The Beginning (Whispering Pines Book 1) Read online

The Beginning (Whispering Pines Book 1)

  Copyright @ Charles E. Wells

  Dublin, Georgia 31021

  www.wellstonpublishing.com

  Revised December 2013

  In honor of the two beautiful women who helped make this book happen. Jeanie Russ and Gail Wells

  Table of Contents

  Prelude ……………………………………………………………4

  Chapter 1 ………………………………………………………….9

  Chapter 2 ………………………………………………………… 13

  Chapter 3 ………………………………………………………… 15

  Chapter 4 ………………………………………………………… 26

  Chapter 5 ………………………………………………………… 34

  Chapter 6 ………………………………………………………… 46

  Chapter 7 ………………………………………………………… 50

  Chapter 8 ………………………………………………………… 55

  Chapter 9 ………………………………………………………… 60

  Chapter 10 ……………………………………………………….. 70

  Chapter 11 ……………………………………………………….. 73

  Chapter 12 ……………………………………………………….. 76

  Chapter 13 ……………………………………………………….. 79

  Chapter 14 ……………………………………………………….. 82

  Chapter 15 ……………………………………………………….. 93

  Chapter 16 ……………………………………………………….. 106

  Chapter 17 ……………………………………………………….. 110

  Chapter 18 ……………………………………………………….. 119

  Chapter 19 ……………………………………………………….. 128

  Chapter 20 ……………………………………………………….. 135

  Chapter 21 ……………………………………………………….. 145

  Chapter 22 ……………………………………………………….. 153

  Chapter 23 ……………………………………………………….. 161

  Chapter 24 ……………………………………………………….. 169

  About the Author ………………………………………………… 177

  Prelude

  "How much further is it to the cemetery?" Mike Shavers asked the dark figure in front of him.

  Bobby Ackerman, the dark figure, stopped quickly, too quickly, and Shavers ran into him. The collision sent both feet sliding in opposite directions so he had to grab at the back of Bobby's shoulders for support. That unexpected reflex almost sent them both tumbling.

  Ackerman managed to keep them upright until Shavers regained his footings, then he spun around and barked, "Mike, what are you doing? If I drop this flashlight we are stuck out here for the rest of the night."

  "Sorry Bobby. Your brake lights aren't working and I can barely walk on this slippery crud."

  The two men were trying to navigate a wild game trail through the woods, a trail covered in loose pine needles with interwoven stiff roots and vines. Bobby snapped at his partner, "If you grab hold of me again I'm going to shoot you. Didn't I tell you to wear boots?"

  "Yea but I don't own any boots. What you should have told me was to bring a flashlight. I can't see a thing back here. What if I step on a snake?"

  "Why do you think I told you to wear boots? But that's ok; if a snake bites you I'll rush it to the emergency room."

  "Ha, yea right, well, you should have warned me about both and we wouldn't be having this discussion right now."

  Bobby pointed the light at Mike's shoes. "Those things are not going to protect you from snakes whether you have a light or not, and it's not the ground that's slippery, it's the pine needles. The leather soles on your shoes can't grip, makes them slick as ice. Maybe you need to forget about the snakes and worry about not breaking your neck!"

  "Well I like these shoes and you said we were going to a cemetery, not the Okefenokee Swamp."

  "Well as you can see, this isn't a swamp, its woods, and we have some serious digging to do and I'm not doing it alone. I could care less if you get those shoes dirty or not."

  "I'll do my share so stop worrying about it. Now how much further is it? The bugs are eating me alive."

  "At least you can truthfully say that I didn't tell you to bring bug repellent."

  Bobby swung the light back around to the path. "There's an old rusty cow fence just ahead. Once we cross that it's only a hundred yards or so."

  "How do you know it's a cow fence and not for horses or something?"

  "Shut up Mike, and why are you in such a rush? Are you that anxious to see the ghosts at the graveyard? Oh wait; I forgot to warn you about the ghost, didn't I?"

  "I never seen a ghost in my life, but, uh, are you expecting to see one?"

  Bobby turned the light beam back into Mike's face and chuckled wryly, "As white as you are right now, I think you already saw one. Now don't walk so close and let's get going before the sun comes up."

  Mike stopped, raised his watch hand and pressed the light button. "Hey, it's only 2:30 in the morning. We got plenty of..."

  The words faded when he looked up and realized his partner with the light had already moved ahead. "Bobby? Hey, wait up man. I can't see where I'm going."