The Raven Mocker Read Online Free PDF Page B

Tyler, uncomfortable.
    “ Um-hmmm.” She shook her head as she continued to study him. “David told me during our visit that you’re quite a hit with the young ladies in your school, Ty. And, I understand you’re admired by the young men as well. No doubt you’ll do us all proud, son.”
    Tyler returned her warm smile with a shy grin, and by the time she looked around at everyone else again, the troubled looks on Miriam and Jillian’s faces had faded away. Busy watching everyone else’s reactions, Christopher tightened his grip on his great aunt’s hand. Not to be outdone, Jillian moved to Ruth’s other side and cupped her arm inside hers, drawing a look of surprised joy.
    “ So, how was your flight from Chattanooga, Auntie Ruth?” asked Jillian, letting her hand slide down and clasp Ruth’s.
    “ Oh, it was fine, dear… maybe a little bumpy once we got close to Denver,” she said, beaming from the reception she received. “But I made it in one piece!”
    Her eyes twinkled, drawing another blush from Jillian.
     
    The luggage collected, they left the baggage area and headed to where the minivan was parked. Tyler led the way, still carrying his great aunt’s coat bag and one of her suitcases, while she and his younger siblings followed close behind him. David carried her other suitcase, walking a short distance behind with Miriam, so they could talk.
    “ She’s such a sweet woman,” said Miriam, softly. “I’ve really missed her.”
    “ Believe it or not, me too,” David agreed. “Hopefully things between her and I will be a lot better now.”
    He smiled until he saw Miriam frowning again. “What’s up?”
    “ Are you sure you didn’t tell her anything about what happened to us back in October?”
    “ I’m sure.”
    Frigging October…when will it be behind us for good?
    He had denied the fact an angry ghost followed him and Miriam home from Gatlinburg, Tennessee in October where they celebrated their fifteenth anniversary. By the time he fully accepted the reality of Allie Mae McCormick’s spirit and her violent tendencies, she’d murdered his best friend, Norm Sowell, and also attempted to kill Tyler. That’s what brought him back to Tennessee. He visited with his aunt before returning to Gatlinburg.
    “ What’s up with you?” she asked, noting the slight grimace on his face.
    “ Nothing.” He sought to hide his gloomy thoughts behind an exaggerated smile. “Just thinking how much fun it’ll be if the ‘old tree man’ decides to become more active while Auntie’s here with us.”
    Not his original thought, but a quick and logical leap once he left the mental imagery of the previous haunting. After all, the month and a half of peace that followed Allie Mae’s expulsion from their world could only mean something if the latest situation hadn’t occurred. All bets now off, they moved through uncharted territory with an entity that seemed quite irritated with him again.
    “ I’ve already decided to call Sara tonight, once we get settled for the evening,” she said evenly. “Don’t even try to talk me out of it, either.”
    Sara Palmer, a gifted parapsychologist, was a good friend of Janice Andrews, Miriam’s best friend. David thought of her as a New Age crackpot until her insights proved helpful in banishing Allie Mae’s spirit. Since then, Miriam remained in contact with Sara, as much for friendship as additional guidance.
    “ Okay, but aren’t you a little concerned that having a witch lady show up with feather dusters and incense will make Auntie a little suspicious?” he asked, in a definite attempt to do just what she warned him against—to talk her out of it, at least for now. “It’s not like Sara will show up with a white-bearded fat man in a sleigh drawn by a dozen reindeer.”
    “ David, stop it!” she hissed in response. “You know damn well she’ll know how to handle this discreetly. If I’d followed my gut instinct last time and called her right away,