Chuckling, he shook his head and said, “I haven’t a clue.”

After entering the house, the couple went into the parlour to retrieve their keys. Susan had just leaned over to grab them, when a cold breeze blew through the room and she felt a cool touch on her face. Susan was about to comment on the icy sensation, when Emma appeared standing before them, one hand lightly resting against her cheek, while smiling with an expression of immense gratitude brightening her face.

Just then another gentle breeze of cold air blew by the couple and the spirit of Jebediah walked past them to stand next to Emma, casually wrapping an arm around her waist. He smiled at the young couple and looking them over, took in all the injuries they had sustained over the past few days. Smiling he extended his hand to Justin and shook it, then taking Susan’s uninjured hand he kissed the back of it and bowed his head slightly in her direction.

Stepping back, he allowed the other spirit to move forward. Emma leaned in and placed one hand on each of Justin’s cheeks. Noticing his wary expression, she smiled at him, then closed her eyes, and he was overcome by a warm sensation of fullness. When she opened her eyes, all of Justin’s wounds and burns were healed. Next, she moved to Susan, and with a benevolent smile worthy of any heavenly angel, she kissed both of her cheeks and, like Justin, Susan’s injuries were completely healed.

Emma stepped back and once again joined Jebediah. Together, they continued to back away, smiling their love and appreciation to Justin and Susan for freeing them after so long. As they slowly moved into a bank of rolling fog, they faded away.

Justin looked down at his completely healed body and grabbed his wife, lifted her into the air and spun her around “Well, damn baby, this story will make one hell of a paper.” He sat her down and looked into her smiling, happy face, and added, “If anyone will believe it.”