The Haunting Of Larkspur Farm (Ghosts and Haunted Houses): A Haunting In Kingston (The Hauntings of Kingston Book 4)

by Michelle Dorey

  Paige looked over at Amanda, watching as she plucked a rubber disc from the cooler and popped it, creating a small bowl which she then filled with water for the dog. One thing about her sister...when she was well and on her game she was really organized. She’d even considered Barney’s needs at the picnic.

  Julian munched on his sandwich and swallowed hard, looking excitedly at his mother. “This tree is pretty awesome. Think Daddy will have time today to put up a tire swing for me?”

  Paige had to laugh at the look that Amanda shot her. She smiled at Julian. “If we can find a tire and rope, I probably can help you with that. At least something temporary until Josh can get it set up.”

  Amanda nodded. “That’s a good idea. It’ll give you something to do until we get the house sorted out. I think you might find some rope in the barn. Not sure about a tire though.” She unpacked another sandwich and bit into her lunch.

  Paige’s stomach sunk lower but she managed a smile over at Julian. The thought of going into the barn wasn’t something she was looking forward to. But Julian was hopped up about the swing and she had given him the idea...

  “Hey Amanda?” Josh ambled across the grass and plopped down next to them. “When you’re done lunch, can you go in and let the movers know where to put the bedroom furniture? They’ve got the kitchen appliances in and the living room’s almost done. They’re going to need you to sort through the bedroom stuff.” He flopped down on the blanket.

  “Daddy? Will you help Aunt Paige set up a tire swing for me and Avril?” Julian edged forward and looked up into his father’s blue eyes, an older version of his own. “Please?”

  Paige let out a small sigh, relieved and hopeful at the same time. “C’mon Josh.” She rose to her feet. “Help me look in the barn. I can get this set up while you and Amanda work with the movers.”

  “No rest for the wicked.” He looked up at her and once more rose to his feet.

  When Julian started to get up, Paige held her hand up like a traffic cop. “No. You stay here buddy. It’ll be faster if you just let your Dad and me look. Besides which, your Mom hasn’t seen you too much today. Stay and finish your lunch with her and Avril.”

  “No, it’s fine, hon,” Amanda said. “Avril and I can have some girl time!” She gave the toddler a tickle.

  Josh fell into step beside her walking around the house to the back, and Julian was on her other side. Three abreast, they went down the path to the barn. The doors were once more agape, swaying and creaking a little. The cold tightness in the back of her neck was only lessened a little by Josh walking next to her, going into the creepy old building together.

  She risked a peek up at Josh. Did he find the back yard strange? What was with the deathly quiet back there? Not a bird or cricket chirping. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “The barn door banged shut when the kids and I were here. It scared the hell out of us.”

  “Hmm. I wonder if some animal got in there. A raccoon or something. But, the doors should have been latched.” His mouth pulled to the side in a grimace and he shook his head. “Let me go in first. I know where the light switch is and if some critter is inside...” He huffed a sigh and took a tentative step to the opening, peeking inside.

  Paige crept slowly after him, trying to pierce the darkness with her eyes. The hair on her arms tingled as if touched by a spider web and her neck muscles were tight cables. She could sense they weren’t alone in there, she could feel eyes watching them. She gripped Julian’s hand tightly. Two steps in, she stopped, her stomach rolling.

  Light flashed from a bare bulb hanging a few feet from the door. Josh turned around and his smile was fleeting before scanning the room looking for whatever had caused the door to shut.

  Paige almost jumped out of her skin at Barney’s loud bark, standing just outside the door. “Shit! Shut up, Barney!”

  A flash of movement caused her and Julian to jump back yelping in fear. The white tipped tail of a deer, disappeared with a flash of dark hooves out the opening of the barn. Barney raced after it, barking in a frenzy.

  “Barney! Come!” Josh stepped out and gripped the side of the door, yelling for the dog to come back.

  In a moment, the dog once more appeared, its tongue lolling while its dark eyes shone with excitement, so pleased with himself.

  “Good boy.” Josh chuckled and rubbed the dog behind its ears before turning to her. “I guess that solves the mystery of the doors banging shut. It must have bumped against them earlier. Strange though...I never would have thought a deer would go into a barn. Maybe because it’s been vacant for a while? I don’t know.”

  Paige’s hand still covered her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, letting out a laugh as well. “Wow. Never would have expected to meet Bambi in here.”

  Josh clicked the latch and held the two doors closed for a moment examining them. “I think I need to tighten some screws here. The latch isn’t quite catching.” He huffed a sigh. “Let me grab my tool box. I’ll be right back.”

  Paige and Julian looked at each other while they waited.

  She tilted her head at him. “You want to go back inside?”

  The five year old looked at her with steady eyes. “No. Let’s wait for Dad, okay?”

  Yeah, this place creeped him out too.

  Josh was back quickly, carrying his tool box. He looked over at both of them, then squatted down with his tool box and took out a screwdriver. As he tightened the screws on the latch, he said, “Why don’t you two get looking for some rope?” Stepping inside for a moment, He flicked on the light switch again. “Go ahead.”

  The barn was an empty space with a dirt floor. At the back of the barn was a long work table that came almost chest high. There was a shelf below it that held odds and ends of all kinds.

  As they walked up the center of the barn floor a wave of nausea rolled over her when she was halfway across. What the hell? She looked over to Julian. He was pale.

  “You okay?” she asked, keeping the bile down.

  “I don’t think so. Something in here’s making me sick to my stomach.”

  Paige sniffed the air. “Yeah, me too; but I don’t smell anything.”

  Also at the rear, beside the table was a ladder that stretched upwards, but she couldn’t make out a hayloft. Following the line of the ladder as it disappeared up into the darkness gave her a sense of vertigo. She’d have to tell Josh to take that damn thing down. If one of the kids climbed up it, they could break their necks.

  She looked up at the high roof, the narrow glints of sunlight coming in through cracks between the dark boards. Her hand rose and she scooped her hair to the side, holding it in her hand. There could be bats up there in the rafters. For sure there was a whole host of spiders from the number of webs floating in sheets everywhere. Yuck.

  Finished with the latch, Josh came inside. He and Julian were rooting around the stuff on the table.

  “Well, looky here,” said Josh, peering under the long table that had been built along one side. He reached his hand in and pulled out a rusted horse shoe.

  “What’s that?” asked Julian.

  “It’s a horse shoe, son,” Josh replied.

  “What’s it for?”

  “It’s for horses. They put them on the bottom of their feet so they won’t wear out their hooves.” He held the rusted piece of curved steel out and the boy took it.

  Julian ducked his head under the table. “Shouldn’t there be more? I mean, horses have four feet, right?”

  Josh nodded. “Yeah, they do.” He took the horseshoe back and hefted it. “I think this was for another purpose though.”

  “Oh? What?”

  “As a good luck charm.” Josh rummaged in his tool box and came up with a couple of nails and his hammer. He walked over to the doors of the barn. It was an easy reach, they were so low. He centered the horseshoe over the doors, and with the ends pointing up, nailed it loosely to the frame. When he was done,
he tugged at it so it rattled a little.

  “Don’t you need to nail some more, Dad?” Julian asked.

  “Nope. Some old guy once told me to make sure that the shoe was a little loose. That way it can pick up more good luck.”

  “Good luck?”

  “Yeah. That’s what a horseshoe is. You put it over the door with the ends pointing up for good luck.”

  “I thought you said they were for horses.”

  Josh laughed. “Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” He tapped the talisman over the door. “They’re also a good luck charm.”

  Paige had stood silently watching the entire exchange and smirked. “Good luck with it not falling off and hitting you in the head.” She giggled. “That would be a real kick in the head. Kick… horse shoe… get it?”

  “Don’t give up the day job smart ass; comedy’s not your forte.” He looked back to the table. “Let’s see if there’s any rope over on that side.” He walked to the other side of the table and lifted an old milk crate. “Found some!” Josh tossed a coil of thick ivory rope her way.

  Stepping away from the table, he opened a normal sized door at the back of the barn, letting in a beam of natural light. “I think I saw a tire out here,” he said as he walked out the door, leaving it open.

  She held the rope at her side and took a deep breath, inhaling the ancient smell of hay, and animals in the dust motes filtering through the air. The room was warm and sickeningly sweet. It needed a good airing out at the very least, although even then it would never be a place she would want to hang out in. No. There was something creepy about the barn. Josh acted like he didn’t notice anything, but she felt it in her gut.

  He appeared once more, grinning and wheeling a truck tire in front of him. “I knew I’d seen one of these when we looked at the place.” He continued on, grinning at her as he walked by and out the huge front doors.

  “Yay Dad!” Julian said as they exited the barn leaving Paige behind.

  She shuddered, feeling a blast of cool air flit by her neck. She looked around and then raced after them out into the bright, clean air.

  Chapter 7

  Barney was sitting patiently near the house, watching the two of them when she stepped outside. He rose to his feet and gave a few excited yips, running towards Josh. When they rounded the corner of the house and Amanda with Avril in her arms came into view Julian raced ahead.

  “Look Mommy! We found one. A tire swing!”

  Paige smiled watching Josh trying to keep the tire upright and rolling. When he got to the blanket he let the tire fall to its side as he put his arm around Amanda’s waist and caressed Avril’s cheek. Julian snuggled into his leg and Barney sat down before them. It was a sight straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

  Amanda was tickling Avril’s waist and dodging the pudgy arms, the both of them giggling. Nodding at the tire that Josh was now standing on its edge again, she said, “You’ve got your work cut out for you, Sis!” She clapped Paige on the shoulder and then turned to Josh. “I’d better get back in there before they put the furniture in the wrong rooms.” She sat Avril down on the blanket and left.

  Josh gave the tire a final push towards Paige, catching her in the thigh. He flopped down onto the blanket and reached for the cooler. “You sure you can manage this?” He grinned at her and then bit into his sandwich.

  She steadied the tire with her fingertips and swung the loop of rope in her other hand. “We’re going to soon find out, aren’t we?”

  Julian stepped over and pulled the tire from her hand, trying to roll it over the grass on his own. His sister followed, pouncing on the tire when it tilted and fell to the side.

  Paige looked up at a branch that was just high enough to give a good swing to the tire when it was mounted. She tossed the loop of rope up, and shook her head when it brushed the smooth bark of the branch and fell to the ground.

  “Step back and toss it like you’re throwing a basketball, trying to edge by the hoop.” Josh leaned back, propping his upper body up with his arm, his legs casually spread on the cotton blanket. “Come on Paige. Didn’t you used to be the basketball star in high school? You can do it.”

  She coiled the end of the thick rope over her wrist and then bunched it, stepping back and tossing it high onto the branch. When it slipped over and fell to the ground on the other side, she grinned. It was about five feet over her head and she’d managed. She still had the touch.

  Josh finished his sandwich and sprang to his feet. He grabbed the end of the rope and tied a knot, leaving a six inch loop. “We’ll just thread the end through and...” He tugged the rope, grinning as the slip knot rose higher, ending under the branch. “There. You should be able to manage the tire.” He smiled and then walked across the grass to join Amanda inside.

  ***

  Paige sat down on the blanket and dug around in the cooler for another sandwich and soft drink.

  “Higher!” Avril clung to the sides of the tire swing while Julian gently pushed her back and forth.

  Paige fished her cell phone from her shirt pocket and snapped a photo of them. The sun’s rays flitting through the maple’s leaves cast a dappled pattern on the grass surrounding them, while the high pitched whirr of cicadas broke the late summer stillness.

  “My turn.” Julian stopped the tire’s pendulum-like swing and Avril slipped off the rim, edging her feet down onto the grass.

  The little tyke’s thumb rose and immediately popped into her mouth and she trudged slowly over to flop down next to Paige, putting her head in her aunt’s lap. It had been an exciting day for the little girl and she was ready for her nap.

  “Can you push me?” Julian’s feet just about reached the ground but not quite.

  “Sorry buddy. You’ll have to push off with your feet and manage on your own.” Paige shrugged and her fingers gently brushed Avril’s fine mane of hair. The child was already drifting off to sleep.

  She smiled watching Avril’s mouth grow still and the thumb fall from between her lips. She was an angel sleeping peacefully, so snug and secure next to her aunt. Julian swung steadily back and forth, pleased with his independence making the tire move. Even Barney was flaked out in the shade, his ear twitching at the odd fly that happened by.

  She heard the engine of the moving truck start up and then it came into view, driving along the narrow road beside the farm. Well, that was that. Their stuff was here and this was their new home.

  Chapter 8

  At the touch on her shoulder, Paige woke with a start. Amanda squatted down on the blanket next to her and pried Avril’s sleeping body up from her lap.

  “Here, Aunt Paige.” Julian handed the cell phone back to her. “Guess what? I got to level four in Jungle Run.”

  Paige smiled at him and took a deep breath before rising to her feet and stretching. The sun was a little lower in the sky when she looked around. She must have dozed off along with Avril.

  “We’ve got the beds in the kids’ rooms set up. I made your bed but I left the other stuff for you to arrange.” Amanda glanced over as she walked beside her. Julian had skipped ahead, running beside the dog.

  “Thanks Amanda.” Paige gave her sister a one armed hug and smiled. She hesitated for a moment and looked back at the cooler and picnic items.

  “Don’t worry about that. Josh will get it later. You never got to see everything upstairs before the movers showed up and...” Amanda’s eyes flashed to Julian who was just rounding the side of the house. “I taped cardboard over the broken window to keep the bugs out. Hopefully we can get it repaired this week.” She pulled a face, edging to the side when she spoke, “I hope you don’t mind but that’s the room where we put your things. It’s the next biggest after the master bedroom.”

  Paige’s stomach grew tight but she managed a smile looking over at her sister. “No. No problem. I don’t think Julian would care for that room anyway, not after the bird flying in. The thing’s gone, right?”

  “Oh yeah. Josh took care of it.” />
  They came around to the front of the house in time to see Julian race up the few veranda steps and disappear through the open door into the house. Paige looked up at the second story window which the bird had broken. A dark brown square perched above the lower half of the window. She sighed, looking past it to the other window. Well, at least the rest of the window was intact and she’d be able to see out. Still, the sight of the blackbird with its broken neck, the small pool of blood, flashed in her mind, sending a shiver through her shoulders.

  When they walked in the door, Josh glanced over and gripping his cell phone tight, strode into the other room on the right. Paige glanced over at Amanda but from the shrug of her sister’s shoulders, she was also in the dark about the phone call. Just the odd snippet of Josh’s voice was distinguishable—something about asphalt and oil?

  Paige sighed. Work. Oh for Heaven’s sake! It was his moving day and they couldn’t get someone else to deal with whatever had come up?

  Amanda’s eyebrows rose and she also sighed, before leading the way up the wide staircase. She turned to the right at the top and carried the still sleeping Avril into one of the bedrooms. Paige spotted the low pink bed with the side rail at the far wall of the room. Bending at the waist, Amanda deposited the child onto the mattress. Avril only rolled onto her side, plunked her thumb back into her mouth, and was right back asleep.

  Down the hall on the other side, the steady, dull thump from the room at the front of the house drew Paige’s attention. She tiptoed over the golden hardwood floor and peeked in, only to find Julian grinning and bouncing high on his bed, completely bunching up the red race car themed spread.

  He was lost in his own world, enjoying his room so she left him there, creeping softly across the hall to the room where the bird had entered earlier—her room.

  Avoiding the window, she gazed at the rest of it, nodding her approval. Even with her queen sized bed, there was still lots of space for the dresser and desk and the wall color, a creamy eggshell complimented the muted plaid of her duvet. The last rays of the sun shone through the half window onto the stack of boxes set next to the curved chaise lounge. She smiled. This would be fine and it wasn’t like she’d be there forever, only until she was sure her sister was settled and doing well.