The field spread between the gatehouse and the castle. Nothing like the manicured castle grounds I’d seen online, it was more like a beautiful meadow. Wildflowers sprinkled the section where the longish grass hadn’t been cut yet. A soccer tournament would fit on it. Or maybe the Fourth of July event Mom kept talking about.
The road split the large field in two, heading up the middle and ending at the citadel. While the structure made me feel small and insignificant, a powerful sense of connection flooded me at the same time. I’d never experienced anything like it before.
This place had belonged to my ancestors, people whose genes I shared. The citadel had been originally constructed hundreds of years ago, even before America had been America.
I fought against my intense reaction, the unexpected pull of the place, the beauty of the grounds. No way would I let this amazing castle seduce me into loving the place. Not if I meant to pursue my dreams.
Like Ezra’d said, I’d fulfill my family duty and enjoy our last summer together.
The castle seemed both larger and smaller than I’d imagined from the aerial picture we’d looked at for weeks. Where some castles made a square, Savage Citadel formed a “U.” I knew I was facing the bottom, shorter section.
Had we really thought of this as a big Bed and Breakfast? Um, understatement. More like a B&B on steroids. Daydreaming a little, I let my imagination populate the grounds with guests who wandered around, played croquet or a game of giant lawn chess. Some sat around little tables, drinking tea and eating delicate pastries. A little thrill went through me. Pastries I created.
“Pretty impressive, isn’t it?” a familiar voice said behind me.
My heart gave a little flip-flop at the sound. Taking a deep breath, I composed my features—I hoped—and turned around.
“Hey, Coop.” I met his soft brown eyes, taking in some things I’d forgotten. He was massive, kind of like the castle. Tall, not fat. An image of him on one of our rafting trips flashed through my mind. The way his T-shirt fit, it didn’t look like he’d lost any of his muscle in the last year. His tan had faded, probably because this part of Washington didn’t have as many sunny days as California.
“Hey, Lia.” He gave me a quick, one-armed hug liked we’d always done back home. He must have been the one mowing the meadow because he smelled like cut grass. And leather and just a hint of aftershave. He said, “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Same here.” With some effort, I forced my breathing to remain steady after he released me. “How come you never mentioned you knew someone named Savage?”
“You know how it is. It’s a common enough last name.” Coop shrugged, something I’d also forgotten he did a lot. He glanced back toward where the others had gathered where Eli and Joel were shouting war cries as they put on a mock duel with invisible swords. “More twins?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “They kind of run in the family. We all have a twin. My parents decided to have fun with our names.”
“In what way?” He continued to watch the boys but shot me a sidelong glance.
“Well, Elijah and Joel, for example.” I looked up at Coop. “Their names both have elements that mean God in Hebrew.”
“Hmm.” He raised his brows, considering.
“Mellie—Melanie—had a twin named Phoebe. Mellie’s name means dark while Phoebe means light.”
“What happened—”
“Now Ezra and Ophelia,” I broke in to avoid the inevitable question, “both mean ‘help’ in different languages.”
Coop blinked at the interruption and understanding crossed his face. “Ophelia?” He grinned.
“Shut up.” I scowled at him. “No one calls me that except one of my grandmothers.”
“I get that.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Only my mum and dad call me Cooper.”
“Hey, speaking of your parents.” I turned to face him. “Ezra said they’re the caretakers here. What do you do?”
“I’m the gardener. Sort of.”
“Sort of?” I asked.
“Well, probably ‘groundskeeper’ fits most of the stuff I do around here, since there aren’t many formal gardens yet. But that sounds too much like Hagrid, and—” Coop shrugged again and pulled a hand from his pocket to point at himself, his ears turning pink.
He was so cute. “You’re not fond of unusual creatures, are you?” I kept my expression serious.
Coop pulled a face and chuckled. “Guess I set myself up for that one.” He pointed to the castle. “What do you think of Savage Citadel?”
“How come the ground floor is so much taller than the others?” I indicated the windows of the left tower, with its three floors and very tall ground floor, and the right tower that had four evenly spaced windows. “The difference between the towers makes it look out of balance.”
“Oh, you’ll see why once we’re inside.” His voice grew louder with excitement. “The main floor’s where the public rooms are, like the great hall. Miles, uh, Mr. Savage”—his eyes darted to me and back to the castle—“your cousin used the east tower’s main floor as a formal dining room. Above that is—”
“Let’s get going, everyone!” Dad shouted from behind us by the gatehouse. I glanced over my shoulder. He was hopping back into the truck, Ezra and Mellie piling in the other side. Eli and Joel let out whoops as they dashed back to the car.
“I guess I’ll tell you later.” Coop stepped back. “If you’re interested, that is.”
“I’m interested.” Oh, yeah, I was interested. Taylor would die when I told her. She’d teased me about Coop all last summer, encouraged me to let him know I liked him. Said it was her job as my best friend.
“Great.” He broke out in a huge grin. “I’m really glad you’re here. Mum and I will follow everyone up.” He turned and jogged toward where his mother stood waiting. Only then did I realize she was staring at us. Well, me. Since she’d seen me notice her, I smiled. She raised a hand and turned away.
Coop lived here—and he’d sought me out. Humming, I took in the wide, almost-circle that made up the valley. My summer options exploded with possibilities.
Mom called and gestured for me to come. I hurried over to the car.
“What do you think?” My mother stared at the castle, her lips pinched. She reminded me of when she’d prepare herself to do battle with one of Dad’s subcontractors. What had upset her?
“You okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine.” She got in the car and started the engine. I took shotgun. “This is going to be great, don’t you think?” she asked. “Wouldn’t it be fun to have a huge, public barbeque on the grounds, maybe with fireworks?” Normal words but a tight tone. Mom tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she drove. By the time she parked in front of the castle, her hands shook a little. The boys opened the door and jumped out, but I stayed with her.
“Mom?” I reached over and stilled her agitated hand.
“There’s no such thing as ghosts.” She hissed the words at me and got out of the car.
“Of course there’s no such thing as ghosts,” I said to no one. Like they hadn’t stressed that enough when I was little. Something feathery light ran across the back of my neck.
Spider? With a squeal, I beat at my collar with one hand and ripped open the door with the other. Staggering out, I shook my shirt. No sign of a bug. An involuntary shudder shook my entire body.
I hurried to catch up with my mom. As I came abreast of her, I froze at the frenzied activity going on. My dad shouted orders to my brothers. The boys scattered in opposite directions while Ezra ran to the large wooden front door and tugged at it. It wouldn’t open.
“What’s hap—” My words broke off at the site of an older man toward the top of the tower. He clung precariously to the tilting base of what looked like a homemade window-washing platform.
Over the top of the crenellated tower peeked my little sister. Mom let out a cry, and I gasped.
Chapter 2
From
the tower, Hugh watched in satisfaction as the people scurried around below. If he had patience, they would soon scurry away. And leave him to find it. He chuckled at the thought.
The child glanced back at him, her pouty mouth accusatory. With her honey-brown curls and hazel eyes, this Mellie could have been Maire’s sister. How often had his own daughter reproached him in just such a manner?
“Do not look at me that way.” Hugh rubbed the sudden ache in his chest.
“Help him,” she demanded.
“That I will not.” He crossed his arms and put on his most imperious stare, the one he had spent most of his life mastering. Servants had cowered before him when he had used it while alive, and run screaming when he had used it as a haunt.
“Then I will.” The child turned back to the rope hanging over the tower and clasped it with her small, thin hands.
“No!” Hugh cried, lunging for her.
Lia
“DON’T YOU DARE CLIMB ON that rope, young lady,” Mom shouted.
“You could fall!” I cried. How had she gotten up there when Ezra couldn’t get the stupid front door open?
“But the man needs help, Mama,” Mellie said, her distress unmistakable.
“Do what your mother says this instant.” Dad’s white face looked as awful as it had the day Phoebe had died.
Mellie’s head disappeared from view. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. Had I imagined the manlike shape pulling her back?
The old pickup truck Coop had helped his mother into skidded to a halt a few feet away. He tore open the door and sprinted under the hanging man.
“Pop, can you hold on?”
“My foot’s caught.” The older man took in a ragged breath.
“I’m sorry, mister.” Mellie’s hands appeared at the top of the rope again. “I’m not strong enough, and he won’t help.”
“Oh, baby, please stay back.” Mom spoke with forced calm, but her fingers dug into mine where she clutched my arm. “Let us come get you.”
Ezra threw his shoulder even harder against the huge front door, grimacing at the impact with the wood.
“Savages to the rescue,” Eli and Joel cried as they stumbled around the west tower, struggling to carry a long ladder.
Dad and Coop ran to take it from them and set it against the tower. When Coop began to climb up, Ezra moved over to help steady it. Agile for such a big guy, Coop scrambled up the ladder as fast as either of the boys could have. The ladder height let Coop reach his father but not Mellie.
“Mr. Savage, will the front door open yet?” Coop looked down, his voice cool. Calm under pressure. Like he’d been last summer when Taylor had been thrown out of her raft while going over the San Juan rapid. She’d totally freaked, screaming she was drowning, but Coop had dived in and pulled her to shore. I’d been a little jealous.
Closest to the front door now, I twisted the large knob. Nothing happened. I tried again and frowned. It wasn’t just locked. The knob wouldn’t turn at all, almost like someone held it on the other side. I stepped back so I could see Coop and shouted, “It still won’t open.”
“Check all the windows.” Mom motioned to the boys, who hurried to check the ones they could reach, while Coop tried the ones near him. None opened.
“Do I have your permission to break a window?” Coop called.
“Do it.” Dad pulled us back, away from possible falling glass, and gestured for the boys to come too.
Coop waited until we’d moved clear and then kicked through the highest window with his booted foot. He then kicked off the jagged pieces.
“Mommy.” Mellie’s curls appeared at the crenel again, and her little face peeked over the edge. “I want to come down now. I’m hungry.”
She was so tiny. For her to look over the gap on the tower, she had to be standing on something. The same rope that held the platform supporting Mr. Montgomery? In spite of having health problems since her premature birth, Mellie had an adventurous soul. What if she climbed high enough on the crenel to fall? Mom must have had the same thought, because she let out a little sob.
“Sweetie, wait for Coop,” I called, trying not to sound too freaked out. “He’s going to rescue you. Like a princess. Wait for him. Please.” I squinted against the sunshine. It did almost look like a man stood behind her. The figure didn’t move, so it must be a shadow.
With a pinched mouth, my sister finally dropped back out of sight. I let out the breath I’d been holding, when something crashed above.
“Mell—” Mom’s cry cut off when Coop’s tall figure appeared on the turret. He scooped Mellie up in his arms.
“Sorry, Mr. Savage,” he called down to us. “I had to kick in the door too.”
“It’s not a problem,” Dad said weakly and pulled my mom even closer.
Coop said something to Mellie, and she nodded. He set her down and looked over the crenel. “You ready for this, Pop?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Mr. Montgomery tightened his grip on the rope while Coop took out some work gloves and put them on. With a deep breath, he grasped the rope firmly and pulled up on the sloping end of the contraption. When it evened out, Mr. Montgomery freed his foot. Coop lowered the entire thing to the same level as the broken window, and his father climbed through.
Coop didn’t mention anyone else up there. Good thing I hadn’t said anything. Ezra would never have let me live down something like seeing things that weren’t there. With Mellie talking about Phoebe again, I didn’t need to start imagining things.
Ezra had joined me, so I tried the door again. It opened this time. Inside came the sounds of little footsteps. Mellie ran at us and threw herself into our arms. Mom and Dad came from behind and pulled her from us. They covered her with kisses.
“Wow, Mellie. I can’t believe it,” Joel said with admiration.
“Yeah. We haven’t been here an hour,” Eli said, patting her on the back, “and you beat us to an adventure.”
“Boys, don’t encourage her.” Mom’s voice shook a little. She laughed, but the sound held a note of hysteria.
Mrs. Montgomery hurried inside and up the stairs, her face filled with worry.
“How did you get up there, Mellie?” Dad asked.
“Phoebe said we should follow him.”
Mom’s face got a familiar pinched look, one I hadn’t seen for months. They carried Mellie to the car, the boys still teasing her. I stayed behind, thinking.
From my position by the open door, I could make out the castle interior, probably the great hall Coop had mentioned. I glanced back at the car. Phoebe said we should follow him. Who was him? Had Mellie seen someone too?
I moved away from the door, so I could examine the tower. The heavy rope still hung over the crenel. With the front door locked—or whatever that had been—how had my sister gotten up there?
“Who did you follow up those stairs, Mellie?” I muttered under my breath.
“You’re going to break something if you keep thinking that hard.”
“Shut up.” I turned to face Ezra. Right then, I wanted to tell him what I’d seen. But I knew my twin too well. He’d accuse me of imagining ghosts—
I jerked around to face the castle again. No. Way.
“What?” he asked.
“I just—” Studying the open doorway to the dim great hall, I wanted to confide in my logical, if-I-can’t-see-it-it-ain’t-real brother what I’d seen. Had I really seen anything? Or had Mom insisting there weren’t ghost set me up to see one? And where had her comment come from anyway? Had she said anything to Ezra? I didn’t finish my answer.
“Just what?” He nudged my shoulder with his. “You’ve gone all cryptic.”
“That was just scary,” I said, lamely.
“Yeah, too scary.” He leaned back his head and surveyed the tower. “We’ll have to get a better system to clean the windows. We could get sued.”
A light snapped on inside, followed by the sound of several feet. Coop and his mother appeared in the doorway, one on
each side of his limping father. They kept trying to offer him support, but he brushed them away.
“I’m all right,” Mr. Montgomery snapped. “Quit fussing.” He noticed us, cleared his throat, and stretched out a hand. “I’m Steve Montgomery, caretaker here.” He shook our hands. “This is my wife, Debbie, and our son, Cooper.”
“I’m Ezra Savage, and this is my sister Lia. I hope you’re okay.”
“I’ll be fine if these two will quit fluttering around me.”
“Well, we were really glad to see Coop here,” Ezra said. “He’s an old friend of ours.”
“These are the twins I hung out with all last summer,” Coop said.
“Really?” His father immediately shot me an appraising look. “Why didn’t you ever mention their last name was Savage?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” Coop said with a scowl. “It wouldn’t have made any difference last year. They didn’t know about Miles then.”
“We need to get that foot up and on ice,” Mrs. Montgomery insisted.
“All right, already.” Mr. Montgomery growled, but he let his wife lead him to the truck.
“I’ll get my dad home and come back to help unload.” Coop glanced up to where he’d kicked in the window. “And a board for that.”
When they were out of earshot, Ezra asked in a low voice, “Is the prospect of spending the summer here starting to look more appealing?”
“Shut up.” I nudged him with my elbow, and he chuckled. I hadn’t told him about my crush last summer, but he had known anyway.
Mom and Dad said something to the Montgomerys and then the boys. The boys let out a whoop and darted toward us. Our parents and Mellie followed. It must be time to enter our new home.
“Looks like Mr. Montgomery will be fine.” Dad surveyed his new home with shining eyes. I’d read about people puffing up their chests with pride, but I’d never seen it before in real life. My eyes stung at his happiness.
“I know everyone’s anxious to investigate, and I won’t get any work out of you until you do.” He sent me and Ezra a meaningful look. “So, work while you look. Make an inventory as you explore.”
A Savage Ghost Page 2
