Haunted Read Online Free Page B

toned from months industriously spent at the gym in order to look perfect for her wedding day. Hard not to look, but he forced his eyes to hers first, then cast his gaze anxiously around, scanning the area for any hidden threat that might be the reason for this scene. Seeing nothing, his mind working in milliseconds, he wondered if the groom had somehow turned out to be a homicidal maniac or a simple wife-beater. Either choice seemed doubtful.
    â€œJeannie?” he said, his voice deep with calm and authority. Normally, he would have walked to her, set an arm around her shoulder, and patiently determined the cause of her distress. But she was standing in his foyer stark naked and screaming. “Jeannie, please, talk. What the hell…?”
    By that time, her husband was rushing down the stairs as well. He was still half-asleep, and Matt would have sworn in any court that the young man appeared as bleary and stunned as anyone could possibly be. Certainly not fresh from a fight with his new bride.
    â€œJeannie!” Roger cried out in shock.
    Matt crossed over one of the velvet cord barriers into the parlor and swept an antique throw from the fragile old love seat, striding across the room to cast it around Jeannie’s shoulders. She had stopped screaming, but she was still shaking like a leaf, eyes wide, dilated.
    Roger, still dazed, and definitely horrified, thanked him briefly. Then he stared at his bride again, confusion once again reigning in his eyes.
    â€œJeannie, what is it?”
    At last, she turned to focus on him, her expression blank at first, then filled with tension. “You didn’t see it? You didn’t feel it?”
    â€œJeannie, I was sound asleep! What are you talking about?”
    By then, Penny Sawyer, in a terry robe, her graying hair frizzled around her handsomely constructed face, arrived. She stood in the frame of the front door, left open when Matt had come bursting in.
    â€œWhat in the Lord’s name…?” she queried.
    Penny managed Melody House. She kept accounts, and ran the tours. She loved the place, probably more so than Matt himself. She had worked as an historian for Matt’s grandfather, and slipped right into the role of managing the place after his death. She was like an aunt to Matt, as well as being incredibly efficient, and all but married to the place.
    There was only one area in which they disagreed. And Matt silently grit his teeth then, certain that this episode was about to lead in that direction.
    â€œApparently, our bride has had a nightmare,” Matt said quietly.
    â€œNightmare!” Jeannie shrieked. She must have heard the shrill tone of her own voice because she fought to control it. “I wasn’t sleeping.”
    â€œSo what exactly was the problem?” Roger asked, an underlying irritation rising beneath his concerned exterior.
    â€œI think I should get some brandy,” Penny said.
    â€œI think Jeannie should get some clothes on!” Roger said, his anger starting to crack through.
    â€œClothes?” Jeannie said. She stared down at herself and realized that she was covered in nothing but the antique quilt.
    â€œI’ll make tea with brandy,” Penny said decisively.
    â€œWhile she’s making the tea, Jeannie, you can run up and get dressed. Then we can all sit down and you can explain just what you’re doing,” Roger said, a thread of anger in his voice.
    â€œWhat I’m doing?” Jeannie repeated, frowning. “Roger Thomas, I was scared to death, don’t you understand?”
    â€œScared enough to run around naked?”
    Matt could have groaned aloud. He shouldn’t have been swayed to allow the Lee Room to become a honeymoon hangout. He glared at Penny. She had talked him into it, reminding him that they needed the money for Melody House.
    Penny shrugged innocently, giving him one of her knowing looks.
    Melody House was reputed to be haunted. Matt always saw the