“Thank you,” he said. “It’s kind of nice to have folks to share food with. Gets lonely in this big house all alone.”

“Big house?” Holly fussed. “I don’t even get my own bathroom, or a walk-in closet.”

“But you get to live in a house that’s more than a hundred years old.” Polly piled dip onto her plate. “Just think of all the stories this place could tell.”

Braden poked her on the shoulder. “I bet ghosts live in your bedroom. When you hear spooky music, that will let you know they’re coming out of the walls.”

Holly shivered. “Be quiet!”

Braden hummed spooky music.

Holly narrowed her eyes at him and said, “If anything scares me, I’m going to open the door and shoo them over to your room. You better keep a light on. I hear they slip into your head and turn you into an alien.”

“Spoken like a true smart-ass.” Polly giggled. “I swear, her voice is even like Vera’s.”

Braden grinned impishly and poked his sister on the arm. “Maybe Granny’s ghost has already crawled inside your head. Any day now, you’re going to start wrinkling up all over your face.”

“You’re mean!” Holly ran her fingers over her flawless face. “Mama, tell him to shut his mouth.”

“You started it, Holly Jo,” Lily told her.

“I did not,” Holly protested. “Braden did, and if I start getting wrinkles, I’m going to run away.”

“The goats turn into zombies at night,” Braden said. “You better stay in the house after dark.”

“They only eat little boys. They hate girls,” Holly told him. “So you better not go outside to smoke. Did you throw away that pack you had hiding in your underwear drawer?”

“Yes, I did, tattletale,” Braden replied. “Did you throw away that joint you had in your purse?”

“I flushed it down the toilet.” She blushed.

“That’s enough out of both of you,” Lily said.

Mack chuckled under his breath. “This is going to be an adventure.”

“More like a nightmare,” Lily whispered.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

The first major fight between Braden and Holly came about on Saturday evening. They both wanted to have first dibs on the single bathroom on the second floor. Lily came out of her bedroom and got between them before they started throwing punches. “Braden, you go take a bath and get to bed. You can read until eleven since this is Christmas break. Lights go out at ten on school nights.”

“Ten! That’s for babies,” Braden argued.

“You always take his side.” Holly crossed her arms over her chest and fumed.