Haunting Danielle 27 The Ghost and the Mountain Man by Bobbi Holmes (great novels to read TXT) 📕

grumbled, “You aren’t trying to help me. You just want it for yourself.”

“True,” he said and then picked up the remaining piece of roll and ate it.

Two

On her way to the front door to pick up the newspaper, Danielle glanced up the stairs and wondered briefly if she had enough time to run up to her room and get dressed before the chief showed up with Evan. Perhaps. But first, she would get the newspaper for Walt.

A moment later she pulled open the door, expecting to find her front porch empty except for the possibility of the newspaper if the delivery person had tossed it that far. Instead, she looked into the bearded face of a strange man.

“Oh…” She startled, her eyes momentarily widening.

The beard obscured the man’s face, and at first glance one might assume he was older because of his gray hair and beard, but his eyes were those of a much younger man. Danielle looked him up and down, noting the worn boots, denims and faded flannel shirt. His floppy leather hat resembled a cowboy hat, yet not one she had ever seen sold in western stores.

“I was just getting ready to knock,” he explained. “Who are you?”

“Um… who were you expecting?” Danielle asked.

“I’m here for Alex,” he told her.

“Alex? I’m afraid you’re at the wrong house.”

The man frowned and turned briefly, pointing to the sign out front. “It says Marlow House. This is Marlow House, right?”

“Yes, it is, but there is no Alex here. If you explain why you believe he’s here, perhaps I can help you.”

“Because it’s his home,” the man snapped.

“I’m sorry, but no Alex lives here.” Danielle glanced over her shoulder to the parlor door, wondering if she should call for Walt.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

She briefly considered not telling him. After all, he was the one who had come knocking on her front door. But considering the large sign she had installed in her front yard, he already had the name of her house, and anyone with minimal computer skills could search Marlow House, Frederickport, and come up with dozens of articles about her. Plus, she was curious why he expected to find this Alex living at her house.

“I’m Danielle Marlow, and this is my home.”

“Danielle Marlow? You’re related to Alex? Why are you lying to me? He told you to lie, didn’t he?”

“Um… I honestly have no idea who this Alex is. I should get my husband,” Danielle suggested.

“If you won’t let me talk to Alex, then let me see Anna. She’s here, isn’t she?” he demanded.

“Anna?” Danielle frowned.

“Stop this nonsense! If you won’t let me see Alex or Anna, then let me talk to the old man. Is he home? I bet he’d be interested to hear what I have to say. If you won’t let me in, I can always go to his office and tell him. Alex can refuse to see me, but it won’t keep his secret. You can tell him that! He might as well see me now, because I’m not going away. You tell Alex that!”

The sound of the front gate opening interrupted their conversation. The man glanced behind him while Danielle looked in the same direction. Coming through the gate was Chief MacDonald and Evan. While Danielle hadn’t initially felt threatened by the unexpected visitor, his tone and insistence that he had to see this Alex, and his obvious belief she was lying to him, had made her uncomfortable.

“Oh, look, it’s Police Chief MacDonald,” Danielle said loudly, feeling a sudden flood of relief.

The man looked back to Danielle. With a snarl he said, “You tell Alex I’ll be back.” He turned abruptly and rushed down the walkway, past the chief and Evan, disappearing to the street.

“Odd greeting,” MacDonald said as he walked up to Danielle, Evan by his side.

“Did you get a good look at his face?” Danielle asked when the chief reached her.

“Who was he?” Evan asked.

“That’s what I would like to find out,” Danielle said.

“Who was who?” the chief asked.

“The man who just rushed by you,” Danielle said.

“What man?” the chief asked.

“The guy with the funny hat and beard,” Evan told his father.

The chief frowned. “What are you two talking about?”

Danielle paused and looked from the chief to the street. Without saying a word, she rushed past Evan and his father, down the walkway. When she reached the sidewalk, she looked north and then south. The man was nowhere in sight.

“What’s going on, Danielle?” the chief asked, following her down the walkway, Evan trailing behind him.

“Was that a ghost?” Evan asked Danielle.

Danielle looked to the chief. “You didn’t see him, did you?”

MacDonald shook his head. “If there was a man here when I walked up, I didn’t see him.”

“I did!” Evan said. “Was he a ghost?”

Danielle looked back down the street again and then to Evan and his father. “I think he was.”

“Whose ghost was he?” the chief asked.

“Not a clue. He said he was looking for someone named Alex and Anna. And someone he called the old man. He thought they lived at Marlow House.”

“I love coming over here,” Evan said. “You always have exciting stuff going on.”

Danielle looked at Evan and chuckled, rustling his hair with one hand. She noticed how tall he had grown. Soon he would be taller than her.

“Let’s go tell Walt about our visitor. According to the ghost, he plans to return, so hopefully we’ll find out who he is then.”

“Never boring here,” MacDonald muttered.

“Do you have time for a cup of coffee?” Danielle asked the chief.

“Sure, coffee and a ghost story,” MacDonald said, following Danielle back to the house. On his way there, he leaned down and picked up the newspaper, reaching it before Danielle.

“Walt’s in the parlor,” Danielle said as the three walked in the open doorway. “I’ll go get you that coffee, and I have a feeling Evan would like a cinnamon roll.”

“Hey, what about me? I like cinnamon rolls too,” MacDonald said, still holding the newspaper.