The Haunting of Highdown Hall Read Online Free Page B

standards, she decided as she stepped through the door. The globe lights that Gracie had chosen during a recent refurbishment cast a golden glow, embracing her like an old friend. The pub was virtually empty inside, but then it was Monday. Lewes barely rocked on a Friday evening let alone the beginning of the week.
    “Hi, Ruby,” greeted Gracie as she walked to the bar. “The usual?”
    “Yes, please, but the coke part, I’ll have the full-fat version this time.”
    “Much nicer,” agreed Gracie, winking at her.
    Paying and taking her drink, she sat down at her favourite table, pulled out her book and began to read.
    On the third paragraph of chapter eight she became aware that Gracie was speaking to her.
    ‘Now isn’t that odd?” she was saying. “You two, reading the same book.”
    “Sorry?” said Ruby, confused.
    “You two...” Gracie repeated, nodding at her and then at a young man sitting a few tables away, also with a book in his hands. A young man who must have come in after her as she certainly hadn’t noticed him on arrival. “You’re both reading the same book.”
    The man in question looked up. Glancing at her book cover first, he then checked his own as though needing to reassure himself that Gracie wasn’t in fact deluded.
    “So we are,” he muttered, surprised.
    “Never heard of it myself,” chirped Gracie, wiping down a beer pump. “Any good?”
    “Yes,” both readers chimed back in perfect unison.
    Smiling now, the man turned towards Ruby. Holding up his copy, he pointed to it with one finger and mouthed, “Are you enjoying it?”
    At least that’s what Ruby thought he was saying; she wasn’t quite sure. As if realising this was the case, the man picked up his book and his pint glass and walked over to her.
    “ Drive Like Hell , are you enjoying it?”
    “Oh right, yes, the book,” she replied. “Yes, I am actually. It’s pretty good. Are you?”
    “Yeah, so far so good.”
    There was a slight pause, only a second or two but Ruby felt the weight of it. Quickly, she shifted over, indicating it was okay for him to take a seat beside her.
    “Dallas Hudgens,” she said, referring to the book’s author as her new acquaintance sat down, “he’s not exactly No.1 in the Bestsellers list, is he? Who recommended him to you?”
    “A guy called Wes Freed, have you heard of him?”
    “No,” Ruby shook her head.
    “Oh, he’s great. He does the artwork for a band called The Drive-By Truckers. ”
    “Never heard of them either,” said Ruby, a little confused.
    “Well, Wes Freed, he’s a fan of Dallas Hudgens, gave his book a big shout out on his website. That’s how I heard of him.”
    “Oh, I see,” replied Ruby, even though she wasn’t sure she did. “I found him by accident, in a charity shop, £1.50, a bargain I’d say.”
    “Too right,” he said and then, offering her his hand, “I’m Cash, Cash Wilkins.”
    “Hi,” said Ruby, noting what a firm grip he had, “Ruby Davis.”
    “Pleased to meet you, Ruby.”
    “Likewise.”
    Taking a sip of her drink, Ruby couldn’t resist asking: “Cash, that’s unusual. Is it some sort of nickname?”
    Cash shook his head. “No, it’s my actual name, after that bad boy Johnny. My elder brother’s called Presley – our mum’s mad about Elvis too.”
    “Aha!” said Ruby, enlightened. “Good names... I like them.”
    “Yeah, not too bad I suppose. I dread to think if we’d had a sister what she would have been called though, Dolly perhaps? Not so good.”
    Another quiet moment passed.
    “Do you come here often?” said Cash, attempting to fill the gap. “Sorry, that’s such a cliché! I just meant I haven’t seen you in here before.” He looked mortified.
    “That’s okay,” Ruby rushed to reassure him, “it’s as good a question as any, and yes, I do come here quite often. It’s my local; I work just up the road.”
    “Oh right, I’m usually at the other end of town actually, at The Snowdrop, thought