Wildly, Boldly (Return to Culloden Moor #4)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

#AlaskaLife #GhostHunting #SkagwayVibes #WildernessLife

S ophie stepped into Kirkham Lodge and immediately fell in love. Sunlight streamed through enormous windows, playing across handcrafted log walls and gleaming hardwood floors. A massive stone fireplace dominated one wall, with an enormous bearskin mounted above it, and comfortable leather chairs grouped around it invitingly. A long dining table that could easily seat twenty people stretched down the center of the room, its polished surface gleaming. The delicious smell of baking bread wafted through the air, making the whole place feel even more welcoming.

A boy of about eight or nine came bounding down the stairs with a remote-control robot in his hands, settling cross-legged at the big table to navigate his toy across the smooth wooden surface.

“Welcome to Kirkham Lodge!” A tall, elegant blonde woman appeared from what must be the kitchen, a dark-haired toddler balanced on her hip. “I’m Whitney O’Reilly, and this shy little troublemaker is Connor.” The toddler buried his face in his mother’s neck before peeking out curiously with his big grey eyes.

Whitney flashed a warm grin at Wyatt. “Thank you again for picking her up from the airport. You’re a lifesaver.

Wyatt waved a hand.

“We’re a bit shorthanded at the moment. My parents—Russ and Bonnie—are off on their first vacation in years, and my brother, Trace, is out leading a hunting trip in the mountains.” She adjusted Connor as he squirmed to get a better look at Sophie. “But don’t worry, between us, we’ll make sure you get the full Kirkham Lodge experience.”

Connor buried his face in his mother’s neck, then peeked out with one eye to study Sophie.

“He’s adorable.”

“He’s a little clone of his dad. And that’s my oldest,” Whitney said fondly. “Johnny, say hello to our guest.”

Johnny looked up from his remote control long enough to give a friendly wave and a, “Hiya,” before returning to his robot’s maneuvers.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and a tall, mountain of a man with striking features and dark hair descended. “So you’re the ghost hunter we’ve been hearing about!” The lilting Irish accent caught Sophie by surprise.

“That’s my husband, Darrow,” Whitney explained.

“Guilty as charged.” Sophie grinned, already pulling out her phone to start documenting. Her followers were going to love this place. “I heard this lodge has some interesting stories.”

“That it does.” Darrow’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “In fact, you’re standing right in one of our famous cold spots.”

Sophie’s hand automatically went to her arm. “Now that you mention it, it is cooler right here. I wish I had my temperature sensors handy—they’re still packed with my equipment. This would make a perfect baseline reading.”

“It’s just a draft,” Wyatt muttered from behind them.

“Ah, that’s what you always say.” Darrow winked at Sophie. “But how do you explain the scent of roses that comes with it? When there’s not a flower in sight?”

“The gardens are right outside,” Wyatt pointed out.

“In August?” Darrow raised an eyebrow even as Wyatt pointedly looked at the roses, still blooming outside. “And what about the footsteps in the hallway at night?”

“Old floorboards.”

“The voices in the kitchen?”

“That would be your son rearranging Nukak’s spices and blaming it on spirits.”

Johnny looked up from his robot. “Only twice!”

Sophie watched the exchange with growing fascination, her phone recording every moment. Her followers would eat this up—the skeptical ranger versus the cheerful believer. But more than that, she was already falling in love with the lodge’s atmosphere. “This place is incredible,” she said to Whitney. “You actually get to live here?”

“We have a home up the road by my brother’s place. But we often stay here when there are guest.” Whitney smiled. “I appreciate it even more now. I spent several years in Wilmington, so coming back home...” She gazed out the big windows at the mountain view. “Let’s just say I know exactly how lucky I am.”

Whitney shifted Connor to her other hip. “Let me show you to your cabin. You’re in my favorite one, actually—it’s the last in the row, tucked right up against the trees. Darrow stayed there when he first arrived four years ago.”

Sophie followed Whitney out onto a covered walkway that led to five cabins arranged in a perfect semi-circle. Behind them, the main lodge rose impressively against a backdrop of mountains, its massive windows reflecting the afternoon light. A meadow stretched out before them, dotted with wildflowers, and beyond that, dense forest climbed up impossibly steep slopes.

“This is incredible,” Sophie breathed, trying to capture the view with her phone. “My followers are going to love seeing this place.”

“Planning some ghost hunting videos?” Darrow asked as the men came up behind them.

Sophie grinned. “That’s the plan!”

“The last thing we need is tourists running around at night chasing shadows,” Wyatt said.

“Oh, lighten up.” Darrow’s grin widened. “Besides, I have a feeling Miss Marlow here might find something interesting, whether she’s looking for it or not.”

She threw Darrow a smile, but didn’t take offense at Wyatt’s skeptical tone. She knew most people thought she was crazy for making a living off TikTok, but she had built something real. Her parents, though? They still called it “that ghost thing she does,” like she was going through a phase. But they had also bought her a ring light for Christmas last year, so maybe they were starting to come around.

Whitney unlocked the cabin door, revealing a cozy interior with a queen-sized bed covered in what looked like a handmade quilt. Black bear decor gave the space a properly Alaskan feel without being kitschy.

She handed Sophie the key. “There are snacks in the basket, drinks in the mini-fridge, and if you need anything else, just let us know.” Whitney hesitated. “And Sophie? Ghost stories aside, this land does have its share of mysteries. Just...be careful what you go looking for.”

Sophie watched through the doorway as Wyatt strode away from the lodge, his shoulders tense.

“Where’s he going?” she asked.

“Probably to remind himself that he doesn’t do company,” Darrow called from where he was helping Johnny smooth a spot in the dirt for the robot. “Don’t worry—he’ll come around.” Darrow stood and cupped his hands to his mouth. “Wyatt! Come for dinner tonight!”

Whitney shot her husband a look that clearly said ‘behave’ before turning back to Sophie. “Dinner’s at six in the lodge with the family and some of the other guests. You can meet everyone else then, and we can talk more about what you’re hoping to find here.”

After Whitney left, Sophie wandered to the cabin’s doorway, looking out at the stunning view. Something was definitely going on here, whether supernatural or not. But the way Darrow and Whitney kept exchanging those knowing looks made her wonder what other secrets this place might be hiding.

One thing was certain—she was going to love every minute of discovering them.