Read Online A Time in Heaven by Kathy Warcup - Free Book Online Page A

outside she went to the window to see what he was doing.  As she watched him sitting on the porch steps, drinking his coffee, she felt warm and safe.  She smiled to herself.
    She quickly showered and dressed . As she went outside with her cup of coffee , Jesse stood up and kissed her, “Good morning,” he said cheerfully.
    “And a good morning to you, too,” she responded just as cheerfully. They both sat down on the steps. As they drank their coffee , a cow moose and her calf crossed the path just yards from where they were sitting.  Sadie sat next to Jesse but made no sounds as the pair disappeared into the pines.
    “I thought we could go back to the lodge this morning for breakfast.  We spent a lot of time cleaning, so we should take advantage of our hard work.  Besides, there’s more food to choose from there,” Jesse suggested as he stood up and started down the steps.   He still wanted to search for a gun.
    “Good idea,” Katie said as she motioned to Sadie to come.  She snapped the leash on her collar, and they all started down the path.
    When they arrived at the lodge, the doors were open again.  Jess e distinctly remembered closing them when they left the night before. He didn’t say anything to Katie, though.
    Katie made breakfast while Jesse cleaned up from their dinner the night before.  After eating his breakfast , Jesse got up and headed toward the staircase.
    “Let’s go explore upstairs,” Jesse proposed.  He patted Sadie on the head and they headed for the staircase.  Katie followed behind them.  At the top, they saw what looked like six bedrooms.  There was a bathroom at each end of the hall.  And another door was between the second and third bedrooms on each side of the hall.  All of the doors were either open or half open, except the ones between the bedrooms .  There was a distinct odor that they assumed was coming from the bathroom at the top of the stairs.
    “Oh, nasty!” Katie said as she fanned her hand across her nose. “That will have to be taken care of.”
    Jesse went into the first bedroom.  It was actually quite nice for a fishing camp.  The walls were covered with cheap wooden paneling. There was a large double bed, a decen t dresser with a mirror, and a very old looking suitcase stand.  There was a single window with curtains proba bly dating from the sixties .   T here were several nails protruding from the wall slightly above eye level.  No doubt to hang any clothes a fisherma n might want to actually keep from wrinkling . All in all , the room was well kept.
    Katie walked out of the bedroom and headed toward the closed door on the left side of the hall.  “Any guesses on what’s behind door number one?” She turned , gave a “Vanna” pose, and grinned at Jesse.
    For some reason this place was making him very anxious .  Jesse ignored Katie’s funny remark and reached past her to open the door.  Not much of a mystery here.  The closet was filled with clean linens, towels and cleaning supplies. He closed that door.  Then he went to the door on the other side of the hall.
    That was when he noticed the obnoxious stench that they thought was the bathroom, was actually coming from behind this door.   Jesse reached for the door handle. Katie grabbed his hand to make him stop.  “We don’t have to open this door, Jesse.  Come on, let’s go.”
    Jesse ignored Katie’s request and slowly opened the closet door.  Something heavy was pushing from the other side. Jesse looked around the edge of the door and saw nothing, so he opened it the entire way.  Out fell a partially decomposed body.  The smell hit them at the same time.  Both screamed and jumped back away from the body now lying in front of them.
    “Katie, take Sadie and go downstairs now ! “ Jesse ordered as he covered his nose and mouth
    “Not without you,” Katie said emphatically.
    “Ok, we’ll all go.”  Katie grabbed Sadie by the collar and they all ran downstairs.
    “What