Page 27 of Haunted By the Mountain Man
A crash from below made us all jump. Then Walt's voice, confused but cheerful called out, "The wine cellar seems to have been reorganized. But don't worry, I found the '92 Cabernet. Perfect for the inspectors."
Shane sighed. "I'll go help him. Can you guys help Raven with whatever she needs to set up equipment?"
"You're good for him," Tonya said, moving to stand beside me. "I've never seen Shane let anyone in like this."
"He didn't exactly have a choice. I was trespassing."
"He had choices. He chose to trust you." She studied me with eyes that missed nothing. "That's not something Shane does lightly. Or ever, really."
"The foster system fucked all of us up in different ways," Sam said. "But Shane got the worst of it. The fact that he called us, that he's accepting help is huge."
"The fact that he's claimed you as his to us is even bigger," Kim added. "These men don't do anything halfway. When they commit, it's completely."
"I noticed," I said, warmth flooding me at the memory of Shane's possessive declaration.
As we prepared for the investigation, setting up equipment and planning routes through the lodge, I felt something I hadn't experienced in years. Not since Gran had died and left me alone.
I felt like I belonged.
Even if we found nothing tonight, even if the ghosts were just wind and memories, I'd found something more valuable than content for my channel.
I'd found a family as weird and broken and fiercely protective as the man I was falling in love with.
Chapter 7
Raven
I spent the next hour walking them through my footage—the cold spots, the EVP recordings, the electromagnetic anomalies. Even Kevin looked intrigued despite his skepticism.
"The dining room seems most active," I said. "That's where Walt spends most of his time when he's awake."
"Then that's where we focus," Kevin decided. "Shane and Raven take point there. Neil and Kim cover the lobby. Sam and Jess handle the pool area where you've recorded temperature drops. Tonya and I coordinate from here."
"Why do you get to stay in base camp?" Jess complained.
"Because someone needs to monitor all positions," Kevin said reasonably. "And because—"
"Because I'm pregnant," Tonya announced calmly.
The chaos that erupted was immediate—congratulations, questions, Shane looking stunned that his brother had trusted him with this news.
"Three weeks," Kevin confirmed, his usual stern expression softening. "We just found out."
"And you came tonight?" I saw Shane's protective instincts fired.
"I'm pregnant, not fragile," Tonya said firmly. "Besides, you needed us."
Walt appeared in the doorway, looking pleased. "Seven o'clock. Time to open the doors for the Halloween ball! Miss Raven, you haven't changed into your costume."
"The party doesn't start until eight, Mr. Harrison," Shane said gently. "We have an hour still."
"Oh. Of course. I should double-check the candy inventory." He wandered off again, humming "Monster Mash" with that strange harmonic undertone my equipment kept detecting.
"Is he always like this?" Neil asked.
“Yeah, lately his lucid moments are getting fewer and farther between,” Shane said.
"He needs proper care," Kevin said.
