Shadows Of The Past

Chapter Twenty

The dining area was royal to look at with its simple yet grand furniture pieces in dark timber. The chairs in deep golden upholstery. An antique mirror was hung on one side of the wall above a credenza and the adjacent was another beautiful display cabinet of cutleries. There was a chaise on the corner of the room just in front of another french door which was again showcasing the beautiful greenery outside.  Beautiful chandelier bearing the candles were lit on the two ends of the table which was highlighting all the food that was displayed on the table.

Layla wheeled in the food trolley with few other items along with Frank.

"Good Evening everyone. I hope you all are well rested and very hungry. Since most of you guys have come here for the first time. We thought you should savor some of the Southern delicacies."

The table was laid out with Burgoo, Red Beans and Rice, Barbecue,  Bourbon Balls, Vegetable Noodles with Red Sauce, Praline and Banana Foster served with Red Wine.

"This looks sumptuous." said Max

Everyone praised the food. It was really cooked well. Layla had outdone herself. Kayla thought if she could cook half of these. Her life would be sorted.

"Wow Layla, you really know how to cook" Kayla said smilingly

"Thanks. Been there with my Grandmama since I was a kid - have grown on her food. So yeah, have developed some of her skills too. You are not from here though are you?. You are up from North."

"If you mean Lexington, No. I was born and raised in New York, but yeah come from an English family originally from Tennessee. I always wanted to visit down south and get exposed to the culture here. Maybe that's why I'm here....took this project."

"Yes. I heard about that. Interesting must say. Any homework you guys have done?"

"Yup. Loads" Kate put in

"Where are you then starting your journey from? You definitely should cover some local towns and areas. That might help you."

"Any suggestions?" Samantha asked excitedly. She had come back from her visit an hour ago and was having dinner with the rest of them

"Well. You know basically towns like Lex, Harrodsburg, Louisville, Shephardsville, Winchester, are the oldest towns of Kentucky. There are different legends which you will hear from the locals and each legend is interesting enough to understand the beliefs, superstitions of the people. There are these old families who actually claim that their old ones have seen a lot during their time."

"What would that be? What did they see?" Kayla asked

"No idea. Like I said, different stories from different people. Those are legends. The point is you guys will find the most difficult would be to understand what is actually real and what are myths. The towns over the centuries have been infected with plague, war, death, famine, poverty, pandemic, those are all written in the history books, but what they have omitted are the unaccounted deaths, missing families, witchcraft and lore that make your hair on your skin crawl. It is nothing you can imagine."

"What are they about?" Samantha asks

"All I would say, meet the locals, go to all the towns I had just mentioned. I will pull out some of the old family names. Visit them. You will know a lot - might be of some help."

"Layla, I heard some stories about some animal attack and some weird instances happening in the night in the woods. Is that true?" Samantha asked again

"It depends on what you actually believe in. Yes, there have been attacks that happens in the woods. Some say animal attack - when they see your jugular cavity pulled out and gashes on your body. Others say you have been bitten by the creatures of the night when they find your body pale completely drained off blood."

She smiled - "I guess your project is going to be a lot more fun that you actually expect."

"We hope so. Sam, what were the names of the families you had connected with?" Kate asked

"Quite a few. I will have the mail sent to you of the names  of the families I managed to speak with and who agreed to give us some insights about the local history."

"Thanks. Where are we basically starting from?"

"Tomorrow we are heading to Louisville. We are meeting two families the Holt and the Whitmore. As per the records, The Holts have stayed there for over a century and half and the Whitmores have been there for almost 120 years. Sure, must have something to speak about."

"Whom are we meeting?"

"Regina Whitmore and Edmund Holt"

"One of the first original settlers of the town."

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