The Haunting of the Mountain (Mountain Men of Whispering Winds #9)

5. Kyla

Chapter 5

Kyla

When Stone mentioned trying something outside our comfort zones, I thought he meant a kiss. It looked like he was going to kiss me, and I wanted him to. I still do.

Nell’s right. There’s something off about this town. There’s no way I could fall this fast for someone I hardly know, but everything feels so effortless. I glance at Stone walking next to me and then laugh.

“Not fearsome enough?”

“Oh, no. I’d be scared if we crossed paths in a dark alleyway.”

I’d hoped for a kiss but we got our faces painted instead. Oh, well. Watching Stone sitting next to a toddler as they were both transformed into black cats made up for it.

“Probably right.”

But the truth is that the only thing scary about Stone is how much I like him.

“I’m beginning to wonder if this town has a library.”

I swear we’ve been wandering around for an hour. Whenever I’d ask him if we were close, he’d give a vague answer. I’m not sure he knows where the library is, and I’m questioning if the history he’s been spinning is accurate. He might be pulling my leg or embellishing it because he’s making Whispering Winds sound like the world’s most haunted town.

“Right there,” he says, pointing to what looks like an old church.

“I swear we passed that before.”

“Used to be the town’s church,” Stone says, neglecting to address my concern.

Not that it matters. I enjoyed the walk, learning all about his guide business and the now-suspect history.

“It’s gorgeous,” I say, turning my attention back to the church.

Although much of the library is hidden behind greenery, the intricate stonework is breathtaking. I’m used to squat, basic brick libraries. Nothing special. If I lived closer to one like this, with the long gabled roof, steeple, and stained glass galore, I’d be there every day.

A few moments later, we finally make it to the library. It’s even more impressive close up. The main walkway to the entrance is flanked by evergreen shrubs covered in white spider webs. Pumpkins decorate the steps on the way to the entrance, which is flanked with more bales of hay, one of which has been turned into a giant spider.

“What’s the town’s budget for holiday decorations?” I ask as we pass by a couple of scarecrows on either side of the walkway.

“Limitless. Most of it is donated by the town, anyway. The pumpkins, the hay bales?—”

“The corn dolls.”

Stone laughs. “The corn dolls, too. Although those are new to me.”

“You got rid of it, right?”

Stone seems to falter but recovers quickly. “Buried it this morning.”

My eyes flare. “You know that thing is going to come crawling out of the ground and kill us while we sleep, right?”

“Think those are zombies.”

“Or cursed corn dolls.”

“Possibly,” Stone says, placing his hand on the small of my back.

I can hardly breathe as he guides me up the stone steps to the main entrance to the library.

“Here we are,” he says, pushing the door open for me.

I’m struck with warm air and the comforting smell of old books, sugar, and cinnamon. When I see the table set out with apple cider, donuts, and— sigh— corn dolls, it makes sense.

“Seriously, Stone,” I whisper to him as I tug him to my level. “ What is with the corn dolls?”

“No idea but it’s becoming a little concerning, I’ll give you that.”

“Apple cider?” the young woman dressed as Dorothy asks us brightly. “Made fresh this morning.”

“I’d love some.”

I translate Stone’s grunts for the woman. A few moments later she hands us our drinks. “There’s a presentation on making corn dolls in five minutes if you’d like to join.”

“Ah, maybe next time,” I say, taking a sip and then a gulp because it’s so good.

“Are you sure?” Stone asks, giving me a gentle nudge as we head for the circulation counter. “Might be instructive.”

I snort. “How so?”

“Didn’t want to bring this up earlier, but when I was burying that corn doll, I swear it growled at me. I wonder if they might address the proper handling and disposal. Curse removal,” he adds, whispering.

I laugh but when I see his face, I’m not sure he’s joking. The sweet apple cider turns sour in my stomach. Sure, they’re creepy, but cursed? Possessed? They were made by a little girl in elementary school, not the Blair Witch.

“Yeah,” Stone says, rubbing his beard. “Just hearing things.”

I take another sip of my cider, finishing it right as we make it to the circulation counter. It’s large and imposing in comparison to the librarian behind it, staring happily at us.

“Hi,” she chirps, glancing between us. “Can I help you find anything? Love the face paint,” she adds, eyes darting between Stone and me.

“Thanks. It was his idea,” I say nodding to Stone.

“Think you might be the biggest cat I’ve seen.”

He smiles. “I’ve seen bigger on the mountain.”

Her eyes flare, and for a moment, heat rises in my chest. Calm. Down. Stop being so possessive. I clear my throat, and she turns back to me.

“I’m looking for something on the history of Whispering Winds. Maybe stuff about local legends. Something about the old abandoned lumber mill?”

“Looking for something spooky?”

“Yes. Anything about hauntings or strange things in the area would be wonderful.”

She starts hammering away at the keyboard, looking at the screen as she hums to herself. “There’s a history of Whispering Winds… checked out. But…” she says, drawing it out as she types. “We have all of the Windy Post periodicals and other local newspapers on microfilm. “Oh,” she says abruptly. “I just remembered.” She continues hammering away on her keyboard for a few more seconds. “We have a book on cryptids. New this week from a local author. It should have plenty of information about Whispering Winds in there. I’ll grab it from the back and hold it for you until you’re ready to check out.”

A new book on cryptids? Count me in.

“Great! Where are the microfilms?”

“Basement.” She gestures behind us. “Right behind the corn doll presentation.”

I cringe at their mention, Stone places his hand on the nape of my neck and squeezes. It sends a full-on shiver through my body.

“Do you need help working the machines?”

“No, I have some experience with them.”

She smiles and then glances briefly at Stone. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

We excuse ourselves, and I can’t help but notice Stone’s hand is still on me. It’s heavy and warm and comforting, and I refuse to speak on the off chance Stone realizes what he’s doing. But it only lasts a few more seconds.

“I need to use the restroom,” he says, “I’ll meet you down there.”

I glance at the dimly lit stairwell and then back at Stone. “Yeah, I’ll just stroll into this creepy old basement all alone.”

Stone laughs, placing his hand on me again, this time right between my shoulder blades. It’s light but enough to suck the air right out of my lungs “It’s not as spooky as it looks. I’ve been down there plenty of times as a kid. Only saw a ghost once.”

He starts rubbing my back gently, and I’m having a hell of a time concentrating. “Was it the old lumberjack?”

He shakes his head as his hand works magic. “It was a cat.”

I laugh.“That makes me feel a little better. I wouldn’t mind spotting a spectral kitten. Are you sure it was a ghost?”

He pulls away as he steps backward. “Only service animals are allowed inside. Also, it walked through a wall.”

I’m almost certain that he’s making it up, but even if it’s a joke, I’m finding it a bit easier to descend the stone steps. But that feeling fades when I find out I’m probably the only person down here. No one’s at the tables in the main area, and the long rows of stacks are dark. As I follow the signs to the microfilms, the overhead lights click on.

If ghosts haunt this library, I’m sure they’re down here. This is where those rarely used books I’m drawn to hang out. Stuff about myths and folklore. Things that go bump in the night.

Once I make it to the microfilm area, I reach into my bag and grab my camera. I don’t need much footage—a quick check-in to show the spook factor of this basement.

“I survived the night,” I say, sighing at the camera. “I think you guys saw the close call I had with that late-night visitor…”

I catch my audience up with what has happened since my last check-in before diving into what brings me to a dark, spooky basement.

“I’m at the Whispering Winds Library to investigate the local lore. Unfortunately, their main history book has been checked out so I’ll be scouring their newspapers on…” I grab the camera and pan it to the machines. “Microfilm. Just like the movies. I swear I feel like some amazing researcher when I pull out a reel and turn those dials. And in a place like this?” I pan the camera around me, showing the basement level of the library. “I have no doubt I’ll find something spooky.”

I hear footsteps and the sound of overhead lights clicking on. At first, they’re far away, a muted thud, but as they move closer they’re accompanied by a sharp jangle of metal.

“It’s probably Stone,” I say, but I know the truth. The footsteps are too light. “I’ll go ahead and leave this on… just in case.”

My mind is racing as fast as my heart. A part of me wants to glance around the corner. The other part of me wants to stay alive, so I stay put.

The lights stop turning on, but then I hear more footsteps. They’re moving away, and I feel the heaviness in my chest lessen. They’re looking for a book in the stacks—that’s all this is. I’m in a public library. People look for books. I’m not the only one here.

I sigh, turning my attention to the cabinets behind me. I should start researching if I want to find something useful for tonight’s ghost hunt.

I’m hoping to explore the old lumber mill, but it seems like Stone is a little hesitant. It’s been abandoned for so long that it’s likely a health risk. But unless he comes up with some other options, I’m not sure another night at his cabin will be fruitful. Not for ghosts, at least.

My body lights up. My mind swirls with thoughts I’ve tried to suppress. Thoughts of Stone tearing off his flannel, lifting me off the ground, and carrying me to bed. All those muscles. All that hair. His thick— slam!

I jolt out of my reverie and turn to see a scowling man in coveralls next to me.

“Heard you’as lookin’ fer a book.”

Was that English? I can hardly make out what he’s saying because his voice is so guttural. I know I’m not the best at English, but I’m pretty sure that book only has one syllable.

“What?”

He grabs a book from the metal cabinet and offers it to me.

“History ah Whisperin’ Winds. S’all here.”

“Okay…” I say, grabbing it as I keep quiet and try not to get myself gutted like a fish in the basement of a library by the creepiest man I’ve ever seen. “Thanks.”

He sucks at his teeth, all yellowed and haggard, the perfect compliment to his rough appearance. Long scraggly hair hangs in greasy clumps around a patchy beard. I don’t remember it raining but the man looks soggy and wilting. And I think it has been a few days or weeks since his last shower based on his strange odor.

My gaze drops to his name tag. Vernon or something like it. It’s hard to make out the cursive on his old and frayed coveralls. He makes a throaty sound like he’s about to cough up some phlegm as he leans against the cabinet.

“Thanks?” I say again, still not sure what else this man wants.

He grunts, his dark, bottomless eyes chilling me to the core. It feels like he’s been staring at me for an eternity. Finally, he turns around and leaves me alone, but I doubt I’ll be washing off this creepy feeling any time soon.

I mouth WTF to the camera once I feel like he’s far enough away. But when I pick it up, the battery is completely drained. I charged it this morning. It was full power a few minutes ago, I swear.

What in the hell is going on? I turn it around, inspecting it, wondering if I’d somehow damaged it. I’m so focused on troubleshooting, that I don’t even notice Stone until he touches my shoulder.

I shout, jerking my body away like I’ve been struck by cold water in the shower.

“Shit,” Stone says, “I’m sorry.”

I turn around, breathing a sigh of relief when I see his face.

“Didn’t mean to spook you.” He’s genuinely apologetic, and I feel bad about my reaction. After a few deep breaths, I pull out a chair and take a seat, exhaling long and slow.

“I know. I’m a little on edge after my run-in with the resident creepy janitor.”

“Janitor?”

“Yeah, the pale, thin dude in blue coveralls. Gray hair and black eyes. Looked like he’d hopped in a vat of canola oil. Reminded me of the skeleton from Tales from the Crypt."

Stone stares at me blankly, shifting into concern as he walks toward me. “Must have missed him. Haven’t seen anyone else down here, except for a few people at the tables by the stairs.”

“He was just there.” It comes out in a soft breath, and I’m talking mostly to myself, but then Stone moves into action.

“I’ll check it out. Did he hurt you?”

“No,” I say, grabbing his hand. “Nothing like that. It was… weird. That’s all. I wasn’t expecting it”

Stone strokes the top of my hand with his thumb, and I start to regain some of the warmth I’d lost. I glance up at his eyes, and then briefly at his lips, aching for the one thing that would make me sizzle.

“What did he want?”

His thumb is still working circles against the back of my hand as I try to concentrate. “Who? What?”

Stone presses the back of his hand against my forehead. “Are you feeling okay? Should we go home? I can make you some soup. Something hearty to?—”

The rest of his sentence disappears as my mind focuses on a single word. Home. It’s what being with Stone feels like.

“I’m fine. Promise. I won’t say no to your cooking though.” I glance at the cabinet next to Stone. “He brought me the book about Whispering Winds. Guess they had another copy after all.”

Stone follows my gaze and then reaches for the book without letting go of my hand.

“Well-worn,” he says, inspecting it in his hand. “Doesn’t have a call number or plastic cover.”

I grab the book, momentarily regretting it because Stone’s hand is no longer touching me.

“Did he give me a personal copy?” I breathe, running my hand over the cloth cover.

“Could be,” Stone rasps, scratching his head. “It’s strange.”

That’s a word for it. “And that’s not the only thing. My camera was full battery, but died sometime after he approached me.”

“Did you run into an apparition?”

The man has done his research…

“I doubt it. I bet we could find him if we looked around for a little bit.”

“Do you want to?”

I open my mouth but then pause. “I’d rather get out of here. I want to dive into these books before the lumber mill tonight.”

“About that,” Stone begins as he rubs the back of his neck. “Just got off the phone with a buddy of mine. He’s a ranger in the area who knows all about the historical sites.” He pauses, and I can’t help but feel the nervous tension emanating from him. “Afraid it’s been condemned. But,” he adds, “I can take you there, but we can’t go inside.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “Okay,” I say after a few moments. “I don’t mind. I’d like to see it at least once before I go.”

A flash of something flickers across Stone’s features, but he recovers quickly enough.

“Alright,” he says. “He suggested we check out the old grist mill too. It’s not far from the lumber mill. He said some people have heard voices there. Seen some apparitions too. Might be a good place to check out.”

I can’t help but smile. “That would be great.” The truth is I don’t really care where we go. I just want to spend more time with Stone.

“Thanks,” I say.

“For what?”

“Everything. You didn’t have to join me on any of this. You didn’t have to help me, especially after I tossed my Ouija board at you.”

“Still stings,” he says, smiling as he rubs his chest.

“I could fix it up for you when we get back to the cabin.”

Kiss it better.

“Are you saying you want to look at my chest?”

Tingles radiate around my head and then down my neck, settling in my chest.

“I’m not not saying it. It’s only fair after you took care of my leg.”

“How is it?”

“Much better.” A few moments later I add, “Although I wouldn’t mind if you looked at it again.”

Stone closes the gap between us before I have the chance to react. He cups my jawline, thumbs across my cheeks, and for the first time, I see flames surface in his eyes. I feel heat scorching between us as he presses his body against mine.

“I’d love to…” Stone rasps, his eyes dipping to my lips. “I’d love to,” he repeats as his thumbs stroke my cheeks.

I was freezing a few minutes ago but right now I’m sweating as Stone regards me, something wild in his eyes. I’ve never been looked at this way before. Never been touched like this before. And when his mouth moves closer to mine, I think he’s going to kiss me like I’ve never been kissed before. But then the lights switch on rapidly, and I hear the footfalls of kids racing down the aisle.

Stone brushes my lips with his thumb and leans in. But right before we kiss I hear a chorus of kids crying ew and gross and all sundry of disgust in our direction.

Stone growls at them and they scream, scattering as lights continue to turn on everywhere they run.

“Kids,” he rasps, hands still on me.

“Kids,” I mutter, lips aching for his.

“Should probably get going.”

I want to scream. I want to jump into his arms, wrap myself around him like a damn koala bear and never let him go until he gives me exactly what I want. But rather than do what I want, I say, “Sure.”

But then Stone leans in, hands sliding down my body as he rasps, “Because if I tasted you right now…” His breath is warm against my neck, and my body ignites as his lips brush against my ear and he inhales deeply. “I wouldn’t be able to control myself.” He brushes his nose against me, beard scratching my ear and neck.

Static in my head. Electricity in my body. Tension, tension, tension. I’ve never felt so twisted up as I do right now.

“Stone.” It comes out pleading. Begging for him to put me out of my misery. I’ve wanted him to kiss me for so long. Needed it. And now that I’m inches from his lips, I don’t want him to stop.

His hands thread through my hair, gripping and pulling, tugging my head back as I gasp, parting my lips for him. I hardly recognize Stone the way he’s looking at me. Animalistic. Primal. A beast circling his prey.

Do it. Do it. DO IT!

His lips close in, dipping just before they touch mine. They connect with my neck and my body goes haywire as my fingers claw at his back.

His moans drive me wild and I want to push his lips higher, but before I have the chance, a girl shrieks while another one screeches, “Vampire! Giant vampire!”

“And you’re next,” Stone growls, as the kids shriek again, racing down the aisle away from us.

“Guess we better leave,” he says. “I’d prefer not to be placed on the banned list.”

I want to laugh but I can’t. My body is too wired.

A few seconds later, he’s whisking me back up the steps to the main level, but my mind and the rest of my body are still in the basement.