Words for Wednesday ~ April 30 ~ Bill & Sue and the Seventh Son 8

In April,  Elephant's Child is supplying the prompts for Words for Wednesday.

Word for Wednesday is a challenge that was started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable event with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words provided by a number of people.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

- - A - - B - - C - - 

This Wednesday's prompts:
Extra
Wisdom
Memories
Corner
Imposing
    and/or
Dark
Shoulder
Femininity
Strength
Manners

As is my wont, I used all of the words in the order they were  given. Unfortunately I ran out of words before I ran out of story. I'll have to repeat myself from last Wednesday: I can now see the ending of this strange tale of Bill, Sue, Fred Thompson, the unwitting seventh son of a seventh son, and hope to end it next Wednesday.

And a question - I'd like to give you a choice. I have two endings in my head, one where Fred Thompson is the culprit, and one where it is a case of mistaken identity. It's up yo you which one I'll continue to write next Wednesday.


Bill drew an extra deep breath. His long life ghost hunting had given him insight in many things. It was akin to wisdom. He asked Fred to search his memories of his sailing days. Had he ever cut any corners, cheated on someone or imposed his will on others?
"Of course I have," Fred said. "Do I look like a saint maybe? Everybody does this. I've done my share of petty crimes, I've told some atrocious tales, some grey or even black lies. But then, who hasn't? I think none of what I done is bad enough for being haunted like I am."
Sue shook her dark hair out, it fell over her shoulders, showing off her femininity, but there was strength and resilience in her manners as she rose. "Come with us, down to the shipwreck, we found. We have a suspicion, let's see."
Bill handed Fred some of his own waterproof clothing and Sue leashed the dogs. Eryn sniffed Fred's hands, and Hue and Rynn both growled softly. They were ready.
Outside the weather was cold, stormy and dark. The moon was full, but the jagged clouds hurrying across the skies did not let it shine through very often. Sue and Bill walked sure-footedly along the beach, Sue holding the dogs and Bill ready to lend Fred a hand. This became necessary more than once, the beach was strewn with driftwood, and the shifting moonlight made it hard to see what was real and what was shadows.
Suddenly Eryn sat down on her haunches, stuck her muzzle towards the moon and howled like a wolf.
Rynn and Hue stopped and froze, lifting one paw, like hunting dogs smelling their prey. Sue stopped too, gripping the leashes even tighter, while Bill led Fred on towards the wreck.
"Do you know anything of this wreck?" Bill asked Fred.
The dogs' eerie keening and the drifting shadows made the wreck look almost alive. And soon darker shadows coalesced around it. The ghosts had arrived.

... to be continued ... but how?