SPIRIT RIDER: A LILLIAN INDIGENOUS MYSTERY

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From Chapter 1, "A Bicycle Mystery" by Lynda Partridge

Narrated by Maeve Wills | PDF of photos for audiobook readers

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An Excerpt from the Book

From Chapter 1 "A BICYCLE MYSTERY"

By Lynda Partridge

“Kokom! Auntie! Come quick! He’s doing it again! Hurry!” Lillian’s frantic voice echoed through the house. “Hurry, hurry!”
Kokom came rushing—or fast-walking, really—toward the big picture window where Lillian stood. Her slippers barely made a sound as she moved with urgency. Auntie, on the other hand, dashed down the hallway at full speed, nearly tripping over the edge of the carpet.
“What’s going on?” Auntie asked, breathless, as they both arrived at the window. The three of them stood there, staring out onto the street, their eyes scanning every corner for a glimpse of movement.
“I’m sorry, Lillian,” Auntie sighed after a moment. “We must have missed him again.”
Kokom nodded. “Sorry, my girl. We’ll keep trying until we see him. And don’t worry—we know you well enough to know you’re not making this up.”
Lillian let out a deep, dramatic sigh and turned to face them, her shoulders slumping. “I really thought you’d see him this time,” she said, disappointment heavy in her voice. “Oh boy. Here we go again.”
And with that, Lillian’s new adventure began.
It had only been a short while since she and her friends Chloe and Grace had unraveled the mystery in the barn. That spirit, a girl their age, had been tethered to the earth because of unfinished business with her brother, who happened to be Chloe’s dad. At first, they’d hoped she was an alien spirit—how cool would that have been? But no, she had been a human spirit. Despite that slight disappointment, the experience had been transformative for Lillian. She’d discovered her gift for seeing and communicating with spirits, a gift that seemed equal parts fascinating and exhausting.
Since then, things had quieted down. Well, until a few days ago, when a strange boy began appearing outside her window on a bike. He rode past, taunting her, sticking out his tongue, and—most annoyingly—flipping her the finger. Lillian wasn’t entirely sure if he was a spirit, but something about him felt different. Either way, his behaviour was undeniably rude, and it was starting to get on her nerves.
She turned away from the window, glancing over her shoulder one last time in case the boy reappeared. He didn’t. With a loud sigh, Lillian wandered into the kitchen in search of something to eat.
Kokom and Auntie were seated at the table, deep in conversation. Lillian only caught snippets—something about Grace and Chloe visiting soon—but her grumbling stomach drowned out most of it.
“Don’t eat too much,” Auntie warned as Lillian rummaged through the pantry. “Supper will be ready soon. And don’t forget, you’re going to Grace’s house tomorrow night.”
“Okay, cheese and crackers it is,” Lillian replied, grabbing a handful of crackers and some pre-sliced cheese. She loaded her snack onto a plate and wandered back into the living room, balancing the plate carefully as she perched on the arm of the couch.
She glared out the window, daring the boy to return. No sign of him. There didn’t seem to be any pattern to his appearances, but Lillian was determined to figure it out. She nibbled on her crackers, her mind already racing with ideas for the upcoming week. Grace and Chloe were going to be here, which meant plenty of time for adventures. Chloe’s school had been closed temporarily—something about a health hazard—and she was coming to stay with her cousin Grace until things were sorted out. Lillian didn’t know all the details, and honestly, she didn’t care. All that mattered was that both Grace and Chloe would be nearby.
It had been a while since the three of them were all together. Lillian had met Chloe last summer when she stayed on Chloe’s farm, and Grace, Chloe’s cousin, lived near Lillian in the city. The three of them had hit it off immediately, and their shared adventure with the barn spirit had cemented their bond. Now, with Chloe coming for a week, Lillian was already imagining the fun they’d have.
Her daydreaming was interrupted by Auntie’s voice. “Lillian! Lillian… Lillian!”
“Huh?” Lillian snapped out of her thoughts and looked toward the kitchen.
“Don’t forget, your social worker Mrs. Beasley is coming by in the next hour,” Auntie reminded her.
Lillian groaned inwardly. She still got nervous every time Mrs. Beasley visited. Even though her Auntie constantly reassured her that this was her home now, Lillian couldn’t shake the fear that she’d be taken away again. It had happened too many times before.
“And I can hear you worrying about this visit,” Auntie said, raising an eyebrow at her. “Don’t. It’s just a routine check to make sure you’re still happy here and that we’re doing everything we’re supposed to—feeding you, clothing you, all that good stuff.” She chuckled lightly, hoping to ease Lillian’s nerves.
“I know, I know,” Lillian replied, her voice tinged with exasperation. “I just… I still get nervous that my mom will show up someday and want me to go back.”
In the kitchen, Auntie sighed quietly, her gaze softening as she glanced at Kokom. It was a fear she shared with Lillian—though for different reasons. She wished, deep down, that Lillian’s mom would recover from the illness that had consumed her. But she also knew how much stability and love Lillian had found here. It was a delicate balance, and Auntie could only hope that Lillian would come to truly believe she belonged, no matter what the future held.
Kokom reached over and gave Auntie’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “She’s a strong one,” Kokom said softly. “She’ll find her peace.”
Lillian, oblivious to the exchange, returned to the couch with her empty plate and plopped down. She stared out the window one last time before muttering to herself, “Next time, I’ll catch him.”