A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (8 page)

Looking at the mess around her she explains to him, “I have
been exploring, the old photos in the trunk are wonderful.
I love
seeing the family resemblance to my brother Mitch and myself.
I
am sorry I didn’t hear you knock and caused you to worry.”
Smiling Stephanie turns back to the trunk not waiting for him to
reply.
“I lost track of time just let me get these last few items out
then I will get cleaned up so we can go get the rental car.”

Moving to stand behind her, Chase leans over to look inside
the trunk.
He sees the journals are the only items left, leaning
further down he helps her lift them out.
“I’m in no hurry, today is
my day off.
We can take these down stairs for you to go through
later.
You can sit at the kitchen table while I will fix us some
lunch.” As he speaks he places a few journals in her arms as he
gathers the rest to carry.
Turning on his heels he proceeds to the
stairs.

Giving the trunk one last look to make sure all the journals
are out, Stephanie turns and follows Chase slowly; at the door she
turns to look back at the trunk thinking she had heard a soft sigh.
Not seeing anything out of the ordinary she continues to the stairs.
Chase doesn’t tell her

Archibald is relieved now that Miss Stephanie has the
journals, he will give her a few days to read them then he will show
himself to her.
He couldn’t believe his eyes when he seen her get
out of the motorized thing yesterday.
She is the spitting image of
his Dear Della.
The young man had seen him at the window; he
had come up the stairs quickly and almost caught him before he
could vanish.
For years it had been just him and Della together,
they would sit and talk for hours.
The few times over the years
when someone came to visit Della, he would just go upstairs, out of
sight. Della liked it better when he could be seen by her.
She
always said she wanted to see who she was talking to.
Smiling
with glee, he decides he will enjoy talking with someone again; he
wants to tell Miss Stephanie all about his Della.

Sitting at the kitchen table Stephanie flips open the journal
dated the earliest.
With the kitten at her feet and Chase fixing
grilled cheese sandwiches, she begins reading out loud the first
entry.

Today I met Archibald.
He is a wonderful man; I could fall in
love with him. I may be almost in love with him now.
My parents
would have me committed if they knew I was falling in love with
Archibald.

He came to me in my bedroom, he asked for my help, to help
him find his way out of here and to help him move on.
I don’t want
him to leave, but I gave him my word I would help him, and a lady
never goes back on her word.

I know when he does leave my heart will be broken.
Not
sure how or when we will be able to do this, but until that time I will
treasure each and every day we have together.

When Stephanie finishes reading the entry she looks at
Chase, “That is so sad; she is in love with a man her parents don’t
approve of.
You have lived here all your life; do you know if Della
and Archibald got to be together?” Debating on whether to skip
some entries to find out for herself, she decides that wouldn’t be
fair to Della.

Sitting the plate with her grilled cheese sandwich in front of
her Chase sets down cross the table from her, after he takes a bite
of his sandwich, he address her question.
“Remember yesterday
at the diner when I told you I would never lie to you.”
She nods so
he continues, “Well, what I know about your Aunt and this Archibald
is not a love story with a happy ending.
Archibald was a soldier in
the Union Army,” as she opens her mouth to interrupt, he holds up
his hand to stop her, “Let me finish before you ask questions,” again
she nods while she takes a bite of her sandwich.

“Now where was I, oh yes, he was a soldier and was killed
about seventy-five years before Della was born.”
Letting
Stephanie comprehend this information, he takes another bite of his
sandwich.
After he swallows he tries to explain, “Archibald was
killed in the civil war, over by the pond on the east side of the
house.”
He asked for the sake of asking, “Do you believe in
ghost?”

Blinking several times Stephanie finally confides she does,
however not the type of ghosts that try to kill or hurt humans.
She
explains she believes there are ghosts that die and are unable to
move on to heaven; more spirits then ghost.
She has to know his
opinion so she asks the same question he just asked her, “Do you
believe in ghost?”

Smiling he lays his hand over hers, “Yes My Lady I do.
I
grew up in this town; I grew up with the stories of Archibald.
And
later I heard the rumors of Della and Archibald.
When I was a
teenager I would come here to do the repairs on the house and yard
work for Della.
I remember seeing a man standing watching me as
I worked.
Well not really a man, more a shadow of a man.
When
I told my Father about it he just said that it was Della’s beau.
I
didn’t think any more about it.” After another bite, he continues,
“Some people in town think Della was crazy; other’s think she had a
gift.
I personally lean toward she had the gift that was why he
appeared to her.”
Now thinking back to yesterday he wonders if
he had seen Archibald at the attic window.

Releasing her hand, “Why don’t you read the next entry?”
Getting up from the table he takes their plates to the sink and
washes them.
Placing them in the drainer he leans against the
counter with his arms folded across his chest waiting.

It has been a little over a month since Archibald came to visit
me the first time.
We spend an hour every evening talking about
how to help him.
I had suggested he tell me about his life in the
army as a Union soldier.
He does not tell me about the fighting,
just about the weather, the riding on horses for hours and tells about
some of the men getting sick and dying.
How he would write his
parents every night but never gets a chance to mail the letters.
He
tells me stories of his youth, growing up in a God fearing family.
Before joining the regiment he lived with his parents in Illinois.
His
family owned a General Store.

We are not any closer to finding a way to help him.
But I
have to admit this just so I can have it out in the open; I am in love
with my Archibald.
I count the hours before we are together again.
I miss him when I am busy with my chores.

My parents do not understand why I spend so much time in
my room and I am unwilling to tell them my reasons.
I do not want
to be sent away.
I would die if I was unable to see my love.

When Stephanie gazes at Chase he sees tears in her eyes.
Moving to her, Chase drops to his knees pulling Stephanie in his
arms.
“Oh Chase, this is breaking my heart.
She loves him.
How did she survive when he left her?”
With his arms around her,
Chase kisses the top of Stephanie’s head.

In a low voice he informs her, “I don’t think he did leave her.
I think he has been here with her all these years.
Because I think
he loved her as much as she loved him.”
Drawing back so she
could see his face, “I think he is still here now, still unable to move
on.”

“You mean he is still stuck here?
Oh my goodness, we have
to help him.
With Della gone he has no one, no one to try to help
him.”
Scooting forward, she kisses Chase’s forehead.
Stephanie
stands up and Chase’s hands fall to his sides as he rises to his feet
she continues, “I am going back to the attic.
When I was leaving
earlier with the journal I could have sworn I hear a low sigh.”
Almost running Stephanie heads for the stairs.

Behind her she hears Chase following at a slower pace.
Due to his long legs he is beside her in no time and they finish
walking up the stairs side by side. Stopping at the attic door
Stephanie looks at Chase for guidance. Shrugging his shoulder he
takes her hand before they step inside the room.

Blowing out a breath Stephanie rubs her hand together,
looking at Chase she starts talking to Archibald.
She begins telling
him they know he is here; they are not afraid of him then continue
to explain they want to help him.

When she finishes speaking, they look around the attic
waiting for Archibald to appear.
After several minutes Stephanie
starts walking around the room trying to think of a way to make
contact.
Maybe they could have a séance; when she suggests this
to Chase he shakes his head no.
Stephanie sits down in the middle
of the floor to try again, this time using a more personal approach,
“Archibald, I know you are still stuck here in limbo.
I also know my
Aunt Della was helping you.
I would like to try to help you too.
Chase and I would like to help you go be with Della.
She loved you,
I am sure she misses you.
Don’t you miss her?”
As she finishes
speaking, Stephanie closes her eyes trying to clear her mind of
everything but Archibald.
As if she could will him to make an
appearance; opening her eyes she looks at Chase.

Chase walks over and takes Stephanie’s hand helping her to
stand.
Hearing a muffled sigh, they turn seeing Archibald.
He is
wearing his Union uniform and he looks to be in his early to
mid-twenties.
He is standing close to the window with the sun
shining in around him it makes him seem as if he is glowing.
When
he moves closer to them and away from the window he becomes
more solid, he now looks more human than ghost.

Stopping a couple of feet from them he begins, “My name is
Archibald Butterworth; I was a soldier in the Union army.
I died
the summer of 1863.
For many years I have been here in this
house, people would come and go; Miss Della was the first person
able to see me.
I am pleased you are also ‘gifted’ with the ability.”
He looks from Stephanie to Chase to make sure they understand his
meaning. They nod and he continues, “Over the years Miss Della
and I have tried to figure out how to get me over to the other side.
As you can see we were unable to discover a way to help me.
I am
not sure if you can help me or not but I want you to know I love
Miss Della.
ever seen.”
could have been sisters.”
He smiles stopping to gather his
thoughts.

Not waiting for him to continue, Chase asks, “Yesterday it
was you at the window, wasn’t it?”
Crossing his arms he looked
sternly at Archibald.

With a shameful look Archibald nods his head yes.
He
begins to explain, “When the ladies came to clean the house I heard
them talk about Miss Stephanie coming to live here.
Yesterday I
heard the motorized vehicle and looked out the window; I was
shocked when you saw me.”
Seeing Chase’s face relax some, he
finishes his explanation, “After the shock of being seen, I decided
the kitten could take the blame in my place as she had wandered in
She was the most wonderful beautiful woman I have

Standing between the two men, Stephanie examines
Archibald closely.
Believing in ghost but coming face to face with
one is two different things.
She realizes she isn’t scared she just
feels sorrow for Della and the love she had for Archibald.
She also
feels sorry for Archibald; since he is unable to more on.
The whole
situation is heartbreaking.
Determined to continue Della promise
to help Archibald to the other side, where ever that was, Stephanie
lays a hand on Chase’s arm to get his attention, “I think we should
go pick up the rental car after we get back I can look up some
history on the internet.
come up with a solution.”

Downstairs Stephanie fetches her purse while Chase fills the
bowls for the kitten.
Ready to leave Stephanie tells Archibald they
will be back soon then closes the door, locking it before moving
across the porch.

Chase assists Stephanie in the car, fixing the seatbelt to avoid
her ribs; he leans in and kisses her lips before moving to the other
side of the car.
Once he is inside he starts the engine, as he drives
down the lane he asks, “So how are you feeling? Ribs still hurt?”

Needing the distraction Stephanie answers his questions,
“My ribs are better.
I had a headache last night and ended up
falling to sleep on the loveseat.”
She didn’t mention her dizzy spell
as there is no reason to worry him.
Turning in her seat so she can
see him better she asks “By any chance do you know where my cell
phone is?
Last time I seen it I had put it in the console of the car.
After unpacking last night I noticed it was gone.”

Chase glances at Stephanie then back to watch the road, “I
didn’t see it in the car when I got your suitcases and purse.
But
honestly I didn’t look for a cell phone.
I just figured if you had one
it would be in your purse.
Isn’t that where most women put their
cell phones?”
Trying to lighten the mood he gives her a wink.

“Very funny but I am not like most women.”
hear him say he knows that?
What does he mean?
need my cell phone.
I was just checking with you first, guess I can
call Michael, I can have him send me a new one.”
The drive back
Maybe we can find something to help us

Did she just
“Sorry but I
to Darrin County didn’t take long, shifting back to face forwards
Stephanie looks out her window just in time to see the car rental
company to their left.

Pulling in the parking lot Chase informs Stephanie he will call
the junk yard to request they check for her phone; if they find it he
will go pick it up before he follows her home.
Telling him thank
you as she exits the car she shuts the door.
While she is doing the
paperwork, Chase phones the junk yard. Within minutes he is told
the phone is there, it had been under the seat but they had found it.