Chapter 10: The Porch

Keaton walked me around the back of the barn, where the wind came off the ridge and nobody could see us.

He kept his hand on my elbow the whole way.

"I was so scared for you," he said. "A week without a word, and then I find out you've been riding around town on a dirt bike."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Be careful." He turned me to face him. "Who is he, Reese?"

"Who?"

"The fireman."

"He sells fuel cans. He's helping Ray."

"He looked at you like he wanted to eat you."

I let my eyes fill.

It was easy.

I had a whole roof's worth of tears stored up.

"Everybody looks at me," I said. "Everybody wants something. You're the only one who ever just stayed."

His face softened, and I watched him believe me.

"That's right," he said. "I stayed. I'm not going anywhere."

I thought of the knife, and Bridget's thumb on my hand, and I smiled up at him with wet eyes.

"Let's go in," I said. "My mom made stew."

We ate on the porch because the cabin was too small for everyone.

Ray sat at the head on an overturned bucket.

My mother ladled the stew.

My stepsister, on the step, whispered with Jonas's sister like two old friends.

Bridget sat on the rail with her bowl, bright-eyed, watching me.

The captain ate with his back to the post, looking at nothing, which meant he was looking at everything.

Jonas sat across from me with a tin cup of water and did not look at me at all.

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