Dead Is Just a Dream - [Dead Is - 08] Read Online Free Page A

said.
    Poppy nodded. “Kind of,” she said. She pointed to a sign that read PHANTASM FARMS . “We turn up that lane and then the stables are still about a mile away.”
    “Yikes,” I said. “No wonder Mom didn’t think we could walk.”
    “Here we are,” Poppy said. “I’ll meet you guys in about an hour.” She pointed to a picnic table under a shade tree. “Wait here if I’m late.” She let us out and we headed to the stables, where a short blond man in jeans, checkered shirt, and a black hat was waiting for us.
    “Hi. We’re the Walsh kids,” I said.
    “Anton Plasky,” he replied. “Let’s get you saddled up.”
    We were on the horses in a matter of minutes. Katie and Kellie had placid old ponies, but my horse looked like he wanted to take a bite out of me.
    “Buttercup can tell you’re afraid,” Mr. Platsky said. “He has to know you are in command.”
    I held the reins a little more firmly, which seemed to help, but I was still nervous.
    We rode around the farm until some of my skittishness evaporated.
    The horses carried us along a trail leading into the woods. Katie was in the lead when her horse veered off course and went crashing through the brush.
    “Katie!” I cried.
    “Wait here,” Mr. Platsky commanded, and took off after her.
    There was no way I was going to just sit there. “C’mon,” I said to Kellie. “But be careful.”
    We followed them at a more sedate pace. Whatever had spooked Katie’s horse seemed to be gone now, because Buttercup plodded along, and stopped to chew grass as he went.
    We caught up to them near a dilapidated old house. It must have been the one Poppy had told us about. It looked like something out of one of Eva’s favorite horror movies.
    “Look, Jessica, it’s the haunted house,” Katie said. “Can we go in?”
    “It’s not haunted,” I assured her. “Just deserted.”
    “But I saw a ghost,” she replied. “A girl in a white dress. Up there.” She pointed to an upper-story window.
    “There’s nobody there,” I said.
    “Lesson’s over,” Mr. Platsky snapped.
    He hurried us back to the stable. He and my sisters had already led their horses to the barn while I was trudging along. As I dismounted, I landed wrong on my left foot and it twisted hard. I tried to stand, but it hurt too much. The ankle was swelling rapidly.
    “Hello? Mr. Platsky? Help!” I yelled, but there wasn’t any answer.
    Even my horse abandoned me. He smelled oats and headed for the barn door, leaving me lying on the ground.
    There was a flash of white and then a blond girl in a white dress appeared, peeking out from behind a barn door. “Hey, can you help me?” I yelled. “I twisted my ankle.”
    The sound of my voice made her jump. She shied away and looked around fearfully, but when she saw I was alone, she crept closer. Kellie had said she saw a girl in white in the abandoned house. Could she really be a ghost? There was only one way to find out. I reached out to her.
    “Can you help me stand?” I asked. “Please?”
    She inched closer. The girl’s dress was faded and torn along the hem and her hair was a mass of tangles. Her skin was so pale I could almost see through it.
    “What’s your name?” I held out my hand again, but she backed away. “I won’t hurt you,” I added. “My name is Jessica.”
    “Sanja,” she whispered.
    She helped me up with a hand that was warm and very real. Not a ghost, then. I leaned on her until we made it to the stable door. Sanja was shaking so badly she could barely walk.
    “It’s okay,” I soothed.
    “Jessica,” Mr. Platsky barked from the barn. “What’s taking you so long?”
    The girl bolted. By the time Mr. Platsky had reached the yard, she was long gone.
    “Who were you talking to?” he asked suspiciously.
    “I was yelling for help,” I said. “I twisted my ankle.”
    “Where is Buttercup?”
    “He headed for the barn,” I said.
    Mr. Platsky left me where I stood and rushed off after his steed.