The Wishing Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

her face. The saucy questioning air disappeared and a slight frown creased her forehead.
    â€œSeems,” Nancy said slowly, “the fella affects a person. There’s something about him that makes a body hate or love him.”
    Caught by the statement, Jenny stood watching Nancy turn aside with a sigh. She heard her mother say, “Nancy, you’re not fourteen yet. You’re not even supposed to know there’s fellas like that.” An anxious note in her voice made Jenny wonder what she meant.
    Jenny was still thinking about that statement the next afternoon when she and Tom met Joe on their way home from school. Jenny had suggested cutting through the edge of the forest, and there was Joe sitting beside the trail. It was cold and crisp, and snow rimmed the rocks and bushes, but he was sitting there as relaxed as if it were a day in June.
    When Tom hailed him, he got to his feet and waited for them to reach him. Speaking in a whisper, he said, “You know, when there’s been a death like old man Harper, there’s a surge of energy released in the spirit world. I was feeling it. Sitting here I was wondering how best to take advantage of the power.”
    Jenny shivered and jumped around on the trail. She too spoke in a whisper. “Are you goin’ to be diggin’ for treasure? Will you teach me how to use the rod? Tom said you knew all about it. What are charms? Are you afraid of the spirits? Have you ever seen one?”
    He hunkered down beside her and grinned unexpectedly. “Hey, are you that uppity little kid from school? How come you aren’t asking these questions during recess?”
    She studied him for a minute, still dancing on her toes with excitement. “Because Ma says this diggin’ for treasure is all wrong. Nancy would tell on me. Will you show me how to draw circles so the demons won’t get me?”
    He got to his feet, laughing. Jenny was disappointed to see the mood of mystery had faded from him. Hands on hips, she stood in the path staring up at him. “No one will take me serious. I’m tryin’ to learn. If you and Tom won’t teach me, where’s a body to learn?”
    Still chuckling, he said, “Too bad my pa isn’t here. He’s the one I learned from.” And Jenny had to be content with that. She and Tom dallied a moment longer before leaving. When they turned toward home, Tom was whistling happily.

Chapter 3
    One October afternoon, Jenny lingered behind the rest of the students, reluctant to go home. The waning afternoon was still warm, and the bright autumn trees surrounding the schoolhouse enticed Jenny. Turning her back to the raucous group headed down the trail, she watched the wind flick the red maple leaves like brilliant flags.
    While she hesitated, staring at the trail cutting into the trees, a movement in the deeper shadows of pine caught her attention. A pale patch flashed, and she caught a brief glimpse of bright hair before the dark shadows swallowed the tall figure.
    Quickly Jenny turned and trotted down the path. Without a doubt it was Joe. But just before she reached the trees, she hesitated. She was disobeying Ma. How many times had she been scolded for tarrying after school, and for tagging after the fellows instead of staying close to Nancy?
    Jenny’s feet began to drag, but all of the questions she had been wanting to ask Joe tumbled into her mind. If she hurried, he might show her how to use the rod.
    As Jenny moved down the trail, she began to hear the clink of shovel against stone.
    He was in a clearing, standing on a mound of dirt, digging. Suddenly shy, she hung back in the trees, watching. When he threw down his shovel and pulled the stone out of his pocket, she forgot everything except her curiosity. As she ran toward him, he jumped to his feet and turned. The quick smile on his face changed to a frown when he saw her. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œI saw you comin’