Solstice Miracles

by Crymsyn Hart

  Solstice Miracles

  Crymsyn Hart

  Published by Purple Sword Publications, LLC

  Copyright © 2010 CRYMSYN HART

  ISBN 978-1-936165-67-4

  Cover Art Designed By Anastasia Rabiyah

  Edited By Stephanie Taylor and Traci Markou

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  Chapter One

  Natalie stared at the state of her new house. The white paint was peeling on the outside of the structure. Several of the shutters had fallen into the brambles below, making her wonder if she would be able to restore them. Some hung sideways on one hinge. Ivy mixed with morning glories and poison ivy wound around and clung to the picket fence and arbor. What once was a showplace for beautiful flowers had fallen into disrepair. Roses were interwoven with the nettles, poison oak, and God knew what else, that had grown into it.

  The buzzing of bees perked her ears from a hive close by. Good thing I have an Eppie Pen. Now I just have to remember where I put the darn thing. Was it in with the kitchen items or the bathroom ones? This place has a lot to get done to it. A month and a half before Christmas and I decide now to buy a house. A headache was starting to form between her eyes from the lack of sleep, the long drive, and coming down from the sugar high she'd been on all day.

  She would have to work for a year to get the house completely renovated. What she needed now were just the basics done to get her through the winter. Thank goodness she had some extra money to hire workers to do the restorations and help around the yard. The most important thing about the whole venture was that she was away from the bad memories and the arguments. Away from the fights that turned physical. So physical her last fight with her husband had sent her to the hospital with a broken wrist, cheekbone, and several large gashes across her face, neck, left arm and shoulder.

  Michael had thrown her through a plate glass window and down their deck stairs. The doctors had told her she was lucky to be alive. One piece of glass had nearly severed the artery in her arm.

  The physicians had called in the cops because they suspected domestic violence. The counselors talked to her. She hadn't denied the fight, but none of their altercations had ever erupted in such violence. Natalie had never expected Michael’s reaction. Hell, she had thrown a couple of punches on occasion. Their house was full of dings and dents from their quarrels. The last six months of their relationship their intimacy had dwindled, and she hadn’t even slept with her husband. She should have seen the signs earlier that something was wrong, but she hadn’t until the end.

  Natalie sighed. The dwelling before her was a fresh start. It might be battered and run down. It might have some scars, but so did she. With the money from the divorce settlement and selling her old house, she had enough to fix up the place. The realtor hadn't jumped at the chance to show it to her. Natalie had seen the for sale sign at the last second as they had passed the place.

  When she asked the realtor to return and look at it, she was reluctant and didn't think it was the right place for Natalie. It needed too much restoration because it had stood vacant for so long. She had given Natalie many excuses, but finally the woman drove her up the gravel drive. When Natalie got out and looked at the house up close, she knew this was where she belonged.

  The view of the mountains was breathtaking. The land that went with the house flowed into a state park so she didn't have to worry about civilization encroaching. Where she had lived before, the houses crowded together, ten feet from one another. She could hear every little sound, curse word, and music taste through her walls. Here she had room to breathe. And breathe she did.

  Natalie set her box down near the back door that led into the kitchen. The front door was too overgrown for her to attempt to use with all the boxes and furniture she had to move. Sliding the key into the lock, the satisfaction of knowing she was free swept over her. This house is a brand new start just like everything else in my life. New home. New attitude. This time I'm going to do it the right way. And that means no men for a long time. She jiggled the door. It was stuck. Wonderful.

  Once she slammed her shoulder into it, the door swung open. The door hit hard against the wall and a bit of horsehair plaster rained down from the loose spots near the ceiling. She spit out the bits, grabbed the box, and set it down on the black countertop. Black and white subway tiles adorned the backsplash. Above the counter, the cupboard doors were all faced with glass. The sink was cast iron. The floor was the same diagonal pattern of the tiles on the wall. Stale air permeated the whole place from being closed up. When the realtor had her first look at the place, they had breezed through the rooms. The one thing Natalie loved about the house was the large hearth in the living room. The wood matched the beams that adorned the living room ceiling. The kitchen and the sunroom were additions to the house, although they were done sometime in the past, but not in that century. She walked into the empty living room, passing through the hall that connected the living room, kitchen, dining room, and small sunroom. The railing leading upstairs was rickety, but the stairs were solid.

  The inspector said the structure was sound. It just needed love, care, a new roof, some patchwork in the cellar, small plaster repairs where it was coming apart from the walls, a new electrical system, and all new pipes to be livable. The repairs were starting in three days. Before that, she had cleaning to do. The movers were coming in two days to deliver all of her heavier furniture, including the bed. Luckily, she had an air mattress to settle upon.

  Natalie ran her finger over the mantle. She wiped the dust off on her jeans. Gotta start somewhere. Might as well bring in the rest of the boxes and get to cleaning. She surveyed the empty room and began envisioning where she would place the furniture. Once she had an idea, she headed back outside, propped the door open, and started unloading her small, but ancient Ford Ranger.

  She'd had the pickup forever, but it had never died on her. Michael had always wanted her to get rid of the vehicle, but she defied him on that small point of contention. She loved to throw it in his face on how she kept it when his expensive BMW broke down almost every week. That was another sore spot that always got him riled up.

  At first if they fought they always tumbled into bed having hot, mind blowing make up sex, or feisty, angry sex, but over time things had changed. The man she knew withdrew emotionally. He stopped sleeping with her. He would argue with her at the drop of a hat. But he’d never thrown any punches until the day he put her in the hospital.

  All that’s behind me. I don't have to worry about Michael finding me. Being in jail should keep him away. I even changed my name during the divorce. Natalie Bear. Guess I wanted to remember my ancestors. My parents would have rolled over in their graves knowing I was divorced. They were together to the end.

  She wiped the sweat from her brow and looked at what she had accomplished. After three hours, she had brought in all the boxes from her truck, arranged them in the rooms they went in, and began to clean.

  The scent of ammonia and vinegar filled the kitchen. Layered over that was pine and bleach, that made her sneeze. She had no running water yet, so she didn't think it was good to wash the floors. A cooler full of drinks and a box of pizza she’d ordered sat on the counter. The delivery boy was quite surprised when he opened the door. Poor thing was pale
r than a ghost. Probably thinks this place is haunted. Silly. I don’t sense anything here. Not like in Mom and Dad’s old house.

  She shivered thinking about the cold breeze that would follow her around her old house when she was alone. Natalie had always brushed it off, not wanting to think about spirits even if her mother tried to tell her she should because they were part of her heritage.

  The one experience she’d ever had in the house was coming home late one night while her parents were on vacation. She walked to the top of the stairs and didn’t register the small boy standing there until she passed through him. When she realized what had happened, she whipped around only to find the boy staring at her. Her encounter had freaked her out enough she told herself she would ignore any other ghostly entities she bumped into.

  Natalie delved into the pizza box and grabbed her fourth slice. Her muscles ached, and her back was stiff. The sinking sun streamed in through the windows. The rays caught a fracture in one of the panes reflecting a rainbow across the living room to the stairs. Natalie followed the array of colors and noticed a thin line in the boards under the stairs. What in the world is that? She ran her fingers over the crack down further and discovered an indentation the shape of a keyhole. She pressed on the door, but found it was locked. I wonder why the inspector or the realtor didn't tell me about the hidden room. After trying again, it still didn't budge. Hopefully, I'll find the key and can explore. Giving up for the night, she walked around the house to get a game plan for cleaning in the morning.

  She inflated the air mattress with the air compressor that came with it. After she threw a comforter on it and a pillow, Natalie went outside and watched the setting sun. A cool breeze tickled her arms. In the sunlight the fall foliage was a myriad of colors against the horizon. Her first priority was getting the heat working.

  After watching the darkness descend around her and hearing the chirping crickets, Natalie yawned. The weight of the day descended upon her. Her eyelids drooped so she started to head in. Off in the distance, something caught her eye. Small orbs of light rose off the mountain and began to dance around. The balls hovered a few feet above the mountain landscape swirling through the trees. The spheres twirled and wove around one another and then stopped when they noticed her. Natalie rubbed her eyes. The balls were gone. Then she thought she saw the outline of a large man staring at her intently from the fringes of the forest. When she blinked, the man was gone.

  I'm tired and seeing things. Time for bed. I mean, why would a strange man be wandering around in the forest at this time of night?

  Chapter Two

  Natalie woke the next morning with a crick in her back from sleeping on the air mattress. The weather was pleasant outside with only a small chill. Some of the air had leaked from the mattress, but it wasn’t flattened. She got up slowly and shuffled into the bathroom. She stared at her reflection.

  Her eyes were honey colored in the morning light filtering through the trees into the window. The red hair she’d inherited from her mother was a mess. Her cheekbones were high and sculpted, showing off her Native American heritage. She had even inherited the bronze complexion. In the summertime when she tanned she became golden brown but broke out in freckles. Michael had called her his golden goddess.

  After grabbing the bottle of water she left on the sink, she rinsed her mouth and spit out the coppery aftertaste of the tomato sauce from the night before. The wet spot left a mark in the dusty sink. More to clean, but I figured that. She closed her eyes and tried to push off the weariness of sleep.

  More to do. Maybe I’ll find the key to the strange door I found yesterday. It’d be neat to see what’s on the other side. Maybe it's stuck somewhere in one of the drawers. I'm sure I'll stumble across it.

  Taking in a breath, she patted her face dry on her t-shirt and looked in the mirror again. When she did, she jumped. In the mirror was the reflection of a little girl. No more than eight or nine, and dressed in a calico dress with brown hair, big brown doe eyes, and a smile on her face. She giggled.

  Natalie stared at the little girl and turned toward the doorway. Nothing was there. She glanced back at the mirror and the little girl had vanished. What in the world was that? This place can’t be haunted. If it is, I’ll just ignore it as I have in the past. Shaking her head, she left the bathroom and headed down to the living room. Looking outside, she saw a white van in the driveway. The letters were faded on the sides. The roar of a chainsaw erupted in the yard. Shit.

  I didn't think the workers would be here already. Damn is it early! Her stomach growled.

  Quickly, she grabbed her jeans and fished out a smooshed granola bar she had in her backpack. Slipping her shoes on, she went into the kitchen following the sound of the chainsaw. Its ear piercing grumble was louder when she opened the backdoor. Her realtor had recommended a few local handymen and had given her their numbers. Natalie had called them, settled on one local contractor, and made all the arrangements by fax and email about what she wanted and how much she was going to pay. She had no experience with hiring workers, but the guy was nice on the phone, and they squared a deal.

  She tried to remember his name. Scott something. The backyard was in even worse condition than the front. Three medium trees had fallen across the lawn. The garden was overgrown with weeds and the holly bushes were laden with berries, reminding her it would soon be Christmas.

  So much to do. But it's a brand new start. It's what I need and that asshole doesn't know where I live. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Taking a step back, she studied the back side of the house. The left side of the house was a little different style than the front. The paint was brighter and not fading so much. I wonder when they did the addition because it appears old as well.

  "Natalie?"

  She jumped and turned. "Yeah."

  The man wiped his arm across his tanned brow. He appeared to be in his mid thirties, stocky, average height, reddish brown hair, wearing black shorts and an inside out band shirt with cut off sleeves. He stuck out his hand. "Name's Jarvis. Scott sent me out here. He apologizes for not being able to come today. He had some personal business to take care of."

  "Is everything okay?" She took his hand and winced at the force of his grip.

  Jarvis chuckled. "Oh yeah. He’s part of the local Cherokee tribe in town, so he’s always off doing other things. Anyway, he sent me over to start on the trees. Just give me a yell if you need anything."

  "Thanks."

  “You didn’t happen to see a little girl around here, did you?”

  He gave her a questioning look. “No. Can’t say that I have. I’ll keep an eye out though.”

  “I’d appreciate that.” A kid could have slipped by him no problem. There is some other explanation than the place being inhabited by spirits. She headed back into the house. A groan slipped from her lips when she saw all the supplies and the boxes. She had to get moving even if she didn't want to. The chainsaw started up again and nearly drowned out her thoughts.

  First, she opened the windows to let the place air out. Then she grabbed the cleaning supplies and began on the living room. After the living room, she did the dining room, and worked her way into the sunroom. Then she scrubbed the downstairs bathroom. Once she was through with it, she checked her watch and saw it was well past lunch time. The roar of the chainsaw had stopped a couple of hours ago.

  When she walked by the stairs, she heard a short creak. Natalie stopped. The door she had been unable to open last night slowly swung open. Her heartbeat picked up its pace. Her mouth went dry from the anticipation of what or who might be inside.

  She opened the door a little wider and peered inside, scanning for any animals. The floor was dirt, and the air was stale with a slight scent of must. A few broken chairs lined one wall. A trunk with an old doll sitting on top of it took up another space. And a large fireplace was in front of her. Around the hearth were piles of bricks that could have come from the fireplace.

  She picked up one of the
blocks, noting the heaviness of it. Why in the world was the fireplace dismantled? Maybe they took down the chimney when they put the addition on. Shaking her head, she put the brick down and walked over to the doll. It had on a brown calico dress of the same fabric she had seen the little girl dressed in that morning. Wispy strands of brown yarn clung to the doll’s head. Its features were faded, but she could see a painted on expression and deep brown eyes.

  Natalie placed the doll on the remnants of a chair and tried the trunk. She lifted the top easily. Inside was a large brown and tan blanket. She ran her hand across the fabric and came away with an itchy palm. The spread was wool. She began to pull the blanket from the trunk when she heard giggling. Dropping the blanket, she spun around and saw the little girl standing in the doorway.

  Natalie froze. I’m seeing things again. Or maybe she’s lost. Or maybe a local girl whose playing a game on me. Haze the woman who moves into the new house. Even the pizza guy didn’t want to come in.

  “Hi there.”

  The little girl smiled and pointed. Natalie saw she was pointing at the doll. She reached back, slowly took it from the chair, and went toward the little girl. She also held the blanket close to her chest. “Is this what you want? The dolly?”

  The girl nodded.

  “Why don’t you come here and get it? I won’t hurt you.”

  The girl’s expression changed from amusement to fear. Her eyes widened. She motioned for Natalie to come out of the room, but didn’t say anything. Her waving grew more frantic.

  “Why don’t you want me in here?” A cold breeze stirred her hair. A shiver played along her spine. It felt like someone was watching her from the shadows by the fireplace. Fear began to ride along her nerves making her hands tremble.

  Natalie spun around, but didn’t see anyone. She looked back at the door and saw the girl was still gesturing for her to come out.