Eliza Haskill

By A. Craig Newman

Eliza was only coming to Jasper, Florida to get married. Encounters with ghosts and taking up a mission were not in her plan. But life - and afterlife - can be funny. Plans change. She adapts and follows her heart. Her spirit. The spirit. The spirit that is pulling her back into the Black Leaf Forest.....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Notorious Newmans, LLC
• Release date: Oct 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215804667

A. Craig Newman

A. Craig Newman is a New Jersey native who has been writing since he was 10. He recently received his Masters in Creative writing from Wilkes University. Craig plans to work on his backlog of story ideas for short stories, screenplays, stage plays, and poetry until he finds his voice and his place in the writing world.

Book preview

SOULS OF THE BLACK LEAF FOREST

A. Craig Newman

Copyright © 2021 Published by Notorious Newmans, LLC at Smashwords

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN 9781737093053

To my mother, who inspired and encouraged my imagination, my faith, and my love of old westerns.

Thank you for downloading Modern Myths and Fairy Tales. If you enjoyed it, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer.

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Thank you for your support.

About the Author

A. Craig Newman has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing, was a co-writer on the short film thriller, Defective, and has stories and blogs published with HorrorAddicts.net. He also performs stand-up comedy on occasion and hosts trivia online as part of the Notorious Newmans. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife, son, two dogs, and three cats.

Connect with Craig

Website: www.acraignewman.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ACraigNewman

Twitter: @ACraigNewman

Instagram: ACraigNewman

Facebook Fan Group, Craig’s Crowd: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CraigsCrowd

Email: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Eliza Haskill

Eliza Haskill

June 15, 1875

Eliza looked out her bedroom window across her father's fields. Livestock lowed and grazed, moving calmly and casually. There was no harm or threat to their future. Tomorrow would be the same as yesterday - roaming, eating, shitting, sleeping, and mating - until the day they would be sacrificed to the needs of Eliza's father or those of his customers. Complete ignorance of this cycle gave them bliss without urgency. There would always be another day. Until there was not.

Stephen was waiting for her in Jasper. It was a thought as simple and flat in her mind as the dirt on the ground beneath the cattle. Her heart was calm, and her thoughts were steady. She wondered when the shortness of breath and heart flutters would start. If those came with love, where were they now?

Eliza returned to packing her bags. Mother sat by the window and watched Eliza prepare. There was not much for her to take, but Eliza wanted everything to be as perfect as she could make it. She paused to survey the bags on the bed and the garments they contained. She did not have a vast array of dresses, but they were meticulously maintained, making them more precious to the owner. No holes or even worn spots, though they were a bit faded.

You should take some cloth, her mother said after moments of silence.

What for?

To make new dresses. These won't last long.

Eliza smiled at her mother's concern. I'll buy more cloth when I get to Jasper.

You won't have enough money.

Eliza sat next to her mother. We'll have plenty of money.

Yes, but you won't. All the money will be his.

It'll be ours, mama.

Her father walked into the room,