Bitter Waters Read Online Free PDF Page A

his arm, and used it to guide herself to him.
    She hugged him fiercely, typical of the rough affection with which she raised him. “Good boy.” Mom Jo was a lean, dark-haired woman, a shade under average height. When she first trapped him in a humane wolf trap years earlier, he tucked under her chin. He had grown in odd fits and starts over the years, and she now had to cant her head back to look up into his eyes. “You’ve grown again. It must have been a rough trip.” She meant the trip to Oregon, and it had been. “I wish Max wouldn’t drag you into these things. One of these times—maybe we should find you something else to do.”
    â€œMom!”
    â€œYou’re good with animals. We could expand the kennels and board pets. It would give you lots of time with Kittanning, and you could even go to school, maybe get a degree.”
    â€œI like my work. I’m good at it.”
    â€œIt got you killed in June.” She hugged him tight. “And it got you killed again in Oregon. One of these times you’re not going to come back to us.”
    â€œI’ll always come back.” He was glad now that he didn’t mention the flooding storm drain. “Look, I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”
    â€œI’m glad you’re home in one piece, this time.” Then, as if speaking of pieces, she said, “Kittanning has missed you horribly. He’s been trying to talk; it sounds like ‘Dada.’ He says it over and over again, as if he’s calling for you.”
    â€œIs he still awake?” He mentally reached for Kittanning. “Ah, no.” He found only warm cottony thoughts. “He’s sleeping.”
    â€œYou should look in on him before you turn in.” Her tone indicated that it was a command.
    â€œI will.”
    â€œAnd you need to clean your room; it looks like a tornado hit it.”
    Oh, God, she went up to his room? He winced, flashingover his last seconds of frantic packing. To him, it was obvious that Indigo slept over one night while his moms were at Kitty Hawk, but would his moms notice? Could they smell the sex? Had they changed his sheets? Did they find Indigo’s forgotten socks and panties in his laundry basket? Had they emptied the waste can?
    Not that Indigo and he planned the one night—they had fallen asleep after making love. Nor did his moms actually forbid her staying over, but during a frank conversation about birth control, they also let him know that they thought he was too young, emotionally, to handle a sexual relationship. Since then, they continued, in looks and silences, to express this belief, but not once had they tried to prohibit it either.
    On the heels of his panic came a surprising flash of anger. Why had she gone up to his attic bedroom? His parents’ bedroom had always been off-limits to him; after his first big jump in maturity, he’d asked for the same respect. Laundry proved to be a minor stumbling point, since Mom Lara still washed his sheets, towels, and dress shirts for him. He took over those responsibilities to gain privacy and independence. There should have been no reason for her to go into the attic.
    â€œWhat were you doing in my room?”
    â€œI’m sorry, but Cally was playing private investigator with your stuff,” Mom Jo said. “I went up to get her out of your bedroom and was surprised at how messy it was.”
    â€œI was in a hurry. We only had a few hours to get ready before flying out to Oregon.”
    â€œIt still needs to be cleaned.” Mom Jo stopped them even with the Hummer. “Where’s your bike?”
    â€œI had too much luggage to bring home on the bike.” He illustrated by taking said luggage out of the back. Actually, between the troubles of the Oregon trip and the federal agent checking into them, Max was jumpy and wanted Ukiah in something that afforded more protection than his motorcycle. If he told