Read Online Ghost Boy of Mackenzie House by Patti Larsen - Free Book Online Page B

frowned to herself, trying to remember details. She had gotten a better look at him in the loft than the night before in her room. But she had been so afraid she didn’t remember much.
    â€œWhat was he wearing?” Marsh asked.
    â€œUm… dark pants, white shirt. It had a collar, I think. And suspenders. He had… dark hair. I don’t know,” she admitted. “I was so scared I don’t remember a whole lot else. Except, he looked really sad.” He had, she remembered that clear as day. Like he had been crying, too.
    â€œCool,” Marsh said. “So cool. You know what?”
    â€œWhat?” Chloe asked.
    â€œI’ve seen him, too,” Marsh said.
    Chloe was shocked. “Really? When?”
    â€œTwo summers ago,” he told her, leaning closer, glancing at the door to Aunt Larry’s office. “Larry was in Africa or something and we were looking after the house, just checking on it, you know? I was here with my Dad,” he added, “so I wasn’t snooping. Anyway, I went around the back to check the door and I felt like someone was watching me.” He shivered like Chloe had but he was grinning. “It was freaky! I looked up at the little window, you know, the one above the deck? There was this boy up there looking down at me.”
    Chloe realized she was holding her breath. “And?”
    Marsh leaned back and shrugged. “I freaked. Went running for Dad. I was a kid, you know, only eight. Thought the bogeyman was coming to get me.” He was laughing and Chloe joined in, even though it didn’t feel funny to her. It was so much easier to be brave with Marsh there with her.
    â€œAnyway, Dad came with me and had a look, but the boy was gone. Never saw him again. Of course, it doesn’t keep Liam and the twins from torturing me.” Marsh made his funny face. “Dad told them all at dinner and they started calling me the ghost hunter.” He was blushing, ducking his head as if he expected her to laugh at him.
    â€œWell, he’s real,” Chloe said. “So I believe you.”
    Marsh’s smile lit up the room.
    â€œI have a great idea,” he said. Chloe was sure she wouldn’t agree, but let him talk. “I say we go up to that room where the window is and see if we can find him.”
    Chloe did not want to go up there. In fact, everything in her wished she had kept her mouth shut. But Marsh was smiling at her, so eager and excited that she found herself saying words she couldn’t believe were coming from her mouth.
    â€œI’ll get the flashlight.”

Chapter Thirteen
    Chloe’s decision was a huge surprise to her, as was finding herself in the kitchen retrieving a second flashlight after Marsh claimed the one on the mantel in the rustic room. Even though her mind was screaming at her that this was a terrible idea, that the last place in the house she wanted to be going right then was the creepy room at the top of the steep stairs, her body kept moving without her assistance. In a matter of moments she was standing next to Marsh with her flashlight shining its beam up into the dark.
    â€œYou first,” Marsh whispered. Chloe swallowed and nodded, not judging him in the least. Had she thought of it, she would have told him to go before he had the chance to use it on her, so fair was fair. As she drew near the bottom step, the wind picked up, whistling under the door behind her, the original front door of the house, now latched tight. Chloe shivered as a draft found her bare legs and traced up her back. Were the old rafters groaning more than normal? Was the very house protesting what she and Marsh were about to do? The rain had not let up, a steady percussive force against the wavy glass in the windows. It was far gloomier now than even it seemed at night. The weight of the storm seemed to press down on her. Chloe felt herself hunching over and had to force her shoulders back as she set foot on