Page 14 of Believe
“Yep,” he nodded. “She begged me. Said she had a horrible nightmare that I was shot on accident but then they couldn’t find my body. Sure enough, some kid on his first hunt shot me by accident. I was still alive and he didn’t even know it. Dragged my body to a ravine, pushed me in and left. I think it rained for a few days and washed me away.”
“What’s your name?” asked Susie.
“Cyrus. Cyrus Walters. What I don’t understand, beyond you being able to see me, is why if I died in Indiana, I’m on the property of someone in Louisiana?”
“I’m going to guess that you have unfinished business,”said Keith.
“He said…” Cyrus lifted a hand.
“Maybe that was my answer. Becky is deaf. I’m fluent in sign language.” Keith smiled at the man, nodding.
“Well, that could be why you’re here, I’m not sure,” said Susie. “It’s nearly Christmas. It would be wonderful if we could give some closure to your wife.”
“She must be frantic,” he said shaking his head. Suddenly their little family of ghosts emerged from the darkness.
“Hello, friend. I’m Martha. These are my friends,” she said calmly introducing all of them.
“Remarkable,” he smirked. “Christmas. We were married on Christmas Eve. This was to be our fiftieth wedding anniversary. I even had a ring for her. It’s hidden in my dresser drawer back home, along with all the paperwork for the house, our insurance, everything. She must be feeling awful lost.”
“We can help,” said Eric. “We can go back with you and tell her everything she needs to know. We’ll take care of it all for her.”
“Why would you do that?” he asked with confusion.
“It’s what we do. It’s who we are,”smiled Keith.“Besides, my grandmother and grandfather would demand it.”
“I guess I’m one lucky ghost,” said Cyrus. Nathan laughed, shaking his head.
“You have no idea how right you are,” he chuckled.
An hour later they had all the information they needed on Cyrus’ accident, his wife, and the story. In fact, the young hunter, a boy of only seventeen had turned himself in. There was nothing left to do but to get Cyrus back to Becky.
“You’re good taking her?” asked Gaspar.
“We’re good,” smiled Eric. “Susie and Sophia Ann will continue with the furniture and we’ll get him back to his wife. She’s got to be beside herself not knowing where his body is. He has a pretty good idea of where it might be down the ravine.”
“Alright. Let us know if you need any help. We’ll see you in a few days,” said Gaspar. He hugged Eric and Keith, kissing their foreheads just as his father had done to them all these years. As he walked away, he stopped in his tracks and looked back at them with a smirk.
“I guess I am him, aren’t I?”
“You are both of them, Uncle Gaspar. The best of both of them.”
CHAPTER NINE
Gabriel, Trak, Angel, and Miller watched as the appliances were unloaded and connected in Gideon’s house.
“Oh, man! They’re all so shiny! Do they really work? I mean, they’re not gonna be lemons are they?” he asked the men.
“We promise, no lemons here,” said Gabriel. “Does your mom know?”
“No! She isn’t even suspicious. Hey, do you know how I got that money in my backpack? I want to make sure that Mr. Garfield was paid for everything.”
“Don’t worry,” said Miller smiling at the young boy’s honesty. “Everything was paid for. That money is for you and your mom to have an amazing Christmas.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” smirked Angel. “Gideon, what you did for your mom was one of the most selfless acts I’ve ever seen from a young boy. She’s going to be very proud of you.”
“That’s it, Mr. Robicheaux,” said the service man, shaking Gabriel’s hand. “Everything is connected, working and ready to roll.” Gideon turned to see his mother pulling into the driveway.