Don't own them and no money is being made here.

Here's the final chapter. Thanks to all for reading and special thanks to those who took a moment to comment. It is always appreciated.

Chapter Four

Cobwebs and Dust

I stood on the edge of the swamp for a while trying to make sense of what had happened at the cabin. I didn't understand the images that were becoming less vivid. It was like looking at a sun-faded photograph. The colors and shapes were becoming one without distinction. But as disturbing as they were, I didn't want to forget.

The heavy mist floated on the surface of the water blurring the point where one stopped and the other began. The wind swirled the mist into shadows that came together trying to take form only to drift apart despite the effort. I knew what I was seeing was just an illusion but it was drawing me nearer and nearer the edge until I realized that I had walked into the dark water up to my knees I knew then that I had to get away from this place. At least for the night.

I hurried out of the murky water and headed for the old pickup truck. Then I did what I usually did when I needed to think. I drove. I drove the old pickup around the familiar back roads without any destination in mind. Without a conscious thought, I eventually found myself outside the small cemetery where my parents were buried—where most of us Dukes were buried. A low mist clung to the ground. It wasn't like mist was unusual at this time of year with the warm day temperatures succumbing to the cold nights but I had the eerie feeling that the fog was following me. Daylight had faded. The moonlight gave the mist an iridescent glow.

I didn't visit my parents' grave often. They live on in my heart. But I needed to be there now. I needed to visit my father. It was the song that drew me here. I started to hum the sad melody. I sang, "I know it will a long, long time before I see you again."

And then I remembered my father singing those words while he played the guitar. I'd fall asleep listening to the lullaby. It was the song that guided me to the cabin. It was the song that Rose sang with me. It was the song that my father had sung.

No answers came to me as I squatted by the grave. I don't know what I expected. My father had died a long time ago. What was I doing in the cemetery on Halloween night? None of it made any sense. I got up slowly. I gently touched the hard tombstone and then headed back to the truck. It was getting late. I might be able to think clearer tomorrow when I went back to the cabin to see the portrait. Maybe Rose would be able to explain it. I retraced my steps to the truck. I wasn't sure of finding my away anymore.

When I got home, Uncle Jesse and my cousins were sitting at the kitchen table having coffee. Supper was long over. They looked grim. I figured I owed them an apology for being late but before I could offer one, Uncle Jesse asked, "Where've you been, Luke?"

"You know where I've been, Uncle Jesse," I answered. "Well part of the time anyways. I was at the cabin with Rose and then I drove around for a while. I guess I lost track of time. Sorry I'm late."

Bo and Daisy were looking at me strangely.

"What's wrong, Bo?" I asked as I sat at the table.

"You know what's wrong, Luke."

"I wouldn't be asking if I knew?" I said.

"Where've you been, cousin?" Bo asked, repeating Uncle Jesse's question.

"I done told you already. I've been with Rose at the cabin."

"You ain't been at that cabin with Rose," Bo replied matter of factly.

"That's exactly where I've been," I said.

"No you ain't, Luke," Bo said. "Daisy and me thought we'd catch up with you and see how the painting was going." I wasn't sure why he hesitated before adding, "But we missed you."

I said, "I guess I was already gone. Did you go to the cabin anyway?"

"Yeah, Luke. We did look for you at the cabin," Daisy replied sadly.

I asked, "Did you meet Rose? Was she okay?" I was worried about her and now my cousins' strange behavior made me worry all the more.

Bo hesitantly answered, "Luke, you know we didn't meet her."

I looked questioningly at Bo. "Now how would I know that, cousin?"

Bo seemed really uncomfortable. He said, "Maybe we should talk about this later in our bedroom?"

"You ain't going nowheres," Uncle Jesse interrupted. "We'll discuss this as a family. Right here and right now."

Daisy looked sympathetically at me. "I'm really sorry, Luke. We didn't meet Rose because there ain't no Rose."

I looked back and forth between my two cousins, totally confused. All I could manage was asking, "What do you mean?"

Bo shook his head. "Come on, Luke. You've been caught so you might as well give it up and confess."

"Confess to what?" I said with building annoyance. "I ain't done nothing wrong."

Daisy said quietly, "There ain't no Rose or no one else for that matter living at the old cabin. I don't know where you went today, honey, but it wasn't there."

Now I was getting mad. I stood up. "I ain't lying," I practically shouted. "I was there with Rose."

"We'll discuss this calmly," Uncle Jesse said gruffly. "Sit down, Luke."

"But I ain't lying, Uncle Jesse. I don't know why they're saying I am."

"It ain't like we want to, Luke," Bo said defensively. "But there ain't no one at the cabin."

I turned angrily towards Bo when Uncle Jesse grabbed hold of my arm in his tight grip. Looking sternly at me, he pointed at a chair and said, "I said, sit down. Do as you're told. We're gonna sit here and figure this out."

I sat stiffly in the chair. I couldn't understand why Daisy and Bo were saying those things. I felt betrayed.

Uncle Jesse directed his question to Bo. "Why don't you tell us what happened?"

Bo shook his head. "Uncle Jesse, I ain't accusing Luke of nothing. Maybe it would be best if he explains."

"Explains what?" I asked hotly. I was totally confused. "I don't know what you're talking about, Bo."

After a moment of silence, Uncle Jesse finally said, "Out with it, Bo. Tell Luke what you told me."

Bo looked liked he rather be anywhere else. He cleared his throat and fidgeted in the chair. "Daisy and me decided to go the cabin and meet up with you. We was curious and we wanted to meet Rose. When we got to the cabin, no one was there and…."

Bo hesitated before adding slowly, "Ain't no one been there for a very long time. The place was deserted. It was covered in dust. There were cobwebs everywhere. Believe me, there was no sign of anyone having been there for years. Not even you, Luke. There weren't no footsteps on the dusty floor. There ain't no painting in there except a real old one that ain't even finished and looks like it's been there for years."

Uncle Jesse looked at Daisy for confirmation. Daisy replied, "I'm afraid it's true. Ain't no one been there recently." She gave me a real sad look.

I was stunned. "Please, Daisy. Why are you doing this to me? Please tell Uncle Jesse the truth. Rose fixed up that cabin real nice."

I looked at Daisy pleadingly. She just shook her head and looked away.

"I'm real sorry, Luke, but I ain't gonna lie."

I couldn't understand why my cousins were doing this to me. I was much more upset than angry at this point. I could feel tears burning my eyes but I'd make dang sure they'd stay there. The three of us always stuck together. I couldn't remember them ever turning on me. We'd had to tell Uncle Jesse the truth sometimes and sometimes that'd mean one of us be in trouble but this was different. They was lying about me. And that hurt. It hurt bad.

"Is this some kind of Halloween prank?" I asked hopefully. That might explain what was going on.

Bo sighed. "I wish it was, cousin. I wish it was."

Uncle Jesse was staring at me and I knew he was watching every emotion that crossed my face. When I looked into his eyes, I wasn't sure what he was thinking. I thought he'd be mad if he thought I was lying to him and sneaking off to God knows where. I could go where I wanted but lying about where I'd been or anything else for that matter was a whole other thing. Uncle Jesse never stood for lies.

He looked at me and asked, "Well, Luke?"

When I didn't answer, he said, "I asked you a question, son."

"I ain't been lying to you, Uncle Jesse. I've been there with Rose while she painted my picture. That's the truth. I don't know why they're saying I ain't been there."

When Uncle Jesse looked towards Bo, Bo repeated, "We ain't lying, Uncle Jesse. You can see there ain't nobody been there."

Uncle Jesse looked back and forth between me on one side of the table and my cousins on the other side trying to decide what to believe. I was getting pretty upset at this point. The day had been hard enough with Rose and now my two cousins were accusing me of lying about it. They ain't never done nothing like that before and I couldn't understand any of it. If I could've, I would've bolted out of there but Uncle Jesse's eyes held me just as strongly as his grip on my arm had earlier.

I studied my uncle. He didn't look mad. I couldn't tell what he was thinking but he looked troubled. He was thinking. I could see that much.

Finally, Uncle Jesse spoke, "Well…there has to be some explanation for all this. I ain't about to believe that any one of you is lying to me. I ain't got the answers right now but I will find the truth. I got some ideas where to look."

I guess Uncle Jesse saw how upset I was because he gently patted my hand. "We'll figure this out, Luke. I'm sure there must be some explanation."

The simple gesture and kind words helped me calm down. The continuing physical connection with Uncle Jesse was comforting. I felt his strength. I ran my other hand across my face to make sure the tears didn't go nowhere. Truth was, I was having a difficult time controlling my emotions, which wasn't exactly like me. I was still confused by what happened at the cabin. All those images were confusing and somehow heartbreaking. I couldn't shake the sorrow. And now Bo and Daisy were accusing me of lying about it. I ain't never been so hurt. I made a determined effort to regain control of my emotions.

Uncle Jesse kept looking at the three of us. I could tell he was trying to figure out what to believe.

Shaking his head Uncle Jesse said, "We ain't gonna get no answers tonight. We'll all go to the cabin together tomorrow and find the truth."

I practically whispered, "I ain't lying, Uncle Jesse."

Uncle Jesse said, "I don't think anyone is lying."

I sighed heavily. I had had enough for one day. I stood.

"I'm going to bed," I said. Without waiting for a response, I quickly left the room.

I didn't see Uncle Jesse all day. He left early saying he had some things to do. He told us we'd meet at the clearing near the cabin at three o'clock so I had a long workday alongside Bo. We hardly said a word to each other. I was on edge all day.

We finally met at the appointed time although we had to wait a few minutes for Uncle Jesse. I was anxious to prove myself.

Uncle Jesse climbed out of the truck carrying a package under his arm. Daisy asked. "What've you got there, Uncle Jesse?"

"I'll explain it a little later on.'

I said, "Come on. Let's get going. I want you to meet Rose, Uncle Jesse."

"Where was you all day, Uncle Jesse?" Bo asked as we started to walk.

"That can wait. First I want to see the cabin for myself," my uncle answered.

Uncle Jesse surprised me by placing an arm around my shoulder. He gently said, "I ain't sure exactly what we'll find there, son, but you should be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" I asked.

"For whatever we find," he answered enigmatically. "Luke, things ain't always what they seem to be. And sometimes there ain't no clear answers. I just want you to remember that. Lead the way."

We made our way through the shadows of the thick trees. A light mist hugged the ground, scattering as we walked through it and then closing behind us. When we reached the cabin, I hurried ahead. Knocking on the door, I called, "Hello, Rose."

When she didn't answered, I knocked again. I called a little louder, "Hello, Rose. Are you there?"

I looked over at my uncle and cousins. Daisy and Bo looked disappointed in me but I couldn't read my uncle's expression. The closest I could come to describing it was curious. The three of them walked towards the door to join me.

Bo finally asked, "So where is she? She ain't answering."

I looked around. "I don't know. Maybe she went for a walk down to the water or something. I'm sure she'll be back soon."

Daisy said, "We would've seen her when we came this way. Why don't we have a look inside?"

I answered, "I don't think we should just go in there when she ain't home."

Uncle Jesse said kindly, "I don't think Rose will mind if we go inside."

I slowly opened the cabin's door and peeked inside. I was bewildered by what I saw. The room appeared the way it did when I had first been there on the day I got lost. It was exactly as Daisy and Bo described it. Dust covered everything. Cobwebs hung everywhere. The curtains and colorful quilts were gone. The paints and brushes were dry again. The old, broken guitar was leaning against the wall. I looked around the room in complete disbelief as I slowly stepped inside. This couldn't be happening.

Uncle Jesse, Bo and Daisy followed me. They stood inside the doorway. I didn't miss the knowing glance between my cousins. And Uncle Jesse—well he sure didn't look surprised. He didn't look mad either. It was like he expected to find the room just the way it was.

As I looked around the dusty room, I was beginning to feel panic. My heart was pounding in my chest. This wasn't possible. It couldn't be happening. Rose was here just yesterday. This room was cozy and warm but now it was empty and cold. There wasn't anyway cobwebs and dust could've collected over night even if Rose had left. It just wasn't possible.

Turning to look at Uncle Jesse, I still expected to see anger or at least disappointment but I saw neither. He was looking around the room inquisitively. I stammered, "I…I don't understand what happened here. It…it wasn't like this yesterday. I swear, Uncle Jesse. Maybe something happened to Rose. We have to go look for her. She might be in trouble."

Daisy looked at me with compassion. I guess she figured I might be off doing something I shouldn't be doing. She said, "Ah, Luke, no one has lived here in a long, long time. There ain't no sign that anyone has been here. There ain't no sign you've even been here."

She was right about that but I insisted, "It wasn't like this yesterday. It wasn't. We have to find Rose. She can explain what happened."

Bo just shook his head. "There ain't no one to find, Luke. It's time to give up this crazy story. Why don't you just tell us where you've been and what you've been up to?"

I looked around the small room. Seeing the old, broken guitar leaning against the wall, I walked over and picked it up. "This here guitar wasn't broken yesterday. I played it."

"It's just an old guitar that must've been here for years, Luke," Bo responded. "Don't know how you could've played it with these broken strings."

I guess I was really upset because my nervous habits popped up again. I started biting my lower lip and shifting from foot to foot. My hands wound up in my back pocket. I shook my head weakly. I picked up the guitar and muttered, "But I played it yesterday."

"You couldn't've, Luke," Bo insisted. "Not this here guitar anyway."

"I…I don't understand what's happening here. I can't explain it but Rose was here yesterday. I ain't lying."

I stopped suddenly as I became aware of a faint scent. "She was here recently. Don't you smell it? It's rose water. Rose wears it all the time." I looked expectantly at my uncle. They couldn't deny the scent of roses in the small room that hadn't been there a moment ago. Trying to determine where the scent originated, Uncle Jesse followed it to the far side of the room where it was stronger. He saw the easel standing in the corner and walked around to the front of it where an old canvas was sitting.

Uncle Jesse stood there studying the painting. Seeing my uncle's strange expression, I asked, "What's wrong?"

Uncle Jesse motioned us over. "You kids better come over here and have a look at this," he said quietly.

I stood on one side of him while Daisy and Bo stood on the other. The painting was covered in the same coating of dust as the rest of the room but a portrait could be seen vaguely beneath it. Picking up the canvas, Uncle Jesse gently wiped the dust away with his handkerchief. What emerged from beneath the layers of dust was undeniable. It was a portrait of me.

Surprise showing on his face, Bo took the painting in his hands. "That's Luke, all right, but different somehow."

Daisy took the painting from Bo. "Let me see it. This is Luke. The clothes look old fashioned though like they're from a long time ago. It sure is nice but it looks old—real old. It looks like its been sitting here for years. Look at all the dust on it. The canvas don't look new, either."

Jesse questioned, "Is this the painting you saw here yesterday?"

Bo shook his head. "It looks like the same size canvas but it couldn't possibly be the same portrait. The painting we saw yesterday was barely begun. It was a man but you couldn't really make out any details except the blue eyes."

I had been listening to the exchange. It was my turn to take the painting in my hands. I was sure it was Rose's painting of me even if it did look like it'd been here forever.

"I told you Rose painted my picture. She's real. This should be proof enough." Looking hopefully at my uncle I added, "Ain't it, Uncle Jesse?"

Uncle Jesse put his arm around my shoulder. "It certainly is you, boy. It's a beautiful portrait. It captures your spirit. And these eyes—they're yours." He paused and muttered, "And your father's."

"I don't understand what happened to this room," I said. "It didn't look like this when I was here yesterday. Thanks for believing me, Uncle Jesse."

"There ain't no denying this portrait, Luke, although I can't explain how it came about. It's you but it does look quite old. Oil paintings take more than a day to dry."

Uncle Jesse continued to study the portrait. "I want to show you something."

He unwrapped the package he had brought from the truck. It was another canvas. He said, "Luke, look at this."

I took the painting into my hands. When I saw the portrait, I smiled. "It's Rose. Uncle Jesse, where did you get this? It's really beautiful. I told you she was beautiful."

"Yes, you did," my uncle said. He tried to explain. "I went to visit Mrs. Cavanaugh today."

Mrs. Cavanaugh was one hundred and one years old. She had lived in the area all her life. Her family and the Duke family had known each other for several generations. She was a priceless source of local history and folklore. Spending time with her was like reading a fascinating history book.

Uncle Jesse began to explain. "You know Mrs. Cavanaugh don't live too far from here so I went over to ask her about the cabin. I thought maybe she'd know something about who lived here over the years."

"What'd she say?" I asked with curiosity.

"Ain't nobody lived here in over a hundred years. Last people who lived here was a young couple her parents was friends with. They was a couple named Rose and Lukas Farrell. Rose was Mrs. Cavanaugh's mother's best friend at the time."

"They must've been related to the Rose who's here now," I said. "The cabin must still be in the family."

"I don't think so," Jesse said. "This Rose and Lukas didn't have no children. Rose was a local artist. She painted this self-portrait and gave it to Mrs. Cavanaugh's mother."

"That can't be, Uncle Jesse. This looks exactly like the Rose who painted my picture."

"No, Luke. This picture was painted over a hundred years ago."

"That can't be right, Uncle Jesse. This is the way she looks now."

"Luke," Uncle Jesse continued softly, "this here self-portrait was painted years ago, way before you was born. This Rose in the portrait died long ago. Her husband drowned in the swamp. Mrs. Cavanaugh's mother said that Rose was consumed with grief. She couldn't live without her Lukas. She walked out into the water in the same place he disappeared a year after he died. It was Halloween night. Sounds like it was the very spot where you met her. She vanished into the mist. Her body was never found."

I couldn't comprehend what my uncle was saying. I had been with Rose. She was real. The portrait that she painted of me was proof. But the cabin did look long deserted. It couldn't possibly be in such a state of disrepair since I had been here yesterday. Where had all the cobwebs and dust come from? Where had Rose gone?

I felt my eyes filling with tears and quickly swiped away a couple that fell. I had an overwhelming sense of loss. It hurt in my chest. Turning to Uncle Jesse, I saw the concern on his face.

I whispered, "Rose is dead? I don't understand, Uncle Jesse. She was here yesterday. She was. I ain't imagining it."

Uncle Jesse pulled me into a hug. "Luke, I don't understand either. Sometimes things happen in this world that we can't explain. We'll probably never understand what happened here. The important thing is that you know the truth, son. Somehow Rose was here. She did paint this beautiful portrait of you. This painting is very real. Maybe that's why she was here. She never completed the portrait of her Lukas before he died so maybe she needed to do this. Maybe spending this time with you and painting your portrait was what she needed. This was her home. She came back."

Uncle Jesse paused as if he wasn't sure if he should say what was on his mind. He finally said, "And I don't think this was the first time she was here."

It was my turn to look puzzled. I stepped back out of my uncle's protective embrace. "What do you mean, Uncle Jesse? Was she here before? Have you see her?"

"No, Luke. I haven't. But I think maybe your father did."

"My father? When?" I asked incredulously. "How?"

"A very long time ago. Way before you was born, before he married your mother. Matt told me about a woman he met out here one Halloween. Her name was also Rose and he said she was beautiful. She captivated him even though he only knew her for a couple of days."

"It couldn't be the same woman, Uncle Jesse. She'd be older. What happened?"

"Matt only told me about it because it was so strange. Made me promise not to tell no one else least they'd think he was crazy. I guess he needed to tell someone because I think he doubted that she was real. He met his Rose at this cabin, just like you. He spent a couple of days with her and then she disappeared on Halloween night. He saw her walking in the mist towards the swamp and then she was gone."

"He never saw her again?" I asked, sad that I might not either.

"He went back there on the next Halloween looking for her for a few years but he never saw her. Least he didn't say that he did. And then he met your mother and he stopped going."

I sighed. "But she came back."

Uncle Jesse nodded. "Maybe, Luke. Maybe she did. Maybe she needed to see you. Looks like she did finish this painting. She started painting her Lukas and finished painting you. I think she needed to finish it. I know it's been sitting here for a long time."

"How do you know that?" I asked, still too overwhelmed trying to process everything that my uncle was saying.

"I was curious, Luke. I came here once about twenty years ago on Halloween. I can't say that I saw anything unusual but this painting was here. And so was the old guitar. This place hasn't change over the years. It's only looked lived in for you and your father."

"My father saw it the way I did?"

"I don't know if it was exactly the same but he said it was nice."

I looked up at my uncle hoping for a clearer answer. "I don't understand, Uncle Jesse."

Uncle Jesse placed his hand on my shoulder. "Neither do I, son. I don't know if your Rose was your father's Rose or the Rose in this self-portrait. Maybe we'll never know but I think somehow you helped her. Maybe you helped her find some peace. Maybe that's why she kept coming back here."

"I hope she's at peace and that I helped her in some way," I said. "She was so sad. I never seen such sorrow."

I looked closely at the portrait. "I felt like I knew her. She was comfortable, like I had known her all my life."

Daisy came over and hugged me. "Maybe you have, sugar. Maybe you have. And maybe you brought her a little joy."

Uncle Jesse smiled at me. "Luke, I know that much is true because you are the joy in my life—you and Bo and Daisy. You three mean everything to me. I thank God for giving me that gift everyday."

Looking up, I asked innocently, "Everyday, Uncle Jesse?"

Uncle Jesse smiled. "Yes, Luke. Every single day including the days I should put you over my knee for trying my patience."

Smiling sadly, I looked out the window at the swamp. "I hope that's true. She gave me a lot, too. I hope that I gave her some comfort."

Bo picked up the old guitar. "Maybe you should take this for safekeeping. We might be able to fix it up and play a song or two on it."

"I don't know, Bo. I think maybe it belongs here. Who knows? Maybe she'll come back for it someday….Maybe I will."

Daisy found the landscape of the swamp that Rose had been painting when I first met her. Unlike the portrait, the paint was still wet but it was finished. It was the place where we met. It was the place where Lukas Farrell drowned. It was the place where Rose had disappeared into the mist. I didn't know whether I should leave it there or take it with me.

Daisy seemed to read my mind. She said, "I think she'd want you to have it, Luke. She told you that you could have it when she finished."

"I guess you're right, Daisy."

"We should go," Uncle Jesse said. "Take the two paintings. I'm pretty sure Rose would want you to have them for safe keeping, Luke."

Bo picked up the portrait and then looked over at me. He said, "Luke, I'm really sorry that I didn't believe you."

I smiled at my younger cousin. "That's okay, Bo. I don't think I would've believed me either. I was beginning to doubt myself."

Bo patted my back. "Thanks, Luke. Let's get out of here."

I was the last one to leave of the cabin. I stood at the door looking around the room one last time, taking in the cobwebs and dust. I knew in my heart what happened here and it was all that mattered. Somehow Rose had been here. We had been here together. Maybe she went back to where she came from. As I slowly closed the door behind me, I whispered, " Goodbye, Rose, until we meet again. I won't forget you."

The End