Page 49 of Second Chance Savior

“You’re seriously leavingme withhim?” I hissed at my mom.

“Should’ve thought about consequences before you continued to bait him.”

Mom and I stood in the kitchen packing up food for the camping trip. River was helping my dad and Ross load the truck, while Megan and Cora bounced around with the dogs.

“He’s the one who?—”

Mom scowled. I clamped my mouth shut. I was in enough trouble already, and even I could see that I was acting like a monster.

River had a way of bringing that out in me.

After my sisters tattled on me for shooting that rogue arrow and nearly hitting Cora, Mom probably could’ve dismissed the whole thing as an accident. But then she’d asked me what happened. And I’d blamed River. He had blamed me.

The initial bet had been my idea. Archery had always beenmything, something I was just a little better at thanRiver. I hadn’t expected him to sneak around during the school year practicing. And then he’d offered in that insulting tone to coach me. I should’ve walked away right then. But River was also good at talking people into things.

When we’d pointed fingers at each other, my mom had blown her top.

Now, my dad was taking Ross and my sisters on the camping trip. River and I had to stay home. He was in trouble too, and I couldn’t even take pleasure in that. Mom would be heading into town for lunch and antiquing with her friends.

I grabbed a container of granola. “It’s not even a punishment for him. He’ll just mess around on his computer the whole time the others are gone.”

“No, the both of you will clean this kitchen and the bathrooms top to bottom. It had better sparkle. And by the time I’m back tonight, you’d better have learned to get along. Because I’m sick of the two of you picking at each other. We cannot spend the rest of the summer like this.”

I was sick of my fighting with River too. So was Ross, who’d barely spoken to me or his brother since the archery incident. He was pissed off at us both.

Mom shoved a cooler into my arms. “Take this out to the truck.”

Outside, the sky was gray and cloudy. The guys had just finished loading the tent and sleeping bags. I tucked the cooler into the truck bed. They were only going for one night, but Dad always made pancakes, bacon, and cowboy coffee for breakfast.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. “Think it’ll rain at the campsite?” I asked. Weather was unpredictable in the mountains. It could be raining or snowing in one spot, sunny a few miles away.

Dad gave me a hug. “Rain or shine, we’ll have a good time. It’s not the weather…”

“It’s the gear,” I finished morosely.

Dad squeezed my shoulder, then went for the driver’s door. “Let’s roll! Everyone in!” My sisters and the dogs ran for the truck.

“Have fun,” I said to Ross. Then whispered, “Sorry to miss it.”

He shook his head. “Me too. See you tomorrow. Don’t kill River.”

I snickered. “I’ll try to hold back.”

The truck reversed out of the driveway. Mom, River, and I watched it go. Then she turned to us, hands on her hips. “I’m going to get ready for my day with my friends. You two, get to work.”

“Yes, ma’am,” River said.

She pointed an accusatory finger at us both as she walked toward the house. “I expect to come home to two perfect angels who’ve learned their lessons. No more competitions.”

I bit my cheek to cover my grumbling.

Mom had left the vacuum and cleaning supplies out. Once she’d gone, River turned up in the kitchen. “How should we do this?” he asked. “Divide and conquer?”

“You do the floors, I do the counters?”

“Sure.”

We worked in silence for a while. I hadn’t realized River could be so quiet. But maybe he was feeling as sheepish as I was. I was embarrassed about how childishly I’d acted the past couple of days.

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