by Rose Pressey
Walking through the graveyard was when I really felt the sensation increase. None of the tour women seemed to notice the presence, but I knew it was there. It wasn’t just my imagination. The longer I walked the group across the graveyard the closer the presence came. I knew without seeing them that spirits were walking among us. I hurried and guided everyone out of the graveyard.
“You’ll let us know if you find out anything?” Dana asked as I nudged the women away from the cemetery.
“I will let you know,” I waved, letting them know the tour was officially over.
When the women had disappeared around the corner, I turned back to look out over the cemetery.
That was when I spotted them. The spirits surrounded me. It was as if they were forming a barrier so that I couldn’t escape. My heart pounded in my chest. The man who I believed to be Marion’s grandfather, George Wise, was one of them. He was the one who had been following me around town. There were other spirits—some young and others old, men and women with varying styles of dress from different decades. I hadn’t expected to see Mrs. Clatterbuck standing in the middle of all of them.
She looked right at me. “I told you the spirits don’t like to be disturbed.”
I didn’t know how to respond. I wanted away from all of them. The ghosts seemed more solid the longer I stared at them, as if the more interaction I had with them, the more energy they got that enabled them to appear to me. Mrs. Clatterbuck’s dress was more visible than ever under the moon’s glow. I could make out the tiny little pearl buttons on the front of her dress and the pearl earrings dangling from her earlobes. I still didn’t understand why she was with the ghosts? Could she talk to them? Was that why she'd told me they didn't want to be disturbed? I searched the ghost’s faces, but I didn’t recognize anyone. Mostly they wore suits and dresses. I suppose the clothing they had been buried in. They didn’t take their eyes off me though, and that was most disconcerting.
My phone alerted me to a message. Now was not the time. I turned and ran out of the graveyard and back around to the sidewalk. At least there were streetlights so that I didn’t feel like I was in the dark with all of them.
After looking over my shoulder to make sure they hadn’t followed me, I pulled out my phone.
Killer in the library.
Why couldn’t the spirit give me the name?
After rushing all the way home, I was never happier to be in the warmth and safety of my apartment. I’d been in such a hurry I hadn’t even noticed if I’d passed anyone on my way. I’d been in a zone with one mission: being inside my apartment. After making a cup of tea, I curled up on my bed with a book. As good as the novel was, I couldn’t take my mind off what I’d seen.
As I flipped the page, the floor out in the hallway creaked. I paused, holding my breath as if that would allow me to hear better. I set the book down and tiptoed over to my bedroom door. My place was in an old house, but I’d never thought it to be haunted. Now I wondered if I had brought something home with me. If all the ghosts from the graveyard were in my living room I would run out the front door, leaving a gaping hole in the shape of my body in the wood.
A loud bang sounded from the other room and I jumped. It had sounded as if a door had been slammed shut. I eased the door open and inched out into the hallway. Looking to my left and right I didn’t see any ghosts. My bathroom door was still open. That was the only door other than the closets and they were closed too. I would blame the neighbors, but I never heard them downstairs. Plus, they’d gone away for the week. That meant I was alone in the house. All three stories of the big place was occupied by only me. Suddenly I felt very small in a big world.
Inching through the rest of the apartment, I didn’t spot anything out of the ordinary. I was ready to blame my imagination when I stepped over to the living room and peered out the window. A streetlight blanketed the sidewalk with a soft yellow glow. Standing on the sidewalk was Mrs. Clatterbuck. She was staring up at my window. I pushed the curtains closed again and hoped that she hadn’t seen me looking down at her. What was she doing all the way over her at my place? When I peeked out the curtain again, she was gone. I would have to speak with her and find out why she so intent on chasing me out of Devil’s Moon Cemetery.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next morning, I hurried and dressed and walked to my old high school. That was where the festival was being held. It was strange to be back in town and at all the old places. Not much had changed about it since I’d been gone. At least I had some good memories of the place.
Bilson Library had a booth set up toward the back of the area near the old parking lot. Other booths and attractions were sprinkled around the campus. We had books that we were selling for charity. It was a cool fall day, but the sun was out and warmed the air enough to make it quite pleasant.
Tammy and I were the only two managing the library’s charity book sale booth at the Devil’s Moon Pumpkin Days Festival. Leslie wasn’t able to attend today. Was it wrong of me to be glad that she couldn’t make it? Not after the way she’d acted since I’d gotten back in Devil’s Moon.
Not a lot of people had arrived yet, but it was still early. That was kind of a good thing because I wanted to take a look around at the other booths before we got too busy and I hadn’t had a chance to get breakfast. At least I hoped we got busy today. I wanted to raise a lot of money for the library.
Tammy was daydreaming as she sat on the metal folding chair beside me, but then she turned to me. “So what about all these ghosts that Mrs. Clatterbuck claimed you stirred up?”
“What about it?” I asked.
“What do you think she was talking about?” Tammy’s blue eyes were wide as if she’d just realized that ghosts could be all around us.
I shrugged. “She probably just means that I am talking about the ghosts too much.”
“Well, ghosts have started appearing to you now. Do you think other people are seeing the ghosts more now?”
Tammy had a good point.
“I guess it’s possible, but how could I have anything to do with that?”
Tammy shook her head but didn’t answer. She didn’t know and neither did I.
“Hey, why don’t you check out the booths and I’ll man the table,” I said.
Tammy waved her hand. “You go first. I know you haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”
I pushed to my feet. “I won’t argue with you about that. I think I’ll have a cupcake.” It hadn’t taken me long to get over my fear of cupcakes.
She smiled. “Cupcakes are always good for breakfast.”
I didn’t have them often, but lately it seemed like a good idea. I headed out along the path to look around at the other booths. There were crafts, food, and games for the kids. I passed a face-painting booth and handmade jewelry on my way to the cupcakes.
As I neared the cupcake booth, I spotted Brannon. His back was facing me, but I recognized him right away. He was talking to someone, but I couldn’t see who that person was. As I neared I realized he was talking to a woman. Then when I got even closer I realized that he was speaking with his ex. She was smiling and touched his shoulder. Why was she back in town? Needless to say I was surprised to see her. I didn’t want either of them to see me. I backed away and stepped over to a booth pretending to look at the homemade candy.
This day wasn’t all candy corn, apple cider, and caramel apples. I managed to back away and turn down the other path to get to the cupcake booth. I couldn’t get it out of my mind though. Why was she back in town?
I finally made it to the booth, but I stopped short. A heated exchange was taking place between Katherine and Sue at the booth. Why were they fighting? I wanted to get closer so that I could hear, but I didn’t want them to see me. So far this morning I was hiding from a lot of people.
I inched closer, but there was really nowhere for me to hide and still be close enough to hear the women. There was a nearby tree so I decided to go over to it and try to just act casual. Maybe I
could hear them from there. If they saw me I could just act like I was enjoying the morning weather. Yeah, they would probably know otherwise.
When I reached the tree I spotted Sue. She was peeking around the tree. Had she been hiding and trying to listen too? She was definitely acting suspicious. She moved over to the cupcakes and looked around to see if anyone was watching.
Someone grabbed my shoulder and I spun around ready to punch.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I yelled.
Travis held his hands up. “Don’t hit. You always were a feisty one.”
I wasn’t in the mood for him to try to work his charms on me. That had stopped working when he cheated on me. Apparently, he hadn’t gotten that memo yet. He was so clueless that he thought he could just walk back into my life? That was never going to happen. I couldn’t believe that he was here standing in front of me.
My ex-fiancé was back in town and I wanted an explanation. Or maybe I didn’t want to know. Maybe I just wanted him to get away from me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “You’re supposed to be in California.”
“Don’t I get a hug?” He held his arms out as if I would into fall right into them.
He’d come all the way from California to see me? I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t miss him, but I missed the person I’d thought he was. That person would never return. That person wasn’t the man in front of me right now. He looked at me expectantly.
“No, I won’t give you a hug. I think you need to leave me alone,” I snapped.
“See, that is a problem for me,” he said with that fake smile.
“What does that mean?” I asked, clearly losing my patience with him.
“Rip, I’ll just come right out and say it. I want you to come home.”
I snorted. “You have got to be out of your mind.” On top of everything going on, this was the last thing I needed. He looked at me in astonishment.
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you forget what happened between us?”
He reached for my arms. “I know that I hurt you, but that is over now.”
I waved my hands. “You’re right. That is over. We are over. That part of our life is over.” I had no idea how he knew that I was here today, but I wasn’t going to stick around to find out. “I don’t know why you are here, but you need to go home. There is nothing here for you.”
His eyes narrowed. He clearly didn’t like being told no. That wasn’t my problem. I hadn’t seen it at the time, but they had really done me a favor by cheating. Everything happened for a reason. Now I knew more than ever that I was where I was supposed to be.
I turned around and walked away. I didn’t look back, but I knew that he was staring at me.
He had a way of penetrating into your soul with his dark eyes. One look and anyone could be easily persuaded by his good looks.
I was proud of myself for telling Travis to get lost. I could have easily left with him and put all these problems behind me. But that would have done nothing but cause a new set of problems.
When I rounded the corner, I could wait no more so I peeked over my shoulder. Travis had turned and was walking away. I was glad he hadn’t seen me look back. Now he knew that I was over him.
***
Tammy and I had been working the booth for several hours. At least we had been successful and raised a good amount of money for the library. We could use all the funds we could get. I had reached around to grab another stack of books when someone cleared their throat. I spun back around to find Katherine standing in front of the booth. She wore a chunky beige sweater, jeans, and brown leather boots.
“Good afternoon,” she said with a bright smile. “I saw how hard you all are working today and thought you could use a treat.” She reached her arm out and displayed the most delicious looking candy apples I’d ever seen.
“Thanks.” I reluctantly took the apple.
I hoped she didn’t notice that I acted as if the apple was radioactive. Could she blame me after Marion had been murdered?
Katherine frowned. “Aren’t you going to take a bite?”
“I’m not that hungry right now,” I said.
Tammy looked at me wide-eyed when I handed her an apple.
“How have you been?” Katherine fixed her stare on me.
I shifted in my seat. “Everything is okay. What about you?”
Katherine glanced over her shoulder as if looking for someone. “I’ve been better.”
Is something wrong?” I asked.
Katherine looked out over the crowd again. “I’d better go. I hope you enjoy the candy apples.”
She took off through the crowd, disappearing around a group of teenagers.
“What do you think that was all about?” I asked.
Tammy took a bite of the apple and shrugged. Tiny pieces of nuts fell from the apple and onto her shirt. I looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“I can’t help it. I’m hungry.”
A couple more hours passed and I hadn’t seen Katherine again. Good news was the apples didn’t appear to be poisoned because Tammy and I were still around. What could I say, the candy apples looked too good not to eat.
The crowd had begun to thin out for the evening. We only had about an hour left until it was time to leave. I’d already decided I was curling up in bed with a good book. When I looked up, I spotted the chief standing right in front of the booth. I practically fell back in my chair when I spotted him. He was staring at me with a look of suspicion on his face. What had happened now? If someone else had been murdered then he couldn’t point a finger at me because I had an alibi. I had been at the booth all day.
“Hello, are you looking for a book?” I asked, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
He tapped his fingers against the table. I stared down at the shiny rings again.
“No I’m not interested in a book. Have you been at the booth all day?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes.” My voiced wavered.
“Is something wrong Chief Johnston?” Tammy asked.
I could always count on Tammy to try and save me when I got tongue-tied.
He looked at both of us. “No nothing is wrong. Is it just the two of you working here today?”
I nodded. “Yes just us.”
He tapped his palms on the table. “Thanks.”
Without another word he turned and walked away.
“This day just keeps getting weirder by the minute,” I said.
The chief hadn’t shown up again and for that I was thankful. I’d stepped away from the both for a few minutes to buy apple cider for Tammy and me. They were serving Mrs. Harris’ homemade recipe. I’d gotten two cups and headed down the path toward our booth when I froze on the spot. I rushed over to the big oak tree and tried to hide behind it. What was Leslie doing here? I thought she went out of town for the weekend. Plus, she’d said she hated this festival and that fall was her least favorite time of year. She wanted nothing to do with anything that reminded her of it.
So far, she hadn’t noticed me, and I hoped to keep it that way. I peeked out from the tree. Leaves tumbled to the ground around me. I hoped I didn’t draw attention to myself as I stepped over the crunchy leaves. Leslie paused and looked around. I ducked behind the tree.
When I peeked out again I noticed she was talking with Katherine. After a couple minutes, they finished their conversation and went their separate ways. When I thought Leslie was far enough away, I stepped out from behind the tree and headed back to the booth.
I handed Tammy the cider. “I just saw Leslie.”
“Oh no. Let’s close the booth and leave,” Tammy said, looking around for Leslie.
“What do you think she’s doing here? She hates all things fall.”
“Maybe she came to eat the little children. Like the witch in Hansel and Gretel.”
I took my seat behind the booth again and remained on the lookout for Leslie. “I plan to find out
why she’s here,” I said, then took a drink of my cider.
As I sat at the booth sipping on the cider I spotted Brannon in the distance. I peered around the nearby people, but didn’t see his ex. That was a good sign, but I still wasn’t sure what was going on between them. And it wasn’t my place to find out. If he wanted to share that information with me he would. When I noticed he was headed in my direction, I hopped up.
“I’ll be right back,” I said.
Before Tammy had a chance to ask where I was going, I had disappeared. If Brannon came to the booth, she would soon know why I’d taken off. I waited for several minutes back at the tree where I’d seen Leslie earlier. This was ridiculous of me. I couldn’t hide from him forever. I inhaled the cool air and forced myself to head back to the booth. If he was still there then I’d talk with him.
Tammy spotted me as I rounded the corner. She quirked and eyebrow and I knew I was in trouble. “What was that about? Are you hiding from Brannon?”
“Of course not.” I busied myself with moving books around on the table. I knew Tammy was staring at me, but I remained strong and didn’t give in to her glare.
“Fine, don’t tell me, bit sooner or later you will want to talk about it.”
I sat down in the chair beside her again. “Probably later.”
Tammy laughed.
I enjoyed watching the people stroll by as they took in the festival’s sights and sounds. With just the right temperature; the day had turned out perfectly. Well, except for running into my ex, seeing Brannon with his ex, having a visit from the chief, a strange encounter with Katherine, and spotting Leslie. Other than all that, the day had been perfect. Music spilled out from the nearby park where the bluegrass band was playing. It was nearing dinner and I wanted to try the burgoo from one of the vendors.
“Is all the smell from the food making you hungry?” Tammy asked.
I snorted. “I’m practically ready to eat my arm.” I looked at my watch. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Twenty-Six