Ancient Spirits (Daisy Gumm Majesty Books) Read Online Free PDF

to do whatever he darned pleased with his pals. Smart kid, Pudge.
    “Want me to use the bathtub?” he asked.
    I shrugged. “Sure. Why not? Just be sure to scrub the tub when you’re through.” I knelt beside Spike and gave him a hug to make up for the indignity Pudge aimed to inflict upon him. Still, a bath wouldn’t hurt Spike any.
    “I sure will. Thank you, Missus Majesty.”
    “Thank you, Pudge.” I think I even managed to smile at the kid.
    After Pudge led a bewildered and stubbornly reluctant Spike toward the bathroom at the end of the hallway, Pa said, “You look like you’re going out.”
    “I am.” I gave Pa a significant look. “Mrs. Pinkerton. Stacy’s slipped from the straight and narrow path, and Missus P wants to consult Rolly.” Rolly was my spirit control. I’ll explain more about him later.
    Pa rolled his eyes at this news, but only said, “It was good of you to let Pudge do his good deed, sweetheart.”
    “Well, I suppose Spike can always use a bath.”
    I was pulling on my gray gloves when Pa said, “Daisy, if you ever need to talk about anything . . .”
    He didn’t finish his sentence, but I did notice him looking at me with grave concern.
    My stupid eyes filled with tears. I wiped them away with the tips of my gloved fingers. “I’m all right, Pa. It’s just . . . so hard. You know?”
    “I know, sweetheart. You and Billy never even had a chance. But . . . well, your mother and I are a little worried about you, you know. You don’t seem to be . . .”
    “Pulling myself together and getting on with my life?” I finished for him since he seemed to be stuck.
    He shook his head impatiently. “No! For God’s sake, you can’t just get over something like that. You just seem to pale and wan and . . . well, you seem sad all the time.”
    I gave his words some serious thought before I responded. Then I said, “I guess you’re right. I am sad all the time. For so many years, I honestly thought we’d be all right, Billy and me. Not all right in the normal sense, but . . .” My words gave out, too.
    Pa didn’t answer in words. He only came over and gave me a hug. “Maybe getting back to work will help lift your spirits a little.”
    I gave him a wry smile. “Aptly put.”
    Pa grinned.
    It was still early for a ten-thirty appointment, so before I wended my way to Mrs. Pinkerton’s mansion on Orange Grove Boulevard—called by some folks “Millionaire’s Row” back then—I betook myself to the public library. I remained in charge of getting library books for my family. Now that I didn’t have to search out books for Billy, I could still amuse myself by rummaging through the shelves for books my mother, father and aunt might enjoy. And me. I always read mystery novels, although I hadn’t been reading much of anything since Billy’s funeral. I couldn’t seem to concentrate.
    Miss Petrie, my special librarian friend, smiled sadly at me when she saw me walk through the front doors of the library. I love that library. It’s big and wood-paneled and smells like furniture polish, leather and books. I smiled back and decided it would be polite to speak to Miss Petrie, who always kept books for me that she thought someone in my family might enjoy. She’d been at Billy’s funeral, too, and I’d appreciated her attendance.
    “Good morning, Daisy. It’s good to see you out and about again.”
    It was? Hadn’t I been to the library recently? Thinking about it, I realized I hadn’t. Oh, my. That was a lapse indeed. I shook my head. “I guess nobody’s been reading much in our house recently. But I aim to make up for that today.” I tried to sound jolly and didn’t succeed.
    “I’ve saved some books for you. I know your father likes Mister Burroughs’ books, as your . . .”
    “Yes,” I said, seeing she thought she’d blundered. “Billy loved Mister Burroughs’ books, and so does Pa. What do you have?”
    She brightened slightly. “Well, it’s not a Tarzan book, but