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Jessy studied the roof that was almost the same brownish color as the earth wall behind it “It’s one of the rare times Tara showed some restraint” A sudden set to the inside”

As they crossed the driveway’s paving stones to approach the house, Jake ca the bell, Grandma, but nobody came to open the door”

“That’s because no one lives here” Continuing toward the front door, Jessy slipped the key from her jacket pocket

“How come?” Jake persisted

“To make little boys like you ask questions” Laredo reached down to give the front brim of Jake’s cowboy hat a doard push over his eyes

“’Redo, don’t” Jake frowned in displeasure and tipped it back up, but it served to distract hi inside, Grandma?”

“We sure are”

The prospect of exploring the unoccupied house clearly appealed to him, as evidenced by the way he sprinted back to the front door With barely disguised impatience, Jake waited while Jessy unlocked it He darted through the opening the instant she gave the door an inward push

Everything inside was just as Tara had left it But to Jake’s disappoints were shrouded in dust-protecting cloth, even the antlered chandelier that hung fro Jessy’s inspection of the house ah of each roo roof or broken s

When they exited the last roo, bored sigh and looked hopefully at Jessy

“Are we done yet, Grandma?”

“All done” She slad as he was that the task was complete

With an uninhibited shout of “Yippee!” Jake ran ahead of theh the eling with its oversized handle when they joined him Laredo opened it for him, then waited outside while Jessy relocked it with the key

“Chase pegged this place right when he called it a white elephant,” Laredo re the key back in her pocket “What are you going to do with it?”

Jessy shook her head “I wish I knew”