The Haunted Traveler Vol 1 Issue 2

6
bread and water.”
The taller soldier grunted while his comrade
continued to stare.
Slowly rising, Sarah wiped her hands on her
dress and began walking toward her small clapboard
house situated in a valley beneath a steep hillside. The
soldiers pivoted and followed after her.
***
Upon reaching the door, Sarah turned back to
them, her hand resting on the rough wood slightly below
a tomahawk gouge. “It will only be a minute,” she
said, hoping the comment would cause them to remain
outside.
She started to close the door but met resistance.
The tall soldier forced it open. Inside, the house
was bare except for a table and a few cooking utensils,
an assortment of owl feathers were hung from the
beams. The soldiers looked around puzzled.
“What is this?” the tall one said. “The house is
empty and there are few animals on the farm.”
“Times have been tough,” Sarah said, trying to
respond ambiguously. But she knew from their eyes
that her answer wasn’t convincing.
The tall one studied her closely. But it was his
companion that really concerned her. His gaunt face
seemed to follow her every movement. Sarah was
afraid of what he might do if she were left alone with
him. And her daughter Hannah was soon to return
from playing at a nearby brook.
“Bread?” she said, attempting to divert their
thoughts.
She moved to the far side of the kitchen but