Mrs. Baker's Ghost

By Anna Marie Catoir

Spellbinding! Anna Marie Catoir tells the tale of the 12 eclectic residents of Whiskey Bay Boarding House. The story is told through the eyes of the enchanting Jayi. She is loved by the tenants, a crow named Alastair, and the 80 something year old ghost of Mrs. Baker. There is music, laughter, love and mystery, when Jayi brings a riddle left by Mrs. Baker the ghost, to the roof top picnic. The mysterious riddle is a puzzle as old as the bible. The interesting and interactive tenants, both living and dead, whom you wish you knew better or were your neighbors, makes this a heartwarming story for readers of any age. A marvelous adventure mixing a bit of mystery, drama, and sadness with a touch of old fashion romance. You will read this book more than once, for the pleasure of feeling good about life, friends, and family. Jean Lutz, Louisiana Poet and Author

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Marie Catoir
• Release date: Dec 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9780988774308

Anna Marie Catoir

About the Author: First and most important is the profit from your purchase of this E book goes to St. Jude's Cancer Research. Thanks - Now a little bit about myself. I am a Covington, Louisiana Poet, Author, Mask Maker. I also teach classes in Altered Books, Journaling, and Family Heritage Scrap-booking. I have a B.A. in Mass Communications with specialty in Public Relations from Nicholls State University, Class of 2000. My favorite things are comic books, hats, fresh notebooks, and books filled with new words. I love shiny red apples that crack smartly as you bite into them. The most challenging thing I have attempted is trying to teach myself how to read and write in Spanish, by reading the Spanish edition of Twilight. I love to travel, go to the movies and stage plays. My car stops automatically at every book store it passes. I love all types of books. Employed as Department Manager at Barnes and Noble for nine years and craft instructor at all the St. Tammany Libraries. A working member of the Northshore Literary Society and a book reviewer with an online blog Anna Marie's Corner; Former Editor of Blood Orange Zine. I help organized functions for the Jane Austen Literary Society of Mandeville, Louisiana, Poet’s Alive in Covington, Louisiana, Women’s Book Salons and various writer’s groups. Especially love working and helping establishing book fairs for children at all the Mandeville and Covington, Louisiana area schools. A member of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Book preview

Mrs. Baker’s Ghost

by

Anna Marie Catoir

Published by Mary Catoir at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 by Mary Catoir - Anna Marie Catoir

Cover Designed by Mary and Clyde Catoir

Editors Mary Ann Dubrock and JoAnn Dudik

ISBN 978-0-9887743-0-8

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. This story is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Author’s proceeds from this book are being donated St. Jude's Cancer Research.

Please refer all pertinent questions or request notification of future books or receipes to copyright owner mailto:[e-mail] - or - mailto:[e-mail]

***

Dedication: This one is entirely for my Mom. Mrs. Baker’s Ghost was a Short List Finalist winner at the Pirate’s Alley William Faulkner Wisdom Writing Competition -2012. Mrs. Baker’s Ghost was completed in 1999, and then stored away. I went on to write other novels. My Mom loved it and told me, if I didn’t have it published that she would one day do it herself. Mrs. Baker’s Ghost was my first entry in a competition. There were over 260 submissions from other talented and published authors. Since my story made the Short List Finalist cut, my Mom really does know best.

Mrs. Baker's Ghost was written while I accompanied my Mom on our zany trips to and from dog shows. My Mom instilled in me the love of reading and the wanderlust of travel. Each time we traveled on Interstate 10 through the swamp with its haunting cypress trees hovering below the Whiskey Bay Bridge, I would journal. I composed all of my stories in longhand so I wouldn't miss anything, as my mind wandered and my imagination took flight. This story is set in my hometown of Covington, Louisiana since its history is filled with many mysterious tales.

Mrs. Baker and mystical Jayi will introduce you to my next, much longer ebook from Smashwords, called Jayi’s Tales (available in the Spring of 2013). A cozy, romantic, mystery with murders and magical intrigue where Jayi’s life is in as much danger as her heart. My Mom believes the male lead reads like Harrison Ford. Who knows? Maybe he’ll play the part someday!

***

I pulled myself from the pile of pillows and sheets where I slept. Then I wrapped my favorite flannel blanket around me before following the lone note of the trumpet to Cory Porter’s open door. From the hall I could see he wasn’t alone. Four or five of Whiskey Bay’s regulars were all snuggled down in the well-worn, overstuffed sofa and armchairs. Tonight, Cory was the sole performer. The trumpet’s notes multiplied into a heartbreaking melody that awakened me. Now, his music stirred up into a furious storm of angry notes that taunted and raged at the listener. I walked in slowly and approached the sofa. One of Cory’s friends patted his lap and I sat down. I nestled sideways on the man’s lap with my head against his shoulder. The music softened into a steady rhythm accompanied by the beating heart of the man who held me. Bah-Bump. Bah-Bump.

I felt a hand in my hair, fingers combing through the thick raven locks that fell about my sleepy head. I recognized Angela even if I hadn’t seen her there, always constant and illuminating, like a chandelier, or table lamp. Her lavender smell and breeze-like touch on my hair, combined with Cory’s music lulling me back to dreams, I’d left unfinished. But alas, Cory’s music became more powerful than my unconscious dreams, snapping me back into his living room. I marveled at how a man and a piece of bent metal could make me feel such pain and sorrow. My heart started to burst.

Cory knew the effect he elicited. He used that knowledge to taunt all of his guests. As soon as we went under his spell, stopped guarding our hearts, Cory’s trumpet would let loose such a fury. I buried my head into the chest of the man who held me and prayed for the sun. The sun came eventually, and once again, I fell back to sleep in the arms of the stranger.

Ah, Jackson, would you kindly leave Jayi here, Cory said, as his friend attempted to leave with the sleeping girl pressed against him.

You mean, I can’t take her with me?