More Harry Hogan stories!
It was a warm, lazy Saturday afternoon. Harry sat in a deck chair, thinking back over the 'cases' they had solved in the past year. He realized that he'd enjoyed each one. In fact, he'd found the historical mysteries more interesting than he'd anticipated. That surprised him because he had disliked history all through school. But, it didn't focus on the escapades of smugglers and pirates.
He'd enjoyed tracking the pirate Rupert Burton. He wondered if other pirates had frequented the area, and if there were more stories. Maybe others had come here to escape something in their past... or looking for a better life. Many stories were based on people who dared to follow their dreams, and legends were often started by rumours.
'Rumours... and legends...' Harry sat up straight. "Storm Legend," he said. "Not the lightning or Hobie's Hill tunnel - but something else. Miss P knows more." He grinned as he got to his feet. "And so does Silas. I'll start with him." Minutes later, he backed the truck out of the driveway.
********************
Silas was weeding around the border of Hosta plants at the edge of his lawn when Harry pulled the truck into the driveway. He got out and walked across the lawn. "It's looking good."
"Not as much work as flowers," Silas said, "and they can survive dry spells too."
"Indeed," Harry said. "I have them at my place. Mildred always had flower beds, but I don't have the patience to tend them like she did."
Silas pushed himself up to his feet. "Not as easy getting back up these days," he said, grinning.
Harry chuckled. "Tell me about it. Everything just keeps getting a little more difficult."
"Yep, you just have to find different ways to do things sometimes," Silas agreed. "So what brings you here, at loose ends, or something on your mind?"
"The Storm Legend. I suspect there’s more to it than just a bad storm."
After a moment of silence, Silas said, "Yeah, there is, but I'm really not the best person to tell it."
"Then who is?"
"Miss Pinkerton."
Harry nodded. "She's on my list. But I'm sure your grandfather talked about it."
"He did," Silas said, with a sigh. " The legend claims a life was lost in that fire."
"And I bet there's a ghost involved."
"That depends on who you talk to."
Harry nodded. "People often have different opinions on such things. Just tell me what you know."
Silas sighed. "A woman lived out there in the woods, in a log cabin. some kind of... an herbalist, I guess they'd call her now."
"Who was she?"
"Most called her Aunt Lizzy... or Bizzy Lizzy, because she was always out in the woods, looking for herbs and other wild plants. That's all I know, and I'm not sure if that was her real name."
"What did she do with the herbs?" Harry asked. "Did she treat people's ailments?"
"She might have, if they believed and went to her, I suppose. But she also sold herbs."
