thought her prayers were finally answered. Her heart
knew the image she craved to see again belonged to
her beloved, Jeb McAlister.
She walked toward him and yelled, “Jeb.”
He looked at her without saying a word. He started
walking toward the house, and Priscilla followed him.
Although it thrilled her to see him again, it concerned
her when he didn’t come to her now. After an entire
year apart, she felt disappointed at his lack of
response. She’d expected Jeb to take her into his arms
because he missed her as much as she missed him.
She watched Jeb head to the house and couldn’t keep
up with his fast pace. She watched him walk through
the open front door, almost knocking over a late arriving
guest. He didn’t even stop to greet the man. What
happened to his manners?
“Hurrah!” the party guests cheered in unison as they
headed out the back of the house.
“Where is he? I don’t see him,” everyone asked.
“He’s right there. How can you not see him? Everyone,
follow me,” Priscilla said.
She led the party outside, and everyone screamed
in horror at the sight before them. Four new granite
gravestones now occupied the backyard. Priscilla
immediately read the engraving on the third marker.
She now knew why she never heard from Jeb again.
Here lies Jeb McAlister
Beloved Son and Brother
Born Jan 18, 1888
Lost at sea on the RMS Titanic
April 15, 1912
Priscilla ran into the house and screamed “Jeb, Jeb,
please wait, it’s me, Priscilla.”
“Did you see Jeb?” someone asked.
“Yes, he walked right through the front door a few
seconds ago. Didn’t you see him too?” Priscilla asked
as she looked through the crowded party to search for
Jeb.
“No, in fact no one has seen Jeb, Shelby, or their
parents tonight,” the other guest said.
“Look, there he is. Jeb is so tall; I can easily spot his
top hat from here. But what’s the white thing around his
neck? It looks like a life jacket,” Priscilla asked.
“Wouldn’t surprise me if Jeb decided to take a midnight
sail by the Castillo de San Marco. But I don’t see him.
Where is he?” Matthew asked.
“Look, he’s right there going out the back door. He’s
probably headed toward his boat. It’s docked at the rear
of the property,” Priscilla said, pointing toward Jeb.
Terri received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
and Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of
Florida. She is a licensed CPA and a Second Degree
Black Belt in Taekwondo. She lives in St. Augustine,
Florida, with her husband, Garrison, and their two sons.
“Hey, everyone, Jeb is taking us on a midnight sail
in the harbor. Follow the man in a top hat and life
preserver and grab bottle of champagne,” Matthew
said.
Terri is the daughter of Leslie S. Talley, author of Make
Old Bones and Bred in the Bone, which are also available from Wild Child Publishing. Be sure to visit her
website, www.ElementsOfMystery.com.
January 2014 | 97