Frederick’s ghostly gaze drifted to something only he could see as Judy carefully unfolded the vellum and began reading. “The contents of this strongbox belong to Frederick George Klein,” Judy read. “It goes on to say that if something should happen to him, the money should go to his wife, Prudence Marie Klein. It’s signed and dated the twentieth of April, 1854.” Judy surveyed the area. “Where is he, Meredith?”
“He’s next to me to my left.”
“Grandfather, what do you want me to do with your fortune now? Prudence and her children are long gone.”
Frederick’s image had already begun to fade, and he continued to stare off into the distance. Meredith heard his ghostly gasp, and she knew the warm golden light beckoned to him. This was a critical moment.
“Prudence!” he called out. “I see my dear wife. She’s been waiting for me all these years. My boys! There are my boys. Here comes my beautiful daughter, and they’re calling to me.”
“Now that your fortune is in the hands of your family, you are free to go.” Meredith smiled as Frederick’s face radiated joy. He glanced at Judy one last time, his expression one of gratitude and love, and then he was gone.
“But what should we do with the coins?” Judy asked.
“I’m sorry, Judy. He stopped caring about earthly concerns the moment John uncovered the box. He’s gone. What you do with the contents of that box is something you and your family will have to work out on your own.” Meredith smiled.
“I’m glad you have Frederick’s will to document your find and ownership, along with all the pictures and the video Oliver took. I have no idea how things like this are handled since this is park land. Before you do anything, consult a lawyer,” she suggested.
“One thing I know for sure, this calls for a celebration.” John took the letter from Judy, placed it back in the jar and into the box with the coins. He gathered the tools and the treasure and stowed them in his backpack. Oliver helped John hoist the pack onto his back. “Oliver, will you take the shovel?”
“Sure. What kind of celebration are we thinking?”
“It just so happens we brought a very expensive bottle of whiskey with us, and I’m sure we have sodas in the fridge we can use as mixers. What do you say we head to the saloon and toast Frederick, Prudence and their three children?”
“Why the saloon?” Oliver asked, once again looking anxious.
“Because that’s where we always went when trying to contact my great-great-grandfather, and Keoghan’s Saloon is where we finally met him,” Judy said. “It seems fitting somehow, and it’ll be like we’re going out to celebrate rather than staying in.”
“We have chips, guacamole, and salsa leftover from dinner,” Meredith added. “I’ll bring them along.”
“I’m not legal.” Oliver picked up the shovel and started out for the trail leading to the cabin.
“You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to, but I think we should stick together this evening,” Meredith said. “If you do have a shot or two, we won’t tell if you don’t.”
As the four of them made their way along the path, a peaceful, happy feeling settled over Meredith. She always felt this way after helping a soul depart, and it almost made her sacrifice worth the hit her savings would take.
Soon she’d head into Missoula to begin the ancestry search on Daniel’s family. Tonight she’d celebrate with her new friends, and maybe she’d see Daniel at the saloon. She couldn’t wait to tell him the good news. Frederick had found peace at last.
Daniel trailed after the group of revelers as they returned to Garretsville. After his conversation with Meredith, he hadn’t wanted to stay, but he hadn’t wanted to leave either. So he’d remained invisible, hovering out of chill range as they found Frederick’s fortune.
He’d seen the golden light beckoning, and he’d witnessed Frederick’s family calling to his friend. Daniel had tried to follow Frederick into the golden glow, and once again he’d found his way barred by an invisible barrier.
Here he remained with his attention fixed upon Meredith and his existence a maelstrom of emotions he shouldn’t have the capacity to feel. Letting loose a ghostly groan, he continued on to the saloon to await the arrival of the celebrants. The moment he drifted inside Keoghan’s, Daniel sensed the agitation. The other ghosts were somehow aware that one of their numbers had departed.
“Where is she?”
“Yeah! Where’s that woman who helped Frederick?”
“I want to go home …”
“Help me …”
They all spoke at once, clamoring for attention, and he imagined this was what Meredith faced all the time when in the presence of the dead. Daniel circulated among the linger of ghosts.
“I promise you’ll get your turn, and it will be soon. Don’t harangue the lassie this eve. Let her seek out each of you on her own,” he told them. It took some convincing and explaining about Meredith’s mission in Garretsville, but they finally understood and drifted into their usual routines.
The living entered then, carrying food, drink, and glasses. A phantom lump formed in Daniel’s ghostly throat as he beheld Meredith. Her aura shone more brightly this evening, the rainbow colors more vivid, and her smile lit up the entire saloon. If he were alive, he’d hand her his heart on a silver tray and pledge his lifelong devotion to her this very moment.
Even as he shook off the ridiculous notion, he couldn’t help but drift closer, nor could he prevent the smile and the rush of happiness seeing her brought him. “Good
