While traveling in a storm, Glen Harper takes a wrong turn and crashes his car. Unhurt but cold and wet, he decides to get help. Using a distant light as a guide, Glen discovers an uninhabited cottage, where he lights a much needed fire. Glen quickly warms up but soon becomes aware of a presence in the room. Hank Waterford is the caretaker of the estate where Glen found refuge from the storm. They meet when Glen, thinking he’s alone in the cottage, jumps into Hank’s bed. Both men are strongly attracted to each other, but they have to overcome a hurdle Glen never anticipated: the spirit of Henry, the estate owner’s son, who committed suicide after his unrequited love for Hank became too much to bear. Together Glen and Hank must deal with Henry, who haunts the manor house as well as Hank’s cottage. Can they find a solution that will allow Henry’s spirit to finally come to rest? Will he accept Glen and Hank’s relationship, or will he become a malevolent presence in their lives?

The Haunted Caretaker

I had no idea what to do, if anything could usefully be done. I thought about Henry’s presence, if it was him, and now, tonight, I found I greatly desired it, no so much for me, though I felt I would welcome it for myself as well, but for Hank.


After considering, I laid my hands, palm upward on the arms of the chair, and relaxed, thinking what I hoped were inviting thoughts. At some point, however, my fatigue overcame me, and I fell asleep. It was some time later, and the fire had burnt low, when I awoke.


Chapter 19