Old Man Thatcher's Barn

Moonlight filtered in through the gaps in the boards of the ancient barn. Dust stirred in the breeze and danced through the beams. Squeaks and groans escaped the old boards making goosebumps rise along Lily’s arms despite the late august heat. The abandoned farm equipment threw violent-shaped shadows that danced menacingly with the sorrowful song of the barn wood. A shiver ran down her spine as she heard something stir the hay and wheat that was strewn around the old dirt floor. She held her breath and tried to make herself even smaller in what was left of the stall she hid behind.

She caught a glimpse of the half-moon through one of the bigger cracks and she prayed the light was not illuminating her position. A loud scuff came from the front of the barn as a boot heel caught on the lone board that ran across the threshold. Her pulse raced. The steps became muffled from the dirt with crispy snaps as the hay broke. The steps were slow and steady, and coming closer.

Lily considered running. She might be able to make it through the door, but they would see her, and she wasn’t sure she could outrun them. Her well-worn Justin boots had leather soles and would be slippery in the wheat fields outside. She should not have taken the dare. The boys had goaded her, telling her she couldn’t spend an hour in the old barn in the dark. They had told her it was haunted, and the ghosts would scare her off. Well, their words were “make her cry and pee her pants.” But Lily was not a coward. As soon as they had dared her, she knew she had to do it.

“Stupid Lily.” She scolded herself internally. There was not supposed to be anyone here. She was just supposed to wait long enough to shut the boys up. Her brothers and the neighbor boys always ganged up on her. She was hoping that this time she would prove them wrong, and they would leave her alone for a while. Or better yet include her. Instead, she was about to get busted or worse, murdered.

The steps were making a slow steady circle of the old barn. She could hear the muffled thumps echoing off the old dirt floor. A new light was moving the menacing shadows. They must be using a flashlight to search the place. The hay rustled under the old farm equipment again and Lily nearly jumped out of her skin in surprise. A green light seemed to glow underneath in twin orbs. She stared, frightened and mesmerized. They winked out then back open and she realized they were eyes reflecting the sliver of moonlight falling through.

Lily let out a sigh of relief as the kitten took a step forward and she could see the dusky triangles of ears. The growing footsteps were forgotten as she reached forward to gather the kitten in her arms. It was hesitant but began purring as she soothed it with a quiet, “Shhhhh.” The kitten was a silky light grey that darkened around its paws, ears, and nose. Those pale green eyes shone brightly even without the reflection of the moonlight.

“What do you think you’re doing child?” The voice was deep and gravely behind her, and Lily nearly dropped the kitten in fear and surprise. Back straight as a board, she turned around slowly.

The light blinded her at first until he lowered it from her face. As she blinked back the starbursts his large, shadowed form started taking shape. He was wearing an old cowboy hat that was missing a piece out of the side. A large turkey feather was stuck in the band. Her eyes traveled down his creased face, leathery and worn with hours spent in the sun. His eyes were a striking blue that looked kind despite his gruff demeanor and graveled voice. He towered over Lily and her hands shook around the kitten.

“Um, just seeing if the barn is haunted.” She replied voice shaking, then she remembered her manners and added “Sir.”

“Haunted, huh?” His voice rumbled low, and his eyes did not leave hers. “A little late for a little thing like you to be running around alone. You should be in bed.”

Lily’s chin lifted stubbornly as she stared into his sky-blue eyes. “Can’t catch a ghost in the daylight sir, has to be at night.” The kitten must have felt her fear because it stopped purring and started to hiss at the large man.

“You always bring your cat to hunt for ghosts girly?” His face was stoic, but Lily could have sworn he was smiling in his eyes.

“Actually, if this is your barn then it makes it your kitten. He was hiding under that big metal thing.” Lily informed him. Pointing to the rusted metal of the old farm equipment. Her loose blond curls fell into her eyes with the motion. Lily impatiently brushed them away. Then she turned back to the large man and reached her hands towards him with the kitten.

The man huffed and took a step away from the kitten, like it was going to jump up and bite him. Lily could not help a mischievous half grin watching his reaction. Apparently, he was not a big fan of cats. Pulling the kitten back to her chest she jutted her right hand out in front of her. “I’m Lily.”

He took a long step forward and took her hand and said, “I’m Gerald Thatcher.” His hand engulfed Lily’s small hand. Rough with calluses and warm around hers. She had heard of Old Man Thatcher but she never imagined she would be meeting him face to face. She glanced at the watch on his wrist as they shook and noticed the time. Only 11:20…. She had to stay another forty minutes, or she would not win the dare.

Noticing Lily’s attention on the watch and the frown that had come over her face he asked, “A little late for you to be ghost hunting, ain’t it?” His low voice brought her hazel eyes back to his bright blue ones.

“I have to be here for another forty minutes, or I won’t win the dare, sir.” Lily’s stubborn chin was set, and she took a breath to explain. “The boys will say I chickened out if I leave before midnight. Then they will never take me on the big adventures with them. They’ll just call me a baby chicken and leave me behind.”

A surprised laugh that sounded more like a grunt overtook Gerald and he shook his head at the slight girl’s moxie. She could not weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet and here she was staring him down and ready to fight to stay in the old, weathered barn until midnight. It had been a while since he had been this surprised, and she was very respectful despite trespassing into his barn. “Are they waiting for you by the road?” He asked.

Lily nodded her fingers working behind the kittens’ ears to set it purring. For a little thing, it put out a lot of noise when it was happy.

“I’ll tell you what, Lily. Why don’t you sneak out the back with me up to the house and we will wait out your forty minutes? They won’t know you’ve left, and you can come back out through the barn when it’s time. You and your little friend can have a snack and they will not be calling you a baby chicken anytime soon. What do you say?” Gerald asked her.

“You won’t murder me, will you?” Lily asked audaciously. The indecision was clear in her face. She wanted to trust the man, but she wanted to win her dare too.

Another surprised laugh left the old man and he replied, “I won't murder you. I will not even bite you. That is a better deal than the spiders and ticks are going to make you if you stay out here.”

Lily’s skin began to crawl as she looked around. With Old Man Thatcher’s light, she could see the dusty webs and the critters crawling in the corners. She took a hesitant swallow then nodded. “Ok, deal. But the kitten stays with me. “

“Deal.” He answered. “Follow me, I’ll turn the light off on the trail, so your friends won’t see us leave. Should be enough moonlight to get us there though.” Lily followed him around the farm equipment and out to a side door that was half off the hinges. Behind it cutting through the wheat field was a trail leading around a hill. As they crested the hill a farmhouse began to come into view that Lily had not known was there. It was hidden from the road by the hills perfectly. The old barn drawing attention away from the trail.

The old man was careful not to walk too fast so Lily could keep up in her slippery boots. He had lived alone since his wife had passed and he had very few visitors. As he led her to his front porch, he felt a small smile come over his lined face. The night had taken an interesting turn, to say the least. The wrap-around porch held both entrances into the house and a large bench swing. His wife had loved that porch swing.

As they mounted the stairs, he gestured to the old porch swing. “Go ahead and have a seat and I’ll see what I have for you. I think there might even be cake.”

Lily smiled at the thought of cake and settled into the swing happily. She could see way more stars shining brightly out here. Without any lights around her to hide them they showed off their sparkling beauty. The milky way was actually a milky light ribbon dancing across the sky from hill to hill. The silver of the moonlight danced off the wheat that moved lazily in the smallest of breezes. The tops heavy with grain waiting to be harvested soon. It was beautiful. She had come to win a dare and find a ghost. Instead, she had made a friend. Looking down at the kitten, maybe two friends.

The screen door swung open and Old Man Thatcher stepped out with two plates of chocolate cake and a saucer of milk. He set the milk down on the porch by Lily and she let the kitten down to enjoy the treat. Lily accepted her piece of cake and he sat down next to her. The rich cake was bitter and just the right amount of sweet. In silence, they ate their snack and staired up to the stars the old swing letting out gentle creaks as they rocked.

To be continued…

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