O'Hare House Mysteries by Kate Danley

Author:Kate Danley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katherine Danley

Distilled Spirits

Book Three – O'Hare House Mysteries

By Kate Danley

To Buddy

1

Red gave Minnie, the ghost of Wesley's sister, a friendly tip of his hat from high atop his cab. He was distracted by his horse whinnying, though, and failed to see Minnie as she faded into thin air.

"Whoa, Daisy!" Red said, getting his horse to settle down. By the time he turned back, Minnie had disappeared completely from sight. He jerked his chin towards the porch of Clara's little brick house and said in his friendly brogue, "Did she go inside? Funny, that. You'd think she would have stayed to hold the door open for you."

Clara was grateful Minnie had timed things to avoid an awkward conversation. After all that Clara and Wesley had been through that day vanquishing the angry mummy of an ancient Egyptian queen and such, she just did not know if she had it in her to explain the ghostly inhabitants of her home. It seemed a bit much.

But then the smallest, strangest idea took shape in Clara's mind. She glanced at Wesley wondering what he would think of this impetuousness, then squared her shoulders and asked, "Red? I was wondering if I could invite you in for tea to discuss a potential employment opportunity. I shall, of course, recompense you for your lost time."

Wesley looked at Clara as if she was mad, but she merely smiled back at his questioning look, her green eyes twinkling.

Red tipped his hat again with his long, freckled hand. He seemed a bit dumbstruck, but grateful for the surprise. "I would be most obliged."

Clara gave him directions to the servants' entrance behind her home, which also featured a more comfortable resting place for his horse. As Red's lanky figure and the gentle clip-clop of Daisy's hooves faded down the block, Clara and Wesley walked up the path towards her house on the garden square.

What horrors the two of them had endured these past few weeks, she reflected. First the massacre at Lord Oroberg's house when it was revealed Violet Nero had been possessed by the murderous spirit of a cursed Egyptian queen. Then Phineas Stokeman, who tried to channel that spirit into Clara. Wesley's auburn hair was a mess and his neat clothing torn. She protectively brushed some of the dirt from his jacket shoulders. They had both come very close to an unpleasant end. She could not help but think how empty her life would be if anything were to happen to him.

All of these musings she kept to herself, though. Wesley seemed preoccupied.

He looked back inquisitively at where Red had dropped them off. "What was that you were saying about discussing employment opportunities with this young cab driver?"

"Young man? He looks at least twenty. I was married at his age," Clara ribbed. She needed a moment to gather her thoughts together, not entirely sure how to explain her hunch. "He could see Minnie," she finally explained. At the sound of Minnie's name, silent sadness clouded Wesley's face. Clara squeezed his arm, hoping that he would feel her love and support in that embrace.

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