Gypsy Spirits

by Marianne Spitzer

  Nancy promised.

  ***

  After their meal, Daniel and Annamarie were tired enough to spend a quiet night in their room. Daniel watched TV while Annamarie dreamed of ways to decorate their house while she paged through her new magazine.

  ***

  Sheriff Richardson was waiting for a call from the State Police concerning the license number of the black pickup when Steve walked into the sheriff’s station, surprising him.

  Taking a seat across from Sheriff Richardson, he said, “I met with the department psychiatrist. I still feel only guilt concerning Garret’s shooting.”

  “The psychiatrist is there to help you, not judge you.”

  “I know, but what if I feel this way forever?”

  The sheriff looked at him and said, “This has been a terrible two weeks for you. First Ben died and second, in a horrible set of circumstances, you shot Garret. No matter what you think, it was justified and in self-defense. I read your report, and you said you saw a man pull a gun. That’s the truth, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Steve said, shifting in his chair.

  “Then you did what you were trained to do. If you had noticed it was Garret and hesitated, he would have shot you. Then we would be having a plaque made with your picture on it for the front lobby, and Deb would be a widow at nineteen. Have you thought about that?”

  “Not exactly that way,” he said.

  The sheriff told him he should ask the psychiatrist about it. He was sure the psychiatrist would see it the same way.

  “Now go home, hug your wife and thank God you’re still here to love her and help protect our town. You keep your appointments and feel better. You’ll be back at work here where you belong before you know it.”

  Steve nodded, shook the sheriff’s hand and said, “Thanks, Sheriff. I do feel better.”

  Saying goodnight, the sheriff watched the best deputy he ever had walk out of the station. He knew he’d be back. It was only a matter of time.

  The State Police called back. The license plates on the black truck were reported stolen off a green truck in Oaklin the week before. The sheriff thanked the officer and thought he was right back where he started. Now that the stranger knew Garret was dead, he wouldn’t be back. It was late when the sheriff locked up, gazing around at his sleepy little town. He knew he had to solve this mystery completely, or the town would never feel entirely safe.

  ***

  The blackout drapes kept the room nearly dark as night although the sun had been up for hours.

  Daniel reached for Annamarie, and she responded to his touch. Annamarie and Daniel lay on the bed relaxed and happy after their morning love-making.

  Daniel said, “This is wonderful. We have all day today and tomorrow to enjoy each other and swim and eat.”

  Annamarie smiled softly. “After what we’ve been through, we deserve this. In the past two weeks, you practically had a breakdown worrying about spirits, lost two friends and grandpa, and seen the worst side of your mom. I’m not sure how you’re keeping it all together.”

  “That’s easy. It’s because of you. Look what I’ve put you through. I never treated you right since we met and didn’t improve when we married. I left you alone all night with storms on the way, knowing both the dark and lightening terrify you. I was completely self-centered. I came home covered with blood, and you didn’t hesitate to help me. You sat in a jail cell for me and put up with all my spirit talk. I talked about it so much you almost believe in them, too. I’m sorry the spirits are so strong in order to get away from them we have to come here.”

  “Do you think the spirits are still in Timmus Woods, and you’re only safe here?”

  “I’m not sure if the spirits move. I think your spirit is stronger and she’s making sure we have some peace here.”

  Annamarie rolled over facing away from Daniel, afraid he would see the disappointment on her face. She couldn’t believe after all they had been through, the hell she suffered trying to convince him there were no spirits seemed to be for nothing. She lied to the sheriff for him and ended up in jail. Some crazy man was still on the loose and Daniel thought the only thing to do was to kill him. How was she going to help him do that?

  Annamarie rolled back over and asked, “What do we do if you truly think the spirits are still there? How do we live in grandpa’s house? After the way your mom treated us, I want to move out of the ranch house as soon as possible. That’s going to be impossible if you still believe spirits live in the woods.”

  Daniel thought for a minute. “No, we can live in grandfather’s house and your spirit will keep us safe.”

  “What if I don’t have a spirit?”

  Daniel insisted, “You do. We both know that. We had the same dream with the same words and then it came true. You found what was hidden.”

  “Okay,” responded Annamarie, “what if my mom was right and we all have a touch of some sort of psychic ability? Since we are close, we had the same dream.”

  Frustrated, Daniel got out of bed, standing with his arms folded, back to her. “No. You have a Gypsy spirit. She has more spirits with her. They are stronger than the spirits in the woods. The spirits in the woods have been there forever. Magdalena will always protect you. You are my wife and she’ll also protect me.”

  “You know Magdalena was my great-grandmother. I don’t know why you insist she’s a Gypsy spirit. I told you my mom said my relatives were farmers.”

  “Yes, but our dreams show her dancing around a fire in the woods. There’s always violin music. She must be a Gypsy spirit, even if you don’t believe me.”

  Annamarie hoped Daniel’s personality change didn’t mean he was beginning his walk toward madness or whatever motivates his fear of the spirits. She wasn’t sure she could take that walk with him again. The last two weeks were horrible. Would this be her entire life?

  Daniel lay back down next to her and whispered, “I’m sorry I was upset. I love you. Not because you have a spirit, but because of who you are. I learned in the last two weeks how quickly we can lose those we love, and how much you’ll do for me without my asking. I underestimated what a wonderful woman you are. You’re not that sexy little high school girl who caught my eye, but an amazing woman and still sexy.”

  He kissed her, and Annamarie hoped he meant what he said.

  Daniel smiled at her and said, “What if I call room service and we have breakfast in bed?”

  Annamarie smiled. “Wonderful idea.”

  Annamarie and Daniel ate breakfast in bed, and Annamarie chattered on about plans for the house. Since they decided to redo the master bedroom and the kitchen, they had a lot of plans to make. Annamarie agreed with Daniel about the gold appliances. Tearing out magazine pages, she wanted to save the ones she liked for decorating ideas.

  “I’ll try my best to help.”

  “You can’t hammer a nail without hitting your thumb,” she teased.

  Daniel laughed. “I never had to learn.”

  “You aren’t going to practice on grandpa’s beautiful house.”

  Munching on a piece of toast Annamarie asked, “Do you want to redo the nursery along with the master bedroom, or should we wait until we need it?”

  “Nursery, you said we’re not having kids for a long while. I’m worried about children and the spirits. Don’t they like to terrorize children?”

  “Stop talking like that. There are no spirits and our children will be safe. I’m not planning on having a baby for a while. I only wondered if you want to get all the work done at once.”

  “Let’s stick to the kitchen and bedroom. I can’t think beyond that.”

  “Sure thing, sweetie,” Annamarie said, kissing his cheek, hoping to lighten his mood.

  “I know what that means. You already have plans.”

  “Just a few, it’ll all be wonderful. I only work until noon again this week. On Monday afternoon, I’ll pack my car as full as I can get it with our things, and move them into grandpa’s house, and then co
me back for more. I’m not spending another night in the house your mom purchased,” Annamarie said.

  “Neither am I. We’ll move and not let my parents know until we’ve moved in.”

  “You’re a genius,” Annamarie said knocking him over, kissing him, and spilling plates onto the bed from the breakfast tray.

  “Oops,” she giggled.

  “Let’s get ready and spend some time in the pool. First, I better call housekeeping.”

  ***

  The rest of the afternoon was quiet, at the hotel and in Timmus Woods. It seemed like an average Saturday afternoon to the sheriff and Greta, who stopped by to let him know everything was going well with Nancy. She also apologized for bringing her to Ray’s the night before.

  “No harm done this time, but the plate on that guy’s truck was stolen so be careful, and if you see him again you call me immediately.”

  “Will do,” said Greta.

  ***

  Annamarie and Daniel spent an enjoyable day sunbathing at the outdoor pool and decided to try the family-style restaurant for dinner.

  “It’s nice not cooking or doing any housework for a few days,” Annamarie said.

  “We can afford to hire Elaine if you want.”

  “That seems extravagant, but maybe we could have her come in part-time the way she did for grandpa. That way everyone could be happy and Elaine wouldn’t feel so lost.”

  After dinner, Daniel called Elaine and asked her if she would be willing to work the same hours for them that she did for his grandfather. Elaine was thrilled and agreed to be there Monday afternoon to help Mrs. Logan any way she could. Thanking her, he hung up.

  “Elaine told me the outbuilding has been torn down and all the wood hauled away,” Daniel said.

  “I think it’s for the best. We would only feel sad whenever we saw it. The flowerbed we planned will be much nicer.”

  “I agree, sort of a memorial for Garret.”

  “That’s a nice thought.”

  “I think you should get used to Elaine calling you Mrs. Logan.”

  Annamarie groaned, “I’ll get Elaine to change because Timmus Woods isn’t big enough for two Mrs. Logans, and your mom is going to hold on tightly to that label.”

  “You’re right.”

  ***

  Sunday morning broke bright, hot and humid, unusual even for August. Churchgoers brought hand fans or used the weekly bulletin to try and cool themselves. They were thankful both Father Mueller and Pastor Anders kept their sermons short.

  ***

  Greta was complaining to Ray that he needed to get more fans, or add additional air-conditioning to keep the kitchen cooler.

  ***

  Maureen grumbled Daniel was an ingrate for not coming to Sunday lunch. George told her Daniel and Annamarie were probably having a nice lunch in a peaceful and cool restaurant. He also reminded her they were still newlyweds.

  ***

  Steve walked up behind Deb and hugged her tight, telling her how much he loved her and he’d been thinking about what the sheriff told him. He was beginning to see if he hadn’t shot Garret, he’d be the one dead. He knew that would be so unfair to her. She turned with tears in her eyes, her voice breaking. “That would be more than I could bear. I feel sorry for Garret and the Frants, but oh so happy you’re alive.”

  ***

  The sheriff sat in his kitchen sipping coffee and thinking how he was going to find the man in the black truck. Since it had stolen plates, he wasn’t going to be able to trace the owner.

  ***

  Watching two kids across the street running through a sprinkler, Nancy saw a black pickup truck coming down the street. She hid behind the curtain but was able to get a license number. She called Greta, Greta called the sheriff at home, and Sheriff Richardson called Nancy for the plate number. The sheriff contacted the State Police again and asked them to hurry. He told them to call his office with the information, and relay it to his deputy. The sheriff was out the door and in his personal car to hunt for the pickup, as inconspicuously as possible. He’d start at Greta’s.

  ***

  Paging through the hotel brochure, Annamarie discovered there were a lot of things in the hotel they didn’t know about. “They refer to the hotel as ‘an escape from life’s pressures without leaving town.’ That’s true. There’s a laundry, dry cleaners, florist, candy shop, and even a chapel. We should stop in since we missed church this morning.”

  “We’re on vacation, and have been in church more in the past two weeks than the previous month,” Daniel said.

  Annamarie let out a little squeal, picked up the phone and dialed. That worried Daniel. All he could hear from the conversation was “three o’clock is perfect.”

  “What’s all that about?”

  “They have a beauty shop. It’s open every day, even Sunday, and I have a three o’clock appointment to get my hair done. I love this place,” Annamarie said with such joy in her voice it made Daniel happy, too.

  “What am I supposed to do while you’re getting your hair done?”

  “They have a barber shop, too and, you could get a shave or haircut.”

  “No thank you. I think I’ll sit by the pool and watch the girls in bikinis.”

  Annamarie winked and said, “Okay, but remember who knows how to make you happy.”

  Daniel smiled and said, “How could I ever forget.”

  She kissed him and said, “You’ll never forget because I’ll always be here to remind you.”

  ***

  The sheriff never found the elusive black pickup and went back to his office to check on the call from the State Police.

  “Hi sheriff,” said the new deputy, “Sorry, but no luck. The State Police said those plates were also stolen.”

  “I was afraid of that. If this guy is part of that stolen parts ring, he probably has a box full of stolen plates in his truck to change when he pleases. We may never find him. Black pickups are common around here.”

  ***

  Annamarie had her long hair done up in curls, her nails manicured and even treated herself to a professional makeover. She felt like a princess.

  Walking up to Daniel at the pool, she said, “Hi, good looking. Need a dinner date?”

  “Wow! I didn’t think you could get any prettier. I was wrong.”

  Annamarie beamed and sat down in a chair next to him.

  “It’s a bit humid here by the pool. I don’t want my hair to get limp, so think I’ll go back to the room.”

  “I’m right behind you. Anyway, I’m hungry.”

  ***

  Daniel dressed in his best blue suit, white shirt and blue striped tie while Annamarie donned a lavender-blue bubble-knit dress with short sleeves. She added a string of white pearls with matching earrings that had belonged to her grandmother. They were a gift from her mom on her wedding day. White heels and a white clutch purse finished her ensemble. She didn’t like to wear any ring except her engagement and wedding band. She didn’t want anything to take away from the brilliant round diamond Daniel had given her.

  Daniel chuckled, saying, “We look like an insurance salesman and a receptionist.”

  “We can’t help what we do for a living. Besides, I think we look pretty good.”

  Daniel silently agreed. Taking her hand, he said, “Let’s have dinner, Mrs. Logan.”

  “Okay, but if you call me Mrs. Logan in public, I’ll call you snookums loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear.”

  The restaurant was lovely, and they were given a table with a view of the river with its lighted riverwalk. At night, it was more picturesque than during the day. The table reminded Annamarie of lunch at Maureen’s with the white linen tablecloth, napkins to match, white china with gold trim and crystal water goblets.

  Daniel said, “They have grilled salmon.”

  Annamarie shuddered. She detested any type of seafood.

  “They also have lobster,” Daniel said.

  Annamarie made a face, wrinkling h
er nose, and Daniel laughed at her.

  “You don’t have to eat it. They also have grilled chicken and steak.”

  “That sounds better,” Annamarie answered.

  They began their dinner with tomato juice, onion soup, warm rolls and a green salad. Daniel settled on the salmon and Annamarie on sirloin steak. Both were served with a baked potato and asparagus. There were several desserts to choose from. Daniel chose warm apple cobbler with caramel sauce and Annamarie opted for chocolate cream pie. She’d never had a more delicious piece of pie.

  The band had been playing soft music, and Daniel noticed a small dance floor.

  He said, “C’mon. We haven’t danced since our wedding.”

  Annamarie wondered if the night could get any better as they floated across the floor in each other’s arms. She felt all her troubles drift away with the music.

  The wake-up call from the front desk ended the beautiful night and their vacation. They ordered breakfast from room service but ate at the little table this time. Their bags packed and breakfast eaten, they left the room behind them and headed for the front desk. Daniel paid the bill while Annamarie took one more look around.

  “We have to come back here,” she said.

  He agreed, but added, “Hawaii will be like this except it has an ocean and beach.”

  Dreamily, she answered, “I can’t wait.”

  The drive back to Timmus Woods wasn’t as exciting as the drive to Oaklin, and the closer they came, the more the anxiety grew. The one thing that kept Annamarie going was she was moving out of the ranch house today and into grandpa’s house.

  “Drop me at home so I can pick up my Jeep. Dad and I didn’t do much work on Friday, and I might not be able to get out early.” He glanced at her sadly and added, “Who knows what kind of mood they’ll be in, especially mom.”

  Smiling gently, she said, “Try your best to get through the day.”

  “I will,” he kissed her when he got out of the car.

  ***

  Mr. Hanson was already behind his desk at the dairy.

  “Good morning, Mr. Hanson.”

  “Good morning, there isn’t much for you to do today. When you’re finished with the invoices and bills, you can leave. Business is slow.”