NaNo: The Hauntings of Garenger Manor

The Letter

Post Mark: Aug 22nd, 1972 - Barron Sways, WY

Mr. Jonathan Pine,

My name is Maggie Berns, a real estate broker currently based out of Barron Sways, Wyoming, a small town of 428 people about 20 miles south-east of Bolder. I am writing to you after having found an article written in the New York Times about the paranormal and occult and your studies. I may have a house pertaining to your interests.

You see I specialize in abandoned and lost homes, properties that were left without an inheritor and never bought at the county auction, by assessing their structural soundness and modernization for today's working family. But one of my projects, Garenger Manor, has gone at a standstill for nearly a year now do to circumstances outside of our understanding, and my workmen will no longer set foot inside, claiming they hear screams and have had things fly off shelves at them, or locked behind doors with no lock.

If not for the fact my two men have done work for me for a decade now, I would have thought they were fooling, but there has been a lot more coming to the surface and I am at my wits end.

I can pay for your travels, stay, and compensate you for your research if you can bring resolve to this case of mine. Enclosed is contact information and location details.

Sincerely,

– Maggie K. Berns, Sublette County Real Estate Broker

- - - - -

Johnathan drove up to the sleepy little town Tuesday, September 12th to meet up with Mrs. Berns after using one of the three payphones in the whole town, located at the Smokey Bear Diner, where she elected to meet with him. Maggie Berns was as described in their correspondences, average height, blonde, in her late 30's, and by the air he got, very professional in dress despite everyone else around was about as country as you could get. They sat and talked about twenty minutes about what he did, what she did, but the details about the house itself were left vague. As it was, when he first talked to people to gain his bearings, he received a lot of odd looks when Garenger Manor was mentioned. This was going to be fun, he could feel it.

It was quite a lovely drive up through the narrow back roads of Barron Sways, the town itself had fifteen streets and one boulevard that Johnathan would travel both in and out from during his stay. Outside of the modern living it was trees, gentle hills and farmland with old homes, but as they ascended what might have been the only hill for 40 miles, Johnathan could see why Mrs. Berns was so determined to save this house.

"Woooow," he stated as he stepped out of the car looking up.

"Ain't she a beaut?" Maggie replied walking up to him. "Built in 1842 and still standin'."

It was an old style Victorian home of three stories and some fifteen room set at the top of this hill, hidden from the rest of the land by many black walnut trees and an overgrown garden. The paint was long since faded and cracking away, but the woodwork of the railings, overhangs and carved pillars were holding strong. It was a fantastic looking house, one seldom seen off of old southern plantations, and was sure to fetch a grand penny when fixed up.

"I dig it, that's for sure," John said as his eyes followed the second story porch. "What all have you done with it so far?"

"Well, that's the thing, not much. Bought it as is in May last year, did an overall inspection of the structure, explored a few accessible rooms, but waited till we could get that there power line installed and the breaker switch before getting our hands dirty."

"The house predates electricity?"

"Well sure, it wasn't touched since maybe 1890. Had gas lighting though, but that's been kept off for God knows."