Southern Comfort by Amie Louellen Read Free Book Online Page A

off-limits.
    “I don’t know. I guess that’s a mystery for the ages. Come on. Let’s go back to the house. Now.” She grabbed his arm, tugging him toward the cemetery entrance. They were so far away from the gate now that it would definitely be completely dark—super dark—by the time they got out and back onto the sidewalk.
    But Newland was too strong and barely moved as she jerked on his elbow to get him to follow her. “It just doesn’t make sense. The dirt had to come from somewhere.”
    Natalie looked over to the mound. It was a big mound. Bigger than what would be there if somebody had dug a new grave.
    “Maybe they brought it in for some reason,” she said. “I mean, look at all the sunken graves. Maybe they’re trying to level the place out a little bit. That’s an awful lot of dirt.”
    “But why would they level off a centuries-old graveyard?”
    “Well, it is sort of an eyesore. I mean even in the light.”
    Newland seemed to think about it a second. “But wouldn’t your brother be in charge of a project like that?”
    As the mayor he was in charge of all sorts of projects like that.
    “Do you miss any of the town meetings?” Newland asked.
    “Of course not,” she said. “I’m my brother’s guardian, and he is underage.”
    “About that … ” Newland said. “How is it that he doesn’t even have a driver’s license and he can’t vote, and yet he’s the mayor of this town? I mean, he was elected?”
    “Of course, but the town charter doesn’t set an age limit on being mayor and it doesn’t delineate that the mayor has to be able to vote in a national election.”
    Newland laughed. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
    Natalie shot him a look. “Then you need to get out more. But for now, let’s go home.”
    • • •
    Newland took one last look at the large mound of dirt, wondering why no one had seen it before now. It wasn’t fresh dirt, and it hadn’t been completely protected by the small black tarp. In fact, only half of it had been covered with the tarp. He would have to go check tomorrow and see, or maybe talk to Aubie tonight. If they got back and it wasn’t already past his bedtime.
    Something was definitely going on here. He just couldn’t figure out what. Or if this big mound of dirt had anything to do with the ghost.
    Finally, he allowed Natalie to tug on his arm and move him away from the dirt. He wasn’t sure, but he thought she sighed with relief as he started back toward the entrance to the cemetery. He shined his flashlight to lead the way, hoping that his battery held out. He needed to charge his phone, but with any luck they would at least make it to the cemetery entrance. He didn’t think Natalie could take it if they didn’t.
    For all her talk about not believing in ghosts she seemed really spooked to be in an ancient cemetery after dark.
    He moved the flashlight up to look at the entrance. They were still quite a ways away. And his flashlight seemed to be getting dimmer.
    “Watch the ground, okay? I’m afraid we’re about to lose the light, and I don’t want you to trip.”
    “Lose the light?”
    “My battery’s about to die.”
    Maybe a bad choice of words.
    “Oh … Okay … I guess—”
    The light went out.
    She stopped, and Newland pulled her a tad closer to keep her feeling safe if there was a ghost out here—and he truly believed that there wasn’t. After all, didn’t Bitty say that the ghost only came out the last Thursday of the month? That in itself was weird but he didn’t have time to examine that. Right now he had to get poor shaking Natalie out of the cemetery.
    “Just watch the ground. Look at your feet and make sure you don’t step in a—”
    She crumpled like someone had removed all her bones. “Ow!” she cried.
    “Are you okay?” He could barely make out her outline in the dark. If it hadn’t been for the light-colored shirt that she wore, he might not have seen her at all.
    “Yeah, it’s my