Canyon Walls Read Online Free Page A

minister said he needed another adult to volunteer. I’m here to help out.”
    â€œThen I’m surprised Dad was so gung ho about you taking the week off work,” Connor said.
    Will couldn’t remember the last time any of them had taken an entire week away from the business. “You have a point.”
    â€œHe could be testing you. If we end up buying this place, maybe he’ll let you handle more of the big contracts.”
    And maybe his father would stop treating Will like he was seventeen.
    â€œMom would be happy. That’s for sure,” Connor said.
    Their mother had been trying to get their dad to slow down and travel more or at least stop spending sixty hours a week in the office. “I don’t know. Buying this place would make perfect business sense, but right now I just want to help them get out of their mess. I’d hate to see it close.”
    â€œUh-oh. Is my business-savvy brother turning sentimental on me?”
    Will chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that far, but the new director and I were reminiscing about being campers. She’s pretty passionate about what they do down there, and I can’t really blame her.”
    Connor raised a dark eyebrow. “So you’re not interested in the property because of this woman?”
    â€œIt’s not like that. I just met her, and apparently she’s not too fond of me.”
    â€œThen she must not know you’re Wyatt Bend’s most eligible bachelor, or she’d be throwing herself at you like all the rest.”
    Will shook his head at the ribbing from his brother. “From what I can tell, she thinks I’m pretty obnoxious.”
    â€œI like her already,” Connor said.
    â€œVery funny.” Will scribbled his signature and the date on the bottom line and handed the contract back to Connor. “Besides, she’s not my type. Don’t get me wrong. She’s gorgeous in a tomboyish sort of way, but she’s stubborn and unreasonable.”
    Connor shoved the clipboard back onto his dashboard. “Sounds exactly like the kind of girl you need to keep you in line. But if you want Dad to stop breathing down your neck every day, you’ll figure out a way to make this deal happen.”
    â§
    Cassie shone the flashlight on the path to her house. Trees hid all but the chimney of the home that sat twenty feet up the narrow road leading out of the canyon.
    Inside, she turned on the radio to chase away the quietness. She didn’t have a television, and in the evenings the silent house was a stark contrast to the screaming youth.
    Petal, Cassie’s plump yellow cat, dozed on the couch, curled up on her favorite afghan. Cassie hopped as she unlaced her hiking boots. Petal opened one eye, letting her know she had woken her.
    The phone rang, and Cassie tucked it under her ear. “Hi, Mom,” she said without hearing the voice on the other end of the line. Her mother called three times a week without fail before she went to bed.
    â€œWhere were you? I’ve been trying to call you all evening,” her mother said.
    Cassie plopped onto an overstuffed chair. The blanket she used to cover the ratty cushions slipped down, revealing outdated brown and orange fabric. “Mom, you know I can’t always get home on time. It’s not like I work a nine to five.”
    The sound of running water and dishes clanking came from the other end of the phone. Since her father had left when Cassie was ten years old, her mother had lived alone. Most likely she had cooked for Cassie’s sister, Melissa; Melissa’s accountant husband; and the couple’s two girls, but Cassie was too stubborn to ask about her sister. She wasn’t in the mood to hear her mother talk about Melissa and her perfect life.
    â€œHoney, I know you don’t work a normal job, but maybe that’s the problem.”
    â€œNot tonight, Mom.”
    The sound of running water stopped.