Shadows on the Lane Read Online Free Page B

they had on her illness.” Her mother turned onto the paved street. “Now it’s just Mrs. Livingston, because her husband died a few years ago.”
    “I suppose that’s why the farm is so run down,” said Jessie. “Well anyway, she seems very strange.”
    “Seems strange, seems strange, seems strange.” It was Phillip again.
    “Uh-oh, there he goes,” muttered her mother. “We’d better change the subject.”
    Back at home, Jessie went straight to the piano, opened her brand new lesson book and concentrated on reading the instructions.
    Phillip raced into the room and crawled under the bench. In a moment he was on his back with his legs raised beating a tattoo on the seat with his feet.
    Jessie stopped reading and looked underneath. “Quit it, Phillip.”
    He laughed and continued to kick.
    Jessie stood, grabbed his arms and pulled him out. “Go find something else to do.”
    He jumped up, climbed onto the piano bench and pounded the keys.
    “Don’t do that!” shouted Jessie. She lifted him down and set him on his feet.
    “MA MA!” he wailed and ran from the room.
    Both her father and mother appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on?” asked her dad.
    “He’s kicking the bench while I’m trying to practice.”
    Phillip was now leaning against his mother, great tears rolling down his cheeks. “You leave Jessie alone. Do you understand?” She picked him up. “And, Jessie, I’ve told you before. You are not to yell at him.”
    “We’ll have to figure out a practice time for you, Jess,” said her dad. “If you could wait, I’d like to sit in the room sometimes and listen if I get home early enough. Would that be okay with you?”
    “Sure,” said Jessie.
    “You know,” he said. “I’ve always loved the sound of a piano.”
    “Daddy,” said Jessie. “Tina and I think we saw the hit-and-run car today—out by the old mill.”
    “Are you sure?” Her dad sat down in a chair next to the piano.
    “No, because it stirred up a huge dust cloud, it was going so fast. But I saw something red on the antenna.”
    “We’ll have to expand the search out into the country. I’ll let the police know.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    The next morning her mom agreed to entertain Phillip while Jessie practiced her lesson. Then Jessie took him to the front porch swing. From this spot, she could see when Bryce and his dad brought Sunny home from the hospital.
    “Sandbox?” Phillip got down from the swing.
    “Oh, wait a minute,” Jessie said. She pulled him back up beside her. “Shall I tell you a story?”
    He nodded.
    “Once upon a…where are you going, Phillip. Let’s stay and swing.” He was ruining her plan.
    “Sandbox, sandbox, sandbox,” he chattered as he headed for the steps.
    Jessie followed him around to the side yard and helped him into the sandbox. Together they made sand cakes. A big black sedan came into view, driving up Willow Lane. Her heart skipped a beat. There they are! They’re home. I’ll fix something to eat and take it over, she thought. “Phillip, do you want to make cookies?”
    He jumped up. “Okay.”
    In the kitchen, Jessie set out the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. It was the one recipe she knew. She turned on the oven and greased a baking sheet. With Phillip on a stool, she washed his hands at the sink and put on his red apron. Jessie wore the white one. When the batter was stirred, she opened a bag of chocolate chips and let Phillip pour them into the bowl.
    “I love chocolate chip cookies. Do you love them too, Phillip?”
    He nodded and licked his lips.
    Jessie smiled. Today she would see Bryce and meet Sunny and, just maybe, find out more about the hit-and-run. She kissed her brother on the top of his head.
    Her mother entered the kitchen. “Doing some baking?’
    “We’re making cookies to take to Bryce’s little sister.” Jessie set spoonfuls of cookie dough onto the greased sheet. “I just saw them drive up.”
    “Not today, Jessie. It’s too soon.