The Pike River Phantom by Betty Ren Wright

Author:Betty Ren Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504013352
Publisher: Holiday House

CHAPTER 11

“I can tell you’re fretting about the Sunbonnet Queen contest,” Grandma Lou said. “But you mustn’t, Rachel dear. The committee never announces their choice till the day before the parade, so you might as well put it right out of your mind. Keep busy with something else.”

“I’m not fretting,” Rachel said, “and I don’t feel like keeping busy, Grandma.” She was slumped in a lawn chair, staring at the side of the garage. Charlie had been watching her ever since it became too dark to read his mystery. She looked dazed, he thought. She looked the same way he felt.

“Of course you’re fretting,” Grandma insisted. “I remember how I felt when I was a girl. I guess I didn’t have to be concerned,” she went on, and a shadow crossed her face. “I told you about all the help I was given. Still … Would you like to make some cookies, Rachel? Edie Koch gave me a recipe I want to try.”

“No, thanks, Grandma.” Rachel gave Charlie a desperate glance, but he didn’t know how to help. The memory of the ghost-girl’s furious attack, and the sound of her screams, had come between him and his book all afternoon.

The back door opened, and Grandpa Will and Charlie’s father came out on the patio.

“Hi, kid.” John tapped Charlie lightly on the head. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Grandma answered for him. “We’ve got two young people with everything to be happy about, and they sit here looking as if the world is about to end.” A thought struck her. “Charlie, do you still have a headache? I think you should have stayed in bed this morning instead of traipsing off on a hike.”

“I’m fine,” Charlie told her.

“Well, then I’m sure I don’t know what’s wrong,” Grandma said. “When I was your age—”

“How about a trip to the Chocolate Palace for some triple-dippers?” Grandpa suggested hurriedly. “My treat.”

“Great idea!” John exclaimed. “I’m ready if everybody else is.”

Grandma Lou said she was dieting and wanted to stay away from temptation, but Charlie and Rachel followed the two men out to the car. Grandma was wrong, Charlie thought. He wasn’t moping and he wasn’t sick. He was scared. Over and over again he reviewed what had happened at the old house, looking for an explanation. He longed to talk to Rachel, but when he’d knocked on her bedroom door earlier in the afternoon, she’d told him to please go away and leave her alone. Since then, there had always been someone else around.

Charlie’s father talked all the way downtown. He was still thinking about becoming a salesman, but now he directed his enthusiasm at Grandpa.

“I’ll apply in every town within fifty miles of here,” he said. “I’ll have to buy a car, but then, I’ll have to do that anyway, once I find what I want.”

Grandpa Will didn’t say “Good for you!” but he didn’t say anything discouraging either. He even offered the use of his car for a few days. Charlie squirmed, recalling his own response when his father had tried to tell him about his job-hunting plans.

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