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Shan reeathered up her stuff too Neither of us hadI shouldered my purse with Butch inside it, then picked up my backpack Booke needed my help, and as many times as he’d saved my ass, I owed him
It didn’t take long to check out, as we had been renting day by day; fortunately the hotel was booked light enough to accoy On the street, it was cool and da
I liked the ready access to public transportation here, however We ot a train to Stoke They ran regularly, faster than driving, according to Shan’s Internet search In short order, we settled into the car along with the other passengers So, based on their luggage and camera addiction Shan settled in theseat, which left me on the aisle The car was three-quarters full I said little as we pulled out of the station Butch stayed hidden inas we hadn’t checked the pet policy before we traveled But it was a short trip, so he could nap for that long
“You want me to find somebody to pick us up?” She pulled up Booke’s address on her s it online
I leaned over to scrutinize the distance “That would be good Looks like it’s not in town”
Shan was already searching “So a car service, not a taxi”
“Good call”
The girl was re infor, then one call, she arranged a ride for us “See, Corine, technology is your friend”
Because it was Shan, I dredged up a sht, as if the tears could start up at anyI’d brought Chance with ht in the heaviest despair The sensation didn’t dissipate Instead with it rose a profound nausea, possibly caused by the movement of the train
I barelyleft Great Though I’d never heard of griefso, right? Unsteadily, I pushed upright, then rinsedh so I used antibacterial gel when I got back to my seat
“Everything all right?” Shan asked, her gaze ski my face
“Just not feeling well” In so et over it”
“Do you want so to eat or drink?”
“God, no After I catch a nap, I’ll be fine” Listless, I turnedof the countryside, and willed myself to sleep
I woke to Shan’s hand onany better?”
“I think so” Blearily, I followed her to disembark
We had no baggage to collect, so we ers The train station was busy with people collecting friends and relatives, tourists poring overwith bold confidence
A few paces on, the driver aiting for us with a ser hair and a generous sprinkling of freckles
Shan nudged me “Is it weird that I feel shiny over that placard?”
“No It’s a first for ed a smile
He wasn’t wearing a uniform, but there was no question ere the Cheney party At our approach, the driver reached for my backpack, but I shook my head “I’m fine, thanks Just lead the way”
“As you like, ray sedan and opened the door for us
I climbed in, Shannon after me As we settled, he checked the address “You’ve rented the ghost cottage, then? I didn’t knoas to let”
Raising a brow, I exchanged a silent look with Shan, before replying cautiously, “It should be an adventure”
The driver cast us a look as he pulled into the strea on that side “The place is quite isolated Are you sure it’s habitable?”
“We’re used to roughing it,” Shan said, hefting her backpack
“Are you ghost hunters? Will you be doing EVPs?” It seeical leap until I remembered the reality shows devoted to that pursuit Maybe it was h these days that this became the natural assumption
It see “Strictly on an amateur basis”
He turned down a busy street with the confidence of one who had lived so spooky?”
“You wouldn’t believeout of the rebuff
“What’s the legend behind the ghost cottage?” I asked
“You didn’t research it before co all this way?” He sounded surprised
A valid question, but I covered “Of course But I’d like to hear how local stories differ from what’s online”
“Oh, good point The story starts back in the early nineteen hundreds The man who lived there was odd Reclusive People whispered all kinds of things about himthat he was a murderer, a wizard who practiced the dark arts” The driver’s tone beca, as if he was embarrassed to repeat such rubbish