Read Online The Sky Fisherman by Craig Lesley - Free Book Online

You said so yourself."
    "That's exactly right," she said. "I leave in two days, then. I've never been to Minneapolis. Maybe I'll have a chance to look around."
    Dinner was halibut au gratin and cheese muffins. She claimed it was one of my favorites, but that was news to me, and I didn't think Riley had liked it either. Maybe she was thinking of my father. She was so excited about the Minneapolis seminar, I took a second helping and pretended to like the fish.
    "You haven't said much about work today. Anything exciting happen?" She tore open one of her muffins and the steam escaped from the pockets of cheese.
    "Packed dozens and dozens of worms," I said. "A few dangerous ones escaped, but I managed to round them up."
    She laughed and touched the back of my hand lightly with her finger
tips. "You've always had a great sense of humor. That goes a long way in life. That, and an eager attitude." She picked up the cheese muffin but set it down again. "I'm too excited to eat. Maybe later."
    When I finished my second helping of halibut, I asked my mother about the photograph of the fishing trip.
    "Oh, good heavens," she said. "I hadn't thought about that picture in years."
    "That was your handwriting," I pointed out. "You said you had a marvelous time, a perfect day."
    "Did I?" Her face grew troubled. "Well, perhaps I did say something like that in the excitement of the moment, but I never really cared for fishing. That was your father's interest. And Jake's."
    "Sure looks like you were having a great time. I never saw so many big fish."
    She folded her hands, holding them at the edge of the table. "It probably was fun all right ... in those days. But I don't believe I ever went fishing again."
    After supper I helped clear the table, then watched television awhile. When the news came on, I shut it off and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Mom had set up the ironing board and was ironing her blouses. The house was filled with the scent of warm cotton.
    About ten, someone knocked on the door and I answered. Both of us figured it would be my uncle Jake stopping to see how the business had been. But there stood Grady Simmons, the county sheriff. I was stunned.
    He held his hat and looked past me, toward my mother, who seemed startled. Her iron paused in midair. "Excuse me for coming in so late, Mrs. Walker, but there was an accident just this side of the reservation."
    She touched her free hand to her heart. "Not Jake."
    "No, no, nothing like that. I apologize for worrying you." He ran his hand through his hair. "A couple Indian kids rolled their car, but don't you worry. A broken leg, maybe a couple cracked ribs. Nothing too serious. By now the Gateway volunteers have taken them to the hospital in Central."
    "Oh dear," she said. "This town could use a hospital. There are so many wrecks."
    "The way we're going, that's going to come through in a couple years. Especially the way the Jaycees are pushing for it." Grady had stepped inside and I remembered to shut the door. My hand trembled a little, but I don't think he noticed because he was looking at my mother.
    I think she realized he was watching her because she set down her
iron, and after turning it off, just stood a moment with her hands in front of her stomach. "Sit down; just sit, please," she said then. "I've forgotten my manners. Would you like some tea, officer? It'll only take a minute. The water's still hot."
    "I'd appreciate that, Mrs. Walker. I'm just a little cold. To tell the truth, accidents give me the shivers. You get the call, but you never know what might have happened, who might be in the wreck. The phone rings, and you just never know."
    When my mother went into the kitchen, Grady smiled at me a moment, then finished surveying the room. He studied the painting above the love seat a long time before leaning toward me. "How are things working out at the store?"
    "Real busy," I said, trying to calm my voice. "Jake's on the river a lot so that leaves me with a big