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

“Oh, you want me to protect Connor?” Evan asked.

“Of course,” Danielle said with a smile. “And if that ghost shows up, you tell him Alex is waiting across the street and wants to talk to him. When he leaves, make sure Lily or Ian calls me and lets me know he’s on his way.”

“Okay, I promise. I’d better go stand guard outside Connor’s room.” Evan stood up and raced to the hall.

“Do you really think the ghost will come here?” Lily asked when Evan was out of earshot.

“I doubt it. But I think it’s best Evan is not there if the ghost shows up again. We don’t know what kind of issue he had with Walt’s parents, and no telling what he might say,” Danielle explained.

“I agree,” Walt said. “But I can’t imagine what connection he has with my parents, or why he’s so angry with my father.”

“That ghost probably died up in those mountains,” Heather said.

“That’s what I figure,” Walt agreed. “But what does that have to do with my parents? Who is he?”

“We won’t find out sitting around here.” Danielle then looked at Heather and asked, “You want to come with us?”

Walt and Heather sat alone in the parlor while waiting for Danielle to return with some sandwiches. Max, who had followed them back to Marlow House, now curled up under the parlor desk, napping. Walt reclined on the sofa, while Heather claimed one of the empty chairs facing him. She had just gotten off the phone after calling Chris, suggesting he come over to Marlow House, when Walt asked, “So how is Brian doing today?”

Setting her cellphone on the side table, she glanced up at Walt and shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

Walt smiled. “We had quite the adventure.”

“I’m in no hurry to go camping again,” Heather said.

“But it is interesting how traumatic events can bring two people together. Sometimes two people who seem the most unlikely pair.”

Heather looked at Walt for a few moments and then groaned. “Seriously, Walt? You know?”

“Max saw Brian’s car in your driveway early this morning,” Walt explained.

Heather glanced over to Max and frowned. “Nosey cat.” She looked back to Walt and asked, “Do you think I’m crazy?”

“Do you really care what anyone thinks about your relationship with Brian?” he asked.

Unable to suppress a grin, she said, “Not really.” Her grin quickly faded, and she added, “But his friends, like Joe, will think he’s nuts and will let him know. It’s one reason I’d rather keep this quiet for now. Not because of what anyone will think, but I’m really enjoying Brian—which honestly surprises the hell out of me—yet I’m not so naïve to think this will last, at least not once his friends find out.”

Walt considered Heather’s words a moment before saying, “If Brian lets his friends influence his feelings about you, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

“That’s sweet of you to say.”

“I also understand the desire to keep it to yourself for now.” Leaning back in the sofa, Walt crossed one leg over an opposing knee.

“Like you and Danielle did when you eloped?”

“Exactly. We realized people wouldn’t understand—especially those who believed I was Clint. It’s not that we felt their opinions would change our feelings or keep us apart, but we just didn’t want to deal with it. We simply wanted that time together with no interference and outside drama.”

“You understand,” Heather said.

Walt nodded. “Danielle knows too. But we won’t say anything to anyone. Not until you’re ready.”

Heather cocked her brow. “You seriously believe Danielle won’t tell Lily?”

Walt smiled. “She won’t. We had a long talk about it. The only reason I’m saying anything to you, I wanted to tell you we know, in case you needed someone to talk to. We’ll respect your privacy, I promise.”

When Danielle joined Walt and Heather in the parlor with the sandwiches and iced tea, she had Chris with her. Instead of coming to the front door, Chris and his pit bull, Hunny, had entered by the side yard. Chris had come into the house through the kitchen door, while leaving Hunny in the yard to play. Chris had been just in time to help Danielle carry the food and beverages to the parlor.

After setting the food tray on the coffee table, Danielle distributed the sandwiches and drinks and then took a seat on the sofa next to Walt, while Chris sat on the empty chair next to Heather. While eating the sandwiches, they filled Chris in on the events of that day regarding the unexpected appearance of the mystery ghost.

“And you’re sure this was the same ghost you saw in the mountains?” Chris asked.

“The ghost I saw on the beach today was the same one who shot at us in the mountains,” Heather said. “Why did he follow us here?”

“Ghosts in this state rarely stick around long enough to explain why they’re doing whatever they are doing,” Chris said. “Instead, they keep popping in and out like a flickering lightbulb getting ready to die.”

“But in their case, they’re already dead,” Danielle quipped.

“So when the ghost returns, we shouldn’t expect him to sit down and explain why he shot at us, why he was in the mountains, and why he wants to see Walt’s dad?” Heather snarked.

Chris shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“If he shows up again, let’s at least try getting his name,” Walt said.

“Knowing when and where he died would help. But it doesn’t sound as if he’s aware of his death,” Chris said.

“At least we’re fairly certain where he died,” Heather said. “Up in the mountains, considering that’s where his spirit was hanging out when we first saw him.”

“Was there anything about his apparition that showed cause of death? Like a knife sticking out of his back, a gaping head wound?” Chris asked.

Heather, Danielle, and Walt all shook their heads no.

“He had a rifle when we saw him in the mountains,” Heather began. “But he didn’t have it when I saw him today.”

“He didn’t have it when Evan and I saw him, either,”