The Curse of Crow Hollow Read Online Free PDF Page A

scanned the night to either side of the hill but could go no further than the thick black trees rising like tombstones to an empty sky. He reached for the volume on the radio, turned it down. No telling what might be out there. The way John David gripped the wheel hard with both hands and took a deep breath was enough to tell anybody weren’t no monsters he was thinking on just then but how good a spot that side of the hill made for an ambush, and he had to stop doing that because these were different mountains and he was home now, back in the Holler.
    His headlights crested the hill and came down on the other side, right where Hays and Scarlett had parked. John David could see Hays and Cordelia huddled by the fire. Naomi stood farther away. Her feet were together and her hands were clasped in front like she was either cold or excited. She waved. No matter how mad he was, John David waved back.
    He parked at an angle to the cars and left the engine running, making a safe perimeter around the fire to the edge of the meadow. Naomi ran and jumped, trusting he’d catch her. She squeezed her brother just as tight as she’d done the day he’d rolled off the back of a farmer’s truck in his uniform, shocking everyone at his return because John David had told no one he was coming. Feeling his back and his face, like Naomi still had to convince herself he was really there. She hardly ever got to see her brother anymore. Reverend wouldn’t allow it.
    â€œHey, you,” she said.
    â€œHey, little sis.”
    She squeezed him harder. “Thanks for coming.”
    â€œDidn’t have a choice, did I?” John David broke the embrace and held Naomi out at arm’s length, looking down at her. “Somebody had to come up here and tell y’all how stupid this is.”
    He wouldn’t leave Naomi there, not exposed in all that open, and so grabbed her hand and guided her to the fire. Stepping slow and light like he’d been taught in basic, trying to see through the wall of brush and rock.
    â€œHey, John David,” Cordy said.
    â€œWhat are y’all doing up here?” he asked. “You out of your minds? Your daddy catches you, Cordy, he’ll skin you alive.”
    â€œNice to see you too, John David,” Hays said.
    â€œShut up. You steal the key to the gate from Medric? This your idea of a good time, bringing Cordy and my sister up here?”
    â€œIt wasn’t Hays,” Naomi said.
    But Hays didn’t care. He only grinned out from under that hood and pretended to whittle a bit more wood, flashing that Buck knife. “You bring our shine?” he asked.
    â€œSure, because stealing Chessie’s shine and bringing it to a bunch of kids is a brilliant idea.”
    â€œIt’s Scarlett’s birthday,” Naomi said. “She wanted you to come.”
    John David looked at her, making his sister drop her eyes. “Only reason I come’s to make sure y’all leave. It ain’t safe here.”
    â€œHays is here,” Cordy said. “Ain’t nothing gonna happen, John David.”
    â€œHays?” John David asked, saying it like the name itself was a joke. “Come on, we’re leaving.”
    He tugged at Naomi’s hand again. This time she planted herself firm.
    â€œI can’t leave. It’s Scarlett’s birthday .”
    â€œI said we’re leaving. I’m taking you home.”
    Naomi wrenched herself free and stepped closer to the fire.
    Hays laid the block of wood down but kept the knife in his hand. “You think you can take off three years and come back being the big shot you were?”
    â€œI don’t want to be anything,” John David said. “I just want to be left alone.”
    â€œSo do we,” Naomi said. “Just go on, John David. Or stay, I don’t care. But I’m not leaving, and you can’t make me.”
    â€œI can.”
    â€œWhat are you gonna do, tell Daddy?