Skies Like These Read Online Free PDF

door. He sat down next to Jade and gave a twisted look at the mess of egg and meat and dough on her plate. He leaned over. “My mom’s making cinnamon rolls over at our place. We can go there later if you want.”
    Jade shoved her fork into an egg glob. “I love this breakfast.”
    One side of Roy’s mouth flattened out. “Suit yourself.”
    Jade took another bite, set down her fork, glanced over at her aunt, and whispered, “Maybe later.”
    â€œYou want one, Roy?” Aunt Elise said from beside the stove. “I’ve got plenty.”
    â€œI’m good. Thanks, though.” He leaned back in his chair and pulled his belt buckle up. This one was black with a bucking bronco carved into the metal. Jade noticed the saddle on the bronco was lined with red, white, and blue stones. “My mom sent me over because she said you might have a job for me today.”
    â€œIndeed I do,” Aunt Elise said. “I was hoping you’d give the dogs a bath. I’ll pay you five dollars a dog.”
    â€œI sure appreciate the work.”
    Aunt Elise waved the spatula at Jade. “Maybe you can convince this one to be your assistant.”
    Roy sat up. “I’d like the help, but I would have to pay Jade’s portion in cinnamon rolls. I kind of need the cash right now.”
    â€œThat’s a decent offer,” Aunt Elise said. “Nothing’s better than Brenda’s cinnamon rolls, except maybe her poetry.”
    â€œYour mom’s a poet?” Jade asked.
    â€œShe messes with it, I guess.”
    â€œHelp me with these dishes, why don’t you, Jade,” Aunt Elise suggested, “and then you can meet Roy out in the side yard by the dog runs.”
    Roy started toward the door. “But don’t dawdle. I’m only offering our prize-winning cinnamon rolls for real work.”
    â€œDawdle?” Jade asked.
    â€œIt’s a Wyoming thing.” And he was out the door.
    Aunt Elise dropped the batter bowl into the sink and turned on the faucet. “That boy,” she said, shaking her head. “What a character.”
    Jade was tempted to agree—Roy was funny. But he wasn’t a character. It was clear he took the cowboy lifestyle seriously.
    After wiping down the table and helping her aunt dry and put away the few dishes, Jade headed out to meet Roy. He was turning off the hose bib by an aluminum tub of soapy water.
    â€œPerfect timing,” he said. “You let them out of their runs and I’ll get a rope tied to this post so they can’t take off during their bath.”
    Jade started opening the chain-link-fenced dog runs. Each run had a doghouse, food and water bowls, mounds of straw for lounging, and a single dog. Aunt Elise had told her the night before that the dogs were allowed to roam her fenced yard during the day, but went into their individual runs at night. Jade thought that was practical.
    As she opened the gates, some dogs came running, hoping it was time for a morning stroll or treat. Others lay back in their piles of straw and offered up sorrowful looks like, Do you not see me sleeping?
    Astro was one of the latter.
    â€œCome on, boy,” Jade called, waving a hand.
    Astro couldn’t care less about the open gate or theatrics. He raised his head, looked at Jade, and laid his head back down again. Decision made.
    â€œYou’re going to have to go in and pull him out by the collar,” Roy said.
    Jade gave Roy a look. “He’s happy where he is. I don’t want to upset him.”
    â€œGo on. He’s feeling lazy is all. Sometimes you gotta let them know who’s boss.”
    Jade looked at the muscles rippling down Astro’s back and thick neck. “I think we both know he’s boss.”
    â€œIs that one of those failed-joke attempts again?” Roy asked, tying the last loop of the rope on the post.
    Jade went into the dog run and reached toward Astro.