Synopsis: The Cartwrights, a haunted house and a nasty ghostly inhabitant.
Rating: PG (violence & ghostly activity) (8,050 words)
The Brandsters acknowledge that the authors are the owners of their stories. Should an author included in this project reach out to us and indicate they do not wish their work to be archived in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library, we will remove their stories. We would also be happy to change contact information for any authors who wish to continue to have their stories archived in the Library.
Author’s Note: This story is written for entertainment not for profit. This is fiction only and some of the content dealing with the removal of paranormal activity may not be factual but enjoy anyway. I would like to thank my friend Terri a.k.a Wrangler for being my Creative Consultant of this story.
THE ENTITY
The young couple walked arm-in-arm down the moonlit street of Virginia City to the International House. Upon entering the restaurant they were seated at a back table away from most of the regular clientele. The petite lady with dark brown eyes gazed into the brilliant hazel eyes, showing green due to the corduroy jacket, of the handsome man sitting across from her.
“Joseph, I have decided to buy a house,” she announced which caught him completely off guard.
“What?” he asked. “You have a nice room at Mrs. Carter’s boarding house. Why would you want to buy a house?”
“I am tired of living in that small room at the boarding house and teaching my students in the Opera House. And furthermore, Joseph, I have no privacy.”
“Yes you do!” Joe said as his voice intensified.
Anna, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the moment, noticed that some of the patrons had turned their heads in the direction of their table. “Joseph, now do not get upset, people are beginning to stare.”
“I’m not upset.” He lowered his voice.
“Now, darling, would you please listen to me. If I had my own place, I would have a nicely, lighted studio instead of that lonely, secluded room in the Opera House. I would still have my recitals there, but I think my students and especially their parents would rather go to a nice house for their lesson. Also, my dear, we would not have to dine at the International House all the time…I could cook for you. Are you getting the hint, Joseph?” she asked in her sultry, Russian voice.
Joe giggled. “Oh, yes, my darling. We’ll start looking tomorrow.”
“Joseph, we do not have to spend much time looking, because I have already found the house.” Anna smiled and touched him on the face.
“Anna Ravinsky, I should have known.” Joe giggled and kissed her hand.
The next morning, Ben Cartwright and his two older sons, Adam and Hoss, engaged in some light conversation during breakfast while Joe sat quietly and intent thinking of Anna’s revelation the night before.
“Joseph, son, you are not with us this morning. It seems that you are here in body, but the rest of you is far away.”
Joe glanced at his father. “I’m sorry Pa.” Joe continued with his breakfast as Adam and Hoss snickered. “I’m thinking about Anna this morning.”
“Little Brother, your mind is always on the lovely Anna,” Adam reminded him with a sarcastic grin upon his face.
“I can’t help it… I think she’s doing something rather foolish.”
“Now, Joseph, Anna is a very intelligent young lady and what I know of her, she doesn’t do foolish things, like someone else I know,” reminded Ben.
“Our little brother, Joseph,” Hoss laughed and Joe scowled at him.
“Joseph, do you want to discuss this with us or do you want to remain in another world?” Ben questioned as he sensed Joe’s uncertainty.
“Yes, Sir, I do… Anna wants to buy a house and I don’t think it’s a good idea. She already has one in mind right at the edge of town.”
“Joseph, there’s only one house located at the end of town that is available for sale…the old Harper Cottage, Ben replied.
All three Cartwrights glanced at Joe as a look of horror crossed his face. “Oh, my God, not that house…it’s haunted!”
“They say the house is haunted but no one knows for sure.” Ben told Joe trying to calm him.
“Pa, anyone who has stayed in that house has been scared out of their wits because of something lurking in that house,” Joe reminded his father. “Ever since Gerald Harper went insane and murdered his family, it has been haunted. The only one who survived was Bridey Harper and she’s completely off center.”
“Bridey is somewhat eccentric.” added Ben.
“Eccentric Pa?” Joe asked as he became quite agitated. “She’s crazy as a loon! I need to leave for town and try to stop Anna before she buys that house.” Joe jumped from his chair and hurried over to the credenza, grabbed his jacket, holster, and hat then rushed out the front door.
“I wish he would move that fast when I ask him to do chores.” Ben remarked. ” I hope that young lady hasn’t done something she’s going to regret.”
Anna Ravinsky decided to run some errands before her first teaching lesson of the morning. The first item on her agenda would be a visit to Mr. Eliot at the Virginia City Bank to buy the house. After waiting for a few minutes, Mr. Eliot appeared and led her into his office.
“Anna, my dear, how can I help you this morning?” he asked with a pleasant smile.
“I would like to withdraw some of my funds to buy a house. I need to leave the boarding house and find a nicer place to teach my music lessons. The Opera House is always there for my recitals, but it is so secluded and dark, not like a house with some light and openness to it.”
“Anna, I see nothing wrong with your choice. How does Joseph feel about you buying a house?”
Anna’s demeanor stiffened, but she gathered her composure. “Joseph agrees with me and will help me in any way.”
“That’s wonderful, Anna,” Eliot commented. “Do you have a house in mind?”
“Oh, yes, Sir…the old Harper Cottage,” Anna replied quickly.
“Anna, are you sure you want to invest in that house? It’s been sitting a long time and really needs some repairs. I know of another house in town that will be coming up for sale in the next few months that is a much better buy.” Eliot was trying his best to persuade her not to buy the house knowing of its sordid history.
“Oh, no, my mind is made up, Mr. Eliot. I know with the help of Joseph and his family, it will be looking new in no time.”
“Well it’s your money and you have the right to buy whatever you wish. So I will have your withdrawal of funds as soon as I can.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Eliot.”
Joe raced into Virginia City and spotted Anna crossing the street to the Mercantile Store. He reined Cochise to a stop securing her reins to a nearby hitching post and quickly ran into the store. Anna was talking to Grace Harrington, the owner and her best friend when Joe ran to her, grabbing her in his arms and startling her at the same time. All the customers began to stare making both of them uncomfortable.
“Anna, have you bought that house?” asked Joe.
“Yes and no,” she answered. “I am going to buy it.”
“Anna, please don’t buy that house because it’s haunted! Something evil is in that house!”
“Oh…Joseph! Who told you that the Harper Cottage was haunted?” Anna asked slightly perturbed at Joe.
“It doesn’t matter who told me…it’s common knowledge. We need to discuss this somewhere else, not here…too many people are staring at us. See you later Grace.” Joe grabbed a protesting Anna by the arm and led her across the street into the quiet of the Opera House where they continued their conversation.
“Joseph, you are acting silly about this whole matter. I thought we had agreed last night that I would buy the house. Darling, it will be alright…after the house is renovated, the evil ghost or whatever haunts that house will leave. It needs some fresh paint, some repairs and some new furnishings then it will be completely new. No ghost is going to stay in a freshly painted house.”
“The ghost or whatever is in the attic…where Gerald Harper murdered everyone in his family except his youngest daughter, Bridey, who escaped. He is the evil entity haunting that house and he is vicious! Everyone who has lived in that house, has run away so frightened, they left their belongings and vowed never to return. Anna, I love you very much and I don’t want anything happening to you. Please don’t buy that House!”
“Joseph, quit worrying…nothing is going to happen to me and no ghost is going to scare me away from my house. I have the money and I will close the final deal this afternoon.”
“Okay, Anna, you’re bound and determined to do this no matter what I say, but would you please talk to Bridey first.”
“I already have, Joseph…she is the one selling the house.”
Joe looked upward toward the ceiling of the Opera House. “Oh, Lord!”
XXX
Entering the house for the first time was an eye-opener for Anna and all four Cartwrights. It was a complete mess with holes in the plaster and the wooden floors scraped of any finish. No stove existed in the kitchen, probably stolen from the house many years ago. The fireplace suffered from neglect with ashes and soot covering the whole area. To make matters worst, some animals had made the house their home for some time. They had no idea who damaged the ceiling but they had a slight inkling of who might have done it, but no one was saying anything.
A new barn would have to be rebuilt because nothing stood except a worn and rotted shell. Most of the outbuildings would have to be replaced, until Anna decided her house would be the first in Virginia City with a water closet. Luckily, the well had stayed intact with water flowing nicely from an underground spring and so the water closet was inevitable, much to four Cartwright’s dismay. They knew they would not run the pipes in the attic because no one was going up there. After some time, Joe and Adam finally devised a plan of running the pipes under the house disturbing some snakes. They smoked out the snakes and repaired the foundation and luckily, none of the snakes were seen again.
The next few months seemed very busy for Ben Cartwright and his three sons as they busied themselves with not only work on the Ponderosa but the renovations of the newly named Ravinsky Cottage and not the infamous Harper Cottage with its sordid past.
After the final coat of paint was restored to the outside of the house and the picket fence, the cottage was ready for occupancy. All the furniture from Anna’s room in the boarding house and her studio in the Opera House was moved in to the small house. Hoss made sure that the most expensive and heaviest piece, the piano, was moved with out any damage. Now it was time for the celebration.
Anna, Grace, and even Hop Sing worked hard preparing the food for the party. Adam, Hoss, and Joe thought Anna had worked them enough during the renovation of the house, but they were mistaken. She put them to work hanging the lanterns from the porch ceiling and setting up the tables brought from the Ponderosa.
The night had come for the party and Joe arrived first as usual. He met Anna at the front door dressed in his trademark green, corduroy jacket, white shirt, black shoe string tie, and beige pants. He hoisted Anna in his arms and carried her to the settee where she sat in his lap. “Well, my darling, I hate to flatter us Cartwrights, but I think we did a very good job of renovating this old, dilapidated house and even you got some paint on your pretty nose.” He giggled.
“I managed to paint some of the outside and the fences. I agree that you and your family did an excellent job on this house.” Anna kissed him on the forehead.
“I think, Anna girl, I’m going to like this privacy,” Joe said as he kissed her passionately.
“I figured you would come around.” She kissed him again.
“I was wondering if you heard any noises in the past few days?” Joe asked.
“I have been so tired lately…I fall asleep and not know anything until the next morning. Though last night was different… something woke me in the middle of the night. I heard something scurrying across the attic floor, but I figured it was some animal that had managed to find its way inside. So, I went back to sleep.
“Anna, I guess I’ll have to take a look?”
“Now? Why don’t we wait till after the party to venture into the unknown?”
“No…it’s now or never.” He smiled, took Anna by the hand, and they walked to the staircase leading to the attic.
The couple stood at the top of the stairs where Joe placed his hand on the attic door, turning the knob opening the door, slowly. As the door open a putrid smell emerged from inside causing Joe to slam the door shut. A tinge of nausea overcame both of them as the horrible smell dissipated into the air. Anna looked at him with beseeching eyes, but Joe could only shrug his shoulders. He had no clue where the odor had come from except maybe a dead animal. Joe decided he would go back inside, but there was a knock at the front door that stopped him. He would attempt the return to the attic later.
Anna opened the front door to let Joe’s father and brothers inside. The three Cartwrights glanced at Joe standing near the fireplace and could tell immediately something was not right, but they would not bring up the subject unless Joe started the conversation first.
“Mr. Cartwright, Adam, Hoss…I am so glad you are here.” Anna tried not to sound so nervous, but the excitability in her voice did not fool the three men. “Where is Hop Sing…I thought he was coming?”
“Anna, he’s outside unloading something from the wagon and won’t let us near.” Hoss said.
“You know how he is about his culinary delicacies.” retorted Adam.
“Yes, I do.” Anna told them as Joe joined her.
Hop Sing entered the room carrying a picnic basket pile high with food. Anna directed him to the kitchen and they left the four men to themselves. Joe thought he would let his father and brothers know about his and Anna’s experience upstairs in the attic.
“Pa, there is something in that attic and it’s no good. When I opened the attic door, there was the most awful smell coming from within. I didn’t want to frighten Anna and told her it was probably a dead animal.”
“Joe, what did you think it was?” asked a concerned Ben.
“It was neither animal or human…I had never smelled anything like it before in my entire life. There’s something terrible in that attic and I’m worried for Anna’s safety.” Joe said with some nervousness in his voice. “I know I’m going to have to go back up there, because I have to find out what is causing the smell, but I don’t think I’ll go anytime soon.”
“Son, please be careful and don’t go into that attic alone.” Ben warned.
“Little Brother, don’t you do anything stupid that might get yourself hurt.” Hoss smiled knowing his youngest brother’s devil-may-care nature could get him into some serious situations.
“Don’t you worry, Big Brother, I won’t.” Joe remarked.
“Joe…Father McCready may have to be called upon to bless this house since Anna is of the Russian Orthodox religion.” Adam stated. ” Maybe you should wait until he can be found.”
“Father McCready is a busy man and finding him can be an adventure.” Joe smiled. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Anna returned to the parlor where the four Cartwright men were talking as the other guests were arriving. They were soon joined by the presence of the other invited guests. After some small talk, they all went back outside to the table set up in the front yard. The ladies and Hop Sing brought the food to the table and everyone sat down to eat.
Anna tried to be a good hostess, but the trip to the attic with Joe still bothered her and she wondered what would happen after everyone left. She hoped nothing would happen while she had guests. Everything went smooth and the party ended with nothing happening.
Everyone left except for Joe, who decided he would stay with Anna for a while. He was worried about leaving her alone in this house, especially after the incident in the attic. He went into the kitchen and helped her wash and clean the dishes.
“I am spoiling you, Joseph Cartwright.”
“I have ulterior motives, my dear.” Joe kissed her on the back of her neck.
“Joseph, I know this is not very proper, but could you stay with me tonight? I am very frightened by our experience earlier and I would like some company. I have a spare bed in the studio, if you wish to stay.”
“I’ll stay…I didn’t want you to be alone tonight. No telling what the night will bring with our nasty apparition in the attic.”
“I know.”
Joe settled in the comfortable bed in the studio. He pulled the blanket up to his chin staring at the ceiling and waiting for some sound of noise. After about an hour of silence, Joe fell into a deep slumber. He had slept for a long time, when the silence was broken by an unearthly scream. Joe, clad only in his long-john bottoms, rushed in to Anna’s room, finding her shaking in the bed.
“Anna, are you alright?” Joe asked as he held her in his arms trying to stop her trembling.
“Joseph, it was not me…it came from upstairs…listen!” she cried as the sound of footsteps and dragging noises moved about in the attic.
“I have to go up there…I have to see for myself what is the cause of those noises.”
“No…no…no Joseph…please stay here…let’s get some help.” Anna pleaded knowing it would be a futile effort to stop Joe.
“Darling, by the time someone arrives it might be too late!”
“I am going with you and you cannot stop me.”
“Okay…let’s go!” Joe took her by the hand and they ascended the stairs to the attic. The first thing they noticed was the light coming from underneath the door. Joe, once again, pushed on the door as he felt Anna’s death grip of her hands around each arm above the elbow. Joe told her to hold her nose and glad he did because the foul smell was worse than before. Suddenly Joe and Anna were hurled into the room by some enormous force. She screamed as her grip released from Joe and she was thrown against the wall, being held by something. She wanted to help Joe but was unable to move. At the same time, she heard horrible muffled noises that sounded like moaning from different areas of the room. Whatever this thing was…it possessed more power than she or Joe. Joe tried to move but the entity lifted him almost to the ceiling of the attic and let him fall once more. Joe could hear an unearthly laughter as he was thrown against the wall. Although the pain from his body was excruciating, he had to help Anna. He inched his way towards her but the force once again threw him against the wall. Though he was dazed and bloodied, he crawled closer to the entrance of the attic door. Joe called out to Anna but there was no answer. He put all the weight he could against the entity, but it was to no avail. Joe was lifted and tossed into doorframe knocking him unconscious. Both Anna and Joe were thrown out of the room unto the floor of the stair landing.
Joe regained consciousness after several hours trying to discern the people standing over the bed. He felt something cold against his head and realized it was a cold compress over his forehead. He tried to rise but the least effort made him wince in pain. He looked at the man seated next to him and knew it was his father. “Pa…Pa…what happened…where’s Anna?”
“Joseph, son, you had a fight with a ghost and it won!” Ben smiled at his son. “Anna is going to be alright…she’s sleeping.”
“Oh, my God…Pa… it tossed me around that room as if I was a rag doll. It held Anna where she couldn’t move. Every time I tried to move towards her, this thing would throw me against the wall.”
“Joe, you and Anna are lucky that both of you weren’t hurt worse than you are.” Dr. Paul Martin interrupted. “Not only do you have some cracked ribs, but a broken wrist and a dislocated shoulder that I relocated while you were unconscious. To make it worse, you have a fractured ankle and bruises all over your body. Let’s put it bluntly, it a damn miracle that you and Anna survived! This will be an interesting addition to my journal…the first patient I have ever treated that was attacked and beaten by a ghost!”
“Sorry, I can’t help it, I guess…I can’t pick and choose my assailants, Doc.” Joe whimpered as he tried to move. “How about Anna…how bad are her injuries?”
“Nothing compared to your injuries…Joe. Anna has some bruises and she’s going to be very sore, just like you. I’m going to give you a sedative to help you sleep because I don’t know how anyone will sleep in this house with that horrible racket in the attic. Ben you make sure he takes all of this sedative and I’ll be back tomorrow and I know my way out. God be with you all tonight.”
“Thanks Paul. We may need some divine intervention to deal with this problem. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Ben poured the white powder into a glass of water. “Now, Joseph, you are going to take this and go to sleep. You and Anna at least will get some sleep…I certainly don’t know if the rest of us will. That entity or whatever up in that attic has been making the most awful noises I have ever heard since we found you and Anna.”
“Pa…why did you come back?” Joe asked sheepishly, knowing his father was quite perturbed at the moment.
“Fatherly intuition…Joseph…you didn’t return home like you promised, so I was worried. I told your brothers we needed to look for you…we had no idea that you were going to stay overnight. We opened the door and we did not know what to expect because there was the odiferous smell that permeated this whole house. We ran upstairs finding you, half-naked, and Anna crumpled together on the floor unconscious.”
“Pa, what are we going to do about the entity in the attic?” questioned Joe
“I think we need something more powerful than we are,” Ben answered.
“Yea…Pa…Hoss! He has the strength of ten men especially when he’s angry.”
“Joseph, drink this and get some sleep…we’ll discuss this tomorrow if we’re still alive in the morning.” Ben smiled at Joe as he moved his hair away from the wound on his forehead. “Good night, son.”
Adam and Hoss sat quietly during the whole time everyone was taking care of Joe and Anna. Now that Joe finally fell asleep, they knew some action had to take place to rid this house of the entity in the attic.
“Pa, something has to be done about this…Joe and Anna are hurt and whatever it is in the attic, making enough noise to wake the dead, is still up there. Now what are we going to do about it?”
“Adam, I think it’s time to get Father McCready…wherever he is.”
“Dadburnit, Pa, I’ll go upstairs and see what I can do about that thing in the attic.”
“Hoss…no!” Ben snapped at him. “Son, you are a big and powerful man, but I don’t think you are a match for that thing upstairs. I already have one injured son…I don’t want another one. Hoss, you go sit with Anna, while Adam and I will stay with Joseph. Sons, it’s going to be a long night!”
The morning sun streamed through the windows waking Ben Cartwright as he slept in a chair close to his injured son, Joseph. As Adam began to stir from his mostly disturbed sleep, he heard a knock at the front door. Ben told him he would answer the door. He was surprised to see Grace Harrington standing there with a huge basket.
“Benjamin, I heard about last night from Roy. I knew some gentlemen especially Hoss, needed some breakfast. I hope Joe and Anna are alright, I know they were hurt from what Roy told me.”
“Grace, they got knocked around that attic, so both of them should be really sore, especially Joseph who was the hurt the worst, as usual.” Ben and her walked back to the kitchen where Grace started the coffee.
“Roy wants to see you later on this morning. He has something he wishes to discuss about the problem in the attic. I think he’s referring to the late Gerald Harper. He sent word to Father McCready and also to Bridey Harper. He feels that both of them may be the clue to ending this horror.”
“You mean, my dear, the demon in the attic.”
“Yes, Benjamin. Do you believe in ghosts?”
“Once I didn’t, but my mind was changed. Joseph was about nine years old and he wandered away from the house on one of the coldest days that I could remember. We searched everywhere. I was so worried if he didn’t find shelter, he would succumb to the cold and die before we could find him. Luckily for Joseph, he somehow managed to make his way to my departed sister’s infamous house. Caroline had died from a broken heart, but she didn’t want to leave this earth, because I kept hearing reports about my sister haunting her house. Later on during the night, I thought that I would never find Joseph, but I decided to keep trying and somehow I went to her house. I found my son asleep on the floor and that was not all I found. A lady in white stood next to him…the ghost of my sister Caroline had protected Joe from harm. I thanked her and carried him home. I didn’t want to believe what I had seen, but she was real. I don’t talk about the incident too much and neither does Joseph…he knows that she was there and she still is in the house.”
“Ben, I guess there are good and bad spirits…and your sister was one of the good ones to keep Joe from harm.”
“Yes…but I have never experienced anything like the entity upstairs in that attic. Well let me wake up Adam and Hoss.”
“You don’t have to go to far…Hoss and I are already awake. Interesting story, Pa.” Adam smiled at his father. “Your secret is safe with us and we won’t say anything to Joe.”
“Aunt Caroline is a sweetheart compared to that noise maker upstairs.” Hoss added. “Dadburnit, it kept me awake half the night. At least, Anna and Joe got some sleep.”
“Yes they did and they are still asleep. So we’ll let them sleep as long as they need to. Let’s eat breakfast where Grace can get back to her store.”
“I have Janie taking care of the store and I can stay with Anna and Joe if you and your sons have business in town.”
“No, you are not staying here alone with them. Adam and Hoss will stay with you while I’ll visit Roy.”
Ben went outside of the house, noticed it seemed somewhat colder than last night, walking to the new barn where he saddled and mounted Buck then he rode the short trip to Sheriff Roy Coffee’s office. Roy Coffee was working on some papers as Ben entered the office. “Good morning, Ben. How is everyone this morning?”
“We survived the night though it was a loud one. I had never heard such awful sounds that came from upstairs…it sounded like the whole attic would fall through the ceiling! I heard walking across the attic floor, someone screaming, moaning and dragging noise… and don’t ask me what the thing was dragging!”
“I have heard those reports before and if it wasn’t you, Benjamin Cartwright…I still might not believe some of them. I also looked at Joe and Anna…something hurt those two last night.”
“Yes, Roy…I don’t know what is in the attic, but it has to leave!”
“Ben, do you know what happen the night Gerald Harper murdered his wife and three children? I had to investigate a lot of vicious crimes in my life, but nothing compares to that one. I still can’t figure how Bridey escaped, but she did.”
“Roy, Gerald Harper was the most horrible person I have ever known. Not only did he beat his wife, he treated those children terribly. He was the worst excuse for a husband and father.”
“Amelia Ford came to me one afternoon and wanted me to help convince her sister, Sara Harper to take her four daughters and leave Gerald. She told me of some horrible things taking place in that house and just couldn’t believe some of her accusations. I tried to find some proof for Amelia’s concerns for her sister and nieces, but what could I do if Sara didn’t want the help. Amelia even tried to get the help of Judge Wentworth, but there was nothing he could do unless she showed some proof of some kind of wrong doing by Gerald involving Sara and those girls. One night, Gerald just went insane and murdered his wife and three of his daughters, then himself. Bridey managed to crawl behind a piece of furniture to escape the murderous rage of her father. She stayed in the hiding place until it was over and ran screaming down the main street of town. I would say it’s the worst murder in Virginia City that I know of since I became Sheriff.
“Poor Bridey…no wonder she acts the way she does.” Ben remarked. “Grace said that you had found Father McCready.”
“I got a telegraph from him stating he wouldn’t be able to return until tomorrow. I have Clem trying to find Bridey, but she can hide out in those woods quite well.”
“Well we will have to endure the haunting of Ravinsky Cottage one more night. By the way, Bridey came around when she knew Anna wanted to buy that house.”
“She’s probably having a good time from the profit she made on selling that house, though I’ve heard that Anna purchased it for a steal.”
“Roy…she did…and she may live to regret it, if we can’t get that entity out of there. I need to get back and see how Joe and Anna are feeling this morning. Let me go and give Adam and Hoss a break. I see you later and may have to call on you if things get out of hand.”
“I’ll be here, Ben.”
Ben returned to a very quiet house unlike the night before. Adam and Hoss were sitting close to Joe who lay on the settee, while Anna remained in her bedroom with Grace.
“I have to say it’s much nicer around here now than last night.”
“Pa, I guess ol’ Gerald must have tired himself out, because he been kinda quiet Once in a while, we’ll hear some scraping along the attic floor, but nothing like the racket last night.” said Hoss.
“Gerald is resting to start his haunting again tonight.” quipped Adam.
“Yes, and the bad news is Father McCready will be here tomorrow and no sign of Bridey, so we have to stay here tonight. There is no way I’m going to leave Joe and Anna alone in this house. And how are they feeling this morning?” asked Ben.
“Joe woke and complained of being sore, then he went back to sleep. Anna has tried to get out of bed but she had some dizziness and nausea, so she’s resting in bed. Dr. Martin checked on both of them while you were gone and said that this was normal,” Adam answered.
“I’ll stay with them while you and Hoss return to the ranch and inform Hop Sing that we’ll be home in a few days, hopefully.” Ben said as Adam and Hoss left for the Ponderosa. He thanked Grace for staying but he knew she had to return to the store. So Ben kept a vigil over Joe and Anna until his sons returned later in the afternoon.
It had been fairly quiet most of the afternoon. Hop Sing had sent enough food to feed an army by Adam and Hoss when they returned to the cottage. Ben managed to get Joe and Anna to eat some broth but otherwise they did not have an appetite. Anna was able to rise from the bed without the former dizziness and nausea she had experienced earlier in the morning. Joe was resting in the spare bedroom in the studio with Anna and Ben by his side, while Adam and Hoss remained in the parlor.
Everything was going fine about three hours after sundown, when the first noise came from the attic, an unearthly cacophonous groan sounding several times before stopping abruptly. Something fell and hit the attic floor, then the dragging noise started with the sound of footsteps across the attic floor. Suddenly all the noises stopped and quiet returned to the house for a while. Everyone in the room sighed knowing they would have some reprieve from the sounds in the attic. Ben and Adam decided to take advantage of the quiet to prepare supper for everyone. Anna offered to help but the men would not let her because of her injuries from the night before. Ben figured it would be the easiest meal he had ever prepared because Hop Sing had done all the work. Hoss joined his father and brother at the dining table while Joe and Anna stayed in the studio.
“Joseph, I should have listened to you about this house, but I can be very stubborn sometimes and once I make up my mind…I go ahead no matter the consequences.” Anna whispered to him.
“Darling, why are you whispering?”
“I do not want anyone to hear that I made a mistake.”
“You didn’t make a mistake…this is a nice house. It will be even better once your attic guest leaves.”
“Joseph, I want you to know that I had never been so scared in my whole life as I was last night when I saw you tossed about in the attic and I could not help you in any way. Now you are hurt because of my foolishness.”
“Anna, darling, I’ve been hurt worse and I’ll recover from this beating as I have all the others in the past.” Joe assured her as he touched her face.
Hoss walked into the studio, smiling his gap-toothed grin at Joe and Anna. “Are you hungry? I’ll bring you something to eat.”
“You mean there is some food left?” Joe giggled. “No, I’m not hungry.” Anna shook her head slightly that she was not hungry either.
“Well Hop Sing outdid himself, as usual.” Hoss remarked. “Now I’m ready to battle that damn noise maker in that attic!”
Anna and Joe looked at each other. “Hoss, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Little Brother, I’m bigger and stronger than you, so I figure I can be a better opponent.”
“Hoss…I don’t doubt that for one moment, but Pa will never let you go up there.”
“Dadburnit, Joe, that damn thing kept me up all night and I ain’t gonna put up with it tonight. I’m going to get some sleep.”
“Okay…Hoss…I can’t stop you.”
“Neither can Pa and Adam if I get mad enough! There’s going to be some quiet tonight until Father McCready gets here tomorrow.” Joe could only agree with him because he knew the strength that Hoss possessed, but would he be able to withstand that entity in the attic.
Hoss sat in the chair at the foot of the bed where Joe lay. Ben and Adam rejoined them after they had washed the china. Joe whimpered as he tried to move but he assured his concerned father that he was fine. Ben noticed how tired Anna looked and tried to persuade her to go in the other bedroom to get some sleep, but she would not leave them. He could tell that she was scared and agreed she should stay with them.
Three hours had passed since the last round of noises in the attic. This time the noise startled everyone from his or her sleep. The racket was unbearable and it sounded like it would come through the ceiling.
“Dadburnit, I have enough of that damn racket! I’m going to take care of this once and for all!” Hoss arose from his chair and stormed upstairs, though Ben pleaded with him, he did not hear one word. Hoss threw the attic door open and walked inside with the door closing behind him. Everyone sat motionless as they heard the fight upstairs. After some time, the door shut and Hoss descended the stairs, not looking too worse for wear, except for some plaster covering his hair, face, and shoulders.
“Hoss, are you alright?” Ben stared at his son who seemed quite unscathed by the whole incident.
” I’m a little bruised but I have to apologize for the walls. I left some big holes in them when I got thrown about. I’d never smelled anything so bad in my life. Maybe I wore ol’Gerald out a little bit, and maybe he’ll stay quiet for a while. I’m going into the kitchen and find me something to eat…I’m just worked up an appetite.” Everyone kept staring in disbelief at Hoss as he made his way to the kitchen.
Everyone slept much better through the night though the noise in the attic had subsided it was still there but not as loud as before. Ben was the first to rise noticing that Anna was not in the studio. He became concerned about her then he walked back to her bedroom and found her asleep in her bed. He smiled to himself as he continued to the kitchen to start the coffee. The aroma of the coffee spread through the house waking everyone except Joe and Anna.
“Morning, Pa…I least there was not as much noise last night. I don’t think I can take sleeping in that chair one more night. I can’t wait until I can go home and sleep in my own bed.” Adam said as he poured the hot coffee in a cup.
“I have to agree, son. I hope this will end soon when Father McCready arrives.”
“Pa, the only other solution as a last step, is to move out Anna’s furniture and belongings and set this house afire. Sort of a desperate situation but it would drive that entity out of the attic.”
“Adam, what would that solve? She would be out her money and no house.” Hoss said as he joined his father and bother in the kitchen.
“And all the work renovating this place would be in vain.” Ben replied. “We’ll pray that this problem will be solved sooner than later.”
XXX
Father McCready arrived at Anna’s house later that day. He was medium height but presented himself with such a presence that he appeared much taller. He was dressed in black carrying only a bible. Along side of him was the elusive Bridey Harper between Sheriff Coffee and his deputy, Clem Foster. She had given both of the law officers a good chase for the last two days but they finally caught her.
Ben Cartwright and Anna greeted all of them and welcomed them in her house. “Father, I am so glad that you have come.”
“Ben it’s good to see you again and Anna, my child, I hope we can rid your house of this malevolent spirit that wants to stay instead of leaving. Sheriff Coffee told me that you and Joseph were hurt when you went in the attic. I hope that your injuries were not severe. Where is Joseph?”
“Father, he is another room because he was hurt worse and is much sorer than myself.” Anna tried to explain but she stopped short when she heard the noise of something being dragged across the attic floor. She began to tremble slightly as Ben put his arms around her trying to calm her.
“Not only is it a malevolent spirit, it’s sure is noisy one and it doesn’t set well with your nerves.” Ben replied. “I taking Anna back into the studio with Joe.”
“Ben, I think everyone should do the same.” Father McCready told them as he put his arm around Bridey’s shoulder. She had turned quite pale when she heard the noise and wanted to run out of the house, but he assured her that everything would be fine. She joined everyone else in the studio. “My first order of business will be to bless the downstairs area, then Bridey and I will go to the attic and try to reason with this spirit to leave and go to the other side wherever that may be. Sometimes it takes hours and maybe even go into the middle of the next night but we will prevail. It is not an easy task to rid a house of a presence that has haunted a place for many years as this one. It appears that this is a very angry spirit and I won’t be able to reason with it until I come face-to-face with it. I have rid several houses of there spirits over the years and I have learned that these spirits are not in the same realm as we are, so our tried and true methods sometimes do not work. But fair warning, sometimes the spirit will not leave. We’ll concern ourselves with that aspect after I finish.”
“Father, I don’t want to go up to there. I ran away from it many years ago and I can’t go there again.” Bridey pleaded.
“Bridey, my child, everyone has to face their demons and now it’s your turn. I will bless the downstairs and then I will come for you. Nothing is going to harm you…I will not let it.”
Father McCready moved to the parlor where he began the ritual with a prayer and making the sign of the cross. He blessed each room in accordance of the strict interpretation of the Catholic liturgy. After some time, he returned to the studio where he would begin the horrendous task of removing the entity from the house.
No one moved or said a word as Father McCready took Bridey by the hand and they ascended the stairs to the attic. He made the sign of the cross and opened the door. He had warned Bridey what to expect, but never did she imagine how horrible the smell that overpowered her and the priest. It was nothing like she had ever smelled in her life with it causing her to gag and cough. One moment she was standing trying to get over the nausea, and then she was hurled across the room. Father McCready was thrown against the wall, but he managed to stand. “Spirit, you need to leave this house and go to the other side! You’re not wanted here!” A moaning sound intensified as objects were flying around the room and crashing against the defenseless Bridey and the priest. She wanted to run out of that room but something powerful held her against the wall.
“Bridey, you must tell it to leave!” yelled the priest as he was thrown once again.
“I can’t do this. Please let me out of here!” She screamed as she was lifted and thrown to the floor hitting her head. She was dazed for a short time but she remained conscious. She glanced over to the priest who somehow was still standing.
As the commotion in the attic increased, everyone downstairs wanted to run to his or her aid, but they were told to stay downstairs and not to enter that attic. Hoss began to get somewhat antsy because he was not allowed to help.
“Pa, I just can’t sit down here knowing that they need help!”
“Hoss, Father McCready has done this before so he knows what he is doing.” Anna replied trembling and managing to hold the rosary and squeezing Joe’s hand at the same time.
“Son, Anna’s right, it’s out of our hands. No matter what the consequences we must remain down here.” Ben said somewhat unnerved himself.
Bridey tried once again to move from the grasp of the spirit that held her down on the floor, but it was no use. She tried to talk but her words seemed so incoherent, but she had to make this thing leave. “Pa…Pa… you must leave…it’s over…you didn’t get me the first time and you won’t get me this time! You killed my mama and my sisters…and you were such a coward that you killed yourself. Pa…you were mean and evil man! You did horrible things to my mama and sisters and no one ever knew what you did but me! Pa…you need to go to Hell…where you belong!”
“Bridey, tell it to go away from this place.” Father McCready yelled but it sounded as a whisper to Bridey.
“Pa…you need to leave this house! It doesn’t belong to you anymore. Leave…you bastard…then I can have peace from you! You have not only haunted this house… you have haunted me ever since you killed my mama and sisters! Go away from here!” Bridey lay on the floor crying as she felt a hand on her shoulder and she was startled.
“Oh, Father McCready.” Bridey fell into his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
“My child, it’s over…you’re going to be alright.” He held her tightly.
“Are you sure it’s over?” She looked up for the words she wanted to hear.
“Yes.”
Everyone had sat motionless waiting for Father McCready and Bridey to emerge form the attic. After about an hour, they descended the stairs and walked in to the studio of the house where they were met by Ben, Adam and Hoss.
Father McCready looked at Anna sitting next to Joe on the bed. “Anna, it’s over…the house belongs to you. Are you alright?”
“Father, I should be asking you that question.” Anna smiled.
“I’m returning to town with Bridey… she needs some rest.”
“Thank you, Father McCready and you too, Bridey.”
“Father, do you think the blessing really worked?” Ben asked.
Father McCready shrugged his shoulders and threw up his hands. “It didn’t hurt.” They all laughed as he and Bridey walked out the door.
EPILOGUE
After a month, normalcy returned, once again, to the cottage on the edge of town Joe healed from his injuries and once again resumed his usual rides into town to visit Anna. Ben, Adam, and Hoss finally got a good night’s rest at the Ponderosa after the two horrendous days spent at the cottage. Father McCready is still hard to find when someone needs him. Bridey Harper did a complete change since her experience in the attic, moving into town and forgoing her reclusive nature. Anna’s music students finally got the nerve to take their lessons in the cottage instead of the Opera House, though they could not distinguish which of the two buildings were the scariest, but the Opera House was the overwhelming winner. Anna loved her little house and her time spent there with Joe when they were not dining at the International House, but she still wondered if the entity had really left and was biding time when it might haunt her house once more.
THE END
HAPPY HAUNTING!
October 2001
