AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Their footsteps have the old house creaking as they sweep the floors. Their voices fade and the silence they leave behind has Jayce and I clinging to each other.
“Do you feel anything here, Rav?” Jayce whispers. I shake my head because despite feeling utterly paranoid and like someone is watching us, I don’t feel anything remotely ghostly.
“When she came to me last, I heard her, but I didn’t feel anything dark or heavy. So, she could be here somewhere but I don’t think she’s around right now.”
“Good,” he mutters, making me laugh. “I already need a stiff drink.”
“Same,” I agree. “This whole thing is insane. We suddenly have an entire property at our disposal. And you know, I always loved it out here but didn’t like my uncle much. Pandora was great but he made it hard to be too close.”
“He sounds like he was a joy to be around,” Jayce deadpans. He is attempting to lighten the mood like Eli does. It’s funny how easily we’re picking up each other’s nuances.
“Once my Aunt Katie died, he turned bitter,” I admit. “He was mad at the world and Pandora looked a whole lot like her. I imagine that didn’t help their relationship.”
Footsteps echo down the hall again, cutting off our conversation as the other two join us, talking about the decor throughout the house.
“Good news. There’s furniture and random decor in the rest of the house,” Eli says. “Bad news, there’s furniture and decor in the house. It’s…”
He looks at Lucien for help and the other man just chuckles.
“It’s awful,” he admits. “Dirty, broken, it’ll be a chore clearing it all out. An open house estate sale might be our best option. Someone cleared this space out so we could always set up shop here.”
“Not a bad plan,” I say as I rub my temples. This whole situation is giving me a headache and seeing the farmhouse hasn’t helped me get any closer to a decision.
Raven
Without saying a word, I head for the door, hoping that the fresh air will help clear my mind. Why is it that my life was finally back on track since the accident and now this curve ball is derailing all that?
I’m massaging my temples when a hand taps me on the shoulder.
“Miss Blackwood?” an unfamiliar voice questions.
I turn to face the voice and note that it’s the sheriff. It’s impossible to miss with the stereotypical shiny badge pinned to his belt.
“Wow, that was fast,” I mutter to myself.
“What was that?” he asks.
“Yes, I’m Raven Blackwood.,” I reply, ignoring the second question.
“I’m Sheriff Newell. I was told that there’s been some kind of disturbance here you wanted to report,” he states, hooking his thumbs in his belt loops. He’s wearing a cowboy hat and boots, not a uniform as one would expect.
Sheriff Newell had to be the most handsome lawman I’d ever seen, he looks as if he has stepped out of a movie or TV show. Is this real life? If I wouldn’t look like an idiot I'd pinch myself.
“Rav?” Lucien calls from behind me. “You okay?”
“Yes,” I answer, turning toward him and the house. “The sheriff, here, was just introducing himself.”
“He looks a little young to be Sheriff,” Lucien comments. It seems my former ghost is a bit on the jealous side.
“Well sir, I’ll take that as a compliment. My father, before me, was sheriff. The people of the county thought I was well suited to fill his shoes, so here I am,” the sheriff smiles. I’m grateful the comment didn’t put him in a bad mood.
“Sheriff, this is Lucien Wolf, one of my boyfriends,” I say with a smile. He raises his eyebrows at my words and I hold my breath, waiting for his response.
“Excuse me, ma’am, did you say ‘one?’” he questions.
“Yes, sir. We aren’t what you’d call conventional,” I tell him.
“As long as you're all happy, I’m not one to judge. Your statement just caught me off guard is all,” he says with a tip of his hat. This sheriff had enough charm to play off his confusion easily.
