The Children of Fear Read Online Free PDF Page B

scrambled out of bed and pulled on his shirt and overalls.
    Who are they? he wondered. What do they want?
    He ran to the window and looked out into the pitch-dark night. He heard the shrill cry of horses and the yells of angry men.
    Then he saw them, circling the house. Closing in like rabid wolves.
    His mouth suddenly dry, his temples throbbing, Luke rushed down the stairs and into the front parlor.
    With shaking hands he grabbed his rifle from above the mantel. Frantically, he flung open the door.
    He dashed onto the porch and peered into the black night. He saw only the retreating shadows of specters galloping down the dark road.
    Breathing heavily, he stumbled down the steps and dropped to his knees. The dark clouds rolled away from the moon. The moonlight shimmered over a dark red pool of thick blood.
    In its center, a cow’s head glared at Luke with accusing black eyes.

Chapter
4

    L uke screamed with disgust and scrambled to his feet. The cow stared up at him with blank, unseeing eyes. Its thick grayish-red tongue hung from a gaping mouth as red blood oozed from its severed neck.
    Luke started to turn away, but something caught his eye. Looking more closely, he could see a white piece of paper stuck into the cow’s mouth. A note!
    He took a deep breath and reached for it. His fingers slid over the slick tongue as he worked to unroll it. Grabbing the paper, he stood and held the note up to the moonlight.
    Our cows die—your cows die. Stop your sister. Or we will.
    In shock, Luke stared at the note. They think Leahhas something to do with the strange cattle disease? That’s impossible!
    He looked at the cow’s head. A warning! They had killed his cow. Would they kill his sister?
    He hurried back into the house, eager to make certain that Leah was all right. He spotted her on the front porch, her long white nightgown billowing in the breeze, her black hair freed from her braids and streaming wildly around her shoulders.
    Luke stood stone still for a moment and stared at her. Her pale gown shimmered strangely in the moonlight, and her face wore an eerie expression. Corey stood beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist. Corey’s green eyes were wide with worry, his bottom lip quivering. Leah draped her arm over his shoulder.
    â€œDon’t worry, Corey. They are gone now.” Luke heard her soothe him in the same quiet voice she used on the animals.
    â€œYes, they are gone,” Luke assured them. He walked up to the porch. “If they come back, I’ll be ready for them,” he promised, brandishing his shotgun.
    â€œWhat’s that, a note?” Leah asked.
    â€œIt’s nothing—” Luke shoved the note into his pocket. But Leah quickly snatched the paper away from him. Her jaw tightened as she read it.
    â€œHow could they think I would do something like that?” she cried. She balled up the paper and tossed it on the ground.
    She turned to face Luke, her eyes dark with rage. “How could they think I have some evil power? I hate them! I hate them all!”
    â™¦Â â™¦Â â™¦
    Two days later, as Luke slowly trudged behind the stubborn mule and the heavy plow, he spotted Mr. Stone. The grim-faced man plodded across the fields toward him.
    Luke drew the mule to a halt and wiped the sweat off his brow with his bandanna.
    Mr. Stone stopped beside Luke and swept his hat from his head. “Luke, you’ve had your warnings. Can you make a payment on your land today or not?”
    Luke swallowed hard. “I have five dollars. Until the crops come in, that’s all I have.”
    Mr. Stone cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. “Well, I suppose I can take it as a show of faith.”
    Luke reached into his pocket and withdrew the silver coins. He slowly dropped them into Mr. Stone’s hand. He felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest. He didn’t know what he’d do without any money. He forced himself not to think of that