****
Lacy had just finished lacing up her hiking boots when someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”
Nina swung the door open and swept into the room. “Grant said you two were going to take the four-wheelers and go on an excursion this morning.”
Without a doubt Nina was suspicious. She and Grant had planned to get some seed in the ground today. It wasn’t like him to put off work. The farm meant as much to him as it did to Nina.
“Neither of us could sleep last night so we ended up in the kitchen talking.” Lacy stood and crossed to the closet. She rose to her tiptoes and pulled a red sweater off the top shelf. Since it was the middle of March, she would need something to keep her warm. “I thought I would show him the graves of Russell Reynolds and his family. I can’t believe you haven’t shown them to him.” She tossed the sweater on the bed.
“There has been little time for pleasure rides. I have busted my butt to finish vet school.” Nina perched on the edge of Lacy’s desk and crossed one long, slender leg over the other. Dressed in jeans, Nina looked lean and healthy. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips pink. Lacy had never seen her look happier. Love did that to a person.
Nina crossed her arms over her chest and gave her a hard, serious look. “What’s really going on?”
Lacy propped her fists on her hips. “If you think I’m trying to steal your husband, let me assure you I’m not.”
“Stop being silly. Why are you and Grant going on a four-wheeler ride?”
She should have known Nina was too clever and suspicious to believe she and Grant wanted to spend the day together frolicking in the woods. Knowing how persistent she could be, Lacy sputtered out, “Hilda appeared last night and asked for my help. Grant thinks I should find out what she wants. It’s the only way I’m going to get any peace.”
The color left Nina’s face. She moved to the bed and plopped down. Lacy hurried to her side and sat beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to tell anyone. She often came to me when I was a child. Why do you think I never invited friends to sleep over? The fear of what Hilda might do was always a problem.”
“You feared she might be jealous and hurt someone.”
She gave an impatient shrug. In all the years she had kept the haunting visits a secret from everyone. She hadn’t talked about Hilda. Since last night she had talked about her more than she cared to. “No, of course not. I don’t think there is any harm in her. It’s just that she did scare me when I was a child. It was something I just couldn’t understand when she would wake me during the night and start whispering for me to help her. I always wondered why me? Why did she pick me to haunt?”
Thickly lashed, big blue eyes gazed at Lacy with sympathy. “Why didn’t you confide in someone?” Nina laid her hands on her shoulders. “I can’t believe you kept this from us. You don’t keep secrets like this from family.”
“I didn’t want to be labeled crazy.” She couldn’t hide the slight quiver in her body. “Sometimes I felt I was having a mental breakdown.” Lacy pulled away from Nina, stood, and moved to her dresser stroking her fingers over one of the many colored glass horses. She had collected them for many years. Most were gifts for her birthday and Christmas from her parents. While most young ladies her age preferred perfume and fancy bottles of lotion, she preferred her horses.
“Lately every time I spend the night in this house she visits me. She’s getting more persistent. Last night Grant guessed why I couldn’t sleep.” Nina hung onto every word she said. She sprang off the bed and glided to Lacy, took her hand, and brought it to her cheek. Working hands she thought. Her sister labored on the farm and her hands proved how hard she worked.
Tears welled in her eyes as her mouth twisted with hurt. “You have no idea the mental anguish I am feeling at this moment. It hurts that you didn’t think you could confide in me.”
“I didn’t want to worry you. You have given up so much for Beth and me. You left school so we could remain and get our education. I was determined not to put another load on your shoulders.”
“I have given up nothing” Her voice was low, deep, and rife with emotion. “Don’t think for one minute I’m not happy.”
Lacy giggled, “You’re happy because you have an honorable man for a husband who has made life better for all of us.” She wrapped her arms around Nina and held her close. “Come and go with us. Now that the secret is out, there is no reason for you not to come also.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
Lacy grabbed the red sweater off the bed and slipped her arms into the sleeves. “I’m sure. The only reason I didn’t confide in you is I didn’t want you to worry.”
A huge smile split Nina’s face. “I’ll go make some sandwiches and we’ll have a picnic.” Lacy didn’t have the heart to tell her she needed to get back to school and study for an exam scheduled for Monday. It looked like she would be doing the family thing all day.
By the time Nina arrived with the cooler, Grant and Lacy had the four-wheelers gassed up and ready to ride. The light in the east streaked the sky with pink and gold. A gentle breeze blew the limps on the trees that were bursting forth new leaves. Early mornings were cool so Lacy buttoned up her sweater.
A little nervous at the thought of seeing Hilda had her gnawing her bottom lip. Over and over she kept telling herself she meant her no harm. Still it was unnerving to see a spirit that was hanging around for some reason. Maybe today they would be able to find out why. Perhaps they would be able to help her cross to the other side.
“Let’s get going.” Nina threw her leg over one of the four-wheelers. “After we leave the falls let’s go to the Devil’s Back Bone and do some hiking.”
“Honey, I thought you wanted to get the corn and potatoes planted today.”
“One more day won’t make a difference.”
Grant gazed at Lacy for confirmation. “What do you think? Can you squeeze in the time? It’ll be dark by the time we get back.”
Nina gave her a pleading look. “Sure. Why not? We’ll make a day of enjoying the beautiful landscape on Twelve Oaks.” After all Nina had done for her, she couldn’t say no. So tomorrow night she would drink a couple of energy drinks and stay up all night to study. She had done so in the past, it wouldn’t hurt to do so again.
****
As the cascading waterfall came into sight, Lacy admired its beauty. At least a thirty-five foot high vertical drop and thirty feet wide, the water pooled at the bottom of the waterfall where it was captured by the surrounding rocks. The top curved sending water splashing down in a V shape. She had seen other waterfalls in her travels with her parents, but all of them paled in comparison to their waterfall. Lush and green foliage added to the allure of the spot. But then what happened to her as a child kept her from enjoying that beauty for many years.
Her father had done an extensive search after Lacy had seen Hilda. He surmised her bones would be in the spot where she had seen her, but there was nothing. After a hundred years animals would have carried off the bones leaving nothing behind, unless she had been buried. But the top of the falls was solid rock. No one would be able to bury a body in the location where Hilda was appearing. Hopefully, after today the fear and anxiety would end. It would be wonderful to come to the falls and swim in the water like she did as a child before Hilda revealed herself.
Parking the four-wheelers under the massive oak tree, she cut the engine on her four-wheeler and got off. Gnarled limbs stretched out in all directions, blocking out the sun. Already standing by his four-wheeler taking in the view, Grant took a huge breath. “Trees, clean air, it’s nice to be out in nature. This is what I love most about Twelve Oaks. I think this is my favorite spot.”
Lacy couldn’t help but see the look of desire Grant gave Nina. Without a doubt they had used the waterfall as a romantic get-away many times. Six months ago she would never have imagined her serious, hardworking sister skinny dipping in the pool of water. B
ut then that was before she fell in love with Grant and married him. Now she wasn’t as serious or uptight as she had once been. Seemed to take the time to enjoy herself more.
“It is stunning.” The weather was sliding from winter toward spring. The sky was bold and blue. Lacy opened the small compartment in the back and took out the camera Josh gave her for her birthday. Just maybe she could get a picture of Hilda when she made an appearance. It was doubtful since she was the only person that could see her, but she could at least try. For some reason she wanted to prove Hilda was real. Even though Nina, Grant, and Beth said they believed her, she felt some hard evidence was what she needed. At least it would make her feel better.
A chill slid up her spine. “She’s here.”
Nina shot a look across the rocks. She was by Lacy’s side in an instant. “Do you see her?”
“No, but I can feel her presence.”Her eye was drawn to the rocks above the falls where she saw Hilda the night she first appeared to her. Cries from crows rang out causing her to jump. A flock flew out from the trees disturbed by their presence.
“She may not appear since Grant and I are with you.”
“I saw her the day of your wedding. Fifty people in attendance and she stood at the top of the falls and called to me.”
Nina draped her arm over her shoulders. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lacy let out a loud snort. “It was your wedding day. What was I suppose to do? Freak out and ruin the happiest day of your life.”
“Did she look the same as you saw her the night we camped here?”
“Exactly. She wore the green dress soaked with water. Blood dripped down the front.” The image made her cold inside. “Black hair, pale, white skin.”
Shading her eyes, her gaze riveted on the rocks. “She is there in the shadows of the falls.” She pointed to the tip top of the falls where the trees bent and bowed over the rocks blocking out the sun. The sight had her stomach churning.
Both Grant and Nina peered at the rocks. “I don’t see her, Lacy.”
She handed her sister the camera. “She is calling for me. I’m going to climb closer and see if she’ll tell me what happened to her.” She took slow breaths to calm her racing heart.
When Lacy tried to take a step, Nina clutched her arm in a death grip. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
“If I’m going to help Hilda, I’m going to have to uncover why she is contacting me.”
Grant took Nina’s arm and pulled her to his side. “Let her go, honey. It’s the only way she’ll ever have peace.”
The air became thick and heavy as Lacy took another step. It was difficult to breathe. She could hear Grant and Nina arguing behind her. She did her best to tune them out so she could focus on what Hilda was saying. “Help me.” She motioned for her to come to her.
She could hear the camera snapping but didn’t know if it was Nina or Grant taking the pictures. She was too scared to look away fearing Hilda would vanish and she wouldn’t find out why she chose her to haunt.
Heat caused her to feel faint. She unbuttoned her sweater and dropped it to the ground. The closer Lacy got to Hilda, the less she heard behind her. Grant and Nina were still arguing but now it was a dull hum. Funny, she didn’t even hear the water cascading over the rocks. All she heard was Hilda beckoning her to keep moving toward her. It was if they were the only two in the world.
Lacy climbed the rocks over the pool of water. She could feel the frigid spray of droplets hit her face. High above her on the top of the falls, she could see Hilda in the green dress covered with blood. Her coal black hair was wet and clung to her face and shoulders. A look of fright and pain showing on her face caused Lacy’s stomach to knot.
She started the high climb up the side of the falls. Inch by inch she made her way up the steep incline. A rock gave way under her foot and she almost fell. At the last minute she was able to grab a small tree growing between the rocks. She took a moment to catch her breath. Clinging to the small tree, she looked up and saw Hilda was still there beckoning her to climb higher. Suddenly the tree uprooted. Her fingers reached for something to keep her from falling, but all she felt was air. Down, down, down, she fell into the pool of frigid water. It took her breath and her limbs were so cold she could barely move. Completely submerged, she fought to swim to the surface, but she only went deeper. She felt the bottom of the pool against her back. Panic was rising as her lungs began to burn from lack of oxygen.
Someone was lifting her. She could feel hands on her back pushing her to the surface. Above her she could see rays of sunlight. Suddenly, she saw Grant and Nina leaning over the rocks, hands reaching for her. She broke the surface spurting and coughing. Her lungs were on fire as she gasped to fill them with air.
Rough, urgent hands quickly pulled her out of the water. Cold penetrated through every muscle and bone. Never in her life had she felt so miserable. Hands were jerking at her clothes trying to remove them. It all seemed like a dream as above her she could see Nina and Grant shucking out of clothes. She hugged her arms, but couldn’t stop trembling. Then she saw only blackness.
She kept telling herself she was dreaming. It had to be a dream. None of what she was seeing was real. She could see Hilda standing on the green grass by the pool of water. She was wearing the same green dress but it was pretty, not covered with blood and debris. Her dark hair was flowing down her back in ringlets. A man stood by her side. They were holding hands. Hilda looked into his face and Lacy could see the love she felt for him. He bent his head and kissed her rosy, red lips. The man was tall, at least a foot taller than Hilda. He was wearing rough work clothes as if he had been tending the fields before they slipped away to the waterfall to be alone. He looked to be about eight years older than her. Blond with brown flecks in his hair, he seemed happy and carefree. He lowered her to the ground and covered her body with his. Their lips met and the kiss seemed to go on forever. Lacy heard someone yelling Hilda’s name. Abruptly, the couple got to their feet and began to back away as if frightened.
Someone was stroking her hair. Fingers stroked over her cheeks. “Lacy, wake up.”
Her eyes fluttered open to find Nina curled against her. The heat from her body felt like heaven. Her ears were ringing and it was difficult to focus. A roaring fire snapped and crackled just a few feet away. Grant placed two more limbs on the fire before he dropped down on her other side and pressed against her. Wearing only his tee-shirt, she could feel hard muscle against her chest.
Embarrassed, Lacy felt the little bit of color she had left in her cheeks disappear. She struggled to sit. “I think I’m warm enough.” She inched closer to the fire and pulled Grant’s jacket tight against her bare skin. They had wrapped her sweater around her legs. Her wet jeans, tee-shirt, and underwear were on the other side of the campfire draped over limbs to dry. That meant Grant had seen her naked. She felt like covering her face with her sweater.
Grant gripped both her arms. “Why didn’t you stop climbing when I ordered you to?” His voice was severe. “Why did you keep going higher?”
“I never heard you. It was if I was in a trance. Hilda had complete control over me.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. “You could have been killed. All this is my fault. I should never have suggested coming here.”
Nina placed her hand on Lacy’s shoulder. “This proves it, Hilda does mean you harm. For some reason she tried to kill you.”
“No! I slipped. That was not Hilda’s fault.” A knot formed in her belly. She had to convince them Hilda meant her no harm. “Who do you think pushed me off the bottom of the pool?” Her voice rose in desperation. “I could feel Hilda’s hands on my back. She brought me to the surface and right into your hands.”
Both looked at her with concern. Neither believed her. “You have to believe me. If she would not have helped me, you would have had to jump in the ice cold water and pull me up. I didn’t float to the surface by myself.”
Nina cupped her hands to Lacy�
��s cheeks. “It’s okay, honey.”
“We have to try again.” Lacy looked at the top of the falls. Hilda wasn’t there. Deep down she felt she wouldn’t make another appearance today.
“As soon as your clothes are dry we are going home.” Grant took a steadying breath to cool his temper. “You’ll not put your life in danger again.” He took her chin firmly in his hand. “You are not to ever come to the falls again.”
****
Beth never cared much for flying, preferring to keep her feet on the ground. She especially hated helicopters. It amazed her that such a strange contraption could stay in the sky. When the helicopter did a quick dive, she closed her eyes and counted to ten. Her stomach roiled. She held to the seat with her free hand and tried to focus on her notepad that she had been jotting down questions to ask Kathy. It was a difficult task since her eyes kept wandering to the view outside her tiny window. High above the trees, she wished they were flying lower. But even at that altitude they would have little hope of surviving a crash. She cut her eyes at the pilot and when he glanced her way he smiled as if trying to ease her fears.
It was only a hop, skip, and jump from Twelve Oaks to the church campground, but Josh wasn’t about to risk someone following them so he asked his Uncle Tate to pick them up in the helicopter. Suspicious Powers might have someone tailing him, Josh felt the helicopter was the best way to get there.
Beth had met Josh and Grant’s uncle at the wedding, but she never got the chance to really get to know him. He seemed nice. He and Josh had talked nonstop about the Powers’ case and she had said very little. Sitting up front with the pilot, Beth turned and looked at the two men sitting in the back seats. Tall with dark hair just like his nephews, Tate smiled when she met his gaze. “Josh divulged you are an excellent lawyer.”
“I do my best.” Doubt and disappointment consumed her. She was about to ask the woman her client attempted to kill to give her enough information to put him away for life. Some lawyer she was. She should be defending him tooth and nail, not aiding the investigation against him.
Shadows of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Series Book 2) Page 11