Franny Parker by Hannah Roberts McKinnon Page A

his mother are just having a disagreement, is all. Teenagers, you know how it is.”
    Mama didn’t answer him. She looked over his shoulder at Lucas and Lindy. “We’ve never known Lucas to have any such trouble. Until now.”
    Carl Dunn stared at Mama, his hands twitching just a little at his sides.
    Grandma Rae left the window, clucking her tongue. Izzy squeezed my shoulder. I thought of the phone in the kitchen.
    â€œMrs. Parker, like I said, it’s just a small argument. You don’t need to concern yourself with it,” Carl Dunn continued.
    â€œWell, I
am
concerned. I want you to know that. And if I have to, I also want you to know I will call the authorities.”
    Carl Dunn’s crooked smile faded and he tipped slightly back as if Mama had hit him. His hands balled into fists, but Mama didn’t move.
    â€œChildren, come away from that window,” Grandma ordered.
    Sidda and Ben hurried over to her, but I couldn’t. I looked out at Lucas slumped against the truck, at Lindy, who’d movedto him, her arm wrapped around his. Carl Dunn was lying: this wasn’t their fight.
    With that, it ended. Carl Dunn turned on his heels. Mama stayed in the driveway watching him, the tail of the wolf swishing the dust. Lindy waved timidly and followed him into the house. Lucas grabbed his bike and tore off down the driveway.
    When Mama finally came inside, everyone collapsed in their chairs, not one of us speaking. The fierceness had left Mama’s face and she rested her head in her hands. Sidda bent beside me, collecting the bottles I’d spilled on the porch.
    â€œThat was brave,” Izzy said to Mama.
    But Grandma Rae shook her head. “It was foolish! Your children were right here, watching.”
    Mama looked up at us, wiping the dust from her cheeks. The flickering gold had left her eyes. “I know,” she said. “That’s why I had to do it.”

Missing
    H e’s gone,” Lindy cried in our doorway the next evening, her blond hair wild about her face.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Mama asked, gently pulling her inside.
    â€œLucas. I’ve looked everywhere. In the shed, behind the house, even up in the hills. He’s really gone this time.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œHe took his bike to work yesterday afternoon, for his Friday evening shift at Harland’s. But he never came home lastnight.” Lindy touched her face. It was then I saw the red mark on her cheek. “It’s my fault.”
    Mama’s eyes flashed. “We have to report this.”
    â€œNo!” Lindy cried, grabbing both of Mama’s hands. “I don’t want the police.”
    Mama shook her head. “You need them.”
    But there was more. “They’ve already come, Celia. Harland’s was robbed last night. They think Lucas did it.”
    â€œRobbed?”
    â€œThree thousand dollars, gone. They came by late last night, and told me Lucas didn’t show up for work yesterday. Then, sometime during the evening, the store was robbed.” Lindy paused, swiping at her tears. “I thought Lucas just needed some time to cool off, but when he didn’t come home last night, I knew something was wrong. And now this. Please, we’ve got to find him.”
    Lindy was begging, and I couldn’t stand it. I ached for Mama to give her whatever it was she wanted.
    Mama turned, suddenly remembering us. “Franny, Sidda, take Ben outside,” she ordered.
    The three of us settled in the grass by the porch, straining to hear. I plucked at the dry blades as we listened, and little golden piles grew around me. I thought of the yearling, caught between the wild and a family, not really belonging to either. Lucas had been right. He knew not because he’d read the book but because he, too, was caught.
    â€œDo you think he stole the money?” Sidda asked.
    I looked at the flower chain she was making, the yellow and