A Ghost at Stallion's Gate Read Free Page B

Stallion’s Gate, in about an hour.”
    Good thing about Eric is that he quickly picks up on hints. “Yes. About Stallion’s Gate. Shannon, the horse room should not distress you.” He leaned forward and looked at me. His face was sincere and as handsome as ever. Dark hair framing classic features with eyes that commanded attention. Dark eyes, dark hair, tall and lean, Eric Blackthorne was the iconic image of a Victorian era magician. I imagine every boy who ever dreamed about being a magician dreamt of looking like Eric Blackthorne. “Shannon?”
    I came out of my fog, “Yes.” I smiled, trying to shake off the feeling I had when I was around Eric. “But, that room is eerie and creepy. Eric, why would anyone do that to horses?”
    “Because they were loved. Remember that the owner was passionate about horses. He loved them, maybe even more than the humans in his life. And they are, or were, animals, not human in form.”
    “Oh, please! Then, do you think Alex will stuff Atlas when he passes over?”
    “No, but Alex is not living in a time when the passion and love for Irish Wolfhounds is prohibited by law.”
    “Huh?”
    “Shannon, in the 1920s, horse racing was a form of gambling and it was illegal. It wasn’t legalized in California until 1933.”
    “Eric? You were dead and gone by the 1920s. How could you know this?”
    “I had the opportunity to do a little research last night, before you packed up your laptop computer.”
    “While I was sleeping you were in my room, surfing away on the Internet?” I asked.
    “Really, Shannon, what difference does it make where I was. I’m a ghost. I can be anywhere, especially within the interior of the home that I built. You were asleep. I saw no reason to interrupt your rest to ask permission to use your computer. After all, I do recall you gave me access to it in the first place, hence I have my own email address.”
    “Yes, I remember.” I could not fault Eric for taking advantage of something I taught him how to do. I looked at him. He had been studying me. I knew that look all to well, it was identical to the way Alex would study me, and patiently wait for me to say the right thing. So I did say the right thing. “I’ll keep your advice in mind when I’m over at Stallion’s Gate. Which, by the way, I need to leave soon.”
    Eric stood up. “I shall be on my way. Just call my name if you need me.” He bowed ever so slightly.
    And then, poof. Like magic, he was gone.
     
    Chapter 4
    The late morning sun cast a decidedly sunny ambiance over Stallion’s Gate mansion. I stood outside in front of the mansion admiring it and relieved that it didn’t seem spooky, at all. Good thing, I thought. Because the very last impression I wanted to give to the photographer is that I am apprehensive about this assignment. At that last thought I heard a car drive up, I turned in time to see a young woman pull up, park right in the center of the circle drive. She waved to me from her car and then got out.
    Grace Jordan did not fit her name. She was far too young for a name like Grace. Must be a family named handed down to her , I mused. And she didn’t walk, she bounced. Her black hair was pulled back in a short pony tail and it swung back and forth. A camera bag and portfolio slung over her shoulder bounced in time to her steps. For a moment I thought she would bounce right past me.
    “Hi. You must be Miss Delaney? I’m Grace Jordan, but call me Gracie, okay?”
    Gracie’s enthusiasm was contagious, “Sure, and call me Shannon.”
    “I’ve got everything I need. Can we go on in?” she asked.
    I held up the keys and said, “And I’ve got the keys to the mansion.” I stepped up to the front door, Gracie was right behind me. I unlocked the door and stepped aside, “Go on in.”
    Gracie bounced into the foyer and continued right on into the first of the grand halls. I hastily closed the front door and caught up with her. She stood in a posture I recognized all to