Native Born Read Online Free PDF

to help raise Amanda had allowed Cassidy to take Amanda out of the school keeper’s programs and allowed Cassidy to move into fieldwork, which she truly loved.
    Cassidy excused herself to change. Using a mirror, she checked the sight of the impact and noted the purplish bruise that spread across her back. She took four ibuprofens and slipped into a button-up blouse because it hurt too much to lift her arms over her head. Then she rejoined her mother-in-law and daughter.
    After dinner it was past nine on a school night. Amanda headed off to bed. Cassidy joined her, sitting on the foot of the twin bed, trying not to look at the photo of her husband on his second deployment that rested on Amanda’s nightstand.
    â€œYou’re leaving again, aren’t you?” said Amanda.
    Cassidy stroked her daughter’s glossy black hair away from her face. Clyne’s hair had been just this color. Gabe and Kino kept their hair so short it was hard to compare and she had yet to meet Clay, the middle brother.
    â€œYes, doodlebug. I have to pack tonight. I’ll be gone before you get up.”
    â€œWe have another game on Wednesday.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œWhere?” Her daughter knew that her mother couldn’t say much about her assignments. But this time, somehow, it seemed important that she know.
    â€œBlack Mountain.”
    â€œOn the reservation?” Her daughter’s voice now rose with excitement. “Oh, Mom. Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Because she tried to keep her daughter away from the people who were attempting to take Amanda away from her.
    â€œCan I come?”
    â€œOf course you can’t come.”
    Her daughter continued on and Cassidy wished she had not mentioned the location of her assignment.
    â€œAre you going to Pinyon Fort? Will you see the museum? There are two hotels on Black Mountain, the ski resort and the casino. Where will you stay?”
    It was like watching a train pick up speed and having no way to slow it down.
    Ever since Cassidy had told her daughter that she was not really Sioux, as they had been told, but Apache, Amanda had been Googling the Black Mountain tribe’s website and studying Apache history.
    â€œI’m not sure yet.” Cassidy pressed a hand to her forehead.
    â€œYou have to tell me everything, what it’s like. They had snow there today. I checked. I haven’t seen snow since we left South Dakota. I wish I could come, too.”
    Cassidy stroked her daughter’s head and forced a smile.
    â€œMaybe next time.”
    â€œWill you see them?”
    â€œYes.”
    Amanda’s eyes widened. “Oh, I want to go!”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œWhat if the judge says I have to go with them? Wouldn’t it be better if I had at least met them?”
    Cassidy’s heart ached at the possibility of losing her daughter.
    â€œThey can’t take you for long. Even if the judge overturns my custody, you remember what I told you?”
    â€œI’m twelve.”
    Cassidy nodded.
    Amanda recited by memory. “Twelve-year-olds can request to be adopted away from their tribe.”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    Amanda frowned. Ever since they’d discovered who she really was and that she had another family out there, Amanda had been increasingly unhappy. Of course the opening of her adoption and the challenge for custody upset her. Why wouldn’t it?
    â€œThey can’t win,” said Cassidy. “Because you are old enough to choose.”
    Amanda moved her legs restlessly under the covers and seemed to want to say something.
    Cassidy waited.
    â€œCan you at least take a picture of them?”
    â€œWhat? Why?”
    â€œSo I can see if they look like me?”
    How she wished she could go back to the time when they both thought she had no one but her mom and dad and Grandma Diane. When there was no one else.
    â€œI don’t think that’s a good idea,” said