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

family, a rather interesting story. According to Emily, what makes it so intriguing, it comes from a gold mine in one of the local mountains.”

“I don’t recall any mines in this area,” Walt said.

“No, most are south or east of here. But according to Emily, she had a great-uncle who prospected in the local mountains and hit gold. He didn’t tell anyone where his mine was; he was very secretive. He only told his sister. But she didn’t believe him, so to prove he had actually hit gold, he gave his sister one of his nuggets. That’s the one that was passed down to Caitlin. Although this is all a little awkward, especially with Ginny being one of our new docents.”

“Awkward, how?” Danielle asked.

“The board didn’t see any reason to make a press release until after the display case we ordered arrives and we schedule the official opening for the new exhibit. We thought a little luncheon would be nice. But when I mentioned something to Ginny about it the other day, she didn’t seem to know anything about the donation her cousin had made.”

“Did she know about the gold nugget?” Danielle asked.

Millie shrugged. “I’m not really sure.”

“What happened to this uncle?” Danielle asked.

“According to Emily, he disappeared. And his gold mine—and whatever gold he took from it—was lost forever. It will make a wonderful exhibit, don’t you think?” Millie grinned.

“You don’t know this uncle’s name, do you?” Walt asked.

“Of course. His name was Bud Benson,” Millie said.

Thirty-Four

“A gold mine makes more sense,” Danielle told Walt as he held the door open for her. Early afternoon sunlight flooded the museum’s entry as Danielle stepped outside, followed by Walt. He let the door close behind them as they walked down the steps to the sidewalk.

“More sense than a pirate treasure?” Walt teased. He took her right hand in his, and together they walked toward the Packard parked nearby.

Danielle let out a sigh and said, “He was up in those mountains doing something. And considering how he looked, I’d say he was up there for a while. A hidden pirate treasure made no sense to me, because why would they take it up there and leave it? My bet, whoever stole the carriage and horses took off on the horses after they left the carriage in the mountains, with whatever they brought with them.”

“That’s what I always assumed. I’d heard the carriage had a broken wheel when they found it, which would explain why they abandoned it. But the gold mine story, that’s a new one for me,” Walt said.

When they reached the Packard, Walt opened the passenger door for Danielle. Just as she was about to get in, she stopped and said, “Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

Walt frowned. “Um… yes.”

Danielle cringed. “Remember, Adam invited us to his house on Sunday for a barbecue.”

“We should be back by then,” Walt said.

“I don’t remember getting the time.” Danielle glanced at her watch and then looked back at Walt. “Since we’re over here anyway, why don’t we stop by his office. He should be there. We can find out what time we’re supposed to be at his place. I hope it’s not early.”

Cory’s intention had been to cruise by Marlow House to see if they were home. He worried they might decide to go up to the mountains on Saturday instead of Sunday. When he followed them up to the mountains—today or tomorrow—he wasn’t sure what he planned to do next.

He spied their Packard parked by the museum as he drove through town. Instead of continuing to Marlow House, he parked down the street from the museum and watched.

Sitting in his parked car, slumped low in the driver’s seat, Cory peered over his steering wheel and watched as Walt and Danielle got into the Packard. A moment later they drove down the street. Just as Cory was about to turn on his ignition, the Packard drove by Lucy’s Diner and then pulled over and parked again. He watched as Walt and Danielle got out of the car and then walked up to the front door of Frederickport Vacation Properties’ office. A moment later, they went inside. Instead of turning on his motor, Cory settled back in his seat and continued to wait and watch.

“Afternoon, are you here to see Adam?” Adam’s assistant, Leslie, greeted Walt and Danielle when they walked into the front office of Frederickport Vacation Properties.

“Yeah, is he here?” Danielle asked.

“He’s in his office.” Leslie glanced down at the phone; the line to Adam’s phone was not lit. She looked back up and smiled. “He was on the phone, but he just got off. Go on back.”

“Thanks, Leslie,” Danielle said as Walt gave the assistant a smile and nod.

When they reached Adam’s office a few moments later, they found the door open. Instead of walking in, they stopped by the doorway while Danielle knocked on the doorjamb and called out, “Hello?”

Adam looked up, and immediately his smile turned to a frown. “How dare you show yourself,” he called out.

Danielle walked into the office, Walt trailing behind her. “What did we do?”

“Trying to sabotage my barbecue?” Adam asked, sounding as if he was only half joking. “I just got off the phone with Chris. He asked when he was supposed to be there, and that he would get back to me after talking to you if he could still make it.”

“What time did you want us over there?” Danielle asked, now all the way in the office, Walt by her side.

“I was thinking of five. What’s going on? You having a party without me?” Adam asked.

Danielle glanced at Walt, who gave her a nod and said, “That will work.”

She looked back to Adam. “Chris will be there. So will we. In fact, that’s why we stopped by.”

Walt stepped toward Adam, who now stood behind his desk. Walt put out his hand and greeted Adam, who accepted the gesture. A moment later they all sat down, Adam at