The Haunting Of O'Malley Farmhouse

On a brisk fall day coming up the winding dirt road you can see the picturesque O'Malley farmhouse in the distance as it sits peacefully on the hill. As you approach you become overwhelmed with the charm and beauty of the bountiful weeping willow to the right of the farmhouse. It stands out in contrast to the stunning fall colours that surround the property. All the maple trees are now a vibrant red, complimented by the birch and oak trees shades of orange and yellow that the first frost made possible. It's a colour palette only comparable to a bountiful summer garden harvest scattered across the kitchen waiting to be preserved.

Anyone that ventures up the hill is greeted by Noras orange barn cat, Fergus. He is a rough looking tabby. However, Nora developed a soft spot for him when he was just a few weeks old. He beat the odds of survival when his mother disappeared from the big red barn behind the house. Of course with some persistence from Nora, grandpa gave in when it came down to what would happen to little ol' Fergus. After all Grandpa is the one with the soft spot for Nora.

On any given day you would hear Nora and Grandpa before seeing them. Laughter could always be heard from the vegetable garden behind the house as they worked together. Nora like her grandfather loved gardening and preserving their harvest. For a lady of just seventeen she has soaked up all the skills her grandfather had taught her as a girl. Being the eldest of fourteen children the expectations her parents have of her are high. She much prefers doing her part on the homestead than helping her mother with her youngest siblings. Thankfully, grandpa doesn't believe in strict gender roles and he has been able to influence her parents in their decision making when it comes to Nora's responsibilities. Grandpa even encourages her to wear trousers instead of her dress while doing her farm chores. It took awhile for Ma and Pa to get use to it but they compromised and agreed to trousers as long as she kept it to farm chores only. She may be of small stature but she is tough and hardworking. At her age she is able to do all of the strenuous work when it comes to gardening and the long days canning their preserves. They both have a love for goats. Nora has even taken responsibility of the goat milk soap business after her grandmother passed away tragically. In fact, Nora and her grandfather have a lot in common and one is usually not seen without the other.

However, today is not like most days she has encountered before. Nora is not in the garden preparing their fall garden. Today she is sitting on the covered porch in a rocking chair with Fergus in her lap. Next to her is her grandfathers vacant chair. She is waiting anxiously for Dr. Murphy to arrive to see if he can diagnose exactly what is wrong with her grandfather. As she waits her mind is racing, she wishes she knew how to help. Her grandfather hasn't left bed in three days. Anyone that knows Michael O'Malley knows he's out of bed before the sun to start his chores and to milk his favourite goat, Dolly. Nora has been milking her so far this week and while she is happy to help, poor Dolly is not use to it all and has been less than cooperative for Nora. She has been kicked twice already and she's looking forward to her grandfather being able to take over morning milking again soon. As she's rubbing the bruise on her
right arm that Dolly gifted her this morning she spots Dr. Murphy's horse and carriage coming up the winding dirt road.

"Finally..." she sighs with hesitant relief as she bites her nail anxiously.

As Dr. Murphy exits his carriage he can tell it is Nora on the porch by seeing her fiery red hair. Her presents is usually accompanied by a bright and bubbly smile to match but today she is sorrowful like the weeping willow.

"Hello, Nora." he says as he tips his hat.
"Hello, Dr. Murphy." she says with a forced smile to appear polite.
"Your mother stopped by my office this morning and asked me to come by. She said you would be expecting me." he explained.
"Yes. It's regarding my grandfather. Please come in!" She explained as she eagerly open the farmhouse door.