Devil's Lake (Bittersweet Hollow Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Portia watched him help her mom out of the cab, and in seconds, tears scalded her cheeks.
    She wobbled out of the bathroom, reached the head of the stairs, but stopped when Boone appeared, holding up a warning hand from the first floor.
    “Whoa. Hold on. I’ll bring them up to you.” He bounded up the stairs, guided her back to bed, and hurried downstairs to greet Dirk and Daisy.
    ***
    Daisy felt her strength build as the anticipation of seeing her daughter grew like a tsunami inside her. She let Dirk help her out of the truck, pushing ahead toward the warm kitchen light spilling onto the porch.
    Boone ushered them inside, looking both flustered and relieved. The poor boy certainly hadn’t signed up for this.
    “Come on. She’s upstairs,” he said breathlessly.
    She and Dirk exchanged an excited glance, then hurried into the kitchen, through the living room, and up the stairs. She barely noticed how winded the climb made her.
    Boone pointed to the bedroom. “She’s kind of weak. I put her back in bed.”
    “Portia?” Daisy’s voice sounded hysterical, even to herself. She tried to calm it down. “Honey? It’s Mom and Dad.”
    They heard her before they saw her.
    “Mom? Dad?” If Daisy’s voice sounded frantic, Portia’s heart-wrenching cries were worse.
    Daisy raced forward in spite of the weakness simmering in her body. Dirk followed close at her side.
    She stopped short in the doorway, barely recognizing the girl under the pink comforter. “Oh my God. Portia. You’re really home.”
    Portia threw back the covers, lunging toward them. In a tumble of hugs, tears, and kisses, Daisy, Dirk and Portia fell into each other’s arms, sobbing and chattering. Daisy embraced her daughter, feeling the bony body beneath. Dirk put his arms around both of them. Boone stood to the side, smiling, wiping a few stray tears from his own eyes.
    “Oh, honey.” Daisy’s heart beat fast beneath her ribs. She couldn’t stop patting her daughter’s hair, cheeks, and arms. “Oh, baby. You’re home. You’re so skinny! What happened to you?”
    Portia finally spoke through choking tears. “I’ll be okay. But you’re thin, too, Mom.”
    Dirk corralled them both with his strong arms. “Your mom’s gonna be just fine, honey. Looks like we’ve gotta put some meat back on both your bones, huh?”
    Daisy stepped back for the first time. “We are quite a pair, aren’t we?” She laughed, crying again, then climbed into bed and pulled her daughter in beside her, unable to let go of her hand.
    Portia put her head on her mother’s shoulder, still sobbing. “Mom.”
    Daisy held her tight, stroking her hair. “Our girl’s home, Dirk.” She smiled through tears at her husband, the amazing big lug who’d always been so strong for her, but who’d really surprised her with his strength and dedication since Portia went missing, and even more so when she fell ill with cancer.
    Dirk had always been a man of simple tastes and interests, none of that fancy kiwi or sprouts for him. A meat and potatoes man. Family. Farm. Horses. That was all he talked about in the old days. And she’d been okay with that. More than okay with it. The guy had a heart of gold. When someone was hurting, he showed up at their place and helped out. If a farm was about to go under, he’d donate equipment or labor to help them get out of the hole. He didn’t often go to church, but Dirk had a strong faith and was the most genuine Christian Daisy had ever met.
    He never faltered, this bear of a man, and she thanked God every day for his solid presence and corny sense of humor.
    Dirk sat on the edge of the bed, holding his daughter’s hand. “Welcome home, both of you.”
    Daisy pulled him over to kiss his lips. “Thank you, honey.”
    Boone shifted in the background, “Guess I’ll be heading back to my place, then.”
    Dirk rose to shake his hand, but impulsively pulled Boone into a bear hug. “Come back in the morning, son. We can catch up on the