“Oh, back to China or somewhere else on the other side of the earth? Don’t worry,” I shouted. “I won’t be following you.”
“Kency?” I smiled brightly, trying to woo the farmer to my side.
“I have some chickens to feed.”
“Sir, that is a lie,” Blount said.
“I hear them clucking right now.” Kency, too, disappeared into the night.
I sighed. “Are you going to desert me, too?”
Captain Blount placed a palm over his heart. “Madam, I believe in honor and duty and God, not necessarily in that order. You are a damsel in distress, and I will do my best to serve you.”
“Right.” I coughed. “A damsel.”
Blount straightened his coat. “Now. Where is your carriage?”
I waved toward the Land Cruiser. “Right over there.”
“I suggest we mosey on. It sounds like we have work to do.”
I linked my arm through Blount’s, er, body. “Let’s get cracking. It’s ghost finding time.”
TWENTY
Captain Blount regaled me with tales from the Confederacy while I drove us to Fannie’s house.
“And when that rattlesnake slithered by my boot, I pulled my bowie knife and stuck the blade right between its eyes. The serpent never saw it coming, and we soldiers ate well that night. Well, three of us did anyway.”
“Fascinating,” I murmured.
“I have a book of stories like that one. There was another time—”
I held my hand up to interrupt him. “We’ve arrived.”
“These women nowadays don’t have time for stories like they used to. Back when I was alive, I could spin a tale that would have a roomful of young ladies dangling on every word.” He sighed. “How I miss those days.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Modern women are definitely different.”
“So they are.” He gazed at the home. “Now. Tell me what exactly you would like for me to do again.”
So I described theSpiritusand explained it was the only thing I needed. Fannie would more than likely either be asleep or quickly headed that way given how easily she chugged whiskey.
“I’ll be in here. If you need anything, just poke your head out the door and gesture.”
“Ma’am”—he placed a hand over his heart—“I will do my best to honor you.”
Really, there was nothing else to say except, “Thank you.”
Blount disappeared from the truck. He floated across the street and vanished into Fannie’s exterior wall.
I kept an eye on the house. From the windows, Blount glowed faintly. At least to me he did.
He moved slowly through the house, which was fine. I needed him to take his time. My nerves jumped at the thought of having theSpiritusback in my hands. I could finish this whole thing tonight. Axel and Pepper were here, and Roan could help, too. We could send Jinkins to the afterlife and free the other spirits all in one sitting.
It was the perfect plan.
No, I was not going to think about how perfect plans went wrong. I wasn’t a glass-half-empty sort of person.
