Free Ghost Town by Annie Bryant Page A

give me your cell phone numbers?” she said. “We’ll stop by the front desk and let them know that I’m responsible for you until the rest of the group arrives.”
    Downstairs in the lobby, Katani asked the woman at the front desk if she had heard anything from Mr. Ramsey.
    â€œThe group must have stopped somewhere. I’m sure there’s no need to worry,” the concierge explained to them.
    Katani nodded. “Where
are
they?” she wondered. Itwas obvious to Nik and Sam that both girls were worried. “We were supposed to spend the whole week together.”
    â€œI have an idea,” Sam piped in. “Why don’t we have a sleepover in our suite? We have lots of room and it’d be so fun. We can watch movies and have snacks and everything. And you girls can get your minds off worrying about your friends. I bet they’ll even get here in time to join us.”
    â€œThat’s a great idea,” Nik and Sam’s mom said. “I’ll organize the snacks. How do pizza and salad sound, and maybe some nachos to start with and brownies for dessert? The room service menu looked pretty good. You girls run along to the game room and I’ll see about getting this party started.”
    Katani and Isabel smiled gratefully at their new friends.
    â€œDon’t worry, we won’t leave you guys alone,” Nik promised, throwing her arm around Katani’s shoulder.
    Katani felt a little better. Still, she couldn’t help worrying about Charlotte, Maeve, Avery, and Mr. Ramsey. The snow was beginning to come down hard. She hoped they were okay and not buried in a snowdrift somewhere out there in the wilds of Montana.
    â€œAre you worried, too?” Katani asked Isabel.
    â€œYeah,” she admitted. “I’m actually mostly worried that Maeve is going to kill us when she gets here. Imagine spending all this time doing normal, fun stuff with her favorite singers while she’s stuck in a snowstorm.”
    They both couldn’t help giggling at that.

CHAPTER
10
Danger in Dry Gulch
    A very cold group reached the old ghost town. Protected from the snow by an overhang on one of the buildings, they were grateful for the worn, gray wood, curved with age at the edges.
    Everyone huddled together by the doorway, relieved to be out of the storm at last. They watched as the wind continued to blow and the snow skimmed over the surface of the road.
    The only traffic on the street was tumbleweeds and driving snow. The fact that there were no tracks at all was alarming. No one had come into the town since they had passed through.
    As the tired group moved down the street, doors and shutters banged with such ferocity that it made them all jump. It was almost as if the town was trying to scare them away.
    â€œIt’s just the wind,” Charlotte whispered to herself.
    â€œLook in here,” Avery shouted as she darted throughthe open door of the Dry Gulch Barbershop. Avery jumped into one of the barber chairs and began spinning.
    â€œYEEE HAW!” she cried out as if she were back on the bucking bronco and not just in an old barber chair. “This chair is cool and actually pretty comfortable. I want it for my bedroom!”
    â€œCome on, Avery. It’s getting dark. We should find someplace with beds or at least blankets,” Charlotte said. “As comfortable as that chair is, it won’t be fun to sleep in.”
    Charlotte peered into the abandoned building next door. One of the swinging doors hung by only one hinge, and Charlotte didn’t dare push it in for fear it would crash down onto her toes. As the wind blew the doors open with a loud howl, Charlotte caught sight of the dark, dank interior. The emptiness of the place seemed to suck the breath out of her, and something about it sent chills down her spine.
    â€œLook, Char! A jail!” Avery pointed into the window of the next building on the street.
    Charlotte snapped out of the