It Was a Dark and Stormy Night - Halloween Serial Chapter Two by Teri Wilson

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night – Halloween Serial Chapter Two

Teri Wilson

“Oh.” Ellie glanced at the foreboding mansion at the top of the hill and really wished it didn’t look so much like the house in the movie Psycho. “Actually, yes. I’m going to the party.”

“Super. Climb on in.” Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome grinned. At least she assumed he was tall. It was kind of hard to tell since he was behind the wheel of a fancy sports car. But he wasn’t giving off a Norman Bates vibe, and for now, that would have to be good enough. Her Louboutins weren’t going to fix themselves.

“Thank you,” she said, folding herself into the passenger seat.

“You’re welcome.” His grin widened, revealing a most charming set of dimples, and he shifted the car into drive.

Ellie tried not to stare. She really did. But now that she’d gotten a closer look at him, she couldn’t help but notice how very much he looked like Ryan Gosling. That had to be a good sign, right?

She swallowed and aimed her gaze out the windshield. The storm had really picked up. Rain pounded against the glass, and the trees outside bent sideways in the wind. Trick-or-treaters went scurrying for cover. By the time they crested the hill, the rain-slicked sidewalks were deserted.

A chill snaked its way up Ellie’s spine. She’d be glad once she was safe inside the grand house and out of this eerie weather.

But when the car reached the sweeping, circular drive, it didn’t stop. Ellie pressed her palm against the window and cast a longing glance at the mansion.

Don’t panic. He lives here. He’s probably taking you to a separate, private entrance.

She forced her lips into a brave smile. “Thank you again for the ride, Mr…um…I’m sorry, I don’t think I caught your name.”

He arched a brow and gave her a sideways glance that sent butterflies swarming in her belly. “You can call me Norman.”

The Rest of the Story...

Hi Everyone, Sandra Orchard here. I had so much fun writing my newest release, Fatal Inheritance (August), in which a young woman inherits her grandparents' old farmhouse and their 1914 Cadillac. The idea for the house was inspired by our own 100+ year old place.

Moving into an old place can be quite an adventure. We had a collapsed barn on the property and my kids thought it was great fun to explore through the debris. At one point they staked out an area and excavated it like an archeological dig, and were over-the-moon excited when they unearthed DINOSAUR bones!

Of course, we had to tell them they were probably cow bones. ~grin~

My son was not to be deterred. He plowed through rubble for weeks and was eventually rewarded with finding a cement floor, perfect for a basketball court. (Well, almost perfect. Actually far from perfect, but it worked!)

Meanwhile, in the house, I was hoping to unbury treasure of my own. You know, something like glass jars filled with money hidden in the walls. ~wink~ No such luck.

However, stripping wallpaper proved to be an intriguing walk through history! The previous two owners never stripped wallpaper before putting up new stuff. So I traveled back to the flower power of the psychedelic sixties, through various other interesting designs, right down to a beautiful, gilt-edged Victorian style.

 Of course, what I hadn't counted on was that the wallpaper was what was holding up the plaster! Yikes!!

Then there was the very ugly corner fireplace in the living room whose opening we blocked off with a big hunk of Styrofoam our first night in the house to ward off the draft that swooped down it. It had to go, so I got myself a sledge hammer and went to work. Good thing I did, too, because look what I found behind it:

 See all that black at the top of the brick. That's charred wooden beams around the chimney that clearly wasn't working properly. If we'd used the fireplace, I might not be here to write this blog!

Of course, there are many more stories I could tell. You can read about our creature encounters on a blog I wrote last month. (click here)

To read about Becki Graw's adventures in the house she inherits, check out Fatal Inheritance. You might even find it on store shelves for a few more days.

“YOU DON’T BELONG HERE.”

Someone wants to stop Becki Graw from claiming her inheritance. Police officer Joshua Rayne is just as determined to keep his beautiful neighbor safe. She may not be the tomboy Josh remembers, but she’s just as stubborn. Becki is intent on keeping her grandparents’ remote farmhouse-no matter the danger. Becki’s feelings for her childhood crush may be rekindled, but she’s seen too much to risk opening her heart. As the threats against Becki escalate, the list of suspects grows longer. Josh must convince Becki to trust him with her heart-and her life-before a madman ends their chance at happiness…permanently.

Find fun bonus features such as deleted scenes, recipes, location pics etc. by clicking here.

Your Turn: What kind of adventures have you had moving into a new place?

A two time Canadian Christian Writing Award winner and RT Reviewers' Choice Award winner, Sandra Orchard writes for Love Inspired Suspense as well as mysteries for Revell Publishing. Learn more about Sandra and her novels at SandraOrchard.com. To be notified of new releases, subscribe to her newsletter and/or connect on Facebook.