The Ghost of Calico Acres by Bonnie Turner

Author:Bonnie Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: psychology, occult, mystery suspense, cultural ethnic themes, gothic and romance, health wellbeing medicine, ghosts haunted houses
Publisher: Bonnie Turner

Chapter 14

North of Chippewa Falls, Marc could no longer see the road. His eyelids were heavy and fingers numb from gripping the steering wheel. He pulled into a small clearing surrounded by tall oaks and pines and killed the engine. He climbed out of the car and leaned against the side of it, shielding his eyes against the glaring sunlight to take stock of his surroundings.

The spot was secluded, far enough from the highway for privacy. He stretched the kinks out of his body, got back into the car, slumped against the door and fell asleep.

When he woke again, it was late afternoon. His neck was cramped and his feet numb. He sat up, rolled his head a few times, then tried moving his toes, which brought pins and needles as circulation returned. With some effort, he managed to get out of the car. His legs almost buckled as he stood running his fingers through his hair, trying to decide what his next move should be. Then he saw her.

Raven sat on the ground with her back against a huge Bur Oak, and Spirit grazed nearby. Marc braced himself against the car, folded his arms across his chest and studied her. She neither acknowledged his presence nor smiled as she gazed back with a brooding look on her face. Then her eyes went out of focus. Marc stifled a laugh and she forced them back to him.

He went over and squatted on the ground before her.

“Have you come to guide me home?”

“Nimishoomis is dead.” Her voice showed no emotion, but her eyes were swollen and red.

“When?”

“Shortly after you left.”

“I’m very sorry,” he said. “I wish there’d been something I could do. Shouldn’t you have stayed to handle things?”

“No, I already said good-bye.” Raven’s voice broke as she brushed tears from her face. “There won’t be a normal burial. Lena—she’s one of the women you saw—she’ll handle the details. His ashes will be scattered on the Reservation.”

She had freshened up before following him: her clothes were clean, her hair straight and glossy over her shoulders.

Neither of them spoke for a few minutes, then Raven composed herself enough to say, “I’ve been here about an hour, watching you sleep and listening to you snore.”

“I don’t snore,” Marc said. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I didn’t dare,” Raven replied. “You seemed angry back there. Besides, you were exhausted, and you do snore.”

Marc dropped to the ground beside her. “Why did you come after me? Little girls can get in trouble chasing strange men.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore,” she replied. “I wanted to thank you for driving up here.”

“I didn’t have any choice,” Marc said. “You were hysterical.”

“And to apologize,” she added.

He got to his feet and reached for her hand.

“If you want the truth,” he said, helping her up, “I think I was out of my mind for agreeing to come up here. If you have no objections, I’m going to find something to eat and get moving again.” He waited for her

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