Read Online Ghost Town by Annie Bryant - Free Book Online

know what I mean?” Lissie asked.
    â€œYes, I do,” Mr. Ramsey said, smiling a little and looking back at Charlotte through the rearview mirror.
    â€œIt’s actually one of the reasons I’m here right now,” Lissie went on. “Because of the author of those books. Weird, huh, that I would quit my job and start my life over because of some random author?”
    â€œYou can say that again,” Maeve snickered.
    â€œYou quit your job and moved to Montana because of a book on Tanzania?” Avery asked.
    â€œIt wasn’t because of Tanzania or Australia; it was the spirit of adventure that Richard Ramsey wrote about so eloquently,” Lissie explained. “He’s really a terrific writer.”
    â€œRichard Ramsey, as in my dad, as in the man sitting next to you,” Charlotte informed her. Lissie’s mouth fell open and she looked like every last breath of air had been sucked from her lungs.
    â€œYou’re
the
Richard Ramsey?” Lissie looked astounded. “I can’t believe it! I never
imagined
I was talking to THE Richard Ramsey!”
    Mr. Ramsey nodded and blushed, obviously flattered by the attention.
    â€œI LOVE your books,” Lissie gushed.
    Charlotte cringed. She couldn’t stand the way Lissie made it seem like she was the only one in the universe who loved her dad’s books. Charlotte not only loved those books, but she had
lived
them. They weren’t just descriptions of places the Ramseys had visited; they were like huge pieces of Charlotte’s life.
    Mr. Ramsey didn’t say anything. By now even the tops of his ears were bright red.
    â€œWhat inspired you to start writing?” Lissie asked.
    That question prompted a long and deep conversation between Lissie and Mr. Ramsey. The two chatted on and on as the car bumped along the road.
    â€œWe could have fallen out of the car miles ago and those two wouldn’t have noticed,” Maeve observed, causing Avery to crack up.
    Charlotte didn’t think it was so funny. After all, her father had picked this highway for its incredible scenery and views, but he was missing all of its glory because he was too wrapped up in talking to Lissie McMillan.
    â€œThose skies are pretty cloudy,” Avery noticed, pointing across the mountain tops.
    In just a few minutes the clouds had knitted together and formed a huge, dark cluster.
    â€œLooks like a storm is brewing,” Charlotte commented. “Hey, Dad, check out those clouds.”
    The dark blue-black mass hung so low over the mountain range that some of the white peaks had vanished.
    The Mountain Rover hit an extra big bump andeveryone was launched airborne for a second, only held back by their seat belts.
    â€œCool! This is kind of like a ride at an amusement park,” Avery said. “Do that again, Mr. R!”
    â€œI’m going to be black and blue by the time we get to the ranch,” Maeve said, rubbing her elbow, which she’d banged against the seat-belt clip.
    â€œDad, those clouds look pretty ominous to me,” Charlotte observed, staring out the window.
    â€œYou’re right, Charlotte. There’s definitely a storm brewing. Looks like snow to me. My grandmother used to talk about the sudden storms that whipped up here in the mountains,” Lissie responded.
    â€œHey, what’s that ahead?” Avery asked. Everyone followed her gaze through the front windshield.
    The Mountain Rover had reached the crest of the hill where the road dipped into a canyonlike valley. As the car rounded the bend, a quaint western town came into view.
    â€œI bet it’s an old mining town!” Charlotte declared.
    â€œThis is so cool! A real live ghost town!” Avery exclaimed, staring out the window.
    â€œLike in the movies?” Maeve wondered. “I didn’t know ghost towns really existed. I thought they were made up.”
    â€œNo, they’re very real, and you can still find a few in