Ghosts in the Garden by Silverthorne Judith

Author:Silverthorne, Judith [Silverthorne, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: mystery, watch, girls, love story, suspense, Saskatchewan, Government House, ghosts, thriller, history
ISBN: 9781550509083
Publisher: Coteau Books
Published: 2017-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

•••

“What were you doing?” demanded J.J. “You left me out here on my own.”

“You didn’t want to come,” Sam grumbled. “Besides, I wasn’t gone long.”

“Long enough! It’s creepy out here all alone.” J.J. blinked back tears and swallowed hard to calm her anger.

A guilty look flashed across Sam's face. “Sorry! I won’t do it again. I promise, J. J. At least, not on purpose.”

“Not at any time. From now on we stick close together, no matter what happens.”

“Agreed,” Sam said.

“I want to go home now.” J.J. grabbed Sam’s arm and pulled her across the shadowy grounds. “Will it work if we touch the staff building?”

“I hope so,” Sam said.

Halfway across the grounds, Sam slowed. “Sorry, my knee is bugging me,” she said, bending to rub it.

“Doesn’t look like we’re going to get back home so fast anyway,” J.J. said. “Look over there.”

“Oh no,” Sam said.

Two men stood close together on the path to the staff residence. Right where they needed to be.

“I thought everyone was helping inside the main house,” J.J. said.

“Must be the coachmen of the landau.”

“Isn’t one of them Bert?” J.J. asked.

“I think you’re right.”

J.J. looked around. Was there another way to get past them? “We could go the long way around the staff residence, I guess.”

“That’ll take too long in the dark. I wonder if we could distract them somehow.”

“I don’t see any rocks to throw,” J.J. said.

“Let’s get closer to see what they’re talking about,” Sam suggested. “Maybe we can figure out what their plans are.”

J.J. and Sam edged nearer, keeping to the shadows of trees and bushes, being careful about where they stepped.

“Slow down,” Sam hissed. She bent down and rubbed her knee.

“Are you going to be okay?” J.J. asked quietly. “Maybe we need to come up with another plan.” She wasn’t sure what they’d be able to do if Sam couldn’t run.

“I’ll be fine,” Sam whispered. “I just needed a break.”

“We’re not close enough yet,” J.J. said. The men’s voices were louder now, but she still couldn’t hear what they were saying. J.J. pointed to a caragana hedge. “Can you make it that far?”

Sam nodded. J.J. dashed toward the hedge, with Sam limping behind her. They burrowed into it.

One of the men laughed. Bert showed the other man something that glinted in the moonlight.

“You’re one lucky devil, Bert, to have a swell gal like Lily give you such a great pocket watch,” said the second man.

“Don’t I know it,” he said.

“The carving on it means it was expensive.”

“Yes, she’s a thing of beauty. All I need now is a silver chain.” Bert polished the watch with a handkerchief while J.J. peered through the caragana branches for a better look.

“That should be easy enough to find in a second-hand shop.”

“That’s where Lily probably got such a fine watch in the first place,” Bert said. “I’ve always wanted a pocket watch, just like my granddad had. It’s a similar age to his old time piece.” Bert looked at his watch with pride. “Quite exquisite. I’m ever so grateful to her.

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