Jailbird Read Free

and because of that, managed to stay
pretty safe. I hoped my escape hadn’t caused any problems for
her.
    I could hear the distant rumble of a car
coming my way and instinctively stepped into the grass to wait for
it to pass. Instead of roaring by, it slowed to a stop beside me.
Panic rose in my throat until I realized it was Charlie looking at
me with an expectant grin.
    “Want a ride?” He leaned over and opened the
door.
    “I don’t want to trouble you,” I shook my
head and stepped back. No matter how gentle Charlie seemed, it
didn’t stop a knot of fear from twisting in my stomach.
    “Oh please, Miss Neena?” Cara pleaded from
the back seat.
    “The Torres place is on the way,” he
argued.
    “Okay then. Thank you,” I caved, sliding
nervously into the seat. I knew I must look like a scared cat as I
practically clung to the door, but I couldn’t seem to make myself
sit in the center of the seat.
    “It’s an awful hot day for such a long hike,”
he mused.
    “Oh, I don’t know. I find walking to be very
liberating,” I smiled a little to myself.
    “That’s an interesting way of looking at
it.”
    “It frees my mind of all the clutter,” I
amended.
    “So are you staying with the Torres family
for long?”
    “I hadn’t really decided.”
    “Please do,” Cara joined in.
    “We’ll see. I wouldn’t want to wear out my
welcome,” I turned to give her a little smile. “Everyone has been
so kind.”
    “What brings you this way?” Charlie moved the
conversation along.
    “Change of scenery,” I hedged then quickly
pointed the conversation in a different direction. “So where are
the two of you headed on this pretty day?”
    “A nature walk,” Cara rushed to inform
me.
    “That sounds fun. You know, Cara, maybe you
could help me with something. I was hoping to go fishing today. I
thought maybe I could catch our supper. Do you know of any good
fishing holes around here?”
    “I’ve never been fishing,” her smooth brow
puckered and she glared at her father. I’d apparently stumbled on a
bone of contention. I turned my gaze to Charlie as well.
    “Really?”
    “I just never got around to it,” he seemed to
squirm in his seat.
    His excuse was met with silence. Cara folded
her arms and glared at him. I folded my arms and regarded him
expectantly.
    “I suppose I could take you guys down to the
river,” he sighed in resignation and looked at me. “Do you have
gear?”
    “Give me ten minutes in Manny’s shed and I
can make us some gear,” I promised.
    “How can I argue with that?” He grinned at me
and shook his head. Cara bounced with excitement and I pondered the
180 my life had taken in such a short time.
    After we pulled down the long driveway
leading to the Torres place, Charlie put the car in park and I
instantly hopped out as if the seat were on fire. Some things are
just too deeply imprinted in my brain, I guess.
    “Let me find Mamá Torres to see if she needs
anything before we take off again,” I went for the door.
    “I can do that. You work your magic in the
shed,” he waved me off. “Cara will want to try to swipe some candy
anyway.”
    “It’s not stealing if she offers it to me,
Daddy,” Cara made a face at her father.
    I wasn’t entirely sure I could take an
afternoon of their loving interchanges. It made me wish for a time
machine. I wanted to be that six-year-old little girl again, sure
of the world and safely ensconced in the protective arms of her
daddy. Back before I knew people like Todd Winslow and the Chicas
even existed.
    Before either of my companions could see the
expression on my face, I hurried to Manny’s tool shed. Thanks to
the tour I’d been given by Anjelita, I knew right where he kept his
fishing line and quickly cut myself a few lengths. I put a few
sinkers and hooks in a small bag and pocketed those as well. When I
dropped my shopping bag off inside the small house, I was greeted
by Mamá Torres bearing brownies.
    “You are too thin,