The Half-a-Moon Inn Read Online Free

they were in among woods once again. Still they’d passed no other traveler, come to no other town—and Aaron began to grow worried. The trees seemed to be different from those he’d first wandered through. Odd-sounding bird calls, such as he’d never before heard on the journey to Craftsbury, rang out through the woods. The very clouds in the sky looked foreign and strange, and an uneasy feeling crept over him.
    Night came on, but the ragman kept driving, finding his way by the light of the moon.
    â€œOught to make home before morning,” he spoke up cheerfully. “And you’re welcome to stay, me boy, welcome indeed.”
    Aaron was untouched by the ragman’s good spirits, wondering whether his mother had ever made her way home, or whether the blood in her veins had already chilled to ice—when all of a sudden he glimpsed a light up ahead.
    He jumped to his feet and nearly fell out of the wagon. Tugging anxiously at the ragman’s arm, he pointed up the road.
    â€œAye, lad, it’s an inn,” said the ragman, and all at once it came into sight, a ramshackle, three-story house, lit up bone-white in the moonlight. Suddenly the idea of traveling another mile without knowing where he was seemed unbearable to Aaron. He had to get off while there was a chance—and surely an innkeeper could direct him to Craftsbury.
    He motioned frantically to stop when they drew up to the inn, and the ragman tugged at the reins, bringing the wagon to a halt.
    â€œGot the urge to sleep in a proper bed, have you, lad?”
    Aaron nodded his head, gathered up his belongings and climbed down to the ground. Then he lifted his cap in thanks to the ragman.
    â€œNever seen such a quiet boy before. But I’m grateful for the company, lad—grateful indeed.” And he shook on the reins and was off down the road.
    Aaron listened to the wagon fading into the night, then turned toward the inn. Several horses stood hitched out in front, and high up in a window shone a light. A peeling sign by the door read: THE HALF-A-MOON INN. MISS GRACKLE, PROPRIETOR , with a milk-white moon painted in the corner.
    Cautiously Aaron walked onto the porch, put down his sack and knocked at the door.
    Instantly the light drew in from the window. There came a tremendous clumping of feet down a stairway, the door jerked open and there, with an oil lamp hoisted over her head, stood a bear-sized woman wrapped in shawls like a mummy.
    â€œInside, and out of the shivery air with you! Quick, boy!” She yanked Aaron in by the wrist and slammed the door shut. He found himself standing in a room cluttered with tables and benches, felt an unexpected chill in the air and realized it was no warmer inside than out.
    â€œState your business, me little dormouse.” Her teeth chattered furiously, her words making clouds in the air. “If it’s Miss Grackle you come looking for—well then, you’ve found her.”
    Aaron pulled out the note he’d shown the ragman and handed it to her. Miss Grackle held it before her face and squinted her eyes at it upside down, then right side up, then upside down again.
    â€œWell now, that is interesting. Thank you, boy.” She crumpled it up and tucked it into her huge apron pocket. “Now what do you want with me?”
    Aaron looked up at her blankly, unsure what to do.
    â€œWell, what are you doing here all by yourself, and in a coat trailing behind you like the robe of a king? Are you lost, boy?”
    Aaron excitedly nodded his head, and suddenly Miss Grackle’s eyes lit up.

    â€œWell now,” she muttered, “you come to the right place, lad—that you have indeed.” She circled about him like a vulture, sizing him up.
    â€œOnly answer me this—and mind you keep to the truth.” She bent down before him and shone the lamp in his face. “Be you an honest lad?” she whispered.
    Aaron nodded his head.
    â€œAnd can you