The Ghosts of Oaklawn

Donna F. Phillips

Description

The story is a continuation of the story line of Canaan's Legacy. This book takes place in modern day time and we have the same characters as in Canaan's Legacy but in a different light.

Sujets

• Religious
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: LifeRich Publishing
• Date de parution: 22 février 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781489746603
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The Ghosts of OAKLAWN
 
 
 
 
 
 
DONNA F. PHILLIPS
 
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2023 Donna F. Phillips.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
 
 
LifeRich Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.liferichpublishing.com
844-686-9607
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-4897-4659-7 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4897-4652-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4897-4660-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023902881
 
 
LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 02/14/2023
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to acknowledge her deceased parents for instilling in her and her siblings to try all things and urging them to keep trying to succeed. She would also like to acknowledge her girls for loving her. In addition she would like to acknowledge her best friend for believing in her.
PROLOGUE
In Canaan’s Legacy we were introduced to our characters and the plantation Oaklawn. Now we fast forward to modern day where in Canaan’s Legacy we learned that Carrie’s mother and grandmother have inherited the derelict plantation. They are determined to resurrect this plantation manor and turn it into a bed breakfast. Sit back, relax and be surprised at the events that unfold.
 
C arrie had never been so furious as she was when her mother and grandmother had demanded that she come to Oaklawn immediately, all they wanted us to give her some locket they had found. She was so mad in fact, that she didn’t see the deer that darted across the road, and when tried to correct the turn she had made with the steering wheels, she went off the road and into a cornfield.
Helen and Avery had never been so committed to a project before. Oh, there had been other projects in the past but none of them held the excitement that Oaklawn did. It was a monumental undertaking to get the place renovated after it had sat empty for so many years. Most people would look at it and say it was not worth it and it should be torn down. Sporadically through the past years other distant family members had taken up residence in the old place but to look at it now, you would never know it. The place still looked as if the civil war had just ended, and the plantation family had just left it. Of course, time had left its mark, but Helen and Avery had such a longing to see the plantation brought back to its former glory, perhaps because it was their heritage.
They had gone through the entire house, quickly perusing each room to see what needed to be done. They both decided that they would start with the kitchen, after all wasn’t it said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. The kitchen was huge by today’s standards, and back in the day there would be up to three or four slave women working in it. Avery took a notebook and began to sketch the space, measuring as she went. After some time, she had a temporary layout that she showed to her mother. Suddenly the two of them stopped discussing the plan and just stood staring at each other, both of them feeling a coolness surrounding them. The feeling left almost as soon as it had come and they went on discussing the plan. Neither of them knew what to say about the feeling so they dismissed it. The plan was basically good with industrial size ovens, range, refrigerators and dishwasher to accommodate the bed and breakfast guests. They left the kitchen to explore the pantry area where they found jars of home canned vegetables and fruit. These would all have to be discarded but they were interesting. Then they found the little room off the kitchen and again, the coolness descended upon them. It was as if something or someone was saying “this is my area”. It was not a scary or foreboding feeling but nonetheless it was a feeling. They did not know how they would use this little room.
They checked and found that there was an ample supply of china dishes with the Oaklawn crest on it. The silverware however was severely tarnished and there was not very much of it so they made a note to order stainless flatware. Glassware would have to be ordered also and of course they would order it with the Oaklawn crest on it. As they left the kitchen the coolness descended upon them again and they looked at each other in puzzlement and yet they didn’t voice it.
As they went from the kitchen into the dining room, they both stopped dead still. The sound of someone walking was very evident to both of them. Who could it be? They had not summonsed any work men to come today. So, they stood still, listening with intent ears for more of the sound. The sound seemed to fade, and they once again took a breath and looked at each other, the look a questioning one.
“I know that we heard the footsteps, but there is no one here but us. I guess it was just our imagination.” Avery said.
“It was so real, I don’t know how it could have been our imagination.” Helen countered.
“Oh well, let’s forget about it and go on with our work.”
They walked around the dining room, touching the velvet curtains that were covered with dust. Note taken that they would have to be cleaned or replaced. Surely the latter would be the case as these draperies were at least one hundred and fifty years old. They sure didn’t look that old and it left Helen and Avery wondering how they could still be hanging. They were surely dry rotted after all these years. The looked at the dining table with a runner down the center. They lifted the runner, and it was obvious that the light had affected the table. Basically, the table was in good shape with minimal scratches and the finish difference. They would have to have the top of the table refinished – another note made. The chairs were in good shape but the cushions were loaded with dust so they would need to be recovered to match the draperies. The buffet was in better shape than the table. They opened each drawer and door, but they did not reveal anything except more table runners and linen napkins of various colors. Touching them they seemed to be in good shape but of course they would need to be laundered. But how could they be in good shape as old as they were. The more they looked at stuff the more confused they became. The floors and the wood paneling of the room seemed to have some burn marks on them, and it seemed to Helen that she had heard that part of the house had been set on fire by the Union soldiers. Another note to have the floor and paneling refinished. They both looked up at the same time and noted that the chandelier was missing, and they wondered what had happened to it. They would have to replace it, perhaps they could find one at an antique store.
As they started to leave the dining room, they once again heard the footsteps and they seemed to be coming from the foyer. “Ok, this is ridiculous, I know there is no one here but us.” Avery said.
“Well, let’s just see what the noise is.” Helen told her as she stepped from the dining room into the foyer. Avery was close behind her. The light was streaming into the area from the windows on each side of the double doors. Even though the windows were extremely dirty the light streamed through and made all kinds of pattens on the wood floor. They both just stood taking in the sight and basking in the light shed around them. “I wonder . . . “ Helen offered. “I wonder, I mean I know that back in the day they had a slave that served as a butler. Seems like someone said his name was George. Do you think. . . it could be his footsteps?”
“Oh Mother, seriously. What are you saying that his ghost is here in this house?” Avery questioned.
“Well, I have heard of such things, there are all kinds of shows on the television about the paranormal sightings. You never know.”
“You have been watching too much TV.” Avery told her.
“You can’t deny the odd feeling in the kitchen and now this. Maybe the house is haunted. Maybe that’s why no one stayed in the house very long. Perhaps each occupant was run off by spirits.”
“Then what makes you think that they won’t try to run us off too?” Avery countered. “If your theory is correct then we have already disturbed them.”
“They don’t seem to be upset with us, maybe they sense our goal to make Oaklawn great again.” Helen told her.
“But again, if your theory is true, how will they feel when we have the house full of guests? Won’t they be upset that their domain has been invaded?” Avery asked.
“I don’t know.” Helen told her. “Oh, how silly we are being. I am sure that the sound was just the house creaking or something.”
“Ok. Ok, let’s get out of the house and outside. I think I have had enough for today.” Avery said.
They went out the massive front doors and Avery made another note that the doors would need to be painted. Once they were on the massive wrap around front porch, they looked around them.
“The whole house will need to be painted to make it look like it used too.”
Helen agreed with Avery and they discussed