She Died Too Young Read Online Free PDF Page A

brother, DJ. I want you to meet my family. You’ll like them.”
    There was a knock on the door, and when it opened, three people trooped inside. A man, obviously Jillian’s dad, filled the room with his presence. He looked suntanned and ruddy, and wore a cowboy hat and boots; his belt buckle was ornately carved silver. He went swiftly to Jillian’s bedand hugged her. “How’s my princess doing?” he asked in a booming voice.
    Jillian insisted he not make a fuss and introduced him to Katie and Chelsea. Jillian’s mother was a pretty woman with blond hair and blue eyes. Chelsea noticed on her hands several diamond rings that reminded her of boulders. Jillian ‘ s brother was blond, tall, and muscular, a picture of an outdoorsman with cowboy good looks. Chelsea could hardly take her eyes off him.
    He swept his black hat off his head and said, “Glad to meet you.”
    Chelsea’s pulse raced. She saw the resemblance between Jillian and DJ through their eyes and along their jawlines. The main difference between them lay in DJ’s robust good health and Jillian’s lack of it. The difference was even more pronounced when DJ bent and kissed his sister.
    “Nice to see you could tear yourself away from Shelby to come and see me,” Jillian said with a jab to DJ ’ s chest.
    “What’ve you got against Shelby?” DJ asked, his blue eyes mischievous. “She’s fine, and she thinks highly of you.”
    Jillian made a face and looked to Chelsea and Katie. “Shelby’s dumb as a brick. I don’t know why he wastes his time on her.”
    “I don’t think it’s her brain that appeals to me,” DJ said.
    His father laughed, and his mother hooked her arm through his. “None of that kind of talk.Douglas. You mind your mouth around Jillian’s company.”
    Chelsea was startled by the open, easy banter among Jillian’s family. She’d never heard parents talk to their kids as if they were equals. Katie was looking amused, so Chelsea figured she wasn’t offended by them. Jillian said, “Tell me everything that’s going on at home.”
    Her mother pulled at Jillian’s dad and said, “Let these kids visit. I’ll go make arrangements for lunch. You all will join us, won’t you?”
    Katie and Chelsea nodded acceptance. When their parents were gone, Jillian grabbed DJ’s hand and said, “How’s my horse? You exercising him?”
    “Shelby and I went riding yesterday.”
    “You let that girl on Windsong? How could you?”
    DJ chucked her under her chin. “I rode Windsong.”
    Mollified, Jillian settled back against her pillows. Chelsea could tell that the exertion had cost her strength, because Jillian closed her eyes and sucked oxygen. Chelsea saw a shadow cross DJ’s face, momentary and fleeting, like clouds shifting across the sun. The look disappeared almost as quickly as it had come.
    DJ held his sister’s hand and said to Chelsea and Katie, “I’m glad Jillian’s made some friends.”
    “We’re in the transplant program together,” Chelsea explained, suddenly feeling a need to fill in the silence left by Jillian’s lassitude. “I need a heart. Katie’s already gotten a transplant.”
    “You don’t say.” DJ studied Katie with renewed interest.
    “She already has a boyfriend,” Jillian said from the depths of her pillows without opening her eyes.
    Chelsea felt a twinge of envy because DJ obviously had noticed Katie and not her.
    “That cuts,” DJ replied, acting offended. “I’m curious, that’s all. I don’t make a pass at every pretty girl I see, you know.”
    “We were wombmates, remember? I know exactly how you think.”
    “Well, if all you’re going to do is insult me, I’m going to leave the three of you to yourselves.”
    “Is that a threat or a promise?” Jillian opened one eye and studied her brother playfully.
    DJ stood and, picking up his hat, walked to the door. “If you’re lucky, I’ll join you for lunch.”
    “Thanks for the favor. We’ll try to contain ourselves.”
    Chelsea