Spirits of the Third Dimension

By Veronica Middleton-Blake

Three short stories of ghosts, crime and emotion:

1. THE BEECHWOOD ENCOUNTER
Vicky had no idea what lay ahead of her when Brandy, her horse, took a wrong turn after he was spooked by something in the woods on their return ride back to his field during a heavy storm. A pleasant day would end in a nightmare, and an event that she would never forget for the rest of her life.

2. THE TAROT CARDS
When Betty Merrifield, an elderly widow who lived alone, found a parcel on the seat next to her in the bus on her return trip home, having withdrawn some of her savings from the post office, she had no idea what it contained until she opened it in the comfort of her home. The package revealed a deck of tarot cards belonging to the young woman passenger who sat next to her in the bus. A small card with a telephone number was also with the pack of cards, so arrangements were made for the woman to collect them, and also to join the elderly lady for afternoon tea. But for the unsuspecting widow, letting a stranger into her house had dire consequences.

3. THE TREE OF LIFE
The old oak tree was a sacred place for Jackie, and the only place where she could find comfort and peace of mind, after a tragic event which turned her life upside down. When a ferocious storm rent havoc on the tree, reducing it to half its former glory, she didn’t think she could cope, having spent her childhood to womanhood beneath its spreading branches, and particularly now at this difficult time in her life. The tree was very important to her, so how could she go on? But all was not lost!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Veronica Middleton-Blake
• Release date: May 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476023069

Veronica Middleton-Blake

Veronica was born December 26, 1942, in the county of East Sussex, England. Leaving school at the age of sixteen, she completed a secretarial course then worked in London for seven years. Veronica is passionate about wildlife and conservation. Her hobbies are horse riding, gardening, and writing poetry and stories (including children's literature). She has four poems published and one paperback book, "Daydreams, Moonbeams and Wings Over The Common" (which is currently out of print, but will be re-published as an e-book in the near future).

Book preview

Spirits of the Third Dimension

Three short stories

by Veronica Middleton-Blake

(c) Copyright 2012 Veronica Middleton-Blake

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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INTRODUCTION

In these three fictional short stories, all characters and events are purely of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to real occurrences, locations or people, living or dead, are unintended.

Copyright (c) 2012 by Veronica Middleton-Blake. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher except for brief quotations for articles or reviews.

Three short stories of Ghosts, Crime and Emotion:

1. THE BEECHWOOD ENCOUNTER

Vicky had no idea what lay ahead of her when Brandy, her horse, took a wrong turn after he was spooked by something in the woods on their return ride back to his field during a heavy storm. A pleasant day would end in a nightmare, and an event that she would never forget for the rest of her life.

2. THE TAROT CARDS

When Betty Merrifield, an elderly widow who lived alone, found a parcel on the seat next to her in the bus on her return trip home, having withdrawn some of her savings from the post office, she had no idea what it contained until she opened it in the comfort of her home. The package revealed a deck of tarot cards belonging to the young woman passenger who sat next to her in the bus. A small card with a telephone number was also with the pack of cards, so arrangements were made for the woman to collect them, and also to join the elderly lady for afternoon tea. But for the unsuspecting widow, letting a stranger into her house had dire consequences.

3. THE TREE OF LIFE

The old oak tree was a sacred place for Jackie, and the only place where she could find comfort and peace of mind, after a tragic event which turned her life upside down. When a ferocious storm rent havoc on the tree, reducing it to half its former glory, she didn’t think she could cope, having spent her childhood to womanhood beneath its spreading branches, and particularly now at this difficult time in her life. The tree was very important to her, so how could she go on? But all was not lost!

~~~~~

THE BEECHWOOD ENCOUNTER

Vicky, I think you ought to be getting back with Brandy pretty quickly. The weather doesn’t look too good! called Vicky’s mother from the back door.

Okay Mum. Won’t be long. I’m just giving him a last brush over before tacking up. He’s a bit fidgety after hearing a rumble of thunder in the distance. I think he can smell a change in the air. His ears keep twitching backwards and forwards, and he’s swishing his tail as if something is bothering him. Poor chap hates being out in storms, and so do I. Once we’re on the road I know he won’t take much coaxing to put a shift on, so it shouldn’t take us much more than say an hour and a bit to get back to his field.

Alright, but before you go I’ll nip indoors and fetch him a carrot as a reward for good behaviour, and to remind him he’s got to take care of you both on your return journey.

Slipping on his bridle and saddle, Vicky laughed at her mother’s logic as she led Brandy down the narrow path at the side of the house that took them to the front gate, where he stood patiently for his last pat and a large juicy carrot which he readily took from the palm of her mother’s outstretched hand.

Vicky was soon mounted on her trusty steed, who was already champing at the bit and raring to go as another ominous rumble came from the direction of the South Downs.

With a last tightening of the girth, a hasty wave goodbye to her mother, and a shout that she would be back as soon as she could, horse and rider set off at a fast trot to the top of the road.

They turned right at the T-junction and headed along the main road leading towards the woods which