Wilder Boys Read Online Free Page A

bottom of the box. He picked it up and saw that it was addressed to their mom, but this one wasn’t tattered or faded—this one was clean and recent.
    Jake tore open the letter and read it aloud:
    Dear Jennifer,
    I’ve found it—the perfect place for us and the boys! Tucked away in a valley high in the Rockies, an area completely unspoiled by humans. It’s the kind of place we talked about moving to when we were younger. It’s a place where we can live off of the land and be away from the hassle of city life.
    I know you got sick of me talking about it, but I always felt sure about this, and now I know that it is REAL! I’m writing in the hopes that if you ever need me, you’ll know where to find me.
    I’m not going to send you exact directions in case this falls into the wrong hands, but I will leave you pointers for how to find me at a spot nearby—where I once saw the aurora borealis when I was younger. Look out for the landmarks I have described, and I’ll be there every summer, waiting for you. I know you can make it.
    I love you and always will.
    Abe
    â€œIs there anything else?” Taylor asked.
    Jake removed a second sheet of paper, and the boys studied it. On it their father had hastily sketched a map of a lake with a waterfall coming down into it. Across the bottom were the words Teton NP , along with some notes about leaving inspiration behind them and seeing theaurora borealis. At the bottom of the page was one final sentence: Look across the moose’s neck to where the wildflower falls.
    â€œWhat’s ‘NP’?” Taylor asked.
    â€œNational park, I think.”
    â€œWell, what’s this about inspiration—and looking across the moose’s neck?”
    Jake shook his head. “I guess these are all some kind of clues.”
    â€œNot very good ones,” said Taylor, hopping off the bed. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t go find him!”
    â€œWhat?” Jake stared at his brother.
    â€œDon’t you see, Jake? This changes everything. Dad wanted us all to go join him! We can get out of here and away from Bull!”
    Cody seemed to agree. He stood up on the bed, his tail wagging excitedly.
    For Jake, though, the letters had generated a mix of emotions. Anger. Excitement. Worry. Resentment.
    Even if he were looking for a lost valley, Jake thought, what kind of man would leave us here—and not come back to get us himself?
    â€œSo what do you say, Jake? What are we waiting for?”
    â€œAren’t you forgetting something?” Jake said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œMom.”
    Taylor’s face suddenly sagged. “Oh . . .”
    â€œWe can’t just leave her here. Not with Bull. She needs us, Taylor.”
    Taylor sat back on his own bed. “Yeah . . . you’re right. I forgot.” Then his face brightened again. “What about after she gets better?”
    Jake had never shared their mother’s true outlook with his brother. But maybe Taylor was old enough to hear the truth.
    â€œTaylor . . .”
    His brother stared at him. “What?”
    Jake tried to say the words, but he couldn’t get them out.
    She’s probably not going to get better.
    â€œNever mind,” Jake said. “Never mind.”

4 Bull didn’t return that evening. For supper, Jake and Taylor heated up a can of tomato soup for their mother and helped themselves to more of Bull’s hot dogs—cooked, this time. Later, after getting their mom settled, the boys climbed into their own beds. Jake propped up his pillows and plunged into an adventure story by one of his favorite authors, Will Hobbs. Cody hopped onto Taylor’s bed and curled up next to his head. Soon Jake could hear the steady breathing of both of them from across the room. He couldn’t stop thinking about the map his dad had sent. What did it mean? Finally Jake picked up a pad of paper and began