Sovereign Ground (Breaking Bonds) Read Online Free PDF

the hall, hiding
our confrontation like Thom hides his drink. She places her hand over the
five-pointed star pendant that she constantly wears around her neck. It seems
to give her courage.
    “I saw him put his palm on your face and speak the
curse.” Lorna moves her trembling hand over her own face, reenacting, “He asked
that the spirit would follow you.” She pulls her hand down quickly, wipes it on
her robe and then looks at it. “What I haven’t told you is—it was your
grandfather.”
    I have family besides Thom and Lorna? “Our mom’s
dad?”
    “No, the other one.”
    My dad’s father? “Is he still alive?”
    “If he is, he still lives in the Humboldt Colony
somewhere—northern Nevada.”
    So close? “What’s he like?”
    “You’ll never see a more evil face.” She whispers
and grasps her pendant again. “His eyes, they look right into you and rape your
brain.” Lorna takes a deep breath and turns back, but doesn’t make eye contact.
“You weren’t my baby, but I almost took you from his arms when he called down that
spirit on you.”
    That pain is in my gut again.
    “I was so thankful when your dad finally did it.
He wasn’t completely worthless.”
    “A car’s here.” Thom yells from the front room.
    “Remember—” Lorna squats, her black eyes look up
at me. “Your dad felt you were better off with his ex-wife’s first son, than with
his own father.”
    “I think it’s the same cop.” Thom yells again.
    “Oh.” Lorna jumps up and smiles at me like she is
giving me a secret. “What a nice surprise.” She deposits her robe, crumpled, on
top of the bathroom counter. Her silk pajama set is new, and very short. She
has tiny bird legs.
    “What are you doing here so early?” Lorna beats me
to the living room. “You’ve caught us all in our PJs.”
    “Hello…Baby.” He looks past Lorna when I enter. Warmth
crawls up my neck, as she slowly turns to look where Hayden looks. Everyone’s
eyes are on me and I know the precise moment she realizes he is here for me.
    Because she gasps.
    I love how his tan skin makes his hair seem
shimmery blond. Hayden doesn’t look as tall without his uniform, but he’s a
good three inches taller than me, so that is enough. He wears khakis and an
ugly, bright green and white polo shirt with stripes running up and down. It
makes his muscles look like a convict pressing against cell bars. Actually, the
shirt isn’t that ugly.
    “It isn’t exactly mountain bike weather yet. I
thought we’d just take a drive.” He has a generic smile, as though he really
doesn’t care what we do.
    “Great, do I need a jacket?”
    “Only if you want.”
    I grab one and lead the way outside.
    “Will you come back for lunch?” Lorna’s petulant.
    “Umm,” He looks at me and I shrug.
    “Maybe more like dinner?” Hayden answers her.
    “Ohh-Kay-e!” She waves from the porch in her
skivvies.
    “What a beater.” I point to a rounded pickup
truck. It’s probably as old as my dad. Not that I care, but an old truck like
that warrants a comment.
    He jerks his hand to his chest and pulls out an
imaginary knife. I laugh.
    “Don’t look at what she is—” He rubs a hand along
the primer-gray bed and puts his hand back to his chest. “Look at what she could
be.”
    He’s so serious I feel awkward. “Whatever.” Does
it mean he’s creative? He has a vision? He looks past the exterior? Probably he
just wants to sell it for more than he bought it.
    He walks to the driver’s side so I head to the
passenger door.
    “A 1947 classic. Chevy’s first, post-war vehicle.”
    “So it’s like a hobby?”
    He nods. “I hope to have her done for Hot August
Nights.”
    I have to pull hard to get the giant metal door closed
all the way. I’ve always wanted to go to the ‘50s festival and parade in downtown
Reno. “That’d be cool.”
    “Well, I’ll need someone to ride with me.”
    “I won’t wear a poodle skirt.”
    “Fine, but you might have to eat a