“Hi, honey, I’m glad you called. I was wondering when I’d hear from you. Cindy seems to be okay now. She’s been her normal self all day.”
“Good. For an old shepherd, she sure has been healthy up to now. But I guess we can expect anything at her age. Anyway, what’s the deal?”
“I think she just had a little tummy ache,” Rose replied. “How are you boys doing? Did you get anything today?”
“No, nothing, and the weather’s getting bad. It’ll probably rain tonight. We’re thinking about doing something else tomorrow. Do you remember an article that ran in the Gazette around a year ago, about a ghost in the old cemetery up here who comes out on Halloween?”
“Yes, I remember that. It said a man went there late at night with a flashlight and had an encounter with a ghost, or so he said. The guy went off his rocker if I recall right.”
“That’s what I remember also. Me and the guys are talking about paying a visit to the old cemetery tomorrow night.”
“What?” Rose gasped. “Are you crazy? Why do you boys have to do such foolish things? Wasn’t the trip to the round-up ranch last year enough for you?”
Brody rolled his eyes. “Now, don’t bring that up again. It was just because we didn’t know the land as much as we should have that we got lost. No one got hurt, and the cattle were all fine.”
“Yeah, and late for delivery so the rancher had to take less money per head once it was all said and done. When are you guys going to grow up? You’re always off on some stupid adventure.”
“Hey, I didn’t call you to get into an argument. I only wanted to say good night and ask you about the dog, and the article.”
“Oh, fine. But I still think you—” She cleared her throat. ”—you men should try doing something more constructive with your time off. Like spending a few days of your vacations with your wives, for a change.”
“Come on, Rose. We’ll be done here in two more days, and I don’t go back to work until Monday morning. We’ll have the whole weekend together for quality time. Good night, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
He folded his cell phone shut. Then he stripped down to his underwear and slipped under the blankets in his bunk, a foldout bed he’d brought with him. Not very comfortable, but good enough to catch a little shut-eye.
The night wind outside his window howled eerily as he lay there, remembering the trip to the round-up ranch last year with a little grin on his face. Silly, how they’d missed the turnoff to the west where the trail forked just a few miles from the ranch. They’d ended up alongside a river, racing along at top speed. It had been a real disaster finding their way to the next marked area. It had taken a few days longer than planned, but oh, well. They’d made it back in one piece, and they’d had a great time.
That trip had been one of many the three of them had taken on their annual vacations. It had started five years ago, when Daniel, who’d been going stir crazy in college, had suggested they venture out into the world to see new places and try some crazy things. Brody closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of adventures out West.
****
After Rose hung up from her brief conversation with Brody, she turned to her visiting friend, Nathan’s wife Debra. “The guys are okay, but no luck hunting deer. Now they want to go ghost hunting instead.” She leaned forward to pick up her cup of hot chocolate from the coffee table. “Remember the story about the ghost in the old cemetery? You know … the one about how this creepy dead person comes out of his grave on Halloween?”
“Yes, that awful story.” Debra shuddered. “His name was Herbert Grezley. I remember because it was spoken of so much at our church when it all happened. Everyone knows it was on the news often enough. Everybody heard about the ghost of Herbert Grezley. Deacon Jones was so adamant over the whole thing and preached to us not to be taken in by strange talk. So what are they going to do there?”
“Go over to the cemetery tomorrow night and wander around like some big-shot investigators, I suppose. The place has had plenty of weirdo ghost hunters tromping around those graves for the past year, ever since the story came out. Don’t know what they think they’ll find. No one else came up with anything even resembling a ghost.”
“Oh, let them go.” Debra threw up her hands. “At least they’re out of our hair for a while. I don’t know about you, but I like a little time out from Nathan. At least while he’s gone, I own the remote.”
Rose snickered. “Aha, Brody’s the same way when it comes to watching television. What is it with men and the remote? It drives me crazy when he goes from one channel to the next ten in a blink of an eye. That’s why I have my own TV in the den. I can go in there and watch something for more than a few seconds.”
“All kidding aside, I hope they won’t get into trouble again like last year.” Debra set her cup down on the coffee table. “I can just see it now when the cops pull up to the cemetery, catch them roaming around at night, arrest them and haul their sorry butts off to jail. I don’t need to be bailing Nathan out.” She yawned and got up from the sofa. “Well, it’s getting late, and I’m tired. The rummage sale at the church did me in.”
“It was lovely having you over.” Rose stood as well and gave her friend a sisterly hug. “If you get lonely without Nathan, feel free to drop by again tomorrow.”
“I’m sure I’ll miss him eventually.” Debra snickered. “But when you hear from them again, let me know. Nathan isn’t one to call me often, not unless he needs something. And there’s no point texting him. He never checks his cell phone, anyway. Sometimes I think he forgets he even owns one.”
****
With a crash of thunder, streaks of lightning lit up his room. Brody sat upright, rubbing his eyes with both fists. “Great!” he muttered as he threw his legs over the side of the cot and stood up. The next clap of thunder shook the whole cabin. He slipped into his jeans and grabbed his shirt on his way out the door, almost running into Nathan, who’d just stepped out from his room.
“I see the storm woke you, too,” he said as he walked down the hallway next to Brody. “I guess nothing can disturb our young lawyer. He’s probably sound asleep in there.”
But Daniel’s door opened. “I’m up. Who can sleep with that racket out there? What time is it?”
“Don’t know,” Brody answered. “Didn’t look at my watch.”
“It’s five after twelve,” Nathan said as they entered the kitchen.
“We’re not going to be in any shape to head out early after being disturbed at this hour,” Brody grumbled, but was cut off with another loud bang of thunder. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee!” he yelled over the noise.
The window over the sink lit up with the lightning stabbing the skies overhead. Brody filled the coffeepot with water and switched on the machine, just as the power went out. “What about a beer instead?” He sighed, then set the pot down on the counter and opened a drawer to retrieve a candle and matches.
“Good thing we remembered those candles,” Nathan remarked. “Debra was the one who insisted we pack them. She’s a good wife … sometimes.” He chuckled.
Brody placed a lighted candle in a jar and brought it to the table. “Want a beer, anyone? I’m gonna get me one.”
“Yeah,” both men replied simultaneously. “I hope this storm don’t last too long,” Nathan added. “I’d like to get some sleep. I’m still bushed from all the exercise this afternoon. I’m not used to it.”
“Doesn’t seem to be letting up none yet.” Daniel rose and went to the window. The rain came down in a vicious downpour, so hard he couldn’t see past the front of the cabin. “Are we still thinking about going to the graveyard?” he asked.
“Sure, if the rain lets up, and I can find out more about it.” Brody popped open a can of beer and put two of the same on the table for the others. He sat down beside Nathan. “I’ll do a little research when the power comes back on and I can fire up my laptop.”
Daniel strolled back over to the tabl
e to join them. “It may be a while before this storm passes over. I just hope the power comes back on soon and we aren’t stuck for hours or days with no electricity.” He sat, opened his beer, and took a long draw from it.
The light above the sink flickered and came on. “Well, you got your wish.” Nathan peered over at Daniel. “And let there be lights.”
“I think the storm is moving on.” Brody took another swig of beer and set the can down on the table. “I’ll finish this and I’m going back to bed, or to my lumpy cot. You guys can sit up if you want, but we still have tomorrow—oops, today—to use up our time here.”
“Yeah, it’s now officially Halloween.” Nathan pushed back from the table and rose to his feet. “Some shut-eye sounds good to me.”
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To Christmas with Love Page 6
