White Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

friend.
    â€œWakara?” Colin’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Light filtered through the open door, then vanished as Colin closed it behind him. She shivered a little when he walked up and stood beside her. “Aren’t you cold?”
    She shook her head. If she tried to talk, she was afraid her voice would shake too. Knock it off, Wako, it’s just Colin . Right, if it was “just Colin,” why did she feel all jittery inside?
    Colin walked past her, turned around, and leaned backwards against the railing, his head thrown back until he was practically upside down.
    Kara giggled and finally found her voice. “What are you doing?”
    â€œThe Milky Way, see?” He pointed to the sky over the steeply pitched roof, then motioned her to stand beside him .
    She laughed. “Why don’t you just go out into the yard? You could see it better from there.”
    â€œThis is a lot more fun. Come on, try it.” He reached for her hand and pulled her to the railing.
    Kara took her place beside him and leaned back, craning her neck to spot the Milky Way. But the fluttering in her stomach had nothing to do with a band of stars.
    â€œColin? Wakara?” The front door opened again, and this time the porch light flicked on. Kara blinked and jumped away from the railing as if it was on fire. “Hey, sorry,” Greg said. She could hear the chuckle in her brother’s voice as he reached out to steady her. “Dad wants you guys in the house. Family meeting.”
    Greg held the door for her, and she rushed into the family room. Dad watched her with that thoughtful look again, and motioned for her to sit down. Ryan sat on the floor in front of the TV, sorting through his box of John Wayne movie tapes.
    When Colin and Greg came in, Dad said, “Thanks, guys, this won’t take long.” He looked around the room, his face sober.
    Kara felt a stab of fear. Was something wrong?
    Dad cleared his throat. “I know we just returned from a long weekend, but spring break is just around the corner.” He paused and grinned. “How would you all like to spend the week at Eagle Lodge?”
    â€œYippee!” Ryan jumped up and spun around the room, nearly knocking over Colin, who squatted on his heels by the door.
    Greg stood beside Colin, leaning against the wall. “Yeah, yippee for you,” he said with a trace of sarcasm in his voice. “I have a feeling that for the rest of us it means work.” Kara hadn’t heard him use that tone in a long time, but at least now he was smiling.
    Dad laughed. “I’m afraid Greg is right. It won’t be just a pleasure trip. We’ve got a lot of extra work to do because of the fire.”
    Stuff they didn’t get done last fall because of the storm that practically shut down the ranch—the same blizzard that nearly killed Greg . Kara kept her thoughts to herself. She didn’t want to bring up bad memories.
    It had gotten quiet in the room, and Kara realized Dad was staring at her. She blushed. She’d been daydreaming again. “Sorry, Dad. What did you say?”
    â€œI just wondered if this upsets any plans you had for spring break.”
    She thought a minute, then stole a glance at Colin. A bunch of kids from youth group were planning a rafting trip, and Colin had said he would come and bring his new four-man raft. “We did have plans,” she said aloud, “but I guess we could do it another time.” She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. Eagle Lodge was a main source of income for their family, and Dad needed all the help he could get to keep it running. Besides, she really liked it there. Sure, it was a lot of work, but the lodge itself was comfortable, and the wilderness that surrounded it was nothing short of spectacular. At least it used to be, before the forest fire. When she’d been up there last, there was so much snow she hadn’t been able to