Are You Haunted (part sixteen)

Are You Haunted

(part sixteen)

“And she told you she’d given my husband a few dollars, and the car to earn them with. What’s it got to do with me, if she’ll lend him a bit when he asks?”

“Miss Gilshannon, I had a conversation with Mr. Guy, as he was driving me out here. I came out, of course, on a job of my own…” Summers bobbed a sideways nod. “I wonder if you’ve heard a weather report today?”

He trialed a foot on the cut above the streambed, little by little resting his weight in full. Watched keenly by Rohdl, Summers skirted Powell and Isobel, and spoke down to them. “Heavy fog in the morning. I was concerned about our friend here, as I know you are yourself, ma’am, being kind enough to’ve brought him that sandwich. It’s the house Mr. Guy worries about. And your husband worries, I wouldn’t doubt, on behalf of his relative. I don’t think you and I, ma’am, and Mr. Guy, disagree.”

Fog, Powell thought.

Heavy fog rolling in, sometime during the night. He heard Summers telling Isobel she would have to ride with them, that Guy would drive them all back to town, “…but for Mr. Kenzie.” He heard Guy, well ahead now, snort—his answer or opinion, a noise distinct from his climbing grunts and exhalations.

Powell had fallen far behind. He had stopped moving, and needed to make himself go up to the house. He heard Rohdl raise an objection, Summers say, “This place has a screen porch, open on three sides. You won’t feel closed in there, sir.”

He was making amends, trying to, a show of helpfulness. He pushed the door wide, flattened against it, hand on the knob. Guy carried in blankets from the Ford, bumping him, shoving a hip at him.

Heaving the blankets to the floor. He stared back at Powell. “Goddamn! Get out the way when I tell you. You got runnin water. Get yourself cleaned up. Here is two flashlights.”

One from under each arm. A bang on the counter, and another. “No electric.”

“Myself, I don’t like the look of it.”

When Isobel locked eyes with Powell, he fancied he heard her say it, change your mind.

He didn’t like the look of things either. But he couldn’t think for himself until they’d left him alone.

“Mr. Guy asked me to bring your rations.” She lifted a paper bag with its top rolled, an ironic salute to the Big Chief. She pulled out two bottles of Coca-Cola, two tins of Vienna sausages, two Hershey bars, and a box of saltines. “Sleep tight, Powell. You’re not alone out here, you know. Just over the hill, that way…”

North, where the factory hands had got their fright.

“…you can find Uncle Dennis, and the cousins.”

“Think that’ll do, ma’am? How bout you get on back to the car.” Guy followed her, and stopped. “I’ll come by usual time tomorrow and see if you been earnin your keep.”

16

Haunted
Are You Haunted (part seventeen)

(2019, Stephanie Foster)