The Guest House Hauntings Boxset by Hazel Holmes (novel books to read txt) 📕

Kegan shrugged. “Depends on what you have to offer.”

Sarah held up her hand, signaling for him to wait a minute, and then reached into her pocket. When she pulled it out, she flashed him the bird. “And that’s my final offer.”

Kegan laughed and took a sip of the whiskey. “Some guy must have burned you pretty bad.”

Without even realizing it, Sarah reached for her scarf and gently prodded the bruises underneath. “Bad isn’t the right word.”

“What was that?” Kegan asked, leaning over.

Sarah quickly shook her head, drained the rest of her whiskey, and set the glass down hard.

“You leaving?” Kegan asked.

“Yeah.” Sarah walked past him quickly before he could stop her and ignored the locals by the door as she burst outside and into the frigid night air.

The combination of the warmth from the bar and the liquor rushing through her veins harshened the cold in the air.

Sarah stood on the roadside, arms crossed, feeling lost. She turned toward the mansion on the hill, the structure a shadow against the darkened night sky. It seemed that no matter how far she ran, or how old she grew, she couldn’t escape foreign homes filled with strangers she didn’t like.

Twenty years she’d been searching for a real home. She thought she’d finally found that in New York, but it turned out to be just another shattered dream in the long trail of broken memories that had brought Sarah here.

She never wanted this life. She didn’t ask for it. She was three when her parents were killed in a car crash. She knew it wasn’t their fault, but a part of her had always been bitter about their death, and none more so than now.

Her eyes grew red and wet as she reached for her shoulder, unable to feel the scars beneath the thick fabric of her jacket. She had spent her entire life fighting for the right to live, and every time she thought she’d earned the right to happiness, the rug was pulled out from beneath her feet.

“Ma’am?”

Sarah jumped and then turned to find a man nearby.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I’m—” And then Sarah noticed the uniform, the gun on his hip, and the badge on his chest.

“Ma’am?” The deputy stepped forward, and Sarah mirrored his motion in retreat.

“I’m fine.” Sarah blurt the words in a stutter and quickly turned away, keeping a brisk pace toward the mansion.

“All right,” the deputy said. “Have a good night!”

Sarah’s heart hammered wildly in her chest, and she hugged herself tight. She didn’t turn around; she didn’t look back. The last thing she needed was to be ID’d by the police.

Deputy Dell Parker lingered in the cold, watching the young woman walk back up toward the Bell Mansion. When she finally disappeared into the darkness, Dell shrugged and then turned toward Pat’s for his regular end-of-shift drink.

The ruckus was already in full swing when Dell swung the door open, and he gave a friendly wave to the regulars in their corner, who were in the throes of an argument over the damned stuffed bear on the wall.

“Fifteen feet, I’m telling you!” Sal reached his arms high above his head. “Biggest damn thing I’d ever seen.”

“The damn bear gets bigger every time you tell the story,” Joe said, waving a dismissive hand toward Sal.

Sal plopped back into his seat, grabbing the handle of his half-full mug of beer. “Well, your wife has a few stories to tell about you in the bedroom, and they get smaaaaaaller every time she tells it.”

The other fellas busted a gut laughing, and Joe slunk back into his seat, red-faced and sipping his beer.

Dell smirked and then wandered over to the bar where he saw Pat talking to someone. “Hey, Pat, I’ll have a Coors—”

The stranger turned around, raising a glass and flashing a crooked smile. “Hiya, Dell.” Kegan sipped from the whiskey and then set the glass down.”

“Kegan,” Dell said, stunned. “I didn’t realize you were back in town.”

“Came in the other day.” Kegan widened his grin, giving Dell a look up and down. “Well look at you. Officer Dell from Bell!”

“It’s Deputy, actually.” Dell took a seat at the bar, keeping one open stool between him and Kegan as Pat handed him his beer. “Thanks, Pat.”

Kegan chuckled to himself. “Giving me the cold shoulder, huh? Seems to be going around tonight.”

Dell set his beer down. “I’m not sure what you expected, Kegan.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Kegan spread his legs wide on the stool and then drummed his fingers on the bar. “I was just hoping we could put all of that behind us. Start fresh. After all, we have our reunion next year.”

“I’ll probably skip that,” Dell said.

“Are you kidding?” Kegan asked. “Look at you! All of those girls that wouldn’t sleep with you back then would be dying to get in the backseat of your cruiser now!” He leaned over, dropping his voice to a whisper. “All you have to do is flash those handcuffs.” He cackled then retreated to his own section of the bar.

“I’m not going to have any trouble tonight am I, boys?” Pat flashed his eyes between the pair.

“Oh, c’mon, Pat!” Kegan waved a hand. “We’re just catching up. We’ll be fine.”

Dell nodded. “We’re good, Pat.”

“All right.” Pat disappeared, leaving the pair alone, aside from the raucous group still debating the bear’s size.

“How long you in town for?” Dell kept his tone polite, but kept his attention on the beer.

“Not sure,” Kegan answered. “Depends on how long Grandmother lasts.” Kegan’s voice trailed off.

Dell looked over. “I didn’t know she wasn’t doing well. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well, she’s old.” Kegan shrugged, the playfulness gone as he took another sip of his drink.

While Dell had never been fond of the old woman—she had used to treat him like roadkill she’d found on the side of the road—he knew that she had a lot to do in raising Kegan. She was more mother than grandmother. He raised his glass. “To Iris Bell.”

Kegan turned and raised