“I believe the containment method is the only thing that will work.” Containment involved setting up an electromagnetic boundary around the spirits, trapping them so the only way out was to cross into the light. That meant bringing in equipment. “I haven’t spoken to him yet. I’ll call him today. The room I’m staying in has an extra twin bed, and so does the loft. If he comes too, you can both stay with us in the cabin.”
She needed to check with Oliver to make sure he’d be okay with a roommate for a few days. If not, she’d sleep on the couch and give her room to her dad and aunt. She didn’t want to say anything to Ranger Geller about the arrangement in case company was against the rules. Odds were he wouldn’t show up during the few days her dad and aunt would be there anyway.
“Let me talk to Gene about this,” her aunt said. “I need to discuss another matter with my brother anyway. It might take the two of us a week or two to arrange everything, but you can count on our help.”
“Thanks. Let me know when everything is arranged. I drove here, so I can pick you up at the airport in Missoula. I’m always off duty on Mondays, and the park closes at 5:00 PM, so try to arrange your arrival accordingly.”
“Will do, and I’ll call back soon.”
They said their goodbyes, and Meredith locked up the store. She set out for the cabin in search of Oliver and found Judy sitting in her favorite place on the couch. The book about Garretsville she’d been reading the past couple of days rested on her lap. The scent of fresh coffee and recently burned sage permeated the cabin. “Is Oliver around?”
“Nope.” Judy inserted a bookmark and closed her book. “What’s up?”
“I spoke with my aunt. She and my father are coming to Garretsville to help with the trio of trouble. I want to ask Oliver if he’d mind letting my dad bunk with him for a few days.”
“I’m sure he’d be fine with sharing the loft. Oliver said he wanted to walk around Garretsville, but I suspect he went to the saloon in search of ghostly encounters.”
Meredith groaned. “He’s not taking my warning seriously.”
“I’m afraid not. He’s very young and probably believes bad hauntings only happen in horror movies. Are you going to go find him?”
“I think I’d better, ” she said, striding toward her room.
Judy rose from the couch. “I’ll join you.”
“Where’s John?”
“He went to Missoula to check on things at home and run a few errands.”
“Give me a sec.” Meredith went straight for the dresser where she kept the abalone shell, sage, and lighter. She grabbed the bundled sage and stuffed the lighter into a pocket before joining Judy by the front door.
“That boy has an unhealthy fascination with ghosts,” Judy said as they stepped out of the cabin.
“He does. His preoccupation coupled with his naïveté make him the perfect target for possession,” Meredith agreed.
She and Judy set out for the saloon, and the worry gnawing at Meredith grew worse with every step. She approached the front door to the sound of objects hitting the walls and the angry wails of ghosts. “I have a very bad feeling about this. I think you should stay out here, Judy.”
“You’ll get no argument from me. Light the sage before you go in,” Judy whispered. “Take this.” She handed Meredith a nickel-sized piece of moonrise crystal.
“Thanks.” Meredith slid the crystal into her front pocket as she retrieved the lighter. She lit the sage and drew some of the smoke into her lungs. “Here,” she said. “Inhale. It’ll protect you from an attack when the spirits leave.”
Judy leaned over the sage and drew in a breath. She also waved smoke over her clothes.
Slowly opening the door, Meredith peered inside. Chairs had been knocked over, and a frigid blast of air hit her. Plastic glasses made to look like real barware littered the floor. At least someone had the foresight—or experience with previous hauntings?—to get rid of breakable glasses.
“Stay OUT!”
“Go away.”
“We don’t want you here.”
The evil three’s shouts reverberated inside her head, and a plastic shot glass from behind the bar flew across the room and hit the door. Meredith blew on the glowing end of the sage bundle, sending the smoke inside. She didn’t reply, knowing better than to engage with them on her own. Adrenaline surged through her veins, and the urge to flee nearly overcame her. Her heart hammering, goose bumps on the rise, she stepped inside and searched the dimly lit interior for Oliver.
“Oh no.” She located him huddled on the floor in a corner, his knees drawn up and his face buried in his arms. Ignoring the angry wails, curses and commands to leave, Meredith waved the sage in front of her. She had to grit her teeth to keep them from chattering in the unnatural cold, but there was nothing she could do to stop shivering.
Holding the smoking bundle before her, she made her way around the perimeter of the first floor, refusing to acknowledge or look at the mean ghosts doing their best to intimidate her.
Gradually the temperature began to rise, and the shouted insults from the trio faded.
Meredith crouched down in front of Oliver’s trembling form. “They’re gone, Oliver.” He didn’t move or respond. “Are you hurt? Did they harm you in any way?”
A muffled sob escaped him. Meredith placed her hand on his shoulder, finding him far too cold. “We need to get you back to the cabin and into a hot shower.”
Judy entered the saloon then and propped the door open. “What a mess.” She started righting the chairs that had been tipped over. “We’re going to have to get this place into shape before 8:00
