Never Too Far Read Online Free PDF

Apparently she wanted to make the cakes. She pulled a handful of pinole from the bag and poured some water on it from her cup. She mashed the mixture into a ball, padded it flat, and then slapped it in the skillet. Joe looked at her and smiled.
    Afterwards, they washed the dishes in the creek and then got ready for bed. Stars started to pop and glow in the blue-black sky.
    “You want a blanket?” Joe said.
    The pregnant girl didn’t respond. Which was okay. He was getting used to her silence. He felt more comfortable just talking, even if it felt like he was talking to himself. Maybe she was silent because of what happened to her before she came to live with them. He’d never really thought much about where she came from. It didn’t seem that important. Besides, the girl was more of Mom’s concern. He and Frank were supposed to steer clear of her. That was all changed now. Suddenly, knowing more about her seemed necessary. It seemed vital almost. The only problem with getting to know her was that she didn’t talk.
    He only knew that traders passing through Gunther dumped her off at the temple with no explanation. Mom couldn’t fathom not taking in this lost little lamb with child. Joe remembered Frank saying it was a bad idea to take her, but Dad said they could handle it and they couldn’t turn their back on such a child in need. Mom fawned over her like she was her blood daughter. And for a while Mom’s spirits seemed to rise.
    Joe remembered when he first saw the pregnant girl. Her long stringy hair hung from a bone-white part in the center of her scalp. It hung in front of her drooping head like a separated curtain that someone was peering out of to see who was coming up the road. Even though she was rail thin in her dingy brown dress, he couldn’t stop staring at her distended belly. She held the string handles of two boxes, which contained all her meager belongings. She was a sight to see, for sure.
    Joe pulled his recorder out, fitted it together, and licked the tip.
    “Anything you want to hear?” he said to the girl, not expecting her to answer. He just wanted to hear some human words, even if they were his own.
    But then the girl spoke. She said, “Blackbird.”
    Joe sat up, startled, and stared at the girl. He was unsure if he really did hear her talk or if it was his imagination playing tricks on him.
    “Blackbird?” he said. “Did you say ‘Blackbird’?”
    “Blackbird,” she said again.
    He was flabbergasted.
    “You want to hear that?” he said. That was one of the songs from his tattered songbook. She must’ve recognized it from when he played it at home. “I know bunches of those songs from that book. Every one. Even the ones where the pages are missing and I only know half the song. I learned them all. Is that the one you want to hear? You like that one?”
    Joe knew he was blathering on, but he was so shocked and delighted to hear the girl talk to him that words just tumbled out. He ended up playing the song twice, although the girl didn’t act like she was listening. It didn’t matter to Joe. He was simply happy that she’d responded to him. Even though it was only one word, it was better than nothing. He wanted to try to engage her in more conversation, to tease out some more words, but he thought he’d better not press his luck. Blackbird , he said to himself. 

 
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
     
    The next day was grueling. The wagon cab felt like a furnace inside and Joe felt as if he were roasting in his own skin. Still, it was better than being exposed to the blistering sun, which would’ve cooked them even worse. Sweat soaked through his clothes and dripped off his nose. He thought the pregnant girl must’ve been burning up, too. He was afraid her baby might cook inside her like in an oven.
    The land they traveled through was mostly burnt. Only a few stands of living trees slowly withered under the relentless burn of the heat. They traveled southward into the dry dusty