The Color of Jade (Jade Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

usual sandy blond hair looked darker from the lack of the summer sun and hung longer than usual into his emerald green eyes as he glanced at me but he looked distant. Something weighed on his mind, but I knew he wouldn’t say. That was how he was, quiet when it came to his own stuff, but overprotective and opinionated when it came to problems for me.
    Trey picked the tennis ball up off the floor and repeatedly tossed the ball in the air. Our dog, Gus, an old blue heeler, stayed fixed to the floor next to Trey. The poor old dog had definitely seen better days. Instead of jumping up for a game of fetch as he used to, Gus followed the motion of the ball with his eyes as he rested his head on his paws.
    “I know Kane said not to use the radio but he’s been gone a long time,” I said, as I remembered the reason I came downstairs.
    “No, it isn’t secure. I wouldn’t want to risk it.” My eyes drifted over to the ham radio that replaced the computer on the desk. I knew Kane had a CB in the truck. Trey sighed. “He will come back, Jade… and I’ll talk to him when he gets home,” he said, understanding my pain. I needed to feel the outside air in my lungs, on my face, through my hair.
    “Thank you...” I cut myself off to blink back the tears.
    “Everything will work out.”
    “I hope so,” I sighed, then glanced at Trey as I stood, unable to believe him. His sympathetic eyes told me he understood. It wasn’t just about hot water. I couldn’t be trapped inside much longer, I needed to have control over something.
    I grudgingly walked back upstairs and through the kitchen, while I purposely refused to look at the pantry. Emery’s help served more for the company than actually lightening the workload that needed done, but I needed the push to get started.
    I found her in my parents’ room again sound asleep.  I climbed onto the bed and sighed as I picked a book off the nightstand curled myself around her. Unknowingly, she gave me just as much comfort that I provided her, but I wasn’t her only source for reassurance. As soon as she woke, she would ask for Kane. The amount of my effective consoling, dependent on whether Kane was home or not. She never truly felt safe anymore unless he was home.

CHAPTER 3
     
    I looked out the front room window into the inky darkness and waited for time to pass. A sliver of a moon hung in the sky and left very little light for Kane to get home by, too dark to travel without headlights. There must have been a thin layer of clouds because the stars seemed scarce and extra dull, leaving the nights sky black.
    The worry I harbored for Kane caused a restlessness I couldn’t calm. I walked to the couch, settled into the cushions and sighed. Emery, wide-awake still thanks to her earlier naps paced the floor as she peeked out the window every three minutes, unwilling to go to bed until he got home.
    I breathed a sigh of relief when the lights of the truck flashed quickly through the front room window spotlighting the framed pictures on the darkened wall. The familiar hum and the high-pitched whistle that came from a loose belt in the motor, more soothing and comforting than I thought.
    Gus perked his head up towards the door with his ears erect and on guard then returned his head to his paws where he sat unmoved in front of the fireplace. I curled up my feet and wrapped my legs in a blanket, settling deeper into the cushions of the couch. The heavy stomp of Kane’s work boots scuffed over the front steps and finally pushed open the front door.
    He hadn’t made it inside two steps before Emery ran and wrapped her arms around him. A surge of anger welled inside me for him being two days late, and then settled as he flashed me a weary smile. I glanced at the clock, eleven thirty.
    “Hey lady bug,” he said, his nickname for her.
    “You were gone too long,” she said, with pouty lips and scolded Kane with her eyes.
    “I’m sorry,” he chuckled, and hugged her back. “I’m home