kept calling out. “I’m here. I’m here.”

  The three men couldn’t find a spot to climb down. They thought they were right above the cave holding Annamarie.

  “One of us has to go over the edge and get her,” Carl said. “
Then we pull her up and whoever goes down. I think we send dad down.”

  “I agree,” Sam said. “We both weigh more and are stronger. It’ll be easier for Theo to go down, if you’re willing, Theo?”

  “Yes, the sooner the better.” He tied the rope around his waist while Sam wrapped the other end around a tree. Theo had a second rope for Annamarie.

  Annamarie was still calling out when she saw a pair of hiking boots lower past the top of the cave opening. She reached out to help whoever was at the other end of them to find solid footing. When the body and face appeared in the cave opening, she threw her arms around her dad and pulled him into the cave.

  Crying so hard she could hardly talk, Annamarie babbled, “Dad, I have never been so happy to see you. Thank you for finding me.”

  He held her until her tears slowed and she was breathing normally. “Okay, princess, we’re going to tie this rope around your waist. When you’re ready, Sam and Carl will pull you up. You don’t like heights so don’t look down. It’s only several feet up. You’ll be fine. Oh, before we get you ready, you need this. Your mom thinks of everything.” Theo pulled a bag from his backpack containing a pair of Annamarie’s jeans, one of Sam’s flannel shirts, and her tennis shoes. “Your mom didn’t want you walking through the woods in your nightgown.”

  Her mother’s thoughtfulness made Annamarie laugh as she quickly changed. Theo tied the rope and called out. “She’s ready.”

  Theo held onto Annamarie until she was standing straight and the rope began to pull her up. Within minutes she was safe and they pulled Theo back up. Annamarie was crying and hugging Carl and Sam at the same time.

  “Let’s go,” Theo said. “Your mom’s going crazy with worry.”

  The spot in Carl’s hand warmed and he said, “Follow me.”

  “Damn!” Daniel’s shriek cut through the forest surrounding the cabin. Birds took to the air and animals large and small ran from the horrendous sound. Daniel let out another shriek as loud as the first, but unintelligible.

  “What is it,” asked Garret.

  “She’s free. They found her and got her out. Annamarie is on her way home.”

  “Can’t we go and stop them?”

  “No, she’s with Carl, Sam, and Theo. They’re all protected. Besides I’m drained from possessing all those animals. I need to rest and think. Later we’ll go after all of them.” He laughed.

  When the phone in the sheriff’s office rang again Sheriff Richardson hoped it wasn’t another crisis. His face relaxed when Greta told him it was a call from the D.A.’s office. “At least this won’t be a disturbing call, I hope,” he muttered before answering.

  “Sheriff Richardson.”

  “Good morning, sheriff. The assistant D.A. has read your report and agrees that Mrs. Logan can be fingerprinted. There is enough evidence to believe she was involved in the hateful notes delivered to Annamarie Wescott. The papers have been messengered to you. They should arrive shortly.”

  “Thank you, have a nice day.”

  “You, too, sheriff.”

  The sheriff hung up the phone and let out a whoop. Greta came running in his office. “Are you alright, sheriff?”

  “I’m better than alright. I’m finally going to get Maureen Logan. Papers will arrive soon and I can bring her in to be fingerprinted. Then they’ll be compared to the notes and if they match, I’ll arrest her. For years the Logan’s have gotten away with so much in this town, it is about time they pay for something.”

  Greta bit her lip to keep from smiling. “I’ll let you know when the papers arrive.” A smile broke across her face as soon as she spoke. She couldn’t hide her glee that Maureen Logan was going to finally stop harassing Annamarie.

  Lena jumped up from her chair. “They found mom. She’s with them and they’re on their way home. They should be here soon.” She ran out into the backyard.

  Deb, Paula, and the kids followed her. The kids played in the sandbox. Paula paced up and down. Deb and Lena sat in lawn chairs discussing how they were going to keep things from happening to Annamarie or any of them.

  Paula saw them first coming over the crest of the hill in the meadow. “Look. They’re back.” Emotional, all she could do was point and cry.

  Lena jumped up and took off running toward the meadow barefoot. Her feet were barely visible in the grass, lavender and white clover, and wild dandelions. She grabbed her mom and hugged her so tightly neither could breathe properly and nearly fell over in the meadow. They were laughing and crying at the same time. Michael followed his sister with Brian and the twins close behind. Michael hit Lena and Annamarie at a full run knocking all of them to the ground. They lay there laughing.

  By the time Paula caught up to the group, everyone’s tears had turned to laughter except hers. She was sobbing and Theo was worried about her. He made her sit in the grass to catch her breath. Annamarie hurried to her mother’s spot in the grass and sat cross-legged in front of her. She held her hands. “Don’t cry Mom, I’m okay, look at me.” Paula locked eyes with Annamarie and cried harder.

  “I was afraid I’d never see you again,” she said between sobs.

  Annamarie hugged her. She could feel her mom’s sobs lessen. She pulled back and said, “Lena was the one who found me. I knew someone would rescue me when a rock in the cave glowed purple and warmed the entire cave. It was almost comfortable. Being in the cave wasn’t bad after that. I’m fine, Mom, honestly I am.” Paula nodded and tried her best to smile while her tears stopped.

  Lena plopped down on the grass next to her mom and grandma. “It worked, it really worked, mom? I knew I could hear you, but I didn’t know the power of the amulet helped you.”

  “It saved me,” Annamarie hugged Lena.

  While Paula regained her composure, Annamarie explained her ordeal and rescue.

  Lena said, “I was hoping the amulet helped especially once I could hear your thoughts. I also can feel Daniel’s anger. For a while it felt as if his anger was all around us. His spirit was all over town. I have the feeling he caused trouble or damage, but I don’t know what it is. We’re all together now and he can’t hurt us.”

  Lena grabbed her mom’s hands, “Don’t ever run out of the house again without connecting to Grandma Magdalena first. Daniel was faster this time and you were taken. I don’t want this to happen again.”

  “I promise.”

  Paula stood and said, “I’m okay now. Let’s go home, Annamarie can shower while I make her something good to eat. Then she needs a nap. You look exhausted, dear”

  “I am.” After her shower and meal, Annamarie lay down and drifted into a deep sleep.

  The sheriff whistled as he walked to his cruiser. He was on his way to George and Maureen’s. After years up putting up with the Logan’s obnoxious personalities and dealings, he had the opportunity to stop them, at least in this instance. It was a blue ribbon for him personally especially since he was close to retirement. He smiled to himself as he pulled up in front of their home.

  George was staring out the front window and called out to Maureen, “Richardson is here, wonder what he wants now?”

  The notes flashed through Maureen’s mind, but she dismissed it immediately. “There’s no way he knows,” she murmured.

  George answered the door and the sheriff asked if he could speak to Maureen.

  “Come in. Maureen, the sheriff needs to speak with you. Please sit down, sheriff.”

  Sheriff Richardson made himself comfortable in a large overstuffed chair. His smile told George all was well, but in reality it was the sheriff’s happiness that he was able to catch Maureen at something.

  Maureen stomped into the room. “What do you want?”

  “It’s simple. When you caused the disturbance at the Founder’s Day picnic, you were given a ticket for disturbing the peace. That means you broke the law. We have enough evidence to believe you may be responsible for the notes delivered to Annamarie Wescott. Therefore, I have a warrant which allows me to fingerprint y
ou. You can come to the station voluntarily or I could arrest you.” He smiled at Maureen.

  Maureen was ready to argue and tell the sheriff he was wrong and what he could do with his warrant when the spot in her head began to throb. She sat down and said, “What if I tell you I am responsible for the notes. Do I have to go to the station?”

  The sheriff leaned back in the chair enjoying Maureen’s look of panic, “Hmm, maybe not if you tell me who helped you. There were a lot of fingerprints on those notes.”

  Maureen began to rattle off the names of her friends nearly as fast as the sheriff could write.

  “I’ll notify the assistant D.A. and we’ll be in touch. Have a good day.” He stood, walked out the door and began to whistle again.

  Sheriff Richardson mumbled, “That was easy.”

  Back at the station he was able to call and speak with the assistant D.A.

  “Good work sheriff. You have quite a list of names there. My boss’s wife is on that list. Send me a report and I’ll make sure they’re notified of a court date. I’m sure that alone will scare the tar out of them. The judge will likely give them a fine and community service along with a stern lecture about what can happen the next time he sees them in his court.”

  The sheriff couldn’t hide his smile, “I’ll get the report to you a.s.a.p. Enjoy the day.”

  Greta appeared in the doorway, “Wow, did I hear you right?”

  “Well, yes, but you wouldn’t if you didn’t eavesdrop.”

  Greta rolled her eyes, “What’s the difference, I have to type up the report anyway.”

  The sheriff handed her his notes and sat back in his chair. He appeared peaceful and hoped the insanity in town was over.

  Annamarie found herself on the edge of the pines. She saw the campfire in the distance and ran toward it. Magdalena and Josef were sitting on a blanket waiting for her. Annamarie dropped down next to them and asked, “Why was I kidnapped? I felt helpless.”