The House on Serpent Lake (Ghost, Romance, Fantasy) Read online

  A sharp whistle sounded from the lake, and she watched a man in the water gesture to several teenage swimmers. He pointed to a wooden raft bobbing in the water a few feet beyond the shore. When he blew the whistle again, the teens raced to the raft. The young people had their entire lives ahead of them, Lindsay thought, wondering about their dreams, the goals.

  “Excuse me,” a male voice said, interrupting her thoughts, the warm velvet tone causing her heart to nearly stop. Galen’s voice.

  She looked up. He stood in the glare of the sun, and all she could see was a dark outline. But it was enough. Galen.

  Her mouth went dry. How was that possible?

  She scrambled to her feet and stumbled. When he helped her and she got a good look at him, she could only stare. Except for his darker hair color and, she noticed, his slightly shorter height, he could be an older Galen.

  When he smiled, she began to cry.

  “Hey, I’m sorry,” he said, searching her eyes, concern in his expression. “Anything I can do to help?”

  She wiped her tears. “I just lost someone dear. You made me think of him.”

  “Oh. If you’re okay, I won’t intrude any longer.” He turned to walk back to his RV.

  She hesitated only a moment before she ran after him. “What were you going to ask?”

  “My name’s Gary, and I’ll be in town for a few days, following up on some genealogy. My sister discovered we had a great uncle, or maybe it’s great-great uncle,” he said, smiling, “who lived here years ago. She talked me into checking it out.”

  Lindsay could barely breathe.

  “I’m sick of fast food,” he went on, “and I was wondering if you knew of a good place to get a decent meal.”

  She smiled. “I do.”

  “You hungry? I know we just met, but can I talk you into joining me?”

  Silently thanking the fates, Lindsay slipped her arm through his. “Let’s go.”

  At three in the morning, a soft breeze wound through Crosby, lifting above rooftops, whispering through trees, fluttering leaves.

  From the north, shimmering waves of the aurora borealis danced across the night sky, undulating in luminous streaks of greens, yellows, and pinks.

  The air stilled.

  Bubbles formed in Serpent Lake in front of the Peterson home. Ripples appeared and spread across the water. With a soft splash, an elongated head rose, gazed in all directions as if surveying its realm, then apparently satisfied, dipped to disappear below the surface. Once more, the lake was calm.

  ###

  Thank you for reading The House on Serpent Lake. I hope you enjoyed it.

  To see Kahnah’bek’s statue in Crosby, CLICK HERE.

  For updates about my new novels, visit my website or blog,

  www.brendahill.com

  http://brendahill.wordpress.com/

  If you like mystery/suspense, please check my other novels:

  With Full Malice

  Secrets worth killing for …

  A paroled sex-offender shot at close range,

  pacts made in hidden chambers …

  Yucaipa, CA, a quiet community in the foothills below Big Bear, hides secrets – extraordinary people, a deadly secret society.

  To what lengths will a desperate person go to protect a loved one?

  Ten Times Guilty:

  A single mother struggles for worth after a vicious attack…a police sergeant seeks redemption for a crime he didn't realize he had committed - until the victim died.

  Beyond the Quiet:

  After twenty-five years of marriage, Lisa Montgomery thinks her husband's death is the worst that can happen. Then she receives a notice about his secret post office box.

  Table of Contents

  Author’s Note

  Acknowledgements

  The Intruder

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thiry-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight