Chapter Two

Renee stepped out of her car and gaped at the woods and the large building in front of her. Her grandmother wanted her ashes spread here? There had to be hundreds of trees in all directions, and most of them looked like oak trees. How would she ever find the right one?

She shivered in the cool October air as she stood next to her car. She stared at the three-story Victorian home. She hadn’t expected Warner’s Bed and Breakfast to be so large, or maybe imposing was the better word. The B and B towered over her, and she swallowed hard. Her grandmother’s stories made it sound small and intimate, almost quaint. The slate gray porch wrapped around the sides of the home as far as she could see. She shivered again as the setting sun created long shadows across the property.

“This place is nice, not creepy,” she whispered. “It only looks creepy because the sun is starting to set. It’s nice, and it’s pretty, and I’m being completely ridiculous, and there’s nothing creepy here.”

The white, wooden siding gleamed with new paint. The shutters and trim around the roof were painted a pretty light green. Three light-colored wood rockers stretched to either side of the front door. Autumn leaf garland decorated the entire doorframe. More draped low off the wooden rail. In each window sat a small flower pot with bright red geraniums. Above the flowers hung sprigs of mistletoe.

“Odd mix of fall decorations, but who am I to judge?” She opened the passenger door and laid her hand on the large, golden urn on the seat. “Well, we’re here, Gran. I hope I can find this oak tree you mentioned in your will. I have to say, it looks a huge task you gave me.”

Renee took one more glance at the urn, grabbed her purse, and shut the door. Once she spread her grandmother’s ashes, Gran would be gone forever. She wiped her eyes and headed for the B and B. She climbed the steps slowly and stood near the edge of the porch.

Why did she continue to stand out here? She needed to get checked in and get some rest. Tomorrow, she’d have to start her search for Gran’s oak tree. Absorbed in her thoughts and her grief, she almost ran into a man as he adjusted a large, fall leaf wreath on one of the columns.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” she said, stumbling backward. “I guess I’m a little pre-occupied. It’s been a long day and a longer drive.”

He smiled. “It’s all right. Are you checking in?”

“Yes. I’m the new guest.”

He laid his hammer on a small table. “Do you need help with your bags?”

“I only have a small suitcase and my laptop bag.”

He nodded and walked to her car. She pressed the button on her key fob to pop the trunk and watched him grab her bags. If the man worked here, shouldn’t he talk more to the guests? Didn’t he like to talk to people? She shrugged and went inside.

A bell sat to her right on the mahogany check-in counter. A small bowl of candy corn beckoned to her, and she took a handful. The dark wood of the counter contrasted beautifully with the light, hardwood floors. Across from the check-in desk, an arched doorway opened into a huge dining room. A staircase with a dark wood railing was off to her right and covered with a floral runner. A small table in the hall held a vase filled with white geraniums, purple asters, and maroon mums.

She smiled a little as she gazed around. So far, so good. Not a creepy thing or person in sight. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. She shouldn’t have allowed Wayne to kick her imagination into overdrive. After all, the B and B had a very comfortable feel to it, unlike the rundown motels in some of her favorite movies.

She tapped the bell once, and a door marked “Office” opened. A short, slightly round older woman hurried out. She had a red and yellow marigold tucked into her silver hair. It matched with the muted yellow shirt, dark brown vest, and gray slacks she wore. A merry twinkle lit up her eyes when she saw Renee standing at the counter.

“Welcome to Warner’s Bed and Breakfast.” She smiled and shook Renee’s hand. “You must be Renee Tate. I’m Dee Warner, the owner.”

“Yes, ma’am, that’s me.” She handed over her credit card. “Your place is beautiful.”

“Why, thank you, dear. It takes a lot of work to keep it in tip top shape, but if I didn’t love what I do, the task would overwhelm me. Of course, I also have some help, and here he is now.” She glanced over Renee’s shoulder. “Parker, please take Ms. Tate’s bags to room 204.”

“Okay, Miss Dee.” Parker turned to Renee. “I left the urn on the front seat. Do you want me to bring that in, too?”

“No, thank you. I’ll get it myself.” She watched Parker walked up the short flight of stairs to the second floor. Wow. He was quite the handsome man. How did she not notice when she almost ran into him on the porch? She forced herself to quit staring at his retreating back and returned her gaze to Dee. “We’ve had a rash of burglaries in my neighborhood. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my grandmother’s ashes at home.”

“I see,” Dee said. “Any other reason?”

Renee shifted from foot to foot. “Well, yes, there is. She wanted me to spread her ashes around the oak tree where my grandfather proposed to her. She said it was here at your B and B. You wouldn’t happen to know where a certain special oak tree would be, would you? I’m afraid I might have bitten off more than I can chew with the job she gave me.”

Dee frowned a little while she looked off into space for a moment. “We have a lot of oak trees on the property, and some are pretty special. My groundskeeper, Parker Callahan, will have a better knowledge of the area than I will. You can ask him.” She smiled when he came down the steps. “Parker, would you please come here for a moment?”

“Do you need some help, Miss Dee?”

Dee chuckled. “Not me this time. Parker, I’d like to you meet Renee Tate. Renee, this is Parker Callahan. Ms. Tate will need some help to find a particular oak tree on the property. I thought you might be able to help her look.”

“I don’t think I’ll have much time. I still have to finish the decorations outside of the B and B. Then Mrs. Hall needs me to deliver flowers and hay bales to the town hall for the Halloween party. This time of year my brother always needs me to run a lot of errands for him.”

Dee waved away his excuses. “Oh, pish tosh. I’m certain you can spare a few minutes every day to help a guest.”

“If he’s too busy, I’m sure I can find it on my own,” Renee said. She jerked her head around and frowned over her shoulder. “Of course, I’d be glad for any help.”

“I’ll have some free time tomorrow to help you,” Parker mumbled.

“Thanks. I’d better get the urn and go up to my room. It’s been a long trip.” She turned to the door and stopped. “Is there a certain place I should park my car?”

“There’s a small lot to the right of the building,” Dee said.

Renee moved her car and sat there for a minute. The house was warm and inviting, but the woods behind the small parking lot held a much different vibe. A low, soft moan drifted to her, making her shiver. She looked in the rearview mirror and couldn’t see any movement at all. Again she wondered if Wayne was right and she should’ve done some research on Garland Falls. She mentally shook herself. No. She was letting the stress of the past few weeks get to her.

She held the urn tight to her chest and hurried inside to her room. Her grandmother’s request in the will brought Renee to Garland Falls. If Gran loved this town, it had to be a wonderful place. Maybe, everything would turn out fine in the long run. She set the urn on the dresser and turned it so she could read the small plaque. She dropped down onto the bed and sighed.

Wayne had no reason to be upset about this small Minnesota town. This had been the first time he’d ever come close to losing his temper with her. He hadn’t wanted her to come, and she’d read real concern on his face. When she’d asked why, he’d only said she didn’t know how many nuts lived here, and no other reason. So far, the two people she’d met were nice. Of course, Parker Callahan was nice looking.

“Okay, enough of those kinds of thoughts,” she scolded herself. She dialed Wayne and left a voicemail. “Well, he’s supposed to call me tomorrow. He promised.”

“Oh, that Parker Callahan is one handsome devil.”

Renee jumped to her feet. “Gran, you scared the heck out of me. And why did you have to mumble so much when I checked in? Can’t you keep your comments to yourself?”

“His beautiful hazel eyes and that thick, tawny hair,” she said as she ignored Renee’s questions. “From his physique, you can tell he’s used to hard work. If I were only forty years younger.” Her grandmother sighed.

“And don’t forget alive.” Renee grinned. “Your death hasn’t stopped your opinions one bit, has it.”

Her grandmother’s ghost floated over to her. “Why should it? My body’s dead, not the rest of me. I sure could look at Mr. Callahan all day.” She shook her finger at Renee. “And don’t tell me you didn’t notice how cute he is. I saw the way you were looking at him.”

“All right, fine, he’s attractive.” Renee unpacked her suitcase and stored it in the closet. “I get it, but Gran, you have to behave. No one can see you but me. I don’t want the entire town of Garland Falls to think I’m crazy. Isn’t it bad enough I see ghosts everywhere and start talking to them without thinking? Why do you think I ended up buying that little Bluetooth gizmo? I’d like to keep this particular part of me between us.”

“I’m pretty sure no one will think you’re crazy.” Her grandmother winked. “Besides, some of the people here might surprise you with what they can see and do.”

Renee stared at her grandmother’s ghost. “What exactly do you mean by that cryptic statement?”

“You’ll find out sooner or later,” Gran said as she faded away.