Read Online Dancing Dead by Deborah Woodworth - Free Book Online Page A

sweet with apple blossoms, and the brethren were hard at work outdoors. Rose, however, was unlucky enough to be shut indoors with Elder Wilhelm Lundel. Gennie had reported all she’d seen and heard the previous night on her ghost-hunting adventure, and Rose had felt compelled to relate the information to Wilhelm. She and Wilhelm shared responsibility for the spiritual guidance and care of the North Homage Believers, but often Wilhelm had difficulty remembering he was not sole leader of the community. This was one of those mornings.
    â€œWilhelm,” Rose said, “it is not Andrew’s fault that this odd specter has seen fit to inhabit our buildings.” She arranged another set of books on the shelves that their carpenter, Brother Archibald, had refinished for the library’s new location in the Center Family Dwelling House’s smallest meeting room.
    â€œThen it is thy fault, for encouraging Andrew to open that . . . that place.” Wilhelm, for once, was helping Rose with the move. She suspected it was only because he wanted the room arranged his way, not hers. Why he should care, she didn’t know. Wilhelm had established his beliefs long ago and saw no reason to deepen them with spiritual study. He preferred working outdoors.
    â€œIt’s only a hostel, Wilhelm, not a den of evil.”
    â€œIt is something of the world, right within our village. It brings an evil influence, which has called up this creature from Hell.”
    â€œYou don’t think it possible that this manifestation might be a long-dead Believer who has returned to tell us something?”
    â€œNay, I most certainly do not. She would have spoken by now. She would be watching over us, not performing for the world.”
    Rose had to admit he was probably right. “Wilhelm, do you remember hearing any stories about a young Shaker sister who died here under strange circumstances a hundred years ago? Did Obadiah ever mention anything like that happening?”
    Wilhelm snorted derisively. “Obadiah was far too busy as elder to worry about such foolishness.” He flicked a bit of dust from a copy of Mother Ann’s Testimonies and placed it gently on a shelf. “As am I.” He scooped his broad-brimmed work hat from a wall peg and faced Rose. “Sister, I leave it in thy hands to rid us of this intruder. If she is not gone soon, we will be forced to close that hostel.”
    â€œWilhelm, that’s—”
    â€œI haven’t time to argue, and we haven’t time to waste. We have people of the world wandering around the village day and night, and who knows what fresh evil they will bring with them. All this nonsense only creates spiritual confusion for our Children, for whom we are responsible, are we not?”
    Rose could think of nothing to say. Wilhelm had turned her own argument against her, the very words she had used to convince him to move with her to the dwelling house.
    â€œGood,” Wilhelm said, as he strode toward the door, “then we understand one another.” He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “One other issue. That child, Mairin—I hear she has been roaming the village at night, disobeying her elders.”
    â€œMairin is my responsibility,” Rose said.
    â€œPrecisely,” Wilhelm said, turning to face her. “And she is a bad example to the other children. If she cannot be controlled, we will have to send her away. We will send her to an orphanage—one of those orphanages that operate farms. She obviously does not appreciate all that we provide for her, asking only light work and study in return. Working on a farm might teach her gratitude.”
    â€œNay, we will not send Mairin anywhere.” Rose drew in her breath and prayed for calm. Her prayer was answered in the form of a sudden inspiration. “You yourself know that Mairin has shown spiritual promise. Don’t forget her gift drawings.”
    Wilhelm’s face