Paige nodded and settled deeper into the plush cushions, tugging the fleece throw up higher on her arms. The night was cool like any autumn evening...at least that was what she hoped was affecting the temperature of the room. She wouldn’t stake her life on the fact it wasn’t just the creepiness of the house. “Maybe tomorrow we’ll find out more and hopefully figure out a way to get whatever is here to leave.”
Amanda polished off the rest of her wine and smiled. “Either that or we’re going to go broke buying salt. I used half a box doing the kitchen and this bedroom. What is it about salt anyway?”
“I don’t know, but all the websites say to use it. That and crystals and burning sage...”
Paige looked into Amanda’s eyes. It had been years since either one of them had been to church even though they had both gone to Catholic schools, had done all the early sacraments. They had both drifted away as they got older. “What about getting a priest in to bless the house? That’s supposed to work.”
Amanda stared silently for a few moments. “It feels hypocritical. I think I’d like to leave that as a last resort. If it comes to the point that it’s either that or run screaming from the house...well then, for sure.” Her finger brushed the rim of the glass and her voice became softer. “I wish Josh was here.”
Paige sat straighter and took a deep breath. Yeah. Even if he didn’t believe in all of this ghostly stuff, at least it would mean another adult in the house. “Did he say when he’ll be home?”
“Not until Friday night, if we’re lucky. There’s a problem at work that they’re trying to deal with.”
“There’s a problem here, we’re trying to deal with too!” Paige finished the wine and walked over to the bureau to set the glass down.
At the faint musical notes that sounded, the hair on the back of her neck spiked. She spun around, staring wide eyed at her sister. It was clear from the ‘O’ her mouth had become, Amanda heard it too. Even Barney raised his head, looking towards the wall behind them.
“Is that what I think it is?” Amanda threw the covers back and scrambled over to stand next to Paige. “How could that be?”
Paige’s breath froze in her chest. The hollow, tinny notes of the tune became louder. Oh my God! Cora was in the bedroom down the hall—her bedroom!— making the music box play.
Amanda looked over at the children who still slept soundly, the notes not registering with them at all. But Barney had risen to his feet and the line of fur on his spine, his hackles, was standing straight up.
There was a soft thud as if a door had swung open and banged against the wall. Footsteps, steady and slow followed. It felt like her eyes would pop out on her cheeks she stared so hard at the door to Amanda’s room. The footsteps were coming down the hall outside...closer and closer. Her heart thudded in her chest and she was barely aware of Amanda’s fingers digging into her arm.
“Oh my God.” Amanda hardly dared to whisper it.
There was a rumbling growl and Paige looked down at the dog. Barney’s teeth were bared and his eyes were narrow staring at the bedroom door. Whatever it was, had stopped right outside. Oh shit.
She jumped at the thundering bark, and Barney snarling, crouched low before the door.
“Shush!” She grabbed at the dog’s collar and tried to pull him back.
“Mommy?” It was Julian’s voice.
Too late. It was bad enough that Amanda and she had to go through this nightmare, but now Julian was awake.
She could see the edge of the line of salt peeking out from under the door. She crossed her fingers. It had better work!
The music stopped. The stillness in the room and outside was only broken by the low rumble in Barney’s throat and the blood pounding in Paige’s ears.
The footsteps started again—this time walking down the hall back to Paige’s room. Her bedroom door slammed with a thud that shook the walls. With a yelp, Amanda and Paige rushed over to the bed and huddled close to Julian and Avril. It was over. At least for now.
Sleep was a long time coming for both of the Bradford sisters.
Chapter 22
When Paige woke up the next morning the sunshine streaming through the window pierced her skull in the spot behind her right eye with a dull throbbing ache. Avril sat cross-legged, Indian style next to her, her gap toothed grin beaming down. Even though she’d only slept for a few hours and those hours had been plagued with nightmares, it was hard to be out of sorts looking into the child’s happy face.
She pulled the toddler closer and kissed the top of her head, smelling the fresh baby scent of Avril’s skin.
“Aunt Paige?” Julian slid over on the bed, next to her leg.
The shower running in the small bathroom ensuite hissed. Amanda was up already and in there. Paige smiled at Julian. “Good morning.”
“Cora is still here. That was her last night.” His blue eyes filled with tears and he snuggled closer to her thigh. “I want to go home.”
She sat up and folded him in her arms. “This is home, buddy.” Pulling back, she lifted his chin and looked into his eyes. “Don’t worry. Today I’m going to find out more about Cora or whatever the thing in this house is, that’s scaring us. We’re going to convince her to leave. Trust me.”
“What about the barn? There’s something scary there too.” He looked down at the duvet, rolling the soft cotton fabric between his fingers.
Paige took a deep breath. One thing at a time. She turned when the door to the ensuite bath opened and Amanda walked in.
“What’s up? You okay Julian?” She whisked the towel from her wet hair and strode over to the bed.
“When’s Daddy coming home? Can we go visit him at work?” Julian’s lower lip and chin trembled and Avril reached to comfort him.
Amanda’s arms went around both children and her gaze was intent meeting Paige’s. “Daddy won’t be home for another couple of days. Don’t worry, kids. Your Aunt Paige and I will make sure nothing bad happens to you. Think of it as an adventure...kind of like an episode of Scooby Doo. There’s always a happy ending on that show, right?”
Paige rolled her eyes and sighed. If only it were that simple. But it might work in reassuring Julian, since he loved that cartoon. “Hey! You know how things get really bad for the gang when they split up, Julian? We’re not going to make that mistake. We’re all staying together today and tonight or at least until we get Cora to leave.”
She tapped Julian’s shoulder and when he turned to look at her, she pantomimed the crazy dog on Scooby Doo, “Weady for Scoobie snacks? Bweckfast?”
Julian grinned and shook his head. “You don’t sound like him, Aunt Paige. He says ‘Roobie Racks’.”
Amanda looked over at Paige and smiled in unspoken agreement that they’d settled things down for a little while. “We’re going to town after breakfast, guys. Maybe we’ll have lunch there and go to a park.”
Avril bounced on the bed, grinning. “Swings? A slide and jungle gym?”
“For sure!” Amanda swept her daughter up and got to her feet. She looked over at Paige again. “We should go into your room and get your clothes for the day...then Julian’s and Avril’s.”
Paige swallowed hard and pulled the duvet back. Yeah. Going into her room was going to be the spooky one for sure, especially after last night with the music box and footsteps. But it couldn’t be helped.
The floor was chilly on her feet and she was glad she had worn a T shirt and a pair of Amanda’s flannel pajama bottoms to bed. But there was no way she could borrow jeans or a dress from her sister without it practically falling off her slender frame. Amanda was a few inches taller and at least twenty pounds heavier than Paige.
When she stepped by Barney to get to the door, the dog bounded to its feet, panting and whining a little. Of course. The poor beast had to go outside. She opened the door and looked both ways. Good. Nothing there. She exhaled slowly and stepped out into the hallway. Taking a deep breath she walked to her room. Amanda’s footsteps sounded softly
behind her, which was some small comfort.
The door was a few inches ajar and she pushed it gently, to open it. She gasped and had to steel herself from jerking back at what she saw in the room. Her clothes were strewn on the floor everywhere, the drawers of her dresser gaping open and empty. The pillowed mattress was bare and the bedclothes lay in a heap under the window. But like the crown jewel, the music box was set on top of the dresser, perfectly centered.
Amanda’s shoulder brushed lightly against hers and she gasped. “Holy cow. What happened...”
Paige pulled her shoulders back and her chin tilted high. She strode into the room and began snatching her clothes up from the floor and setting them on the bed. “Listen Cora or whatever your name is...LEAVE MY STUFF ALONE! I PUT YOUR BLOODY MUSIC BOX BACK SO YOU CAN BLOODY WELL LEAVE MY SHIT ALONE! GOT IT?”
She stomped into the closet and huffed a sigh seeing the heap of clothes on the floor amidst the tangle of hangers. There was a blue cotton top and a pair of jeans that she had intended on wearing that day in the corner. She scooped them up, grabbed some underwear and a bra from the pile on the bed and stormed out of the room. She slammed the door shut and forced a tight smile at Amanda and the kids.
“There! Now your room, Julian.”
Amanda grinned and led the way holding onto Julian’s hand. She turned and a chuckle erupted from her throat before she spoke, “We’re going to give your room a double dose of sea salt, Paige. That’ll teach whatever or whoever messed up your room a lesson!”
Paige’s fingers formed fists so hard that her fingernails cut into the skin in her palms. She breathed slow and deep through flared nostrils following Amanda and Julian. Avril’s thumb was once more in her mouth, when she looked over her mother’s shoulder at Paige. They had never seen their aunt this angry.
Paige’s eyes narrowed watching Amanda gather Julian’s clothes. She knew the first stop she’d make that day in town. Before the end of the day, they’d have sage, crystals, holy water and bags of salt to deal with this house.
Chapter 23
When Paige trooped into the library in Inverary at five that afternoon, Matt was sitting in a chair reading a magazine. Paige smiled, when he looked up and saw Amanda, Julian and Avril in tow behind her, his eyes opening wide in a double take.
The smell of books filled the air, an ancient dusty scent that filled Paige’s nostrils as she strode over to Matt. The library was really just one large room with a door at the back with the word ‘Staff’ tacked onto it. At the side wall under a large window was a counter, where an elderly lady in a red top stood, peering at a computer screen from behind glasses perched on the end of her nose.
Paige’s stomach did a little summersault looking at Matt's perfect sculpted face and she fell into his dark blue eyes for a moment, before recovering herself. “Hi! Found the place!” Paige grinned and turned slightly to include Amanda and the children. “You remember my sister Amanda and her kids, Julian and Avril?”
Matt grinned, showing a set of perfect teeth behind his dark trimmed beard and moustache. He reached for Amanda’s hand and shook it. “Hi! Nice to see you again.”
“Amanda wants to talk to your aunt as well.”
“Yes. I hope it’s okay with you. We’re kind of travelling en mass today. Maybe the children can find some books and toys to amuse themselves.” Amanda looked around for the kids’ corner, if there was one. She nodded to Julian, her eyes directing him to the back of the library.
Julian took Avril’s hand. “C’mon Avril. There’re toys back there.”
“Yes! You’ll find blocks and Lego and puzzles too! Help yourself!”
At the elderly lady’s high pitched voice, Paige turned to see her amble over. She looked about two hundred years old but was still pretty spry, her grey eyes twinkling behind the thick glasses. Laugh lines bordered her smile.
“Aunt Barbara, this is the girl I told you about, Paige...” His face went blank with question marks in his eyes.
Paige leaned forward and extended her hand. “Paige Bradford, Ms. Hawley.” She turned slightly and smiled at her sister. “And this is Amanda Jenkins, my sister and her two kids, Julian and Avril.”
The old lady’s hand was thin but her grip was firm holding Paige’s hand for a beat longer than usual. She had the same intense look in her eyes as her nephew. “Matt told me your family bought the old Larkspur farm.”
Paige glanced down at her hand that was still enveloped in both of Barbara Hawley’s. “Yes. I guess, if that’s what folks around here call it.” She pulled her hand back and watched as Amanda’s hand was claimed by the elderly woman, as well.
“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Hawley. I gather you’re the local historian in Inverary.” Amanda glanced quickly at Paige and then smiled at the librarian.
“There’s nothing and no one that Aunt Barbara doesn’t know in this neck of the woods.” Matt smiled over at his aunt and winked.
Barbara raised her hand and tapped her nephew’s arm. “Go on with you. You’re always buttering me up so I’ll remember you in my will.” The warm smile she cast on him showed that there was deep affection between them.
“Of course. I want all four of your cats. You know that.” Matt laughed, teasing the old lady.
Barbara rolled her eyes and turned to Paige. “This may take a while to tell you about the farm. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?” Her hand swept over the sofa and two chairs that were centered in the open area of the room. “Have a seat.”
“Nothing for me, thanks. We just had coffee and snacks in town.” Paige stepped over to the worn leather sofa and took a seat next to Amanda. She watched Matt and his aunt sit down in the two chairs opposite. The old lady was friendlier than she had expected given Matt’s first description—that she was pretty closed mouthed about the farm.
Barbara turned and smiled at her nephew. “Would you mind, dear? I’d love a cup of tea. The tea bags are in the cupboard.”
Matt got to his feet and squeezed his aunt’s shoulder on his way by. Paige’s gaze drifted over his back and the snug fit of his jeans as he strode to the back of the room.
“He’s such a good boy.” Barbara smiled and her eyes locked with Paige’s. She could feel the blood rush to her neck and blossom on her cheeks. Busted, checking out Matt’s tush. The old lady didn’t miss a trick.
Still smiling, Barbara said, “He was almost married a year ago but they called it off at the last minute. It was fine by me. Eleanor was too snobby by half, in my opinion.” She leaned back into her chair, her mouth twitching. “I so hope he finds the right girl soon.”
“Uhhh…” Paige remained tongue tied until Barbara patted her hand.
Amanda sat forward on the edge of her chair. “Ms. Hawley?”
“Please. Most people just call me Barbara.” The smile dropped from her face and she took a long deep breath. “Normally I don’t talk about the Larkspur farm. It would be like gossip and I don’t waste my time with that. But, you bought the place, so it’s not gossip, is it? You need to know about it or you wouldn’t be here, right?”
“Yes. There’s been a few things that have happened since we arrived.” Amanda glanced over at Paige and sighed.
“My sister is, or rather was a skeptic,” Paige said. “But whatever is in that house knocked her son unconscious yesterday. He’s fine now. Just scared, like the rest of us.” Paige’s fingers had been clasped tight together on her lap but when she saw Barbara nod slowly, the look of concern in her eyes, she relaxed a bit.
“I see,” Barbara said. “Larkspur’s a…” after a pause, she set her lips. “It’s a different sort of place, isn’t it?”
Paige felt a sense of relief come over her. At least she didn’t have to spend a lot of time convincing Barbara. It was obvious she knew things about the house. “That’s putting it mildly,” she said.
Nodding, Barbara looked up at the ceiling. “The first tragedy that I know of... to strike at Larkspur was back in the 1930’s. Elmer Larkspur was twenty o
ne when he inherited the house from his grandparents. He lived there with his wife and two children before he...” Barbara looked down at her lap, and sighed. “...he went crazy one night. He shot his wife and his youngest child before going into the barn and killing himself. Blew his head off.”
Barbara turned at the sound of the staff door opening. She continued talking, watching Matt enter the room again. “The oldest boy was visiting his aunt on his mother’s side. That’s what saved him that horrible night.”
Amanda’s fingers closed around hers and squeezed them tight, never letting go, even when Matt appeared carrying a mug of steaming tea for his aunt. The elderly woman smiled at him and then took a sip of tea. The clunk of the mug being set on the table was the only sound in the large room.
“How could someone do that? Was he sick? Mentally ill or something?” Amanda shook her head and then turned, looking for the kids who were sitting at a small table at the back of the room.
Barbara’s eyes were sad and a grimace formed on her lips. “My father thought so. They were kids in school together. Elmer was always a loner. People thought he was shy but maybe there was more to it than that. That year was a bad year for farmers. There was a drought and then beetles ate what crop managed to survive. Dad thought that the financial strain on the farm was the final straw for Elmer.”
Paige’s mouth slowly gaped open as she listened to the old woman. Her heart beat faster and she strained closer to the edge of the chair. Oh my God. A family murdered. A little kid. And a suicide in the barn! “He killed himself in the barn,” she said quietly. “That barn is very weird.”
Barbara nodded. “Yes. It’s an odd building, isn’t it? When I was a child a gang of us went out to the farm on a dare. It was the 1950’s and the place had been abandoned for years. But unlike other abandoned farms, it had been untouched…” her voice faded as she looked off into space, back to her yesterdays.
“Looks more like a church than a barn if you ask me,” Paige said. She shook her head. “But what do I know? I’m a girl from the big city.”
The Haunting Of Larkspur Farm (Ghosts and Haunted Houses): A Haunting In Kingston (The Hauntings of Kingston Book 4) Page 10
