Putney Mountain: A Short Story

“Are you sure? There’s always a ghost tale in a mining town.” Ruth said. “Years ago, there was an ole man living in town, he worked across the street in the auto parts store. He told stories about hearing screams coming from the mountain during the day and he saw lights at night. He told stories about the ghost of dead miners living up there. After several people checked it out and never found anything. They gave up looking and thought the ole man was just losing his mind.”
“Oh.” Ruth said knowing that was her grandfather. How could she find the truth?
“No one has ever seen a ghost around Howardsville,” Max chuckled as she three men entered the diner.
“Hey Dennis, it’s nice to see you.” She followed them to a table in the corner and poured

“I wonder if one you brave men would like to do some hiking today.”
Dennis asked, “Where do you plan to hike?”
“Putney Mountain, of course,” she said.
At first, no one said a word. They stared at each other with shocked expressions. Neal placed his hand over his mouth and snickered, “Are you serious about hiking on Putney Mountain?”
“Of course,” she said. Then she noticed how their expressions changed from interest in her to one of terror.
“You’re nuts,” they said at the same time, but Ruth just smiled. “From what I hear there might be something up there. I need a strong man to protect me.”
“Sorry dear, but you don’t have enough money. Please, don’t ask, we’re not going to tell you." Tim was adamant.
“What are you saying? Is there something up there? Perhaps there is a ghost or a bear?” Ruth wanted to know.
Tim stuttered. “One thing for sure is there are plenty of bears up there. I’m not going to tell you anything else. Neal is the strong one around here. He can take you.”
“Sorry, I have obligations and can’t protect a city girl from something that might not even exist. Dennis, it looks like today is your day to rescue damsels,” Neal

Guess I’ll not be hiking today,” Ruth said. Leaving the dinner, she waved goodbye to Max and smiled at the guys.
“She is beautiful, but awfully stupid to go on that mountain.” She heard Dennis say as she closed the front door. “Those country boys could never keep up with a city girl. I’m gonna find out what’s up there.” Ruth went to the car and drove down the street to Putney Mountain. Arriving at the gravel road, she parked getting out of the car, she stared at the white fluffy white cotton balls, covering portions of the mountaintop. Glancing toward the foot of the mountain, she noticed the house in the field, covered with vines.
“That’s the house grandpa described,” Ruth said. She felt butterflies in her stomach at the possibility of discovering such a fabulous ghost story.
Walking across the field covered with weeds, she stopped at the gravel road from the corner of her eye, she saw a man stagger out the front door and watched him stumble down the steps into the yard. At first, he frightened her, but then she wanted to talk to him and went up the gravel road, stopping in front of his