Wild Fire by Linda I. Shands Page B

when he wasn’t acting like a clown.
    She had always thought having a boyfriend would be fun. Well, she was sure making a mess of it. Oh, Mom, I wish you were here. I need to talk to you, bad .
    Just relax, Wakara, be yourself . Kara swiped her wrist across her burning eyes. How many times had she heard that one? Maybe she should listen this time. It just might be good advice.

K ARA PLACED THE LAST of the steak knives on table five, then scanned the area to be sure the floor was clean. There was space for twenty people in the dining room. The cabins only held sixteen, but they often had extras like Mark, or friends from Lariat who dropped in for the day .
    She straightened the chairs, then headed for her room to change. That red cotton top, she decided, and her wraparound skirt. Would she get to dance with Colin? He probably wasn’t even speaking to her, and she couldn’t blame him.
    As she passed the kitchen doorway, she heard the crackle, buzz of the radio signaling a call. She shrugged. Anne would get it. The crackling stopped, but it was Ryan’s voice she heard.
    â€œEagle Lodge. Who’s this?”
    Kara sighed and hurried to the radio room. “Ryan Sheridan, you know you’re not supposed to play in here. Give me that mike.”
    He scrambled away from her. “Here she is.” He tossed the microphone in her direction. “It’s Tia-wee-a the big fat heehaw.”
    Kara caught the mike and glowered at him. “You’re in trouble, Bud. And quit acting like a baby.”
    â€œRyan? Kara? All right you guys, who’s there?”
    â€œI’m here, Tia.”
    â€œGood, it’s you. Pops gave me three minutes to talk to you, and I wasted two of them getting past that goofball brother of yours.”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œWhoot whoot whoot.” Ryan crouched in the doorway, curling his upper lip, scratching his armpits, and making noise like an orangutan.
    â€œDon’t worry. When I get off the radio, he’s bear meat.” She glared at him again, then turned her back. “So what’s up? Over.”
    â€œMy History grade, that’s what’s up. To a B! Aren’t you proud of me? Over.”
    â€œProud? Tia, that’s awesome. When did you find out? Over.”
    â€œJust this morning. Pops almost expired. For a reward I get to take the rest of the summer off. Cool, huh?”
    There was a pause and some static, but before Kara could say anything else, Tia was back. “Uh, Kara? Is your dad coming out anytime soon? Over.”
    â€œI don’t know. Why? Over.”
    â€œOh, I just wondered.”
    â€œCome on, Tia. What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
    â€œNo. Yes. I mean, I really want to see you and I thought maybe if your dad was coming . . .”
    Kara felt a chill run through her. “Is it Greg?”
    The line crackled, and she thought for a minute Tia had cut out. Then she heard her friend’s whisper over the static. “Yeah. He’s really weirding out, Kara. I’m totally freaked for him. He’s been running with T. J. Magic’s friends. Everyone knows those guys are, like, strung out all the time .
    â€œUh-oh. I gotta go. Pops is gonna go ballistic if I don’t get off. Look, just get your dad to come home soon, okay? Bye.”
    The line popped, then hummed. Tia had cut out.
    Kara felt cold all over. Empty and sad and angry all at the same time. She walked to the window and leaned on the sill. Now what? Tell Dad and ruin his week, or keep quiet and let Greg ruin his life? There really wasn’t a choice .
    She’d tell Dad tonight, when the guests had gone back to their cabins and Ryan was in bed. Ryan. She’d get on him about the radio later. This was no time to cause more of a fuss.
    In spite of her mood, the steak, baked potato, and green salad tasted good. Everyone else must have thought so too, because there wasn’t a scrap left on