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I add a few pages each week or daily depending on my time.
Growing up from the time we can remember our first thoughts and things we see our surroundings seem to grow smaller in time and statute. Places that seemed to be magical are now common and ordinary. People who were heroes are now memories only. Jake thought of this as he drove through his old home town of Elkhorn City, Ky.
Being poor white trash in an era before the country had the now infamous poor white trailer park trash was his life and he wondered sometimes how he had made his way out of his life’s predicament. Coal mining towns had the coal camps or groups of houses owned by the coal company and rented to the coal miners and their families at a more than normal rental rate. Some of the towns also had the same type of housing owned by rich individuals who would rent the small clapboard houses at a more reasonable rate but the neighborhoods were not as well kept up as was the coal camps. He pulled into the parking lot of a new Dollar General store in the exact place the old clapboard he had once lived in as a boy once stood.
Parking and turning off the key he sat in silence taking in the people as they came out of the store, storing their goods in their vehicles’ and driving away from the store. This was a part of his life he had little memories of and for the life of him could not force any to the surface of his mind. His only real memory was of having to walk to school everyday in rain, sun and snow, never a ride by anyone. Not a few miles uphill both ways buy still a mile or two. Starting up his car he once again hit the road to get to his destination before darkness became a problem.
The trip he was on was one of searching for something but not part of his way of making his living. After spending the last ten years as a antique hunter Jake had been forced to take the time to evaluate his life. Most people go through a period in their life when they at least spend a few minutes reflecting over whether they had made the right decisions in their life and how it had turned out. Jake was having to spend more than a few minutes to do this as his life had so many twist and turns over the years and none of them had been ordinary. He had finally decided the only place to go and get some answers for himself was to the place where he had began his journey through life.
To do this he had not told anyone where he was going or how long he would be gone. He had told the judge he may be gone for a few days to check on a new project and for him to watch over the house. Since the judge lived just down the road from Jake and was involved with him in all the searches that had been done since meeting up with Jackie and her great great granddaughter Jake knew there would be nothing said for a few days and then they would start looking for him. Hopefully he would have things settled in his mind and to where he was going with the rest of his life and who would be with him on the rest of his journey through life.
Since meeting up with Jackie, a civil war era ghost who sought out Jake to right a wrong against her great great granddaughter Jake had been leading a life of adventure and turmoil. How he had become the target of Jackie and the way she had presented herself to him was still a mystery to Jake and further more to make people believe there were actually ghost among the living was not something Jake believed was his calling in life. Other than his friend and former Superior court judge from Illinois Who figured out on his own that Jackie was a ghost Jake kept quiet about her and all the other ghost that had become a part of his life. The problem was the fact that Jackie was changing before his eyes and was somehow becoming a real live human being again. Still with all her powers and abilities as a ghost but with more life like features now. She and Jake had become close over the years and had helped many ghost make their final journey to the other side after settling problems they had acquired before or at the time of their deaths. They had a small close knit group of friends and ghost who decided to stay and help Jake and Jackie work with other ghosts to get them past their earthly chains into the afterlife. This Jake knew was the reason he had only a few days to get some things settled in his mind about his relationship with Jackie. Her network of ghost ranged across the entire country and finding him would be only a minor problem once she set he mind to it.
Jake traveled on through the evening until he finally reach his destination. He knew there was no way anyone who knew him now could find him or so he believed. After checking in at the reservations desk he was directed to the cottage he had rented for a week. Isolated two miles back in the woods with no telephone or internet service he knew there was a good chance of leaving there with a clear mind and a firm direction for his life.
The next day came early for Jake, he had tossed and turned all night finally giving up on sleep and decided to dress and head out to the restaurant located at the park center. Finishing breakfast he started driving out of the park and ended up at a familiar site. He parked and got out of the car and walked over to the large sign that was placed in the very center of the wide spot on the side of the road. Looking up at the large sign Jake wondered what he was doing there.
Unknown soldiers’ graves were scattered throughout the south and there were even some in the northern states. Soldiers returning from the Civil war usually had little more than the clothes on their backs as their weapons were taken by the union army. Walking back through the countryside they became victims of their own countrymen, killed for no other reason than being poor and the losers of the civil war they were either beaten by groups of men or shot and killed in cold blood. Some were lucky to have their demise noted by the local people with a sign or grave marker of some sort. Throughout the years if the dead soldier was lucky the marker got bigger with more respect or in some cases the sign would disappear and the site would be forgotten.
Jake had been visiting this site since he was a young boy, stopping with his family each time they came to the park for a Sunday picnic. Throughout the years the site had been improved to the point of having a large granite stone placed at the site. The site was the only thing left on this stretch of highway known as the Narrows as the road snaked its’ way around cliffs hundreds of feet above the canyon floor. Even the infamous whorehouse and restaurant was gone with only a concrete slab remaining. Jake had many memories from that place too and not all were actually good ones. As a small boy his father had visited the place dragging him along to the restaurant where the ladies would be waiting in the booths. He was given a hand full of nickels and stood on a wooden Pepsi crate in front of a pinball machine. His father would tell him to play all he wanted while he was out for a few minutes. Being so young and naïve Jake had no idea what his father was up to but through the years he finally realized why he was put at the pinball machine with the hand full of nickels.
There were a few good memories Jake remembered that were indirectly associated with the brothel. The owner of the place had an adopted daughter he had went to school with and was a not so close friend, but still there were a few memories surrounding the young lady.
“Well old buddy it’s been a long time since I have been to see you but here I am again looking for answers from a sign and a possible grave of an unknown soldier from the civil war. “ Jake turned around to walk away from the sign when a voice caused him to freeze in the middle of a step.
“You know this time you could at least stick around a little longer and talk things out just a little bit better although the redhead you joined in the backseat of your car the last time was easily the best choice then.”
Jake slowly turned around knowing what he was going to find, another ghost from another time. He finally made his turn and saw a short slender man not over five foot four leaning against the large sign. He had a grin on his face making him look very young for a soldier. The uniform he was wearing was dirty and ragged but Jake could tell it was a confederate soldier’s uniform.
“Well I see you are shocked at seeing a ghost Jake, but for some reason I don’t believe this is the first time for you. Have you had the experience before?”
Finally getting his bearings and trying not to get mad about having his week interrupted by a ghost Jake took another long look at the man before answering.
“You might say I have had a few experiences with ghost over the last few years, but today I really don’t need to add to those experiences. So since I can see you and you know that then there has to be a reason for all this.”
The ghost moved away from the grave site a few feet and sat down on the ground in a tired slump and looked up at Jake. “ Mind if I sit staying here in one place for a hundred and forty-five years makes one tired.”
Jake moved closer to the ghost knowing he was in no danger from the young man. He had learned the hard way when he was in danger from ghost and he was sure this young man just wanted something from him.
“What do you want from me?”
He laughed as Jake ask the question. “Do you know you are the first person who has actually saw and heard me speak in all these years. “
“I can understand that but what I don’t understand is what I can do for you?”
“Well just knowing someone can hear and see me would be enough but I really am tired of being here and maybe you can help me get home.”
Jake looked at the young man and knew this was not going to be the week he was going to get things straight in his life. It seemed as if he was destined to be involved with ghost for the rest of his life. He wondered what he had done in his life to deserve this burden.
“How can I help you get home if I don’t know where home is and for that matter why am I the one to help you?” .
“Because even in this godforsaken place I have heard of Jake Thomas and the lovely Jackie Lowe. There are a few ghost who pass this way into their finally passage and some contribute this to either Jackie or you. I never really expected to see you here in person talking to me.” .
Jake said to young man as he decided to set down with him. “Mind telling me your name and where you are from and some history on how you came to be here.” .
There was silence for a few minutes as the young man figured out how he was going to tell Jake his story. Finally he looked at Jake with tears in his eyes and started speaking. .
“I was fifteen years old when the war started living with my family in a small town called Grundy Virginia. My family had worked for years running small boats up and down the river during the summer months hauling goods for the local merchants. Winters my father and older brothers would work in the hills cutting trees for the lumber companies. Going to war was not what I wanted to do but my father was a ardent southern man who believed in slavery and kept several slaves all the time to work on the boats he worked on the river. .
My older brothers left first leaving me the only son at home and working with my father. Both joined the confederate army in sixty-three and word came in 64 both were killed at the battle of ---------. Just about killed my paw and did kill my maw, she died a few weeks later of consumption. Paw never got over all the deaths and during a flood in 64 he was lost on the river making a run down to Hayside Virginia. There was nothing left for me around Grundy so I boarded up the house gave the slaves their freedom and headed for Richmond Virginia to join the war. .
I fought in many battles and killed as many union soldiers as I could for my country and when the war was over I was mustered out at Lexington Kentucky and was making my way back home. This is as far as I got, actually I was robbed and shot back around in the hollow there behind you and crawled to this spot. The next day my body was found by the owner of a small store located at the mouth of the hollow and he saw that I was given a proper grave which is not here but higher up on the hill side. Somehow the story got started this is the spot and a sign was placed here and this is where I have been since. I have tried to leave this place but each time I move more that ten feet away I find myself back at the sign.” He stopped talking and just sat and looked at Jake. .
Jake knew he had to help the young man get to his finally destination and wondered if calling in the judge and Jackie would help. He came to this place to find some solitude for himself to solve some problems in his life but as usual the ghostly realm somehow found their way into his existence. .
He didn’t speak for a few minutes but instead walked around the grave site thinking to himself and not looking at the gray clan ghost setting on the ground beside the monument. After walking around the monument and the soldier a few times Jake stopped in front of the young man and looked down at him. .
“There has to be a reason why you weren’t allowed to leave this place and the only way I or Jackie can help is to know what happen before you were killed, not just the day you were killed but what you did in the days leading up to that day. Now if you are willing to tell me the truth about everything you did before your death then I might be able to help but, I am not willing to waste my time if you are determined to hide something from me or Jackie if I decide to bring her into this” .
The young man looked up at Jake and listened until Jake had spoken and then said. “I will tell you everything you need to know but not until Jackie is here to listen too.” .
Jake did not want to call Jackie into this but since she was the reason he was on this trip to start with. Just being with her was at times more than he could stand. “OK. I will get a hold of Jackie as soon as possible but for now I have a few things I need to do first. You have been here over hundred and forty years so a few more days won’t kill you, no pun intended.” .
“Well I guess if I have to then I have to. When will you come back?” He looked up at Jake with a forlorn look and Jake hoped it was real. .
“In a few days I have some research to do on you first and then I will call in Jackie if I am satisfied.” Saying that he walked to his car and got in and drove away without looking back.
Jake finally made it to a place close to civilization where his cell phone worked. Once there he had to decide how he was going to work this out. If started with the judge then he could get the background work started on the young man or he could try to locate Jackie and get her to snoop around the area for other ghost who might have been around when the young man first came into the area where he was killed. He had left several projects on the burner when he decided to just take off and knew he would have to get back to them as soon as possible and if he took the judge off any other research then they all would be working for nothing once again.
Jackie was watching the house at the end of the narrow road from a tall tree perched on the small hill across from the house. She had been coming there for several days waiting for an illusive ghost who moved about only at a certain time of day, and then only for a few minutes.
This was unusual for her as ghost usually came to her seeking help to solve their problems. This ghost appeared to be satisfied where she was at. The problem was other ghost in the region wanted the woman gone from the area. She had been causing trouble with the tourist who came to rent the cottage during the summer season. Scaring the tourist brought in the silly so called ghost hunters who made a nuiance of themselves and actually scared the tourist with their nonsense. There was no problem with ghost not wanting to move over to the other side even though most did want this to happen and Jackie helped as often as she could. There was little to keep her busy these days, Jake was always off on some trip and when he was home he had become so moody his company was not exactly inviting. Thankfully she still had the judge and his wife to talk to and be with. Ashley had moved on with her life and Jackie could not fault her for that. She had taken the millions that Jake had found for her and started a foundation for farmers that was reaching around the world. Of course Jackie was still a little peeved at her for the way she had treated Jake.
That was something she did not understand about herself, why she was being so defensive about the way people treated Jake. Of course he had saved Ashley’s life and for that she would be forever in his debt but there was something more to it than that but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
She had never had the chance to be a part of a man and woman relationship and had little understanding of what her feelings were toward Jake. Perhaps once she had finished with what she was working on she could spend some time with Jake and figure how what their relationship really was. For now she was getting tired of waiting for a skinny little girl of a ghost and decided to force the issue.
Well back to the issue at hand. She had been on these dreary islands off the coast of North Caroline for a few days now and she knew it was time to make a move and get the job done so she could go home. Doing things this way was not normal as Jackie was known to be a person who stepped up to the plate and got in people’s faces. She had wanted to take her time with this particular ghost after first observing her as she made her way from the small cabin down to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, standing there for a few minutes and then returning to the cabin.
A lot of the older cabins and houses located at this end of the island had been there for over a hundred years. Being a part of a group of houses and cabins used for summer resorts before and just after the civil war. Once the carpetbaggers started coming to the islands the southern gentile or what was left of them had deserted the place in droves. Over the years the large plantation style houses and cabins had become run down and were in danger of being demolished when the northern speculators returned once again to squeeze money from the people of the poor southern counties of North Carolina. By the end of the 1980s the large houses had been turned into what was now known as bed and breakfast inns and the small cabins were rented out as individual cottages.
The problem with the area was the number of ships that had been wrecked on the reefs offshore from the islands creating a super den of ghosts who had taken refuge on the islands after their bodies had been washed upon the shores of the islands. Jackie had been here several times seeking information for projects she and Jake had been working on but this was the first time she had heard about the ghost causing all the trouble for the guests and most important for the other ghost trying to hang onto a semblance of their lives before storms had left their wrecked and torn bodies on the shores. As with a lot of people who were still alive they just had no place to go or no one to see once they got there so why head somewhere else where things where strange and not really being sure they would be welcomed.
The young woman was slender in built and Jackie could see she was a dark African American probably second generation slave from Africa without the diluting of genes as was the case of most black slaves after being in the states for many years. Trying not to frighten the young woman Jackie move up behind her, stopping only a few steps away. She did not speak giving the girl time to get used to her being there. She remained invisible to the naked eye but she knew all ghost could see each other whether they were visible to the human eye or not, just a part of the physics of the realm of ghost.
“So you finally decided to make your presence known to me Jackie. I wondered how many more days you would stand behind that tree watching me when I make my daily trek to this spot.” .
Jackie was taken aback for a moment but was able to regain her composure before speaking. .
“If you knew I was there why not confront me earlier?” .
“Confront you for what?” I have no reason to confront you or anyone else. This is my private hell I live in and it doesn’t matter to me whether you are here or not. “.
Jackie noticed the slender woman kept her back to her as she spoke not making any effort to turn around and work within the conversation they were having. She continued to watch the back of her head to determine if she was crying or having any kind of emotion as she was talking but could not tell anything about the woman from the way she was talking. There was many different ways Jackie could work with the woman’s physic but decided to let nature take its’ course and see if she would give some clue as to what was going on. .
“You know there are a lot of other ghost on this coast line and not one of them has been able to strike up a conversation with you for many years.” .
“You have to have something to say to have a conversation and besides all they wanted was for me to go away, but as with them I have no place to go.” .
“Yes but in most cases ghost try to get along with each other and not cause problems as you have with the local people and the tourist.” .
“Tourist” these people aren’t tourist they are worse than the carpetbaggers we had back at the end of the war. Coming here to look down on the local people and make them work and clean for them as if they are better than the people who live here. As far as the other ghost around here they can just go jump in the ocean, lake or whatever, don’t matter to me none.” .
Jackie saw the woman was getting aggravated as she was talking and knew she was going to bolt and there was nothing she could do about it except be the first to leave. .
“Ok for now I have to be somewhere else for a few days but you and I are not finished young lady, as of right now your problems are mine and we are going to get them settled.” .
At that point Jackie decided to disappear and leave the woman with her thoughts. As she left she saw the slight movement of the young woman turning around to see if she had left. She made her way back to the small group of people that had gathered behind the sand dune waitin.
g her return. As she approached the group she recognized a few that had arrived since she had left the small group earlier. There were many ghost in the area and most where all related to the sea .
and the dangers aht had made them into ghost. She stopped in front of the oldest of the group knowing the captain would lead the .
group in any discussion she may have with them. &n. bsp; “Well Jackie did she have anything to say about what she has been doing?”
“Sorry captain but she does not appear to be in a talkative mood at the present but the woman has definitely got a serious problem with real people and other ghost. You have to give me a few days to work on the problem. Now I have another problem I have to see about but I will be back in a few days so if you all could keep a closer watch over her I would appreciate it.” .
Everyone started talking at once and Jackie could not get them to settle down. The captain finally stepped in and screamed out at the group. .
“ Listen up you fools this is the best change we have had to get rid of that woman and you damn sure aren’t going to start causing trouble now so we are going to do as the Jackie says and watch her and make sure she does not make anymore trouble until Jackie returns. Jackie slowly backed out of the crowd of highly agitated ghost and disappeared even from them and made her way back to the coast of Florida and the empty house she shared with Jake whenever she was in the area. She called it home now to herself and was happy to be back even if Jake was not home. .
She had taken on more human qualities lately including using the phone service whenever she was home and needed to contact Ashley or the judge and now she reach for the phone needing to find out where Jake had gone. .
The phone rang but a few times as the judge was busy in his office researching a new case for Jake and trying to write on his book in his spare time. .
Jackie knew the minute he answered the phone he was peeved about being brought out of his world for a phone call. .
“Judge, hi, Jackie here have you heard from Jake?” .
“Jackie he called a few minutes ago and wanted some information on a confederate soldier he has ran across on his trip. I was just about to start the research when you called.” .
There was a hint of being cross with her but she paid little attention to his attitude as she was worried about Jake. “Did he say he was going to need my help with this one.”
“He asked if you had checked in and when you did to get in touch with him but he did not take the time to tell me where he was staying so I guess you will have to wait until he makes contact again and then I will make sure we know where he is staying. “
She knew there was something the judge was not telling her but decided to wait until she saw him in person to confront him about whatever he was hiding.
“Ok I will see you in a few hours I have to finish up with some things for Ashley and then I will be home.”
Before she could hang up the phone the judge spoke again in a angry voice. “Jackie you and I need to have a very serious conversation when you get in and this time you are not going to put it off, OK?”
Not knowing what to say to the tone of his voice she agreed and hung up the phone and made her way to the offices Ashley had set up in Fort Walton Beach to make sure the new people were working out with Ashley gone most of the time. Being a ghost had its advantages and one of those was going around invisible to the general public. She hated to spy on people as a general rule but Ashley had put so much effort into the foundation she had set up and Jackie wanted to make sure the people she had hired where doing their jobs.
She made her way to Mary Esther ave. to the large glass faced building housing numerous lawyers, accounting firms and Ashley’s small offices she had set up to handle the east coast end of her foundation. Jackie liked to stop in on a few lawyers offices on her way up to the fifth floor which housed Ashley’s office. Lawyers were always good for a few laughs and in some cases she could help stop a lawyer from taking advantage of one of their clients. It seems crime might be present in the streets but the white collar side of it was hundreds of times worse and affected lots more people. Today though she made straight for the offices of Ashley’s foundation and made her way through the wall beside of the door as not to affect anyone that may be coming out of the door. Humans never seemed to notice ghost or get any sort of odd feeling unless they accidently walked through the presence of a ghost then the cold chill theory came into play.
She checked on the secretary setting at the front desk and saw she was working on paperwork and answering the phone as fast as she could directing calls as needed. She was proud of this young woman she almost forced Ashley into hiring her. She came from a poor family in Georgia and made her way to Florida on the shirttails of a shiftless boyfriend who tried to put her on the street working as a prostitute. Jackie had made short work of the bum and sent him packing back to Georgia with the fear of God in him. She went to the girl and set her straight on the ways of life and sent her to Ashley for a job . Jackie found her a cheap place to live until the paychecks started coming in and she could go off on her on. She took to the job at once knowing she was doing good for people from her walk of life.
Jackie kept noticing something was nagging at her as she was watching the young lady work, finally she realized there was no other noise in the place. No one else was working or if they were they were being very quiet at it. She moved through the walls to the other offices located in the back of the reception area. As she walked through each office she saw they were all empty and even the desk were clean of working papers. She turned and walked back out of the empty offices until she reach the hallway leading to the front desk area.
Here she made herself visible and walked into the reception area and smiled at the young woman as she walked up to her desk.
“Hi, Marge how are we doing today?
The young woman looked up from her work and saw that it was Jackie and seemed to shrink back into her chair. “Oh hi Jackie what are you doing here? We weren’t expecting anyone from the family until next week when Ashley returns.”
“Just making sure everyone is here and working as Ashley would expect Marge.”
“Oh everyone is working hard to keep the place going. There has even been some break troughs in the government contracts Ashley has been trying to get for the famers in Georgia.”
“Well good but since you are busy I will just let myself out and come back with Ashley when she returns.”
Marge seemed relieved and Jackie decided to make it easy on the poor girl and send in some back up to see what was really going on so she could get back to Jake and his new found friend the civil war soldier.