a hitch in his phantom breathing. “We had no money for seed or for livestock. We had no money to pay our taxes or the debts we’d incurred trying to keep body and soul together while recovering from illness. We tried to sell some of our land to cover the debts, but corrupt officials in the county prevented any potential buyers from making an offer.” Again the bitterness and rage flared. “Our farm was seized in the autumn of 1850.”
“I’m so sorry, Daniel.”
“Ah, well. We were not alone in our plight. We sold everything of value we owned and set out for Dublin in search of work.” Memories of that horrible time poured through him, along with the frustration and helplessness he’d suffered.
“My mother was a well-educated woman, and she was able to take a job in service to a well-to-do family who kindly offered to provide her with a room large enough that my brother and sister could stay with her. My brother became a chimney sweep, and in 1851, I crossed the Atlantic on a fool’s errand that cost me my life.”
He should’ve stayed, should’ve kept his family together and taken a job in Dublin himself. He’d been the man of the family then, and he’d made one poor decision after another. He’d failed his family, and now he haunted the godforsaken ruins of the town of Garretsville.
“When we talked earlier today—or I guess it would be yesterday now,” she said, glancing at her watch, “you mentioned a vow your death prevented you from keeping,” Meredith prompted.
“Hmm?” Lost in his misery, he’d forgotten where he was, who he was with, and why. “Aye, my vow. I had a very good friend who wished to travel to America to make his fortune mining precious metals. He suggested we pool our meager resources and become full partners in the venture. Charles reasoned we’d do better together than on our own. He had two uncles here who’d already met with success that way. After making their fortunes in Alaska, they sold their mining claims, and moved back east.”
He paused to glance at her. “They settled in New York for good and opened their own businesses using portions of the money they’d earned mining. His kin oft wrote to him, offering help with the necessary equipment and staking a claim once we arrived. They were already doing research on where we might find the most success.”
“So you ended up in Garretsville mining silver.” She nodded. “Did you die in an accident?”
“Aye, we ended up in Garretsville mining silver ore.” The familiar restless churning that always struck him when dredging up the past propelled him out of his chair. Daniel paced back and forth like a caged animal. In a manner of speaking, he had been caged, for he could not leave. “My death was no accident, Meredith MacCarthy, and make no mistake. Charles and I were robbed and murdered in cold blood.”
“Oh, Daniel,” Meredith cried. “You suffered a violent and traumatic death. Perhaps that’s what keeps you here and not a promise you couldn’t keep.” She gazed at him, her lovely eyes luminous, bathed as they were in the light of the lantern.
“No living person would hold a grudge against someone for a vow death prevented them from keeping,” she said.
“Hmph.”
“Is Charles also haunting Garretsville?”
He shook his head. With so many others who’d suffered the same fate remaining behind, why Charles had not was something he’d never understood. He envied his friend.
“Please sit back down, and tell me anything you can remember about your murderers, Daniel.”
Just then the saloon’s door creaked open, revealing the older couple who’d been coming to Garretsville every summer for years. His fellow ghosts paid the couple no mind, knowing by now the pair could do nothing for them.
Agitated with the raw agony of recalling his death, Daniel couldn’t bear the older couple’s intrusion. What business did they have coming here in the middle of the night? Sharing the tragedies his poor choices had wrought was bad enough. The interruption tipped him over the edge. If he stayed, he’d haunt—as in knocking over chairs and maybe even a table or two.
Without a word, he flashed himself to the mine where he and his best friend in all the world had toiled together to make their fortunes. If only he’d talked Charles into staying in Dublin, they both might’ve lived long and fulfilling lives. They’d both been ambitious and willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Surely they