Madison Johns - Agnes Barton Paranormal 02 - Ghostly Hijinks (2 page)

We settled in and used the bathroom before heading back out for something to eat. We wound up at the Toiyabe Cafe and sat at a round table, staring at the menus. An older woman came over and took our order, returning shortly after with our drinks. We all ordered water with lemon and smiled, taking in the crowd. There were plenty of families and old-timers in the place.

A man came over to our table as we were talking about where we planned to go tomorrow.

“Did I hear you folks say you’re looking for a real ghost town?”

“Why, yes we were. Do you know anyplace that would fit the bill?”

“Well, now, there’re plenty of places you could find along Highway 50, but it’s known as the loneliest road in America. It’s not the sort of route you’d want to take if you didn’t have a full tank of gas. It’s wide open and barren, but there’re some great ghost towns that way.”

“How about Silver, Nevada?” I asked.

The man’s eyes widened. “Why would you want to go to a place like that?”

“I found it on the map,” I said. “I looked it up on my cell and there’s a great hotel I booked rooms at already.”

“When did you do that, Agnes?” Andrew asked.

“While you were gathering the luggage.”

“Just seems like you would have mentioned it, is all. What’s the name of the hotel?”

“Goldberg Hotel. It looks very western and ghost-town-like.”

“I’d find another ghost town to visit,” the old-timer said. “That place gives me the creeps.”

Before I was able to ask what he meant, he ambled away just as our food was delivered. We dug into our burgers and fries, but I was very lost in thought about why the old-timer seemed to be steering us clear of Silver and the Goldberg Hotel. Somehow, I knew there was a history, but I suppose we’d find out soon enough what Silver had to offer.

After dinner, we caught our first view of the magnificent Nevada sunset. It was both breathtaking and colorful, with oranges, reds, and yellows that hovered on the horizon over the Toiyabe Mountain Range. I, of course, lingered outside to take in the view, and as I breathed in deeply, Caroline hovered close by. “Did you hear what that old-timer said?”

“I don’t recall you being there.”

“There’s no sense in showing up to you and Eleanor. It would spoil your dinner. I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not Eleanor’s favorite ghost.”

“I don’t think Eleanor cares much for ghost’s period, so don’t let it bother you.”

“You got that one right,” Eleanor said as she waltzed from the door of our motel room. “You should have stayed behind at the mansion. We won’t be investigating any crimes here, and even if we do, I’ll handle the investigation. I’m Agnes’s partner, not you.”

Caroline made a motion like she was wiping at her face as if tears were dropping and faded away.

My hands went to my hips. “Really, Eleanor? Why do you always chase Caroline away like that? I think you hurt her feelings.”

Eleanor chuckled. “Hardly … ghosts don’t have feelings. They’re not human, you know.”

“I don’t care what you say. It’s obvious that you hurt her, and now she’s not here to tell me what she thought about what that old-timer said. He sure seemed to be steering us clear of Silver.”

Eleanor bit a fingernail. “He said it’s a ghost town. What if it’s really ... you know … haunted?”

“That shouldn’t bother us. We should be used to ghosts by now.”

“Speak for yourself. I wish I’d never seen a ghost—including Caroline. She really unnerves me, the way she comes and goes.”

“Get used to it. She’s as much my partner now as you are. Her insight into the wide world of the paranormal is very eye-opening. She’ll be an asset to us in a ghost town.”

“Fine, Aggie, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it,” she sniveled.

I watched as Eleanor disappeared inside and Andrew made his way over to where I stood. “What happened, now?”

“Nothing, just a difference of opinion.”

“I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with that Caroline you keep talking about. You need to remember that Eleanor is your best friend, not Caroline. It’s natural for her to feel left out when you and Caroline get together. It seems like she’s more important to you all the time.”

So much for not discussing Caroline with Andrew. “She’s also my partner, and Eleanor has been dreadful to her. If you could see Caroline, you’d know that.”

Andrew scratched his head. “Please, whatever you do, don’t tell Caroline to reveal herself to me, too. It’s bad enough that the two of you see her. Come inside and get some sleep. We have a full day ahead of us tomorrow.”

I begrudgingly followed Andrew inside. I couldn’t blame Eleanor for not warming up to Caroline. I just hoped that she didn’t think she was in competition with a ghost, because that was so far from the truth. I loved Caroline and all, but Eleanor and I had been through thick and thin together. If not for her diligence, I’d never have stuck with this investigative thing. Andrew was more the sensible type, and so far he’d never actually witnessed a ghostly apparition, so it goes to figure that he wouldn’t totally understand what it meant for me to see Caroline. I had to admit to myself that I was none too happy in the beginning to see her, either, but as I unraveled how she had died after being run down by her boyfriend as she was fleeing after discovering he had cheated on her, I’d grown to accept her. She’s a lost soul, and unlike the way they portray ghosts on television, she was somehow unable to move on. It might have had something to do with how she had attached herself to me when I had my accident, but all I knew was that I was happy that Caroline was along for this trip. Even if we encountered ghosts in Silver, I was confident that Caroline would be able to help us out in a big way.

Chapter Two

In the morning, after we’d checked out of the hotel, we stopped at the International Cafe & Saloon, where they were promised they’d find a hearty breakfast. When Andrew pulled up to the place, it was like they’d taken a step back in time. The all-wood building had a western feel, with a false front like you’d expect to see in an Old West town. There was an old-fashioned wagon and wagon wheels aplenty decorating the front of the place, like you might have seen during the gold rush era.

We had gone inside, sitting at a table for more than a few minutes when Eleanor smiled at a waitress who bounced right over, filling our coffee cups to the rim. I was disappointed upon hearing that they had no vanilla flavored creamer. I’d had no idea that I’d be roughing it this much. It was bad enough that the motel could only pull in three channels and Eleanor heard when she complained about it at the office that NBC hasn’t been pulled in since 1985! Eleanor remarked about the building to the waitress and she said, “This building was once the International Hotel in Virginia City and was dismantled board by board and reconstructed here in Austin,” she explained. “The restaurant is the original saloon and cafe.”

“My, that sure is interesting,” I remarked. We gave her our orders and she whizzed away. I admired the wild rose bushes that we’d seen on our way over and asked the waitress about that when she came back to drop off a basket of biscuits.

“The town was named after Austin, Texas, and my mama always told me that’s where all the yellow roses came from. Since it’s June, the town really smells nice, but they only bloom for two weeks and then they are all thorns,” she laughed.

“I love this quaint town,” Eleanor said. “How come we can’t just stay here to enjoy our vacation?”

“Because dear, I want to travel up Highway 50 and find a real ghost town.”

“I hope you’re packing plenty of provisions,” a man said at the next table. “I didn’t mean to intrude in your conversation, but make darn sure you have reliable transportation.”

Our food was set down and the waitress smiled. Obviously, she’d overhead our conversation and added, “I’d be happy to give you folks a survival guide. You can get it stamped at the towns along Highway 50.”

“I’d love that. Is it true the highway parallels where the Pony Express went through?”

“Yup. There’s plenty of good sights going up the highway, but like Mac said, be darn sure you have plenty of water and provisions.”

After we were stuffed to the gills, Andrew drove to a service station and found Travis, the man who had lent the car to us, but when Andrew told him where we planned to go, he told us to wait and returned with a Jeep Cherokee.

“This should do you folks much better. It’s about brand new. I’ll stock it with water for you. I have some provisions left over from my last trip to Silver. It’s about as much a ghost town as you’ll find in Nevada.”

“How is the Goldberg Hotel in Silver?” I asked.

“That’s about the only decent place to stay and it’s still open to the public. You might want to call ahead and make reservations.”

“I made them yesterday,” I said. “Thanks.”

Andrew and I moved our belongings from the car into the Jeep and, after buying snacks, we were off down the road with an ice chest full of ice and bottled water.

We hadn’t gone very far from Austin before it was quite obvious how barren this Highway 50 truly was. We passed hills with plenty of trees on the two-lane highway.

Mr. Wilson frowned. “This isn’t what I’d call a call a good vacation. I’d much rather have some luxuries.”

Caroline, who was sitting between Mr. Wilson and Eleanor, giggled. “I can’t say I blame him.”

I gripped my purse and ignored our ghostly companion since we’d kept the ‘seeing a ghost’ business out of Wilson’s hearing range. Mr. Wilson wouldn’t even begin to understand it. His main worry was if he’d be able to find tuna fish on sale for his legendary tuna casserole.

* * *

After hours of driving in the middle of nowhere, Andrew grumbled. “How close is this town? We have less than half a tank now.”

I hit the navigation system and the map had us off the road. I tapped it with my hand and it blacked out completely. Then something quite strange happened—the interior lights and headlights began to flash on and off. I held my breath as Caroline said, “They’re here.”

“Who’s here?” I asked in a whisper.

Andrew gave me a look. “Don’t you dare try to jinx this, Agnes.”

“I’m not. I totally wasn’t about to say that I hope—”

The Jeep came to an abrupt stop and I swallowed hard as Andrew slammed his palms on the steering wheel. “Almost new vehicle, my ass.”

“Told you not to trust someone you never met,” Mr. Wilson said with a pout of his thin lips.

“Wilson, this really isn’t the right time.”

Eleanor went into hysterics. “Nobody will find us until we’re corpses!”

Caroline sat in the back shuddering. “Andrew drove into the dead zone.”

“What dead zone are you talking about? I didn’t see any dead zone on the map.”

“Who are you talking to?” Mr. Wilson blubbered.

I didn’t explain it and moved to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Andrew, be a dear and unlock my door.”

“I can’t. There’s no power. Seems like we’re stuck here until someone comes along.”

I stared in both directions on Highway 50. “If we’re not helped out, and soon, we’ll be cooked in here for sure in this heat.” I dug out my cell and tried to make a call, but there was no signal. “Drat. No connection, either.”

“How on earth did you expect to get any connection, Agnes?” Eleanor asked. “It’s a dead zone, for sure.”

“We told Travis where we were going. Perhaps if we are a no-show, someone will come looking for us.”

“They won’t do that. Why would the hotel call Travis, anyway?”

“I don’t know. I’m just trying to lighten the situation, is all.”

A dark figure approached the vehicle, looked through my window and I screamed at the disembodied spirit sporting a skull for a face. “Caroline, do something,” I shouted.

“I-I’m not g-going out there. He’s looks real mad.”

“Well, tell him we’re just passing through.”

“Who is she talking to and who is Caroline?” Mr. Wilson asked.

“She’s a ghost that attached herself to Agnes,” Eleanor said.

“Why didn’t you say so? I was beginning to think she’d lost her mind.”

“Well, because she didn’t want me to, is why.”

“I think he wants us to follow him,” Caroline said. “He’s pointing over to that shack on the hill.”

“How are we gonna do that when we can’t get out of the car?”

Immediately the door locks clicked and I opened the door and climbed out.

“Where on earth are you going, Agnes?” Eleanor asked.

“I’m going to follow that ghost.”

Andrew shouted for me to stop, but I kept going. I had to know where I was being led. I climbed the hill that was covered with tumbleweeds and that’s when I saw the building. It was a shack of some sort and I tried the door, opening it. Inside, there was a girl about five who had her hands over her face and she was crying.

“Are you okay, dear?” I asked.

Her blue eyes widened and she ran to me hugging me tightly. “I’m so glad you found me. I got lost and I-I miss my mommy.”

I carefully inspected the child’s face and it was sunburned. She had obviously been out in the elements for a long time. “How long have you been out here?”

“I d-don’t know, but it seems like days. I’m so hungry.”

I carried the child back to the Jeep, which started right up, much to my astonishment. Caroline was now hovering near the vehicle, standing next to the other spirit that faded away once we had the child buckled in next to Eleanor, who was helping the child take sips of water from one of the jugs.

Andrew stomped on the gas and we made it into Silver a half-hour later.

“Look, there’s the sheriff’s office. We should see if he knows who the child belongs to. I’m sure her parents are very worried.”

“Do you have a name?” Eleanor asked the child.

“Rebecca. I got separated from my parents.”

“Where at, exactly?”

“Somewhere out of town. They were looking for gold bars.”

“Gold bars?”

“Yes. Mama and Papa said that if they found the gold that we’d be able to move into a real house.”

I sighed. “Where were you staying?”

“At a hotel.”