tighter, while Liam crossed his arms and plopped his behind on the bed. Grabbing her coat, ClaireLee said, âStay inside the cabin while Iâm gone, and be quiet for Mama and the baby.â
The two friends wandered down the pine-needled path. They hadnât gotten far when a Stellerâs jay scolded from a nearby tree. The jay flew down yards in front of them and limped and squawked in a sort of crazy dance.
Stopping, ClaireLee said, âPoor bird canât walk right.â
Cupping a hand over her forehead as though blocking the sun, Belinda said, âHe has a crippled foot.â
Cocking her head to one side, ClaireLee said, âOh, so sad.â
A moment longer and the bird flew away, hollering his raspy call.
Moving down the path, ClaireLee had to raise her voice when she spoke, for the Rushing Riverâs roar. âThis is exciting, Belinda. Iâve never lived next to a river before. At home in Oregon, we have a shallow creek, which dries in the summer.â
The trail ended at a clearing covered with dead pine needles. ClaireLee marveled at the width of the riverâs banks. At a closer examination, the water was more of a vivid gray-green. Disappointed, she wanted to see more than the calm swirls. Whereâs the place? Her ears followed the noise, while she placed their sack on a boulder and moved downstream, still ahead of Belinda. Milky foam collected along the steep embankment, and ClaireLee stopped and peered ahead unafraid. Where are the rapids?
Grabbing ClaireLeeâs arm, Belinda waved like she wanted them to keep going. Now, the water picked up speed and became solid white. As though it were a monstrous bubbling spring, it raced over rocks like a million birds taking flight.
In a sudden movement, Belinda snatched ClaireLeeâs hand. Racing along the shore, they kept a safe distance. They leaped over logs and switched back and forth around the maze of large rocks. Without notice, the riverâs spray doused ClaireLee. Gasping for air, she stopped. She and Belinda moved backward, letting go of each otherâs fingers.
Laughter rose from ClaireLeeâs throat, and she pointed.
There were river boulders as big as ClaireLeeâs cabin, and she became giddy at the sight. Water shot off the stones. It spread out at their peak and fell like a white fireworks display. Over and overâslap, splash, sprayâthe river put on a performance, and ClaireLeeâs feet couldnât help but dance.
After getting drenched by the foam, the girls returned to the rock where theyâd left their snack. As they munched on cookies, ClaireLee hollered above the noise, âOnly God could make what we just saw.â
âYep, sure,â Belinda said between bites of ginger-snaps.
After they finished eating, ClaireLee motioned them toward the trail. Walking back to the cabin, ClaireLee filled her lungs with more fresh air. It feels good to explore like in Oregon, to be carefree once again.
----
----
I n the night , ClaireLee was jarred awake. Somebody whimpered and paced from the kitchen sink to the front door. In the glow of the porch light, Mamaâs outstretched hands fluttered.
Instinctively, ClaireLee bolted upright and crawled over Lolly and Belinda. She entered Mamaâs bedroom and nudged a snoring Daddy. âWake up, wake up.â
He swung his feet and pulled on his pants over his long underwear. âIâm late?â
âDonât you hear her?â She shivered in a panic. âItâs Mama.â
Pulling on his suspenders, Daddy gazed at Mamaâs pillow. He flipped on the living room light, and Belinda covered her eyes. Fingers raking through his curls, he said, âDotty, what are you doing?â
Shaken by Mamaâs stricken face, ClaireLee hid behind Daddy. Oh, dear God, please help us.
Sobbing, Mamaâs words made no sense. âWhhh, plll, I donâtââ
ClaireLee squeezed her eyes shut. âWhatâs
John Grisham
Ed Ifkovic
Amanda Hocking
Jennifer Blackstream
P. D. Stewart
Selena Illyria
Ceci Giltenan
RL Edinger
Jody Lynn Nye
Boris D. Schleinkofer