Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold

Ollie Oxley and the Ghost: The Search for Lost Gold — page 7
gnarled roots What the heck He tramped through the weeds and knelt down to examine the object Dead leaves and caked-on dirt encrusted the steel band Using his fingernail he chipped away at the muck until he uncovered letters etched into the metal He ran his fingers over the engraving A shiver ran down his spine Weird Straining to get a better look in the fading sunlight Ollie used the hem of his T-shirt to polish the metal W-A-L was all he could make out Reddish-brown rust obscured the last of the inscription Movers are here DeeDee called from the house Ollie spat on his shirt and rubbed the metal one more time Coming he mumbled but stayed focused on the rust that would not budge Further investigation would have to wait With one last curious glance over his shoulder he went inside with Gus on his heels Two burly men from the Sedona Sands Moving Company were hauling their belongings into the house It didn’t take long When Ollie’s dad bolted he took half of everything All he’d left behind was one family a faded plaid couch matching overstuffed chair an antique armoire a beat-up coffee table three sets of bedroom furniture a chipped kitchen table with three chairs Mom kicked the fourth to the curb a couple dozen boxes and a ginormous bookshelf that Mom absolutely refused to part with When the movers were done Mom signed a form and they hustled out the door anxious to get back on the road Hey Mom Ollie said as he dug through a cardboard box marked Kitchen in search of silverware and plates How old do you think this house is he asked thinking about the metal in the oak tree