Dodge the Bullet by Christy Hayes Page A

firewood into the wheelbarrow
and carted it under the deck. She’d begun to stack the wood from
some of the nearby cottonwood trees that had fallen during the
valley’s many wind gusts. She wondered if she’d ever get used to
the feel of grit between her teeth when the wind picked up and
carried the dusty earth careening toward anything that stood in its
way. Her head reeled, but not from the physical exertion. She’d
craved a physical outlet after the day she’d had and the resentment
she’d encountered.
    The hostility from the Kevin that morning,
which only got worse after the bus had dropped them off at the
front of the ranch. You’d think walking a few miles from the road
to the cabin would be a welcome break after the miserable day he’d
had at school. All she could get from him was that the kids were
dumb, the girls were ugly and that he was smarter than everyone in
his classes. If she thought starting school would help with his
attitude she’d been wrong. Very wrong.
    He disappeared a few minutes after he got
home and only scowled at her after she’d gotten on the four-wheeler
to find him. He’d been sitting on a log that had fallen into the
river. When he heard the engine come up behind him his face changed
from quiet reflection to completely rancorous. And she felt sick.
Sick, sick, sick for she wondered if he’d ever get beyond his
bitterness. First his dad died and now she’d dragged him here where
he refused to even try to fit in. Sarah felt like an idiot for
thinking a change of venue would help. Even Lyle seemed quiet after
school, saying it would take some time to get used to the
changes.
    She threw the last of the wood on the pile
and moved around the house to put the wheelbarrow back into the
garage. Before going inside, she stepped out onto the small
concrete drive to pound the dirt from her shoes. That’s when she
noticed a truck coming down the long gravel drive. Dodge. Her
stomach did a funny little flip-flop as recognition. She wondered
why he’d come and why she felt so relieved by the sight of him.
    “Now, I can explain,” he said as he came
around the truck.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I’m talking about making your sister walk
home this afternoon from the front gate. She insisted I bring her
home today and I didn’t have time to drive her all the way back
here so I dropped her at the front.”
    “She mentioned it. Why do you look so
guilty?”
    “I…she seemed pretty pissed, that’s all.” He
turned back to the truck. “I thought an apology was in order so I
brought some steaks and a bottle of wine.” He held the label in her
face.
    She shrugged as she accepted the wine.
“Thanks.” Jenny’s last night and he brought steaks and wine. Her
stomach churned with jealousy and she didn’t like it one bit.
“Jenny will be pleased to know you’re seeing her off in style.”
    “I actually have a business proposition for
you. I thought we could discuss it over dinner.”
    Of course. The lease on the circle. He’d
been excited to discover the full circle and said he’d get with her
later about a lease. So later was now. “A juicy steak and some wine
sounds pretty good after the day I’ve had. Come on up.”
    “You ok?” He reached for her arm.
    Such a loaded question. “I’ll survive.” She
tried to smile, but he didn’t seem appeased.
    “Want to talk about it?”
    “I’m tired of whining.” She could barely
stand the sound of her own voice and desperately wished she could
shut down her brain for awhile. Maybe the wine would help.
    “Look who’s joining us for dinner,” Sarah
announced to the boys as they sat on the couch watching ESPN. Sarah
could see Jenny reading on the deck. She probably heard Dodge
approach and waited to make a grand entrance.
    Lyle waved and Kevin merely pursed his lips
and looked back at the television. And then the deck doors opened
and Jenny sauntered through, kicking Lyle’s feet off the coffee
table as she passed.
    “Well,