Page 21 of Haunted By the Mountain Man
"No!" He backed away from me, his eyes wild. "I can smell it. The smoke. The burning. Just like that night. We have to—" He stopped suddenly, his gaze landing on Raven. "You. You look like her. Like Rebecca."
Raven moved closer, her voice gentle. "I'm Raven, Mr. Harrison. Remember? I work here with you."
"So did Rebecca," Walt said, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks. "She overheard Carlson on the phone with someone about burning the lodge for the insurance money. She came to me, terrified. Asked what we should do."
"What did you tell her?" I asked gently.
"I told her she must have misunderstood. That Mr. Carlson would never do that. He'd built this place, loved it." Walt's voice broke. "I was wrong. She told Jimmy. He worked maintenance with me. And they both stayed late that night to find proof. The fire started in the east wing where the office records were kept. They never made it out."
"That wasn't your fault," I said.
"It was!" Walt shouted. " I didn't believe her. Told her she was being paranoid. If I'd listened, if I'd gone to the police with her..." He collapsed into a chair, sobbing.
Raven knelt beside him. "Mr. Harrison, you couldn't have known."
"The official report said two unidentified people died," Walt continued. "But it was Rebecca and Jimmy. Carlson made sure their names never appeared in any reports. Made themdisappear even in death. I stayed here. Couldn't leave them alone in this place."
Raven's hand found Walt's, her touch gentle. "We're here with you. You're not alone."
"They weren't supposed to be there," Walt whispered, staring at nothing. "No one was. We were completely empty. But they came back to find evidence..." His breathing hitched, becoming shallow and rapid.
I knelt beside him, fingers on his pulse. Racing—140 beats per minute. "Walt, I need you to breathe with me. In through your nose, out through your mouth."
"I can't—the smoke—"
"There's no smoke," Raven said firmly but kindly. She took his other hand, placing it on her chest. "Feel me breathing? Match my rhythm."
Walt's eyes focused on her, his breath stuttering as he tried to follow her lead. I grabbed my medical bag from where I'd left it earlier, and took out the blood pressure cuff.
"Just checking your vitals," I said softly, wrapping the cuff around his thin arm. "Raven, keep him focused on you."
"Mr. Harrison," she said, "tell me about Rebecca. What was she like?"
"Sweet girl,” he whispered. "Twenty-three. Wanted to be a teacher. She was saving money working here..." His blood pressure read 180/95. Dangerously high.
"What about Jimmy?" Raven kept her voice steady, though I saw the concern in her eyes as she watched me prepare his medication.
"Good kid. Nineteen. Always fixing things, making jokes..." Walt's breathing was evening out slightly. "They were planning to get married. After she finished school."
I administered his blood pressure medication, then helped him sip water. "Small sips, Walt. That's it."
For the next twenty minutes, we sat with him on the floor of the lobby. Raven hummed softly—an old lullaby—while I monitored his vitals. Gradually, his heart rate dropped to 95. Still high, but safer. His blood pressure slowly descended to 150/85.
"The fire," Walt mumbled, exhaustion creeping into his voice. "I dream about it. Hear them calling for help. But I can never find them in the smoke."
"They know you tried," Raven said. "They know you cared."
Walt's eyes drooped. "So tired. Been so tired for so long."
"Let's get you to bed," I said, helping him to his feet. He swayed, and I steadied him, essentially carrying most of his weight. He felt frailer than even a week ago, as if the approaching anniversary was physically diminishing him.
We walked him slowly to his room, Raven gathering his scattered blankets while I helped him sit on the cot.
"My pills?" he asked, confused.
"Already took them," I assured him, helping him lie down. "Just rest now."
Raven pulled the blanket up to his chin, and for a moment, Walt looked at her with perfect clarity.
