by K E O'Connor
“Ben and Juliette can now get on with their lives without being pestered,” said Helen. “And I can’t imagine Dexter will come slithering back now the police have noticed him. If I were him, I’d sneak off and try to make my dubious fortunes elsewhere.”
“Juliette and Ben are decent people, and they deserve a chance at happiness without anybody else interfering,” I said.
“As do we,” said Helen. “I’m exhausted from all this ghost chasing. I need a few quiet days to do the laundry and get on with my sewing. There’s a mountain of socks to darn, and I still have to finish Juliette’s dresses.”
“And letters don’t write themselves,” I said. “Once Juliette is home, I’ll be back to work as normal.”
“And as for the garden.” Zach extended an arm and presented the beautifully manicured lawn to us.
“The garden looks amazing.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “And you know it. Don’t think you’re going to be dragging compliments out of us because you’re so good at what you do.”
Zach grinned down at me. “As if I would. I wouldn’t want you to set one of your ghost friends on me.”
I looked over at Helen and smiled. Things were back to normal. Flipper and Jessie were dancing round the lawn together, still play fighting over the broken branch. I had Zach by my side and a job I enjoyed. It was time to get back to real life, and this time, there would be no ghosts allowed.
Book 3
Ghostly Games
K.E. O’Connor
Chapter 1
“Stop the car!” My best friend, Helen Holiday, thumped the dashboard with her hand. “There’s a sign partially hidden behind that tree.”
I checked no one was behind us before hitting the brakes. I needn’t have worried. I hadn’t seen another car for five miles and had only had to pull over into a ditch twice to let tractors by. We were in the Cotswolds, an area known for its beautiful golden stone built houses, cute thatched cottages, and cripplingly bad traffic when the tourists flocked in during the holidays.
“What does the sign say?” I peered through the last few autumn tinged leaves.
“We have four choices,” said Helen. “The village of Batsford is behind us. Then to the right is Lower Lemington. And in front of us, is Draycott or Aston Magna.”
“We want the last one,” I said as I read through the printed instructions sent by our new employers, Mr. and Mrs. Bellamy. “Their house is in the center of Aston Magna, on a small rise, set back from the road, according to the information they've given me.”
“Show me the pictures of the house again?” asked Helen.
I pulled out my phone and flipped through the photos until I found an image of the cottage. “It looks like there have been two extensions added to it.” I pointed to the two side extensions, both on staggered levels, but blending in perfectly with the original solid white walls and thick dark beams that stretched across the front of the cottage. The windows were small and lead lined, and a heavy thatch dominated the building.
“Maybe we’ll get a wing to ourselves,” said Helen with a contented sigh. “It’s so beautiful.”
I nodded as I tucked my phone back into my purse. Flipper poked his nose over the seat and rested his furry head on my shoulder.
“We’re not there yet,” I said to him, giving his fur a ruffle. “You can go back to sleep if you like.”
Flipper was my best friend with four legs. We’d been together ever since I’d found him abandoned by the side of the road. We went everywhere together, and he liked nothing more than a long car journey. It gave him a chance to catch up on his sleep.
“It’s such a shame our last job had to end,” said Helen. “After we sorted out that business with Archie Musgrave’s ghost, I hoped the family might decide to stay.”
I shifted the car into gear and headed in the direction of Aston Magna. “They gave it a good go, but I don’t blame them for wanting to move abroad. It would put me off, living in a house where I knew my ex-husband had been murdered.” Our last employers, Ben and Juliette Musgrave, had lived in a beautiful house in Wiltshire, and Helen and I had been employed to help run the household. Unfortunately, our day jobs were interrupted by the ghost of the first Mr. Musgrave, who was convinced he’d been murdered. And after much investigation, it turned out he had.
That was a talent of mine I never shared when seeking a new job; I had an ability to see ghosts. Gained after a near death experience of my own when I was a child, I was now able to see and feel ghosts. But I’d never been able to speak to one. It led to some frustrating and often amusing attempts at communication.
“It’s lovely that Juliette’s pregnant,” said Helen. “She’ll make a great mom.”
“And I just know Ben will be an amazing dad,” I said. “I hope they’re happy in their new home in Tuscany.”
“And you never know; once they are settled, they may decide to make use of our services and ask us to join them. I do love Italy.”
I nodded. Although I wasn’t sold on the baby idea. Not just yet. Flipper was all the fur baby I needed. “A few months in the sunshine would have been ideal.” I glanced out of the car window and noted the grey clouds scudding across the autumn sky. It was thick coats and boots weather. I did love autumn. It was my favorite season, but I always missed the sunshine when it went into hibernation. When working in the UK, that was often for a long time.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t get a position for Zach, as well, this time,” said Helen. “I did work hard to convince the Bellamys he is the best gardener they could ever want. But, apparently, they have an excellent gardener, who looks after the grounds, and I couldn’t convince them they needed anybody else.”
“It’s not a problem,” I said. “It would have been nice to have him here, but he’s only ten miles down the road.”
“Yes, a stroke of luck that they were hiring,” said Helen. “Hope you don’t miss him too much.”
Zach was my boyfriend. We’d been dating for several months, having met at a previous job, when I’d revealed to him my ghostly talents. He’d taken some convincing but was now more comfortable with my ability to see ghosts.
“I’ll get to see plenty of Zach. And I won’t be able to spend too long away from him, or Flipper will start to pine for Jessie.” Jessie was a new addition to Zach’s household, having been set free by Zach and me after discovering her in a cage that she’d lived in for three years. Jessie was a sweet and loyal dog, and Flipper was besotted with her, as was Zach.
“Yes, you can’t keep true love apart for long.” Helen winked at me. “And maybe, I’ll find my ideal man in this quaint little place as well.”
“It would be nice for you to find somebody,” I said. “Or maybe you could just get a dog.” As much as I liked Zach, I had been content when it was just Flipper and me.
Helen wrinkled her nose. “I want more than a dog as a companion.”
“Flipper is excellent company,” I said. “I know you love him almost as much as I do.”
“I do love Flipper.” Helen glanced onto the backseat where Flipper was already snoring gently. “But I want someone who can cuddle me.”
“Flipper gives good cuddles,” I said.
“And someone who doesn’t smell like a wet blanket when he’s been outside in the rain,” said Helen.
“After he’s had a bath, Flipper smells lovely,” I said.
“I also want someone who can take me out for dinner and show me a good time,” said Helen. “And before you say anything, Flipper’s idea of a good time is gnawing on a giant bone and then a long walk along a muddy lane. I want more than a dog can provide.”
“Fair enough,” I said with a smile. “We can focus on finding you someone lovely, who only has two legs.” We cruised along a narrow tree-lined lane, and I stopped at a crossroads and looked around, taking in the well-maintained detached houses and neat front gardens. “There’s plenty of wealth in the area if you’re still insisting on looking for someone with money to
marry.”
“It’s not just the money,” said Helen, a serious expression on her face. “But my own family has ancient bloodlines. I want to respect that.”
“Wasn’t one of your distant great uncles twice removed connected to Oliver Cromwell?”
“That’s right,” said Helen.
“And wasn’t he involved with the Witch Finder General? He had all those innocent women burned at the stake.”
“No, burning witches didn’t happen all that often,” said Helen. “They mainly hung them.”
“That’s so much better,” I said.
“You know I have a thing about men with posh accents,” said Helen, dismissing her dubious family connections with a wave of one hand. “I could never date someone with a squeaky voice or someone who drops his t’s. And I do like a good set of muscles.”
“Posh with muscles,” I said. “Anything else you want to add to your wish list?”
“Kindness is a must,” said Helen, “and a nice laugh. And he must be able to make me laugh as well.”
“That sounds more like it.” I turned my attention back to the road. “If we go straight across this crossroads, the house should be up on the left.”
“I’ll be glad to get out and stretch my legs.” Helen shifted in her seat and rolled her shoulders as we continued our journey.
We’d been driving for over two hours, and I was also ready for a break. “Almost there,” I said. “I’m looking forward to exploring.”
“Me too,” said Helen. “And that pub we just drove past looks adorable.”
I glanced in the rearview mirror, and saw a crooked looking thatched building, with tiny windows, and a door more suited to a hobbit than a human. “We’ll have to check it out. They might do a good Sunday lunch.”
“Now you’re talking,” said Helen. “Slow down. That looks like the place.” She pointed out the front window, and I stopped the car next to a white timber clad cottage, with thick, dark wooden beams running along the center. It was just as the pictures showed, with a sturdy thatch and two extensions to the side. A neat cottage garden sat at the front of the house, with a short flight of steps leading to a wooden door.
“This is the place,” I said, “and looks like we’re just in time.” A few large spots of rain hit the window of the car.
Helen hopped out and opened the back door so Flipper could get out. After a quick stretch of his back and a sniff of the ground, he followed Helen to the back of the car, and she pulled out our suitcases.
I followed her, and after a quick look around, noting the peaceful atmosphere on the lane, I grabbed my case and hurried to the front door of the house just as the rain began to fall harder.
Helen and Flipper joined me as I knocked on the door. We waited a few seconds, but couldn’t hear any sounds of movement on the other side.
“Try again or we’ll get soaked if we have to stay out here much longer,” said Helen.
I rapped on the wooden door and then peered through the tiny lead-lined window by the entrance. There were no signs of anybody inside.
“They must have gone out.” Helen shielded her blonde hair ineffectively with her hand. “Let’s wait in the car.”
I nodded and turned back towards the car. My heart skipped a happy beat as I spotted a familiar looking Land Rover driving along the lane towards us. It was Zach and Jessie.
“What are you waiting for?” asked Helen as she opened the car door.
I pointed to Zach’s Land Rover. “We’ve got company.”
Helen looked over before grabbing my case and jumping into the car. “I’ll leave you lovebirds to it.”
I nodded and raised a hand to Zach as he stopped the Land Rover. I ran over and climbed into the passenger seat, Flipper right beside me. He jumped right over me and into the back seat, where Jessie sat, her black ears pricked up and a doggy smile on her face when she spotted Flipper.
“I wasn’t expecting you here.” I gave Zach a kiss on the cheek, enjoying the feel of his rough stubble under my lips.
“I don’t need to be at my new job until this evening,” said Zach. “I thought I’d drop by and see how the two of you are getting on.”
“We’ve just arrived,” I said, “but looks like nobody’s at home.”
Zach took a few seconds to look over the cottage. It gave me an opportunity to admire his dark hair and pale blue eyes. He was not a man for dressing up, preferring his gardener’s trousers and grass stained shirts, but the look suited him. And he was handsome enough without needing smart clothes.
“Looks like a nice place,” he said as he casually took my hand in his and entwined our fingers.
“It will be something different for me,” I said. “I’ve never been a lady’s companion.” My skills and experience were in administration, and I’d been a personal assistant to a number of lords and ladies over the years. But after the last position ended, I needed a new job fast. Helen had spotted a general housekeeper’s job and the position of lady’s companion when she was hunting through the vacancies.
The Bellamys had wanted us to start straightaway and were happy with our experience. Best of all, they were also happy for Flipper to come with me. He was always a part of the package, and if there were ever any queries, I claimed he was my assistance dog, and I needed him to help with the fainting episodes I experienced. It wasn’t a million miles from the truth; whenever a ghost made its presence felt, I often got the chills and felt lightheaded. Flipper was my early warning system and was brilliant at detecting when any ghosts were lurking about.
“If you’ve got some time to spare, what do you want to do?” Zach raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back.
I felt my cheeks heat up. “Helen spotted a nice pub just down the road. We could go and wait in there.”
“That’s not a terrible idea.” Zach leaned towards me and brushed his lips against mine. “I had something a little more intimate in mind.”
“We have two dogs in the back seat and Helen sitting in the other car, watching our every move. There’s no chance of this being intimate.”
Zach grinned at me. “One day, we’ll get more than five minutes to ourselves.”
I hoped that too. Our relationship was going well, with Zach accepting my odd ability to see ghosts and adoring Flipper as much as I did. He didn’t mind for a second that, wherever I went, my best friends came along as well. I included Helen and Flipper in that category.
I wound down the window on the Land Rover and gestured to Helen. She slid her window down an inch. “Have you finished canoodling?” she asked.
“We’re all finished,” I said with a grin. “Thought we’d wait in that pub you spotted.”
“Great idea,” said Helen. “I fancy trying the local cider.”
The rain was now pounding on the roof of the Land Rover, and after a few more seconds of discussion, Helen jumped out of my car and leapt into the back alongside Jessie and Flipper. Once we were all inside, Zach backed up the Land Rover and parked outside the pub.
It was called the Reaper’s Arms, and had a large black scythe painted on the sign outside, with a skeletal hand clutching the pole. The building was a two-story squat structure, with a thatched roof and antique red paint.
“I didn’t spot the gruesome name when we drove past.” Helen gave a shudder and cuddled Flipper to her.
“It’s just a name,” said Zach. “I’ve seen all sorts of oddly named pubs over the years. The Three-Toed Badger, The Parson’s Nose, and my personal favorite, The Flatulent Boar.”
Helen wrinkled her nose. “I’ll give that last one a miss.”
“I’m sure the Reaper’s Arms is lovely inside,” I said. “Let’s go in and see if we can find out anything about our new employer while we’re waiting.”
Chapter 2
We dashed through the rain and into the pub. There were only a few customers inside, all men of retirement age, who clutched their pints of ale and turned to look at us as we walked through the door.
I was pleased to see another dog in the pub, fast asleep by the open fire. Maybe Flipper and Jessie could join him.
Helen nodded at the other customers as she hurried towards the bar. She brushed raindrops from her dark green dress and fluffed up her blonde hair. “Who wants what?” She looked over at me.
“I’ll try some cider,” I said as I walked towards the bar with Zach and the dogs.
“I’ll stick to something soft since I’m driving,” said Zach.
“They might do a nice non-alcoholic cocktail in here,” said Helen with a giggle.
“Orange juice will be fine,” said Zach. “I save my cocktails for the weekend.”
I looked around the bar. The low ceilings, tiny windows, and gaping fireplaces gave it a claustrophobic feel. The dark wood didn’t help with the atmosphere.
A middle-aged woman with a shock of black dyed hair and painted red lips emerged from the back of the bar and walked towards us, a dishcloth slung over one shoulder. “What can I get you?”
“Two halves of local cider and an orange juice,” said Helen.
The woman nodded and took three glasses from the shelf. “Are you staying at the bed-and-breakfast in the village?”
“No, we’re going to be working at the Bellamy house,” I said. “We’ve just tried there, but they must be out.”
“Probably at the cemetery,” muttered one of the men sitting by the fire.
I turned and looked at him. “Why would they be there?”
“Ignore him,” said the woman behind the bar. “He spends so much time in here, most of his brain cells are to be found in the bottom of a glass. I’m Birdie Henshaw. I own this pub.” She extended her hand to me, and I shook it.
“I’m Lorna Shadow. This is Helen Holiday and Zach Booth.” Birdie shook hands with us all.
“What are you going to be doing for the Bellamys?” asked Birdie.
“I’m the new housekeeper,” said Helen brightly. “But I’m also an expert when it comes to a needle and thread. If you know anyone in the village who needs anything doing, just ask me. I’m not sure how busy this job is going to keep me, and I don’t like to be bored.”