Once more Joe settled into his snug cocoon in the barn as Jack and the cats made it their business to join him. Though he was exhausted from all the work caring for his new family, he felt encouraged. That boy was smart. He mimicked Joe at his work and was picking up words way faster than Anna. He was putting a couple of words together now and used cat, dog, cow, milk, eat, pig and half a dozen other useful words, including damn. He’d even walked up on Joe pissing behind the pigsty and worked at getting his own little doodle out to give it a try. That would sure help with some of them diapers.
Even though Anna still looked down when he looked at her, he’d caught her looking his way a few times. She drew back from his touch and certainly hadn’t given any indication she wanted him in her bed. But she had two children! Surely she’d warm up. She knew a wife’s duty.
Deep in his thoughts, the howling of coyotes brought him out of his reverie. Jack went wild lunging at the barn doors as the terrified cats scattered. What in the Hell were coyotes doing this close? They normally shied away from a place with a dog. Maybe they’d gotten brave with Jack in the barn the last few nights. The”d probably jumped a rabbit, but he’d better have a look. Getting his lantern off the hook, he lit it outdoors. Jack was way ahead of him chasing the coyotes from the grove of mesquites he’d been avoiding, the place he’d buried Anna. He’d been avoiding thinking about that grave.
The coyotes were long gone but Jack ignored his call, digging and growling. Though he’d have preferred waiting for daylight, he thought he’d best see what had Jack stirred up. The smell of death overwhelmed him as he neared the trees and was sickened to see Jack pulling a long bone from the grave. He wretched and dropped to his knees as he realized the coyotes had dug up his dead wife.
God in Heaven! If she was in the grave, who was in the house?
Haaaa, it must be her ghost. Let the terrors begin
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would have been a great idea.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness!!! Have a Happy thanksgiving girl!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just caught up on your dark saga. Oh my. You have me hooked for sure now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am loving this one.
LikeLike
all righty then…
LikeLike
Chilling! It’s getting better….!!
LikeLike
I hope it doesn’t lose steam.
LikeLike
No, it won’t – you’re doing good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought this might be true but put it all behind until now! Wow this is amazing and cliff hangers all around
LikeLike
Hoped it would fly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well… This is an interesting turn of events. 😀
LikeLike
It was her twin sister that his wife hadn’t mentioned. Gotcha. We have a similar story where I live in Canada.
LikeLike
Nope!
LikeLike
This is such a wild story, I can’t wait to find our what happens next!
LikeLike
I hoped I’d hook folks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my…what the #@!*&. ☺
p.s. Check the end of your post…an extra phrase there ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got it. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was pretty suspicious of this….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Their were lots of clues.
LikeLike
Nice twist ! Had me sucked in 🙂
LikeLike
Good. I didn’t know if it would fly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Macabre, yes, but still a good twist
LikeLike
I don’t want to run this off the rails.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wasn’t that convinced as to who she was, but now I’m totally intrigued.
LikeLike
That’s good.
LikeLike
I was wondering about the dead wife. I wondered how the live woman had so many bruises, etc. This is a real mystery. At least she’s not a zombie. I’m waiting for the next part. That was a great red herring, Linda. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
I hate zombie stuff.
LikeLike
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Shocker! Well done!!!
LikeLike
Glad I got you.
LikeLike
Eww, pulling a bone out of the grave, gives me chills! Well done😳😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was hoping it would.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Succeeded!😂
LikeLike
Oooh! Who is this mystery woman?!
LikeLike
Tomorrow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look forward to reading that 🙂
LikeLike