Midnight Sons Volume 2 Read Online Free

cutting large letters out of colored paper.
    The sun blazed in through the classroom windows, and she tugged her shirt loose, unfastened the last few buttons and tied the ends at her midriff. Then she pulled her hair away from her face and used an elastic to secure it in a ponytail.
    Half an hour later, most of the letters, all capitals, for the word September were pinned in an arch across the bulletin board at the back of the room. She stood on a chair and had just pinned the third E when she felt someone’s presence behind her. Twisting around, she saw Mitch standing in the open door.
    “Hi,” she said cheerfully, undeniably pleased to see him. He was dressed in the khaki uniform worn by Department of the Interior staff. His face revealed none of his emotions, yet Bethany had the feeling he’d rather not be there.
    “I’m looking for Chrissie.”
    Bethany pinned the R in place and then stepped down from the chair. “Sorry, but as you can see she isn’t here.”
    Mitch frowned. “Louise Gold told me this was where she’d be.”
    Bethany remembered that Louise Gold was the woman who watched Chrissie while Mitch was at work. She’d briefly met her the day before. In addition to her other duties, Louise served on the school board.
    “Chrissie was here earlier with Susan.”
    “I hope they behaved themselves.”
    Bethany recalled their probing questions and smiled toherself. Pushing back the chair, she said, “They were fine. I asked Chrissie for her help, remember?”
    Mitch remained as far away from her as possible. Bethany suspected he’d rather track a cantankerous bear than stay in the same room with her. It was not a familiar feeling, or a pleasant one.
    “She must be over at Susan’s, then,” he said.
    “She didn’t say where she was headed.”
    He lingered a moment. “I don’t want Chrissie to become a nuisance.”
    “She isn’t, and neither is Susan. They’re both great kids, so don’t worry, okay?”
    Still he hesitated. “They didn’t, by any chance, ask you a lot of personal questions, did they?”
    “Uh…some.”
    He closed his eyes for a few seconds and an expression of weariness crossed his face. He sighed. “I’ll look for Chrissie over at Susan’s. Thanks for your trouble.”
    His gaze held hers. By the time he turned away, Bethany felt a little breathless. She was sure of one thing. If it was up to Mitch Harris, she would never have left San Francisco.
    Well, that was unfortunate for Mitch. Because Bethany had come to Hard Luck with a plan, and she wasn’t leaving until it was accomplished.

Chapter
2
    Daddy?”
    Mitch looked up from the Fairbanks paper to smile at his freckle-faced daughter. Chrissie was fresh out of the bathtub, her face scrubbed clean, her cheeks rosy. She wore her favorite Beauty and the Beast pajamas.
    His heart contracted with the depth of his love for her. No matter how miserable his marriage had been, he’d always be grateful to Lori for giving him Chrissie.
    “It’s almost bedtime,” he told his daughter.
    “I know.” Following their nightly ritual, she crawled into his lap and nestled her head against his chest. Sometimes she pretended to read the paper with him, but not this evening. Her thoughts seemed to be unusually grave. “Daddy, do you like Ms. Ross?”
    Mitch prayed for patience. He’d been afraid of this. Chrissie had been using every opportunity to bring Bethany into their conversations, and he knew she was hoping somethingromantic would develop between him and the teacher. “Ms. Ross is very nice,” he answered cautiously.
    “But do you like her?”
    “I suppose.”
    “Do you think you’ll marry her?”
    It was all Mitch could do to keep from bolting out of the chair. “I have no intention of marrying anyone,” he said emphatically. As far as he was concerned, the subject wasn’t open for discussion. With anyone, even his daughter.
    Chrissie batted her baby blues at him. “But I thought you liked her.”
    “Sweetheart,