Beyond The Ghosts (Legacy Falls Project) Read Online Free PDF Page A

asked for confirmation. 
    “I finished up the rest of the hamburger. Got anything else for me?”
    “There is always stuff to do around here,” he said flatly. Ronnie’s pleading eyes from behind him peered at me around my dad’s shoulder.
    “Ronnie is here. Right, Ronnie?” I gave him a chin lift, and his face lit up with a smile.
    “I’m here Mr. Toledo. I don’t have anything going on. I can stay as long as you need me.”
    My father deliberated and shook his head slowly no doubt counting the tasks he hoped to accomplish the rest of the day. “I suppose Ronnie and I can manage here. Go on, have fun.”
    “Ronnie. Take care of the old man for me.” Ronnie beamed with pride and gave me a half-assed but very excited salute at attention.
    “That’s how you get blood in your hair. Get back to work; we got four more sides to get through before quitting time.”
    “Yes, Sir.” He slumped back into his work before him on his workbench, and I took off my apron, hung it on its respective hook on the wall, and washed my hands.
    My sister waited not-so-patiently by the door trying not to look at my dad as he drew his blade across the intercostal space removing the loin in one beautiful piece. The grimace on Beth’s face was priceless. I wondered if she would be as fond of chicken parmigiana if she saw dad cut up some chickens.
    “Ready?” My voice broke her gaze, and she happily tugged me to the door.
    Once on the sidewalk I asked, “Where are we going?”
    “Out. Get in.”
    She hit the door unlock button on her remote to the Beetle, and I climbed into my sister’s car and fastened my seatbelt. I needed all the protection I could get with her behind the wheel.
    “Are you gonna tell me where we are going?”
    “First, you're gonna go home and take a shower because you smell like death. Then, you are gonna put on a nice shirt and some pants and we are going out dancing.”
    “Sis, if you haven’t noticed, I haven’t done much dancing lately.”
    “Well, it’s time you started, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
    She wasn’t wasting any time getting to the house, either. She trimmed at least five minutes off a ten-minute ride. How she was still alive was incredible. She must have gotten driving lessons from Dale Earnhardt himself.
    “Pick you up in an hour.”
    “Geez, sis, I won’t nearly have enough time to do my hair.” I pawed at my short high and tight and made duck lips at her.
    “Whatever, diva. One hour. See you in a bit.” My sister was on a mission. I wasn’t sure exactly what that mission was, but I would be ready in an hour. I only needed maybe fifteen but I would humor her.

    Funny how my sister was perpetually late for everything else except when she needed or wanted to be somewhere. Then, it was an emergency, and you better be ready. I climbed into her Beetle and braced myself for the ride.
    “Don’t you have any dress clothes?”
    “What? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? You said a shirt and pants. I am wearing a shirt and pants.” I took inventory of my attire, and I was wearing a solid, royal-blue, button-down, that I was always complimented on when I wore because it brought out the blue in my eyes, and a clean pair of khaki chinos. I even wore dress shoes and not my requisite duty boots, which were a hell of a lot more comfortable than the loafers I found at the bottom of my closet.
    “You look like you are ready for country club social. We are going dancing not high tea.”
    “If you don’t like how I’m dressed, you should have given me orders in writing, a detailed itinerary and outlined what was required.”
    “Whatever. It’s gonna be dark anyways. You will be fine.”
    We drove about twenty minutes out of town and took a right onto a dirt road. It was bumpy and not really well-equipped for the little, low-to-the-ground Beetle, but it was obvious she knew the road well as she weaved around each pitfall and pothole. She pulled into this little