Read Online The Strangers of Kindness by Terry Hickman - Free Book Online

all do. Theo, I’ve had an idea . . .” She suddenly looked shy.
    “And?”
    “It depends on what you’re going to do now that you’re free. Do you know?”
    “Nevada, I guess. Try for it anyway.”
    “Have you thought . . . I mean, do you want . . . are you going alone?”
    He took pity on her obvious discomfort. “You’re thinking the same thing I am. Maybe all of us try for Nevada? Take the kids? Heck, why not? I was wondering how I could stand to just dump ‘em back in the city. But they may not want to go.”
    Her smile was guilty. “I, um, kind of approached them about it already. We’ve been getting ready. Curt’s studying my dad’s old atlas. It doesn’t show rail lines but he’s scoping out distances and landmarks. Surge is pretty familiar with the main yards down by the river. As soon as you’re stronger we can go.”
    She looked around the room and her eyes misted. “I’ll miss this place, you know? I grew up here. But the country’s changed too much. I couldn’t keep it even if I stayed. Glen’s told me he’d build me a big house overlooking the golf course, as if that’d impress me. So I’m losing the homestead anyway.” She searched his face, grieving. “Tell me there’ll be something good to come, even if you don’t believe it, Theo.”
    “But I do believe it. You think God gave Surge talent like that just to be wasted in a peanut field? And you . . .”
    Surge opened the door. “Someone’s coming up the drive!”
    The other kids and all their stuff were already in the basement behind the furnace, a plan they’d devised after Theo’s operation.
    Surge fled down the basement steps and Jenny went out onto the porch, strapping on the tether control. As she’d expected, it was Glen.
    “Morning, Jenn. How’re you this beautiful fall day?”
    “What do you want, Glen?”
    “Is that any way to talk to your betrothed?” He mounted the steps, invading her space. She stood her ground. “Heard about your troubles, Jenn. Wish I could say I was sorry but I know you’re going to be a whole lot better off with me. Where is the dirt-bag, anyway? You get rid of him already?” He tried to peer in through the screen door.
    Before she could manufacture an answer, Theo came out the door. He’d pulled on his pants but otherwise all he wore was the bandage on his throat. Glen glared at him.
    “Still here, huh? I’m surprised you’re not in prison already, you pervert.”
    “I’m going to sell him and spend the money on myself,” Jennifer said aggressively. “I can do that right up until my 25th birthday, you—”
    “Say, what’s with the bandage?” He stared at the wound dressing, Theo’s pallor and the dark rings under his eyes. Then he giggled, a greasy sound. “You give him a shot of that tether, honey? Hoo-ee, you’re a spunky little thing. What’d he do, try to rip it out? I heard they do that sometimes, it hurts so bad. Well, you run along and do something useful, dirt-bag, I’m talking to my girl.”
    “I’m not your girl,” Jennifer growled. “And you better be careful. I’ve still got this control and he’ll do anything I say.” She glanced at Theo and was relieved to see he was picking up on her charade, advancing toward Glen with murder in his eye.  
    “Especially after yesterday. I do believe he’d kill you if I told him to, just to keep from getting another jolt.”
    Glen’s face went from bully to coward in a blink. He eyed Theo uneasily. Theo looked fifty pounds lighter but had muscle, and Glen clearly figured that the fear of another tether-dose would make him deadly.
    “You might want to work on your manners, Jenn,” he said, backing down the steps. “I’m coming back with the sheriff to cart that creep away.” From the far side of his car he added, “And you’ll be coming with me.”
    “Just try it!” Jennifer called after him. “Pig.” They waited until he was out of sight before Theo leaned on her shoulder, and she helped him back to