Dakota Blues Read Online Free PDF

Karen would thrash, alone with her burden, until she heard her mother’s voice calling softly from down the hall.
    “It’s just the wind, honey. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

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    Chapter Four
    B ack at the house, cars lined the street up and down the block, and the walls of the house practically bulged with people. Inside, Karen found a feast that expanded by one dish per every new arrival. Meatloaf, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole crowded the kitchen counters. Shivery Jell-O molds in red and green with bits of fruit suspended within, potato salad dusted with paprika, fleischkuecle, and sliced ham were followed by coffee cake, brownies, and rhubarb pie.
    As soon as decency allowed, she slipped into her bedroom, closed the door, and called Peggy. “You need to get back here PDQ,” said the older woman.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Wes is on a rampage. He’s been firing people all day. Calls them into his office in little groups.”
    Karen heard Peggy inhale. “Are you smoking?”
    “What the hell are they going to do to me? Just a sec.” Karen heard Peggy stabbing out the cigarette. “Manuel the security guard had to walk so many people out of the building he started hyperventilating. We had to call 9-1-1. Are you still there?”
    Karen sat on the bed, head in hand. “Manuel? He’s a rock.”
    “Not today. Sorry to be telling you this on top of everything. How are you holding up?”
    “The house is full of people. I’m hiding in the bedroom.”
    “Get out there and get some hugs, like on your way out the door. I’m not kidding. You and me are all that’s left.”
    “I’ll be there at the crack of dawn, day after tomorrow.”
    “No sooner?”
    “Peggy, I can’t astral-travel.” Karen hung up, pained by the stress in her buddy’s voice. She considered her a friend, even though they never saw each other outside of work, and there was an age gap. But they’d worked together ten years, and they’d had each other’s backs since the beginning.
    She stuffed the phone back in her purse. As soon as she got in the air, away from all the grieving and politicking, she would think of something. She always came up with something. By the time the wheels touched down at John Wayne in Newport, she would have a strategy for reining in Wes.
    Her flight left in two hours. In the meantime, she needed to get out there and show the flag. Closing the bedroom door behind her, Karen dove into the crowd and moved from group to group, accepting condolences and making small talk, working her way from the front sidewalk to the back porch. By the time she got through the rope line, she was exhausted.
    In the living room, Father Engel nibbled a brownie and listened to a woman’s earnest tale. A crowd of women, all about Karen’s age, stood in the center of the room discussing something with great animation. A tall woman with short gray hair spotted Karen and stepped away from the group. “Hey, you. I’m Glenda. I was a grade ahead of you at St. Joseph’s.”
    “I thought you looked familiar,” Karen said.
    “I knew your mom from the convalescent hospital. We volunteered together. I’m a nurse.” Glenda maneuvered Karen toward the group of women. “Recognize any of these characters?”
    Karen’s mouth fell open. “Marlene. I remember you from–”
    “Yes, sixth grade.” A zaftig brunette hugged Karen. “We fought over a boy.”
    “Paul something. How embarrassing that you remember.”
    “I not only remember. I married him. Look over there.” Marlene pointed.
    Karen recognized the man, rounder now, his curly dark hair a distant memory, but when he smiled shyly and waved, she saw the boy again. She waved back.
    A tiny blonde with a camera pushed forward. “And I’m Denise.”
    “I don’t believe it,” said Karen, embracing the woman. “You took pictures at all the high school football games.”
    Denise nodded. “It was a great way to meet boys. Now I’m a photographer for