Desert Crossing Read Online Free PDF

He didn’t say anything.
    She let go abruptly and motioned to Kit and me. “As long as it’s okay with your mother, you can come back to my house.”
    â€œBut Jamie—”
    â€œHe has to go with the police,” she said, walking back toward her truck.
    I turned to Jamie. He was watching me, his face strained.
    â€œI want all of us to stay together,” I said again.
    Jamie shook his head. “It’s going to be okay, Luce. You guys go.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œGo.”
    I touched his hand, but he wasn’t looking at me. The two cops were within earshot now, listening to us, waiting. I followed Beth to the truck.
    A few minutes later, Kit opened the passenger door and slid onto the seat next to me. He leaned his face close to my ear. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “This is just the normal stuff they do. It doesn’t mean anything.”
    â€œHow do you know?” I whispered back, staring through the wet windshield at Jamie. “How do you know what stuff they do? Are they arresting him? Is he going to jail?” I could feel the tears running down my cheeks. I hoped it was too dark for Kit to see.
    â€œNo, Luce! Jeez. Cut it out.”
    The sheriff came to Kit’s side, resting his hand on the door. “You’re all set,” he said. “Miss Martinez, your mother wants you to call as soon as you get to Ms. Osway’s house.”
    I rubbed my wet cheeks and nodded, not looking at him. He slammed the door shut, and it was like a gate closing, with us on one side and Jamie on the other. The two cops were leading him toward one of their cars. As he walked away, I could see the angles of his shoulder blades jutting through his wet shirt, as thin and fragile as wings.

8
    The truck jolted onto Beth’s road, and a minute later we were at the house. The dogs were inside, leaping at the windows and barking in frantic bursts.
    â€œOh, for chrissake,” Beth said. “Get your bags from the car,” she said to us, then climbed out, shouting, “Settle down!”
    When she opened the door, the dogs jumped all over us, thrusting their cold noses against our legs. Beth shoved them away. “No, Oscar! Toronto, down!”
    Kit and I stood in the entry, not sure what to do. “I have a spare bed,” Beth said to me. “You can sleep there.” She turned to Kit. ‘I’ll get some blankets for you. The study has a pretty thick rug.”
    Kit was staring at the half-painted metal thing in the living room. “What is that?” he asked.
    â€œA piece I’m working on.”
    â€œYeah? Like a sculpture?” He walked over to it and started to put his hand on one of the pipes.
    â€œDon’t touch it,” Beth said. “It’s still wet.”
    â€œWhat’s it made of?”
    â€œMetal. Car parts. Things I found.”
    Kit grinned. “Looks like junk,” he said.
    Which was exactly what I’d expect him to say. He sounded almost back to normal.
    â€œIt is junk,” Beth replied, calmly.
    Kit walked around it. “What are you going to do with it?”
    â€œIt’s a commission. It’ll be installed at the Albuquerque airport this fall.”
    â€œYou’re kidding me. Somebody’s paying you for that?”
    Beth disappeared down the hallway, calling over her shoulder, “Quite a lot of money, actually.”
    She came back with blankets and pillows spilling over her arms. “I know it’s late, but is there anyone you should call? Your parents?”
    Kit swung his duffel over his shoulder and shook his head quickly. “Mine are away. I’ll try to call them tomorrow.”
    Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming need to hear my mom’s voice, her safe, steady voice, reminding me to put sunscreen on the back of my neck and to help Jamie read the map. “I have to call my mom,” I said. I thought of Jamie.
    â€œThe reception’s