John had found himself outside the old barn in total darkness now. Breathing heavily he looked around in fear not knowing what exactly he would do. He only knew he wanted safety for the night. He subconsciously fingered the mojo bag that he’d forgotten about. He could see the others standing by the van in the eerie glow of the lampposts. He heard in the distance the ghostly shrill of an Eastern Screech Owl that gave him the willies. His heart was pounding in his ears as his thoughts were turned skyward and he prayed softly, “Please sweet Jesus hear me I beg of you. Help me get out of this mess please dear Lord. Keep me safe and show me what to do, where to go and I’ll never stray from you ever again, I promise. I ain’t never been so scared my whole life as I am right now so please show me what to do.” Of a sudden the pole light standing not far from the barn lit up and a light in the barn burned brightly too. “Thank you Jesus.” John said thankfully and he opened the little door made within the large door and entered the barn. He quickly scanned his surroundings and noticed an open door on one side; he walked over to it and saw that it had been a servant’s quarter at one time. There was a small bed still made up with a small stand with a lamp on it and old photographs on the wall. It was dusty but fairly clean. He noticed a small desk against one wall with an old ladder-back chair.

“Oh thank you Jesus, this is indeed an answer from you. Thank you, thank you.” He said with bowed head. He returned to the interior of the barn to investigate further. Walking on down the middle of it he could see the horse stalls and tack hanging here and there  along with horseshoes nailed in several places for luck. There was another room that he soon discovered was an office. He left it, as he knew he should not disturb any thing there. The tractors were parked on down the aisle and since he’d already been down there he returned to the little servants quarter and sat down at the small desk. A small disturbance drew his attention as he noticed a pencil rise up and set down on a scrap of paper. Frightened again he froze with renewed fear as the pencil began scribbling on the paper. John watched as the words appeared and slowly his fear was dissipated as he read the note that was now before him. The pencil was replaced to it’s original position and he felt a hand pat him on his back. He smiled as he reread what the ghost had written for him.

                                                     John, I know you and trust you.

                                           Please stay and help me. I will protect you son.

                                                       Help me and I will help you.

                                                                     Duncan.

“All right Mr. Duncan, you got a deal. Pleased to meet you sir.” John said happily. He realized Mr. Duncan had left when he noticed a swirl of dust just outside the door. He picked up the note and put it in his shirt pocket, got up and followed it out side the barn.

He saw shadows with a flash light beam walking towards him and was pleased to have no more fear. He soon realized it was his friends. “Duncan, Tom!” He shouted. Soon the trio was together and manly hugs were exchanged. John and Duncan fist-bumped as John started explaining to them what had just transpired to them. He led them back into the barn.

“Look at this note.” He said as he handed it to Tom who quickly read it and handed it off to his son. “I ain’t scared of no ghost now. Never will be again.”

Tom and Duncan both agreed that it was something special as they patted John on his shoulder in congratulations. “John, now that there is light in the barn again and you’re going to be OK, we have decided that you and Duncan can both stay out here tonight. Olivia told us there was sleeping quarter here. That’s why we brought some clean bedclothes and a sleeping bag too. We’re all hungry so you and Duncan can use my truck and go to town to KFC and bring back a bucket of chicken and all the trimmings. It ain’t that far so it shouldn’t take you too long. We’ll discuss more things when you guys return. OK?”

“Sounds great to me. Let’s go my man.” John said and with that they left the barn together as Tom handed his keys and some cash to his son. “Make sure you get drinks and some more Miller’s for us for tomorrow. I think we made need it for a celebration.”

“Sure thing dad.” Dustin said. They parted at a path that led to Olivia’s house and Tom followed it as the boys walked on to the truck that was parked in the drive not far from the van. It was now about 7.30PM and as the boys headed out the drive they talked about all the things they had witnessed this first day at the farm.

“Well John, I must confess that I was so scared I couldn’t move my feet. At least you had the courage to run. That’s more than I could do.” Duncan told his friend with a chuckle.

“My mama didn’t raise no fool and my feet have a sixth sense for danger. I just can’t stop them from moving when I get scared man. It’s like when I hear good music; I can’t stop the dance thing. Must be in my blood.” He said as he winked at his friend, a clear stereotypical reference to his race. They fist-bumped again.

                                                          *********************

Tom entered Olivia’s home and went into the kitchen where the girls were sitting drinking fresh coffee and chatting nervously. He pulled up a chair and sat down.

“Do you want a cup of coffee Tom?” Olivia asked.

“Man do I.” He quickly confessed. Olivia got up from her chair and as she poured him his coffee Tom related to them what had taken place with John. Olivia set his cup before him and pointed to the creamer and sugar on the table. Tom poured some cream in and stirred it well with the spoon on his saucer and said, “I think things are going quite well now. John is going to be OK with the assurance of protection from old Duncan and tomorrow we can finish things up with some luck and Duncan’s guidance. Now, about this Pirate gold.”

“I will tell you what I know.” Olivia said. “Now many years after I gained Mr. John’s confidence and long after all of his friends had passed he told me that his eldest brother told him this story before he died, their father Duncan had come to America from Scotland and had settled on the shores of Virginia. He was a tobacco trader and was financially doing quite well. He had time for some out door leisure as in hunting. One day he came across some men in the woods not far from the beach, Now these men did not see or hear him and since they were on Duncan’s property he hid himself and watched what they were doing. He noticed they had a couple of chests and shovels and were digging a hole on his property. As they were dressed like seafarers he immediately recognized them as Pirates. There were four men only and each had a long knife and pistol. Duncan waited while they dug the hole as deep as they intended and when two of them jumped into it he made his move and very quickly killed the two men on the ground. Then running ahead to the hole he grabbed a knife from one of them and killed the other two in one fell swoop. You know he was a Highlander, and he had also been a professional soldier. So he knew how to fight and kill. He threw the men in the hole they had dug and buried them. After examining the contents of the two chests he knew he had some real trouble coming and he also had just murdered four men. So he enlisted some help from trusted friends from his community to help him carry the chests to his home and he paid them handsomely not letting them know what was in those two chests. After settling some business he loaded up everything he had and moved west. He eventually located right here on this farm. The story is he had murdered more men who had come close to discovering his secrets. He has his treasure hidden somewhere on this property but has never revealed its location to anyone, not even to his sons. That is the story and now you have the proof, and evidently some clues to its location.”

“Wow, Olivia, that’s some tale. But why would he want us to have it and not his own children? Tom asked.

“Olivia, if this is all true, what would we do with it and how do we deal with the malevolent spirit of Mr. John?” Tammy asked.

“Mr. Tom, now this is my own theory. After living here for so long and having read so many notes and journals left by Duncan Thompson, I have concluded that his passion is doing good with the stolen gold and receiving forgiveness for his greed and murdering ways that made him what he was, which was miserable by the time he died. I think that he will never rest until the proper people discover this gold. He knew his sons would be destroyed by it just as he was; it drove him mad you know? This is why Mr. John is now an evil entity; just the thought of that treasure and the knowledge of it made him what he was and now is, angry and evil. It drove his wife to suicide. He was distrustful and controlling and very abusive to that woman. Tammy, you will know what to do, for Duncan has chosen you because you are blood and have a good heart. He will deal with Mr. John’s wicked spirit. There is such a thing as an evil seed, and that is what John was at birth, he was conceived in it dear.”

“Why didn’t Duncan help Zella then?” Tammy asked.

“She was not blood, nor of the right heart. If she had been, she would not have killed herself you see? She could not bear children and therefore could never inherit or fulfill Duncan’s passion.” Olivia explained. “He knew you would arrive and has guided all things in your preparation. You know, I believe god sometimes lets some people who are like Duncan an Mr. John live long and just get more and more miserable just to teach others who know them how not to be. They are nothing more than examples for others of how not to live.”

Tom and Tammy held hands and looked at Olivia with a newfound admiration and deep love for her. They knew they were in the presence of greatness and a good soul. “One more question Olivia. Why didn’t Duncan choose you as he seems to have a fondness for you?”

“Well dear, as I have stated, you are his blood, I am not. He did work his ways to pull me here to aid him for his passion and for this day.” Olivia told them. “I am here for you dear to help him achieve his goal.” She pulled a mojo bag out from under her blouse and gave it a little shake and replaced it giving them a wink.

I so far have over 11,000 words to this story. I do hope to complete it soon. Enjoy my friends. Now I need sleep. No more commercials, promise. Now on to the  fat lady. ©2009 CC Riter