Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut Page A

hurried across the hall and crept over to Gideon’s bedroom window
    Peeking out, his eyes widened at the sight of Rafe and Savannah heading along the walk toward the front porch. As he watched, Savannah glanced back over her shoulder at the bronze wire looped over and around the gate. He noticed her hair was pulled back into neat rows of tight braids.
    Finn turned and raced down the stairs, reaching the door just as someone knocked. With a guilty twinge in his stomach, he flung it open.
    â€œHey, Finn,” Rafe said. Behind her brother’s shoulder, Savannah gave him a smile.
    â€œHow’s it going?” Finn replied. Trying to act nonchalant, he pushed a discarded knife behind the door with his foot. Its blade was snapped off near the hilt. He stepped aside. “Wanna come in?”
    â€œActually, we’re walking over to the mini-mart to get a slush drink. Do you want to go with us?” Savannah asked.
    Finn hesitated for a moment. Well, I am done with everything , he thought. And it’s only eleven . “Sure, that’d be great. Let me get some money. You can wait in the living room.”
    As they walked in, he caught the scent of something flowery or perfume-y when Savannah passed by. “Be right back.”
    Taking the stairs two at a time, he made a beeline for Gideon’s room. He headed over to the dresser. To one side, a handmade terracotta bowl held a moonstone. A layer of dust coated the bowl and stone. Glancing at it, Finn winced as he recalled Gideon’s cold tone and hard face when he had asked about it just a few days ago. Tis none of yer business, Finnegan MacCullen. It belonged to someone else, and that’s all ye need to know .
    Shrugging off the memory, Finn dug a hand into the coin jar on the other end of the dresser. He fished out some quarters and dimes, shoved them in his pocket, then tossed the rest back into the container with a clink. I know he’s saving money for new tires , he thought, trying to ignore another stab of guilt. But one soda pop won’t hurt . He went back downstairs to the living room.
    â€œOkay, I’m ready to—” He stopped at Rafe and Savannah’s expressions. Brother and sister stood in front of the fireplace, staring up open-mouthed over the mantel, at the rack which held the assortment of weapons.
    â€œThese are beyond cool!” Rafe stepped closer. He reached up to touch the hide-wrapped handle of one of the knives. “Are they Mr. Lir’s?”
    â€œUh … yeah. He collects them.”
    â€œAre they antiques?” Rafe stood on tiptoe to get a better view of the ones on the top rack.
    â€œI guess. He’s had some of them for years. He’s got a bunch more stored in the cellar.”
    â€œDoes he use them for anything?” Savannah asked. “Hey, be careful!” She put out a hand to stop her brother from touching the edge of a wicked-looking knife sporting a handle made from deer antler.
    â€œSee?” Rafe deliberately dragged a finger along the flat of the blade as he scowled at her. “That’s why I didn’t want you to tag along. You’re such a girl.”
    â€œYou say it like it’s a bad thing. When, in fact, you’re envious. Just who kicked whose butt running with Dad this morning?”
    Finn shifted his feet nervously. “Hey, guys? Let’s go already.”
    He ushered them out the front. Pausing to lock the door behind him, Finn tucked the house key into his pocket, then followed Rafe and Savannah across the yard and down the street.
    Finn’s eyes darted from side to side as he examined every shadow I feel naked without my knife. But there’s no way I could have explained to them why I was packing a blade . He tried not to think about what Gideon would do if he found out Finn had not only spent time with Rafe and Savannah, but had left home without a weapon.
    After making their way to the end of the street, the threesome