The Staying Kind Read Online Free PDF

behind her.
    This is a long way from being over. They had a few issues to deal with and they’d be handled before dinner.
    “Mom, where are you when I need you?” he mumbled. His mother would know what to do. If only she were here. Even his sister would have a better idea of how to deal with a rebellious teenaged daughter. Travis sure didn’t have a clue.
    He stopped outside her door. He didn’t want to push it open so he knocked first. “Jessa, we need to talk.”
    “Later. I have homework to do.”
    “No, now. I’m coming in.”
    Before she could protest, he pushed the door open. Jessa sat on her bed, her knees tucked tightly against her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She stared past him, her mouth puckered in a sour frown. The baseball hat was still on her head.
    “Take off the hat.”
    Jessa still didn’t meet his hard stare. “Why?”
    “Because I want to see what you’ve done to your hair.”
    “Why?”
    “Jessa, take it off. Now.”
    Finally, she complied, dragging the hat off angrily and tossing it to the floor. Instead of long golden blond waves falling around her shoulders, black hair, about ear length and damp, sprang loose.
    Travis could barely breathe. Anger hit him first. How could Jessa, who’d always been so proud of her appearance, a girl so smart and good-natured, do something so far out of character?
    It struck him this might exactly be her character now. It still didn’t make this right. Not by a long shot. Anger and frustration increased in leaps and bounds.
    “Are you kidding me?”
    “What?” She slanted him a narrow glance.
    “What possessed you to do that to your hair?”
    Again she glanced away. “It’s my hair. I was sick of looking all goody-goody. So what.”
    “So what? Is this what you were doing over at the Bartlett’s? Did Brandy do this to your hair?”
    Jessa shrugged indifferently. “She cuts and colors her own hair all the time. Big deal.”
    Travis drew his breath in long and hard and let it go in a rush. “You are not allowed to go over to the Bartlett’s house anymore. Starting tomorrow you’ll go to Aunt Sadie’s to help out in the barn, after which you’ll come home and do your homework.”
    “What?” Finally, Jessa showed life. She sat up straighter and glared at Travis. “No way. You are being so unfair.”
    “No, what is unfair is me wondering where the heck you were for an hour this afternoon. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”
    Jessa narrowed her eyes and stared at him. “Great, so now you don’t trust me.”
    “Look in the mirror, Jessa and then ask me again.”
    Travis spun around and left her room, leaving the door open behind him. “Dinner will be ready in about half an hour. Come out and set the table.”

Chapter 3
    Rio worked extra late. She’d hoped Sadie would go in so she could stay at the barn in for another night. As she hung up the last bridle, her boss came into the tack room.
    “My goodness, girl. You still here?”
    Rio smiled, forcing herself to remain nonchalant. “I didn’t want to leave these undone. I was finishing up.”
    “It’s getting dark. You can’t walk to your room now. I’ve got supper on, why don’t you come on in and have something to eat. Then you can stay in the guest room. I’m sure you could do with a hot shower and change of clothes too.”
    Rio chuckled and examined her grungy jeans and sweatshirt. Well, she’d been wearing them for two days straight.
    She had a couple changes of clothes down at the cabin but she didn’t know if she dared go for them. She couldn’t take the chance of being caught again, even by Sadie’s nephew. Especially by Sadie’s nephew. There’d been a look in his eyes, steady and penetrating.
    He’d probably hand her over to the cops given half a chance. Like some big old boy scout. She silently admonished herself. She was the one doing wrong. If he did want her arrested, she couldn’t blame him.
    “All my clothes are at my motel,” she