Read The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western for Free Online

had turned toward them and was ready to meet them.
    “This is Miss Hawkline.” Magic Child said, standing there and looking exactly like Miss Hawkline except that she was wearing Indian clothes and Miss Hawkline was turned out in a very proper New England winter wardrobe. “Greer, Miss Hawkline,” Magic Child said.
    “I’m glad to meet you, Miss Hawkline,” Greer said. He was smiling softly.
    “It pleases me that you’re here,” she said.
    “And Cameron,” Magic Child said.
    “You please me also,” Miss Hawkline said.
    Cameron nodded.
    Then Miss Hawkline walked over to them and held out her hand. They both shook hands with her. Her hand was long and delicate but the grasp was strong. The grasp was so strong that it surprised them. It was another surprise in a day full of surprises. Of course all that had transpired so far to surprise them was just a downpayment on the things that would happen before the day was out.
    “1, 2,” Cameron said, looking at Miss Hawkline and Magic Child.
    “I’m sorry,” Miss Hawkline said, waiting for Cameron to finish what he was saying. Cameron didn’t say anything more.
    “That means he’s glad to meet you,” Magic Child said, smiling at Greer.

• The Ice Caves •
    “Let’s go inside the house,” Miss Hawkline said. “And I’ll tell you why Magic Child has brought you here and what you have to do to earn your money. Have you had breakfast yet?”
    “We left at dawn,” Magic Child said.
    “It sounds as if breakfast is in order,” Miss Hawkline said.
    Greer and Cameron had noticed that the closer you got to the house, the colder the air became. The house towered above them like a small wooden mountain covered with yellow snow.
    Greer saw something in a second-story window. It floated like a small mirror. Then it was gone. He thought that there was somebody else in the house.
    “You’ve noticed the cold, haven’t you?” Miss Hawkline said as she led the way up the stairs to the porch.
    “Yes,” Greer said.
    “There are ice caves under this house,” Miss Hawkline said. “That’s why it’s cold.”

• The Black Umbrellas •
    They went into the house. It was filled with beautiful Victorian furniture and very cold.
    “This way to the kitchen,” Miss Hawkline said. “I’ll cook up some breakfast. You boys look as if you could use some ham and eggs.”
    “I’m going upstairs to change,” Magic Child said. She vanished up a curved mahogany staircase into the upper reaches of the house. Greer and Cameron watched after her until she was gone. Then they followed Miss Hawkline into the kitchen. It was very pleasant trailing after her. She had taken her coat off and she was wearing a long white dress with a high lace collar.
    She had exactly the same kind of body that Magic Child had. Greer and Cameron could imagine her without any clothes on, looking exactly like Magic Child which was a very good way to look.
    “I’ll cook some breakfast and then tell you what we want done. It’s a long trip here from Portland. I’m glad that you came. I think we’ll all turn out to be friends.”
    The kitchen was immense. There was a large window and you could look out and see the snow and the frost on the ground. A hot fire was burning in the stove and it was warm and comfortable in the kitchen.
    Greer and Cameron sat down in chairs at the table and Miss Hawkline poured them cups of strong black coffee from a huge pot on the stove.
    Then she got a ham and sliced off some big pieces and got them cooking on the stove. Some biscuits were made very quickly and put into the oven to bake. Greer and Cameron couldn’t remember anybody making biscuits that fast and getting them into the oven so quickly.
    Miss Hawkline was very skillful with her kitchen as she was with all the things of her life. She didn’t say much as she went about cooking breakfast. Once she asked them if they liked Portland and they said that they did.
    Greer and Cameron watched her very carefully,