Read Online Wild Honey by Veronica Sattler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Veronica Sattler
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Trav. What happened was, after we began seein’ each other, I helped Steve with some research…” She paused as if to gather her thoughts and took a sip of coffee.
“And—?” he prompted irritably. He wasn’t certain why he felt irritated, but he felt a vague stirring of guilt. A voice niggled at the back of his mind, saying she was following in his footsteps and no good could come of it. It was one thing to be the rebel himself, but another matter entirely for his kid sister to be influenced enough to take the same route.
“And,” she said, “in helpin’ with that research, I stumbled across a discipline that fascinated me. I mean fascinated in a way medicine never could. It’s a whole new world, Trav, and I can’t get into it fast enough.”
He stared at her, hearing the conviction in her voice. Itwasn’t the boyfriend, then; he’d only been a catalyst. That was a relief, but his stirring of guilt only grew; he realized just how gutsy his little sister was—and perhaps just how like himself she was.
“Does Father know about this?” he asked tightly.
“About Steve?” she asked, deliberately misinterpreting.
“You know what I mean,” he growled, then offered a sheepish smile. “Sorry, pumpkin. Guess I’m still havin’ a hard time digestin’ this. But since you brought him up…”
“Not to worry on that score,” she assured him. “Steve’s been out to the farm a few times, and they like him. ‘Course, I haven’t mentioned that we’ll be sharin’ an apartment in the fall, but I’m workin’ on it.” She grinned. “By the time it happens…well, they’ll adjust to the idea.”
Little Sarah, all grown up. Travis wondered if he could adjust to the idea. He shook his head, as if to clear it of outgrown notions.
“Back to the big one,” he reminded her. “You haven’t told them ‘bout your new career, have you?” He knew that his mother would’ve said something if she had.
“Not yet. They all think my takin’ summer courses is to finish early. I’m actually pickin’ up credits for pre-law.”
He stifled a groan, but Sarah caught the hint of regret in his eyes. “Don’t you dare go blamin’ yourself for my decision, Travis McLean! Or gettin’ involved, either. It’s about time the men in this family realize a woman—especially this woman—is capable of makin’ her own choices.”
He seemed to chew on this, silent as he sipped his iced coffee. She watched him, wondering what he was thinking. Not too long ago she’d come across material about controlling parents in some of her course work. One of the things that had made an impression on her was that controlling parents—like her father—often spawned controlling offspring. And Travis had always, though in a far gentiermanner than their father, been a little too ready to take over the lives of those he cared about.
Sarah wasn’t worried about herself. She was strong enough to resist his well-meaning impulses. But she worried about him Would this blind spot in her otherwise sensitive brother cause him problems someday?
“Sarah—” Travis’s voice was concerned when he finally spoke “—are you sure, absolutely sure, about this thing?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anythin’ in my life.”
He nodded. He believed her. But sweet God almighty, did she realize what a bomb she’d be dropping? Smack in the middle of their already fragmented family? Did she see the enormity of this? Was she prepared to be cut off-like him?
“Look, Sarah,” he began carefully, “you know what’ll be runnin’ through his mind when he hears. Maybe I can—”
“Hold it right there, big brother! I meant what I said. I’m a big girl now, and I don’t need you runnin’ interference for me. I want your promise—right now—that you’ll stay out of it. It was my decision, no matter what you think, and I’ll handle it. Promise me you’ll respect that.”
He expelled a long breath, then regarded her adamant face.
“And—?” he prompted irritably. He wasn’t certain why he felt irritated, but he felt a vague stirring of guilt. A voice niggled at the back of his mind, saying she was following in his footsteps and no good could come of it. It was one thing to be the rebel himself, but another matter entirely for his kid sister to be influenced enough to take the same route.
“And,” she said, “in helpin’ with that research, I stumbled across a discipline that fascinated me. I mean fascinated in a way medicine never could. It’s a whole new world, Trav, and I can’t get into it fast enough.”
He stared at her, hearing the conviction in her voice. Itwasn’t the boyfriend, then; he’d only been a catalyst. That was a relief, but his stirring of guilt only grew; he realized just how gutsy his little sister was—and perhaps just how like himself she was.
“Does Father know about this?” he asked tightly.
“About Steve?” she asked, deliberately misinterpreting.
“You know what I mean,” he growled, then offered a sheepish smile. “Sorry, pumpkin. Guess I’m still havin’ a hard time digestin’ this. But since you brought him up…”
“Not to worry on that score,” she assured him. “Steve’s been out to the farm a few times, and they like him. ‘Course, I haven’t mentioned that we’ll be sharin’ an apartment in the fall, but I’m workin’ on it.” She grinned. “By the time it happens…well, they’ll adjust to the idea.”
Little Sarah, all grown up. Travis wondered if he could adjust to the idea. He shook his head, as if to clear it of outgrown notions.
“Back to the big one,” he reminded her. “You haven’t told them ‘bout your new career, have you?” He knew that his mother would’ve said something if she had.
“Not yet. They all think my takin’ summer courses is to finish early. I’m actually pickin’ up credits for pre-law.”
He stifled a groan, but Sarah caught the hint of regret in his eyes. “Don’t you dare go blamin’ yourself for my decision, Travis McLean! Or gettin’ involved, either. It’s about time the men in this family realize a woman—especially this woman—is capable of makin’ her own choices.”
He seemed to chew on this, silent as he sipped his iced coffee. She watched him, wondering what he was thinking. Not too long ago she’d come across material about controlling parents in some of her course work. One of the things that had made an impression on her was that controlling parents—like her father—often spawned controlling offspring. And Travis had always, though in a far gentiermanner than their father, been a little too ready to take over the lives of those he cared about.
Sarah wasn’t worried about herself. She was strong enough to resist his well-meaning impulses. But she worried about him Would this blind spot in her otherwise sensitive brother cause him problems someday?
“Sarah—” Travis’s voice was concerned when he finally spoke “—are you sure, absolutely sure, about this thing?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anythin’ in my life.”
He nodded. He believed her. But sweet God almighty, did she realize what a bomb she’d be dropping? Smack in the middle of their already fragmented family? Did she see the enormity of this? Was she prepared to be cut off-like him?
“Look, Sarah,” he began carefully, “you know what’ll be runnin’ through his mind when he hears. Maybe I can—”
“Hold it right there, big brother! I meant what I said. I’m a big girl now, and I don’t need you runnin’ interference for me. I want your promise—right now—that you’ll stay out of it. It was my decision, no matter what you think, and I’ll handle it. Promise me you’ll respect that.”
He expelled a long breath, then regarded her adamant face.
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