Page 16 of Destined Chaos
“I’ll be right back.” He jogged out of the house and returned moments later, carrying a large plastic tub into the den. He dropped it on the floor and shut the French doors, diluting some pump noise.
“You guys really do get prepared up here.”
Hugh shrugged as he pulled the top off the tub. “My brother got lost in the woods once, and then my other brother almost got stranded, too, when he was chasing ghosts. So, now my sister, Clara, won’t let us go anywhere without being prepared.”
I sat up straighter. “You have a family member that can see ghosts?”
Hugh smiled and met my gaze. “Doesn’t everyone?”
7
Hugh
I tossed the tub lid to the side and pulled out a couple of red plaid blankets. Each had the Bennett name embroidered on it.
Helping Libby to her feet, I laid the blankets over the air mattress and then rolled up her sleeping bag to use as her pillow.
She’d been watching me without saying a word. Her Caribbean-sea eyes sparkled more green than blue. The light in her eyes contradicted her frown.
I pushed the tub closer to her. “Help yourself. I’m going to go check on the pump.”
She’d smudged the salt line around the French door from when she’d pushed the box in. I straightened it with my boot in passing and glanced at her once more before leaving her alone.
Not that she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself. Clearly, she was. Just getting the box to the den had to be a major pain in the rear.
I jogged down the basement stairs, feeling responsible that this had happened. I’d warned her about the water heater, even if I couldn’t tell her how I knew. I still should have gone beyond that and called someone to help her that minute. Granted, I hadn’t had anything to do with the rusted water heater. This was still my fault and something I would rectify in the morning.
I’d opened a basement window and run the nozzle out of the house, checking the slow flow as it trickled out into the grass. The frigid air had me rubbing my hands together, wishing I’d thought to bring gloves. The water on the floor barely looked like it was moving. This was going to be a long night.
Thump.
The sound came from the darkened corner of the basement that was covered by boxes on shelves. I’d turned back to the task at hand when I felt the tug on my jacket.
I turned, expecting to find Libby. My eyes widened with alarm to find I was still alone.
A chill swept over me. “Hello?”
Nothing and no one answered.
The light above flickered, and I was sure it was going to go out but it didn’t. Maybe this house really was haunted. I jogged up the stairs. giving one last look around. “I’m not going away.”
Still no answer.
I shrugged and returned to the den, where Libby had pulled out the things from the tub and was putting them back in. “You’ve got everything from bottled waters to a condom in here.”
I glanced at the supplies. “Doesn’t hurt to always be prepared.”
She held up the rope and a bottle of champagne. “I’m not even going to ask what you plan to use these for.”
I chuckled and took the rope from her. “The rope was for rappelling when my brother found bones in the bottom of Devil’s Pit. The champagne…” I shrugged. “Looks like something my sister might have added in case she ever gets stranded with me.”
“Always prepared. I like her already.”
“I’m going to stay until the pump is done. I opened a window to get the water out. I’ll call in a replacement water heater in the morning for you.”
“That’s kind of you. I can’t imagine what I’d do if you weren’t here.”
“Well, you wouldn’t have broken your foot,” I said and gestured to her boot. “Mrs. Weller wouldn’t have felt compelled to cook us dinner, and you would never have slipped.”
