The ghost rubbed his chin and frowned. “Where we met earlier would do.”
“All right,” Meredith said. “We’ll gather there tomorrow right after the park closes.”
“Grandfather, I brought family pictures to Garretsville with me. Shall I bring them tomorrow?” Judy said.
Frederick began the weepy-smiling again, and he nodded.
“He says yes.” Meredith glanced at the two spirits. “We’ll see you tomorrow night then,” she said, rising from her place at the table. Was that disappointment she glimpsed from Daniel? She managed to leave Keoghan’s without looking back. “This has been an eventful day, and I could use a glass of wine.”
“My poor ancestor has been stuck here all these years because he never told his wife he’d hidden away money for their future.” Judy shook her head. “My heart aches for Frederick and Prudence. Ellen wrote in her journal that her mother never remarried because Frederick had been the great love of her life. Prudence told her children that she’d rather live alone with her memories than pretend to care that deeply for another man. All three of her children and their families lived nearby. She had many grandchildren to dote on and look after. She was content.”
That brought a lump to Meredith’s throat. The thought of how the couple’s story had been cut short broke her heart. Having helped so many spirits cross into the light, she wasn’t sure hell existed, but she hoped a special place of torment awaited the murderous marauders on the other side.
5
The day had been perfect and cloudless, and the temperature still hovered around seventy. Other than tourists complaining about the chill when Daniel stopped by, Meredith’s stint in the gift shop had gone without a hitch.
She couldn’t imagine how awful it must be for him to hear and witness how the living reacted to his presence. If only she knew of some way to shield him from those comments.
“Ready?” Meredith asked as she and her cabinmates gathered on the front porch. John carried a shovel he’d borrowed from the maintenance shed. He also wore a backpack, while Judy carried a slender, leather-bound photo album. Oliver had his hands jammed into his front pockets. He looked a little nervous and a lot interested. Did he have foil-wrapped chocolate squares in those pockets?
“Let’s go,” she said, leading the way to the back of the cabin. They tromped up the hill to meet Frederick Klein’s ghost.
“Do you see him?” Judy asked. “Is he here?”
“Yes, he’s waiting for us, and so is Daniel.” She glanced at Oliver. “He too was a victim of the gang of three who murdered Frederick.”
Oliver tensed. “Speaking of the three …”
“They aren’t here,” she assured him.
“Good, good.” Oliver’s gaze darted around the platform.
“Miss, my claim is not far from here,” Frederick’s voice whispered through her mind as he indicated the direction they’d be going. “But … my granddaughter … what is it she’s … holding?” The ghost fixed his attention on the photo album.
“Frederick is very interested in the photo album. We still have plenty of sunlight left if you want to show him the pictures before we head for the treasure.”
“I’d love to.” Judy sat down on the platform and placed the album on her lap. “I have pictures from all three of your children’s weddings, and I have family pictures including Prudence and your grandchildren. I’ve always been the family archivist.” Judy glanced at Meredith the second Frederick sat down beside her. “Brr, I can feel him beside me,” she said.
“I’m sure you can, and he’s looking very pleased about seeing the family photos.” He was in fact radiant and visibly moved at the prospect of seeing how his family had thrived and grown over the years.
“Have you ever led a ghost’s kin to buried treasure before, lass?” Daniel asked as he came to hover beside her.
She hadn’t been surprised to find him with Frederick, but Daniel’s presence upset her equilibrium. “Yes, in a manner of speaking,” she said, keeping her voice low and moving away from where Frederick, Oliver and the Schultes were looking at pictures. “It’s not so different from the vow which keeps you earthbound.” Her tone sounded a bit curt even to her, and she drew in a breath and let it out slowly to calm herself. Her confusing and conflicted attraction to him was not his fault.
“Someone stashes away important documents, a valuable family heirloom, money, and they die without telling anyone where those things are. When that happens, it’s difficult for a spirit to move on. They haunt, and more often than you would imagine, the family will seek help from someone like me to resolve the issue.” She glanced at him. “There are websites on the internet, psychic organizations people can turn to.”
“Are you upset with me?”
“Yes,” she blurted before she could think better of it. “I mean … No, not with you but with the situation.” She shrugged. “You’re not like any ghost I’ve ever encountered before, and I’m feeling a little off balance is all.”
His brow creased as he studied her. “In what way am I different?”
Her breath hitched at his look of concern. No ghost had ever cared whether or not they’d upset her before. None had ever attempted to cheer her up or compliment her work ethic either. “What sets you apart is that you show an interest in me. I don’t understand why you care about my feelings. We’re strangers. I’m alive and you’re … not.”
“I see.” He did that staring off toward the horizon thing that all ghosts seemed to do. “I wish I could explain why I want to know you better … why I care. Alas, I cannot. I too find I’m off kilter in your presence. Since you came to Garretsville, I’ve had thoughts and experienced emotions I’ve not had since being alive. It’s as if I’ve been asleep for decades and you woke me.”
Their gazes
