The moon that night shone over woods and lake unchanged by time. It must have looked just this way a hundred years ago when Charlotte and James walked along its shore, with moonlight spreading a silvery pathway across the surface, a pathway for dreams to follow.
Ned sank down on the grassy bank, drew her knees up to her chin, and wrapped her arms around them. A small splash and the surface of the water rippled as a fish rose to snap a low-flying insect. Behind her, in the darkness of trees and bushes, a twig snapped. Some nocturnal animal prowled through, maybe foraging for berries.
What had happened to the two lovers who disappeared so long ago? Did they escape to safety somewhere? Had they lived and loved, content with each other and happy to leave behind all the danger and suspicion that surrounded them? Had they perished in the lake or even now did they sleep the sleep of eternity somewhere along its rocky shore?
Photo by Missy Day Albrecht
The hair on the back of Ned’s neck prickled. She no longer felt alone. Another noise came from the woods, a louder noise than the first. Someone was back there. Someone was watching.
The Ghost of Moonlight Past will be the third in the Ned McNeil cozy mystery series. Moonlight Can Be Murder was the first and the second mystery, By the Fright of the Silvery Moon will be released soon and can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.com or from Pen-L.com.
And the answer to the Mini-Mystery? Standing at the front of a crowded classroom and giving a speech! It was once the most dreaded activity in high school and college. It upset my stomach, my hands shook, my breath came in gasps and I would rather have weeded the garden in ninety degree temperatures. Now? I enjoy public speaking.
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