Chapter 7 #2
We walked back to the SUV, Gwyn asking why limestone and water were such energizing forces for ghosts.
Sadly, the answer was we didn’t know why, we just knew they were.
I wondered why this area was so much more energized than Eureka Springs.
Perhaps because the water there was still?
Or perhaps the limestone was mixed in with other stone types that dampened the effects?
Someone smarter than me needed to figure it out.
At any rate, we returned to Clifton and our hotel, packing up quickly. I hadn’t really unpacked, so it took two minutes to throw things back in a suitcase and zip it shut. Then I went to Lachlan’s room and knocked at the door so I could get him up to speed.
Lachlan answered. “Thanks, mate, got the word we’re moving. We’re mostly packed now.”
“Wonderful. I came over to make sure. How’s Davina?”
A weak voice from inside said with a groan, “No longer actively wishing for a nice grave.”
I poked my head in a little to see her. She looked like Lachlan, superficially, with the same honey-brown hair and face shape, just more feminine. Davina was at least sitting upright.
She waggled her fingers. “You’d be Mack, I expect.”
“You’re correct. Hi. Sorry you’re feeling like death warmed over. I understand a taco truck got you.”
She groaned again. “I’ve a mind to go back and wring the fool’s neck. You Yanks don’t eat at those things, do you?”
“Well, some of us avoid them. I can’t speak for the adventuresome.”
Davina snorted.
“We’re thinking of hitting a grocery store on the way to the new place, as it has a kitchen. Can I get you soup or anything?”
“Soup and sports drinks,” she requested. “I don’t know your brands over here.”
“That’s fair. Did the doc give you anything for meds?”
“Aye, some.”
I’d get her a few over-the-counter things, too, just in case. “Text me if you think of something.”
“Thank you, Mack.”
I backed out of the room and chose not to tell them yet just how crazy things might get. Better to settle in at the ranch and talk about it tonight, when Beau and Hannah got here.
The next hour was eaten up with our trip to the grocery store and then to the new place. The cattle ranch was large, to the surprise of no one, with a long, winding gravel driveway.
An older woman in jeans and cowboy boots greeted us at the end of the driveway. She waved, smiling.
“Hi, everyone. Welcome! I’m Melody. Let me show you the bunkhouse. Who’s who?”
I knew instantly we’d get a good welcome because she had a pride flag flying under the American flag nearby. It let me feel at ease, and I shook hands with her, introducing the party and all.
Melody was a good host and showed us immediately inside the bunkhouse.
This was clearly an older renovated building.
The outside looked weather-beaten, but the inside was freshly painted with white walls, the orange-and-red terra-cotta tiles were pristine, and comfortable-looking leather furniture dotted the room.
Stepping through the main doorway actually took us into the middle of the building, where the living room and kitchen were in an open space.
Then there was a split to the left, with three rooms and en suite bathrooms, which was mirrored on the right.
Plenty of space, and I was relieved to have it.
Most of the rooms had a queen bed, but one had a California king, and we let Eli, Quinn, and Booker have it.
I took the far room on the left side, putting Gwyn in the bedroom next to ours, just in case.
That left Lachlan and Davina to take the rooms next to Eli’s.
Hannah and Beau would have the remaining room.
A perfect setup for us. Not sure what we’d do if Falisa and Ken joined us later, though.
Maybe Davina and Lachlan would share again?
I wandered back to the kitchen after putting things away to find Brandon already in there, chopping ingredients. It was time for lunch, granted. Davina sat slumped at the kitchen island, draped over the granite, watching him. Or kind of watching him—her eyes kept losing focus.
Without my asking, Brandon tilted his head to look at me and volunteered, “Making coconut soup for this one.”
“Oh, a great idea.” To Davina, I said, “This is the cure-all soup in the family. I ate my weight in it while I was recovering from Jon.”
“It’s easy on the stomach and nutritious, so it’s a go-to for sick people.” Brandon picked up the chopping board and headed to the stove. “Plus, it cooks up fast. I’ve got rice going too. You want to help me do a quick stir-fry to feed everyone else?”
“C’est bon.”
Both of us were decent cooks, and we enjoyed making meals as a couple.
At this point of living together, we had developed a rhythm to working in a kitchen at the same time.
I prepped things to go into the stir-fry, Brandon taking over when he wanted to get the meat going, and then I switched to monitoring the soup to make sure it didn’t burn and getting plates out for people.
Gwyn opened the back glass doors, uncertainty written in her body language, her arms crossed around her like she was holding herself in. She stepped inside and called, tone hesitant, “Mack?”
Alert, I immediately put the plates down on the island and went to her. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a lot of ghosts outside.”
I looked past her shoulder and blinked. Damn, a good thirty ghosts altogether, maybe more, stood in the yard.
All were white in aura, and no one looked aggressive, but still!
That was a lot of ghosts. From the look of them, they seemed to be miners, with worn-out knees, suspenders, and white shirts.
A few had on hats, but most were bareheaded.
“Um, they approached and said hi, they’re not being mean.” Gwyn cast a glance over her shoulder. “They said they’re stuck here and want help passing? I said I’d ask.”
Davina groaned and sat up a little. “Personally, I don’t like the idea of so many underfoot while we’re trying to rest.”
I grunted sourly because, yeah, I didn’t like it either.
On the other hand, yay, another teaching moment! Couldn’t have too many of those. “Gwyn, how about we bust out some candles after lunch. I’ll teach you how to pass ghosts. If these guys are cooperative, they’ll be easy peasy to work with.”
“And then when they’re gone, we’re going to salt the windows and doors, aren’t we?”
“Oh, we’re going to salt everything. Trust me.”
Assuming we’d bought enough salt. I had doubts.
We ate lunch, then I took Brandon and Gwyn out with me to the back patio. We set up a short runway of candles, an easy enough affair. Brandon took a seat to watch our backs as I shook my hands out, getting ready to do some passing.
“Now, ma petite chère, let’s go over basics here. We’ve got a good crowd, I think, to teach you with. They’re friendly and amped up enough, passing should be easy peasy.” Should be. We’d see shortly if there were any curveballs. “Now, first thing, let’s organize this bunch.”
Gwyn turned uncertainly to face the crowd. There were a good thirty of them, at a guess, so not a small crowd. I did feel bad that this was Gwyn’s first case because it was a doozy. Overwhelming even for me. Still, only way past was through.
I took the lead here and smiled at the man nearest me. “I’m Mack. Who might you be, sir?”
“Name’s Bill, sir.”
“Bill, enchanté. We’re ready to pass you on, if you’re willing?”
“I am.” A touch of trepidation entered his expression. He looked as if he’d lived a hard life, experience carving grooves in his face. “What do I need to do?”
“Not much. Line up here, at the start of the pathway. Take my hand and then imagine you’re going home. Really, that’s all you’re doing. A door will open for you when you reach the end.”
“Oh. Sounds easy enough, then.”
We oriented, his fingers just touching mine.
It didn’t matter how firm a grip I had, as long as I could boost him.
I didn’t need to boost him much at all. The energy in this place did most of the work for me.
We walked steadily, and I could see the door open.
Bill’s expression lightened into a bright smile as he stepped right on through.
Gwyn blurted out, “That’s it? It’s that easy? I barely see any energy transfer between you and him.”
“That easy, ma petite chère. Well, usually.” Unless you were a half-eaten Scottish ghost, but I could relay that tale later. “Now, I’ll walk you through how to transfer energy first. After, want to give it a try?”
She looked nervous but nodded gamely.
Transferring energy wasn’t usually hard; there was just a little trick to it so you weren’t giving too much.
I walked her through it, having her imagine she was grazing a whisper of power to make contact.
That simple touch would tell her how much more she needed to give, as she’d have a feeling for it then.
We practiced between us, palms pressed together, back and forth, but I thought she had it. “Gwyn, all you can do now is practice.”
“Then let me try.” She offered a hand to a ghost. “I’m Gwyn. What’s your name?”
“Walter, miss. Pleasure.” Walter seemed more Gwyn’s age, barely into his twenties, and had a nose three sizes too big for his face. He put his hand in hers but glanced at me, uncertain.
I nodded back in reassurance. If, somehow, Gwyn faltered, I’d step in. Either way, everyone would get passed today.
Walter and Gwyn lined up on the walkway and started down it.
I saw Walter’s form steady out, strengthen a little.
I saw the energy transference, the nearly white light of energy going from her hand to his.
She was giving him a bit too much, but before I could correct her, she realized and backed off a notch.
There ya go, she had it now. Truly a natural, this kid.
Walter paused at the open door and high-fived her with his free hand. “Perfectly done, miss. And thank you.”
Gwyn laughed as she smacked her palm against his. “You’re welcome. Enjoy your afterlife.”
“With pleasure.” With a skip, he went right on through.
Gwyn practically pirouetted back to me. I also gave her a high five. “You really did do it perfectly. Do it again.”
“Okay!”
Nerves were long gone now. Gwyn offered a hand to the next gentleman, and away they went. I stood there in case she got tired or stuck, really. I wouldn’t make her pass all thirty of them, I’d stop her about fifteen in, but it was great practice.
A middle-aged man with a thick beard stepped up to my side. “Sir, name’s Harry.”
“Hello, Harry. What can I do for you?”
“Well, sir, since you’re helping us like this, figured I should pass along a few things.” Harry scratched his beard, bushy brows drawn together. “There’s some bad men in this here town. And the old town ain’t much better.”
I oriented toward him, paying better attention. “Tell me more.”
“Well, this here town, there’s a ghost that’s nigh on demon.
It’s a sad situation.” Harry shook his head, expression falling.
“Don’t know much about him, but heard whispers, know he’s responsible for some of the violence in town.
Be aware of him. Especially with this young apprentice here, I worry what’ll happen if he gets his hooks in her. ”
Well, shit. “Good to know. What’s his name?”
“Sorry, I don’t know any more, sadly.”
“I thank you for the information. We’ll deal with him.
” Somehow. I truly hoped he wasn’t pure demon yet.
Getting a demonologist over here wouldn’t be an easy matter.
God almighty, I didn’t like this at all.
I was worried enough with this workload; it already felt like I was about to get in over my head, and this news didn’t help.
My eyes went to Gwyn, who was basically defenseless, and my worry amped up a whole other level.
I’d be an anxiety-ridden mess until we left this damn place and I could get her somewhere safer. “What about Miner’s Creek?”
“It’s a different kettle of fish. The town was abandoned because of a bad explosion.
Tore the mine apart and killed dozens. Bankrupted the company and they pulled out.
Something dark grew in its wake. Don’t know what.
Can’t tell you, as none of us were curious enough to go in there. But it’s bad mojo.”
“Is it a physical beast or demon or what?”
“Can’t tell you,” Harry repeated with a disturbed look over his shoulder, like even speaking of it would bring trouble on his head. “Any ghost that goes near don’t come back.”
And I say again, shit. “I understand. I’ll investigate with caution.”
Gwyn passed me, a hand held out. “Sir, would you like to go next?”
“I would, young lady.” An older ghost took her hand and followed her.
I focused once more on my apprentice. Gwyn had gained confidence with each ghost she passed. She didn’t seem overconfident, she was still taking it slow, but I could see she had a good grasp on the technique. I’d let her do another ten, then stop her.
While I watched, my thoughts spun. An almost-demon and a mystery in the abandoned mining town, eh?
Because that was what this case needed, more monkey wrenches.
I was going to keep Gwyn very, very close until we were out of here.
If she wasn’t with me, then she’d need to be with some member of the team.
Leaving her unguarded for even a moment would spell disaster.
I wasn’t going to take chances with her.
I wasn’t going to let her be bullied anymore, or harassed, or hurt.
Those days when ghosts had power over her were long over.
I sidled over to Brandon and sat on his knee so I could quietly relay to him what Harry had told me.
Brandon loosely wrapped his arms around my waist and heard me out, dark brows drawing together in a frown. “So, summing up, we’ve got two major problems and we’re not even sure what the second one really is.”
“That’s the size of it, cher.”
He groaned, head coming to rest on my shoulder. “One of us is having a stroke and I’m worried it’s me.”
“I couldn’t have said it better.”
At least today would go smoothly?