The Raven Mocker Read Online Free PDF

ahead of Littleton, Colorado. In all likelihood, the Hobbs’ family would be out doing some last minute Christmas shopping. David mentioned a relative coming in from out of town this weekend when they last talked, a little over a week ago. Regardless, he had to warn him.
    Ignoring Evelyn’s admonition to not say anything until after the holidays, he grabbed the phone again and dialed David’s number. Pressing the receiver tight against his ear, he waited impatiently for the crackling line to Littleton, Colorado to connect.
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    “ Auntie!... Over here!”
    David waved his arms to alert the smartly dressed older woman in the long beige overcoat that he and the rest of the family waited by the assigned luggage carousel for flight 1409. At first Ruth Gaurni’er didn’t see him or his antics, lost in the confusion of the holiday bustle that pervaded throughout Denver International Airport. But once he took a few steps toward her, weaving through the crowd of travelers anxious to grab their bags and skis before continuing on to whatever Colorado destination they headed to, she saw him and smiled, moving as quick as her arthritis would allow.
    “ Well, David, I made it here in one piece, don’t you know!”
    She sat her carry-on bag and purse down at her feet to give him a big hug. He responded in kind, nearly lifting her off the ground, and she uttered a slight yelp.
    “ It’s so good to see you, Auntie!” he told her.
    Miriam and the kids navigated the stream of travelers to join them.
    “ Mir…it seems you haven’t aged a bit since I last saw you. Why, you’re lovelier than a winter songbird!” Ruth broke her embrace with David and reached out for Miriam. “It’s so good to see you, dear!”
    “ I’ve missed you so much, Ruth!” Miriam’s shoulders trembled as she fought to keep from crying. “It’s wonderful to have you here with us— so wonderful….”
    “ There, there, dear,” said Ruth, soothing, as the two hugged tightly. “I’ve missed you, too, you know.”
    Despite frequent phone conversations between the two of them, until this past October, the anger and deep-seated resentment that her nephew previously harbored against her made it difficult to arrange a meaningful visit. Since she understood the painful history behind his animosity, she’d always been very willing to forgive.
    David guided everyone closer to the carousel and out of the stream of traffic, which included less and less smiling faces for having to go around the group huddled in the middle of the aisle.
    “ Well, now… Jill, I see you’re growing up to be such a pretty young lady!”
    Ruth stopped to admire her grandniece once they reached the carousel area, after Tyler had taken her claim tickets to retrieve her luggage. Jillian blushed, but still managed a smile that showed the dimples she inherited from her aunt’s side of the family. Ruth sighed softly, reminiscing about a younger version of David who had since passed his good looks on to his daughter.
    “ And, Chris…. My gosh, you’ve grown up too!” She stepped back to admire David and Miriam’s youngest child. “You probably don’t even remember your Aunt Ruth, do you darlin’?”
    “ I was just a baby back then. Mommy told me that.” Christopher blushed, looking down at his shoes for a moment, and then raised his eyes slowly, smiling up at her.
    “ Well, then we need to get reacquainted, don’t you know!”
    She reached out her hand, and he eagerly placed his hand inside hers. Tyler returned with her bags from the carousel, and once she saw him she gasped in surprise.
    “ Boy, you’re the ‘spittin’ image’ of your great, great, great Uncle Zachariah Hobbs!” she marveled, unaware of the immediate uneasy looks on the faces of Miriam and Jillian. “Has anyone ever told you that? I know there’s a picture of Uncle Zach in the photo album I gave to your father back in October.”
    “ Yeah, Dad showed me,” said