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stay?” Jessie asked, pulling off her rubber boots. “We’d like to explore.”
    “Yes, but don’t wander too far,” said Grandfather.
    The two men walked up the path toward Eagles Nest.
    Leaving their boots, the kids strolled upstream.
    “There’s Mr. Williams,” Violet said.
    The man stood stock-still in the shady shallows near a rocky outcropping. He cast expertly, his lead sinker plopping into the water with scarcely a ripple.
    Benny waved, but Mr. Williams didn’t look up. “Why is he so grouchy?” he asked.
    “Fishermen are serious about their sport,” Henry replied.
    “He’s grouchy when he’s not fishing,” Jessie pointed out.
    “Maybe he’s disappointed with Eagles Nest,” suggested Violet. “The place hardly lives up to its claims.”
    As they walked farther upstream, the children were struck by the wild, unspoiled beauty of the land.
    “I wish we knew why Mr. Lacey said Grandfather’s property is worthless,” Jessie said. “It’s perfect.”
    Just then something hit Benny on the shin.
    “Ouch!” he cried, hopping on one foot.
    Violet examined his leg. “You’ve got a little scrape. It’ll be okay. What did you bump into?”
    They searched through the long grass and found a wooden stake. Tied to the stake was a taut length of white nylon cord. They followed the cord to the edge of the stream, where it disappeared underwater.
    Kneeling on the wet stones, Henry tugged at the white cord. “There’s a net on the end of this.”
    “A net?” Jessie questioned.
    “Yeah, like a badminton net,” Henry said. “It’s tied on the other side, too.”
    Violet frowned. “Why would there be a net across the creek?”
    “The net acts like a dam,” Henry explained. “I bet it’s holding back most of the trout. That’s why Mr. Williams can’t catch any fish. They’re all trapped up here.”
    Jessie glanced downstream, thinking about Mr. Williams. At breakfast he had mentioned Tincup Creek was a gold-medal stream, yet Mrs. Harrington insisted the creek was all fished out. Why were the trout being penned way upstream?
    Something was definitely fishy at Eagles Nest.

    “What did Mr. Lacey want?” Henry asked Grandfather.
    It was late afternoon. The children hadn’t been able to speak to their grandfather until then. They were all sitting in the rockers on the dining hall porch.
    James Alden paused before he spoke. “He offered double his original offer for my property.”
    “Why is he so anxious to buy your land?” asked Jessie.
    “That’s what I’d like to know,” said Grandfather. “Why don’t we visit our town again. Maybe the answer is there.”
    “We might see Rose’s ghost!” Benny said, jumping up.
    “Now, Benny,” Grandfather said gently. “What have we said about ghosts?”
    Deep inside, he knew Grandfather was right. But who was the mysterious Lady in Gray?
    The Aldens went inside to ask to borrow Mrs. Harrington’s Jeep.
    “Going to Tincup again, eh?” she remarked, handing over the keys.
    “I think we’ll visit some buildings this time,” said Grandfather. “Show the children a bit of history.”
    It was nearly sundown when they parked the Jeep and hiked down the wagon road into town.
    Grandfather repeated his earlier warning. “Remember, these buildings may look okay, but be careful where you step.”
    They went into the dry goods store.
    “Check this out!” said Henry, awestruck.
    Barrels stood by the high, dusty counter. Behind the counter, shelves climbed to the ceiling. The shelves were empty, but Henry could imagine them stocked with canned food, bolts of fabric, tools, boots, and dozens of other items.
    “It’s spooky in here,” Violet whispered. “I feel like I’m in the wrong time or something.”
    Jessie nodded. “Like people dressed in old-fashioned outfits will come in any second.”
    “That’s the magic of old buildings,” said Grandfather. “They let us experience a true sense of history.”
    As they headed back outside, Jessie