MAGDALENA'S GHOST: THE HAUNTING OF THE HOUSE IN GALLOWS LANE by PEPPI HILTON Read Free Book Online Page A

how it all seemed too perfect, how perfectly matched they were, and how perfectly well they got on. But nothing remains perfect forever, she knew that, and deep down she also knew that eventually it would have to change, just like relationships do; but she didn’t want that change just yet. Changes take place gradually over time – perhaps many, many years, and then they change into something stronger, deeper, and lasting. It was too soon for those changes yet, far too soon.
    “It’s seven o‘clock – dead on!” Anton jumped up, interrupting her thoughts with a vengeance.
    “But if the pub only opens at seven o’clock, surely the old man won’t be hanging around waiting outside the door?”
    “I bet he will be,” replied Anton with an abundance of delight. “Do you want to stay here and read your book? You don’t need to worry about getting cold and wet out there, I can go on my own whilst you stay here nice and comfy.”
    “It’s cold in here,” she snapped. “And I don’t intend to sit in it on my own. Anyway, if you go in there by yourself, you may never come out until they shut.” She jumped up off her seat and grabbed her coat.
    “Aw, alright then, I thought I’d just check,” he said downheartedly. He actually sounded disappointed, which didn’t do much for Lucy’s feelings.
    They both walked round to the pub which took about five minutes, although if Anton had gone alone it wouldn’t have taken so long due to his long stride – as he repeatedly told her as she lagged behind. Lucy was grumping all the way there, after all he’d made it pretty clear he didn’t want her with him. She’d never seen him like this before – if they were on their way to the local pub back home, she’d be convinced he’d got another woman!
    Out of breath and feeling a bit bedraggled, Lucy trailed behind him for the last few metres. The pub was shut and that made her feel even more exasperated. Luckily there was a stone porch which they could stand in out of the rain – which they had to do for twenty minutes in the cold.
    The door finally opened and the familiar face of the barman appeared.
    “You’re at the early doors aren’t you?” he grumbled.
    “I’ve come to return the keys.” Anton jangled them before his eyes with a mischievous grin on his face.
    The barman grunted and went back inside.
    “He obviously doesn’t like customers,” Anton whispered to Lucy as he led her into the pub.
    “That’s probably because he’s not used to having any. I don’t see why he couldn’t have taken the keys from you yesterday, so he could’ve given them to the old man instead of us hanging around,” Lucy complained. But then she was niggled by a troubling afterthought. “What if the old man doesn’t come in?” she blurted.
    “I never thought of that,” Anton said, his face beaming.
    “But you can’t seriously think of holding onto the keys – can you?” Lucy had stopped in her tracks and was now glaring at him. She was beginning to think the real Anton had been taken over by someone else. What on earth had got into him?
    “Well we can’t stay here forever. We have to go home sometime. If the barman won’t take responsibility for the keys, and the old man doesn’t come back to-night, there isn’t much choice but to hang onto them – unless you’ve got any bright ideas!”
    “Now listen to me, if that old man doesn’t appear by eight o’clock, I insist you leave those keys on the bar regardless of what that barman says – and we just go. It’s as simple as that!”
    Lucy’s chin was tilted upwards as she raised her voice to him. But he just looked down at her and frowned.
    “Don’t give me that puppy-dog look either,” she ordered, before finally gasping in frustration at him. “Anton you’re impossible!”
    She shook her head in defeat as she followed behind him.
    Once inside the pub Anton ordered two lagers at the bar, after ushering Lucy to a seat near the fire.
    “What time does