The Haunting of White Horse Inn

By Phyllis Reiser Stone

A financial crisis forces newly widowed Linda Rogers into making a life-changing decision. She puts her house up for sale, much to the objections of her teenage daughter, Amy, and agrees to become an innkeeper for a preCivil War mansion that has just been sold and is to become a bed-and-breakfast establishment. A first view of the mansion is not favorable; vines grow everywhere, and when Linda and Amy explore inside they are frightened into leaving by a mysterious noise. It is learned the townspeople believe the mansion is haunted by a ghost looking for his wife and daughter. Relying on her Christian beliefs, Linda doesnt believe in ghostsbut there is no logical explanation for the frequent noises and lights. A later discovery of a secret tunnel adds to Lindas anxiety. Did she make the right decision? Has she placed herself and Amy in danger?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490810263

Phyllis Reiser Stone

At the age of nine, Phyllis began writing short stories in notebooks. She also entertained her younger brothers with stories and put on plays to entertain her family. When in sixth grade she wrote a play that was performed for her classmates. In her senior year at Long Branch High School, Phyllis joined the journalism class and was chosen to be the coeditor of the school newspaper in the second semester. This gave her opportunities to write editorials after a semester of writing news as a reporter. The newspaper later won awards with the Columbia School of Journalism. Although unable to attend a college to continue her education in journalism, she continued to write short stories and plays. A short story about her dog Scotty was published in Guideposts magazine in 1952. A Christmas play she wrote but did not publish was performed in her church. As an army brat, Phyllis moved often. Books were her friends, and she enjoyed historical novels and cozy mysteries. She decided to try creating a cozy mystery when she toured a turn-of-the century house that had potential as a bed and breakfast. This is her first novel. Phyllis is a Christian, having dedicated her life to the Lord Jesus. She wanted to write a book that showed that faith and trust help one overcome times of trouble. It is her hope that this type of book will appeal to many people, and that they will be entertained and inspired.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

"M other, how could you? I don’t want to move! All my friends are here! Why can’t things stay the same?" Amy cried as she ran from the room.

After dinner, I’d mentioned my plan to sell the house, and naturally, it upset Amy. I knew it would be a very big adjustment. At fifteen, Amy had many friends in the neighborhood as well as at school and the church youth group. I really didn’t want to make such a drastic change, but I’d been praying for so long with no solution to my money problems. Dan’s suggestion to put the house on the market seemed to be the answer to that prayer.

I know you’re upset about this, but I just don’t see any other way, I said as I went into her room, where she had flung herself face-down on the bed. I put my hand on her long, brown hair and stroked it as I sat down next to her. You know how long Dad was in the hospital and that it cost more than the insurance would pay. I’ve tried to figure a way to pay the bills without selling, but there’s just no other answer. I’ve even tried refinancing the house. I applied to several places, and although the house is worth more than I owe, the answer is always the same. Because of my salary, they won’t refinance as much as I need.

I continued, I’ve been paying some each month on the past-due notices. Two days ago, I received a notice that what I owed is going into collections if I don’t pay it in full in thirty days. I told Dan my dilemma yesterday. He feels he can sell the house based on today’s market and get a good price for it. If we get what he quoted, we can pay off all our bills.

I still hate the idea, said Amy as she sat up with a frown on her face and wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. She got a tissue from the nightstand and blew her nose.

I’m also having an interview tomorrow for an innkeeper’s job near Grand Harbor. Dan has a client who bought a pre-Civil War mansion near there and needs someone to run it after it’s been remodeled. Dan thought I might like to try my hand at something new. Although I’ve been with Dan for several years, he felt it might be a good time to make a new start. If I do get the job, we’d have to move anyway. If I don’t get the job, we’ll move into an apartment close to school after the house sells so you won’t have to lose your friends. I took a deep breath. Anyway, until we get the house sold and the bills paid, things will be the same. This seemed to pacify her for the time being.

I got up and went into the kitchen to clean up. I was sure that when Amy phoned her friends later, my decision would be all they talked about.

It had been such a difficult year. My husband, Jeremy, had been very sick with lung cancer. Originally, it seemed the surgery and chemotherapy had eradicated the tumor, but three months later, the cancer came back, and it came back with a vengeance. We tried to keep life as normal as possible while he was home; however, he was too sick to stay home the last two months and had to go to the hospital before he ultimately went into hospice care. We were not able to pay off the initial bills, and the hospital demanded its money even before he was admitted for the final time.

Jeremy and I had struggled for years to build up good credit, and I didn’t want anything to jeopardize that. Real estate prices were high for homes in our neighborhood, so I thought I should get a good price.

Dan had also mentioned a client who’d just closed escrow on a mansion in a small town south of Grand Harbor. It was on Lake Michigan, and his client planned to make it into a bed-and-breakfast. Dan thought I might be interested in running such an operation. The client bought it on speculation and was looking for a manager. I would meet with him the following day to learn more about the prospective position.

I really wanted to make a new start. The past few months were very trying, and despite the good intentions and support of friends and neighbors, everywhere I turned, I saw reminders of Jeremy. We’d been together all through junior and senior high school before we eventually married. Now I felt empty, as if my life were over at forty-five! I tried to put on a cheerful face for Amy and others, but when I was home alone, the black clouds came down around my shoulders. There were many wonderful but painful memories.

THE NEXT MORNING I made Amy’s lunch and saw her off to school. Mr. Clancy, the owner of the recently purchased house, had arranged to meet me at Barney’s Bagels for my interview. I’d asked Dan for the time off.

I decided to wear my beige suit. I added a light-pink blouse for some color, and with my beige shoes, I felt like I’d make a good impression. I certainly wanted to look very businesslike. I checked my appearance before the mirror and saw myself: short, light-brown hair fringed my face, and my blue eyes looked out at me. At forty-five, I still had a trim body and carried myself well on my five-foot, seven-inch frame.

Taking the keys off the hook, I said a quick prayer for God’s will to be done, and then I left for the meeting. It was a beautiful day. The clouds sailed across the sky, and the sun turned everything bright green and golden.

I parked the car and went into Barney’s Bagels. It wasn’t too busy. The morning rush was over, and the lunch rush wouldn’t begin for another hour or so. I ordered a bagel with coffee and sat down at one of the wrought-iron bistro tables to wait.

A man came in shortly after I sat down. He was middle-aged with a muscular body, black hair, and a neat Van Dyke beard. His business suit was well-made and looked expensive. After looking around and seeing me, he came over to the table.

Mrs. Rogers? he asked as he approached, his eyes smiling.

Yes, I’m Linda Rogers, I replied, getting up and extending my hand.

I’ll just grab a bagel and some coffee before we get down to business, said Mr. Clancy as he shook my hand and put a briefcase on the chair.

After he’d purchased his bagel and coffee, he returned to the table. Pulling up a chair, he started right off. He was a tall man, well over six feet, with startling blue eyes. "Mrs. Rogers, let me begin by explaining why I bought this house. It’s located on Lake Michigan on a little cove near Glencoe Landings about twenty miles south of Grand Harbor. Although it isn’t close to a large marina, it has an old dock, so occasional boating visitors would have a place to tie up. The house has six bedrooms, a large dining and living room, and an area downstairs in the back that I plan to convert into living quarters for the innkeeper. The house is about 150 years old and hasn’t been occupied for a number of years. It will need some remodeling, but I’m told it’s structurally sound. I expect to make a long-term profit from this investment.

For the time being, I really need someone on the premises to oversee the remodeling, not on a professional basis. I’ve an experienced contractor who will be in charge, but I believe people work best when they know there’s someone around who represents me. It makes them more accountable. Dan Reardon said you might be interested.

He looked deeply at me. You don’t have to decide right away. I’d like you to look over the house and grounds and see what you think, he said as he handed me a set of keys. I’ve made reservations at the Days Inn motel outside Glencoe Landings for this Saturday. Put everything that you need on my tab. You can drive down and have a weekend on me. I’ve got the directions here to the house. He handed me a sheet of paper and his business card.

I’m afraid my mouth was open. It was all happening too fast.

Mr. Clancy got up, taking his bagel and coffee with him as he picked up his briefcase. I’ll give you a call at Dan’s office first thing Monday, and we can proceed from there, he said as he left. Enjoy yourself, and let me know what you decide.

I’d never had such an interview before! He hadn’t asked for a résumé or references; he didn’t seem interested in my work experience or expertise. He knew nothing about me, and I certainly did not get to know much about him. Maybe Dan had informed him of my past job performance and circumstances. I would ask him after I got back to work and see what he knew about Mr. Clancy as a person, because I certainly needed more background.

I sat there for a few more minutes while finishing my coffee, trying to digest everything I’d just been told. Would I really want to make such a drastic change, and what could I expect? It would take some time to build up clientele. Would Mr. Clancy accept that, or would he want instant results? What about schools? Was there a high school nearby where Amy could continue her schooling?

Dan was out of the office with a client when I came in. Lily, the receptionist, had a handful of telephone calls for me when I walked through the door. Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Reardon wants you to call these people back and make appointments. See what kind of real estate they’re interested in, and get as much information as you can. Mr. Reardon should be back about three thirty this afternoon, so he’ll call them when he gets in, she said.

I went back into my office and started going through the slips. I called them in the order in which they’d been received. I’d been Dan’s office manager for eight years. It had started as a part-time job when Amy was about seven. Jeremy hadn’t been too happy, but I found I could work mornings while she was in school and then be at home when she needed me.

On weekends, Dan felt that I needed to be with my family, so he’d hired Amanda McNeil to answer the phones and help with new clients. Amanda was a retired secretary who liked to earn extra money to supplement her Social Security and pension.

After Jeremy became ill and we needed extra income, Dan asked me to work full-time. He’d been a very good friend. I think he saw how depressed I’d become after Jeremy’s death and wanted to help out when he suggested the bed and breakfast deal. He knew me well enough to know it would be a challenge and that I’d give it my full attention.

DAN WAS BUSY all week. Every time I thought I’d have a chance to talk with him, he was on the phone or showing listings. When he was free, I was busy, so by Friday, I was getting very anxious about the weekend. Late Friday afternoon, I finally had time to chat with him.

I don’t know much about Patrick Clancy, Dan responded when I quizzed him. "I talked with him briefly when he first called in early January, looking for a bed and breakfast. I took down the information he gave me—location, price, availability—but we didn’t chat. At that time, I had nothing to offer him, but I told him I’d keep looking.

About five weeks ago, I took a listing on this house down in Glencoe Landings, he went on. It’s been vacant for many years. The estate was tied up in legal proceedings until all the heirs were found. The surviving heirs wanted it sold as soon as possible. I had an appraiser look it over as well as a structural engineer and was told it needed some repairs but was structurally sound, Dan explained.

Mr. Clancy seems to be a very busy man, Dan continued. "It took me a number of phone calls until I connected with him. He didn’t want to go with me to see the house. He told me to give him the address and a key, and he’d take it from there. He stopped in the next day to pick up the keys. The following day, he gave them back with the comment that the property had possibilities.

A week later, he called, asked me to make an offer for the property, and would I draw up the paperwork, Dan explained. He didn’t ask for any assurances other than the ones I’d had from the appraiser and the structural engineer. We closed the deal last Friday, and he asked if I knew anyone who might manage the bed and breakfast. I knew you didn’t have any experience in that area, but I know you’re a good manager, and I know you need something to keep you extra busy just now. I mentioned your name, and he asked me to set up an appointment for you to meet with him.

Do you think he’s honest? I asked suspiciously, thinking about the interview.

I wondered about that. The way he did business made me suspect something might not be right, so I checked with my friends at police headquarters, Dan said. They couldn’t find anything negative on him; neither could the Better Business Bureau, so all I can say is that he seems to be clean. Whether he’s ethical or not involved in shady dealings, I can’t tell you. He has been involved in mostly commercial real estate and rentals in the past, from what I can learn.

I worried all the way home. Should I go see the property or just tell Mr. Clancy No thanks? Still, it would be a short vacation, and both Amy and I could use a change of scenery. School was winding down, so I didn’t think she’d have much homework. Maybe we could just make a quick trip down and back. I decided I’d wait until after dinner and broach the subject.

After dinner, I asked Amy what she thought about a quick trip down to Glencoe Landings near Grand Harbor.

It would be nice to get away, even for a short time, I said. If the weather’s nice, we could perhaps take a swim. The motel has a heated pool. It’s not every day you get an offer for a free mini-vacation.

I don’t have any plans for a change, Amy replied. Marcy is going out of town, and the youth group isn’t doing anything special this weekend. I can do my homework while you’re driving, and maybe we could check out the outlet mall. One of my friends says it’s just outside of Grand Harbor. Maybe we could visit it while we’re there, she suggested.

That sounds like a good idea, I answered. Why don’t we pack an overnight bag tonight so we can be ready to go first thing in the morning? I don’t think it will take too long to look over the house and grounds, and then we can go shopping.

So it was settled. We’d go on our little mini-vacation and look at the house and area.

CHAPTER 2

W e left early on Saturday and began the hour drive to Glencoe Landings. The day was beautiful, like only a day in May can be in Michigan. The sun shone brightly, and the bright blue sky held just a few puffy clouds overhead. It seemed like the green of the trees and fields just wanted to shout, Praise God you’re alive today! We were both in a holiday mood, and it was too nice a day to remind Amy she needed to study. We had the books in the back of the car; she could tackle them later.

Amy and I hadn’t had many moments of companionship in the last few months. We had each borne our grief in different ways. Now as I drove, Amy chattered along next to me. I felt the strain melt away like sun on an ice cream cone. Perhaps Amy had held in her grief, as I had.

We arrived in Glencoe Landings a little before noon. We stopped for something to eat at a pizza place on the highway outside of town. I had a salad and some bread sticks; Amy had a small pizza. I’d taken my automobile club tour book and looked up the address of the motel. However, I didn’t have a road map of the town, so as I gave the cashier my money, I asked for directions. I was told to go back on the highway to the next exit, turn right, and I would be there. We checked into the motel and inquired about the pool. The desk clerk assured us it was available, since they’d decided to open it early. After we put our bags in the room, Amy wanted to change and use the pool.

No, I’d rather wait. I told her. I’m anxious to see that house and the land it’s on. We’ll be here all morning tomorrow. We can swim then.

I got out the map Mr. Clancy had given me. We went back to the interstate and turned north. I checked my speedometer, and when we’d gone 1.6 miles, we came upon the road on the left, McKenzie Lane. I turned down the graveled road toward Lake Michigan and followed it for about two blocks when we came to a road on the left. The house was built on a bluff. My heart sank! It looked like a haunted mansion!

Mom, do we want to go in? Amy whispered. It looks so dark and forbidding.

I don’t know, I replied. I think the same thing, but let’s look around outside first. Maybe it will grow on us.

The two-storied house was of brick that had grown dark with age and dust. There were ivy vines growing over many of the windows. The window casements needed paint, and in some places, the wood had worn away. Spider webs were everywhere. The front of the house had a portico, reminiscent of days when people arrived in buggies. I parked the car close by, not wanting to trust the timber in the portico just yet.

Amy and I walked around the house. I could see the wooden structure attached to the back of the house that Mr. Clancy said would be remodeled for the innkeeper. It must have been added many years after the original structure. We peaked into one of the side windows. There was a large farm kitchen with doors off to the right and left. Outside, there was an old-fashioned door to the cellar. It looked like it hadn’t been opened in a century. Amy began wandering around the yard while I looked into windows.

Mom, she called, I just found the remains of a stable and an old carriage house.

I went down to where she stood, some five hundred feet down a slope to the left of the house. There was a small shelter as well as the remains of another larger one. The wind and rain had worn down the larger structure until only two sides were standing, leaning into each other. The roof had decayed long ago, and only a few boards remained. The small shelter seemed to be intact. Another building next to the larger structure was made of brick. This must have been the carriage house.

Mom, do you suppose I could have a horse if we decided to come here? Amy asked excitedly. You know how much I love horses and how I’ve always wanted a horse. If we could have a horse, then I wouldn’t mind moving!

Well, I really don’t want to commit myself, I said. We’ll have to see if I decide to take this job or not. Right now, I’m not too sure it’s a good idea.

Oh, it doesn’t look too bad, Amy countered. It’ll need to be fixed up, but didn’t Mr. Clancy say he’d hired a contractor who’s going to work on it? He might even like to include adding a stable. That way, he could rent out horses. I could wrangle them. You remember I did that last summer so I could get to ride more at camp.

Amy was excited. This was the first time I’d seen any enthusiasm since Jeremy’s death. I began