Free Daughters of Silence by R.L. Stine

everything and the scent of new wood permeated the air.
    Mr. Sheridan rolled up his shirtsleeves, then left to join the other men.
    Mrs. Sheridan lifted a picnic basket out of the wagon. She handed it to Hallie. “You girls take this into the house for me,” she said. “Then you can run and join the rest of the young people.”
    â€œI can’t wait!” Hallie exclaimed with a laugh.
    Her voice sounded higher than usual, and there was a breathlessness in it that made Jenna glance curiously at her friend. What is going on with her? she wondered. Maybe she really did feel ill today but didn’t want to miss out on the party.
    She helped Hallie carry the heavy basket into the house. A harried, red-faced woman took it from them, then shooed them back out into the sunshine.
    â€œNow, where—” Hallie broke off suddenly, then pulled Jenna around to face another direction. “Look! Isn’t that your beau?”
    Jenna saw Rob coming toward them. “He isn’t my beau,” she protested. “He’s my friend.”
    Hallie laughed, that same high-pitched giggle that Jenna had heard before. The sound made her uneasy. But then Rob called her name, distracting her from worries about Hallie.
    â€œHow are you, Jenna?” he asked, stopping in front of her.
    Before she could answer, Hallie stepped in front of her. “Why, hello, Rob,” she greeted him. “I didn’t know we’d be seeing you again today.”
    Rob blinked, obviously surprised. “Hello, Hallie. How are you?”
    â€œPerfect,” she murmured. “You know, you look even taller today, Rob, than you did last night. And you’ve got the widest shoulders! Jenna, did you notice?”
    â€œUh—” Jenna muttered. She wanted to sink right into the ground and never come up again.
    Her shrill giggle made Jenna’s teeth stand on edge. What was wrong with Hallie? She never acted like this.
    â€œDon’t mind her,” Hallie murmured as she stood closer to Rob. “She isn’t used to talking to boys.”
    Why, she’s flirting with him! Jenna thought. She couldn’t believe it! Obviously, neither could Rob. He stared at Hallie as if he thought she’d lost her mind.
    â€œI’d better get back to the barn,” he mumbled. Shooting a glance at Jenna, he added, “See you later.”
    Jenna watched him stride away. Then she swung around toward her friend. “Hallie, what on earth is the matter with you today?” she demanded. “I’ve never seen you act that way—with a boy or anyone else.”
    â€œThere they are!” Hallie exclaimed, as though Jenna hadn’t said anything at all.
    Without a further word, she straightened her bonnet and merrily skipped away. Jenna stared after her, and saw that she was headed toward a group of girls who stood talking in the shade of a big maple tree.
    Jenna went after her friend. Hallie was in a verystrange mood, and she needed someone to watch out for her.
    Hallie marched right up to the girls. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Hallie Sheridan. This is my friend Jenna Hanson.”
    The other girls stared curiously for a moment. Then they all offered their names. Jenna lost track. Kate and Melissa and Jane, and she thought the redheaded one was named Francie. They seemed nice.
    â€œJenna and I have been exploring Shadyside,” Hallie announced.
    â€œReally?” one of the girls asked. “Have you been to see the old flour mill down near the river? It’s very pretty there.”
    â€œNot yet.” Hallie laughed, and there was a frantic glitter in her eyes that Jenna didn’t like at all. “But we did go visit the Fears.”
    Dead silence was the only reply Jenna heard to Hallie’s remark. Jenna watched as the girls’ faces drained of color.
    â€œYou … visited them?” the redheaded girl asked at last. “You went inside their