My little audience was quiet with eager anticipation for the rest of my story. “You understand that when I am merged with a spirit, we do not communicate in the same way that you and I communicate. I don’t have a conversation with them. It’s more like I am filled with their knowledge and just suddenly know what they know. It all comes to me at once. It’s only later, after the vision is over, that I can sort it all out and put it into logical thought. Or at least, into something I can understand. Which is what I am trying to do right now.”
“But what does any of that have to do with the Spiritualists?” Dawn asked.
“Well, Buck’s monument was erected in 1854, the Spiritualists were, as I mentioned, very active here in Bucksport around that time or shortly after. When the images appeared on Buck’s monument, everyone wanted to know what they meant. A lot of speculation arose from it. The stone, when it was placed, was blemish free. Natural flaws in the stone, which some claim those markings are, wouldn’t suddenly appear after a period of time, they would have been there when the monument was made. Their sudden appearance, therefore, sparked a lot of stories and fired up a lot of over-active imaginations.”
Curious as to how Mary and Adam were taking everything in, I stopped to look at them. Their expressions were open and accepting. Thank God. “I think some of your family members tried contacting either Isabelle or Isidora during a séance. Something Spiritualists do often. Whatever came through during that séance, they incorrectly put it together with what they already knew. I’m sure Clayton must have shared Isidora’s prophetic visions with his family.” I again closed my eyes to concentrate on the knowledge buried within my brain.
“It was Isidora who came through during the séance, though the medium conducting it didn’t know that. Isidora said her heart lay broken and since Buck’s monument also has an image of a heart lying sideways, it was thought that she must have been a mistress of his. The other part of the message that came through was that a family in turmoil would remain so for many years until their agony was over.” I looked, smiling, at the Rowans. “She was talking about you guys, of course, but the medium thought she was referring to the Buck family. Isidora, speaking through the medium, knew the gold wouldn’t be found for many more generations and she also knew it would be her own family that would find it. But as word got out about the séance and what was said, the town folks just assumed the message was a curse on the Buck family.”
I looked at the faces around me and could see that they were finally pulling it all together in their minds and making sense of it. “You know, it was a reporter who made the rumor into an infamous legend, coming up with a fabricated story he printed in the paper about Buck having a mistress whom he eventually had burned as a witch.”
Dawn shook her head sadly. “After your visit the other night, I went on the internet to look up the curse and I read that ridiculous story printed in the paper. For some reason, people took it at face value.”
It was funny the things people would believe or not. “Buck’s monument is a prominent landmark and I really think that’s why it was his stone the universe chose to leave its clue. It’s made the town somewhat famous after all. Really, if you think about it, it’s been a pretty positive thing for Bucksport, something to brag about in any case.”
“Not sure I’d call a legend about having a woman burned for witchcraft a positive thing but I do see what you mean. It’s all pretty fascinating the way it fits together.” Kade dropped a kiss on my temple and put an arm around my shoulders. “You did it. You solved the mystery of the curse.”
Smiling at Kade’s admiring glance, I felt my cheeks sting with heat and glanced away. “Obviously the universe gave up its secret to us in order to help you. You are not meant to lose this house. This property belongs in your family and now with that gold and whatever else you find in those graves, you are going to be able to keep it.” I couldn't help but marvel at the utter synchronicity of it all. “Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I believe it was the best way to get all the secrets out in the open. It’s not just about this gold here but about so much more–your Indian heritage, Isabelle’s and Isidora’s story. Those graves.”
Adam stared at the gold in his hand then looked up at me, his black eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “I wish someone in our family had figured it out before now.”
“All things are revealed when the time is right. God wants you to have that gold. I now know it’s been your ancestors bugging me since my arrival, trying to get me to put the pieces together and figure it out.” I smiled, quite pleased with myself and the spirits who helped uncover this mystery. The Rowans just had the impossible happen. They found their pot of gold and the answer to their financial problems. How cool was that?
Kade patted my back. “Well done, Tess.”
I put my hand on Kade’s thigh and squeezed it in response. “Thanks. But the real reward is that the Rowans now have the money they need to keep their home.”
Mary, Dawn and Adam looked at the gold they were holding, their expressions that of incredulity. “What if we are accused of stealing it?” Adam asked. “No one just suddenly finds gold like this.” Adam shifted nervously and glanced at Kade and I. “Will we be able to keep it?”
“It’s your gold. Why wouldn’t you? It was found on your property.” And as it all truly sunk in, the Rowans burst into whoops of joy, tears and lots of laughter. We all did. After much hugging and excited talk and more laughter, we finally headed for the house for a celebratory drink. Dawn had some wine she’d been saving, very old she said, and now was the time to drink it.
Kade leaned close while the Rowans talked about their future plans and said softly, “Remember when we were standing in front of the monument and we said that the heart was there for new loves to find their way to each other by taking a step in the right direction?”
I nodded, my heart pounding in response to his softly whispered words.
“I’d say that you just gave all these people a step towards a very bright future and a heart full of joy. That’s the message on that tombstone now. Finding love and joy. It worked for you and me too, don’t you think?”
I met his eyes and became lost in them. We stared at each other for the longest time then Mary tugged on our arms. “Come on, it’s time for some toasts!”
As we toasted to the Rowan’s happy future, Kade and I looked at each other again. So much was shared in our glance. More than I can put into words. Promises. A beautiful future. Love. Everything looked so wonderful right now. I had a possible new house (though I truly knew it was mine already), some more spirits to help and a future with Kade to explore. Life was good. And I couldn’t wait to get on with it.
The End
Historical Note - Sorting Fact from Fiction
Since the town of Bucksport, Maine, truly exists and the legend of Colonel Jonathan Buck does as well (though it's ‘truth factor’ is quite nonexistent), I thought it only fair to set the record straight as to what is fact in Hidden Voices and what is fiction. I tried to keep true to Bucksport's actual history since I found it colorful enough to add flair and credibility to my fictional story. Colonel Buck has earned, unfairly and unjustly in my opinion, a smudged reputation due to a stain that appeared on his graveside monument.
Since I grew up in Bucksport and was always fascinated with the eerie legend, I thought it would be pretty cool to use my creative writing endeavors towards the invention of my own story concerning the legend. None of it is grounded in fact. If Buck's monument is cursed, there is no documentation anywhere to suggest why such a thing would have reason to occur. He was a devoted husband and father and he was highly respected among the citizens of Bucksport and the local area. His children grew to become just as admirable and respected. My story is a complete fabrication other than the specific historical data given here. I took creative liberty to reinvent the legend and use historical facts and actual historical figures, such as Jonathan Buck and the Red Paint Indians, to make it more in
teresting. I do want to make clear, though, that any other relative of Buck's used in this story (save for his son, Jonathan Buck, Jr.) is completely fabricated. Although it's a shame to have one's name so unjustly tarnished as Buck's has become, the legend has given the town of Bucksport a distinction from others. Who knows why that stain appeared on the monument like it did? God put it there, and since ALL things happen for a reason…maybe Tess's conclusion is more accurate than not! In any case, I like her version of the legend much better.
So, to help sort the facts from the fiction, here is a brief history about Colonel Buck and the town of Bucksport, Maine. I used information gathered from various sources on the Internet and scored some great data in Emeric Spooner's books. A local author, he has written 13 books on various subjects, to include Bucksport and her mysteries. I am sure I'll be using more of Spooner's books to gather information for future stories! So, without further ado, here is a brief recap of Bucksport's history:
First, I must talk about the Red Paint Indians for they truly were believed to have existed. They were thusly named because of the red ochre found in their gravesites. Several of those gravesites were in fact found in Bucksport and Orland (the two towns border each other). Since these Indian natives went extinct several thousand years ago, there's not much left in their gravesites to garner information concerning them. Some historians have speculated their connection to the Beothuk of Newfoundland because of their shared interest in red ochre (the Beothuk covered themselves in the stuff) but that is as much argued against as for. Who knows for sure? No one. And because of that, I can make up whatever I want concerning them, right? That's what writers do…they take creative license to make up stories and use actual data sometimes, to do it!
So now I'll move on to Colonel Buck's true story. He sailed into the Penobscot harbor in June of 1763 on his sloop “Sally” and cast anchor. With him he brought his family as well as a few other determined settlers and they all got to work forging a life and building a town, then called Plantation No. 1.
In 1779, the Revolutionary War came to the area when the British began constructing Fort George in the Penobscot Bay vicinity of present-day Castine (then called Plantation No. 3). The fort was intended as a stronghold for attacking American privateers operating against British shipping. Their naval blockade effectively shut off communications and supplies to the settlers of Plantation No. 1. Short of food and powder, facing almost certain extinction and losing several of their children due to starvation, town authorities sent off a message to the General Court of Massachusetts seeking aid.
Massachusetts sent a fleet of ships and a force of over 1000 men to dislodge the British from the fort. Colonel Buck took part in this effort along with other volunteers from the surrounding local area. The 21-day battle that followed resulted in one of the greatest fiascoes in US military history. Until Pearl Harbor, it remained the largest naval defeat. Survivors, to include Colonel Buck, were forced to flee for their lives. A quick return home to pack up what possessions they could carry, Buck and his family, along with many other citizens of Plantation No. 1, left their homes and rowed or walked their way to safety.
The day after the naval disaster ended, the British sloop NAUTILUS dropped anchor in the harbor of Plantation No. 1 and the crew went ashore to pillage and burn the properties of the departed patriots. The few settlers who remained, by pledging allegiance to the crown, were spared. Colonel Buck and his family did not return until a treaty was signed with the British in 1783.
In 1789, the people of Plantation No. 1 petitioned the Court for permission to incorporate Plantation No. 1 as the town of Buckstown- honoring by its name, Colonel Jonathan Buck (in 1817, the town was renamed Bucksport). Jonathan Buck, Jr., was named the first Justice of the Peace for the Penobscot area and so reigned a just and righteous family, respected and admired, their reputation unblemished until a stain appeared on a graveside monument.
Jonathan Buck died on March 18, 1795. In August of 1852, his grandchildren, thinking this prominent member of their family, the founding father of Bucksport, Maine, should be honored for his contributions and importance to the town's existence, erected a monument near his gravesite. Shortly thereafter, a weathered image in the form of a woman's leg and foot appeared under the Buck name. The image of a heart also appeared near the top of the obelisk. The actual monument appears on the cover to this book.
Although their appearance sparked intense speculation and rumor, the first record concerning it didn't appear in print until March 22, 1899. The Haverhill Gazette's article recounting the Buck legend has become the more popular version although there are certainly many variations on the theme.
Briefly restated, the tale runs: Jonathan Buck was a Puritan to whom witchcraft was denounced. A woman was accused of witchcraft and he sentenced her to be executed. Then, according to the Haverhill Gazette, “the hangmen was about to perform his gruesome duty when the woman turned to Col. Buck and raising one hand to heaven, as if to direct her last words on earth, pronounced this astounding prophecy: ‘Jonathan Buck, listen to these words, the last my tongue will utter. It is the spirit of the only true and living God which bids me speak them to you. You will soon die. Over your grave they will erect a stone that all may know where your bones are crumbling into dust. But listen, upon that stone the imprint of my feet will appear, and for all time, long after you and your accursed race have perished from the earth, will the people from far and wide know that you murdered a woman. Remember well, Jonathan Buck, remember well.”
None of that, of course, actually happened but the tale was now in written form and that's as good a truth. Right? Whatever caused the images to appear, the fact is they do exist. Although it is rumored that attempts were made to remove the images and failing that, the stone was replaced several times, there is no official record of that actually happening.
Over the years, geologists have explained that the “stains” are the result of a natural flaw in the stone, perhaps a vein of iron which darkens through contact with oxygen. The problem with this explanation is that any flaws in the stone would have been present at the time the monument was made. The family was insistent to use the cleanest, most flawless of stones. So, who knows why those images are there. God did it. That is the only reasonable explanation (unless, of course, you are an atheist and in that case, well, you are welcome to come up with your own explanation). I took fictional license to make up my own story, and I think it's a pretty good one…who knows, maybe I've channeled through bits of truth. Or not.
I think it's sad that this legend has unjustly tarnished the excellent reputation of an upstanding citizen. Jonathan Buck was respected and admired. His extensive family was model citizens and many of his sons became prominent members of society. Most of them were devout Christians, were hard-working, honest, charitable and caring. They persevered during trying times and because of that, we now have a solid community in which to live and grow. Although I've written a story that puts the legend back in the limelight (however small that may be!), I do hope that I've given better credit to Colonel Buck's memory. May he rest in peace!
DEBORAH J. HUGHES
Deborah Hughes was a normal kid living a normal life when she moved into a haunted house at the age of seven. Suddenly she was sharing space with dead people and experiencing the bizarre world of the unknown. An over-active imagination did not, at first, serve her well for she feared what she did not understand.
Learning to read opened her to the world of books and she read everything she could find about supernatural and paranormal phenomena. The more she read, the more she learned and the more she realized how little she knew. This has led to a lifelong search for knowledge, truth and enlightenment.
Constantly inspired to write, from the age of eight she began telling the stories streaming like movies through her mind. Although determined to grow up and become a writer, her sense of adventure led to a career in the United States Air Force. Despite a busy and demanding life, Deborah continued wr
iting the stories that came to her in flashes of inspiration and her quest for knowledge continued. Her military career now behind her, she is focused on her lifelong dream of being an author and sharing the stories she’s been so compelled to write.
Deborah would welcome any comments or questions you may have, please email her: [email protected] or visit her blog at www.deborahjhughes.com
Deborah’s first book Be Still, My Love is available in eBook format from Amazon.com.
The paperback version is available here:
https://www.createspace.com/3853576.
Sign up on her blog to be informed of the release date of the next Tess Schafer-Medium Paranormal Mystery.
Hidden Voices (Tess Schafer-Medium) Page 33