Wild Horse Spring by Lisa Williams Kline

Author:Lisa Williams Kline [Kline, Lisa Williams]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-310-72616-6
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Published: 2012-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

14

STEPHANIE

Again, strong morning sun shone through the sliding door, heating my room and waking me up. I had slept later than usual, and my arm had an awful, sore, stinging feeling. It hurt even more when I sat up and tried to pull my T-shirt on. Brownish blood had seeped through the bandage, making it stick to my arm. I tried pulling the bandage off, but it hurt so bad my eyes watered. So I just left it.

I went out on the back porch to look at the ocean, and below I saw a red fox trot by on dainty feet, its bushy tail hanging low. Before I could call Diana to come see, it skulked through the grasses on the dune, until it wove through a few stalks and disappeared like fog.

I usually slept later than Diana, so I was surprised when I peeked into her room and saw her still sleeping. One sandy foot stuck out from under the covers along the side of the bed. Then the thought popped into my head like a newspaper headline: Diana snuck out last night.

I could hear Daddy and Lynn downstairs talking, and I stood and listened for a minute at the top of the stairs before going down.

“He’s a very handsome boy, and he seems bright,” Lynn said. “It’s no wonder Stephanie is fascinated by him. He’s different from most of the boys she knows.”

“Stephanie is too young to have anything to do with boys,” Daddy said with sudden force.

“Oh, I agree. But you can’t stop her from being interested,” Lynn said. “Once it happens, it just happens.”

“I can keep her away from them.”

“No, you can’t, Norm! There are boys in her school, on the teams she cheers for … Boys are everywhere! Are you going to keep her prisoner in a castle turret like Rapunzel?”

“Yes!” said Daddy, laughing. “I think Rapunzel’s dad had the right idea!”

“Right!” Lynn said, with a soft chuckle. “And I’m sure Rapunzel and her dad had a wonderful relationship.”

“Who cares about our relationship as long as she’s safe?” Daddy said.

“Oh, Norm, you don’t mean that.”

“No, you’re right, I don’t,” he said.

“Besides, honey, as hard as you might try, you can’t protect her from a broken heart,” Lynn said. “She’s already been through your divorce and our marriage, and that will make a girl wise beyond her years.”

I waited a few heartbeats and then walked downstairs rubbing my eyes like I’d just gotten up. “Morning,” I said.

“Morning, sweet pea!” Daddy said a bit too enthusiastically. He stood and gave me a hug. “Did you sleep well?”

“Mmm-hmmm.”

“How’s your arm?” Lynn asked.

“It stings, and the bandage is stuck.”

“I can take care of that.” Lynn sat me at the counter while she got the first-aid kit. With a quick practiced swipe, she yanked off the bandage.

“OW!” My eyes watered.

“It’s easier if you do it quickly,” she said, holding my arm gently in her confident hands. She cleaned off the dried blood with warm, soapy water. “It looks better today.”

The wound felt tender and raw, and tiny pinpricks of fresh, bright red blood appeared.

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