CHAPTER EIGHT
The next morning, Susie and Sophia Ann were in the workshop early, creating magnificent pieces of furniture to give away. The intricate details, carvings, and different wood colors and textures made the entire space seem alive.
“Babe, this is amazing,” said Eric looking at what they’d done. “You were up and gone so early I wasn’t sure where you went.”
“We’re having so much fun with this project we both just wanted to get to work,” smiled Sophia Ann.
“Well, you’re definitely making some memorable pieces,” he smiled.
“What are you guys up to?” asked Susie.
“Whatever Matthew tells us to do,” he smirked. He kissed his wife, waving at the two women and walked off to find the others.
“This really is a lot of fun,” said Susie.
“I couldn’t agree more. I loved working out at G.R.I.P. but this is something I’ve wanted to do for years. I’ve made a few pieces for the family but nothing on this scale.”
“Same,” nodded Susie. “Maybe this is our chance at a second career.”
“Maybe,” she laughed. “I think I’ll start working on that baby bed if you’ve got the rest of this handled.”
“I’m good,” said Susie. “Let me know if you need help on the crib.”
The two women had their heads down cutting, sawing, nailing, screwing, staining, and just moving like a well-oiled machine for the entire day. When darkness started to settle over the property, they realized it was too dark to see well inside the warehouse.
“You two beautiful ladies ready to head to dinner?” asked Eric.
Keith signed to his wife, then kissed her sweetly. The twins just happened to marry two of the biggest, most feared on the team. In spite of Keith’s inability to hear, he was one of the toughest, strongest warriors they had.
His primary job was at the deaf school but for years he’d helped on missions. In many ways his inability to hear was an advantage for him. He was never distracted, completely focused on the things around him, and always calm.
Which was why when he stopped in the middle of the trail, pushing the women between him and Eric, they all froze. This was Robicheaux property. No one was here that shouldn’t be here.
Or were they?
“Who are you?” asked Eric squinting into the darkness. There was no sound but he could see the shape of a man. Keith tapped his shoulder, signing to him.
“He’s a ghost. One I’ve never seen before but he’s trying to tell us something.”
“We can see you,” said Sophia Ann. “Don’t be afraid of us. Can we help you?”
“How can you see me?” he stammered.
“We’re not quite sure,” said Susie. “We have other ghosts here.”
“Where is here? I don’t know where I am but I was in darkness. Nothing but darkness and then suddenly, well, I was here.”
“You’re in Louisiana. This is the property of the Robicheaux family,” said Sophia Ann.
“Louisiana,” he whispered.
“Do you remember how you died?” asked Eric.
The man stepped closer and they realized he was older than they first thought. Probably in his mid- to late-sixties, his shirt was bloody, his pants torn.
“I remember,” he said nodding. “My wife, Becky, she asked me not to go but I just had to. The last hunting trip of the year.”
“I see,” nodded Eric. “So, you were deer hunting?”
“Yep,” he nodded. “She begged me. Said she had a horrible nightmare that I was shot on accident but then they couldn’t find my body.
Sure enough, some kid on his first hunt shot me by accident.
I was still alive and he didn’t even know it.
Dragged my body to a ravine, pushed me in and left.
I think it rained for a few days and washed me away. ”
“What’s your name?” asked Susie.
“Cyrus. Cyrus Walters. What I don’t understand, beyond you being able to see me, is why if I died in Indiana, I’m on the property of someone in Louisiana?”
“I’m going to guess that you have unfinished business,” said Keith.
“He said…” Cyrus lifted a hand.
“Maybe that was my answer. Becky is deaf. I’m fluent in sign language.” Keith smiled at the man, nodding.
“Well, that could be why you’re here, I’m not sure,” said Susie. “It’s nearly Christmas. It would be wonderful if we could give some closure to your wife.”
“She must be frantic,” he said shaking his head. Suddenly their little family of ghosts emerged from the darkness.
“Hello, friend. I’m Martha. These are my friends,” she said calmly introducing all of them.
“Remarkable,” he smirked. “Christmas. We were married on Christmas Eve. This was to be our fiftieth wedding anniversary. I even had a ring for her. It’s hidden in my dresser drawer back home, along with all the paperwork for the house, our insurance, everything. She must be feeling awful lost.”
“We can help,” said Eric. “We can go back with you and tell her everything she needs to know. We’ll take care of it all for her.”
“Why would you do that?” he asked with confusion.
“It’s what we do. It’s who we are,” smiled Keith. “Besides, my grandmother and grandfather would demand it.”
“I guess I’m one lucky ghost,” said Cyrus. Nathan laughed, shaking his head.
“You have no idea how right you are,” he chuckled.
An hour later they had all the information they needed on Cyrus’ accident, his wife, and the story. In fact, the young hunter, a boy of only seventeen had turned himself in. There was nothing left to do but to get Cyrus back to Becky.
“You’re good taking her?” asked Gaspar.
“We’re good,” smiled Eric. “Susie and Sophia Ann will continue with the furniture and we’ll get him back to his wife. She’s got to be beside herself not knowing where his body is. He has a pretty good idea of where it might be down the ravine.”
“Alright. Let us know if you need any help. We’ll see you in a few days,” said Gaspar. He hugged Eric and Keith, kissing their foreheads just as his father had done to them all these years. As he walked away, he stopped in his tracks and looked back at them with a smirk.
“I guess I am him, aren’t I?”
“You are both of them, Uncle Gaspar. The best of both of them.”