These Haunts Are Made For Walking (Haunted Tour Guide Mystery Book 1) Page 2

  “It’s a good band.” I popped a pretzel from the bowl on the counter into my mouth and chewed.

  Tammy wiped the counter. “They’re from Bowling Green. I hope the boss hires them again.”

  I looked around at the crowd as I drank my water. The usual suspects were there. A few people I recognized from high school. Even my old science teacher liked to hang out at the tavern on the weekends. My gaze immediately focused on one thing in particular. He was standing near the band talking with a couple other men. His smile was infectious. I’d never seen him before, but his dashingly handsome looks and irresistible presence drew me in right away. Maybe it was my imagination, but something about him seemed mysterious, and unfortunately that intrigued me.

  He wore jeans that fit all too well with the promise of lean muscular legs underneath. He wore a blue short-sleeve shirt that bulged over impressive biceps. He had strong cheekbones and his lips formed a perfect smile. His thick dark hair was cut short. I’d stared at him for entirely too long.

  “See anything you like?” Tammy asked in a teasing voice.

  I took another sip and then shook my head. I was about to say no when I spotted the man watching me.

  “Who is that?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

  Tammy followed my focus. “New cop in town. Brannon Landon. He’s been here about a year. He’s a real babe, right?”

  I stared for a moment. Thank goodness he didn’t notice me watching him.

  “So how was the tour tonight?” Tammy asked.

  I forced my attention away from the good-looking cop. “I think it went well. Oh, I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Clatterbuck confronted me in the graveyard.”

  “She probably crawled up from one of the graves,” Tammy said. “I still haven’t seen the mysterious Mrs. Clatterbuck.”

  I stuck my finger in the air. “With a wave of her bony finger, she proclaimed I shouldn’t disturb the dead.”

  “See, she wants you to leave her alone.” Tammy clutched her sides and chuckled.

  “Well, it was a strange comment, but she’s always been a bit eccentric.”

  “A bit? Remember you said the other day she brought her pet parakeet with her to the graveyard. That cage couldn’t have been easy to carry around. What did you tell her?” Tammy asked.

  I looked at the hot cop again. He wasn’t looking my way this time, so I got a chance to really check him out. Short dark hair with sharp features. I wondered what color eyes he had. His jeans and blue shirt fit his muscles in all the right places.

  “I should go,” I said, jumping up from the stool. I tossed a few dollars onto the bar.

  “Why are you leaving so soon? You should hang around,” Tammy called as I walked toward the door. “Maybe someone will ask you to dance.”

  “My feet are going to walk home without me if I don’t go to bed now.” I laughed and walked out the door.

  The clouds had covered the sky now and a few drops of rain hit the pavement. If I didn’t hurry I would soon be drenched. I ran the last stretch to my place. The sooner I was home and in my comfy pajamas the better off I’d be. A relaxing bath and good book was all that I wanted. I’d had enough ghosts for one night.

  After college I’d left home for a librarian position in California. It had been a good job, but when the librarian in my hometown had retired, I’d jumped at the chance to return to Devil’s Moon, Kentucky. As I’d grown older, I’d realized the grass wasn’t always greener and my hometown looked better than ever to me. I’d missed my friends and family.

  Sure, my hometown wasn’t exactly a bustling metropolis and it was a little spooky, but I was okay with that. Devil’s Moon was full of charm and had everything I needed, so it wouldn’t be a huge lifestyle adjustment now that I was back. At least that was what I kept telling myself. As long as there was a coffee shop, bakery, and a Bath & Body Works within twenty miles, I was good to go.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning was my first day as head librarian in Devil’s Moon. I’d been back in town for a couple weeks before I’d had to start work at the library. That had given me time to start the haunted tour.

  As soon as I’d moved back to town I’d decided to fulfil a lifelong dream—start a haunted tour. This town was crawling with ghosts. Well, not literally crawling, but you know what I mean. So by day I was the mild-mannered librarian and by night I was the queen of spooky. At least that was what Tammy told everyone. I was okay with that description.

  As I stepped out into the morning air, I inhaled the crisp scent of fall. The rain from the night before had soaked the ground and brought out the musty scent of earth.

  I looked across the street to the Southern café advertising biscuits and gravy as the special of the day. A large sign with the words “Mammy’s Kitchen” hung over the café’s entrance. Large windows flanked the front door of the restaurant, giving me a clear view inside the space. There didn’t appear to be an empty seat in the place.

  A couple women chatted outside the café while a man swept the sidewalk in front of the antiques shop next door. The sign on the door had been turned around to CLOSED.

  As I absorbed the familiar surroundings, I knew for sure that I’d made the right decision. The change of scenery my hometown provided would give me the chance to forget about the despicable man who had cheated on me and left my life in shreds. I needed to reconnect with old friends and meet new people. Most importantly I needed to live my life for me—not someone else. I had dropped all my friends for that two-timing rat.

  After stopping for coffee, I walked another block, and then turned to look up at Bilson Library across the street. It was where I’d replaced the recently retired Mrs. Audrey Stanley, the town’s beloved chief librarian. She’d been on the job for a hundred, er, thirty years. The position was exactly what I needed… a fresh start. I wanted nothing more than to put distance between me and Travis Becker.

  Since today was my first day on the job, of course I was terrified. The little voice in my head told me I would screw something up. I needed to tell that little voice to zip it.

  The large Victorian Gothic-style building loomed in front of me. A tower was set in the center of the structure, with a steeply-pitched roof finished with ornamental gables. In spite of its beautiful façade, the building had an air of sadness, as if it was weeping from the bricks, tears from the mortar. What was its story? My skin tingled and my heart thumped a little faster.

  “So do you think the building is haunted?” the soft Southern voice said close to my ear.

  I whipped around with my arms out ready for battle. Tammy was standing behind me. I hadn’t noticed her approach either, which was unnerving. What was the deal with people sneaking up behind you in this town?

  I pulled my black sweater closer around my chest. I wasn’t exactly dressed like the typical librarian people usually imagined, but I could definitely use a few fashion pointers from Tammy. She always looked as if she knew what she was doing.

  “I’ve heard a few stories over the years,” I managed, as I focused my attention back on the structure. Sure, the library was rumored to be haunted, but weren’t all old buildings? I’d wait to add the building to my haunted tour until I was sure there was a resident spirit hanging around.

  Tammy just so happened to be the library assistant. Even more reason why I knew I would love my new job.

  “This town is all abuzz about you coming back. By the way, you didn’t go unnoticed last night. Someone asked me about the pretty brunette with blue eyes.”

  I whipped around to look at her. “Don’t say it was our old high-school science teacher.”

  “Nope. The hot cop.” Tammy had a sly grin.

  “Why was he asking about me?” My voice sounded slightly panicked.

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I told him you were single.”

  My stomach flipped. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  She waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it. Just take a deep breath. Your face is
the color of pea soup and you look like you’re about to lose your Cheerios.”

  “That obvious, huh? I guess I’m just worried about messing up today.”

  Great, I was supposed to be the new boss, and I had just shown Tammy how incompetent I was. Surely after all the time we’d known each other she knew me better than that. At least I hoped so.

  Tammy gestured toward the building with a tilt of her head. “Annie Gibson. She was the librarian when the place first opened in 1884. Folks around town say she roams the shelves, looking for the books that people have shelved incorrectly. You know, they say librarians can be so attached to the books that they’ll come back to haunt a library.”

  I tried to scoff, but her words made me nervous. I sure hoped I wasn’t destined for that fate. I liked my job, but I didn’t want to spend eternity putting books back on shelves. I’d rather spend it curled up on a fluffy cloud with a good book and a cup of tea, thank you very much.

  “I saw her headstone in the graveyard.” I pointed.

  An old graveyard spilled out in front of the building, with dates and names faded on old tombstones. Why was there a cemetery on the library’s front lawn? Having a graveyard in front of the library would be an added bonus for the haunted tour goers. It added to the spookiness. So far I hadn’t added the building to the tour.

  “I have seen a lot of strange things in the library, but I choose to block it out. I don’t want to see a ghost.” Tammy shivered.

  Needless to say Tammy wouldn’t be taking my haunted tour any time soon. She didn’t even like to watch Casper the Friendly Ghost.

  “It makes for good Halloween decorations,” I said. “The cemetery was started before the library was even built, but they still have plots available. What better final resting place for the first librarian?” With that, I lifted my disposable cup of coffee to my lips and took a big gulp.

  Of course, if they tried to sell me a burial plot I was out of there. Job or no job.

  Tammy waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not taking a spot in the graveyard anytime soon. I suppose the ghost doesn’t bother anyone too much. Just don’t go into the basement alone. It gets a little creepy down there.”

  “Duly noted,” I said, sure she was joking.

  Yes, I gave the ghost tour, but I’d never actually seen a full-bodied apparition so what was there to be afraid of? Ghosts couldn’t really hurt me.

  “How are you enjoying being back in Devil’s Moon so far?” she asked.

  Without meaning to, I grimaced. It wasn’t the town that gave me that reaction—it was my whole situation.

  “That good, huh? What about me?” She placed her hands on her slender hips. “Are you happy to see me?”

  “Of course, I love being back here. It’s just how I left things…” I took another sip.

  “It’ll get better. You’ll get used to Devil’s Moon again,” Tammy said in a soothing tone.

  “Oh, I’m sure I will. I mean, look at where I’m working. The place is beautiful.” I gazed up at the library again.

  “We’d better get inside.” She motioned for me to follow.

  When Tammy reached the top step, she turned around and waited for me. I forced my legs to move and made it up the wide stone stairway. This was the first day of the rest of my life.

  Tammy was right: it was a real possibility that I’d lose my breakfast. That would be one heck of a first impression for the patrons of Bilson Library. The residents would never forget me after that. I’d go down in Devil’s Moon history books as the librarian who puked on the library floor.

  “I can’t believe we’re working together,” I said.

  “Too bad I only work part-time though. After work today I’ll be at my shift over at Sue’s,” Tammy said as she bounded up the steps.

  Tammy worked three jobs. I wasn’t sure why she put in that many hours. She’d casually mentioned saving for a house a while back, but when I’d asked again she said she didn’t want the responsibility of mowing the lawn. Anyway, she worked afternoons at Sue’s Savvy Beauty Salon as a hairstylist. That explained Tammy’s fashion sense and incredible hairstyle.

  A loose strand of hair had slipped from my ponytail and I tucked it behind my ear. I wondered what I’d look like with highlights. Not copper-colored like Tammy, but a soft caramel maybe? Oh, heck, what did I know about beauty? Up to this point my life had been all about books, spooky things, and planning a wedding. Now that Travis had eliminated the wedding, I just had the books and spooky things—my constant companions. Now that I thought about it, Travis was more spooky than any ghosts would ever be.

  “Good thing you found a place to live right away.” Tammy glanced over her shoulder as if looking in the direction of the old place I’d rented. She’d offered for me to stay with her, but I didn’t want to be a burden.

  “Renting a one-bedroom apartment next to the pizza place wasn’t ideal, but it’ll have to do for now. It’s close enough to walk.”

  She nodded and scrunched her nose up a little. Apparently Tammy knew all about how the smell of pizza permeated through the air up to the third-story windows, something I hadn’t discovered until move-in day. Too bad she hadn’t warned me sooner. Though I guessed it was my fault for surprising her and not telling her I was moving back to town until I’d arrived. I hadn’t wanted to get my hopes up if I hadn’t gotten the job, so I had kept it a secret.

  “Are you the only assistant? I’m afraid I wasn’t given much information on the library’s status. Other than it needs help, that is.”

  I still couldn’t believe they’d hired me to bring the library into the twenty-first century. I’d only been working as acting head librarian back in California for about six months, after my previous boss had had a nervous breakdown and had to leave town in a hurry. There were probably more qualified applicants, but I knew better than to ask questions. Tammy hadn’t wanted the job. She hadn’t decided on just one career yet. She wanted to keep her options open. Now I’d have to figure out all the details as I went along.

  “Oh, yeah, there’s a full-time assistant all right.” Tammy had a playful bounce in her step. “Her name is Leslie Knight.”

  Thank goodness I wouldn’t be totally on my own. At least I had Tammy and now Leslie to help. “Good. I was afraid I’d be all alone in this big building. You know, with a ton of work to do. Do I know Leslie?”

  “Probably not. She moved here a couple years ago to take the job. I think she was related to Mrs. Stanley. Come on. I’ll introduce you to Leslie.” Tammy had a smirk on her face as she held open the massive oak door. She gestured for me to go first.

  “What? Does Leslie have two heads?” I asked as I stepped across the threshold.

  Tammy’s mouth twisted up on one side. “No, not two heads.” She paused. “How do I put this? Um, Leslie is a hard worker, that’s all I’m saying.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing,” I said.

  “You would think so, wouldn’t you?” Tammy bit her lip, hiding back a smile.

  Chapter Three

  We stepped across the brown tiled floor of the vestibule and into the main room of the library. The warmth from my surroundings embraced me as if I was wrapped in a giant hug. To the left were rows of tables with green and brass lamps placed on top, giving out a cozy glow. And beyond the tables, shelves of books extended for as far as my eyes could see.

  Seeing all those words lining the walls made me do a little happy dance on the inside. In the center of the room was a grand oak balustrade staircase, polished and gleaming proudly in the warm rays of sunshine that shone in from the massive front windows.

  The upstairs housed more books, the conference room, and the children’s reading room. I’d been in the library many times over the years, but its beauty still amazed me. Ornamented stained glass lined the upper part of the windows, casting hints of yellow, blue, and red around the room.

  I hadn’t noticed when I first walked in, but a large banner adorned the wall behind the counter. “Welcome, Ripl
ey Van Raden” had been written out in blue marker. I’d never had my name on a banner before.

  “I don’t know what to say. That’s incredibly thoughtful of you,” I said.

  “We just thought it would be nice to give you a warm welcome, right, Leslie?” Tammy asked.

  A slender blonde stood behind the reference desk. Her eyebrows knitted together above her brown eyes, and her gaze was fixed on the computer screen.

  “Leslie, she’s here,” Tammy prodded.

  Leslie continued pounding at the computer’s keyboard with her index fingers as if she hadn’t heard a word Tammy said. After a second, she glanced up, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. She looked at me and said, “Oh, sorry. I just needed to finish that.” Leslie moved around the counter, stretching her hand out toward me. “Nice to meet you.”

  Leslie seemed perfectly normal to me. I wasn’t sure what Tammy had been talking about.

  “I’m glad we’ll be working together,” I said with a smile.

  “Me too, me too…” Her words trailed off. Maybe it was my imagination, but there was a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Well, I have to get ready to read to the precious angels.”

  “Leslie, you really need to keep your excitement down. Remember, we’re in a library.” Tammy held her index finger up to her lips.

  Leslie rolled her eyes and spun around to stomp off. She only made it a couple steps before she stumbled and fell to the ground. Since there was nothing in front of her to trip over, she was either having a bad day or she was the clumsiest person I’d ever met, bless her heart.

  I glanced at Tammy, who shrugged her shoulders as if to say she had warned me.

  After Leslie left, Tammy shook her head. “I can’t believe she reads to the kiddos. They seem to love her though. Go figure.”

  “She must have a way with them.” I smiled.

  A tray with a mountain of chocolate chip cookies rested atop the counter. Next to the cookies was a pot of coffee with cups lined up beside it. Well, what I guessed was supposed to be coffee. It looked more like sea water after an oil tanker spill.