Page 14 of Property of Anchor

Yeah.She was here to work.

Next came a short older woman with pure white hair pulled back in a tight bun and wearing paint-speckled clogs.She moved slowly but with purpose, like the kind of woman who didn’t let her age define her.

Then came a tall older guy in spotless white overalls, his arms roped with old man muscle and a cigarette hanging from his lips.

Two middle-aged guys in matching blue Brush Masters shirts climbed out of the van, talking to each other with lazy gestures and morning coffee in hand.

The last out was a woman probably in her early forties, thick-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, hair in a tight ponytail, and a clipboard in hand.

But my eyes went back to Pearl.

“Looks like they brought the whole damn crew,” Skull muttered beside me.

I grunted in agreement.I didn’t care who was there as long as Pearl was one of them.“Let’s go greet them.”

We moved as a unit.Four bikers in worn leather and black denim stepping out of the trees and into the morning haze like shadows materializing from the fog.

Pearl spotted us first.

She didn’t flinch, but I saw her shift her bag higher on her shoulder and square her stance a little.

Good.She had guts.

“Morning,” I called as we neared, directing my words mostly to her but keeping my eyes on the whole group.

Pearl smiled, small and polite.“Morning.Hope we’re not too early.”

“You’re right on time,” I said.“We were just talking about you.”

She arched a brow.“All good things, I hope.”

“Depends on if you’re here to paint or critique our taste in blood effects.”

She chuckled and stepped forward.“We’re here to work.Got the sketches, paint samples, and the manpower.”

The woman with the clipboard approached and gave me a tight nod.“Morning.I’m Molly.Scheduling, materials, and logistics.”

The older man in white overalls waved.“I’m Bert.”

The two guys in matching shirts followed suit.“Jake and Brian,” one of them said.“We paint.”

“Bernice,” the old woman said with a nod.Her eyes, sharp as ever, scanned each of us like she was sizing us up for paint colors.

“You all can follow us,” I said and turned.“We’ll show you the cabins.Get you settled before we talk about the job.”

Pearl fell in beside me as the others trailed behind.

“Thanks for offering the cabins,” she said.

“Figured it beats trying to drive back and forth every day.”

“Some of us are still doing that.But Bernice and I will be staying.Dad, Molly, Brian, and Jake will be heading home every night.Families, you know?”Pearl said as we started toward the haunted house.

They hadn’t even reached the front steps before their jaws started to drop.

“Whoa,” one of the guys, Jake, I think, breathed out.“This place is nuts.”

The haunted house stood tall and proud, its jagged roofline casting shadows even in the daylight.Its weathered siding, crooked shutters, and faux-bloodstained windows looked damn near real.