Thirteenth Child Read Online Free Page A

This here is business between Kate and me. None of yours.”
    Kate winced. “Same as what we paid Johnny, Dad.” She turned quickly to Mike. “Here, I’ll show you where to go,” she said, hustling him out the back door.
    “Your dad always that grouchy in the mornings?” Mike asked as they made their way toward the back of the garage, where the empty worm tubs were stacked.
    Anger flared. Kate felt her ears burn red. “That’s none of your business!” she snapped.
    “Sorry.” He didn’t sound particularly apologetic.
    “I suppose your dad is a model of politeness.” Kate’s words dripped sarcasm.
    “Got no dad. Leastways none that I know of. Asked my mom once and she told me
that
was none of my business.” Mike’s voice was controlled, carefully casual.
    Now Kate’s whole face flamed. She grabbed up several worm tubs. “Put a dozen worms in each.” The words came out sharp and bossy.
    “Yes, ma’am!” Mike grinned, making a joke of it, but his eyes had gone hard and bright.
    A shiver ran through Kate. She crossed her arms protectively over her chest and watched as he filled the tubs, making no move to help.
    When he finished, they carried them back to the snack bar. Without thinking, Kate made for the cash register and clanged the drawer open. Her heart took a leap as she saw the drawer was stuffed with bills. Her father must have forgotten to empty it the night before, and yesterday had been busy. Mike’s eyes widened briefly when he saw them, then his face went blank.
    “Kate?” Her father’s voice roared out from the kitchen. For once she was grateful for it.
    “In a minute, Dad.” She started to count out Mike’s money.
    “What’s with the junkpile next door?” Mike asked as he pocketed it. “Have a fire?”
    Kate slammed the drawer shut hard enough to knock a stand of mints off the counter beside it onto the floor.
    “You really do like to poke your nose in where it’s none of your business, don’t you?”
    “Just making conversation,” Mike answered easily. “By the way, upside down is best.”
    “What?”
    “Upside down. The worm tubs. Stack them upside down. The worms always head for the bottom, so then when you turn them right side up again and open them for your customers to check, they’ll all be up at the top, lively and wriggling. Be better if you charged for a dozen and putin thirteen too. Customers like that. Makes them think they’re getting something for nothing.”
    Kate’s eyebrows quirked up. Another sarcastic comment was on the tip of her tongue, then she thought better of it. In spite of the casual tone of his voice, Mike’s eyes were still anything but friendly. She started turning the tubs over.
    “When do you think you’ll need more?”
    “Depends how fast we sell these. Fishing’s been pretty good lately—maybe in a couple of nights.”
    “Kate! Get in here! I want to talk to you before you go off to school!”
    Mike headed for the door. “Okay. See you then.”
    Kate looked after him, ignoring her father for the moment. Steve was probably just going to bug her about the worms, anyway. The sun was blazing down, even this early. The snack bar was already stifling, and she could see the heat shimmering in waves off the tarmac outside. There didn’t seem to be a breath of wind. It was a long hike into town. Maybe Mike would get lucky and hitch a ride. She wondered where he was staying. She wondered where he’d got the money to pay her back last night.
    Jed might have paid him in advance, she thought. He could have. Not like him, though. She rubbed at her arms, shivery again in spite of the heat. Maybe she was making a big mistake. Maybe she was being the world’s biggest fool.
    The school bus honked and she jumped. At least she wouldn’t have to argue with her fatherabout the worm money. She made a dash for her books.
    “Did you hear the radio this morning?” Barney asked, as soon as she had settled herself down into her seat. He seemed upset