Free The Secret of the Dark by Barbara Steiner Page A

higher.
    They grew till they tied in a true lover’s knot,
    The rose bush and the briar.”
    Why were love ballads always so sad? I had gotten up quietly and gone to look at the pond and ducks while the old couple sang. At the end Neal stood beside me. He put his arm around me and I didn’t move again. We were caught in the bittersweet sadness of the old song.
    By Golly kept playing his jaw harp for a time, and the music was rather haunting. Then to my surprise he started up a faster melody, and a thumping sound made me turn around. Granny was clogging to the music.
    The sad mood lifted and I laughed in delight. If I lived to be nearly ninety, I hoped I could be like Granny.
    â€œBy golly, Annie. You’ve still got it. We was some team till you run off with that Calvin deShan. Like to broke my heart.” Mr. Talley shook his head with a wistful look on his face.
    I pieced the story together. By Golly had courted Granny before she married and again after her husband died. She’d said no both times.
    â€œYou’re still an old fool, Hillard Talley, thinking I’d marry you. Let’s go home, child. I’m feeling a mite dauncy.” Granny was probably tired after a day of shopping and visiting.
    â€œCome back to see me, Valerie.” Mr. Talley walked us down to the car. “Yore a purty sight, by golly, and I get lonely at times. If Annie won’t come, you come by yourself.”
    â€œI will, Mr. Talley,” I promised. “Soon as I can.” Maybe I could leave Granny alone for an hour while she napped. I could come over the mountain. And I’d like to hear By Golly’s side of the romance. I thought he still loved Granny.
    Granny went in ahead of me when Neal walked us back up the stairs to Granny’s cabin. I stopped on the porch.
    â€œTrue love never gives up.” Neal laughed. “How about going out with me some night? Alone?”
    â€œYou old fool,” I answered. “I’ll think on it.”
    I collapsed, smiling, on the living room couch to think of Neal Gallagher while Granny took a late nap. I found I did want to go out with him alone.
    Then remembering my mail, I reached into the tote bag I’d dropped beside me and pulled out the stack of letters. Two from my dad, one from Pam, four pieces of junk mail, a letter to Granny from Rue, and … how curious.
    The last piece of mail had my name crudely printed in pencil with no return address. A feeling came over me that I shouldn’t open it. But curiosity won. My hand trembled as I ripped open the envelope.

CHAPTER
    8
    I CAUGHT my breath. Words had been cut from newspaper headlines and pasted on the paper to read: Go away. We don’t want you here . A crude joke. But I felt my heart pounding faster.
    Who would do this? Obviously the same person who was calling on the phone. But I had thought the phone calls were the random play of kids who were out of school and bored. This was addressed to me, so it was meant for me, not at random but on purpose. It didn’t make sense. No one I knew had acted as if I were unwelcome here. Granny needed me. A number of people had said, “We’re glad you’re here with Granny.” What was the purpose of this childish campaign to frighten me?
    I crumpled the letter and put it in the fireplace so Granny wouldn’t see it. Even with her poor eyesight she might make out the block letters.
    Reading Dad’s letter worked toward setting me to rights again. He and Rue were having a wonderful trip, meeting interesting people, having good success with the writing and the photographs. There were delightful anecdotes about the people they’d met.
    When Granny got up I read her Rue’s letter and parts of my dad’s. She enjoyed them. It wasn’t time for dinner so I asked Granny to play and sing for me. Before she started I got my tape recorder. I had picked up the best tapes I could find at the drugstore and made a mental