Midnight Wrangler by Cat Johnson Page A

and was ready to sell, she should be immune to the place and its memories.
    Bonnie moved down the hallway past what had been her parents’ room years ago. How many nights had she heard the battle raging inside that room during their years of marriage? All while she hid her head beneath the covers with nothing but her teddy bear for comfort, even when she was well into her teens.
    Her own room was just beyond. She couldn’t bring herself to start with it, either. Too many memories. She turned back around and headed back to the kitchen.
    The kitchen was the heart of the home, and she’d need it to be clean and serviceable while she stayed there. Most importantly, nothing bad had happened in the kitchen, probably because her mother served her father’s meals in the dining room. The kitchen was her and her mom’s domain and she was going to bring it back to the way it used to be.
    Summer, 1990
    â€œMom.” Bonnie came through the back door, but her mother wasn’t in the kitchen.
    She made her way through the house and back toward the bedrooms. She heard raised voices. Her parents’ bedroom door was open, but she hesitated to go inside. It sounded as if her mother and father were fighting, but she couldn’t tell about what. The more she considered, the more she realized she didn’t want to know. She just wanted the argument to stop.
    â€œMom.” She said it again to let them know she was there, hoping it would put an end to whatever their heated discussion had been about.
    Her mother came out into the hallway. “Yes, baby.”
    â€œI was wondering if I could go to the movies tonight. There’s a new show playing in town. I could take my bike. You wouldn’t have to drive me. It starts at seven so I wouldn’t be out too late.”
    â€œSure you can go. With who?”
    â€œUm.” Bonnie knew it was a risk telling her mother about going with Rohn. What if her father objected? What if he fired Rohn for asking her out? He wouldn’t want to see her ever again after that.
    Her mind scrambled, but there was really only one thing to do. Lie. Only one person would be believable in this scenario. “I’m meeting Melody there.”
    â€œOh, that’s nice. She’s a nice girl.”
    â€œYeah, she is.” Poor Melody was nice, and now also Bonnie’s cover for her secret date with Rohn.
    Her father came out into the hallway. “What’s going on?”
    â€œBonnie’s going to the movies in town tonight.” Her mother answered for her and Bonnie was happy to let her. When her father wore this expression, there was no way to make him happy.
    â€œWho with?”
    â€œMelody.” Bonnie took over answering the questions. She felt guilty enough about the lie. She didn’t want her mother to have to repeat it.
    Her father seemed to dismiss her evening plans after that, as he moved to the kitchen to glance out the back window. “That kid about done with that field yet?”
    â€œUm, almost. He’s got like two more passes.” Bonnie realized she probably shouldn’t know in such great detail what Rohn was doing. Even if the truth was she watched him every second she could. “At least that’s what it looked like the last time I walked past the window.”
    Jeez, she had to be more careful. The most amazing thing of her life had just happened. Rohn had actually asked her out. She’d dreamed of this day and it had really happened. She wasn’t going to jeopardize it by having her father decide she shouldn’t be dating the hired help.
    Though she had a feeling her father wouldn’t like her dating anyone, no matter who it was. Yes, she’d turned eighteen last month, but he was the kind to remind her often enough that while she lived under his roof, she also lived under his rules. If he said she couldn’t see Rohn, then that would be it. She wouldn’t be able to go.
    Lying was the