The Secret by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page B

over his mouth, Jonathan reeled backward.
    Blood! How could the well be full of blood?
    Trying not to vomit, Jonathan raised his eyes to his family. Jane was holding Rachel, trying to comfort her. Ezra’s eyes were bulging and his hand shook as he clutched his silver pendant.
    â€œThe curse!” he cried. “The Goodes have come for us again!”
    Swallowing hard, Jonathan gathered his courage and reluctantly peered into the well. To his relief, the well water was clean.
    Only the bucket was filled with blood.
    What did it mean?
    Her arms around her shoulders, Jane gently guided Rachel inside. Ezra nervously rubbed his fingers over the pendant, as if it would help him somehow.
    â€œIt has happened again. They have found us beforewe could find them,” Ezra said. “There must be Goodes living nearby—or buried near here.”
    â€œCalm down, Papa,” Jonathan pleaded. “There is no curse. Look—we are all safe.”
    â€œFoolish boy,” Ezra murmured, and he left his son alone.
    Still dazed and shaken, Jonathan stared at the bucket of blood. The howl of agony he had heard in the night came rushing back to him.
    Who, or what, could have done this? he wondered.
    Was it the work of a crazy person? A wild animal?
    Or could his father be right after all? Could it really be the curse of the Goodes?
    Rachel stayed in her room for the rest of the morning while Ezra paced the house, tense and scowling.
    I must get out of here, Jonathan told himself. As long as I sit in this house, I shall keep seeing that bucket of blood.
    He decided to pay a call on Delilah.
    Jonathan gathered wildflowers as he walked down the road to the little farmhouse. It was very small—only a cabin really—and shabby, made of brown-weathered shingles, with only a few small windows and one chimney.
    To the right of the house sat a tumbledown cow shed. A few chickens pecked at the dirt behind a fence. Beyond them were a stand of scraggly fruit trees and an acre or two of stony fields.
    Clutching his handful of purple and white flowers, Jonathan knocked on the door. Delilah opened it.
    â€œHello, Jonathan,” she said, smiling. “What a nice surprise.”
    As he handed her the flowers, he felt his face grow hot.
    She invited him in. A man with shoulder-length gray hair sat at a writing table in a corner of the room. He stood up when Jonathan entered.
    â€œFather, this is Jonathan Fier,” Delilah said. “Jonathan, this is my father, the Reverend Wilson.”
    Delilah’s father gave Jonathan a friendly handshake. “I am very pleased to meet you, young man,” the reverend said. “I plan to call on your parents soon to welcome them.”
    â€œThey will be delighted,” Jonathan said with a polite bow.
    â€œFather is working on a sermon at the moment,” Delilah said. “Shall we go for a walk?”
    Jonathan agreed. He and Delilah went outside and strolled through the orchard of fruit trees.
    In the warm sunlight Jonathan thought Delilah was prettier than ever. Her cheeks glowed pink, and she had a lively spring to her step.
    But as she looked at his face, he saw her frown. “You look tired, Jonathan,” she said “Are you feeling well?”
    Jonathan started to say, “Yes, of course.” But then he thought better of it. Delilah has already heard all about the family history, he thought, and she is not afraid of me. Not in the least afraid. She is an understanding girl. Perhaps I have found someone I can speak with—at last!
    â€œSomething disturbed me last night, while I was sleeping,” he told her. “A strange and terrifying noise.”
    â€œA noise?” she asked, puzzled.
    â€œYes. It was as if some hideous creature wererushing through the woods, heading straight for our house. It drew closer until it seemed to be right under my window, shrieking. Then suddenly it stopped.”
    â€œWhat was it?” Delilah