When the Squeaking Starts...

By Mary Lee Tiernan

When Mr. Carlson buys an old Victorian mansion, he has no idea he's buying a haunted house. His teenaged daughter Sandy, however, quickly discovers something's amiss. At first the incidents can be explained away by the drafts and noises of an old house. But a chilly draft doesn't normally push you backwards over a porch railing.

The ghost story unfolds in two time periods. Chapters alternate between the Carlsons and the former owners whose struggles continue past their deaths. One chapter takes you back to the 1920s and into the lives of Nora and her younger sister Alessandra. In the next chapter, their actions echo through time to manifest themselves in the present.

As the conflict between the two sisters escalates, so does the danger to Sandy. She must find the truth behind these warring ghosts, as she is caught in the middle of their battles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mary Lee Tiernan
• Release date: Jun 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223052067

Mary Lee Tiernan

I was born in New York, but the lure of open spaces brought me west, and I now call Arizona home. Throughout my professional life as an educator and newspaper editor, my passion has always been writing. My other passion is exploring all the West has to offer, and I am often RVing down the road with my cat Charlie.

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When the Squeaking Starts...

by Mary Lee Tiernan

Copyright 2012 Mary Lee Tiernan

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be copied or reproduced in any format without the prior written consent of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents or events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or persons, past or present, is coincidental.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Other Books by the Author

Chapter 1

––––––––

Grabbing a coke from the ice chest on the kitchen counter, Sandy turned to the old wood table and chairs, the only furniture left in the house. Just as she lowered herself into a chair, it was yanked out from beneath her. Damn-it, Danny! she screamed as she fell to the floor. Sticky drops of brown liquid dripped over the edge of the table from the over- turned can into her hair. Yuck! she exclaimed, wiping her hand across her hair and pulling herself to her feet.

What's the matter? her father asked, running in from the backyard.

At the same moment, Danny rushed through the door from the hall. What'd yuh... he began.

He pulled out the chair when I went to sit down, Sandy wailed.

I did not! Danny emphatically denied. Did too.

Did not.

Okay, okay, cut it out, their father demanded. Danny, where were you?

I was just lookin' 'round the house when she yelled, Danny answered defensively.

Sure you were, Sandy retorted. You pulled out the chair then ran...

Stop! Their father walked over to Danny and looked him straight in the eye. Son, he began, did you pull...

I didn't. Really. I wasn't even in the kitchen.

With the exasperation of a teenager who has to put up with an eight-year-old brother, Sandy sighed. Right. The chair moved all by itself.

Her father, knowing this to be one of those unanswerable arguments, turned to face Sandy. Maybe you just missed the chair when you sat down, he soothed. It's happened to me.

I give up. If you're going to believe him and not me... She reached over to the sink, found the sponge, and began to wipe up the coke still dripping to the floor.

Kids, please, their father entreated. I have a lot to check out before I can decide whether to make a bid on this house or not. Try to stay out of each other's hair for a while, okay? Explore around. I really want your opinion about whether or not we should buy this place. Maybe you could go upstairs and figure out which bedroom you'd like for your own if we decide to buy. He looked from one to the other. Slowly, they both nodded agreement.

As their father walked back outside, Sandy threw the soaked sponge into the sink and the can into the garbage. Then she turned to her brother who still stood in the doorway. Okay, she said, let's go upstairs and look at the bedrooms. She paused and grabbed his shoulder, But if you ever pull that stunt again...

Danny wrestled out of her grasp. You're always blamin' me for everything, he rebutted and stomped away toward the staircase.

Sandy followed behind. You want to be in the front of the house or the back?

How do I know till I look?

They reached the second floor and began peering through doorways. The first room opened onto the front of the house. Wow, this is big. Bet Dad will want this one. Danny looked up at his sister for her opinion.

I think you're right. Let's keep looking.

A second room, much smaller, didn't impress either one of them.

Opening the third door, Sandy felt a shiver of pleasure. I think I'm going to like this one, she stated with assurance.

How'd yuh know? Yuh haven't even seen it.

The door opened wide and they entered. It's twice the size of my old one, she said looking around. A pair of French doors on the opposite wall caught her attention. Hey, look. She ran across the room and threw open the doors. A large porch extended from the room. This is perfect, she said. And during the day, that big tree will shade this end...

Her brother didn't hear the rest. Figuring his sister had already claimed this room, he was anxious to find his own and left.

Sandy dreamily walked around the porch. How neat to have a room and a porch all her own! The warm sun beat down on her. As she neared the far end of the porch overlooking a stone patio, a chill passed through her. Startled, she looked back toward the tree, but its still branches defied any possibility of a cool wind. Weird, she thought.

From inside the house, her brother summoned her. Sandy, come 'ere. Look. I found my room.

She found her brother in a room down the hall at the back of the house. He was racing back and forth, pointing and yelling. You can see the whole backyard from here, he said pointing out the window. Look, I can put my bed here. He bounded back across the room. And my bookshelves here. Running past her, he continued, And my desk here.

She reached out and snatched him. Whoa, slow down. You'll wear out the floor. She smiled at his enthusiasm and tousled his hair. I'll help you fix it up, if you want.

He smiled back, but brushed her hand away. Promise?

Promise.

He looked at her beseechingly, wanting her to believe. Yuh know, Sandy, I really didn't pull out the chair. Really.

A sarcastic remark popped to her lips, but she held it back seeing the plea in his eyes. Promise?

Promise.

Kids, where are you? their father's voice called from the top of the staircase.

Back here, Dad.

When he appeared in the doorway a minute later, Danny resumed his spiral race around the room. Look, Dad, I can put my bed here, and over there my desk, and...

His father laughed. Hey, slow down. I haven't even decided whether or not to buy the house yet.

And look, Dad, Danny added pulling his father into the hall. I got my own stairs down to the kitchen.

Are you telling me your vote is a 'yes'? Yeah, I like this room. Can I have it?

Okay with me if we buy. Mr. Carlson turned to Sandy. How about you? You pick a room too?

Down the hall. Come see. Sandy led him around the corner and down the hall. Isn't this neat? Running across to the French doors, she stepped outside. Look, it's even got its own porch. She advanced farther outside as her father crossed the room.

Hold on, he warned. Don't go too near that railing until I check whether it's safe.

Sandy stopped. A waft of warm air circled around her, and she smiled from its gentle caress. Her father, meanwhile, inspected the porch railing. Looks okay for now, he decided. But don't lean against it or sit on it till I have a chance to really inspect it, okay?

Okay.

They stepped back inside to discover Danny pulling open a door. Look, he announced. There's even a bathroom.

A bathroom? Sandy rushed across the room. My own bathroom? Oh, this is too good to be true. She peered inside. The white tiled bathroom reflected the taste of another era: an old tub complete with clawed feet, a pedestal sink, and a chain dangling from the overhead tank of the toilet. And it was plenty big enough to add a dressing table and chair.

This is weird, Danny decided.

This is charming, Sandy corrected. She could envision soft pink towels hanging over the racks and a pink rug covering the tile to keep her feet warm as she stepped from the tub.

Interesting. This hasn't been modernized at all like the other bathrooms. It'll be expensive to remodel.

Dad, I like it just like this.

Still have to update the plumbing. He mentally calculated the cost  and added it to the  growing  sum for needed repairs. Do I take it this is a 'yes' vote from you too?

Sure is, Sandy grinned.

And what about my room? he teased.

We left the big one in the front for you, Danny said solemnly. Come see.

The three proceeded toward the front bedroom. This is big, Mr. Carlson agreed. Unusually big. I wonder if it was originally two rooms. The carpenter in him guided him to the wall midway down the room. He brushed his hand across the wall, then lifted his gaze up, across the ceiling, and down the far wall. Then, noticing another door farther down the wall, he concluded, Yup, originally was two rooms.

Do you like it? Danny asked.

Sure do. Let's head back to the kitchen for a family powwow.

Once settled around the kitchen table, Mr. Carlson said, Kids, I've loved this house for years. We'd never be able to afford to buy it, if I couldn't do most of the repairs myself. But even then, it'll take money. I think I can swing it, but it'll mean that things will be tight for a while. He looked from eager face to eager face hoping they really understood. Are you willing to forego extra money for movies and cokes for a while? They both nodded in agreement.

I'll even help you, Danny offered. I can do lots of stuff.

Mr. Carlson smiled at his son. I'll remind you that you said that, he teased. Then his face grew serious again. There's one more thing.

You mean the stories? Sandy asked.

Yes. Like any old place, this house has a history. Miss Menteuse was a recluse, so naturally people gossiped, and gossip...

But, Dad, they don't really say anything bad about her, Sandy interrupted. Just that her younger sister died and she got weird after that.

Upstairs a door slammed shut. The unexpected noise startled them. Must have a draft somewhere, their father said.

Maybe it's a ghost, Danny suggested, his eyes open wide.

Sorry, Son, but I don't think we're buying a ghost. It's natural for old houses to have drafts and noises. You'll get used to them. Most of them will disappear, anyway, when I get the place fixed up. Again he paused to look from face to face. Think we should decide now or sleep on it?

Let's buy it, Danny said. Me and my friends want to climb all those trees.

Mr. Carlson wished