Hallo-ween!
The First Time We Met
This AU flashback story is my entry for the #CastleHalloween Bash 2022. It will have fun, fluff, and, hopefully, a few Halloween surprises. Enjoy.
How our life together began!
Kate didn't hate it, but she wasn't enthralled with Halloween. She's not exactly sure when her opinion changed regarding the holiday, but she thinks it happened during her senior year in high school.
Kate's family had taken a trip to Colorado Springs to visit one of her father's first cousins. The two men grew up together and were almost like brothers, but Ken moved away shortly after he and Kate's Dad graduated college. The two men tried to get together every 2-3 years. But time had gotten away from everyone, and the two men hadn't seen each other for over five years, so this year, Kate's Dad vowed he would rectify that situation.
Kate tried to think of every conceivable excuse to get out of accompanying her parents on what she was sure would be the most boring trip of her life. Ken Winston and his wife Marie had two kids. A boy two years younger than Kate and a daughter six months older and, in Kate's opinion, was one of the most uninteresting people she'd ever met. Of course, she hadn't seen either kid for five years, but in her mind, how much could they have changed since their last visit?
Kate's parents were able to shuffle work schedules at their law firm so they both could take a vacation during the last week in October. Kate had hoped that their timing would be such that she would be unable to go because she couldn't miss that much school. But she was so wrong.
Because of some crazy scheduling issue, Stuyvesant High School would be closed that entire week. Kate was livid. What school shuts down for a week in the middle of a semester? Short answer - Stuyvesant!
So Kate packed her suitcase as her Dad made last-minute arrangements for their drive to LaGuardia.
Her Dad had scheduled an early morning flight, and after a short layover in Denver, the family picked up their rental car late in the afternoon at the Colorado Springs airport. Kate always admitted that the Springs was a stunning city set at the foot of Pikes Peak, but the beautiful scenery didn't improve her mood.
The Becketts arrived at Ken and Marie's in time to join them for a delicious bar-b-que dinner. Following the western-style meal, Mandy, Ken's oldest, asked if she could borrow the van so she and Pat could take Kate to Manitou Springs. Neither set of parents was excited that the kids were heading out so late. Still, after a sufficient amount of whining by Mandy, Ken and Marie caved and handed their daughter the keys to their minivan, emphasizing over and over the safety measures all three kids needed to heed when going out later in the day.
Kate wasn't excited about the outing, but it beat hanging around the house and listening to the parents relive their childhoods. So Kate forced a smile and joined Mandy and Pat on the excursion. Kate liked Manitou Springs, but she'd always visited when shops were open. She questioned what they would be able to do in the small town at this later time of the day.
The Barker House sits on the corner of Manitou and Navajo Avenues. As city history goes, the Hotel is an extended-stay/apartment establishment that houses some of the more eccentric residents of the small tourist community that sits at the base of the majestic Pikes Peak. But if folklore is authentic, it's also the home for several mythical characters who journey down the mountain during Halloween to scare as many tourists as possible, beginning on All Hallows' Eve!
The Hotel is managed by a very nice, and many would also say, a beautiful lady from Santa Fe. Sharon had operated two high-end retirement facilities in Santa Fe until the politics of the upper echelon got to be more than she could handle. So when the job at The Barker House became available, she jumped at it. Besides being located in one of her favorite towns, the move also allowed her to be closer to her two older children, who lived in Colorado Springs.
Every Halloween, three mystical guests made their way down the Mountain and took up residence in the attic of The Barker House. Braden, Brooks, and Barrett have made their appearances known to the hotel guests and community for the past hundred years. Mythology claims that for many years, the three brothers worked a small gold mine claim with their parents near the Summit of Pikes Peak. But after one terrible winter, the boys' parents died in their attempt to come down the mountain to get medical help for their youngest son, who was stricken with The Fever.
As the story goes, the boys' Dad set out searching for a doctor. After not hearing from their father for three days, the boys' Mom, Krystal, went out in the horrible weather to find her husband. Two days later, the youngest boy's fever finally broke, but against the pleas of his younger brothers, Braden insisted that he was going out on his own in search of their parents. After plowing through knee-deep snow for several hours, the young man made a grim discovery. He found his parents, wrapped in each other's arms, frozen to death at the base of an old pine tree. His Mom had located her husband, but the pair were caught in gale-force winds as another horrendous snowstorm passed over the mountain, causing the parents to lose their bearings.
With no other cover available, the oldest son assumed his parents, both seasoned mountain people, thought they could ride out the storm if they wrapped themselves in all of their survival gear and huddled together to conserve their body heat. As Braden kneeled next to his parents, the stark reality of those hopes lay frozen together before the young boy's eyes.
The three young children made a noble attempt to keep their parents' dream alive and continued to work their little gold mine in hopes of striking it rich. But that dream never came true for the three young men. Winters on the mountain were brutal. One day, the boys were working on a new vein deep within their mine when one of the timbers behind them gave way, and the subsequent cave-in trapped the three boys in total darkness. The young men used up the remaining oil in their mining lamps as they worked futilely for days, trying to escape, all the while holding out hope that the miner with the claim to their West would soon stop by to do his weekly check-in and learn that the boys weren't in their rustic cabin.
Unknown to the three young children trapped deep in the cavern of their parents' gold mine, another massive snowstorm hit the mountain, preventing their neighbor from checking on them for over a week. After searching around the Bowers' cabin and digging snow out from the entrance of his best friend's small claim, the neighbor finally discovered caved-in walls about fifty feet inside the cave's opening.
The neighbor was deeply saddened to find the boys' small sled, which they used when hauling tools to their mine, broken by falling rocks near the beginning of the cave-in. The neighbor and other friends dug through the rubble of the cave for several days but never found the three young boys.
After several months, the neighbor's fears came true as the bodies of his closest friends' three young sons were never recovered, and the authorities stopped the search, declaring that the boys had died in the cave-in.
Every year, on the evening before Halloween Night, Sharon, the manager of The Barker House, hosts a pre-Halloween party, where she shares the sad tale of the Bowers family. As history be told, and as recorded in city lore, several leaders in the small community of Manitou were aware of the family and their parents' struggles to survive and make a living for their young children in the wilds of the old West by mining for gold.
Following the deaths of the young mountain family, rumors ran rampant throughout the town that some arrogant members of the town council belittled the family for even attempting such a way of life, especially with three young boys. Rumor has it that a few even had the gall to tell friends that the family got what it deserved for being too stubborn to move off the mountain.
So as payback for the community's lack of care and concern for their family, the spirits of the three young boys come off the mountain every Halloween to wreak havoc on members of the Manitou community.
Now Kate finds herself the night before Halloween, sitting cross-legged on a hardwood floor in the great room of The Barker House with her cousins, whom she doesn't know much about, listening to some crazy Halloween tale.
Kate's restlessness catches the attention of a guy sitting on her other side. The stranger leans over and whispers, "I take it you aren't fascinated by the tale of three ghosts lurking around this establishment, ready to scare us to death?"
Kate moves further away from the guy, saying, "Excuse me!"
Kate's unwelcomed seatmate chuckles as he continues, "I said; apparently, you don't believe in ghosts."
Kate isn't impressed by this intrusive dude, so she snips back, "Oh, I assume you do."
"Of course I do, or I wouldn't be here. I have seen every ghost episode of MythBusters two or three times. So since I am visiting family in The Springs, I had to check this place out. You realize The Barker House is on the official national register as one of the spookiest places in the country?" Stated the very excited teen.
The stranger's last comment does cause Kate to laugh, as she replies, "I wasn't aware such a list even existed."
The young man looked at his new acquaintance with a smirk, answering, "It doesn't, but I thought that might pique your interest. By the way, I'm Rick."
Kate shook her head and turned her attention back toward her cousins, but Rick wasn't put off in the least; he just kept talking.
"You know this is where you would laugh and say hi; my name is…"
Kate continued to look in the opposite direction, but Rick wasn't about to give up that easily. He hadn't seen a girl as beautiful as … and was determined to at least learn her name.
"I don't bite. I'm here alone, hoping to run into someone I could hang out with for a while. It wouldn't be fun to go on the ghost tour alone. Can you give a lonely New Yorker a break?"
Hearing where Rick was from did capture Kate's interest, and she finally responded, "New York? I'm here visiting from New York too." Kate paused for a few seconds before she continued,
"My name is Kate."
Rick gave Kate one of his megawatt smiles as he continued, "Let's start over. Hi, I'm Rick, and it's a pleasure to meet you." Rick extends his hand, hoping Kate will play along, and thankfully she does.
"Hi, I'm Kate," she accepts his hand but is almost knocked backward as she feels an instant shock pass between the two new friends.
Rick must have felt the same sensation as his eyes got big before he continued, "I'm from New York, and I am visiting my family in the Springs."
Kate refocused and continued to play the game, saying. "Me too. I'm here with my parents visiting my Dad's cousin who lives near Garden of the Gods on the city's West side."
"Cool, my family lives on Loco Pony, which isn't too far from the Flying W Ranch."
Rick and Kate chatted, sharing little tidbits about each other, until Sharon, the hotel manager, explained,
"I have maps and mini flashlights for anyone interested in going on the self-guided walking ghost tour. Or you are invited to walk down to the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and join one of the 'Ghost Stories of Old Manitou' Walking Tours."
"And after your walk, if you haven't been scared out of town, you are welcome to return to The Barker House for some hot cider and cookies. Have fun, and be on the lookout for the Bowers Boy," laughed the pleasant hotel manager.
Kate admitted that after only a few minutes of conversation, she was interested in the guy who had barged into her life and thought it would be fun to do the walking tour with him. But she needed to be respectful of her cousins, and what they wanted to do, so she turned to Mandy and asked,
"Hey, Mandy, are you and Pat going on one of the tours?"
Mandy looked at her younger brother, who shrugged his shoulders, indicating he didn't care which tour they decided to take. So she responded, "We usually take one of the walking tours at the Heritage Center, even if some re-enactments are the same as last year."
Kate glanced at Rick and could sense he preferred the self-guided tour, so she said, "Mandy, Pat, this is Rick. He's also visiting from New York, and I'd like to join him on the self-guided tour if that's okay with you guys?"
Both the Winston kids looked rather suspiciously at Rick, knowing their parents would be upset if they went anywhere with a stranger, but Mandy and Pat had noticed Kate visiting and laughing with the guy for the last half hour, and he seemed nice enough. So the cousins simultaneously said, "Sure."
Then Mandy continued, "That's fine with us, but we'll still meet you back at the hotel after the tours, right?"
Rick had sensed the hesitation and concern in the tone of Kate's cousins, so he stepped up and introduced himself. "Hi, I can tell you are concerned about the safety of your cousin, but I promise she will be safe with me. My name is Rick Rodgers, and as Kate said, I am from New York too. Let me give you my cell number, so if you have any concerns, you can call Kate or me."
Kate took a step back as Mandy and Rick exchanged cell numbers, impressed that Rick had caught on to her cousin's apprehension and appreciated his concern for her and her family. She knew her parents would react a little better if they knew that Mandy had a way to reach the stranger that Kate was joining on the ghost tour.
Yikes, Kate wished that thought hadn't popped into her head. She hopes she enjoys this ghost walk because Kate is sure her parents will be extremely unhappy with her decision to hang out with someone she just met.
The Haunted Tours
The four new friends walked out the main entrance of The Barker House, with Mandy and Pat crossing Manitou Avenue to head toward the Heritage Center and Rick and Kate going left up the hill on Navajo Avenue to begin their spooky walk.
Rick and Kate have both been to Manitou Springs several times, but Kate admits she comes mainly for the shopping and visits to the delicious candy shop that makes homemade taffy as visitors watch through the windows. Rick laughs as he tells Kate he doesn't come for the shopping. Still, he definitely checks out the candy shop, usually loses several bucks in the Arcade, and always takes at least one trip on the Manitou Incline to the top of Pikes Peak. Both agree that the ambiance of the small mountain community is enticing and always leaves you with a feeling you can't find in big cities.
But beyond the usual tourist stops, neither has ever ventured into the outskirts of town. And never after dark. Rick and Kate shine their flashlight on the map and continue their trek up the steep hill to look for their first ghostly sighting.
Halloween has been a unique tradition for the small community and its residents and has gained notoriety over the years for its different methods of celebrating the holiday. The ghost tours and walks that the Heritage Center sponsors are always big draws for tourists. Still, since several locals in town decided to add their twists to the city celebration, more area people are also making the journey to this rustic town to share in the multiple fright night offerings.
Rick and Kate make their initial uphill trek and immediately must make a decision. Veer to the left or turn right onto Osage Avenue. They go right following signs announcing a Haunted Trail Walk.
The young teens understand that there are few guidelines regarding the spooky setups homeowners can create to scare their visitors. Just be sure no one is injured.
This neighborhood would be beautiful in the daylight, with the streets covered by a natural arch of oak trees, but it presents an entirely different appeal in the pitch black of the night.
The couple is walking by a dark mansion, keeping their eyes on the windows in anticipation of possible ghostly appearances, when several fuzzy crawly creatures fall from the trees above their heads. Kate screams as one of the wooly animals slips down the back of her open-collared blouse, and Rick does some extreme side steps as he attempts to brush the creepy things from his face and head.
Once they clear the area and feel their hearts begin beating again at a regular rate, Rick helps Kate remove what they now know is a fake fuzz-covered spider from the back of her shirt, and Kate helps Rick check his head to be sure none of the creatures have taken up residence in what was once his nicely styled hair. When Rick and Kate are confident they are free from the haunting objects, they hear giggling from behind one of the old oak trees that stands tall in front of the old, darkened house. They then watch as two children race toward the mansion's enclosed front porch, fearing the surprised guests might be upset.
Rick yells after the kids saying, "Well done, guys. You really scared us. Happy Halloween."
The two runners stopped, turned, and yelled, "Thank you, Mister. We were afraid you might be upset."
It was Kate's turn to talk with the kids, "No worries. Anyone going on a haunted walk needs to be ready for surprises. You guys did a great job."
After Rick and Kate make their way through the onslaught of hairy spiders, they look ahead and notice that it seems like several of the residents have come together to create some new adventures. From their current position, they see a large black curtain draped across the street with all of the house and street lights off except for a single spotlight that is dimly shining on the black drape, creating a more eerie setting than the one they had just walked through with the fake spiders.
AU - Families living on Osage Avenue have joined together to create a Haunted Trail Walk for the following few blocks of their neighborhood. Visitors enter what they quickly learn is the first section of the trail that will weave back and forth past several houses in this quaint area of Manitou Springs.
Following their last creepy crawly encounter, Rick and Kate cautiously walk through the black-curtain-draped entrance decorated with several brightly painted reflective images of zombies, ghosts, and other frightening creatures.
Once inside the darkened space, Rick and Kate find themselves in what appears to be a graveyard, lit only by small luminaries that sit at the base of the black-painted cardboard walls. A skeleton-dressed character jumps up and down, swinging his arms, indicating that the two must follow him through the maze of darkened walls. The duo zigzags through the cardboard walls, painted with reflective pictures of various scary Halloween images.
Soon the couple finds themselves passing stone-like tombstones, noticing a couple covered with bloody handprints. A step or two further into the makeshift cemetery, a small grouping of LED lights come to life and reveal two blood-covered hands lying on the ground, twitching as if the last moments of life are draining from the lone appendages. Rick and Kate smile at the imaginative artwork and laugh about how this part of the tour doesn't seem too creepy.
Just as Kate turns to say something else to Rick, a giant werewolf jumps out from behind one of the black dividers, yowling and scaring the pants off of Kate. Rick is not as scared as Kate, but the hairy creature does capture his attention.
When Kate screamed, she automatically turned into Rick, who immediately wrapped his arm around his frightened friend. Once the two gather their wits, Kate notices her position and uncomfortably pulls away from Rick, simply saying, "Thanks."
After walking through the graveyard, the couple exits the darkened maze and faces another large black-draped entrance. Rick comments, "Apparently, these black curtains are setting various themes for this little adventure through the neighborhood."
Kate laughs, agreeing, and says, "Here we go again," as the two walk through the next black-curtained entrance.
The duo finds themselves in what appears to be a witches' lair. Two nasty-looking characters, dressed in black from head to toe, stand over a large black cauldron, stirring and chanting what visitors assume is some chant they plan to use as they pass their mystic spells on unsuspecting visitors.
As Rick and Kate near the smoke-filled caldron that sits along the edge of the walking path, they see three translucent figures running from the area toward the mountain. While focusing on the three images, Rick and Kate quietly speak between themselves, wondering if those are the Bowers brothers who came to haunt this neighborhood and its unsuspecting guests.
As the couple focuses on the three escapees, recalling the hotel manager's story, they fail to notice two hands extending from the smokey cauldron until a voice begins loudly crying and pleading, help me, help me.
The caldron is close enough to the walking trail that the hands extending from the large pot almost touch Rick's leg, which causes the young man to jump and release a very unmanly squeal that forces Kate to move quickly to the right.
Kate is caught off guard by Rick's reactions and doesn't hesitate to move to the side with Rick right next to her as they now find themselves wrapped up in another mass of dreaded cobwebs.
Now their arms are flailing around as they try to escape the sticky mess of MORE cobwebs.
After exiting this part of the walk, they see another draped entrance ahead of them, and Kate says, in a very disgruntled tone, "No way. I need to sit down for a few minutes. I'm heading back to the Hotel if I run into one more cobweb."
Rick chuckles as he follows Kate to a nearby curb, where they both carefully sit down, checking one another for any creepy crawly objects that may have attached themselves to the couple as they exited the last stage of this close encounter. The couple sits close, watching other unsuspecting trail walkers escape the cobweb-invested lair of the witches, also batting at unseen things that may have attached themselves to their bodies.
After sharing a few moments of meaningless chatter, Rick stands, extending his hand to Kate; the two look at one another and walk toward the third leg of this surprising journey into Spooksville.
After entering the third darkened opening, they stop and let their eyes adjust to the complete darkness of this new scene. Rick switches on their flashlight just as three screaming white objects buzz over their heads, causing the couple to duck to protect themselves from being attacked by other flying objects. Dimmed lights come on, so Rick turns his flashlight off as dark silhouettes suddenly appear, representing witches and monsters with fluorescent gloves, swinging their arms and limping as if they were coming after the guests.
Then several severed heads of corpses appear to be rolling down a hill toward the couple and other guests who had entered the black space behind them. Everyone tries to dodge the heads as they roll into their path by stepping into an area covered with dried leaves. The sudden crunching sounds distract guests as they walk beneath an arch of twisted branches supporting dozens of black sticky strips covered in cotton balls. The cotton creations brush over the faces of the guests giving another illusion of dreaded spiders attempting to find new homes on the unsuspecting visitors. This latest encounter forces Rick, Kate, and other guests to quickly try and exit this area through another draped exit.
Rick and Kate are now standing in an open space, looking between the previous experience and what is ahead, silently trying to determine whether to go on or step away from this strange experience.
One of the neighbors, who has been helping guests as they traverse through the different stages of the Haunted Trail Walk, notices the couple and says, "There is only one experience left, guys; you can do it." The nice man smiles as he turns and walks toward another couple who also seem to be hesitating and trying to decide if they want to continue their fright-filed journey.
Kate has finally caught her breath, and her heart is once again beating at an average rate as she looks at Rick and asks, "What do you think? Do you have enough in you to make it through one more ghostly encounter?"
Rick smiles and says, "If you can do it, I can do it. Let's go."
The two stood silent for a couple more seconds, staring at the final black-draped entrance covered with what appeared to be different types of mysterious-looking pictures that seemed to look like bizarre foods.
As Rick and Kate enter the final leg of their mysterious journey, they walk into another blacked-out space. The couple stops dead in their tracks, not sure what to expect next when they suddenly face a bank of bright strobe lights synced to chilling musical tunes as two creepy-looking chefs dressed in white lab coats with blood dripping from their mouths appear and begin to prepare a ghostly meal. The chefs run back and forth from two open coffins to large work tables, carrying supposed ingredients for the haunted dinner.
A cardboard menu stands at the end of one of the long tables inviting guests to join the locals in a specially crafted meal honoring the occasion. Guests who aren't interested in sharing the non-scrumptious-looking dishes with the neighbors are guided past the food area and toward the final experience in this haunted universe.
Kate is reading the menu, with Rick looking over her shoulder. She turns her head, and their noses touch, causing Rick to step back, cough, and try to speak, saying, "What do you think? Are you game for spaghetti, eyeballs, or other delicacies, or would you prefer to pass?"
Kate reads the menu, laughing as she looks down at the table, trying to pick out the food dish that matches the description on the menu. Then out of the blue, she began reciting the entire menu to Rick using a dramatic voice that mimics a restaurant server.
"We can begin your evening meal with Eyeball Salad made from peeled grapes, followed by the main entree of Red Spaghetti and Mini Meatballs decorated with a drop of sour cream in the center of black olive slices depicting fresh eyeballs. Our next menu item is our Ghostly Bagel Bites, decorated with a large slice of pepperoni, topped with white cheese cut out in the shape of a mini ghost, and two pieces of black olives strategically placed to look like tiny eyes. Not to be left out of your annual Halloween feast are our traditional Hot Dog Mummies paired with Mini White Chocolate Chip Cookies topped with a selection of spooky creatures."
Rick is laughing like several other guests as Kate blushes, saying, "I guess I just slipped into the moment."
The two gory-looking chefs even stop their food preparations to listen to the dramatic reading of their menu, sharing bloody smiles with onlookers as guests clap and cheer as Kate wraps up her dramatic menu reading.
Kate and Rick stepped to the side, allowing other guests to pass through the line making their food selections, as many smiled and thanked Kate for adding her flair to their Halloween experience.
Rick looks closer at the food table, commenting, "These folks have gone all out. Did you see that centerpiece partially hidden behind the pumpkins and gourds?"
Kate checked out the table decor and spotted the spooky-looking Calzone-shaped snake with black olive slices with pimentos in the center for eyes and a thin-cut carrot strip in the shape of a tongue sticking out of one end.
"That is wild! Are you interested in eating?" asked Kate.
"If it's okay with you, I'd like to wrap up this little haunted walking tour. I think I am about spooked out," answered Rick.
Kate agrees, and the two moves around the group who are filling their plates and run head-on into several Zombies who are moving in on the food table chanting, We need food, We need food! Kate laughs and tries to get out of their path just as several Normals are moving in with what look to be paint guns to chase away the Zombies.
The Normals come from behind, firing at the Zombies (with empty paint guns) to draw them away from the guests at the food table. Two Zombies continue moving toward the guests, moaning and groaning, saying, feed us, as two others turn on the Normals. In the close confines of dimmed space, things look like they could get a bit dicey with all of the Zombies, so Rick and Kate exit the eating area and find themselves on another darkened street when they hear a piercing scream.
Rick and Kate's eyes follow the cry, and they see the luminous vision of a lady running up a hill, looking like she just escaped from a coffin, teetering on the edge of a high ledge.
Suddenly, the erratic coffin breaks loose and begins sliding down the mountainside. Strobe lights are flashing, and sound effects of various screams echo off the walls of the mountain as the casket races down the hill. It stops just short of colliding with guests standing along the path below.
A hologram simultaneously appears on a large screen showing a depiction of the haunted tale of how the buried coffin of Emma Crawford, after several years of harsh winters and heavy rains, was washed out of its original resting place and came racing down the mountain. As the tale explains, years later, some young children playing in the area found only the casket handles, a nameplate, and a few bones.
As the spooked guests exit the massive ghostly tour, they meet a couple of neighborhood families who thank them for coming on their neighborhood Haunted Trail Walk, offering everyone little gift bags of candy. If guests wish to, there is a small black cauldron on the side of the walking path where guests can contribute to help continue this annual event.
Rick and Kate are very impressed with the small number of residents who have worked hard to create such a fun-filled nostalgic experience for their neighborhood. The couple gladly contributes toward the cause, laughing as they enjoy their treats and recount their spook-filled experiences as they seek a quiet place to sit, so they can look at their map and decide their next steps.
While looking at the map, Rick asks, "What would you like to do next?"
Kate smiles at her companion and says, "Truthfully, I would like to head down to the park, sit by Fountain Creek for a bit, relax, enjoy the pleasant evening, and listen to the rushing water that flows through the town. Then maybe we can stop at the Navajo Spring to see if some of their mineral water is available on our way back to The Barker House."
Rick instantly agrees, and after a slow walk to the park, the young couple sits on a bench and begins talking as if they have known one another longer than just a few hours while doing a scary Halloween tour. The new friends laugh as they relive some of the highlights of their haunted walk and share tidbits about their personal lives. Finally, as time passes, they begin to make their way back to meet Kate's cousins.
Rick takes a risk and reaches for Kate's hand as they trek up the slight incline leading them back up to Manitou Avenue. Rick is delighted that Kate does not pull her hand away, as she also appears to enjoy their newfound contact.
When the two near The Barker House, Rick comments, "You know I hate to see this evening come to an end. It's been so much more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined. Kate, thanks so much for hanging out with me. I've had a great time."
Kate responds, smiling as she says, "Me, too, Rick. I would have never guessed this evening would have been this much fun, which is all due to you. I've had a blast."
Rick is quiet as they continue walking but finally asks, "Kate, would it be okay if I call you once we both return to the city? I would love to see you again if that's something you think you might enjoy too?"
Again surprising Rick, Kate automatically answers, saying, "Yes, Rick, I would love to see you again when we get back to New York. Maybe we could meet for coffee sometime? Since we've had this strange break at school, I am not sure what my schedule will be, but I want to get together again too."
Rick is momentarily shocked into silence before Kate grins and gently pulls on Rick's hand, saying, "Hey, are you changing your mind?"
Rick immediately snaps out of his haze and says, "No way, I am just surprised you want to see me too. That is so cool."
The two new friends laugh, bump shoulders, then stop in the middle of the sidewalk to exchange cell phone numbers and addresses. The couple can see The Barker House ahead, and Kate spots her two cousins standing outside, looking up and down Manitou Avenue, anxious as they wait for the return of their New York City cousin.
As Rick and Kate's walk take them closer to Kate's cousins, Rick feels he probably should release his grip on Kate's hand, but as he begins to pull away, she tightens her hand in his, looks at him, smiling, and calms his nerves by saying, "No worries, this feels good."
When the four meet up in front of The Barker House, they agree to go in and take the manager up on her offer of a light treat following their respective spooky tours.
As the foursome enter the great room of The Barker House, they are greeted by the welcoming look of the establishment's manager as she comments, "Well, from the looks on your faces, you all seem to have enjoyed your tours. Please have some hot cider and cookies before you have to leave us. And thank you so much for visiting us here at The Barker House. Please come back again." Then the manager moved on to talk with some of her other guests.
Rick is the first to arrive at the refreshment table and passes cups of cider to Kate and her cousins as they make their cookie selections. The four then move toward some chairs near the Hotel's front windows and gratefully sit down as they realize how long they have all been on their feet. The small group begins sharing details about their respective haunted walks, with Pat commenting that he wishes he had gone with Kate and Rick. He shares that the tour he and his sister took was fascinating, but it was a lot about history with only a few spooky encounters. After listening to Rick and Kate describe their tour, Pat is sure theirs would have been more fun.
Rick and Kate smile at one another, thinking they are glad the grouping for the tours worked out as it did. They had a fantastic time being together for the past few hours.
Rick tried to extend the conversations as long as possible because he hated to have to tell Kate goodbye. The feelings that he has already developed for Kate are overwhelming, and he is already thinking about opportunities to get together back in New York City.
Kate is well aware of the tactic Rick is using to extend their evening but doesn't complain, she doesn't want their evening to end either, and she is silently counting the days until her family returns home so that she can reach out to her new friend.
Rick finally looks at this watch, realizing how late it is, and comments, "Well, I guess I should quit talking so you guys can head home. I'm sorry; I didn't realize it was so late. I just haven't had this much fun in a long time, and I want to thank you again for letting me hang out with you. It's been a much more enjoyable evening than I had planned."
Mandy can sense her cousin doesn't want the evening to end, but she agrees with Rick that it's getting late and answers, "No worries, Rick, it's been fun getting to know you too, and I can tell my cousin enjoyed herself," Mandy teases as she gives Kate a little jab in the ribs.
The four throw their cups and napkins in the garage and thank Sharon for her hospitality as they head toward the beautiful Hotel's exit. Back on the street, Mandy says to her brother, "Come on, Pat, let's head to the van."
Pat doesn't catch on to his sister's comment. And says, "What about Kate?"
Mandy shakes her head as she smiles at Kate and grabs her young brother's arm telling him, "Kate will be right behind us."
Kate nods silently, thanking her cousin as she watches her and her brother head toward their van.
Kate turns to Rick again, unhappy that their surprisingly fun evening has ended.
She looks at Rick with sad eyes and says, "You promise to call me when you get back?"
"Oh, you can be sure of that. I will call you the minute I get home, so check your schedule and be prepared to plan a time when we can get together for a coffee, okay?"
Kate's answer is simply a light kiss on Rick's cheek as she finally turns to walk toward her cousin's van. She stops again and turns, with a happier look in her eyes, as she adds, "Rick, thanks again. Tonight was one of the best evenings I've had in a very long time. Stay safe on your trip home, and I will be waiting for your call."
Rick watches Kate until she is out of sight, sighs, and then turns to walk toward his Jeep with a little more bounce in his step than when he first arrived in what is now one of his favorite places. He's not sure which gods to thank, but he is overwhelmed and thrilled to have met the neatest girl he has ever known before in his life!
Castles' present-day life.
Rick and Kate have a few quiet moments alone as they continue reminiscing about the first Halloween they shared while watching their three kids, along with kids from their extended family, race around the yard, playing high-n-seek. All the kids enjoy the game, especially when they have opportunities to scare their cousins. Still, their primary goal is to find the enormous chocolate bars Rick has hidden throughout their large backyard.
Kate leans into Rick, sharing a sweet kiss, asking, "Did you ever imagine that crazy Haunted Trail Walk in Manitou Springs would lead us to this point in our lives?"
Rick pulls his wife of ten years tight against his side, responding, "What would you think if I said yes? I was completely overwhelmed that first night. After one single outing, I couldn't believe my deep feelings for you. You were and still are extraordinary, and I think that is why Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It's when I met the love of my life."
Rick is quiet for a few moments, then adds, "You know, I think all our kids are old enough now to enjoy Manitou Springs. We should take them on our next annual journey to the town where we first met."
Kate leans on her husband's shoulder as she smiles, thinking about the event that changed her life forever, and agrees, "You're right, Babe. It would be the perfect summer to introduce them to our magic place."
Rick then gives Kate a toe-curling kiss just as the Ryans and Espositos return to the Gazebo, parroting their age-old phrase, come on guys, get a room!
Thanks for reading my contribution to the 2022 Castle Halloween Bash. Mandy and Pat's tours are actual events sponsored by the Manitou Springs Heritage Center. The Haunted Walking Trail tour combined ideas from my imagination, aided by some Halloween hikes/walking events that I was able to research online.
A/N - #1 - I created a new backstory for the ghosts of The Barker House, but for those interested in more spooky tales about The Barker House and the city of Manitou Springs, check out the book Haunted Manitou Springs by Stephanie Waters.
A/N - #2 - The Penny Arcade and Patsy's Candy & Gift Shops are businesses in Manitou Springs, and the candy shop's salt water taffy and famous caramel popcorn are the best. Your friend Google can reveal more details about both businesses. Thanks again for reading my story.
