Read Online The Old House by Willo Davis Roberts - Free Book Online Page B

bet he’s going to come out on top.”
    Again, Addie’s mouth pinched up. Gus couldn’t afford to help pay someone to put up the storm windows, but he could put a bet on a bowling game, and he could sit at the tavern all evening, no doubt buying more beers. Buddy was beginning to understand why Addie wondered how Cassie could have married the man.
    She realized that Max was looking at her. When he saw that she’d noticed, he shrugged. “You look different with your hair cut that way.”
    She’d almost forgotten that. She couldn’t tell from his tone whether he thought she looked better or worse.
    Gus was nearly out of the kitchen when he stepped in the kitten’s bowl, and maybe on his tail, too, because he yowled and leaped away from him. Gus swore. “There’s no way you’re keeping that critter where people can trip over him,” he said to Max, who was already on his feet to rescue the newly named Scamp.
    â€œI want Blackie to sit in my lap while I listen to Jeopardy!, like he used to do,” Grandpa said, getting up, too.
    â€œHe’s not Blackie, Grandpa, he’s my new kitten,” Max protested, but Grandpa was already reaching for the small animal.
    Instinctively, Max clutched the kitten tighter, looking beseechingly at Cassie. “He’s mine, not Grandpa’s Blackie.”
    â€œOh, Max, let him take the cat,” Cassie urged. “Of course he’s yours, and he’ll probably forget all about it by tomorrow. Let Grandpa hold him for a while now. Buddy, you want to help me clear the table?”
    Buddy saw Max’s expression and wished she could help. His jaw was clenched as he handed over the kitten and let the old man carry him toward the living room.
    Nobody else was interested in listening to Jeopardy! The atmosphere changed when Gus had gone, though. Buddy could feel everybody relaxing. Cassie got out a basket of mending, Addie announced that she was going up to work on the computer, and Max muttered something about running next door to Jeremy’s house for a few minutes.
    That left Buddy with little to do.
    In the living room, which was large and comfortable, with two couches and several recliner chairs—all but one of them old and shabby—she found a tall bookshelf. Grandpa was settled in front of the TV with the remote in his hand, with his program on loud enough to make her ears hurt.
    The books were mostly ones she remembered her mother talking about from many years ago, most of which Buddy had read, too. But there, on one middle shelf, were some with newer covers and titles. Nothing for kids, but then she often read books that Bart or Dad brought home.
    She took two of the most likely looking ones and decided to carry them back to the sewingroom that was now her own. She could still hear the television, but at least it didn’t make her ears ache.
    She didn’t really feel like reading, though. She couldn’t stop thinking about her brother, out there somewhere sleeping in rest stops, asking people if they’d seen an eighteen-wheeler, the sleeper cab painted bright green with an EDMONDS TRUCKING logo on the door. He’d be asking if they remembered Dad or Rich, and describing them. She prayed somebody would know what had happened to keep them from delivering their load as scheduled. She prayed Dad was safe, and that Bart would be, too.
    Halfheartedly, Buddy opened one of the books and began to read. It was a true story of someone whose yard and home had been invaded by a bear cub, and it was both touching and funny, entertaining enough so that she gradually got engrossed in the antics of the bear.
    She hadn’t closed the door into the little room, so she looked up at once when Cassie tapped on the doorframe.
    â€œWe’re all going to have a snack before bedtime,” Cassie said. “You want to come out and join us?”
    Buddy was surprised to realize she’d been reading for