True believer - Nicholas Sparks [20]
Doris took a bite of her sandwich. “And, well, to make a long story short, the Negroes moved the bodies one by one to another cemetery, the railroad went in, and after that, just as Hettie said, Cedar Creek Cemetery started going bad. Little things at first. A few headstones broken, things like that, like vandals were responsible. The county folks, thinking Hettie’s people were responsible, posted guards. But it kept happening, no matter how many guards they put out there. And over the years, it kept getting worse. You went there, right?”
Jeremy nodded.
“So you can see what’s happening. Looks like the place is sinking, right, just like Hettie said it would? Anyway, a few years later, the lights started to appear. And ever since then, folks have believed it was the slave spirits marching through.”
“So they don’t use the cemetery anymore?”
“No, the place was abandoned for good in the late 1970s, but even before that, most people opted to be buried in the other cemeteries around town because of what was happening to that one. The county owns it now, but they don’t take care of it. They haven’t for the last twenty years.”
“Has anyone ever checked into why the cemetery seems to be sinking?”
“I’m not certain, but I’m almost positive that someone has. A lot of powerful folks had ancestors buried in the cemetery, and the last thing they wanted was their grandpa’s tomb being broken up. I’m sure they wanted an explanation, and I’ve heard stories that some folks from Raleigh came to find out what was happening.”
“You mean the students from Duke?”
“Oh, no, not them, honey. They were just kids, and they were here last year. No, I’m talking way back. Maybe around the time the damage first started.”
“But you don’t know what they learned.”
“No. Sorry.” She paused, and her eyes took on a mischievous gleam. “But I think I have a pretty good idea.”
Jeremy raised his eyebrows. “And that is?”
“Water,” she said simply.
“Water?”
“I’m a diviner, remember. I know where water is. And I’ll tell you straight up that that land is sinking because of the water underneath it. I know it for a fact.”
“I see,” Jeremy said.
Doris laughed. “You’re so cute, Mr. Marsh. Did you know that your face gets all serious-looking when someone tells you something you don’t want to believe?”
“No. No one’s ever told me that.”
“Well, it does. And I think it’s darling. My mom would have had a field day with you. You’re so easy to read.”
“So what am I thinking?”
Doris hesitated. “Well, like I said, my gifts are different than my mother’s. She could read you like a book. And besides, I don’t want to scare you.”
“Go ahead. Scare me.”
“All right,” she said. She took a long look at him. “Think of something I couldn’t possibly know. And remember, my gift isn’t reading minds. I just get . . . hints now and then, and only if they’re really strong feelings.”
“All right,” Jeremy said, playing along. “You do realize, however, that you’re hedging yourself here.”
“Oh, hush, now.” Doris reached for his hands. “Let me hold these, okay?”
Jeremy nodded. “Sure.”
“Now think of something personal I couldn’t possibly know.”
“Okay.”
She squeezed his hand. “Seriously. Right now you’re just playing with me.”
“Fine,” he said, “I’ll think of something.”
Jeremy closed his eyes. He thought of the reason Maria had finally left him, and for a long moment, Doris said nothing at all. Instead, she simply looked at him, as if trying to get him to say something.
He’d been through this before. Countless times. He knew enough to say nothing, and when she remained silent, he knew he had her. She suddenly jerked—unsurprising, Jeremy thought, since it went with the show—and immediately afterward, released