“In here Jacob,” a young lady’s voice suggested.
As the two figures entered, the riders felt a sudden and unexplainable chill run up their spines. The fire flickered wildly, and its flames danced passionately. Despite the fire’s fierceness, the old barn grew much colder. But the coldness felt different from the normal chill a cool night kissed you with. It gave the riders a very uneasy feeling, though they weren’t sure why. Even the horses were unsettled by the couples arrival.
The young lady and her companion seemed oblivious to Jimmy and Lou’s presence. Lou holstered her weapon, and Jimmy quickly followed her example after seeing the couple was unarmed. Something was very different about the couple, but the riders couldn’t quiet place what exactly it was. The new arrivals appeared to be young adults, most likely nineteen or twenty. Quietly, they made their way toward the center of the barn near the fire, eventually standing four feet away from the riders.
“Hello,” Lou said politely. She noted how oddly they were dressed. The couple had many layers of clothing on as if they expected it to be drastically cold. “Hello,” Lou called once more. Still the young twosome refused to acknowledge Lou’s words.
“Jacob, the storm’s getting worse,” the young lady cried. “I’m scared.”
“It will be all right, Jennifer,” her lover soothed as he kissed her forehead. He embraced her lovingly, and ran his hands through her hair. “We just have to wait out the storm.”
“It’s so cold though and the snow-” Jennifer began to sob uncontrollably.
The riders glanced at each other in confusion. Snow? It was only late August, and wasn’t nearly cold enough to snow yet. Something was terribly wrong. The couple appeared worried and anxious.
“Excuse us,” Jimmy called. Just like Lou, he got no response from the young couple. The scene before the riders was unnerving. Lou moved closer to Jimmy, intently watching their visitors. “Are you folks all right?” No reaction at all was given by the couple.
“It’ll be okay, Jen. You’ll see,” Jacob kept reassuring. “Once the snow stops, we’ll be able to continue on to the next town.”
“And be married,” the girl exclaimed with excitement. Then suddenly she grew sad. “I wish our parents would just mend their differences. Then we wouldn’t have to elope.”
“I know, Jen. If they could only see how much we loved each other, then...” Jacob’s voice trailed off, and he held his love close to his chest. “It doesn’t matter now. Soon you’ll be Mrs. Jacob Dawson, and there’ll be nothing our parents can do about it.”
“I wish my father understood that I’d rather die than spend my life without you,” Jennifer cried as she buried her face deep into his chest. “I could never love that awful man he’s trying to force me to marry.”
“Nothing will come between us I promise,” her love reassured her.
“Jimmy,” Lou whispered fearfully. “This is spooky.” She clung to Jimmy’s arm. The shivers that had crept up her spine were still haunting her.
“Lou,” Jimmy began in the same hush tone. “I’m gonna approach them.” The couple gave Jimmy an uneasy feeling, but something had to be done. They had to find out exactly what was going on. Besides, if he didn’t do something, he’d go crazy. Lou hesitantly followed him up to the young couple, unconsciously digging her nails into his arm.
“Excuse me,” Jimmy called hesitantly as he reached out to touch the young man on the shoulder. For once the couple realized they weren’t alone. Jennifer cried out startled, and then the couple faded away. Lou jumped back in disbelief.
“Jimmy?” She wanted an explanation. A simple, rational explanation for the events that had occurred. Unfortunately, he had none to offer.
“I don’t know, Lou,” Jimmy answered. The images that had once lingered before them had seemed so real.
“Ghosts don’t exist, right?” Lou asked in a whisper. She prayed Jimmy would agree with her. Of course ghosts aren’t real. “Jimmy?!” Lou cried excitedly when he didn’t answer. Suddenly, thunder growled loudly causing both Jimmy and Lou to spook. “Let’s go!”
“It’s almost morning,” Jimmy said as he placed his arm around Lou. “We’ll leave then.” Even though staying there was unsettling, venturing out in the storm would be foolish. So far, they were safe. A little disturbed by the mysterious figures that vanished suddenly, but physically fine. “Let’s try and get some rest,” he suggested finally. Maybe they were just really tired and needed to sleep. Maybe....
Back at the fire, Jimmy held Lou close to comfort her and himself! What they saw was unexplainable. People didn’t just vanish into thin air. The couples’ disappearance had left an eerier feeling than their arrival had brought. The riders didn’t expect to get much rest that night. Jacob and Jennifer might return. Silently they laid next to each other listening to the storm’s vicious song. The fire burned calmly once more, and the riders took comfort in its more peaceful flames.
Early the next morning, Jimmy awoke to find Lou protectively cradled in his arms. He could hear her soft breathing as she rested against him. He couldn’t remember exactly when they had dozed off, but he was grateful for the little rest they had gotten. Gently he encouraged Lou to rise so they could leave this mysterious place. Neither one mentioned the previous night as they prepared their horses and rode out. Secretly, they were both trying to dismiss it as a dream.
Together Lou and Jimmy traveled in complete silence, both very lost in their own thoughts. Playing through their minds was last night’s encounter with the lovers. Because they were so distracted, the express team wandered off the trail heading to St. Joe. They stumbled onto a path that lead to an area thick with evergreen trees. A good ways down the path, Lou realized that they were following the wrong trail.
“Jimmy?” Lou called softly. “Jimmy?” Eventually, Lou managed to steal Jimmy away from his thoughts. He looked at her questioningly. “Where are we?”
Jimmy shook his head, silently admitting they were lost. “We must have wandered off the trail.”
“Great,” Lou exclaimed. Nothing like getting lost to make your day more interesting. Add getting lost to the adventure they had last night and....
“Lou,” Jimmy called suddenly. “Look.” He gestured to the two objects underneath a tall tree that had captured his attention. Two burial stones rested under that great tree. Jimmy glanced at Lou before dismounting and approaching the graves respectfully. Lou followed behind a few feet behind him.
“Oh my God,” Lou gasped. The names on the tombstones were too familiar. These were the burial places of Jacob Dawson, and Jennifer Addison. ‘Each other’s precious love’ was scripted on their stones.
“Guess this means it wasn’t a dream,” Jimmy stated seriously. He had a strange feeling that finding the graves was not just a coincidence. Even though he wasn’t the superstitious type, Jimmy had a feeling something was drawing them there.
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