Another awesome story by Dabba Do.
Chapter 1
Hank turned up the volume on the car radio as he and Luis got closer and closer to the mansion. This was going to be a weekend to remember. His big sister, Nancy, was always coming through for him, but this time he really owed her.
�Are you sure about this, Hank?� Luis asked for the third time, as they passed another road sign to the Haverford Estate.
�Luis, will you just relax?� Hank shouted. �How many times do I have to explain this to you?� he stated with frustration. �Nan and her college friends are having party to celebrate Christmas break, and she said I could bring anyone I wanted.�
Hank could tell that Luis needed more convincing. �Did your mom not tell you to get away for awhile?� And did you not just ace all your finals?� Hank asked. �Opportunities like this don�t come along every day, Buddy. Anyway I thought you�d be psyched to get away from Beth.�
Luis shot his friend a disapproving look. He and Beth had been broken up for two weeks, and she was taking it pretty hard. Everyday Luis checked on her, and every day she made him feel guilty. He tried to make her understand, but he knew she could tell that he wasn�t being completely honest with her. It wasn�t just the uncertainty of his future that influenced his decision to put some distance between them. Deep down, he knew that Beth Wallace wasn�t the one.
Luis was silent as he thought about all the commitments he had at home - his part time job, his baby brother and younger sister, the college applications that were due any day. Why had he let Hank talk him into this?
Hank continued, �What do you have to lose, Luis? You get to spend a whole weekend away from Harmony in a huge mansion with college girls.� Hank raised his eyebrows, �College girls, Buddy. Think about it.� He continued, �You don�t have to worry about room and board. Heck, I�m even providing the transportation,� he laughed, as he drove the old Grand Am, affectionately known as, The General.
�Tell me again,� Luis said, �who�s gonna be there besides Nancy?�
Hank grinned, �Nancy�s best friend, Morgan Barrows, who, by the way, is off limits to you,� he warned. Hank paused while he daydreamed about this older woman whom he�d met when he visited his sister at college the year before. Luis had heard all about Morgan and how incredibly wild and sexy she was.
�Go on,� Luis said, trying to find out the rest of the guest list.
Hank was still thinking of Morgan. �Huh?� he asked. �Oh yeah, the others. Morgan�s little sister, Merill, is coming. She�s about a year youngest than us, I think, and she goes to some fancy boarding school in France. I think she�s bringing a friend.� Hank smiled, �You know what they say about French women, Luis?� Hank raised his brows.
Luis shook his head and laughed at his friend. �What? They make great crepes?�
Hank frowned, �Very funny, Luis.� Luis didn�t believe for one minute that he and Hank would be the only guys at this party.
�And there won�t be any other guys besides us?� Luis said in a tone that suggested he found it hard to believe that he and Hank would be the only two there with these four girls.
�As far as I know, it�s just us and Dirk the Jerk,� Hank answered.
�I can�t believe your sister goes out with someone named, Dirk. I didn�t even know there were really people named, Dirk. I thought it was a�� Luis paused.
�Porn star name?� Hank laughed. �I was gonna say a soap opera name, Hank,� Luis replied.
Hank laughed. Dirk was such a jerk. Even Nancy admitted it. Hank wondered why his sister would date a creep, but he already knew the answer to that question. Nancy was a party girl and she loved to have a good time. Dirk was the Big Man on Campus and this gave Nancy carte blanche to all the parties. She was really proud of the fact that, while she was only a sophomore, she got to hang out with all the seniors.
Hank and Luis were both surprised when they turned off the main road down the long drive to the estate. The house was even grander than they could have imagined, with at least four separate wings, a large stable, extensive grounds and a lake.
Hank pulled up to the main entrance and parked next to a beautiful vintage blue Mercedes. �Pretty posh, huh?� Hank asked as he noticed the car. Luis nodded and examined the exterior of the house.
�How did your sister book this place for the weekend?� Luis asked. �I�m not sure,� Hank replied, �but it�s a pretty cool place for a party. It was probably Morgan�s doing. Besides being totally hot, she�s loaded, another plus in my book.�
Luis rolled his eyes at Hank�s remark. Money was a big deal to Hank and he always joked that the future Mrs. Bennett would have to come with a decent dowry. Hank knocked on the large carved wooden door and was met by Morgan.
�Hank,� she smiled, �come in. You�re just in time,� Morgan gushed. �NANCY,� she shouted. �Your little brother�s here.� Hank caught the little brother remark but took it as a personal challenge to show Ms. Morgan Barrows what a mature man he really was.
Nancy Bennett came bounding into the foyer, her long auburn hair tied up in a knot on her head. �Hey Sweetie Pie,� she said as she kissed Hank�s cheeks. She was carrying a bottle of very old Cabernet in one hand and lighted cigar in the other. Hank waved the smoke from his face.
�Hey, Sis,� Hank said with a disapproving glance. �Getting started a little early?� he asked. �Oh, you know me, Honey. I�m just getting things organized, taking inventory, et cetera.� Nancy turned to face Luis.
�Well if it isn�t the little LoFitz,� she teased. �Not so little anymore,� she stated, making Luis blush. He had really developed into quite a hunk over the last two years. Nancy motioned for Luis to turn around and Luis smiled and shook his head. He couldn�t help but notice the exchange of glances between Morgan and Nancy. They were checking him out, and Hank did not like that.
�So where�s this French girl?� Hank interrupted before another minute of drooling over Luis passed. �Luis loves French girls, can�t get enough of them, isn�t that right, Buddy?�
�I hate to disappoint you, but�� a voice stated as two young women descended the staircase. Both Luis and Hank looked up to see two very attractive girls. The girl who spoke was blonde and petite and looked very like Morgan. The other girl was taller and more demure, with soft blonde curls that framed her fresh-scrubbed face.
�Neither one of us is French,� Merrill Barrows teased as she walked over to the boy who made the remark, � but we aim to please.� The other girl lowered her head in embarrassment as she witnessed her friend�s comments.
�Luis, Hank, I�d like you to meet my little sister, Merrill, and her friend, Sheridan,� Morgan stated. Hank and Luis shook hands with the two girls. Luis couldn�t help but notice that Sheridan would not make contact with either of them.
�It�s nice to meet you,� Merrill said.
�Excuse me, please. I need to borrow Merrill for one moment,� Sheridan gently said as she pulled her friend into the library. Morgan and Nancy offered to show Hank to the drawing room where all the party provisions were, while Luis refrained, saying that he had to get another bag from the car.
As he made his way back into the house, he overheard the conversation coming from the library.
�Merrill, I can�t believe you would do this to me. You never told me this was going to be some big party weekend or that guys would be here,� Sheridan stated.
�You never would have come if I told you,� Merrill replied.
�You got that right,� Sheridan replied. �You know my father and brother would flip out if they knew I was spending the weekend with a bunch of college guys,� Sheridan explained.
�Exactly why I didn�t tell you, Sheridan. You would never lie to your family, and I really didn�t want you to miss out on this. We�ll have plenty of time to hang out and go riding. Did you see those stables?� she asked, knowing Sheridan�s week spot. �Come on, it�ll be fun,� Merrill assured her friend.
Sheridan thought about the situation for a moment. �I just wish you�d told me,� she stated. �You also never mentioned that this place was supposedly haunted. You know I spook easily.�
�You need to live a little, Sheridan. Dirk�s college buddies will be here any minute and then the party will really get going.�
�More guys?� Sheridan said in disbelief. �Just a few of his friends. Anyway, they�re all college senior so they�re not going to be interested in a couple of high-school girls.� Merrill raised a brow and grinned, �But Nancy�s brother and his friend are kind of cute, don�t you think? They�re about our age,� she giggled.
Sheridan sighed, �Yes, they�re both very handsome, but that�s beside the point, Merrill. My brother would never have agreed to this if he knew the circumstances, and if my father were to find out, well, I hate to think what he would do,� she worried.
�Sheridan, live a little. You�re seventeen years old. You hardly ever get to come home, and you get to spend the next three weeks away from that school. We�re going to have a fabulous time this weekend. You�re going to have a great time at home with your family over the holidays, and then you get to come stay with me in Connecticut for a week before we have to go back to Sister Mary Margaret and the rest of the prison guards. This is going to be more fun that you ever imagined. Trust me. I�m your best friend, after all. Have I ever steered you wrong before?� Merrill paused. �Don�t answer that.�
Luis listened to the conversation and was all too familiar with the reservations Sheridan had about this weekend. Merrill was as persuasive as Hank Bennett, and Luis knew what it was like to have a best friend like him. He heard them coming and backtracked to the front door as though he were just now coming inside.
�Luis,� Merrill stated as she walked from the library. �Get stuck holding the bags?� she laughed. Sheridan walked over to him. �Here let me help you with those,� she offered. Her hand brushed his as she tried to relieve some of his load. He felt the electricity course through him as they made contact. His eyes were penetrating her, trying to determine if she also felt the charge. However, if Sheridan was affected, she kept it well hidden and didn�t even make contact as she helped him unload the bags in the drawing room where Hank and his sister were joining Morgan in a drink.
�Dirk and the rest of the guys should be here in about an hour. Why don�t you all get settled into our rooms and meet back here at six sharp for dinner,� Nancy suggested. She had a glimmer to her eyes, which indicated that there might be more to this dinner than met the eye. Both Sheridan and Luis noticed her expression and shared a quick glance that conveyed concern about what might lay ahead for them.
Chapter 2
Luis was sure that he�d be sharing a room with Hank, but the mansion was so large that every guest had their own spacious quarters. Even Luis had to admit that the weekend was looking up. Not only had he met a beautiful girl, but his bedroom was larger than the living room in his house. It was grander than anything he�d ever seen, even more ornate than the famous Crane Mansion where his mother worked. Not usually one for pomp and circumstance, Luis was visibly impressed by his accommodations.
After the long drive, Hank decided to crash for the afternoon. Luis was pretty sure that the girls were resting too. After unpacking his things, Luis set out to explore the mansion and the grounds.
His room was down the hall from Hank, but it was a long hall. Luis wasn�t sure which rooms the girls were occupying so he walked quietly as he passed each doorway. He couldn�t help but notice the twists and turns in the mansion. If he hadn�t been paying attention on the way to his room earlier, he could have gotten lost very easily.
Luis reached the main staircase and heard the rowdy chuckles of Dirk and his friends downstairs. In an effort to avoid confronting them, he continued down the hallway to a back staircase of spiral stairs. Once down the precarious stairway, Luis made his way into what he thought might be either the kitchen or a small dining area. There was a long walnut table that had a primitive quality to it and several ladder back chairs at the table. Luis assumed it was where the servants ate.
He continued past the table towards another small hallway that appeared to be a walkthrough pantry. He could feel a draft coming from the corridor and followed it, hoping to find a door to the outside. The first door he came to was on the left. He opened the dark, heavy door and realized it led to a cellar or basement. As he closed it, he thought he heard a woman calling out.
�Hello,� Luis stated into the darkness. He stepped onto the first step and felt the door closing shut behind him. Before it closed all the way, he was able to get his hand around the side to prevent being locked in. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and decided to go back into hallway.
The next door, at the end of the hallway, opened to a garden of hedges and borders. Luis walked out into the afternoon sun, pulling his coat around his waist. He walked for about ten minutes until he reached a glen that was framed by oak trees. He heard rhythmic sounds approaching from the right, and he turned to see a galloping horse not ten yards from him.
�Oh, I�m so sorry,� Sheridan said as she pulled on the reigns. She was breathless as she halted the tall chestnut gelding. �I didn�t see you there,� she apologized as she dismounted from the horse.
Luis walked over to the horse and petted the white blaze on his forehead. �It�s okay. I was just taking a walk. I didn�t know anyone else was out here,� he explained.
Sheridan couldn�t stop smiling and wasn�t sure why this boy made her feel so happy. She babbled for a few minutes, explaining that Merrill was napping and that she had decided to take advantage of the stables. Luis could only focus on her delicate pink mouth and perfect white teeth as she continued talking.
Her cheeks were rosy from the ride and her chest was throbbing as she tried to catch her breath. She patted the horse on the neck and explained, �I could tell Merlin was desperate for some exercise, but I had no idea how fast he was. He may be more than I can handle,� she continued.
�I doubt that,� Luis replied, causing Sheridan to blush. She seemed to have an unusual combination of innocence and worldliness. Luis couldn�t figure her out, and that excited him. She was unlike any girl he�d ever known.
�Would you care to join me?� Sheridan asked. �I�ve only been out for twenty minutes. We can stop by the stables and get a horse for you, if you like. There seems to be some good areas for riding out here.�
Luis laughed. �I don�t know how to ride. I�ve never even been on a horse, Sheridan.� Sheridan immediately felt bad for embarrassing him. She took it for granted that most people knew how to ride, just like they knew how to swim.
�I�d be happy to teach you, if you like,� she offered. Luis loved how she finished every sentence with this phrase, if you like. It made him feel so important. He realized he could get caught up in being this other person. A man who lived in a mansion and rode horses with beautiful debutantes. He had to get over that notion. He would never be like these people.
�No,� he stated tersely.
Sheridan lowered her head as she felt the flush wash over her cheeks. Luis realized that he�d upset her with his shortness and he felt terrible. Why was her happiness so important to him, he wondered?
�It�s just that I�d be a lousy student. I�m stubborn, impatient, and a control freak,� he confessed. �It sounds like you have quite a bit in common with horses, Luis. You just described one to a tee,� she laughed.
Sheridan turned the reign and began walking alongside Merlin. She motioned for Luis to follow, and he did willingly. They talked the whole way to the stables. Luis helped her remove the saddle and bridle from the horse.
�Tomorrow,� she whispered in Merlin�s ear, �I promise. We�ll go for a long ride.� Luis watched her in amazement as she talked to the horse while gently brushing his coat. He was lost in her movements, the way her hand glided over the neck. She leaned in to kiss Merlin on his nose and the horse responded by raising his head twice. ��Good boy,� she smiled. Luis was completely spellbound by her.
They closed the stable door and walked back towards the mansion. Sheridan looked beautiful in her tan riding britches, which hugged her tightly, and the ivory knitted argyle sweater that hung down past her bottom.
They reached the back door and he held it open for her. �You came this way too?� she asked.
Luis nodded. �I was hoping to escape a run in with Nancy�s friends. It sounded like they were starting the party early,� he admitted.
Sheridan smiled. Luis knew that she�d chosen this way for exactly the same reason. He watched as she stared at the door he�d discovered earlier. �Is something wrong?�
Sheridan shook her head. �It�s just that I thought I heard something earlier, but it was probably just my mind playing tricks on me,� she admitted.
Luis didn�t want to scare her by telling her that he also heard a noise. He tried to reassure her. �I�m sure it was nothing. These old houses make all sorts of noises.�
The two walked into the main part of the house and ran into Dirk and his friends. Luis was shocked when he felt Sheridan�s hand grasp his own hand. She cowered behind him as the group of college boys walked over to them.
Chapter 3
�Well, well, well,� Dirk stated, �looks like we have a fast operator,� he teased as he witnessed the handsome couple cautiously enter the room. The pretty blonde was still hiding behind the tall, dark boy. Luis saw Morgan laughing at Dirk�s remarks as Nancy rolled her eyes.
�Leave �em alone, Dirk,� Nancy warned. �You remember what it was like to be young, don�t you?� she asked.
�Sorry, my bad,� the attractive Dirk smiled. He had a classic square jaw line and a trendy haircut that was longer in the front and shorter in the back. His sun-kissed hair flopped into his pale blue eyes. This guy was Hitler�s golly . �Good to meet you, Luis,� he said in a raspy voice as he extended a hand.
Luis kept one hand wrapped around Sheridan�s ice-cold hand as he continued to serve as a barrier between these daunting figures.
�These are my buddies, Josh and Kip,� Dirk explained as he pointed to the two men. Josh was tall and lanky with the same floppy hair as Dirk, only in a darker shade. Kip was short and stocky with ginger hair cut in a spiky crew cut.
Luis didn�t respond. He merely grunted and acknowledged the others. �Who�s your shadow?� Kip asked, referring to the person standing behind Luis.
For some reason, Luis felt the urge to protect Sheridan and he didn�t answer the question. �That�s Sheridan,� Morgan bellowed. �She�s a friend of Merrill�s. She�s not legal so hand�s off, guys,� she stated in a drunken stupor. Luis couldn�t see the attraction of Morgan. She seemed spent as though she�d been road hard and put away wet.
Dirk walked over to Sheridan, and in full view of Nancy Bennett, he kissed Sheridan�s free hand. Luis flinched in response.
�Enchante,� Dirk stated as his lips lingered over her pale skin. Sheridan withdrew her hand quickly in fear.
�Ignore him, Sheridan. He�s just showing off. He took one semester of French and he thinks he�s Jacques Freakin�Cousteau,� Nancy laughed. Luis thought there was more to this gesture than met the eye. The way that a dog smelled fear seemed to be the same way that Dirk sought out Sheridan. He knew that he frightened her and Luis felt compelled to watch over her.
Instinct set in and Luis covered. �You said dinner was at six, right?� he directed at Nancy. She nodded. �We�d better get cleaned up before then,� Luis explained as he ferried Sheridan out of the room and up the magnificent staircase.
Once at her room, Sheridan apologized. �I�m sorry I was so scared earlier. For some reason, I just reacted when I saw those guys. I guess I wasn�t prepared for this weekend, Luis.�
Luis didn�t need an explanation. Even if she didn�t realize it, Sheridan was the most beautiful girl there. She was enticing to all the guys, whether they were college seniors or high-school seniors. She had every reason to be afraid.
�No need to explain,� he smiled. He wanted to tell her that she could cling to him anytime, but he didn�t want to seem forward. Their faces were so close he could almost inhale her breath. He wanted to kiss her, and he was sure she wanted the same. An overwhelming attraction overtook them, but they both refrained and said goodbye, agreeing that they would meet at dinner.
Sheridan was counting down the minutes until she saw Luis again. She took a long, hot bubble bath and searched her hanging bag for an appropriate dress. Thank goodness she had the sense to pack a few suitable choices for her trip to Harmony. Little did she know she�d be needing them for this weekend.
She carefully selected a short slip dress in a deep plum and covered her bare shoulders with a black cashmere cardigan. She finished the look with delicate pearl drop earrings, a matching necklace, and sophisticated black suede pumps.
�Merrill?� Sheridan asked as she knocked on her friend�s door. Merrill opened the door and motioned for Sheridan to come inside. She was still in her robe, racing around the room, with her hair in rollers. �You look awesome, Sher,� Merrill stated as she turned around for a second look. �I�m almost ready,� she lied. Sheridan saw four dresses hanging on the bureau and knew that her friend hadn�t even decided what to wear.
Sheridan glanced at the clock beside the bed. They had five minutes to get Merrill dressed and fix her hair. Sheridan grabbed the sexiest black dress in the selection and sat her friend down on the rose colored upholstered stool that sat in front of the mirror. With a few quick moves, Sheridan had Merrill�s hair roller-free and swept up into a French twist. Merrill was always impressed by Sheridan�s ability to help her get ready in a pinch. After three years as roommates, Sheridan was becoming a professional at helping Merrill.
�Up,� Sheridan ordered as she slipped the strappy dress over her friend�s head. �Turn,� she stated as she put on the jewelry. ��Pout,� she said as she dabbed the ruby lipstick on her friend. �Blot,� Sheridan placed a tissue between Merrill�s lips. Merrill checked herself in the mirror and decided she looked good enough.
They raced down the hallway to the stairs and stopped to appear calm as they descended. The grandfather clock struck six, and everyone was already in the dining room. Dirk and his friends were kitted out in tuxedos, whereas Hank and Luis both wore dark suits.
Nancy was wearing a red, fitted Chinese print silk dress that had capped sleeves and hit her right above the knee. Morgan wore a long sleeved hunter green velvet dress that dipped into a v at the back. The front had a deep scooped neck and the hemline was dangerously short.
�Ladies,� Dirk greeted as Sheridan and Merrill entered the room. Luis couldn�t take his eyes off of Sheridan, and Hank couldn�t help but notice how attractive Merrill looked. She resembled her older sister, Morgan, but seemed fresher and classier.
The nine dinner guests sat at the table. Morgan rose and began to speak, �I�m so glad that you could all join us here this weekend. Haverford Hall has a long and rich history of entertaining. There are some who claim to have even seen its illustrious former residents floating down the hallways.�
Morgan stopped behind Sheridan�s chair. Nancy stood up and continued. As Nancy began to speak, Morgan bent down and removed Sheridan�s cardigan, �Live a little,� she said as she winked at the frightened girl.
�We�re here to celebrate freedom,� Nancy stated, �freedom from the rigors of higher education, freedom from the constraints placed on us by our parents, and freedom from the people we are in our everyday lives.�
Morgan walked back over to her seat and lifted her glass of champagne. �Here�s to a weekend of fun and freedom and whatever else comes our way,� she toasted. Dirk was the first to lift his glass, �To freedom,� he repeated. Everyone at the table followed suit, even Sheridan and Luis who were more than a little concerned about the tone of this speech.
Dinner was going well. They�d enjoyed roasted pork for their main course and were no onto brandied pears for dessert. Sheridan sat next to Luis and talked comfortably with him. He couldn�t take his eyes off of her. He noticed her shiver and draped the soft wrap around her shoulders. �Thank you,� she whispered. She wasn�t really cold, but a chill overtook her suddenly.
�Are you okay?� Luis asked. Sheridan nodded, �Fine. I just got a chill,� she explained. Neither of them had noticed that Morgan and Nancy had left the room and were now walking back into the dining area with a large burgundy book in hand.
�Please join us in the drawing room for after dinner drinks,� Nancy invited.
Morgan smiled, �We also have a special surprise for you.� Sheridan looked at the book, which seemed familiar. She wondered if the uneasy feelings she was having had anything to do with the arrival of this tome.
Morgan motioned for Sheridan and Merrill to join her by the mantle. �We need our French experts to translate this text,� she stated.
She continued, �This is the diary of Celia Chalmers, a resident of Haverford Hall who was said to have disappeared over eighty years ago. This book was sitting on a table in the entry hall when Nancy and I arrived. We took it as a sign that Celia wanted us to read her deepest, darkest secrets, and� she paused, �her last words.�
The room fell silent. Dirk and his friends were intrigued by the information. Hank was also curious. However, Luis was concerned, especially when he saw the color drain from Sheridan�s face.
�So, without further ado,� Morgan said, �the thoughts of Celia Chalmers as spoken by our dear Sheridan and translated by my lovely younger sister, Merrill, who should be fluent in French by now with the money our parents are paying for her education.�
Merrill laughed and made a face at her sister. She motioned for Sheridan to open the book and start reading. Sheridan felt the terror within but tried to regain some small amount of composure to complete the task before her.
Chapter 4
�C�est un compte de Celia Chalmers,� Sheridan began reading the text effortlessly as Merrill started translating for the guests. �This is the record of Celia Chalmers.�
Merrill continued relaying the words to the others. �I came to America from France to live with my dear aunt two years ago when I was but fifteen years old. My Aunt Lillian, my mother�s sister, was gravely ill at the time. Her husband, Cyril Haverford, requested that I tend to her care. As I had just lost my own parents, this seemed like an answer to my prayers. I was relieved to have suitable quarters at such a vast estate.
My aunt, though ill, made certain that I continued my education and carried on with my other interests, such as music and riding. Although it was painful to see my aunt slipping away, I was took comfort in the fact that my presence here at Haverford Hall gave her some small amount of pleasure. Life seemed ideal at this time. Then everything changed.�
Merrill paused as Sheridan continued reading at a rapid pace. She was devouring the words. Merrill could hardly keep up. It was as though Sheridan were being driven to uncover every page, as though she were directed to reveal Celia�s words as quickly as possible.
Sheridan suddenly realized that Merrill had stopped. She lifted her head to witness the expressions of everyone in the room. They were all stunned and captivated by the manner in which she was reading the journal.
�I�m sorry. I guess I got a little ahead of myself,� Sheridan said in a whisper. �I�ll slow down a bit,� she apologized. She looked at Merrill and realized that she was lost in the text. �Why don�t I paraphrase the last parts and catch you all up on where we are?� Sheridan smiled.
�Celia speaks of the death of her aunt and the release of many servants at this time. Celia was nearing her seventeenth birthday. She feared that she might also be turned out into the cold. She mentions confiding in a special friend, a man who worked at the stables and who promised to watch out for her should she be outcast by her uncle.�
Sheridan hesitated as she revealed the next part. �Her uncle�s behavior had become erratic since Lillian died. He had always been eccentric and unpredictable, but Celia began to fear him.� Sheridan lifted her head to the stares of all in the room.
�Sounds like Daddy Warbucks was after his niece. I bet he had her on the run. Seventeen years old and French to boot. No wonder he was ornery. He probably had a permanent hard on,� Dirk laughed. �Keep going. Let�s find out if he porks her.�
Even Nancy was shocked by her boyfriend�s insensitivity. �Dirk, you really are a jerk,� she stated. Suddenly there was a loud boom that shook the house. Sheridan dropped the book.
�What was that?� she asked.
�I don�t know, but I didn�t like it,� Merrill replied.
�Maybe Dirk pissed off the ghost of Christmas Past,� Josh suggested. �Or maybe it�s Old Man Haverford come to get his hands on some new blood,� Kip stated as he looked at the girls in the room.
Morgan rose, �Would you guys shut up already? Listen, somebody�s got to check out where the noise came from. It may be the heating or something more serious.�
Nancy looked at Dirk as if to say he should be the one to handle things. �Don�t look at me, precious,� Dirk stated. Nancy rolled her eyes.
�Fine, Morgan and I will check it out,� she said.
�I�ll go with you,� Hank offered, wanting to take care of his sister as well as be close to Morgan.
The three made their way to the basement to check on the heating. A few minutes later, the lights flickered. Then the lights went completely out, leaving Dirk, Josh, Kip, Merrill, Sheridan and Luis in the dark.
�Those idiots probably flipped the wrong switch downstairs and cut off the lights,� Dirk laughed.
�I�ll go grab some of the candles from the Dining Room,� Luis offered as he looked at Sheridan.
�We�ll go with you,� Sheridan replied as she motioned to Merrill. Merrill shook her head. She sank into the sofa and clutched onto a pillow.
�I�m staying right here. No way am I budging from this spot until the lights are back on,� she trembled.
Sheridan sighed and followed Luis into the Dining Room. They each took a candle. Luis took Sheridan�s other hand as they started back towards the Drawing Room. Sheridan jumped when she heard the scream that she knew came from Merrill.
Luis and Sheridan were stunned to find the room was empty. �Where are they, Luis? They were here a minute ago,� she argued.
�This is probably just a sick joke, Sheridan. I bet those guys planned this out all along and are trying to scare us,� he assured her.
Sheridan shook her head, �Not Merrill. She would never be part of this. I know she�s in trouble. We have to find her. She�s terrified of the dark.� She paused and began searching the room. �Merrill,� she called out.
They went from room to room. The mansion was enormous. Each room looked much the same. Luis hoped that he wouldn�t get lost in this maze. They came upon a small room off to the side and entered it, still calling out to the others.
The door behind them shut with great force, leaving them locked in the tiny alcove, which housed a built-in bookcase, a yellow silk upholstered divan, two large red leather chairs, and a roaring fireplace. Next to the fireplace was a stocked bar with enough whiskey and brandy to sedate a large animal.
�Luis,� Sheridan whispered, �I think we�re in trouble.�
Luis smiled weakly and shook his head. �We�re going to be just fine. Someone will find us very soon.�
Luis looked around the room for an exit. The room only had one small window that was very high up. There was no escape, nor was there even a way to open the window. The heat of the fireplace would ensure that they wouldn�t be cold, but it was beginning to get so warm in the room that Sheridan could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. She hoped it was the fire that was causing this reaction. Looking at Luis across the room, she had her doubts.
Chapter 5
Sheridan watched as Luis rolled up his sleeves and walked the perimeter of the room like a caged animal searching for a way out. He�d already taken off his jacket, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt. Sheridan was still clutching onto the black cardigan that covered her shoulders, but she knew she�d have to discard it soon since it was getting warmer in the room.
Luis pounded on the door again, calling out for Hank and the others. Sheridan wondered if it were really so horrible being stuck there with her. She thought they were becoming friends and she sensed a special connection with Luis. She�d thought he felt it too. Maybe she was wrong.
Sheridan walked over to the door and tried to help Luis pry it open. �It�s no use, Sheridan. This door is sealed shut. Feel the weight of it. There�s no way we�ll get it open by sheer force.�
As they both turned their backs against the door, they let out a sigh and then a laugh. �I can�t believe we�re locked in here,� Luis stated.
�Is it that awful to be with me?� Sheridan joked. There was something in her question that revealed an honest belief that Luis might really be disappointed with the present company.
He shook his head and turned to her, �No, of course it�s not awful, Sheridan. If I had to be trapped with anyone, I�d choose you,� he grinned. �No contest.� Sheridan smiled.
They heard a distant wailing, similar to the one they had each heard earlier that day in the cellar. �What was that?� Sheridan asked as she edged closer to Luis� chest. In response, he wrapped his arms around her bare, silky shoulders.
�I don�t know, Sheridan, but I�m glad we�re in here and not out there,� he smiled. She glanced up at his face, happy to have him holding her. Suddenly a feeling of pure passion overtook her and she longed for Luis to kiss her.
As though he read her mind, Luis leaned in closer to her quivering lips. They both knew what would happen if they gave into this kiss. There would be no turning back. Luis� breathing began to grow more erratic as he got closer to her mouth. Sheridan also began breathing more deeply as Luis hovered over her.
Luis gently kissed her lips, once, then again, then another time. He let out a soft moan as he felt her mouth opening to give him entry. Sheridan had never felt anything like this before. She felt Luis� hands grasping hers and guiding them to his neck. She complied with his directions and began matching his every movement.
Luis was on fire, and nothing told him to stop. He felt driven to go further, deeper, to seek more from her. Sheridan felt out of control as well. She loosened Luis� tie and began unbuttoning his shirt while never breaking the kiss. Luis let out a breath as he felt her soft hand caress his bare chest. He allowed her to remove his shirt, and he placed his own hand inside her delicate dress.
Sheridan tilted her head back as she felt Luis touch her breast, giving him access to her neck. Neither one of them knew what was driving them to give into these feelings. They both felt compelled to be with one another. Luis pushed the straps of her dress off her shoulders and watched the dress cascade to the floor, revealing Sheridan�s beautiful bare breasts and her black lace panties.
Luis scooped Sheridan into his arms and carried her over to the divan. He gently laid her down and rested over her as he began to taste each breast. Sheridan�s hands ran up and down his back as Luis kissed her stomach. She pulled him back to her face and began kissing his neck, while she quickly undid his pants.
�Sheridan, we have to stop,� Luis breathed as he felt her touch his throbbing erection. Sheridan let go for a moment to listen to him. They locked eyes as Luis told her his reasoning.
�I don�t have any protection with me,� he explained, his eyes full of sadness and pent up desire. �I�m sure Hank brought some with him, but seeing as how we can�t get to him right now, we have to stop.� Sheridan thought for a moment as she considered his concerns.
�We can do other things,� she grinned.
Luis smiled and began kissing her again as he placed his hands inside her panties. She cried out in pleasure as she felt him touch her in a place no man had ever been. Suddenly the lights came on. They were startled to hear voices calling out for them. Hank and Nancy Bennett were in the hallway.
Luis stood up quickly and gently pulled Sheridan with him. He lifted the plum slip dress over her head and pulled on his own clothes. They frantically dressed as Luis called out to Hank. �We�re in here,� he shouted.
Hank and Nancy effortlessly opened the door. Luis and Sheridan were both shocked by the ease with which they did this.
�What happened to you two?� Hank smirked, indicating he suspected something.
�Everyone disappeared. Sheridan and I went looking for them,� Luis explained, shooting a glance at his friend that suggested he didn�t appreciated the remark.
Nancy turned to Hank and shrugged her shoulders. �Everyone�s in the Drawing Room, same as they were when you two went to get candles.�
Sheridan looked at Nancy with surprise. �That can�t be. We heard a scream and went to find them. The room was empty. We called out for them. No one answered,� she argued. Luis nodded in agreement as a sign of support.
�You two probably got lost,� Nancy stated. �You must have thought you were in the Drawing Room when in fact you were in another room.�
Sheridan and Luis shook their heads. �No, we were in the right room. We also heard a scream,� he stated.
�That was probably Morgan. She got spooked when the lights went out down in the basement. She and Merrill sound alike,� Hank said.
Luis and Sheridan decided not to argue the point anymore. They knew what they heard. Nancy and Sheridan started walking down the hallway, while Luis and Hank remained in the room for a moment.
�Come on, Buddy,� Hank laughed. �You don�t have to make up some lame excuse to cover the fact that you and Sheridan wanted to be alone.�
�That�s not what happened, Hank,� Luis argued.
�Oh really?� Hank said in disbelief as he winked at his friend. �Then why are all the pillows on the floor? And why do you two looked so red-faced?�
Luis remained silent and looked around the room. With the lights on, he could see the walls more clearly. To the left, hung a portrait of a beautiful blonde woman, standing beside a horse. In the distance were the stables that he and Sheridan saw yesterday. Luis could make out one more figure in the painting. A tall, dark figure stood by the doorway to the stable. A chill came over him as he left the room with Hank.
Chapter 6
Sheridan awoke the next morning with the strangest feeling. She tried to remember last night, but it seemed like a dream. Had she really been in an intimate embrace with Luis? She hardly knew the boy. Why was she so drawn to him? There was a knock at her bedroom door and she heard Merrill outside.
�Morning, sleepyhead,� Merrill greeted.
�What time is it?� Sheridan yawned.
�It�s seven thirty in the morning. We were supposed to go riding, remember?� Merrill answered.
�Oh, yeah,� Sheridan stretched. �Come in. Just give me a minute to put on some clothes and we can get going.� She scrubbed her face with a washcloth and brushed her teeth while Merrill flopped onto the bed. �Where�s everybody else?� Sheridan asked, although she was only concerned about one man�s whereabouts.
Sheridan was sure that she dreamed about him last night. It was so vivid, so real. She was in the stables waiting for him. He walked up behind her and kissed her ear. He led her into the tack room and swept her into an embrace. Sheridan felt warm inside when she recalled this fantasy. A chill washed over her as she remembered the dream turning into a nightmare. A man shouted to stop and there was a fight. She ran to the mansion to get help. That�s where the nightmare ended.
�Hello?� Merrill asked as she waved a hand in Sheridan�s face. Sheridan shook her head. �Sorry, I was just remembering this dream I had last night.�
Merrill rolled her eyes, �Must have been a doozy. I could hear you screaming in the middle of the night. I was going to check on you, but I know you have nightmares from time to time.�
�I was screaming?� Sheridan asked. Merrill nodded, �Don�t worry. I don�t think you woke up the house. Dirk and his buddies were so sloshed out of their minds that I doubt an earthquake would have woken them. Ditto with Nan and Morgan.�
Sheridan buttoned the heather cardigan over her soft white blouse and pulled on her riding britches and boots. �Ready,� she stated. The two women walked down the corridor towards the staircase. As Sheridan passed what she thought was Luis� room, she wondered if he were tucked in his bed fast asleep.
Once they arrived at the stables, Sheridan and Merrill got their tack ready for their morning ride.
�So what really happened last night?� Merrill finally asked her friend.
�Happened?� Sheridan repeated.
Merrill grinned, �Yeah. When you and Nancy came back into the room, I got the distinct impression that you were hiding something. Then you dragged me upstairs. I didn�t even get to say goodnight to Luis and Hank.�
Sheridan blushed, �Luis and I went looking for everyone after the lights went out. We ended up in this little room at the other end of the house when the door slammed shut. We couldn�t get it to budge. If Hank and Nancy hadn�t come along when they did, we would have been stuck in there all night.�
Merrill noticed that Sheridan was focused on fastening the bridle and wouldn�t make eye contact with her. She was having difficulty with the buckle as it kept slipping back open.
�You two hooked up, didn�t you?� Merrill asked candidly. Sheridan was silent.
�I kissed him,� she finally admitted as she gave up on the bridle.
�No way!� Merrill shouted. �I knew it. I just knew it. Was it wonderful?� she probed.
Sheridan rolled her eyes, �Like I�m gonna tell you. They call you �Merrill the Mouth� for a reason.� Sheridan paused when she realized she�d hurt Merrill�s feelings.
�Yes, it was wonderful,� she confessed in an attempt to apologize. �At least I thought it was, but I have nothing to compare it to.�
�Your first kiss, Sheridan,� Merrill said dreamily. �It�s about time. I was starting to think you were going to join the sisterhood. Did you go any further?� Merrill hounded.
Sheridan sighed. She didn�t want to lie to her best friend, but she didn�t want to share any intimate details either. What happened with Luis was special and just between them. �We got a little carried away, I guess. Something about being alone in that room just got to us.�
Merrill sighed, �I need to get laid in the worst way.�
Sheridan gasped, �Merrill!�
�What? I do.� Merrill smiled. �Just hearing about your rendezvous last night has me all edgy. Maybe that Hank Bennett can satisfy my cravings.�
Sheridan shook her head as Merrill mounted the tan horse. �You are so bad, Merrill.�
�And you�re so good, Sheridan. Don�t we compliment each other nicely?� Merrill smiled.
Sheridan finally tossed the broken bridle aside. �You go ahead without me. I�ve got to go to the tack room and find a decent bridle. I�ll catch up with you in a minute.� Merrill agreed and took her horse out into the glade.
Sheridan turned to walk to the tack room and jumped when she saw Luis standing before her. �How long have you been there?� she quivered. �Long enough,� Luis answered. Sheridan realized he�d heard her conversation with Merrill. Before she could explain, Luis tenderly stroked her cheek.
�Why didn�t you tell me it was your first kiss? If I�d known, I never would have let it go so far,� he apologized.
�Exactly,� Sheridan replied as she tried to hide her embarrassment. �How many seventeen year old girls do you know who have never kissed a boy? I didn�t want you to think I was some sort of freak, Luis.�
�I�d never think that of you, Sheridan,� Luis explained. �I just wish you would have told me. We could have taken things more slowly.�
Sheridan knew that neither one of them had control over their emotions last night, but she didn�t argue. �What are you doing here?� she asked in an attempt to change the conversation.
Luis hesitated telling her. �I know this is going to sound strange, but I had this dream last night. It was so real, unlike any dream I�ve ever had. You and I were here together at the stables. I pulled you into the tack room, and��
�A man came and fought with you?� Sheridan interrupted.
The color drained from Luis� face. �Yes. How�d you know?�
�I had the same dream,� Sheridan answered.
Chapter 7
�Sheridan,� Luis nervously stated as he hung onto the reins for dear life. �This may not be such a good idea,� he argued as they rode side by side out into the glade. �It�s kind of like teaching a toddler to ride a bicycle on the interstate. Shouldn�t we take this slower?�
�Horses sense fear, Luis,� Sheridan explained. �You�ve got to show them who�s boss.� She turned to look at Luis, �Anyway, you�re doing fine. You�re a natural. Are you sure you haven�t done this before?�
Luis shook his head. �Definitely. I think I would remember if I�d ever ridden a horse before.�
�I think I see Merrill up ahead,� Sheridan stated.
Luis pulled on the reins to slow down his horse. He smiled when he realized it actually worked. Sheridan halted too when she realized Luis was no longer by her side. She turned her horse around and rode over to Luis. �What is it?� she asked.
�Before we join Merrill, I think we should talk about what happened earlier, Sheridan,� he explained. She was silent as he continued, �Why did we have the same dream? How is that possible?�
�I don�t know, Luis,� Sheridan sighed. �I�m not even sure I want to know. Sometimes things happen that no one can explain. I�ve heard of people having the same thoughts or the same dreams before, haven�t you?�
�People who have a strong connection, like twins,� Luis paused. �You and I just met for the first time yesterday. I don�t know the first thing about you except that your first name is Sheridan, you go to school in France, you�re friends with Merrill, and you come from a strict family.�
�Did you feel connected to me last night?� Sheridan asked as she placed a hand over Luis� hands.
Luis could feel his breathing grow more rapid. He wanted to kiss her so much. His gaze met hers and they were locked on each other. He breathed deeply, �Yeah, I felt a connection. It was stronger than anything I�ve ever felt with anyone.�
With their horses facing opposite directions, Sheridan and Luis were lined up saddle to saddle. Sheridan leaned over to kiss Luis. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, but he didn�t dare let go of the reins. The inability to touch her while they kissed only made it sweeter. He was so full of desire but unable to act. He remembered that he was the first boy Sheridan ever kissed, and that made him feel special. Whether or not Sheridan knew it, they needed to take things slowly. Tomorrow he�d be going back to Harmony and she�d be going home to see her family wherever they lived. The idea that they may never see one another again tore at him.
Luis heard Sheridan moan his name as they continued the kiss. She was edging closer to him and would almost be in his lap in a moment. �Sheridan,� he whispered as he broke the kiss. �We have to stop,� he said, his eyes still closed.
�I know, Luis, I know.� Sheridan replied. �For some reason, I can�t seem to help myself when you�re near.�
Luis loved her honesty and he knew exactly how she felt. It was taking all his self-control not to carry her off that horse and back into the stables to live out their fantasy in the tack room. Luis leaned over and gave Sheridan a gentle kiss.
�Well, well, well,� a voice stated, interrupting this special moment.
It was Dirk. The effects of his late night booze fest were still evident the morning after. Luis could smell the liquor from ten feet away. Dirk�s tidy preppy outfit from the night before was slovenly and unkempt this morning. His floppy golden hair was matted to his head and there was a sheen of dewy perspiration above his drooling mouth.
�What a lovely seat you have, Sheridan,� Dirk slurred. �And Luis, I didn�t realize you had experience in mounting.�
Luis wanted to pound this guy but not with Sheridan there.
�Ignore him,� Luis said to Sheridan. �He�s obviously drunk.�
Sheridan�s reaction concerned Luis. She seemed to be in a trance, unable to move from the terrifying sight of this man. Luis touched her hand, �You okay?� he whispered.
She nodded, �I�m fine.�
Dirk stumbled around for a moment and then grinned at the couple. �Excuse me while I find a place to vomit,� he explained in a smarmy tone. Hank walked up just in time to see Dirk being sick. �There you go, Dirk,� he laughed. �Get it all out.�
Hank was stunned to see Luis and Sheridan on horseback. Merrill Barrows was galloping towards them in an effort to see what was going on. �What�s the commotion?� she asked and then cringed as she caught sight of Dirk doubled over. �Ewww, I�m so glad I haven�t had breakfast yet.� Merrill parked her horse next to Sheridan.
Luis dismounted his horse and led it to the side where he motioned for Hank to join him. �What are you doing out here?� Luis asked out of earshot from the others
�Nancy woke me up this morning. She was worried because no one had seen Dirk in a while. I told her I�d find him,� Hank explained. �Now, let me ask you what you�re doing here, riding horses with two beautiful women? Trying to impress the ladies and didn�t want any competition from your old buddy?�
Luis laughed, �Hardly, I was out walking and ran into Sheridan. Somehow, I let her talk me into this riding thing.�
�I knew there was something going on between you two. She�s got you riding already? What a sissy! What�s next? The opera?� Hank chuckled.
�There you are,� Nancy shouted to the group as she walked out. Hank and Luis turned around to see Dirk still emptying the contents of his stomach by the hedges. �Oh, Dirk, why do you have to be such a putz sometimes?� she asked. �Thanks for tracking him down, Hank,� Nancy stated. She walked over to Dirk and pulled him to his feet. �Come on, slugger, let�s get you cleaned up.�
�Why does your sister date that guy?� Merrill asked, not able to conceal her disgust.
�Who knows?� Hank sighed.
�She could do so much better,� Merrill stated.
�She certainly couldn�t do any worse,� Hank agreed. Merrill smiled at him. At that moment, Hank realized that the younger Miss Barrows was had a lot of admirable qualities that her sister, Morgan, didn�t possess.
�Why don�t you join us?� Merrill suggested to Hank. �I can take you into the barn and help you find a horse.�
Luis laughed as he effortlessly mounted his own horse. He was surprised to find the task so easy. �Hank Bennett riding? I don�t think so. I seem to recall something about it only being for sissies.�
Hank stared icily at Luis and ignored his comments. �I�d love to join you, Merrill. I�ll have you know I�m an accomplished equestrian.�
Luis fought the urge to tell everyone to hike up their boots as the level of crap was rising. �Are you counting Kay�s birthday party as your primary experience?� Luis asked, referring to the pony rides Hank led at his niece�s birthday party last month.
Hank sneered at Luis. �You guys go ahead. We�ll meet you at the lake,� Merrill urged.
Sheridan turned to Luis and smiled. �Are you ready to have some fun?� she inquired. �Hold on tight and follow me.� Soon the pair were cantering off into the distance, and Luis wasn�t sure what to do so he held on and enjoyed the ride.
From the window inside, Dirk stared at the couple and growled. Nancy came back into the room with a cup of coffee and a cold washcloth. �What�s got you so riled?� she asked.
�Shut up and leave me alone,� Dirk ordered.
Nancy set the coffee on the bureau. �You�re such a jack ass. After this weekend, I don�t think we should see each other anymore.� She left and slammed the door on the way out, hoping the noise would exacerbate the headache that was obviously turning Dirk into such a monster this morning.
Chapter 8
As she�d done the night before, Sheridan helped Morgan get ready for dinner. The ride through the hills with Hank and Luis had been magical. Hank proved to be a willing, if not able, equestrian and delighted in showing off his winning sense of humor that afternoon. The real surprise had been Luis. For someone who had never been around horses, much less on one, Luis turned out to be a natural. Once he relaxed, he was able to enjoy the feeling of commanding the large animal. Sheridan was amazed by his ability.
�I noticed you and Luis seemed to be exchanging lusty glances this afternoon,� Merrill stated. When her remark was met with a shy silence, she probed further. �This is getting serious, isn�t it?�
Sheridan blushed and shrugged her shoulders. �As serious as it can get when we�ll be saying goodbye tomorrow.� Sadness tinged her reply.
�Who knows?� Merrill smiled, �Maybe you�ll keep in touch. If you can convince your dad to let you transfer to Covington next semester, then you�ll at least be in the same country.�
Sheridan considered her suggestion. Maybe Merrill was close to persuading her parents that St. Agnes was not the place for her, but Sheridan hadn�t even raised the subject with her father.
�Do you really think your parents will let you transfer out next semester?� Sheridan asked, upset by the prospect that her dearest friend would be leaving her alone.
�They pretty much have to agree, Sheridan. Sister Mary Michael sent them countless letters stating that if my behavior doesn�t improve, I will be asked to leave,� Merrill confessed. �Let my old man talk to your dad. Maybe he can persuade him.�
Sheridan realized this was not a realistic dream. She had to beg her father to allow her to go to St. Agnes in the first place. Her father�s first choice would have been to have his daughter privately tutored.
Merrill placed the ruby drop earrings in her lobes and checked her appearance in the mirror. She was pleased with her reflection and noticed Sheridan�s outfit at that time.
�I love your dress, Sheridan,� she said as she admired the pale champagne antique beaded sheath that revealed the curves underneath. �Where did you get it? I don�t recall ever seeing it before.�
A look of surprise washed over Sheridan�s face. �I thought you lent it to me, Merrill. When I got out of the tub this evening, the dress was lying on my bed.�
�Ooooh,� Merrill gasped. �A mysterious dress appears in your room out of nowhere. Maybe this place really is haunted or maybe you have a secret admirer.�
�You didn�t lay this dress on my bed earlier?� Sheridan repeated. Merrill shook her head. They were both intrigued and a little spooked by the mystery.
Luis met Hank in the hallway and was surprised to find him in the same attire he�d worn the night before. �Wait a minute,� Luis began. �Why do I have to wear this monkey suit when you get to wear that suit again?�
Hank smirked, �What are you trying to do, Luis, make me look bad in front of the women? You didn�t tell me you packed a tux. Very James Bond.�
�Come on, Bennett. Go get changed into your tux, man. I�m not going downstairs looking like this if you�re not wearing one too,� Luis replied, recalling their solidarity the night before, being the only two guys in suits while all the other fellows wore their finest attire.
�Luis, I didn�t pack a tux. I only packed this stupid suit as an afterthought when Nancy told me we�d need to dress for dinner. Where�d you find that getup anyway?� Hank wondered aloud.
�It was hanging on the door when I washed up, Hank. I swear. Didn�t you have one in your room too?� Luis inquired.
Hank shook his head, �Nope. Guess your new girlfriend likes her man in formal wear,� he teased.
Luis was conflicted by that possibility. Was Sheridan embarrassed by the way he looked the night before or was she just being thoughtful? He heard the clock downstairs strike eight and decided he didn�t have time to change.
Downstairs Dirk and his buddies were getting an early start on cigars and brandy when Luis and Hank found them in the library. Both men declined an offer to join them in their libations. Morgan and Nancy entered the room looking stunning in their eveningwear. Nancy wore a navy blue strapless gown and a sheer blue wrap. Morgan was wearing a teal cocktail dress that hugged every curve.
Everyone turned when Merrill and Sheridan entered. Josh and Kip were taken aback with Merrill�s sophisticated ruby colored gown that brought out the rose in her cheeks. She wore her hair long and loose and it cascaded over her bare shoulders.
The real beauty, however, was Sheridan, who looked like a sparkling confection in the beaded gown. Luis couldn�t take his eyes off of her and noticed the reaction from the others in the room as well.
�Dinner is served,� Nancy Bennett announced as she slid open the pocket doors into the grand dining room. Hank took Merrill�s hand and proudly led her to the table without giving her older sister, Morgan, a second glance. He�d decided the younger Barrows sister was the woman for him now. Not only was she a beauty, but she was smart and funny and a pleasure to be with.
Still in the library, Sheridan remarked to Luis, �You look so handsome tonight.�
He blushed. How could he not accept with gratitude this compliment and the kind gesture Sheridan had shown him by providing this outfit?
�A little fairy left it on my door earlier. I decided I�d better wear it and look my best so as not to disappoint her,� Luis grinned.
Sheridan realized that Luis mistook her for the benefactor and set to correct this misconception. �It wasn�t me, Luis. I promise. In fact, someone left this dress on my bed for me to wear tonight.� They were both so caught up in the sight of one another that they didn�t question the source of these gifts.
Dinner was extravagant. Cornish game hens and glazed yams graced the menu, followed by chocolate mousse served in decadent chocolate shells. Again, Luis sat by Sheridan and talked all through the meal. He was now used to the idea that he could be quite comfortable as a permanent resident at Haverford Hall, spending his days horseback riding with this beautiful woman and his nights dining beside her in these grand surroundings. It beat the heck out of serving macaroni and cheese to his little brother and sister while his mother worked a second job.
�Since last night was so exciting,� Nancy announced as the guests sipped port at the table, �Morgan and I thought it would be fun to have a little scavenger hunt tonight. We�ve asked the caretakers to place clues throughout the house, and we�re going to break up into teams. Since there are nine of us, we�ll split up into three teams. Morgan and I will be on one team. Kip, Josh, and Dirk will be another team, and Hank, Merrill, Luis and Sheridan will be the final team. Are you game?� she asked.
Hank and Merrill smiled and nodded, while Dirk stared at Nancy in anger. It was obvious she wanted nothing to do with him, which was fine by him, but why did she have to stick him with Josh and Kip? Dirk was far more interested in exploring the nooks and crannies of Haverford Hall with Sheridan.
Luis grabbed Sheridan�s hand as they left the table to join their enthusiastic teammates in the search. Hank and Merrill were already busy planning their strategy which included splitting into couples to cover more territory.
Chapter 9
�What do you think?� Sheridan asked as she and Luis rounded the corner of the east wing. �Should we try this room?� She sensed that Luis was a little wary about this whole affair. She hoped it wasn�t because he�d been paired off with her. Thoughts of the night before danced through her head and caused her to blush. The prospect of being alone together frightened her more than the terror of getting lost in the large mansion.
�Looks good to me,� Luis nervously answered, wondering what lay ahead for them at each turn. So far they hadn�t found one clue, and they�d been separated from Hank and Merrill for over thirty minutes.
�Luis, look at this,� Sheridan said as she searched a bookcase.
�Did you find a clue?� Luis asked, hopeful that this game would soon be over. He wasn�t sure he had the willpower to spend too much time alone with this enchanting woman.
Sheridan shook her head and pointed to a lever that was hidden behind a copy of Ivanhoe. �What do you suppose it is?� she wondered. Luis shrugged his shoulder and pulled back the lever, shivering as his hand brushed Sheridan�s.
The bookcase opened revealing a dark corridor behind it. Neither one of them had the first intention of travelling off the beaten path, but an overwhelming sensation of curiosity drew them in. Luis guarded Sheridan as she followed behind him.
�Do you think we should be doing this?� Sheridan whispered, her breath tickling the back of Luis� neck.
�Beats me,� he replied. �I�m kinda new at this treasure hunt thing. What do you think?�
Sheridan hesitated. �I don�t know. Part of me is scared and the other part of me is curious to know where this leads.�
Luis grasped her hand tighter and turned to face her. �Let�s find out.�
Down the path, they came across a small wooden door. �What do you think? Should we open it?� Luis asked.
�We�ve come this far,� Sheridan smiled.
The tiny room housed an endless array of journals, similar to the one Sheridan read from the night before. There was a daybed that was covered in a crimson duvet with stacks of embroidered pillows. The dust and cobwebs shrouded the furniture in a lacey pattern.
�I don�t think anyone�s been in here in years, Luis,� Sheridan stated without the slightest tinge of fear in her voice. She touched each leather bound book and paused when her hand came across a porcelain figurine. It was a delicate horse that brought a warm smile to her face.
�What is that?� Luis asked as he saw her pick up the figurine. It seemed vaguely familiar to him, and he realized it resembled the horse in the painting he�d seen the previous night.
�I�m not sure, Luis,� Sheridan replied as she examined the horse. �It looks like it may have been broken and glued back together at some point. There�s some writing on the underside,� she noted as she turned it over. �For Celia, my love,� she stated as she read the words aloud. Flashes of unfamiliar memories swept through her head as she held the figurine. She saw the face of a dark man, then the stables and the tack room. In the distance of these images, she heard shouting and fighting, followed by the shot of a rifle and the slamming of doors. She sensed screaming and then the cries of a young woman as she recalled the memories that were not her own.
�Luis, this was Celia�s room,� Sheridan relayed.
Luis was stunned and found it hard to believe that anyone could have ever lived in this tiny room that had no windows. �How is that possible? She�d have to have been a prisoner to have lived in here.�
Sheridan nodded, �Exactly.� The journals were calling to her and she picked up the first one and dusted off a perch on the bed where she sat and read the first entry. Time passed as Sheridan translated the words from French into English. Luis hung on every word as the truth emerged.
�Celia fell in love with a man. His name was Lorenzo, and he was her riding instructor. He managed the stables for the estate. When Celia�s uncle discovered the affair, he forbade her from seeing this man. They met in secret whenever they could, but Celia learned that her uncle was planning to dismiss Lorenzo from his position. They planned to run away together. One weekend when Celia�s uncle was called away for an important meeting in Boston, Lorenzo came to her at the Mansion, full of excitement from his news that he�d been offered a job in Virginia. They planned to leave the next morning before her uncle returned.�
These events seemed vaguely familiar to Luis and he longed to hear more.
�Celia planned a romantic evening for them. She wore her favorite gown, a beaded ivory dress that had been given to her by her aunt before she died.� Sheridan paused and looked down at the dress that she was wearing. A chill washed over both her and Luis as they realized the significance.
She continued, �They dined together that night and retreated to Celia�s reading room where Lorenzo had two surprises waiting for her. The first was a portrait of Celia and her favorite horse, Capernicus. Celia was thrilled to see the painting. She�d recalled posing for it when an artist friend of her aunt�s visited the Hall last spring. Lorenzo struck up a friendship with the painter and convinced him to disguise his figure in the shadows of the background. The painting had arrived that afternoon after Celia�s uncle left for his trip.�
Luis and Sheridan shared a smile as they realized the young couple had dodged a bullet that day. They were rooting for them as though they had a vested interest. Sheridan read further, �The second gift was even more special. An artisan the painter knew was able to craft a copy of Celia�s beloved horse in porcelain, a gift Lorenzo lovingly gave his love that evening.�
Sheridan�s hands began to tremble as she read the next entry. She could see the tearstained pages and realized the words had been written much later. �Celia and Lorenzo awoke the next morning with plans to depart for Virginia. Their bags were packed and waiting by the front door. Celia realized that she couldn�t take Capernicus with her so she asked Lorenzo to take her to the stables to say goodbye. As she and Lorenzo were about to leave the stables, he pulled her into an embrace. They tumbled into the tack room where they continued their kiss. A shout startled them, and Celia realized that her uncle had not only caught them but had also discovered their plans to leave the estate.�
Luis held Sheridan as tears began to form in her eyes. �You can stop, if you like,� he assured her.
Sheridan shook her head. �There�s more.�
She paused as she read the original entries written in French. Luis waited in anticipation to learn their meaning. �Celia�s uncle attacked Lorenzo. They fought. Celia couldn�t break them apart. She ran for help. As she reached the mansion, she heard a loud boom and felt a fracture in her heart at the sound. Lorenzo had been shot. She knew it without having to see it. Celia ran to the stables. Her uncle was wild with rage as he stood over the body of her lover. Celia ran to Lorenzo and collapsed in tears as he struggled for his last breath. �I will find you, someday,� he whispered. �Nothing will keep me from you.� Celia wept for him as her uncle discarded the rifle and wiped the sweat from his brow. She felt the strong tug at her shoulder as her uncles dragged her from the stables and into the mansion. Servants raced to the door to see what was the matter. They were ordered away and told that Celia would be sent to live at a convent. Celia was thrown into an empty closet where she remained for two days. When her uncle finally came for her, he said nothing. She realized that he had covered up the murder and that she would be held prisoner until the day she died or until the day her uncle died, whichever came first. She prayed her death would come first.�
�That bastard,� Luis shouted. �How could he do that? She was so young. He locked her away in this room like a prisoner. I�ve come across men who I thought might be evil but no one who would ever do such unthinkable things to another person.�
Sheridan nodded. She read over each page until she saw a final entry. �Luis, it looks like she got her wish.�
Luis looked at Sheridan with a puzzled expression. �What?�
Sheridan explained, �Celia wrote about feeling sick and weak. She sensed that the end was near and that she would soon be freed from her misery. Her only hope was that when she died, she would join Lorenzo in the afterlife. She was worried that her spirit might never be freed, that her uncle might have some power to keep her here, even in death.�
Luis and Sheridan looked at one another and shared a thought that perhaps Celia was right. Maybe the cries they�d heard the day before had been Celia, longing to be freed from this place so that she could join her lover.
�There�s a note here,� Sheridan revealed. �It�s written in English and tucked into the book. It looks like it was written recently.�
�What does it say?� Luis asked, desperate for more information.
�It says, �Look under the floorboards of the Tack Room. My love lies there.�� Sheridan paused. �Luis, do you think that Lorenzo�s body is there? Some people believe that when a person dies a violent death, their soul is held until their death is avenged. Maybe, Celia�s uncle didn�t prevent her from joining Lorenzo in the afterlife. Maybe Celia wouldn�t leave this world until she was certain Lorenzo�s soul would be in the afterlife to meet her.�
Sheridan slammed the book shut and looked into Luis� dark eyes. �We have to go to the stables.�
Chapter 10
There was no talking Sheridan out of it. Luis was also driven to uncover the truth. They raced through the corridors of the Hall on a mission to fulfill Celia�s directive. There was no sight of the others as they reached the front door, but a shadow followed them.
Breathless from their run and nervous at what they might find, Sheridan and Luis searched for a lantern in the dark stables. Luis lit the wick and replaced the glass globe over the base. He held her hand as they walked into the tack room.
�I though I could do this, but I can�t,� Sheridan whimpered as they looked down at the floor.
�It�s all right. We can turn back and get the others to help us in the morning. If what the note said is true, neither one of us wants to see what lies beneath this floor,� Luis assured her. He was all set to turn back when he heard footsteps. Sheridan and Luis turned around to see Dirk standing behind them, carrying an antique rifle.
�Figured it out, did you?� he said in a voice that sounded nothing like the drunken slob they�d heard earlier that day.
�Dirk, what the hell are you doing?� Luis shouted. �Put that gun down. You�re going to hurt someone.�
�I warned you to stay away from him,� Dirk stated in the same dark voice as he stared through Sheridan.
�Please, Dirk,� Sheridan calmly replied in an attempt to negotiate her freedom. �You�re scaring me. Put the gun down. Think about Nancy. She wouldn�t want you to do this.� Her remarks drifted past the crazed man as though he had no recollection of the woman Sheridan mentioned.
�Just lower the rifle, Dirk, and we can all go inside,� Luis repeated.
Dirk looked at their feet and the ground underneath the couple. �We can�t let you do that. You know too much now.�
Sheridan and Luis looked at each other with terror in their eyes. Was this frat boy really going to kill them over an eighty-year old secret? If Dirk were possessed by the evil spirit of Cyril Haverford, then the answer was �yes�.
Just then, Luis saw the most welcome sight imaginable. Hank Bennett was quietly creeping up behind Dirk, brandishing a large shovel. Without the slightest hesitation, Hank thomped the gun toting maniac over the head, rendering him unconscious.
Sheridan heaved a huge sigh of relief. �Oh my god,� she cried. �He was going to kill us.�
�Doubtful,� Hank smiled. �He would have needed these,� he grinned as he produced a hand full of slugs. Luis looked at his best friend in utter disbelief and gratitude. Hank explained, �Hey, my brother�s a cop. Like I�m gonna let some drunk guy hang out in the same house with me when there�s rifle hanging over the mantle. I unloaded it this morning before I joined you guys for the ride. Just to be on the safe side, I figured I�d better take him out.�
Luis walked over to Hank and gave him a huge pat on the back. �I owe you big time, buddy.� He then turned his attention to Sheridan, who was pale as a ghost. Her gaze was still fixed on the floor of the Tack Room.
�Hey, it�s gonna be okay. We�ll go in and call the police right now. They can handle things from her on out.� He stroked her back and led her to the mansion while Hank dragged an unconscious Dirk behind him.
Chapter 11
�Guess what?� Merrill cheerfully replied as she joined the others for breakfast the next morning. �When the cops were questioning Dirk last night, he said the last thing he remembered was searching some room for clues when he passed out. He doesn�t remember anything else. Creepy, huh?�
Her remarks were met with interest by Hank and with silence by Sheridan and Luis who had a pretty good idea of what might have happened to Dirk the night before.
She continued, �Anyway, Nancy called his parents and explained that he was being held for questioning and they could come and get him whenever they pleased. She�s done with him.�
She paused and her countenance went from chatty reporter to grim messenger. �You two were right. There was a body buried beneath the floor in the stables.� She looked at Luis and Sheridan and asked, �How�d you know?�
Sheridan looked at Luis and realized they shared a secret no one would understand. �When we were looking for clues last night, we came across some evidence that there might have been a murder there.�
Merrill gasped. �Wow!� Then she smiled, �Wait a minute, you two were actually looking for clues?�
Luis nodded, �Of course. That�s what we were supposed to be doing right?�
Merrill grinned at Hank. �Yeah I guess. Hank and I were too busy making out.�
Luis shook his head and turned to Hank. �Then how did you know to come down to the stables?�
Before Hank could reply, Merrill the Mouth answered for him. �Well, Hank the Hero here saw Dirk walking down the hallway. We decided to follow him and see what he was up to. When Dirk grabbed the rifle, Hank told me to hang back and call for help. The next thing I knew he was dragging Dirk back up to the house and the cops were on their way. I knew that guy was trouble. He must of really been plowed or something.�
�Or something,� Luis replied as he grabbed Sheridan�s hand.
Chapter 12
�So you�re leaving that beautiful dress?� Merrill asked as she helped Sheridan finish packing.
Sheridan nodded, �Yeah, it was just a loaner. It belongs here,� she smiled.
�Can you believe this weekend?� Merrill chatted away as Sheridan saddened at the thought of being separated from Luis. She took comfort in the fact that they�d helped reunite two people and that they would be forever connected because of that.
�I called Mom and Dad this morning. They�re all freaked about Morgan exposing us to Dirk and his friends. She�s in big trouble. I can�t believe I�m going to miss out on all the fireworks,� Merrill explained as Sheridan�s thoughts drifted.
�What do you mean you�re going to miss out? Why won�t you be there?� Sheridan asked when the last sentence registered.
�Didn�t I tell you? I�m coming home with you for a few days,� Merrill smiled.
�Okay, I�ll bite. Why on earth would you want to come home to Harmony with me? Do you want to sit and watch me wallow in my own self pity because I miss Luis or are you planning to join me because you�ll be missing Hank?� Sheridan asked.
�I forgot to mention something that I found out last night,� Merrill explained. �Turns out that both Hank and Luis are from this little town in Maine. Maybe you�ve heard of it. It�s called Harmony.�
Sheridan�s face dropped and she ran to the door, eager to see Luis. As soon as she opened it, she saw Luis on the other side. Apparently Hank had just informed him of the news too. Luis lifted Sheridan into an embrace and fiercely kissed her lips as Merrill and Hank stood on either side smiling.
Hank explained, �It occurred to me last night that you two haven�t been formerly introduced. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald meet Miss Sheridan Crane.�
Luis turned to his friend with a look of disbelief and then turned back to Sheridan. �You�re a Crane?� he asked realizing this news was almost as scary as anything else that happened that weekend.
Sheridan shyly nodded. �Is that a problem?�
Luis grinned and kissed her. �Not at all,� he answered, understanding now that these last names were merely fleeting tags that were assigned to two souls who were destined to be together, for all eternity.
The End