Horribly Haunted in Hillbilly Hollow by Blythe Baker

Author:Blythe Baker [Baker, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

When we got to the church, all the older folks, including my grandparents, had lawn chairs on the sidewalk and crowds of people were already in the street. Tucker and his deputies had the street blocked off to through traffic, their white headlights flashing onto the storefronts across from the church.

Suzy, Brian, Billy, and I stood behind my grandparents, and Suzy’s grandmother, who was sitting beside them. Danny Baxter, the Youth Pastor, stepped up and said a few words while some of the teenagers from the congregation passed out candles stuck through little paper plates to everyone gathered.

Next to Danny stood Betty Blackwood, who followed him, walking to the top step of the church door to reiterate the reward the historical society was offering. She may have just been historical society president, but she should’ve gone into government politics the way she worked that crowd. I couldn’t help but feel she didn’t miss Preacher Jacob quite as much as she would like to have people think.

I half-expected Prudence to get up and say something about Preacher Jacob, but she was an absolute wreck. Her mother, Margene, was doing her best to hold her up as she sobbed and wailed. Eventually, she got some help from a couple of the older church deacons. One of the old men from the sidewalk stood up and waved them all over to where he was, offering Prudence his aluminum, green-and-white webbed chair. She collapsed into it as if she had lost all will to go on.

At the end of the vigil, Tucker stood up and reminded everyone again that they wanted to speak to anyone who saw Preacher Jacob on the day of his death, or who had any information on anything unusual in the area near the old fort that night.

As he spoke, Suzy and I both leaned forward, around Brian and each put a hand up to shield our lips from onlookers as we simultaneously mouthed the words, ‘crazy handsome.’ We suppressed an inappropriate giggle as we each covered our mouths with our hands and stood back upright.

As people started to scatter, Grandma said she’d like to go by Margene Huffler’s place and help her see to Prudence.

“Emma, that means you need to ride back with me,” Grandpa said.

“Oh, Mr. Hooper, I’ll make sure she gets home,” Suzy said putting a hand on his arm sweetly.

“Oh, okay,” I replied, handing Grandpa the keys to the old truck. “My suitcase is in the back, so could you leave the truck unlocked when you get home please?” I leaned forward and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Always do. Be careful, kids,” he said to all of us and none of us in particular before he picked up the folding chairs and walked down the block toward the truck.

I walked with Suzy, Brian and Billy back toward the end of the business district.

“Well, we’re over here,” Suzy said. “Talk to you tomorrow, Emma. Goodnight, you guys.” She grabbed Brian’s hand and turned down the side street.

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