devoured most of the large pizza and the free medium one. Tonya was only able to handle a slice or two. She still was battling stress…and she wasn’t a stress eater unless chocolate was involved. “So where are your parents, Joshua?” Camden asked. “I haven’t seen them with you at all.” “Don’t got none. And I ain’t goin’ back to the orphanage. And you can’t make me.” The boy defiantly crossed his arms over his chest. “What orphanage?” Camden asked. “Miss Carmichael’s…in Gettysburg.” The blood in Tonya’s veins turned to ice. She’d heard about the headmistress, Rosa Carmichael, at The National Soldiers Orphans’ Homestead. The horrors of what the disciplinarian had done to some of the children was unspeakable. It was one of the most haunted buildings in Gettysburg. That also meant the kid was from the post Battle of Gettysburg era. That could identify his clothing and appearance. But what was he doing around Kings Mill? “I ran away. She had Trevor beat us with a stick…” “So you ran away to Kings Mill?” Camden asked cautiously. Joshua shrugged. “Don’t know. I just ran for days until I fell asleep.” Did he mean he fell asleep or death ? Either way, he would be gone. But knowing he’d been alone tore at Tonya’s heart. “Do you remember anything before being at the orphanage?” “Nah, I was raised there. At first it was nice. Mrs. Humiston was real nice. But then Miss Carmichael…she was mean!” Tonya figured Joshua was an orphan, like many of the men who died at Gettysburg. That was why The National Soldiers Orphans’ Homestead was founded. “Do you know where you are now?” Tonya had to know. Did the kid still think he was in his time? “I’m not quite sure, but I know I’m not in 1876.” “Why have you been following me?” Camden spoke up. “Don’t know…just knew that I had to.” Joshua looked down at his plate. “Thank you for the meal.” He had to? But why? “So can I stay here with you all?” He looked expectantly around at the rest of the group. “I ain’t got nowhere’s else to go.” “Sure you can stay here,” Camden piped up. “We’ll take care of you. Right, Tonya?” Oh dear God. Was she becoming a caregiver to wayward ghosts? She really needed to talk to Vickie. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure what the woman would say to her now.
Chapter Ten For the next two weeks, Tonya transported Jared and Joshua to Vickie’s while her and Camden worked on their special projects at the historical society. Telling Vickie about the additional guest had been another nail in Tonya’s coffin. She swore the woman was going to tie her down, so she could no longer be around anyone living or dead. What was worse, she hadn’t told her father anything about what was going on. Virginia had explained the less her father knew, the better. It wasn’t really an issue since he wasn’t home a great deal lately. In charge of overseeing one of Sean and Kenneth’s developments near Washington D.C., her father figured staying closer to work at the extended stay hotel down there would be easier. Thank God! She wasn’t ready to try to explain any more paranormal events to him. “So what have you guys been up to lately?” Tonya hadn’t been over to Camden’s in a few days other than to pick everyone up in the morning and drive them home. The last