Jennifer Scales and the Messenger of Light by MaryJanice Davidson Read Free Book Online Page B

had it right on the first try. It was almost as if the blades were pulling the air from her mouth and then casting it forward with blistering force. After a few seconds, she closed her mouth.
    “Excellent, honey! You’re really learning stuff quickly. I told you this summer would pay off.”
    “Each thing you teach me seems easier than the last,” Jennifer said, thrilled.
    “We can work on some of the finer points now—”
    The sound of the cabin door opening made them both turn. Jonathan came out on the porch holding the phone. His hand was clapped over the receiver.
    “Phew, heard that shout! Glad it’s not quite a crescent moon yet!” He frowned a bit. “Jennifer, it’s Skip’s aunt Tavia. She wants to talk about dinner at their house.”
    “How did she track us down here?” Elizabeth asked.
    “Well, Skip has the number.” Jennifer shrugged. She bristled at her mother’s hard look. “He’s my friend, Mom!”
    “So you’re having a lovely dinner with the sister of the man who tried to kill your father? How quaint.”
    “You know it’s more complicated than that. And I’m as freaked out about this as you are. I’m not sure I want to go. I haven’t been to Skip’s house since his aunt moved in, and I don’t know how many other…I mean, I don’t know how big his family is.”
    “Well, if you don’t want to go, you’d better come up with an excuse fast,” Jonathan suggested. He took his hand off the receiver. “Tavia, she’s right here.” Then he handed the phone to her.
    Thinking quickly, she grabbed the phone and put the best smile she could manage in her voice. “Hi, Ms. Saltin? Yeah, sounds great. Problem is, my family’s taking me out of town for a week or so. Sure, I promise to call you as soon as we get back! Yes, I know, I can hardly wait to go to the dance with Skip! Okay, bye!” Then she turned the phone off with a smug smile.
    “So how are you getting out of this one?” her father asked. “It’s not like you can show up at school Monday like you’re supposed to. Skip will know you lied to his aunt as soon as he sees you.”
    “Who says I’m lying? I could go back to Crescent Valley!”
    Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Jennifer, you made a promise to me. Just like you needed concentrated time last year to come to terms with your dragon side, you need dedicated time to grow as a beaststalker. You should come home with me Sunday.”
    “But you said yourself that I’m really coming along—and I’ll be back in a week!” She felt them both weaken and pressed on. “Plus, it was just my birthday, so you should be nice to me. Plus, Dad owes me for going to that boring fund-raiser last week!”
    She knew she had them then, through sheer quantity (if not quality) of argument. Her mother sighed through tightened lips. “All right, Jennifer. I could use the extra time at the hospital, anyway. We’ve been short-staffed lately.”
    “I need to take a short trip to Jack’s old place before I go,” Jonathan said. He wouldn’t explain further, despite her curious look. “You go ahead tomorrow with the crescent moon, ace. I’ll catch up with you in a day or so. Grandpa’s already there. Mind him, and stay out of trouble.”
    “Trouble?” Jennifer couldn’t stifle a laugh. “How on earth can you get in trouble in Crescent Valley?”
    A corner of his mouth creased. “Get careless, and you’ll find out.”
    “All right!” Elizabeth stood up suddenly and shook off the jerkin that covered her blouse and Windbreaker. “That’s enough discussion of a place I’ve never seen and can’t ever visit. If neither of you are coming home with me, I might as well leave now!”
    She gave Jennifer a quick, almost meaningless hug and stormed off the patio in the direction of the minivan.
    “Hey, Liz!”
    Troubled, Jennifer watched her father chase her mother down. Despite his valiant efforts, the woman wouldn’t engage with her husband…until they were almost at the car, at