Haunted Read Online Free PDF Page A

rumors as simply par for the course. The main house was well over two hundred years old. It had survived the American Revolution, the Civil War, and every manner of conflict in between. As he well knew, nothing that old went without a certain kind of history. And apparently, most of the world wanted to believe in things that went bump in the night. People couldn’t just look back on the personal tragedies of the past with sorrow—they just had to make something else out of them.
    Matt simply didn’t believe in ghosts. He’d worked in the D.C. area long before he’d taken up working in his old home haunts, and he knew that the things that living men and women did to one another could be so violent, barbarous, and cruel, that there was simply no reason to worry about those who were long dead and buried.
    â€œGo up and put clothes on!” Roger said, his voice almost a roar.
    Jeannie, blue eyes still huge, stared at him in rebellion and defiance.
    â€œI am not —get this straight!— not going back up to that room. Ever! There is a ghost up there, and it—it threatened me.”
    Matt shook his head, praying for patience. He looked up at the bride and groom. Wow! How quickly there was trouble in Paradise.
    â€œJeannie,” he said patiently, “there are no such things as ghosts. Hey, I’ve lived here most of my life. I’ve spent nights in the place with no electricity, you know, in the pitch dark. I swear, there are no ghosts. I would know.”
    He had tried to say the last lightly. He knew, however, that his voice had an edge. He was sick to death of the whole ghost thing.
    â€œLook what you’ve done,” Roger said to Jeannie. “Great.Really good honeymoon we’re going to have here—you’ve just really pissed off Matt Stone.”
    â€œSorry, I’m not angry,” Matt said quickly. “I just don’t believe in ghosts. Jeannie, it was a big day for you. I’m sure for you both…I’m not saying that anyone is totally inebriated, but come on, now, you both had a hell of a lot to drink. You’re wired, Jeannie. Excited. Hey, it was the wedding of the century, huh? You don’t have to go back into the room. We’ll get your things. And you and Roger can finish out your honeymoon in the caretaker’s cottage, how’s that? I can clear it out in a matter of minutes, while Penny makes tea.”
    Jeannie spun around again. She looked as if she wanted to run from Roger’s side and come flying into his arms.
    Don’t do it, Jeannie, don’t do it! He pleaded silently.
    â€œNot one of you has suggested coming up to see if there is something in the room,” Jeannie said indignantly.
    Matt lifted his hands. “I’ll go up to the room.”
    He strode past the newlywed couple on the stairs. As he neared the upper landing, he could hear Roger whispering angrily to his wife. “Ghost, hell! You’re a little exhibitionist. You’ve had a bit of a thing for Matt Stone your whole life, you know, Jeannie. What, you just had to have an excuse for him to see you naked?”
    â€œRoger Thomas! How dare you suggest such a thing, you bastard!” she whispered back. Then her voice rose. “We don’t need the caretaker’s house! I’m going home. Home—back to my family. They’re not a bunch of idiot jerks!”
    â€œHey, there!” Penny protested cheerfully. “You know, everyone is really tired, but we’ll get to the bottom of this. Matt, he’s all he-man practical and doesn’t believe in ghosts, but I’m telling you, Roger, don’t you go being hard on your new missus! Lots of folks believe that this house is more than a little haunted, I do tell you!”
    Matt walked on into the Lee Room. As he suspected, therewas nothing there. The French doors to the balcony were open, and the drapes were drifting in. They must have been what scared the new