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

Evan rushed in the parlor door before his father and announced excitedly, “There was a ghost out front!”

Walt glanced up from the sofa. “Morning, Evan, Edward. Ghost, you say?”

MacDonald tossed the newspaper to Walt, who effortlessly caught it. He took a seat on a chair facing the sofa. “Obviously I didn’t see it. I believe Danielle was talking to him when we walked up. I don’t think she knew he was a ghost until he ran off and realized I hadn’t seen him.”

“But I did,” Evan said. “He had a gray beard and funny jeans. And a faded old flannel shirt. Kinda like the ones my grandpa likes. But it was dirty, like the jeans. And he had a floppy hat.”

Walt narrowed his eyes at Evan. “How do you mean, funny jeans?”

Evan shrugged. “I don’t know. They didn’t look like regular jeans.”

“Do you know who it was?” MacDonald asked.

“He does sound familiar. But why would he be here?” Walt asked.

“Who do you think he is?” Evan asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t even know if it’s the same ghost,” Walt said.

MacDonald arched his brows. “You have been seeing lots of ghosts lately? Getting more and more like your wife?”

“The ghost I’m thinking about is the one we ran into in the mountains. Evan’s description is a match. But how did he get from there to here, and why?”

“Are you talking about the ghost who shot at you?” MacDonald asked.

Evan’s brown eyes widened. “A ghost shot at you?”

Walt flashed the boy a smile. “Yes, but fortunately, ghost bullets aren’t especially lethal. He was there one minute and then just vanished. Heather saw him too.”

“You think he’s the same ghost?” MacDonald asked.

Danielle walked into the parlor, carrying a platter with a coffee pot, a clean mug, a glass of milk, a plate of cinnamon rolls, and a stack of paper napkins. “You know who our visitor was?” she asked Walt after hearing MacDonald’s question.

“Evan described him. Sounds like the one we ran into in the mountains.”

“Did he follow you here?” Danielle asked as she set the platter on the desk.

“If he was the same one, I’d have to assume so. But why?” Walt asked.

Danielle filled the empty mug with coffee. “I don’t know if he was the same one, but my ghost was asking for Anna and Alex.” She handed the coffee mug to the chief.

“Anna and Alex?” Walt frowned.

Danielle returned to the desk and set a cinnamon roll on a napkin. She handed it and the glass of milk to Evan, who now sat on the sofa with Walt. “Yes. First he asked for Alex. Claimed he lived here.” She returned to the desk and placed a second cinnamon roll on a clean napkin and handed it to the chief.

“Did he know where he was?” Walt asked.

Danielle paused a moment and looked at her husband. “What do you mean, did he know where he was?”

“Did he know whose house this was?” Walt asked.

“I suppose. He pointed to the sign out front and said something about this being Marlow House. So yes, if that’s what you mean. Why, do you know who he is?”

“No, I don’t,” Walt muttered.

Danielle shrugged and then picked up a roll, tore it in half, and handed one side to Walt. She took the second half with her to the empty chair next to the chief and sat down. “First, he demands to see this Alex, insisted this was his home. And then he asks for Anna and…” Danielle paused a moment and looked over to Walt. She had just torn off a piece of cinnamon roll and was about to put it in her mouth but stopped and considered her words for a minute while meeting Walt’s gaze.

“What is it?” the chief asked.

Danielle glanced briefly to the chief and then looked back to her husband. “Your parents, they were Alexander and Anna.”

Walt nodded. “Yes. My father went by Alex.”

“Are you suggesting this ghost was looking for Walt’s parents?” MacDonald asked.

Danielle shrugged. “All I know, he insisted they lived here. But he was pretty angry. If it was your father he was looking for, I don’t think they were friends. He seemed upset.”

“And this is the same ghost you encountered in the mountains?” the chief said.

Walt shook his head. “I don’t know. The description matches.”

“That picture of your parents we found, you look a lot like your father. Is it possible this ghost thought you were your father, and that’s why he shot at you?” Danielle asked.

“Why would he shoot at my father?”

Danielle shrugged. “I don’t know, but he seemed awful upset with this Alex.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Walt said. “Everyone loved my father.”

“I suppose we can always ask him,” Danielle said, popping the piece of cinnamon roll in her mouth.

Walt frowned. “Ask him how?”

Danielle looked at Walt. “He said he was coming back.”

Three

He kept his promise and returned to Marlow House. When he arrived, the car that had been parked out front during his prior visit was no longer there. Determined to confront Alex, he marched back up to the front door. What he didn’t know, fifteen minutes earlier the occupants had gone to the house across the street. Even the cat who lived at Marlow House was not home.

Standing at the front door, he gave it a vigorous knock, and to his surprise, he found himself no longer standing outside, but in the entry of Marlow House. Confused, he glanced around and wondered how he had gotten inside. He noted the closed front door. But he didn’t waste time trying to understand; instead he saw this as divine intervention, his opportunity to confront Alex.

Momentarily tempted to shout out for the man, he resisted and began quietly searching the house, starting with the parlor. One reason not to call out for Alex, it might actually be better to find Anna instead, and if he did, he would tell her everything.

Afternoon sunshine replaced morning rain clouds. Danielle and Evan had joined Lily