Chapter Four
The group took a pickuptruck and Maudie gave them directions.When they got as far as they could by truck, Maudie motioned for King to pull over.
He did so, then he looked around the area with wary eyes.“No one ever comes this way Maudie.Why are we here?”
Maudie lifted her chin.‘We never come this way because everyone thinks it’s haunted.But it ain’t.”Shaking her head she admitted, “It ain’t haunted at all.All this land be Hogan land.Grace made sure of that and she’s probably the first one that said it was haunted too but it ain’t.This be where Jed built Sharon’s cabin and Grace led people away from here to hide what she wanted hidden.”Maudie got out of the truck and began walking into the trees.
Everyone else followed.
Then suddenly, she stopped and stared ahead of her.
King was the first to see a small cabin sitting there.It had a garden area that looked clean and half-grown vegetables were poking up through the dirt.
Renee caught her breath and just stared at the small cabin.“Oh, my heavens...”She whispered as she stumbled forward and then caught herself.
Leeza looked to her left and found a headstone surrounded by a rock border.She went closer and read the epitaph aloud, “Sharon Langley, no birth date but there’s another date on the wooden maker, ten years ago.”The rest of the words on the slab wereDaughter, Mother and Grandmother.Each word looked like it had been etched deep into the wood by a blade.The words were beginning to fade as weather had marred the wood wearing it down with time.
King moved forward with Maudie.
When they got closer they could see someone had been living here long after Sharon died.The place was neat, painted and the glass on the windows were shiny.Flowers grew by the porch.The trees looked clipped and were thriving.
King just shook his head.“I never knew about this place.”
Rhetta snorted.“No one else did either.I have to wonder how she ever survived out here alone.”
Leeza stepped up and said, “She died ten years back but I don’t think she was alone.Her headstone says...Daughter, mother and grandmother.”
Maudie snapped her gaze over to the headstone and asked, “Grandmother?Are you sure?”
Leeza nodded.“Sure enough.It is odd though.
Maudie shrugged.“Don’t know about the grandmother part but I think we should look around and ask some questions.”
“You think we should search the cabin?”Renee wanted to know.
Maudie shook her head.“That cabin isn’t ours to look around in.We can’t just barge in and have a looksee.”She backed up a step and said, “We have ta go home now.We found what we were looking for.”She walked slowly over to the headstone and bowed her head to whisper, “I be sorry Ms.Sharon.I left you all alone out here and didn’t come back to check on you like I should have.I be real sorry about dat.You never deserved what Ms.Grace did to you and now it’s too late to make any difference.I let you down and I’m real sorry.Please forgive me?”Sniffling, she wiped her tears away.
King joined her.He waited until she seemed ready then he silently led her away.
They all got back into the truck and King drove back to their house.
When they got home there were the Hogans, waiting for them.The Hogan cousins had arrived too.Tiege, Jordy, Tannin, Mickey, Colt and Ragan.
Renee got out and shook her head.“I said after supper, you guys.”
Harry, Sonny and Clive glared at her.
“We ain’t waitin’ for after supper.You got something to tell us, you can say it right now.”Clive growled.
Renee shook her head.“Ya’ll need to calm down, Clive.It ain’t nothing bad, fool.But it ain’t really so good either.It happened long before any of us were even thought of, or any of our dad’s either.”
Maudie joined Renee and looked around at them all.“Maybe everyone should come into the house.I think it has come time you were told of the Hogan family secret.”She moved into the house and she went to the kitchen.
Leeza, Rhetta and Reecie joined her then they set up drinks for everyone.
