Savannah Past Midnight Read Online Free Page B

You’re
different.”
    “You’re right, I am.”
    “So …?”
    I slide the helmet on before answering,
“Cosette.”
    I flip the visor down and sigh heavily, hearing my
name fall slowly, like melted caramel from his bloody lips as I
speed away into the familiar, enveloping darkness.

Chapter
Three
Eighteen Years
Earlier
Brennan Ranch,
Fifteen Miles West of Choteau, Montana
    “ H old up, Vivian! I didn’t
say ‘Go’ yet, you dirty little cheater!”
    She stops mid-sprint and turns to jog back. “Could’ve
swore you did, Colton. All right then, we’ll start over. Remember,
first one to the base of those rocks gets that last tootsie pop.
Deal?”
    “Deal. Get ready to lose, Sis. Ready …
set … go!”
    Both barefoot, we’re neck in neck as we sprint past
the right side of the barn then farther out across the
flower-strewn meadow. I can’t believe that for once I’m actually
keeping up with her; she’s always been so much faster than me .
Maybe I have a chance this time.
    Out of the corner of my eye I catch her sidelong,
determined glance, which fires up my competitive nature even
more.
    As the rocks come closer, I turn up the heat and pump
my arms faster, making each stride count. I’m out of breath, trying
to suck in more wind as I fly across the grass. She’s no longer
next to me as I nearly plow into the rocks, coming to a sudden
stop.
    I whirl around and shake both fists in the air. “I
did it! I did it! I finally beat you, Vivian!”
    She’s bent over, palms flat on her pale blue shorts.
She’s breathing hard as her head lifts. Furious green eyes meet
mine as she struggles to say, “Yeah, well, everyone gets lucky
sometimes, Colton. Tell you what. Double or nothing, you beat me up
to that large boulder up there and you’ll get both the lollipop and I’ll do your chores for three whole days. What’cha think
about that?”
    I stare up to where her finger is pointing. It’s not
too far up the craggy incline, maybe thirty feet or so . I could
easily beat her.
    “I’m not sure, Vivian. You know Pa told us over and
over again to stay well clear of these rocks. If he found out, he’d
whip both our butts red—”
    She cuts me off, “He won’t. Not unless you run your
giant eleven-year-old mouth, that is. Now I’m thinkin’ you’re just
scared, knowing you’re gonna lose to your twin.”
    That did it. “Fine. Deal.”
    She smiles at me, the pigtails making her look nearly
innocent … almost, but not quite. “And Colton, when you
lose—which you will, big time—I’ll watch you do all of my
chores while I’m sucking on that lollipop. You ready?”
    Am I ever.
    “You’re the one stallin’, Viv.”
    “Go!” She takes the lead and starts scrambling up the
huge rocks that are warmed by the July noonday sunshine.
    I do my best to quickly strategize, desperate to make
it to that huge rock before she does. If there is one thing I hate
most in this world, it’s losing. My fingers claw for a good hold as
I heave myself up. Almost there.
    “Colton!”
    At first I ignore her cry, thinking that she’s
playing games, trying to distract me from the finish line.
    “Colton, please! Help … I-I’m stuck!”
    Sweat drips down into my eyes as I quickly wipe my
brow and glance down at her. Sure enough, her left leg isn’t
visible. It’s trapped in a crevice between two fair-sized
boulders.
    “Hold up! I’m comin’ back down.”
    “Hurry, Colton. Think I twisted it or somethin’.”
    “Just hang tight. I’ll pull ya out.”
    I edge slowly back down the misshapen rocks until I’m
beside her.
    “Now how’d you go and do such a stupid thing, Vivian?
Thought you were ’sposed to be the brain in the family.”
    I stare at the rocks as I try to figure out the best
way to pull her out without cutting up her leg.
    “You bleedin’?”
    “I-I think so. Just pull me out, Colton. If Pa finds
out we’re both done for.”
    “Yeah, you got that right. Here, I’m gonna get behind
you and try