Haunted Waters Read Online Free PDF

guy. He’s just wrapped a little too tight.”
    “We didn’t even get to see the vug,” I said, then wished I hadn’t because Bryce looked even more miserable.
    As we drove away, I saw the shop owner waving and yelling, but Sam sped off.
    Back at the cabin Sam lit the grill. Dylan found the pinball machine and dragged a chair up to it, where he stood trying to make it work. There was no tearing him away from it until dinner was ready.
    We didn’t make a sound while we ate, except for Dylan, who clicked his hat light on and off and whined about going back to the “Ping-Pong machine.” The burgers tasted great, and Sam waited until after I had eaten mine to tell us they were buffalo meat.
    “Mmm, buffalo,” Dylan said, picking up his burger and bouncing it across his plate like it was running in a field. A few pieces fell on his plate, and he giggled. “He pooped.”
    That even made Bryce smile.
    Sam asked Bryce to help wash the dishes. It would be my turn the next day, so I went downstairs to the computer. Then I remembered I couldn’t send Mom the pictures, so I e-mailed her about what had happened. I also told her I hoped her book was going well. I almost explained what had happened with Hayley, but I just couldn’t.
    What must Hayley have thought about me? Had I blown my chance to tell her about God? I really wanted to, not to bang her over the head, but just tell her what a difference God’s made in me. But if I’d watch that kind of stuff, had he made a difference?
    Normally my brother and I don’t snoop on each other. He doesn’t read my diary, and I don’t listen on the extension when he talks with his friends. But for some reason I checked Bryce’s e-mail, and something in the subject line of one message told me I should read it. It said, “Better watch out.”
    The return address was Darryl Heckler, which I figured was Boo’s dad. I had no idea how Boo had gotten Bryce’s address, but the message sent a chill down my back.
    Hey, Timberhead—
    I meant what I said today. We’ll be waiting for you Monday, if not sooner.
    You know who
    I thought about deleting it. Bryce didn’t need to see this, but it might come in handy if Boo ever denied he’d threatened him.

Chapter 19

    I didn’t feel like helping with the dishes, but at least it took my mind off what had happened. Sam washed and I dried.
    After Dylan and Ashley were gone, Sam folded his arms, leaned against the sink, and said in his deep voice, “Can I tell you something about people? Most of the time they’re in their own little world, me included. If something goes wrong, they’ll take it out on somebody, and today that was you. You didn’t mean to do anything wrong. I know you’ve got a good heart.”
    “He didn’t have to treat us that way.”
    “No, and it was all I could do to keep from telling him what I thought.” Sam took the towel from my hand and folded it. “Something’s going on at school, isn’t it?”
    “Why?”
    “Your mom said she could tell. Wanted me to find out what it was.”
    “Nothing I can’t handle,” I said.
    “Well, if you need help, let me know.” He went back to washing and told me I was done.
    I started downstairs, then turned back. “Sam, I’ve wanted to ask you this for a long time.”
    “Go ahead,” he said, his hands still in dishwater.
    “Why haven’t you become a . . . I mean, what keeps you from . . . ?”
    “Doing the God thing?”
    “Yeah, I mean, you’re better than most Christians I know, the way you treat people. And you don’t curse—at least in front of Ashley and me. . . .”
    “How do you know I’m not a Christian?”
    “Mom said you weren’t interested.”
    Sam turned and smiled. His mustache got lost in the wrinkles in his face, and his eyes sparkled. “One of these days we’ll have to have a long talk about that. For now, you should know I respect you three and your decision to follow God.”
    “But what about you?”
    He pursed his lips.