Chapter Nine
Jillian sat on the porch and watched the sunset. The sky was brilliant with colors, ranging from gold to crimson. Her anger over Dino's accusations were gone and were replaced with regret. She couldn’t explain why regret and not hurt but it was regret inside her heart.
As the evening sky slid into darkness, she felt a sudden chill. Glancing around the porch she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary but she felt the chill get stronger.
Turning her head slightly to her left she saw a shimmering.
Jillian was afraid to move as the tree limbs in the front of the Inn began to sway a bit.
She stared at them as the wind began to call out, “Help me.” The stronger the wind blew the more pronounced the words were.
“Please help me. Tell Matthew to find the place where my bones are trapped. Please help me.”
Then just as suddenly as the wind came up it died and the shimmering next to her was gone. Fear rooted Jillian to her seat. She turned her head toward the doorway and found herself looking into Dino’s eyes.
It looked like he too had heard the wind. Without a word to her, he turned and went back inside the Inn.
Jillian got up and followed him. She found him in the kitchen, sitting at the table. She busied herself making a pot of tea. When it was ready she grabbed two cups and brought it to the table. She poured them both a cup and sat down next to him.
Dino sat there for a long time just fiddling with his cup. Without looking directly at her he commented, “My grandpa is resting. It’s been a long day for him.”
“I imagine it has been an eventful day for him,” Jillian said.
Dino turned his head and stared at her. “What just happened out there?”
Jillian shrugged. “If I had to hazard a guess I would have to say Tilly is asking for Matthew to rescue her.”
“You heard it too, then?” Dino asked.
Jillian nodded.
“Is this real?” he asked. “I mean is this really for real?”
Jillian shrugged. “I’m not going to try and convince you of anything. Believe it not, it doesn’t matter to me. I see and hear what I see and hear.”
Dino stared at her then shook his head. “This is so far off the norm; even you have to admit that.”
Jillian sipped her tea and didn’t say anything.
This was all new to her as well. “What do you want me to say? I’ve never come across this before either.
My mother asked me to come here and find out what happened.
I never thought I’d run into this though.
My mom received a letter from Tilly saying that Tilly was in love with Matthew and they were running away together.
She began a letter but was never able to finish or send it.
By then the fire happened and both the sisters died.
My mom always regretted not answering Tilly’s letter. ”
“And what have you found out so far?” Dino asked.
“I found both of their diaries. It seems both women fell in love with your grandpa. Claire’s love was more lust but Tilly really did love him.”
“And I really loved her.” A voice came from the door.
Jillian and Dino turned to find Matthew standing in the doorway.
He came over to the table and sat down. He looked at both of them and said, “When I first arrived here, I wasn’t looking for love or anything like it.
I got back from two tours in the middle east and I couldn’t shake what I saw and did over there.
I couldn’t keep a job and I felt lost. Nowadays they call it post-traumatic stress disorder but back then we didn’t know what it was.
I just wanted to get back to the way I was before all of that.
I came here looking for peace of mind. I found that with Tilly.
I tried to ignore what Claire was doing until the day I found myself in bed with her and Tilly saw us together.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that look of betrayal on Tilly’s face for as long as I live.
She looked shattered for want of a better word.
” He shook his head. “I wanted to kill Claire for what she’d done.
I tried to explain to Tilly but she wouldn’t speak to me.
Later that night Claire came to me and told me Tilly was gone and I should go too. ”
“It’s so sad,” Jillian whispered with the same regret in her voice.
“I was ejected from the Inn and dumped about a mile down the road,” he went on.
“When I started back, I got here just in time to find the Inn burning. I was too late. I had to stand out in the yard and watch the Inn burn to the ground. The love of my life was inside. I knew that in my heart. I never knew how it happened either.”
For a moment no one said anything and then Jillian said, “Tilly wants you to find her bones.”
Matthew turned to stare at her as he looked pale suddenly. “How do you know that?”
“She told us,” Dino admitted.
Matthew looked at his grandson. “She told you? How? I mean the only one I’ve seen is Claire.”
“Her words came to us on the wind?” Jillian told him with a shrug. “That’s the only way I can describe it.”
“She’s still here then,” Matthew said. “She’s got to be here.” He struggled to his feet. “We have to find her. We have to. It’s the only way to stop this curse.”
Dino stood and steadied his grandpa. “Then we’ll find her but first you need to settle down.” He helped him back to his chair. “It’s been a long day. I think we all need some rest.”
Matthew nodded. “Maybe you’re right. It has been a long day.”
Dino tried to lighten the mood in the room and joked, “Of course, I’m right. I know what’s what.” He glanced at Jillian. “Except when it comes to her.” He grinned. “I may need some help making up for that one.”