Chapter Four
"I was on my way to my room and I heard un-natural noise in the ceiling. I believe that she somehow climbed into the attic's trap-door without leaving anything underneath it. Brilliant." Eric smiled at Elise.
"But your bedroom is down the other hall." Elise's voice reflected her confusion.
"No, no. The maid – Molly? She led me to one of your family rooms and I quickly had the situation fixed." Elise didn't know how to reply. It seemed almost impossible that this man had the same bloodlines as Ashley.
"Right here." Eric whispered. Sure enough, when Elise looked up there was a trapdoor.
"Have you ever heard about attics in Montana?" Eric asked loudly.
"No, tell me." Elise raised her eyebrows along with her voice.
"The Montanan Mice like to build huge nests up there, almost everywhere possible."
"Really? That's disgusting." Elise smiled at his dramatization.
"But what's really bad is their reaction to people." Eric continued.
"People?" Elise was beginning to wonder if her sister could even hear them.
"Yes. If a person sits on an object which they have built their nest in, they will wait until the person is really scared and BOOM!" Elise jumped. "They come out and chase him with their sharp teeth." Elise had to hold back laughter.
They stood quietly and immediately heard footsteps hurrying across the above floorboards. The hatch opened and down jumped Rosie.
Eric made it seem perfectly normal that someone had just jumped from the ceiling.
"Mice problems?" he asked naturally.
"Of course not. I always have my light-saber on hand." Rosie answered smartly.
"Ah, of course. I'm Eric Taylor." He shook hands with the girl.
"Rosie Forest. I must be off now, but may the force be with you."
"And you." He smiled.