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"Melody House has stood for nearly three hundred years, and in that tiine all the dramas that have been lived--and the passions and dreay, and energy cannot be destroyed Just as they say that Melody House is haunted If ghosts and spirits are those who rey still fiercely alive due to trau more natural than the fact that Melody House indeed be haunted! Throughout the years, hosts of those tragic souls In the early eighteen-hundreds, the courageous Andrew Jackson, later to be president of the United States, once spent only half a night here, and mentioned to soain than spend another night at Melody House So the halls Others have seen soldiers, still, perhaps, fighting their long-lost battles" Elizabeth paused, so of a rueful smile on her face "So We shall all join hands, in the circle here created, and see what haunts or specters ht wish to appear, to convey last words, wishes, or needs"

Electricity had long ago cohts attached to the ca roo in the center of the table

Darcy had already felt the cold Whether Elizabeth was able to co in the house or not, Darcy again felt the sense of being watched Whatever entity or entities re Across the table, she saw Penny shiver

Darcy felt herself nudged Hands, yes, hold hands She set hers upon the table She was next to Jason Johnson, a local writer and historian, and, naturally, another friend of Matt’s, and Clint Stone Carter was on Clint’s other side Clint covered her hand warmly with his own, and seeht have an open s Matt was across the table, seated next to Elizabeth He wore a look of carefully restrained impatience on his hard-sculpted features Mae, the wo to her when she had first walked into the Wayside Inn, was there, at tractively dressed and groomed, her round face split into a smile of exciteroup, a pretty young woman with the improbable name of Delilah Dey, newly elected to the town council, sat between Jason Johnson and Mae

David Jenner, of Jenner Electronics, also at the Wayside Inn when Darcy had first arrived, stood a distance fro Darcy had considered bringing down some of her own equipht for Harrison Investigations’ high-tech "ghost buster" electronics

"We have joined in a benign and caring circle," Liz said, addressing the spirits "We wish to help with any problems, past or present We have come in love and friendship, and wish to communicate with any presence in his house who desires a voice Our minds and hearts are open If there is a presence here, please let yourself be known"

Darcy felt a breeze at her nape, and she closed her eyes

The fear had never really left her Josh, who had been born with his unique perception, had not been afraid But to Darcy, knowing that a very strange door was open was still a frightening experience She knew that she had to allow the sensations in, but each tiers clutched her heart, and it was a fight to do what she knew she did well

They were not alone

Talk to ht in silence

But then her eyes popped open as she heard a rapping at the table She frowned, then felt a very physical force as the hands grasping around the table all seehten as one Elizabeth spoke excitedly

"We have ain, please, if you are with us"

A tap sounded

Darcy looked around the table, doubting that any of the ghosts were tapping Matt, too, was looking around the table

The presence that had been so near Darcy and so apparent to her backed away It didn’t disappear; it simply receded

"Are you the spirit we call the Lady in White?" Elizabeth asked

There was no response

"Perhaps a soldier?"

There was another rapping

Matt was staring at Darcy, a certain hostility apparent in his eyes Anger burst through her He assu to tap the table

"Did you live during Revolutionary Times," Elizabeth asked, earnest concern in her voice

No response Matt was still staring at Darcy

"The Civil War?" Elizabeth asked softly

Another rap

"Yes! Yes!" Elizabeth said, her eyes closed, her concentration intense "We believe we know your story You fought hard, so hard, for what you believed to be a just cause You died here in this house But you needn’t stay and fight on The war is over Peace has coht The only outcoht, and the world has moved on We seek now to offer true justice and equality for all men You may rest in peace Do you understand me? Can my words help you find rest?"

Another rap, then a number of excited raps

Penny whispered softly to Elizabeth "We don’t want our ghosts to go away! We just want them to be happy"

"They’re only happy when they’re at peace!" Carter said, staring at Penny with a strange s!" Mae whispered

"Hush!" Elizabeth said,softly "We’ll break the very tenuous thread that is linking us to the entity"