188 Treasure hunting 2

The next morning the treasure hunt was on. Eva was up before anyone and had breakfast ready. Eva heard small feet upstairs and slipped up to see who was awake. Watching quietly by the door she saw Crystal climb onto the bed with Audis. Crystal puts her head on Audis's shoulder and Eva hears her . 

"Hey my Audis, it's time to get up lazy bones. We got a treasure to find. Come on get up we can't let Eva find it by herself. Hello are you in there?" Eva watched as her dad began to tickle the little imp. Her squeal of laughter rings through the upstairs. Brayden bounds out of his room and heads for her dad's room. Jumping on the bed he joins in on the fun. Audis is laughing and trying to get up but the two kids keep trying to tickle him. 

"Oh lord I'm getting to old to be woke up by little imps. " he get the two off the bed and they go to leave when they notice Eva. She playfully grins and begins to chase the around the room. Making the bed as she goes. Eva's face is beaming with happiness as she plays with the children. 

"So who is ready for breakfast and then treasure hunting?" Raising their hands Crystal and Brayden cry " I do" and they run down stairs. 

"Dad why is Crystal still here why have you not sent her home ?" Audis scowls at his daughter. 

"Remi and Yona were just joined and have had not much time alone. Now Remi is spending all of her time helping with John and Cora. Yona is on conference calls all day, the poor girl would just be alone . I love having Crystal here she is good company for Brayden and she makes me laugh. School starts back up in a few day's she will go back then. Remi and Yona call me several times a day to check on her and to ask if I'm ready to send her home . It's me who wants her to stay. " Eva thinks about it for a moment and agrees it's logical for her to be here. They here Crystal calling for them. Winona comes out of her room apologizing for her son. 

"Oh no don't apologize for the boy he is fine he just one of the kids." Eva quickly lets her know winking at her dad they head down stairs. 

"Hey lay bones what took you so long, breakfast is getting cold." Chuckling at her Audis ruffles her hair and sits down. 

"Little imp do you think you can give me time to change from my night clothes before demanding that I come to breakfast." Audis asks her

"I don't know my lazy bones you may just go back to sleep if I let you alone. I will think about it in the morning. Now where are we going today ?" Her eyes shinning as she looks at Eva . 

"Today we go see Ms Dorothy at Harpers Ferry and from there we will see." Eva tells her as Marshal comes in and has a seat. 

"So I brought the SUV today so we all can fit in one car. I stopped and picked up some snacks and drinks on my way for these two little imps." Audis looks at Marshal and asks. 

"I have a plan on how to catch this particular cat . I may need your help a little . " the two men look at Winona . Her face is confused but Eva rolls her eyes and sees her head laughing. Knowing exactly what these two are talking about. Thinking to get in on the fun she quipped 

"Just make sure that kittens don't happen before you catch her or things could get complicated." Audis nearly chokes on his coffee. Looking at her she grins. 

"That is a good idea kittens that's one way to keep her." The children are looking at the three like they are crazy and Winona just looks bewildering. 

"umm Mr Audis we will have a problem if you get a cat . I'm severely allergic and won't be able to stay here." The three burst out laughing since she is the so called cat they are talking about. Marshal puts his arm around her and tells her. 

"Don't worry you won't need to go anywhere ." Kissing her forehead he gets up and heads outside . Audis goes up to change so they can leave on their treasure hunt. Eva gets the kids ready she takes a moment to tease Winona. 

"You know that Marshal has had women after him since he was a kid. Those felines would never leave him alone. You must be a special feline to get his attention." Winona's mouth drops open as it dawns on her that they were talking about a girl. Her face turns red and she sits down wondering if they were really talking about her. What if Marshal was talking about someone else. Sighing she gets up and goes outside with the others.   

once they arrive at the park they go to find Ms Dorothy she is in the general store building. Brayden and Crystal his behind Audis as they talk to her. She is an old lady dressed in colonial clothing. To Brayden she looks like a witch. Crystal smacks him aggravated at him because of it. Ms.Dorothy looks at Crystal and gives her a sour look. 

"Young lady it is not nice to smack others. "She points her crooked finger at her. Crystal decides if she is a witch then she should ask. 

"I smacked him because he said you were witch. " Dorothy begins to laugh and motions for the two to come sit . 

"I have been called lots of things including a witch. I'm not one but do you know an evil one used to live here. It was said she brought the dead back to life. Now how much of that is true I don't know but this place has a lots of ghost stories. Now about this treasure you are looking for may I see the map." The two kids sit quietly beside the old lady as she looks at the map. 

"hmmm you need to head over to the ice cream shop by the railroad. You will find what you are looking for there. Eva I'm so sorry about your mom's passing. She was a wonderful loving soul. Though she had a twisted sense of humor she was a joy." Eva thanks her and the group head for the ice cream shop. They pass the old boarding house and Crystal stops. Staring at it, Audis comes beside her and takes her hand. 

"My Audis that's where the evil witch lived. There is a cave under the house, the evil is gone but the shadow is still there. " she takes his hand and walks with him to the ice cream shop. When they enter Eva opens the map. The girl behind the counter sees the map and quickly gets the owner. The owner comes out and in her hand is a box. She gives it to Eva. 

"Your Eva ,I was told to give this to whoever came with the map so here you go." They sit at the table and Eva opens the box. Inside are old pictures of Norma and her family in this shop. She looks around and sees a duplicate picture in the wall. Asking the owner about it. 

"This picture can I ask why is it here?" The owner notices it and begins to tell her. 

"This is a picture of the original owners. This little girl here she was the youngest and just recently passed. They lived in the rooms above the shop until it was sold. They had to sell quickly because people were upset over the child. The rumors were one of the daughters got pregnant out of wedlock and in those days the family would be shunned. Though it was never proven to be true or false the damage was done. There are still a few things left upstairs in the attic from the original owners. We have kept them just incase someone came looking. Your mom was the little girl in the picture. I don't think she even knew we had some of their things here. Would you like to have them?" Eva nods her head vigorously and quickly follow the man upstairs. He shows her the small apartment that her mothers family lived in. Now it's just a storage room but then it must have been so cramped with a family of eight. He takes her to a small room there is a trunk. Opening it there are some wooden toys and Tin solders. She finds a doll and gives it to Crystal. Turning to the man she asks. 

"Do you mind if we take the trunk?" He helps marshal carry it down stairs as they are leaving she sees Crystal standing by a door. She is talking to herself it seems walking over to her she listens to what she is saying. 

"Thank you for watching over Norma's things we will be taking them now. Is there anything else we need to take ?" The little girl nods and goes to the kitchen area. Standing on an old chair she opens the vent grate above the sink. Placing her hand inside she pulls out a silk sack and climbs down. Walking over she nods to the doorways and takes Eva's hand. Smiling up at Eva she tells her they can go. 

"Eva we can go now , it's time for the boy to move on now that his job is done . "Crystal waves as she leaves the room. Eva looks at the little girl and asks. 

"You see them just like Aisling can?" Crystal bows her head shamefully and nods. 

"Don't be ashamed of it , I think it's can be scary to be able to see them. You must be a brave girl just like Aisling. Have you seen my mom?" Crystal looks up at her and nods. 

"She stayed until her party, she came back briefly for daddy and mommy's joining. She is at peace and except for your treasure hunt her job was done. She says that she will always be close if we need her. I miss her but I promised to take over where she left off . So my Audis won't be sad or alone. You know she always said my in front of everyone's name. It's because to her they all had a piece of her heart so they all were a part of her. When something or someone is apart of you it becomes yours so you say my or mine. To her we were all hers so she laid her claim every time she spoke our name. Reminding us that we were apart of her and loved. I have wanted to cal you my Evie since you were here before but I was afraid you would be upset. So my Evie are you ready to go look through the box and trunk we just found?" The little girls eyes are shinning with excitement as she looks up at Eva. Eva has tears I her eyes as she bends down to hugs her. "Let's go see what we have found." They go to join the others.