The Unforgiving House: The Welcome Home Series, #1

By Lori Hoopengardner

After the loss of her grandmother, city girl, Tabytha packs up and moves to her grandmother's house in the country. As she goes through the house and it's contents with caretaker-Raphael at her side, she quickly learns that the world she lives in is not what it appears to be. What looks to be a typical country house, turns out to hold more secrets than Tabytha could've ever imagined. They both soon learn they have more in common than they ever expected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lori Hoopengardner
• Release date: Sep 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386046356

Book preview

By Lori Hoopengardner

COPYRIGHT © 2018 LORI HOOPENGARDNER

ALL COPYRIGHT FOR ALL MATERIAL WITHIN, REMAINS WITH THE AUTHOR. ALL COPYRIGHT THE COVER ART IS HELD BY THE AUTHOR AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE.

FIRST EDITION

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2018

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THIS BOOK IS LICENSED FOR YOUR PERSONAL ENJOYMENT ONLY. IT MAY NOT BE COPIED OR RE-DISTRIBUTED IN ANY WAY. THE AUTHOR HOLDS ALL COPYRIGHT. THIS BOOK IS A WORK OF FICTION AND DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY INDIVIDUAL LIVING OR DEAD. NAMES, CHARACTERS, PLACES, AND INCIDENTS EITHER ARE PRODUCTS OF THE AUTHORS’ IMAGINATIONS OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY.

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Chapter One

As I walk up to the front gate, I have an uneasy feeling. It’s just a menacing, unforgiving looking house but, it’s mine. The steps looked as if they went on forever. As I push open the front door, of course, it makes an eerie creaking noise. I enter cautiously, half expecting something to get me, it’s just that eerie feeling you get from old houses like these; like something straight from a movie. I drop my stuff inside the door and make my way into the living room, opening the drapes to let the light in. I half expect to see someone staring at me or to be hiding behind them, but all I see is the beautifully landscaped yard.

As I go back out to the car to get more things, I see a man tending some flowers. He seems to be concentrating hard on something and hasn’t noticed

I was here yet. I will have to remember to check and see who he is later. I grab another load, head to the house and drop them in the bedroom. Thanking myself for not having a lot of things; everything I own fits in my old Honda. A couple of more trips up that spiral staircase and I’d probably die of exhaustion.

On my way for the last load, I walked right into the man I saw earlier. Sorry, ma’am, he announces.

No, I’m sorry, I saw you earlier and you looked intent on what you were doing, so I didn’t want to bother you. I take it you work on the property? I ask him wondering.

Oh, yes, I’m the caretaker here. My name is Raphael Drach. I live just down the road. Are you the new owner? he asks, staring intently at my lips.

Yes, I’m Tabytha Olcan. I actually just found out that I inherited this house last month. As I keep a serious look on my face. I decide to give him an explanation, even if he didn’t ask. I received a letter saying my grandmother had passed away. I don’t remember much about her and I had only met her a few times. So, actually, I’m not sure why she left me her house.

I pause a second, looking at the ground and waiting for a reaction, but he shows none. By the way, thank you for taking care of the place for me.

No problem, ma’am.

I look up at Raphael again. Have you been paid?

Yes, your Uncle told me there was a new owner and don’t worry, he’s paid me,

Raphael smiles and I can’t help but notice how sexy his smile is. Can I help you unload, ma’am?

Oh, thanks, but I’m done. I didn’t have much. Thank goodness this house is furnished.

Yes, ma’am, the furnishings are true to the house, I’ve been told.

Thank you, it looks like you have done a great job keeping this place up, No problem, ma’am, I love this old house and its gardens.

Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to work. You have a nice night.

I observe Raphael rubbing his neck. It seems he wants to say something else, so I wait just a moment.

I’ll see you Wednesday. You see, I only work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If you need anything I am just down the road. He finally says as he starts to walk away.

Have a good night, Raphael. Yes, I’ll see you on Wednesday. I say as I head towards the house.

Everything seems to get more awkward. "Well, I guess

I will go unpack."

Just then, my stomach rumbles slightly. I also need to get some dinner, I say to myself.

After what seems like hours, I finally lay down on my new bed, and I am consumed by sleep.

I wake up holding my pillow tightly, I can’t believe I’ve had a dream of Raphael, especially after only just having met him. It all felt so real. I am even wet and feel like I need to take a shower.

After getting cleaned up, I start checking the house, the doors, and the windows. I can’t shake the feeling that someone is here with me. After checking, I try to ignore the feeling and decide to have some breakfast. I decide on some fruits I brought with me and make a mental note to buy some groceries.

After cleaning up the morning dishes, I finally make it outside and notice how beautiful the gardens are. There are many areas filled with different flowers and shrubs, all of them distinct and beautiful. I can’t help but feel in awe of the spectacular view as I wander around the property. As I trip over something, I’m brought back to reality. It’s a carcass of something. I can’t tell exactly what it was. I took a picture of it in hopes that, maybe Raphael can tell me what it is when I see him on Wednesday.

Where in the world am I? I say to myself as I put my phone back into my pocket. I can’t believe I went this far. It didn’t seem as if I had walked that far. I start to head back in the same direction I think I came from. After what seems like hours, I’m finally home.

Deciding I’m not as tired as I thought I should be, I grab my car keys and head out to buy groceries. Shopping for one was quick and I was back at the house in about an hour.

I look around to see if Raphael is about, but no luck. I remember that he will be here Wednesday. Making my way into the kitchen, I start unloading the groceries. Looking at the clock, I realize it’s too late to do anything else outside. Maybe I’ll just make dinner and relax.

I make a note to myself that I will start cleaning and organizing the house tomorrow. For dinner, I decide to make spaghetti with jarred sauce. After it’s done, I sit and eat in peace.

I begin to think about last night’s dream; it’s been on my mind all day.

How can a dream really feel this real when I have only just met him?

With the dishes washed and put away, I decide to watch some television for a few hours. Realizing how late it’s getting, I head upstairs to get ready for bed.

Dressed, I crawl in and pull up the covers. As my head hits the pillow, I fall into a deep slumber. I’m dreaming of Raphael again, and it seems so real. I can feel him watching me, caressing me. Why?

I awaken to reality by the sound of a lawnmower. Getting up groggily, I look out the window. I take notice of the dark, muscular guy with a nice ass mowing my lawn. Quickly, I realize it’s Raphael. I can’t seem to stop staring at him as the sweat gleams off him. He looks straight at me with a big smile, as if he knew I was watching. He caught me, and I feel my face flush. Again, I remember my dream from the night before.

After getting dressed, I stroll outside with two bottles of water, feeling very confident.

I figured you may be thirsty. I didn’t think you would be here this early. I extend my hand with a water bottle towards Raphael. He stops the lawnmower and looks at me.

Thank you. I just thought I’d get ahead of this grass, it’s getting high and I have other things I need to get done. He grabs the bottle and takes a sip.

So, can I ask you a question. Just a second and let me find it. After a few seconds, my photo app opens, and I show him the screen. I was walking through the woods yesterday and tripped over this. You know what it is? I ask, showing him the photo.

He nods and takes a look. It looks like a wolf. Handing me my cell phone back, he looks at me with a serious expression. Don’t go back into the woods again by yourself. Promise me, if you want to go again you will come get me.

"Ummm, okay. But why, is there something out there I should be afraid

of?"

It’s dangerous; let’s just leave it at that. Okay? He finishes off his bottle

of water and hands it back to me.

Taking the empty bottle from him, I turn to make my way back inside. I will, well, I’m going to go finish the house now.

Alright, is it ok if I stop by tomorrow? I have a few things I would like to tell you, plus I need to check on some plants I just planted.

This piques my interest. Sure, that’s fine. If you come in the morning, I’ll make us breakfast.

Sounds great, see you then. He watched me for a moment as I headed to the house.

As I walk away, I sneak a glance back to see him crank the mower and start mowing again.

Back inside the house, I head upstairs to clean all the sheets, dust all the old the furniture and vacuum all the carpet. Once done with the upstairs, I do the same downstairs. I notice while cleaning, even though the furniture is old, it looks brand new.

Looking at the time, I see it’s dinner time. Only having the library left, I decide to do it after I get something to eat.

Eating alone has never bothered me before, although tonight it’s making me feel lonely. Maybe, it’s because I’m excited about having Raphael here for breakfast tomorrow.

I quickly eat my dinner and head to the library. Even though I’m all moved in, I haven’t explored in there yet. Once the door is open, I can’t help but gasp at how many books are in there. This is going to take me forever to clean and dust all this.

Overwhelmed, I grab a book and settle into a lounge. On the front, it says, ‘A Witch’s Journal.’ I examine the leather feel of the cover and as soon as I open it, I take notice that the book is handwritten.

This is very old I’m assuming, and the first thing it says inside is, 1762, Abygail Olcan.

Wow, same last name.

I read a bit further and find out a person named Carlos killed someone named Michael in the forest. Is that the same location behind my house? What the hell, I need to research this and find out who Carlos and Michael are.

A knock resonates in the house, waking me up in a startle. I stand up quickly, realizing I must have fallen asleep. I don’t remember being that tired. I pick up the book from the floor and head towards the door.

Oh, hi, Raphael. I open the door wider for him to enter. I literally just woke up, breakfast will be in a few. I take the lead and he follows me into the kitchen.

No problem, can I help, ma’am?

I smile at his offer. That would be nice, thank you.

Raphael busies himself preparing the pans and plates. "There are a few things I’d like to talk to