The Reckoning Stones: A Novel of Suspense Read Online Free Page A

from minimal consciousness—doctor-speak for a coma—to full consciousness. Neurologists were flying in from around the country to study him, and the media was full of comparisons to an Arkansas man who’d awakened from a coma after nineteen years of being cared for by his parents. Zach and his sister had spent time with their father yesterday, and Zach had come home praising the Lord that he recognized them and had said a few words, although his speech and memory were garbled. Jolene was supposed to go with Zach when he visited tomorrow and the thought made saliva pool in her mouth. She swallowed. She knew in her bones that Pastor Matt’s awakening would cause many more problems than his death would have.
    A thud-thud-thud down the stairs warned of her daughter’s approach. She drew in a deep breath and held it, resolving not to lose her temper again. A quick prayer gave her some hope of success. Looking up from the paper, she waited for Rachel to appear, to mention how long she’d be studying with friends, and maybe give her a kiss goodbye. Fat chance. The slap of a sandal on the small foyer’s oak floor and the creak of the front door told Jolene that Rachel was hoping to sneak out unobserved. Never a good sign.
    “Honey?” Jolene said. “Clean Waldo’s cage before you leave, please.”
    The sound of the storm door opening pulled Jolene to her feet and sent her toward the front hall where she caught the heavy door before it closed. Snow still lurked in the shadowy spots beneath trees and shrubs, and it was brisk at almost three-thirty, despite the sunshine. Jolene shivered. “Rachel Mercy Brozek. Stop right there.”
    Reluctance in every line of her slim body, Rachel halted halfway down the stone walkway and turned to face Jolene. “I didn’t hear you.”
    “Cage. Now.” Jolene kept a tight rein on her temper. She’d tried to work on her anger during Lent, but since Easter had struggled more than ever, as if she had forty days of pent-up anger to release. She worried it might all come bursting forth at once, steam spewing from a geyser, and scald whoever was standing nearby. She counted slowly to three before saying in a gentler voice, “And make sure Waldo’s got clean water.”
    Rachel shouldered past her mother and stomped to the kitchen, blond ponytail bouncing. Moments later, the sound of the cage bottom rattling out of its slot with more violence than necessary told Jolene Rachel was doing as told. She spoke affectionately to Waldo, though, and the bird responded with conversational twitterings. Jolene relaxed slightly. A fly buzzed against the glass storm door and she wondered where he’d come from this early in a Colorado spring. She cracked the door to shoo him out, thinking of all the other problems she’d like to solve by shooing them out the door: her daughter’s rudeness, her son’s rebellion against the Community, her sister-in-law’s annoying saintliness, her mother’s failing health, the way she felt edgy all the time.
    Jolene latched the door, wondering if she should get the glass cleaner and give the panes a swipe, when she spotted Zach walking up the road, coming home from the church. Jolene felt something ease inside of her at the sight of his solid figure. He’d filled out a bit since they’d married, and his dark blond hair was a bit thinner, but the creases in his face spoke of kindness and concern for his flock and family. He wore glasses now, with tortoiseshell frames that made him look scholarly. She knew he secretly liked the way he looked in his glasses, even though he complained about having to wear them. She stepped onto the stoop.
    As he approached, she sensed an inner tension or excitement and bit back her complaints about Rachel’s lack of respect. They exchanged a light kiss and she asked, “Zach, what’s happened? Is it your father?”
    “In a way.”
    She looked a question at him, something in his voice stirring unease. “I’ll get you some iced tea.”