Ryan's Crossing Read Online Free PDF

Portland.
    “And by the way, Peter dear,” said Faye with a look.
    “Yes, Mom?”
    “Amber will need you by her side as we go over the lists,” said Faye.
    Ryan chuckled as Peter groaned.
    “Yes,” said Victoria, “and I think we should assign a few things to Ryan, as well.”
    “Me?” Ryan putted his hands up to his chest looking from his mom to Faye. Both women’s eyes were sparkling. I’m not getting out of this one easily.
    “Misery does love company, son,” said Thomas.
    “Yes, it does,” said Victoria. “And if you want any potato soup, my dear husband, I suggest you look over the lists and find a job or two for which you are willing to be responsible.”
    “Me?” said Thomas. He looked at his wife then sighed deeply.
    Ryan smirked at his dad and then shrugged. “Looks like we’ve been busted.”
    “Well,” said Peter, “let’s get some lunch so we have strength to face the inevitable.”

    Ryan found his sister five hours later on the back deck of the Yager home. “Escaping lists?”
    She turned to look at him, smiling. “Yeah.”
    “I’m with you! Where do we abandon ship?”
    She laughed. “Did you get your assignments?”
    “Unfortunately. I thought I was just attending this shindig. Somehow my plan went terribly wrong!”
    She laughed again. “Just wait until Brittney gets here.”
    “Who is Brittney again?”
    “She’s Peter’s sister, and she’s a ball of energy. She’ll have us all completing our lists in record time.”
    “Maybe we could trade assignments. Who has the easy job?”
    “Baby Megan!”
    “Think she’ll trade me?”
    She laughed. “Thanks. I needed to refocus, and you helped.”
    “What’s the problem?”
    “Oh, just too many details to think about. I don’t really care where people sit or how much food we buy, whether everyone throws rice or blows bubbles. I just want to be Peter’s wife.”
    “Why does he call you Ray when everyone else calls you Amber? Is it short for Rachel?”
    She turned to look at him. “I suppose it could be, but that’s not where he got it. It’s what my initials will be after we’re married: R-A-Y.”
    “That’s kinda corny.”
    She smiled back at his grin. “Yeah, it is. But I love it.”
    He shook his head. “Women.”
    “What?!”
    “You get all mushy at some of the silliest things.”
    “True. Have you never had anyone special, Ryan?”
    Ryan shrugged. “Nah.”
    “Why not?”
    He turned to look towards the woods behind the house, the snow glistening on the trees. “Truth be told, I move around a lot.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I stay at a job for six or eight months, get restless, and move on.”
    “Move on to another department, or another town?”
    “Town, mostly.”
    “What about friends?”
    Ryan shrugged as he gazed at the woods without seeing them. “I hang out with some of the guys I work with, but I’ve really only had one good friend in the last several years. We went to high school together.”
    “Where’s he now?”
    “He joined the Army shortly after we graduated. Got assigned to Ft. Lewis near Tacoma. We used to see each other two or three times a year, but his deployments make it hard. Life moves on and all that.”
    “Oh, Ryan.”
    He turned to look at her, seeing concern in her eyes. “It’s not a big deal.”
    “You’re running, Ryan.”
    “You’re crazy. What would I be running from?”
    “Life.”
    Such a little word. Ryan clenched his jaw and turned back to the trees. He wanted to laugh at her, tell her she was wrong, but something held him back.
    You are a great warrior.
    Ryan almost laughed at the ridiculous words. Where’d that come from? Maybe this fresh mountain air was getting to him.
    “Aunt Am-er!” Two-year old Taylor came running onto the deck.
    Ryan watched his sister scoop the blonde cutie into her arms.
    “Taylor, what are you doing out here without shoes on?”
    “You play Candyland wit’ me?”
    “Are your sister and Uncle Peter done with their