by Olivia Swift
“I suppose all business is good business,” Mikey put in.
“Be glad when the police have gone and there is nothing to see,” Branston told him.
“And we can finally have a look at the ghost town,” Jeremy pointed out.
They started to take their leave and thanked Merle and Branston for the food and the invitation.
“I was thinking,” Declan said, “if everyone would like to do the same thing again next week, you would be welcome at my place.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Magda said. The others all agreed, and they planned another get together for the following week. “I’ll tell the police about the break in at my old house, tomorrow,” she finished.
“We could have get-togethers and take turns at having them,” Rula suggested.
“And a pony trek picnic as well. Wow. I love it!” Magda grinned at her friends. They parted company in good spirits and planned a séance for after the police had left.
There was a single light in a tent at the site of the ghost town. Somebody was still working inside.
The cats were delighted to see everyone back and the treats came out to keep them happy. There were no mysterious developments from the felines and the night was peaceful.
“Thank goodness for a good night’s sleep,” Magda said as she enjoyed a few extra morning minutes of being folded in Sam’s arms.
“It was good of Declan to offer another get together at his place,” Sam murmured. “He keeps it very private.”
“The people who haven’t been before will be amazed at the furniture. He has built everything himself.” She paused. “We can offer to help by taking food with us.” She swung her legs out of bed and sat up. “I’ll call the detective from here.” She found her cell phone and called.
“If they only make one mistake and we get a print, that would be great,” Southern said. “I live in hope. I’ll come to the café and get the keys if that is okay.”
Alison had started breakfast when Magda and Sam came into the kitchen. She had five cats around her feet looking for anything that might be dropped. Magda found them food. In the living room, she tutted as she saw some papers on the floor. Out of force of habit, she looked to see if there was a message from Crystal.
“You know,” she said over her shoulder to Sam, “I always expect the cats to actually be telling us something now.” Sam grinned and asked her if there was a message on the floor. She shook her head.
“An article about timelines. I think even Crystal doesn’t read stuff like that.”
“Sometimes,” Alison called out to her, “they are just being cats.”
They sat at the table together and the cats ate from their bowls one by one as usual.
“They never cease to amaze me,” Magda said.
“Something else might amaze you,” Alison said and they both looked at her. “I know you don’t really want to part with your house,” she smiled at Magda, “would you rent it to me?”
“Wow!” Magda said and looked at Sam who nodded. “Yes, Alison. Yes. What a wonderful idea.” She jumped up and went to give his aunt a hug. “Then you can add another get-together at my place,” Alison finished with a beaming smile. Sam raised his cup.
“Welcome home, Aunt Alison.” They clicked cups and rushed off to start the day.
The café worked its magic on Magda as she opened up and looked around the shiny kitchen with the enormous vat of chocolate. She was the first one in and suddenly she saw Pushkin, the black and white cat from days gone by. He didn’t look at Magda but went through what had been an opening at some time and disappeared into thin air.
“Oh, Pushkin,” Magda said out loud.
“Is that our famous cat there?” Rula asked as she joined her friend.
“Mmm. I hope it doesn’t mean anything is wrong.”
“Well he does live here. I guess he can walk about if the mood strikes him,” Rula suggested as she took off her jacket and donned the uniform she wore for serving. Katie came and did the same. Magda told them Southern was coming to collect her old house keys.
“I keep asking myself what on earth would anyone be looking for,” Rula said.
“Set a trap?” Katie asked. To be fair to the two friends, they never reacted to the suggestion other than to ask how they would do that.
Magda thought about that as she started on truffles and Bart came in the door.
“We do have a newspaperman in our midst,” Magda said with a grin.
14
“And how is that helpful?” Bart asked.
“Katie suggested we set a trap to see if anyone will take the bait. What do you think?” Bart thought about it and nodded.
“If Merle didn’t mind, I could do some preliminary writing on discovering the ghost town.”
“And sort of suggest that there might be real ghosts and we might have a ghost hunt for fun,” Rula added.
“I’ll drive up and see what Merle and Jeremy think about it,” Bart said, drained his coffee cup and left.
The detectives arrived, took Magda’s keys and said they would bring them back later.
“We have finished at the ranch now,” he added as he went out of the door. The girls looked at each other. Mikey came in and saw the look.
“What are you three planning now?” he asked. Rula handed him his usual drink and they told him about the trap idea.
Magda called Merle. “Since the police have left, we could do a séance tonight. She said that Bart was on his way and wondered about a séance in the evening.
“Wow. Fast-moving stuff.” Merle said. “Let’s go for it. I’ll see if Bart has any ideas about subtle publicity.”
“Like a leak to the local radio,” Magda laughed.
The café was busy as usual and the girls worked hard to try and build up stocks to replace what had been sold. Magda made a call to Sam and he and Declan said a séance would be good but after that they would have to spend some time on the extension. She went outside to look at the work started by Declan.
“I must sort out stock,” she thought to herself, “and speak to Jeremy.” As she stood there, a delivery of the molds to make the Stetson truffles arrived. As she unwrapped them Katie came to look.
“Let’s try them out,” she said. Magda was making truffle centers anyway and decided on blueberry flavor as an experiment. She pushed the mixture into the shapes and slotted them into the chiller.
When they were ready to coat with chocolate, Katie took them out. Dipped in chocolate and with a piece of glace angelica at the side as if it was a feather stuck in the headband, they looked good.
The girls offered free samples to the customers in the shop and tried them themselves.
“I like that blueberry,” Rula said.
“I’ll take some tonight and see what reaction I get.”
Sam and Declan arrived early as they had finished the job in hand and thought that they could put in an hour on the extension. They tried the Stetsons and gave them the thumbs up. It was late in the afternoon and customers were leaving. The sound of the electric drill did not disturb anyone and Magda sat in the kitchen to take a call from Merle.
“As we were talking about this séance tonight, some customers overheard and asked if they could come along. Seem to be nice enough people, a daughter, her father and another two ladies. Then the two men that brought the horse back lame asked if they could be included.”
“What did you say?” Magda asked and put it on speakerphone for Katie and Rula.
“I said that if they didn’t mind being a test case for possible ghost hunts in the future, they were welcome.”
“So, it’s more a fun ghost hunt tonight?” Magda asked and Merle said she hoped that was okay with everyone.
“I’ll take some drinks,” Merle added.
“And I have the new Stetson blueberry truffles,” Magda added. “If we pick anything up about the police case, we will have to keep it quiet until the visitors are gone.” She said that she would let Branston take the
lead. “We can all join in as we feel like it.”
“Sounds good. Declan is here with Sam. I’ll pass on the message.”
The call ended and she went out to tell the men about the changed ghost hunt and the extra people.
“I’ll keep quiet about anything I see in case they think I’m weird,” Declan told her.
“You are weird,” Sam said with a grin and the two of them did a make-believe fight action.
“Let’s lock up. The place is empty now. We can get back and tell Alison.”
Rula went to tell Mikey.
Alison smiled and said she was getting used to these picnics in the dark. The cats were not really pleased at seeing the humans put on coats and find flashlights. Magda found their favorite treats and they settled to eat. The humans tiptoed away and set off. They had not played with Stetsons or any other suspicious things that day.
It was not quite dark, and the others were all there before them. Introductions were made and Branston took on the role he loved of over-the-top, man in charge. Merle smiled and let him take the lead.
“Welcome, welcome,” he said, “the very first Panhandle ghost hunt. We have chairs. Please take a seat if you would like one and I will tell you what we have so far. We are going to make a diner here like an old wild west trading post and during our planning, we discovered that there had been a real trading post here called Whitemist.”
“That was on the radio,” Bertram of the lame horse put in. Branston nodded.
“Jeremy here,” and he swept off his huge Stetson and waved it at the designer, “apart from being a well-known producer of accessories, runs the main ghost town website. He came to help us investigate. Whitemist will be recorded as a ‘real ghost’ town because there are no buildings standing. Bart here,” another sweeping gesture, “is a newspaper man with an eye for the ghostly and unusual. Don’t tell him your secrets if you don’t want to appear in the gossip columns.” The listeners laughed.
He went on to explain that they were still trying to work out where the actual ghost town had been and if anyone had any clues or ideas to just join in and let them know.
“Why did the police get called in?” one of the ladies asked.
“Someone was digging in the dark and a guest raised the alarm. We found, and I am sorry Rula, we discovered the body of a missing girl who happened to be Rula’s cousin.”
“The police have removed everything and at last she can be properly buried,” Rula told them. “It’s a relief really after all of these years.”
“I am really sorry, my dear,” the other lady said and Rula thanked them. Branston explained a little bit more and handed over to his boss. Merle took the stage. Magda had to admit that they worked well together as a team.
“Thank you, Branston. A ghost town on a dude ranch was unexpected but I do have an affinity for this sort of thing and the place always felt a little sad. If you feel anything let me know.” She went through a protection routine and everyone did as she said and then she called out to ask if anyone was there. There was no response and she called again.
“It doesn’t feel sad this time,” Katie said.
“There is a lady in the garden of a cabin,” Declan said although he had told them he would keep quiet. “She is smiling.”
“Can you step forward lovely lady? Talk to us. One bang for yes and two or no.” There was a pause and then a faint noise beneath their feet. “Thank you,” Merle said.
“Is she behind the lady from the chocolate café?” Gina, the girl there with her dad asked hesitantly. She was about eighteen years old. Her dad reached out his hand and she clutched it.
“Why do you say that?” Declan asked quietly. “You are right. She is over there.”
“I can see a moving light like a little ball,” Gina confessed. “Am I just imagining things?”
“No,” Bart said suddenly. “I saw it as well and there is a slight mist in the same area.”
“It’s an orb,” Merle told her, “and people say that it’s a spirit moving about.”
“Oh Lordy,” one of the ladies whispered. “There really are ghosts.” She held her friend’s hand.
“She’s faded away now,” Declan told them.
“The light has gone,” Gina said.
“And the mist,” Bart added.
“Well you lot are lucky,” Bertram grumbled. “I didn’t see a thing.”
“Neither did I,” Magda said. “Doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.”
“I think,” Branston stepped into the circle, “that we should move away and into where we think the buildings used to be. Maybe Jeremy could tell us what he thought would be here.”
Jeremy Swanson just about equaled Branston in dressing for effect and in the light of flashlights swished his enormous scarf around his shoulders and flicked back his plum-colored hair.
“Where we are standing now, I think would be the edge of the little group of buildings.” He waved a hand to one side. “I rather think that there would be a hotel, saloon, gambling house or place of ill-repute. Maybe all of that.” There was a little laughter around the circle. “If we move just slightly to one side, we should be outside of the hotel.” The group all moved behind him. “There were probably about eight buildings - stables, houses of traders and definitely a store.”
Merle suggested trying again beside this hotel.
“We can just stand in a circle. I’ll start again. Join in if you would like to.”
She called again and asked if there was anyone there.
“Please come and talk to us. We do not mean you any harm. If there is a spirit person there, please step forward.” No response. “I wonder if a man asked, we would get something,” she added and looked at Declan who shook his head. “Sam?”
“Go on, Sam,” Magda encouraged and he took a breath.
“Okay. I’ll give it a try.” He paused and then copied what Merle had already said. “If there is somebody there, can you make a noise please?” The noise that exploded beside them had everyone diving for the ground because it was exactly like a real live gunshot.
“Got no gun,” Bertram’s friend muttered.
“It’s okay folks,” Merle told them. “Sounded real but wasn’t.”
“Really?” Gina’s dad, Webster, asked as he had his daughter protected by his body. Gina shook herself free and stood up.
“Yes, really,” Merle told them. “Look around if you like but I bet we can make it happen again.” After a dubious response, they reformed their circle and she asked Sam to start again. He said exactly the same thing.
“He’s coming towards you,” Declan said quietly. Bart said he could see something but wasn’t sure what.
“It’s a mist,” Gina added, “but it is a bit unpleasant.”
“I get that feeling as well,” Merle said.
“Is it a cowboy?” Bertram queried and a sharp wind blew up so quickly that it took them all by surprise. One of the ladies grabbed at the hat she was wearing, and the wind directed itself at Bertram and blew off his Stetson.
“Do you not like cowboys?” Magda asked and was rewarded with a warm breeze.
“Take the Stetsons off, fellas,” Merle suggested. “These men are not cowboys. The Stetsons are just to protect their heads. We don’t mean any harm. Did a cowboy shoot you? One bang for yes and two for no.” They all flinched but didn’t dive for the ground when two gunshots sounded. They were not as loud or as frightening.
“Were you a cowboy?” Sam asked and got two very loud and almost bad-tempered sounding shots.
“Were you a gold miner?” Declan suggested and felt a warm breeze on his face. “Did you find gold?” Magda asked and there was a one gunshot noise.
“Did you lose it?” Gina asked with sudden inspiration. One gunshot came in reply.
“Did a cowboy take your gold?” Jeremy asked. “That would sure make me mad as a hornet.”
“Me too,” Bertram added and they heard one gunshot sound.
“So, he hates cowboys b
ecause one of them robbed him,” Magda said.
“Do you want the gold back?” Merle asked and heard a fainter noise as Declan said the man was fading fast.
“I got the feeling that because he was so mad, he used up all the energy he had and then just faded away,” Bart remarked and Gina agreed with him.
“Well I think that was a successful ghost hunt, folks,” Branston said. “Has everyone had enough for one night?”
“We did actually find ghosts,” the lady with the hat answered. “That will make my holiday one to remember.”
“You should definitely add ghost tours to the facilities,” her friend added and Merle said that they should just do a finishing routine and head back for hot drinks.
The group was full of chatter as they went back to the main ranch house building.
“Thank goodness, they were just pretend gunshots,” Gina said.
“I guess there would be old guns buried in the buildings from all those years ago. Do you ever find old stuff like that?” Bertram’s friend asked.
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“No such luck,” Branston answered. “We just find wood for the campfires.”
“It does feel like a real cowboy experience when you sit around a campfire and ride a horse every day,” Gina’s dad told him. “I really enjoy it.”
“And I love to ride. It is the best sort of holiday for me,” Gina added.
Magda asked them if they would like to try her new cowboy truffles and Bertram said that it was a good job, she didn’t offer the ghost one. The truffles were given the thumbs-up.
Merle bustled about making coffees or offering beer to those that preferred cold drinks. Alison was happy to help her. Branston started to tell everyone about the hoedown later in the week. Gina had gone to talk to Declan.
“Do you really see the people who have passed?” she asked him and he smiled at her.
“I have seen them all my life. For a long time, I thought everybody did and then I just kept quiet about it.” Bart had moved alongside them and asked Gina if she saw auras around people.
