Free Ghost Boy of Mackenzie House by Patti Larsen Page A

window.
    â€œHi,” she said. Her voice cracked. Marsh laughed. She glared at him until he fell silent, one hand over his mouth to hide his smile. “Hi,” she tried again. “I live here now. I saw you the other night. You looked sad. I was wondering if I could help you.”
    Marsh was nodding. “Yeah, that’s good. They like help, right?”
    Chloe continued. “I don’t know if I can,” she didn’t want to make any promises she couldn’t keep, especially to a ghost, “but I’ll do my best. But you have to tell me what you want, okay?”
    They both waited in the near dark. Chloe could hear the rain easing up, the thunder moving off. Even the sky seemed to be growing lighter. She turned to Marsh.
    â€œI don’t think he likes you,” she said.
    Marsh made a face. “Oh, ha ha, Chloe. Maybe it has to be nighttime?”
    â€œMaybe,” she said. She was disappointed. She had hoped he would show up so she could prove to another person that she wasn’t crazy. Plus, she did want to help him if she could.
    Marsh looked out the window. “Storm’s almost over,” he said. “I should probably be getting home.” He sounded reluctant.
    â€œOkay,” Chloe said. “I’ll keep you posted, though.”
    Marsh flashed her a smile. “Great!”
    Before either of them had a chance to go down the stairs, Aunt Larry appeared at the bottom. They both jumped and laughed.
    â€œCookies, if you want them,” she said.
    â€œAwesome!” Marsh switched off his light and flew down the stairs after her. Chloe paused, however, waiting. Maybe she had been right. Did the boy not want Marsh to be there? But the moment was over and she knew it. A single shaft of sunlight broke through as the cloud bank passed.
    Chloe switched off her own flashlight and followed Marsh to the kitchen.

Chapter Fourteen
    The cookies were divine. Chloe had no idea that Aunt Larry could bake. She devoured three before coming up for air and thanking her aunt for them.
    Aunt Larry was on her own third by then and winked.
    â€œWhat’s going on upstairs?” she asked them.
    They shared a guilty look. “Nothing,” they said together.
    Aunt Larry laughed. “Let me guess. You were either looking for buried treasure or a ghost.”
    Chloe kept her head down and willed Marsh to shut up. She was relieved, however, when he didn’t.
    â€œTotally buried treasure,” he was nodding with great enthusiasm. “There has to be some up there, Larry. Maybe a metal detector would find it.”
    â€œYou’re welcome to try,” she told him. Chloe pushed the plate of still-warm chocolate chip mounds his way. He took the hint and stuffed in a whole one. When the phone rang, Aunt Larry went off to find the cordless.
    â€œPromise you won’t say anything,” Chloe begged.
    â€œAre you kidding?” Marsh said. “Number one, my brothers would make my life way worse if they found out, and number two, they wouldn’t believe us anyway. Secret’s safe with me.” He mimed locking his lips and tossing the key as Aunt Larry returned with the phone in her hand.
    â€œThat was your mom,” she said to Marsh. “She’d like you home for chores.”
    Marsh groaned but got up. Aunt Larry snuck him a pair of cookies.
    â€œI don’t know that your brothers need to know these exist.” She winked.
    Marsh hugged her and ran for the door, waving one cookie at Chloe while the other disappeared into his mouth. She shook her head, smiling, as the screen door slammed shut behind him.
    Chloe spent the rest of the afternoon helping Aunt Larry clean the house. The familiar activity made her feel much more at home. After a great dinner of stew and homemade bread, Chloe retreated to her room.
    She lay awake for a while, trying to decide what to do. Her trusty lamp burned beside her in the dark, keeping her safe. But she