First part of Chapter One from "The Mystery of Ghost Dancer Ranch"

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Chapter 1
The Old Ranch

Hannah Roberts leaned on the sill and looked through the small panes of the
second story window in the old farmhouse.
"Oh pancakes," she thought, "Another gray day."
It wasn't exactly raining, but the fog had blown in from Bodega, loaded with
moisture from the cold Pacific, and the Cypress trees along the fence line dripped and
looked mournful. The mist condensed on the window and ran down over the sill in errant
rivulets to attack the peeling paint on the outside of the house. Grandpa had told her the
ranch was well over one hundred years old and it really showed today. Hannah frowned
and leaned her face on her hands as she watched the billowing fog stream by.
"I've been in Petaluma almost a week and we haven't had one sunny day yet."
Hannah studied her reflection in the window. Her brown hair was pulled back
from her face showing her dark eyes, and the touch of red and gold in her bangs softened
the strong brow and determined looking chin.
"Of all the places in the world, how did I end up in California for the summer? I
miss my friends!"
Just then she heard her Grandma call up the stairs, "Boo, breakfast is ready,
honey."
The thought of Grandma’s cooking cheered her up a bit, and she liked that
Grandma already called her Boo, like her folks did. It made her feel less homesick. "I’d
rather be in Michigan," she thought and then began to get dressed.
Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about her situation. Her Dad had
gotten an offer for a new job in Texas, so she was staying with her grandparents while her
parents looked for a new home. Hannah hated the thought of moving from Michigan.
All her friends were there and she had been getting ready for the riding competition at the
stable where she took lessons when her Mom gave her the news. She really missed her
youth group at the church.
"My whole summer is ruined! You'd think I could at least have a sunny day to
make up for it."
The only good thing about being here was that her cousin, Jacie Masters, whom
everyone called Punkin, was coming for a two-week visit.
"I hope she’s not stuck up," thought Hannah. "I could really use a friend right
now." Pulling on her sweatshirt, she started down to the kitchen.
As she went along the hallway lined with faded pictures and family portraits, Boo
realized that she actually did like the old house. The day her folks dropped her off,
Grandpa had taken her for a tour of the ranch. She had a "thing" for old buildings and
mysterious settings and the old ranch house certainly had those. The rambling three-story
structure was set on a knoll in the middle of 1600 acres of land between Petaluma and the
coastal hills. Hannah particularly loved the old barns and corrals surrounding it. The
house was built out from a huge stone wall that stood against the side of the knoll.
Grandpa told her there had been an older building here that burned down, leaving one
wall with a big fireplace in it, and that Grandma's Grandfather built the house out from
the wall. The winding road that led up to the knoll and ended in a circular driveway in
front of the house, reminded her of an old southern mansion, like Tara in "Gone With
The Wind."
Tall Cypress trees on the back slope of the knoll acted as a break against the wind
that seemed to blow in every afternoon through the gap in the western hills. The house
had a somewhat ramshackle appearance because of all the rooms that had been added
over the years, but in spite of that it was still stately and beautiful. A wide porch swept
around the front of the house and broad stairs ran up to the doublewide front door. Pillars
held the old porch roof up where it joined the house just below her bedroom window.
Boo had already planned on sneaking out and climbing down the post to go exploring at
night.
The second story was a maze of rooms and the top of the house had a huge attic
with a widow's walk looking out toward the ocean. To the west, the fields rose up into
the foothills of the coastal range. There were forests of Eucalyptus and Pines, and tall,
bald outcrops of rocks. Grandpa has said there were good riding trails and she was
anxious to saddle up the grey mare that Grandpa kept in the pasture. Northward, the land
broke up into canyons winding crookedly up to the top of the ridge. Out of these came
small streams that fed into the lake beyond the big pasture.
"Fishing and swimming," said Grandpa, "If we can get some sun."
All together the ranch was an interesting place. When they had driven in the gate
Boo noticed the little sign that said, "Welcome to Ghost Dancer Ranch," and she had
made a mental note to ask Grandma about the name.
Boo skipped the last two steps of the back stairwell coming down from the back
of the second story and landed in the kitchen. Grandma bustled about, frying up some
bacon and eggs
"Sit down, girl, and pour some milk. Eggs will be ready in a minute."........