Haunting Danielle 27 The Ghost and the Mountain Man Read online

  The Ghost and Mountain Man

  (Haunting Danielle, Book 27)

  A Novel

  By Bobbi Holmes

  Cover Design: Elizabeth Mackey

  Copyright © 2021 Bobbi Holmes

  Robeth Publishing, LLC

  All Rights Reserved.

  This novel is a work of fiction.

  Any resemblance to places or actual persons,

  living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  https://robeth.net

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  The Ghost and the Birthday Boy

  Haunting Danielle Newsletter

  Haunting Danielle Series

  Bobbi Holmes

  Unlocked Hearts Series

  The Coulson Series

  Also by Bobbi Ann Johnson Holmes

  To all the essential workers who’ve been on the front lines during the last year. Thank you.

  One

  He stood on the sidewalk, ignoring the persistent morning rain, and focused his attention on the house across the street. He had almost missed it, almost walked right by. Looking at it now, he realized it was both familiar and almost unrecognizable. It was the trees; he decided. Not only more trees than he remembered, but much larger. And the neighboring houses—so many houses.

  If not for the large sign posted in front of the house, he might have kept walking. It hadn’t been there during his last visit. The sign said he had arrived at Marlow House. He continued to stand on the sidewalk, losing all track of time, something he did all too frequently.

  Finally, the rain subsided. He glanced to Marlow House’s mansard roofline and noted the position of the sun, surrounded by dissipating rain clouds. A few hours earlier he had witnessed the sunrise while standing on the pier. That was where he had spent last night.

  When first returning to Frederickport, the car he had been following turned a corner, disappearing from sight. The unfamiliar sights had distracted him—many new buildings. And the roads—now all paved. Once he found the pier, it had been the touchstone he needed to convince himself he had indeed returned to Frederickport. It simply was not the Frederickport he remembered.

  It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to go home before. Yet each time he ventured back toward civilization, something new frightened him. First it was the horseless carriages that increased in numbers, followed by paved roads, and later more of those carriages, in unimaginable shapes, going terrifyingly faster and faster.

  He might have remained in the mountains if he hadn’t seen Alex. Of course, he didn’t immediately recognize him. Not only was Alex older, but he dressed differently. Once recognition dawned, he had impulsively pulled the trigger, sending off a flurry of bullets. They had miraculously missed their target. He wasn’t sure if he felt relief for not killing Alex or angry it wasn’t finally over.

  Since it was three against one, he had thought it prudent to flee, yet he hadn’t gone far. After the failed shooting, he hid in the bushes, spying on the three for a few hours before he decided it might actually be the ideal time to return to Frederickport, while Alex was in the mountains.

  Unfortunately, finding his way back to the road took him longer than he had expected, and when he finally got there, he saw Alex again, this time getting into a vehicle with his friends. Instead of retreating into the mountains as he had done countless times before, he followed Alex’s car, keeping a safe distance behind to avoid detection. But when he reached Frederickport, the unfamiliar sights distracted him, and Alex’s car disappeared around the corner.

  He hadn’t intended to confront Alex, but now he stood in front of Marlow House. What would Anna think of all this? How had they explained his disappearance? The more he looked back on all that had happened, the angrier he became. He could no longer hide; he needed to face Alex and tell Anna what kind of monster she had married.

  About to step off the sidewalk and head across the street to Marlow House, he paused when movement to the right distracted his attention. A vehicle drove up Beach Drive. It slowed in front of Marlow house. Something flew from the car toward the house, flying over the fence and landing on the walkway. A newspaper, he guessed. The car then continued on its way.

  After the vehicle drove up the street, he stepped off the sidewalk, on his way to Marlow House. He thought briefly about the newspaper—assuming that was what he had seen fly from the car—and marveled at the expert throw yet wondered briefly if it had landed in a dry spot or in a puddle left behind from the recent rain. It really didn’t matter. Alex would not have time to read the newspaper.

  On summer mornings Danielle enjoyed her coffee with Walt on the back patio. But this August morning rain kept them inside, not an uncommon occurrence for Oregon. Instead of the patio, they retreated to the parlor, each bringing along a mug of hot coffee. Walt carried a plate with a cinnamon roll. Danielle had claimed she didn’t want one, insisting she needed to cut back on sweets. Yet once in the parlor, she helped herself to some of Walt’s cinnamon roll. He didn’t object, knowing there was more in the kitchen. Plus, after last week’s misadventure, he was simply grateful to be sitting in his parlor, out of the rain, and with the woman he loved.

  Danielle hadn’t changed out of her flannel pajama bottoms and T-shirt she had worn to bed the night before. But she had taken the time to weave her dark hair into a French braid, a slight change from the fishtail braid that had once been her trademark hairstyle.

  Already dressed for the day in casual tan slacks and a pale blue polo shirt, Walt sat next to her on the parlor sofa. In one hand he held his mug of coffee, and on his right knee he balanced a plate with the half-eaten cinnamon roll.

  “You’re reading too much into this Brian and Heather thing,” Danielle said, resuming the conversation she had started with Walt in the kitchen just minutes earlier.

  “Perhaps, but you weren’t with them up on the mountain. The pair got rather cozy,” Walt said before taking a sip of his coffee.

  “Sure they did. Goodness, poor Heather must have been terrified after waking up tied to a tree and those crazy wannabe witches. And I can’t imagine how Brian is absorbing all this.”

  “He seemed perfectly fine with it last night,” Walt reminded her. “And then he goes home with Heather.” He chuckled and took another sip of coffee.

  Danielle rolled her eyes. “Why do people always say women are the gossips? Sheesh. Just because Brian stopped by Heather’s house on the way home from here doesn’t mean he went home with her in that way. Perhaps she was just nervous about going home to a dark house. I certainly under
stand that, especially after being kidnapped and almost killed.”

  Walt reached over and gave Danielle’s knee a pat and said, “We will see.”

  “Anyway,” Danielle went on, snatching a pinch of Walt’s cinnamon roll and popping it in her mouth. “Brian is too old for her. My dad would be about his age if he were still alive.”

  “If you will recall, the last man Heather dated was about Brian’s age,” Walt reminded her.

  “True, but the idea of Brian Henderson and Heather Donovan in a relationship is ridiculous.”

  “There is one way to find out,” Walt said, setting his cup on the coffee table. “We could see if his car is still over there this morning.”

  “You would really go out in this rain just to spy on our neighbor? Seriously, Walt, I am surprised at you.”

  Walt laughed. “In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not raining anymore. But I’m not talking about me going outside.”

  “I’m not going outside.”

  “And I never suggested you should. But there is someone who was out there earlier this morning who might tell us something.” Walt looked over to the windowsill where Max lounged.

  “Max,” Walt called out. The cat looked up to Walt; their eyes met. Danielle watched the pair in silence. After a few minutes Walt chuckled, took a sip of coffee, and Max went back to napping.

  “Well?” Danielle asked after a few moments. Walt pulled off a hunk of cinnamon roll and put it in his mouth.

  “Well?” Danielle repeated.

  Walt looked to Danielle and asked, “Well, what?”

  “What did Max say?”

  “You said you weren’t into gossip.” Walt took a sip of coffee.

  Danielle groaned. “Okay, I am curious. What did Max say?”

  “He watched the sun come up this morning, perched in one of the trees by the garage. He had an unobstructed view into Heather’s driveway.”

  “And?”

  “His car was still there,” Walt said.

  “Really?”

  Walt nodded. “Really.”

  “How long was it there?”

  Walt shrugged. “I’m not sure. Max came in when the rain started. It was still there then.”

  “Wow.” Danielle leaned back in the sofa, considering what Walt had just told her. “Brian and Heather? A couple?”

  Walt shrugged. “Or perhaps you were right.”

  “How so?”

  “About Heather being nervous going home after dark, considering everything that’s happened. Perhaps Brian stayed over there as a friend.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Danielle scoffed. “A platonic sleepover. I don’t think so.”

  Walt arched his brows. “Really? Not possible? Didn’t Chris sleep over here while I was up in the mountains? Is there something you need to tell me?”

  “Walt!” Danielle gasped.

  Walt laughed.

  Danielle’s brief outrage dissolved, and she let out a sigh. “One minute you’re suggesting there’s something going on between Brian and Heather, and the next you’re saying there’s nothing going on.”

  “Oh, there is definitely something going on. What exactly, I’m not sure. But we will see.”

  Danielle’s cellphone rang. She stood up and retrieved the phone from the nearby desk. Before answering, she glanced at the caller ID.

  “Good morning, Chief… No, no plans. We’re hanging out here today. Walt’s just glad to be home… Certainly… I hope it’s nothing serious… Okay.” Danielle disconnected her call and returned the phone to the desk.

  “What did the chief want?” Walt asked.

  “He has to work today, and his sister agreed to watch Evan. But she got sick about an hour after the chief dropped him off. He asked if Evan could spend the day with us. I said sure. He’s going over there now to pick him up and then bring him here.”

  “I hope it’s nothing serious,” Walt said.

  “The chief feels it’s food poisoning. Sissy ate some sketchy leftover seafood late last night.”

  “Is Eddy coming too?” Walt asked.

  “No. He’s spending the weekend with a friend. It’s just Evan.” Danielle glanced down at her pajamas and said, “I should probably change my clothes before they get here.”

  “Why don’t you finish your coffee first?” Walt suggested. “You have time.”

  Danielle sat back down and took another sip of coffee.

  They chatted a few minutes longer before Walt asked, “I wonder if the morning paper is here yet.”

  Danielle stood up.

  “Where are you going?” Walt asked.

  “To check if the paper’s here.”

  “I didn’t mention that so you would get the paper. Let’s finish our coffee, and I’ll get it,” Walt said.

  “I already finished my coffee.” Danielle leaned over and gave Walt a quick kiss on the lips. “Let me go see if it’s here, and while I’m gone, please finish that cinnamon roll, will you?”

  Walt chuckled. “This morning you told me you didn’t want one.”

  “Exactly. I’ve eaten half of yours. I can’t resist those things. We really need to stop buying them.”

  Walt reached up and gently looped a finger in Danielle’s collar and pulled her to him. He brushed a kiss over her lips and whispered, “Not happening.”

  “But I have no willpower,” Danielle whispered back.

  Walt chuckled and kissed her again. With a sigh, Danielle stood up after Walt released her collar, preparing to bring in the newspaper. While doing so, she paused a moment and glanced at what remained of the cinnamon roll. She reached down to snatch a bit when Walt swatted her hand away.

  “No more. I’ll be your willpower,” he told her.

  Turning from the sofa empty-handed, she grumbled, “You aren’t trying to help me. You just want it for yourself.”

  “True,” he said and then picked up the remaining piece of roll and ate it.

  Two

  On her way to the front door to pick up the newspaper, Danielle glanced up the stairs and wondered briefly if she had enough time to run up to her room and get dressed before the chief showed up with Evan. Perhaps. But first, she would get the newspaper for Walt.

  A moment later she pulled open the door, expecting to find her front porch empty except for the possibility of the newspaper if the delivery person had tossed it that far. Instead, she looked into the bearded face of a strange man.

  “Oh…” She startled, her eyes momentarily widening.

  The beard obscured the man’s face, and at first glance one might assume he was older because of his gray hair and beard, but his eyes were those of a much younger man. Danielle looked him up and down, noting the worn boots, denims and faded flannel shirt. His floppy leather hat resembled a cowboy hat, yet not one she had ever seen sold in western stores.

  “I was just getting ready to knock,” he explained. “Who are you?”

  “Um… who were you expecting?” Danielle asked.

  “I’m here for Alex,” he told her.

  “Alex? I’m afraid you’re at the wrong house.”

  The man frowned and turned briefly, pointing to the sign out front. “It says Marlow House. This is Marlow House, right?”

  “Yes, it is, but there is no Alex here. If you explain why you believe he’s here, perhaps I can help you.”

  “Because it’s his home,” the man snapped.

  “I’m sorry, but no Alex lives here.” Danielle glanced over her shoulder to the parlor door, wondering if she should call for Walt.

  “Who are you?” he demanded.

  She briefly considered not telling him. After all, he was the one who had come knocking on her front door. But considering the large sign she had installed in her front yard, he already had the name of her house, and anyone with minimal computer skills could search Marlow House, Frederickport, and come up with dozens of articles about her. Plus, she was curious why he expected to find this Alex living at her house.

  “I’m Danielle Marlow
, and this is my home.”

  “Danielle Marlow? You’re related to Alex? Why are you lying to me? He told you to lie, didn’t he?”

  “Um… I honestly have no idea who this Alex is. I should get my husband,” Danielle suggested.

  “If you won’t let me talk to Alex, then let me see Anna. She’s here, isn’t she?” he demanded.

  “Anna?” Danielle frowned.

  “Stop this nonsense! If you won’t let me see Alex or Anna, then let me talk to the old man. Is he home? I bet he’d be interested to hear what I have to say. If you won’t let me in, I can always go to his office and tell him. Alex can refuse to see me, but it won’t keep his secret. You can tell him that! He might as well see me now, because I’m not going away. You tell Alex that!”

  The sound of the front gate opening interrupted their conversation. The man glanced behind him while Danielle looked in the same direction. Coming through the gate was Chief MacDonald and Evan. While Danielle hadn’t initially felt threatened by the unexpected visitor, his tone and insistence that he had to see this Alex, and his obvious belief she was lying to him, had made her uncomfortable.

  “Oh, look, it’s Police Chief MacDonald,” Danielle said loudly, feeling a sudden flood of relief.

  The man looked back to Danielle. With a snarl he said, “You tell Alex I’ll be back.” He turned abruptly and rushed down the walkway, past the chief and Evan, disappearing to the street.