A Home for Haley Read Online Free PDF Page B

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what he could find out. His mother had been right. If Dale were gone, Haley
needed to know so she could get on with her life, wherever that might take her.
    “Daddy!”
    Ethan turned to Kayla who was
struggling to reel in a fish. He stepped over to her, glad for the distraction.
“Reel it in a little bit at a time. Like this.” He helped her turn the rod’s
handle then tugged on the pole. “Here comes dinner,” he said, helping her pull
the fish onto the bank.
    Kayla squealed, and Ryan dropped
his rod and scrambled over to them, stooping over the fish and pointing. “Fish,
fish.”
    “Little fish,” Kayla said,
frowning.
    “About the right size to feed
Ryan.” Ethan picked up the flopping fish and took out the hook. “What do you
think of this fish, Ryan?”
    He clapped his hands and turned to
his mom, who was watching with a smile. Kayla ran a finger over the fish.
“Maybe we should put him back.”
    “Your choice.” Ethan waited for her
answer.
    “Okay, unless Ryan cries about it.”
    Ethan picked Ryan up. “This fish is
too little to keep. He needs to go back home with his mom. Say bye-bye to the
fish.”
    Ryan’s mouth turned into a pout. “Bye-bye,
fishy.”
    Ethan ruffled his hair. “You do the
honors, Kayla.”
    She picked up the fish with both
hands and slipped it back into the pond. Ryan clapped when the fish swam away. Wiping
her hands on her shorts, Kayla turned to her father. “Guess I need another
worm.”
    Ethan baited her hook and then
stood back to watch her cast. She threw her fishing line out as hard as she
could, but it didn’t go far. “You’re forgetting your wrist action,” Ethan
explained. Kayla made a face and tried again. This time the line went farther.
“Much better. Try one more time, but be careful not to hook one of us.” Ethan
grinned at Haley and hoisted Ryan onto his shoulders. He giggled and grabbed Ethan’s
hair with a death grip.
    Haley smiled at her son then
shifted her gaze to Ethan. “He loves every minute of this. Having a man around
is good for him.”
    “He’s a great kid.”
    A warm smile lit Haley’s face.
“You’re caring and gentle with him. Kayla is definitely a lucky little girl.”
    Ethan couldn’t remember when a
compliment had made him feel so good. “Thank you, Haley. That means a lot to
me.”
    Kayla reeled her line back in and
stretched her arms way behind her. Casting out with a grunt, she stumbled and
fell into the pond. Ethan hurried to her and hauled her up. “You’re supposed to
use your wrist, Kayley Girl, not your entire body.”
    She slapped his hand, tears in her
eyes. Ryan hung onto Ethan’s hair so tight Ethan thought he might lose a handful
of it. Squealing, Ryan kicked his legs and hit Kayla in the temple.
    “Ouch,” she yelled as she fell back
into the water, immersing even her head.
    Ethan reached for her and Ryan slid
sideways. Haley grabbed him and pulled him off of Ethan’s shoulders, just as he
hauled Kayla out of the water and set her upright. Crying, Kayla glared at
Ryan.
    “He didn’t kick you on purpose,
honey.” Ethan ran his fingers over the area Ryan had kicked.
    “Ouch.” Kayla’s crying intensified.
    Ryan pointed at Kayla and tears
pooled in his eyes. “KayKay hurt?”
    “My name’s not KayKay and I’m
okay.” Kayla sniffed. “I’m all wet and yucky, though.” She gingerly touched the
spot Ryan had kicked. He ran over and hugged her around the waist. Kayla gave a
watery smile and hugged him back. “Now you’re all wet and yucky, too,” she
said, patting his head.
    Ethan began gathering the fishing
equipment. “Guess we should have kept that fish you caught, Kayla.”
    “I’d rather have pizza anyway. You
like pizza, Ryan?” His blue eyes widened and he raced around them as fast as
his short legs would go.
    “Looks like a pizza night to me,”
Ethan said with a chuckle.
    “Yippee!” Kayla grabbed Ryan’s
hands and ran in a circle with him. “I’m starved. Let’s order