The Haunting of White Horse Inn
by
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Chapter 1
“Mother, 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. .
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. 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. 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.”
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.” Chapter 2
We left early on Saturday and began the hour drive to Glencoe Landings. The day was beautiful, and 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. 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 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.
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About the Book
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 pre–Civil 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 doesn’t believe in ghosts—but there is no logical explanation for the frequent noises and lights. A later discovery of a secret tunnel adds to Linda’s anxiety. Did she make the right decision? Has she placed herself and Amy in danger?”
About the Author
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.