Read Online Dream Cottage by Harriet J Kent - Free Book Online Page B

mind. She took a few deep breaths and stumbled to the back door. She held on to the doorframe and closed her eyes. Her mind was still racing. “What if there is something much more to this place than we realise?” she thought and stepped out into the garden.
    Rev Oli was sat on a dilapidated wooden bench. He was thumbing through the pages of a pocket-sized bible. As Greta approached him, he marked the page from where he was reading with a bookmark in the shape of a cross. He hurriedly snapped it shut. He smiled up at her.
    “So much to learn; one can never glean enough,” he concluded. He indicated for Greta to sit beside him. He looked concerned. “Everything all right, my dear?”
    Greta faked a smile.
    “Yes, yes of course. I’ve just had a bit of a shock,” she replied and looked at the long, grassy lawn.
    “Yes, there is a lot of work to be done; it will be a challenge for you and Maxim. But I know you will achieve your goal. You are both young and very ambitious!”
    Greta sighed.
    “Yes, there is a lot to do. Um, Reverend, can I ask you something?” She turned to look him squarely in the face.
    “Ask away, Gretel,” Rev Oil assumed the clutched hand position, awaiting the question.
    “Is Greenacres… haunted?”
    Rev Oli smiled dispassionately. He shook his head.
    “No! Not that I am aware.”
    Greta was taken aback by the abruptness in his reply.
    “Okay, it’s just that…”
    “Ah! Maxim and the architect are here!” Rev Oli interruptedand launched himself upwards from the wooden bench. He galloped towards the back door where Max and Mike were stood, leaving Greta open-mouthed. She got up from the bench and walked across the garden to join them. Max locked the back door. He tried the handle several times to confirm the door was in fact locked.
    “How are you feeling now, darling?” Max put a protective arm around Greta’s shoulders.
    “Yes, fine, I suppose,” she replied unconvincingly.
    “I’ll get the plans drawn up for you, Max, and email them through. I’ll put the hard copy in the post.” Mike shook first Max’s and then Greta’s hands. He declined the Rev Oli’s outstretched palm by waving a salute at him instead. “Good to have met you, Reverend!” he offered.
    “Thank you, Reverend, for your time this afternoon.” Max turned towards Rev Oli, handed him the door key and risked a handshake. “We’ll keep in touch with you on the progress of the sale.”
    Rev Oli closed his eyes and slowly nodded.
    “Very good, Maxim. Gretel; I wish you well. Goodbye!”
    They watched as the Reverend clambered into his car and drove up the grassy track.
    Max turned to Greta and placed his hands on her shoulders.
    “Now, are you going to tell me what you really saw in there? I know you, funnily enough, and you looked way too freaked out for it to be a spider.”
    Greta feigned a smile.
    “It was nothing; nothing more than a hideous… you know what. It probably looked worse because it was dark in there. You know what my imagination is like,” Greta mumbled.
    Max wasn’t convinced.
    “I will get the truth out of you; even if I have to extractit from your lips forcibly!” Max drew Greta close to him and gently kissed her lips.
    Greta stood firm.
    “Seriously, it was nothing to worry about. Come on, let’s go. Tell me what Mike said on the way back.”

Chapter Eight
    Greta’s mobile phone was ringing. It was Max. Nearly three months had passed since the property negotiations and sale had commenced. He had some important but exciting news.
    “Hi, are you sitting down, Mrs Berkley?” Max asked.
    “Yes, I’m ready, fire away.” Greta sat down and placed her cup on to the coffee table.
    “We are now the proud owners of Greenacres Farm! Contracts have just been exchanged with completion early next week!” Max announced with the faint air of excitement in his voice.
    “Oh Max, that’s fantastic news! I am so very happy! Ooh! I could cry!” Greta whooped. “I must tell mummy