Canyon Echoes by Jerry B. Jenkins & Chris Fabry

Author:Jerry B. Jenkins & Chris Fabry [Jenkins, Jerry B. & Fabry, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Action & Adventure, JUVENILE FICTION / Religious / Christian / Relationships
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2020-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 44

ASHLEY

I hated the thought of Ricky hurting Sheila. The way I looked at it, she was sacrificing a lot to marry this guy, helping him in what could be the last few months of his life. To think he might be faking it, that it was some ruse he had concocted to make money, made me really mad.

Still, something inside me wanted Ricky to be innocent. To really be sick, if you can believe that.

“If Ricky took the necklace, why would he stick around here?” I said.

Bryce sighed and shook his head. “Maybe he thinks he’s so good no one will ever catch him. He must think he can fool anyone.”

“Let’s talk with Sheila.”

Mom was wrestling Dylan into bed when we jumped onto the beach. We found Sheila sitting alone on a little knoll, a sad sight.

“Ricky’s not feeling well tonight,” she said, staring at the stars and sipping a bottle of Coke. She smiled. “Your mama get that little guy to bed yet?”

“He’s putting up a fight,” I said. “I don’t know why. He never wins.”

She chuckled. “Ricky and I have talked about having kids. He says it’s best to wait and see what happens to him, but I’m not sure.”

Bryce gave me a look like he wanted to choke Ricky. We watched the twinkling lights with Sheila. It should have been peaceful, but my stomach roiled.

“You said Ricky went out this morning,” Bryce said. “What time?”

“Maybe 10. Why?”

“Just wondering,” Bryce said. “I wish he could have come with us on our hike.”

“He would have liked that.”

“Sheila,” I said, “did you guys know Griffin and Skylar were going to be out here?”

She shook her head. “First I heard about it was when you guys told us.”

Bryce put his hands behind his head and leaned back. “Guess it’s hard going with Ricky to the hospital all the time. That must get really tiring.”

“Ricky’s been so thoughtful about that,” she said. “He only lets us drop him off. Says he doesn’t want us watching what he has to go through.”

I’ll bet he doesn’t.

Every answer, every piece of information made me feel sick about Ricky. Bryce and I had been wrong about people before, but this seemed like a slam dunk.

“You guys still staying the whole week?” Bryce asked.

“Far as I know,” Sheila said.

The door opened on the deck of the Lesters’ boat, and Ricky stepped out. Sheila waved as he trudged through the sand to us. I noticed a funny smell, something I couldn’t place.

Ricky held out a hand and helped Sheila to her feet. “Hon, I’m not feeling well.”

“What’s wrong?” she said, feeling his forehead.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. My stomach, my head. I’m achy all over. You think your mom and dad will mind us cutting out a little early?”

Bryce flashed me one of those we’d-better-do-something-fast looks.

“Sure, honey,” Sheila said. “We can leave tonight if you want.”

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