The Mystery of Maple Creek

Chapter 9. Travel Around Town

Chapter 9

Travel Around Town

(Perspective: Hellen Mayweather)

Soon after I walked out of the library, I hoped Joanna won’t question me. She was still busy helping her mom in there. Melissa, Bree, and Bridgit had already gone to their basecamp somewhere. Meanwhile, I needed some air.

I didn’t know where I should go from here. Should I just walk home? Should I travel to mid-town? Maybe there would be something interesting to see.

I was about to visit my dad’s fish market, then Noah called out for me. I glanced at him. This time he dressed in a different color of hoodie. It was a cloudy blue. And he looked handsome.

“Hey, Noah—”

He looked happy when he approached me in the street.

“Hellen, how are you feeling? You know, some people wanted to visit you in the hospital back then, but the nurse—”

“Yes, I heard before. The nurse didn’t allow visitors, except my dad,” I finished his words.

He nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I really wanted to see you. And yesterday, I came to your house, but your dad said you were sleeping, so—”

“Oh, really?” I pinched my eyes, surprised. “I didn’t know you came.”

My dad didn’t say anything to me. Maybe he forgot since he was very busy this morning. He had to manage some iceboxes in the market.

“Yeah, I did,” he nodded again.

“Miss me already?” I teased him.

Noah seemed flustered to answer me. He ended up giggling.

“Well, yeah, actually. I miss you, Hellen,” he bravely admitted. “If you were not in accident at that time, I planned on inviting you for a ride around the town.”

“Sure, there must be a lot of good things in here. Why don’t we start now?” I suggested. And then I remembered my dad. But maybe I could just use a little time to refresh my mind before getting back working in his place.

Noah looked at me in disbelief. “Really? Like, right now? I mean, you’re just discharged from the hospital—”

I giggled and immediately cut him off, “I have enough rest. I want to travel now.”

“Well, if you insist. Alright, let’s go,” Noah said happily.

Then he asked me to get in his car. When we approached the parking lot across the street, I was surprised. It was not what I was expecting. But sure, it was the friendlier car in town. It was a vintage Chevy truck. The color looked antique—dark bronze poly.

“I hope you don’t mind. This is my dad’s old truck,” Noah said while driving. “I know you’re from the city, so maybe this is not too fancy for you.”

He was trying to be down to earth. But I didn’t much care for the look, as long as it felt comfy.

“Hey, it’s okay. I am not so high maintenance, so you don’t have to impress me,” I said.

I bet we both must be picturing the same thing. The image of Melissa Wilder and her clique club immediately popped up in my head. And he almost burst to laugh beside me.

As the wind hit my cheeks, I felt calm. I rested my head and my hands at the car window.

He drove me around the places in Maple Creek. From the private residence, the market, until the local antique museum. And once we arrived on the maple farm, he invited me to get out of the car.

For a moment, I breathed the fresh air in this huge place. Noah also seemed happy here.

“This is where my family and I run the old business,” Noah informed me. “My parents work hard on the farm.”

“Wow, it’s beautiful here,” I said as my eyes stared at the faraway view. The atmosphere around the farm made me felt at home.

“Yeah, wait until the folk party will be held. I’ve heard my dad and the mayor agree to have the seasonal event here this month,” Noah told me.

“I’d like to join,” I said excitedly. “Can’t wait for the event.”

“I promise, you’ll be the first to get the invitation,” he said. “We usually have a barbecue grill and maple syrup to be served. It’s going to be fun.”

Then I remembered about his cousin, “But Ronnie works in the Dine Club, I thought you said this place is your family’s business.”

Noah quickly chuckled. “Yeah, about that, Ronnie does whatever he wants.”

“Maybe he wants to party all night long. The Dine Club always has that,” I added.

Then my eyes caught a dark building in the southwest. I wondered if that was the Holy House, which Melissa once mentioned to me. It was the only place that Noah had not brought me.

“Noah, is that a church?” I said as pointing out my head toward the building.

He followed my gaze. For a second, he was quiet.

“Noah?” I shouted out to draw his attention. He looked hesitant to talk.

But then he let out a heavy sigh. “It’s the Holy House.”

My assumption was correct. There was also a cemetery near that place. I could see the view from up here.

“Do people in town call a church as a Holy House?” I wondered.

He suddenly looked uncomfortable when I kept on asking about the place. I didn’t know what was wrong. But I remembered Melissa told me about the Bennet who lived there. Did Noah also scare about the Bennet? Or did he just want to distance himself from them?

“Let’s go there. I want to see the hills from closer too,” I asked him.

He quickly glanced at me. He seemed flustered to make a decision.

“Hellen, I don’t think we should go there,” he finally said, “It’s a special place. People only go to the Holy House for praying. Or if you want to consult a spiritual session with the Father—”

“I heard about the Bennet,” I murmured. “Melissa told me, they live in there.”

Noah froze for a second. His stare looked panicking.

I was worried that he kept showing me such a weary face about it. Thereafter, I said, “Noah, is there something wrong? You look uneasy—”

He rubbed the back of his neck a few times. And then he said, “Hellen, if you really want to see the Holy House, I will drive you there.” But the look on his face said otherwise.

Soon after, we went there. Once the car arrived in front of the fence, Noah didn’t turn off the machine. He sat still next to me like a statue.

“Noah, aren’t you coming?” I asked.

Then he glanced at me and said, “Hellen, sorry, I just remember I should do family’s chores on the farm. When you are done, just call me to pick you up, okay?”

I quickly narrowed my eyebrows. Noah certainly didn’t want to go inside. Of course, I already got a hunch about it.

But in that second, I was feeling hesitant as well. I stared up at the tall building in front of me. Although surrounded by the view of greenish hills, this place somehow still looked haunting. Maybe the cemetery near this place added up the spooky atmosphere.

“So, do you still want to go there alone?” Noah asked me. “Or should I just get you home?”

Noah can feel hesitation in me. I was about to open the door, but then we saw the double door on the terrace was opened. Someone stood at the doorsill. Soon, I saw the familiar sweet face of that same girl. I saw her in the library earlier.

She was Carla Bennet.

We both exchange a curious stare. But she quickly entered the door again and just left.

I was agitated actually. She still gave me a silent treatment. I didn’t expect her to greet me, I could greet her first anyway. But her dark vibe made me afraid of coming closer.

“Weird girl, huh?” Noah muttered.

I immediately glanced at him. “I guess so.”

But the sharp edge of my curiosity couldn’t stay quiet. There was a thirst I needed to satisfy. But maybe not this time. I felt the fear gnawing my whole body when I looked at this place.

“Noah, can you get me home before you do your chores?” I begged.

He grinned at me. Without questioning my hesitation, he nodded and said, “Sure.”