Burden Of Blood by Wenona Hulsey Read Free Book Online Page B

after page of pictures until she was sure she had the right idea.  “Everything from my dream is in these photos, the landscape, the trees,” she clicked open another photo, “and here’s that little yellow flower that led me to the graveyard.” she mumbled reading the description.
     
    “What’re you up to?”
     
    Nicole jumped, her breath catching in her throat before it turned into a scream.  “Dang it Dad, you scared me.” She shook her head as she turned her attention back to the screen.  “I had a….strange dream I guess, and was looking up a few things I remembered.”
     
    “A dream?” he asked as he leaned over her shoulder.  “You’re dreaming about flowers.” he chuckled.  “Wish I had your kind of nightmares.”
     
    Nicole rolled her eyes, “Dad, this wasn’t a nightmare.  It was…well, I really don’t know how to explain it, but I can’t stop thinking about it.” She pointed to the bright yellow flower.  “I think I remember this flower and listen,” she highlighted the description under the picture.  “It’s called Machall Coille and the Irish believe it drives away evil spirits.”
     
    “I guess that means this was a good dream.  No way a boogie man was gonna get ya with super flowers on the job.” James wiggled his brows as he laughed.
     
    “Dad, must you joke about everything?  This dream was different, there was this woman in a graveyard and,” she paused trying to find the right words, “I think I know her.  I mean, I haven’t ever met her but,” she sighed and leaned back, causing the old chair to squeak, “it felt like home to me, like I had been gone for a long time and she was there to welcome me back.”
     
    James’ smile fell as he took in his daughter’s serious face.  “Baby, maybe you’re over-analyzing this.  We are not Irish, well, as far as I know anyway.  This is America so most families came from somewhere else four hundred years ago.” He flashed a small smile as he patted Nicole’s hand.  “I’m sure it was just a dream.”
     
    “You’re probably right.” she nodded, then began closing out the screens.
     
    James walked towards the doorway then stopped.  “I’m gonna grab a snack.  You want something?”
     
    “No thanks.  It’s almost two so I guess I should get out of my pajamas.”
     
    After a long shower, Nicole sat in her bedroom debating what to wear.  She thumbed through her closet for the third time, finally picking her favorite pair of old blue jeans and a gray form-fitted, Victoria’s Secret tank top.  “I’m not dressing up for him… this is just another stake out.” She mumbled to herself as she pulled on her jeans and tank.  She didn’t know why she was making such a big deal out of tonight.  She had sat with Luke for hours at a time on the job and things had never gotten heated between them so this would be no different, right?  “Well, tell that to the butterflies in my stomach because they must have missed the memo.” Laughing to herself, she looked around the room thinking her strange mood must be a reaction to all this teenage décor--it was making her act like a giggly girl getting ready for prom.
     
    A firm knock at the front door was followed by the echo of her dad’s footsteps.  She heard casual hellos and some muffled words she couldn’t quite make out.  Nicole started down stairs only to be met by her dad half way up.  He had on a green button-up shirt he claimed to be lucky and a brown floppy hat with various fishing lures stuck in random spots around its worn edges.  Dark washed jeans and old, scuffed work boots rounded out his attire.  She flashed him a grin as she thought of how many times she had seen him wear his “lucky” outfit only to come home empty-handed with stories about the giant fish that got away.
     
    “Hey, I was coming to get you.  I’m heading out now, since Luke is here.  I’ll be home around one or two so don’t wait up, okay?  Gonna catch me