Free Mystery Rider by Miralee Ferrell Page B

fenced-in flowerbed that now seemed like something out of a science-fiction movie.

    Kate skidded to a stop beside Tori, where they’d met Colt less than an hour earlier, and worked to calm her breathing. “I’m never going back there again, Tori, no matter how much you beg me to.”
    Tori’s lips quivered. “Me either. That was scary.”
    Colt nodded. “Although I’d sure like to sneak in there sometime and dig up that grave and see what she buried—or who.” His eyes sparkled with mischief, and he held up his hand in mock surrender when the girls moaned. “Just kidding. I don’t think she buried a person, but I don’t get why she was crying and screaming. Or why she came after us. It’s not like we had anything to do with whatever died.”
    Tori scuffed her toe against the gravel. “So what now? Go home and forget all about it? Do we tell Melissa?”
    â€œI don’t think we should,” Kate said. “Even though she said she didn’t want to come back, she might get mad that we didn’t invite her. I’m not crazy about being enemies again.”
    Tori glanced at Kate. “How about our parents? What do we tell them?”
    Colt’s eyes widened. “Your parents don’t know you came? I mean, I didn’t tell mine, since you called and it was a big rush to get here, but I left my mom a note telling her I was going for a bike ride and would be home soon.”
    â€œWe told our mothers that we were coming here to bring cookies, but we haven’t told them about the rifle or her chasing us off. We figured they’d be upset about it, and they might not have let us come today.”
    Colt grunted. “You think?”
    Tori stiffened. “Did you tell your parents about her waving a rifle in the air?”
    â€œWell, not exactly. I told them we found out where she lived and accidentally upset her when we came in the wrong way, and she told us to leave.” His face reddened. “Sorry for the sarcasm.”
    Tori relaxed. “And I’m sorry for getting mad. I guess I’m upset at everything that’s happened.”
    â€œBut it’s mostly our fault,” Kate said. “She never asked us to come on her property and bug her. We’ve done it twice now, even after she made it clear the first time that she didn’t want us there. So we can’t be mad at her.”
    â€œBut I wanted to be nice! That’s why I suggested we bring cookies and apologize. It’s not like we knew we’d upset her. Besides, she’s the one who scared us, not the other way around.”
    Colt rocked his bike back and forth. “Maybe, but we don’t know that for sure. What if she isn’t crazy, and we did scare her?”
    Kate remembered the old lady gently placing the bundle in the grave and shivered. “But she buried something that died. How do we know it wasn’t a person? You know, a little kid or something?”
    â€œI doubt it,” Colt said. “I’ll admit she was kinda scary when she ran around the house screaming, but we don’t know what was actually going on.”
    Tori gripped her handlebars tighter. “Let’s go home. Whatever her deal is, I don’t want to go there again, no matter how sorry I feel for her or how much I love her horse.”

    Kate woke to the sound of the doorbell the next morning. Why didn’t Mom answer it? She glanced at the clock and groaned. Only eight o’clock—she’d stayed up so late last night worrying that she didn’t feel like she’d slept at all. Mom was probably out throwing hay to the horses they were boarding, and Dad had already left for work.
    She swung her feet over the edge of the bed. No way could she get dressed before whoever it was gave up and left. Most people knew to check the barn, though, so they’d probably find Mom.
    She took a quick shower, then tugged on her jeans, shirt,