Page 121 of Ghost

“Morning, Martha.Um...if you need anything just let me know.”

“Sure thing.”Martha set the bucket down.

“Ladder,” Maggie reminded him.

“Oh.Right.It’s in the dining room along with other tools and things if you need them.”

“Would you mind if all of that went upstairs to one of the bedrooms?”Molly asked.

“No, I guess not.”Mason scratched his head.“Want me to move all that stuff?”

“Never mind, Molly.Nope, there’s no need.”Maggie smiled as she pulled on a pair of bright yellow cleaning gloves.“Go about your normal routine.Just act like we’re not here.”

Under his breath he asked Francis, “Do you have any idea of what’s going on?”

Francis, in a normal voice, answered, “None.I am as clueless as you are, but if it involves my not-so-innocent Cousin Ellen, I’d say be ready for just about anything.”

Mason was about to close the front door and go back downstairs when a large moving truck pulled up.He looked to Francis, who looked as confused as Mason felt.

When the engine cut off, Martin Royale jumped out of the passenger seat, and his cousin came around from the driver’s side.A moment later, four large young men jumped out of the back.

“Morning, Mr.Montgomery.How are you this fine morning?”Martin asked, a big smile on his face.

“I...uh...thought you weren’t coming till tomorrow.”Mason declared.

“Oh, I’ll be here then, too.”He thumped his cousin on the chest.“You remember my cousin Fred, don’t’cha?He drives for Ms.Ellen most of the time and also is our hearse driver, among other things, for the family business.”

“Of course.How are you this morning?”Mason asked, still wondering what they were doing here.

“Glad that my feet hit the floor this morning and to have another beautiful day in this world,” he answered readily.He pointed to the four young men.“These are our boys.Two are mine, the good-looking ones’ and them others, not as good looking, are Fred’s.”

Fred punched his cousin, Martin, on the shoulder.“Ms.Ellen asked us if we could do some furniture movin’ for her,” Fred explained.

“I don’t know about any furniture moving,” Mason stammered.

“That would be because I did not tell you anything about it,” Ellen called out, a few yards from his front stoop.“Good morning, Fred and Martin.It’s a fine summer day.Not too hot as yet, so why don’t I tell you what I would like done before it gets blistering hot?”

“Yes, ma’am.You just tell us what you want done and we’ll see to it,” Fred answered.

“I am not sure about how useful your truck will be, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.”Ellen smiled up at Mason.“Good morning, Mason.I hope you had a restful night?”

“Yes, thank you.”Mason quickly glanced at Francis who looked bemused.“Mind if I ask what’s going on here?”

“What if I said I did mind?”

Mason scowled at her.“Ellen, what are you up to?”

“Pfft,” she said, waving him away dismissively.“You should ask Gerald to give you lessons on that scowl.It needs work.”

Mason did his best to ignore Francis as he brayed like a donkey.

Ellen turned to the Royales.Mason couldn’t hear Ellen, mostly because Francis was making such a racket.

When Ellen was done speaking to the men on the sidewalk, she came up the steps and pushed past Mason.“Good morning, Francis.I trust you had a pleasant night?”The smirk on her face told that she knew what they’d been up to the night before.Francis and Mason both blushed.

“Now, Mason, would you please go and put on some decent clothes, and for heaven’s sake, put a shirt on and not run around here like some heathen?”Ellen turned to Francis.“You and I need to have a quick discussion, dear cousin.”

“Ellen, this is my house, so I think I have the right to know what you are doing.”