Haunted by Ruth Price

Author:Ruth Price
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Global Grafx Press

14

Maryanne had stayed awake late into the night. She didn't deserve Luke. He was so kind. Her body thrilled at his kisses, but her soul was drawn to his steadiness. He really was a hero. If that other girl, the one who had been so fake nice but underneath rancid and nasty, was his ex, maybe Luke was just a hero with a knack for choosing the wrong women.

Marion curled up in a pallet of old clothes, two pillows, one she had stolen and one Luke had given her along with a heavy Amish quilt. The attic, thankfully, had stored a single mattress. It was sized for a ten-year-old child, but far better than sleeping on the hard wooden floor.

With Luke's help, Maryanne had made her second floor "apartment" quite cozy. She had a flashlight, a bag of hand and foot warmers, another stash of candy bars, and some sodas, and even a dog-eared paperback which Christine had lent her.

Maybe Maryanne could make a life here. Not in this abandoned house, but among the Amish. With Luke. She could erase Maryanne and just be Mary, Luke’s girlfriend. Or wife?

No. She was way too young to be thinking about being somebody’s wife.

Eventually, Maryanne slept.

Maryanne woke to the rumble of an approaching car engine. She sat bolt upright. A car? Here?

Her mouth went dry. Quickly, she folded up the blanket and shoved it along with the mattress into the closet. Hopefully, whoever was coming would not look up here. Then she grabbed her snacks and her flashlight and everything else around her and shoved it into her backpack.

She had just finished this when she heard the rattle of the front door opening.

At least she had remembered to lock the door this time, unlike when the boys had come.

Unfortunately, she was now trapped.

Whoever had entered had a key, which meant they might be the owner. Or someone hired by the owner. Whoever they were, they would recognize Maryanne didn't belong and call the police.

Marion, backpack slung over her shoulder, tiptoed down the hall.

From downstairs, she heard a male voice. He spoke and waited as though listening for a response. Cellphone. It had to be.

Maryanne and looked up and down the hall. She could hide at the far end, crouched down, and hope he went straight upstairs towards the back rooms first. Then she could make a break for the stairs.

It was a fifty-fifty chance. But better to try. As he came up the stairs, his back would be to her and he would have to turn around to walk down the section of the hall.

Decision made, Maryanne dropped into a crouch. Maybe he wouldn't notice her dishes in the sink. She should have put them in the cabinet. Stupid!

From where she hid, the voice on the phone was clearer than it had been on the other side of the hall.

"Billy! I think you've got a squatter."

Maryanne’s heart pounded.

"See if the cleaning service left this stuff here and call me back. If it is not them then…" The man's voice faded as he passed the stairs to the kitchen.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.