The Elementals Read Online Free

crutch’s cotton-wrapped foot against Sam’s breastbone. Not hard, not to hurt him. Enough to make the point that this skirmish was over, though.
    “Uncle?”
    “We don’t have one,” Sam said, refusing to surrender.
    Pressing a little harder, Julian leaned over. “Say it.”
    “Uncle,” Sam whispered, then grabbed the crutch with both hands and pulled. He paid for his cleverness when Julian fell on top of him, with an unintentional elbow to the ribs. They both lay there and groaned. Beans weren’t being snapped, and no one was watching the side gate to see Elise let herself in.
    The screen door snapped shut. Julian sat up, shoving Sam for being Sam. “Thanks a lot.”
    “Hey, you’re welcome.” Sam sprawled in the grass, tucking his hands behind his head. Careless and soaking up the sun, he waited for Julian to stand. Snaking a foot over, he poked the back of his knee with his toe.
    Julian bobbled, but revenge would have to wait. Elise appeared in the frame of the screen door, and she wasn’t wearing war crinolines. Instead, it was her usual dungarees and blouse—working clothes. The girls in town could go around in glad rags every day. They wouldn’t be called on to deliver a calf or rewire a stretch of fence.
    Raising a hand, Julian waited ’til she stepped onto the porch. “Afternoon, Elise.”
    “Afternoon, Elise,” Sam echoed.
    Elise bounded down the steps, brushing stray tendrils off her forehead. “Happy early birthday, Julian.”
    Warming from the inside out, Julian smiled. “Thanks.”
    “Know what you’re going to wish for?”
    “I have a couple things in mind,” Julian said. His smile stiffened slightly when Sam nudged him again. “You’re coming to the barbecue, aren’t you?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it.”
    “Me either,” Sam said.
    Since his crutches lay on the ground, Julian couldn’t kick Sam for interfering. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Elise and pretended his obnoxious brother didn’t exist. It wasn’t hard, looking at her. The freckles in her hazel eyes entranced him. She cast spells with the curve of her lips.
    “I’m glad. I’m looking forward to it.”
    “I hope you like your present,” Elise said.
    “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
    A breeze stirred, tugging their hair and trailing the sweet scent of wild roses between them. Casting her eyes down, Elise was quiet a moment. When she looked up again, her expression was softer. So were her words. “I wanted to.”
    Sam pushed up on his elbows. “
My
birthday’s next month.”
    The moment broken, Elise rolled her eyes and said, “How nice for you.” She tugged Julian’s collar, then backed off. “See you tomorrow.”
    Julian wanted to stay her. His bones and blood begged him to. He knew poetry, all sorts, romantic and classic. And songs; he could take his father’s fiddle and sit beneath her window, make the night weep with a ballad for her. Instead, he waved, watching until she disappeared past the corn.
    Sam rolled to his feet. Reaching over to chuck Julian’s chin, he said, “Better shut your trap, baby sunflower. You’re catching flies.”
    Still dazed, Julian brushed his hand away. “’Bout time for you to shut up, Sam.”
    “You kill me, kid. It’s just Elise.”
    Julian didn’t mean for the words to slip out; maybe if he’d been talking to Charlie. Charlie understood him better than anyone and never felt like he had to rattle his cage. But it was Sam standing there, so he’s the one Julian told, “I’m going to marry her.”
    Picking up the crutches, Sam thrust them into Julian’s hands and clapped him on the back. “You should try kissing her first.”
    It wasn’t bad advice.
    ***
    The trouble with stealing her father’s clothes, Kate decided, was that she had to keep hemming them.
    Leaning against the bedroom door, she listened as her parents’ friends laughed and talked in the next room. In all the rooms, really; they spilled into the backyard, and some of them were no doubt