Letters in Time, Reiss Susan [read me a book TXT] 📗

This time, Stephani sprang into action. She ran after the paper, jumped and flailed, as it swirled out of reach. She watched the soaring piece of paper, not where she was stepping.

"OW!" Down she went with a heavy thud. All I heard were moans, then a crybaby's voice. "My ankle. I hurt my ankle." She touched it. "Ow!"

Stephani had stepped in a freshly-filled hole and twisted her ankle. But she wasn't my concern. Not now.

I looked up to locate the missing sheet of paper. My eyes followed each gyration as it made its escape. The breeze swirled and pushed it around. It did somersaults between the branches of the mighty tree.

If I only had wings, I thought in desperation. Even two good legs. I had no choice. I couldn't keep up with it. I could only stand and watch it escape. A sudden gust caught it like a mighty hand and slammed it to the ground in front of me. I snatched it up, folded it, and stashed it in the back pocket of my jeans. I had no time to celebrate its rescue. The night still held surprises.

Chapter Forty-Two

“To write a good letter of condolence requires good taste and fine feeling…do not call up the harrowing details of the sad event.”

—How to Write Letters

by Professor J. Willis Westlake, 1883

“You should watch where you’re going, Fanny.” The voice came out of the darkness, deep and gruff and sarcastic. “You could hurt yourself out here.” His tone changed to mock concern. “Oh, you did hurt yourself. Too bad.”

“Shut up!” She snapped as she struggled to her feet.

“That’s not a very nice way to greet your beloved brother,” said the man, mewing as if she had injured his feelings.

“I thought you were in jail,” she snarled.

"Not anymore," he said, singsong. The tall young man walked into the pool of light coming from the Jeep. It was hard to believe they were related. His solid, chunky build was so opposite her willowy figure.

“Josh, how did you get out?” Stephani demanded.

“Mom, of course.” He cocked his hip and looked at his fingernails. “She does everything I tell her to do.”

My head swung back and forth between these two people, sparring like children. They had forgotten I was there. Tentatively, I slipped my right foot toward the line between the light and darkness.

Josh crooked his head to the side, considering her, judging her. “You should be more like Mom and do what you’re told. Fanny.” He said her nickname with great relish.

“Don’t call me that.” Her voice was low and threatening.

He snapped his fingers. “Oh, that’s right. You hate my nickname for you, big sister. I forgot, Fanny.” Each word dripped with sarcasm.

“Mom said it was cute when you were little. I hated it then and I hate it now. You know that,” she shot back. “Now, go away,”

He took a step toward her and held out his arms in submission. “Why would I leave my sweet big sister out here in the dark to…”

I stopped listening to the treasure hunters squabble and concentrated on getting away. I knew I couldn’t outrun them. I thought if I could hide, maybe I could save myself. I took another step.

Stephani fired back at Josh. “I have every right to be here. This was my idea. I was here first. You think you can swoop in and finish what I started? I’d be long gone if Kid Billy hadn’t been such a wimp.” She made her voice high and whiny. “I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to go home. I won’t tell anybody, I promise.”

She went on in an icy cold voice. “I told them I was the boss. I ordered him to dig. I told them all to keep digging.”

“I know, I know, I saw the whole thing.” Josh clasped his hands together as if in prayer. “Oh, when will you realize you need me to get anything done?” Josh dropped his hands in disgust. “Thought you could use my posse and cut me out? Never happen.” He started to pace with a swagger in front of Stephani. “You taught me how to be a bully, but I added the finesse that inspires loyalty. Something you fail to understand.”

“You knew?” she said in disbelief.

He shrugged. “Of course. They’re my boys.  Mine.” He planted his feet and pulled up his jeans. “I watched you do the hard work, getting dirty and all. But you surprised me, Fanny. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

Fanny didn’t say a word.

Josh shook his head. “The Kid only wanted to go home.”

This was my chance. Slowly, I shifted my foot backward and took one step then another, and another. I hoped Josh would start talking again to cover any sound I might make. And he did.

“You could scream to the heavens that you were the boss, but that wouldn’t make it true. You came up with a great line. ‘Can’t you get it through your thick skull?” Josh chuckled. “The Kid promised he’d tell nobody, but you didn’t believe him.”

"I was so close. And they were going to run away." Stephani's explanation sounded thin.

I kept moving.

“I had to prove to them that I was in control,” Stephani insisted. “I grabbed the shovel and swung it. I only meant to scare him.”

Josh’s words dripped with disgust. “You’re weak, Fanny. You can’t control nothin’. Especially your temper. When he ducked and you