Katerina's Wish by Jeannie Mobley Read Free Book Online Page A

wanted to flop across his forehead toward his left eye. Something else was there too, though. A new seriousness, perhaps, or more worries. Things that had aged him faster than me. I wanted him to still be the same, but like everything else in America, what I wanted made little difference.
    He reached his hard, coal-stained hand out and took mine. “Trina, I still want to talk about school and our friends there. Just because I had to go to work doesn’t mean I wanted to give up everything else.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said, “I just thought—” I was still searching for the right words when I was saved by Holena.
    â€œWhat’s this?” She held up a fishing pole that had been lying in the grass next to Mark.
    â€œI bought that with my paycheck last week,” Mark said with a smile.
    I jerked my hand out of his. “You’re fishing? Here?”
    â€œI thought if I could catch a meal or two it might stretch our income, but I’m not having much luck.”
    â€œMaybe there are no fish in this creek,” I said.
    â€œYou’re probably right. There’s another stream over that ridge.” Mark pointed toward the hill that rose on the other sideof the water. “Johnson at the store says there’s good fishing there, but I thought I’d try here first. I’m tired, and this is my only day off.”
    I shaded my eyes and surveyed the slope, my thoughts on the fish in the pool that I did not want him to catch. “It’s not too bad of a climb. It might be worth the trouble to have fresh fish for supper, don’t you think?”
    â€œIf it is worth the trouble, you are welcome to use my pole. I’ve got a can of worms you can take with you, too.” He grinned and held the pole out to me.
    â€œBut—” I looked at the pole and the water before turning back to Mark. “But I don’t know how—and I’m supposed to be watching my sisters.”
    â€œHolena can stay here with me. This is all you have to do,” he said, and he explained how to cast the line into the water and how to reel it back in. Uncertainly, I took it and tried casting as he had said, only to whip the hook into the grass practically at my feet. Holena giggled.
    â€œNo,” Mark said. “Like this.”
    He got to his feet and stood behind me. Then he wrapped his arms around me, his hands on mine to show me how to hold the pole. He pulled it back gently and cast. Though my hands and arms followed obediently through the motion, I could not concentrate on the lesson. His encircling arms felt strong and safe, and his body was warm and solid. It felt nice. My heart began to hammer unexpectedly. I hoped he couldn’t hear it.
    â€œNow you try it,” he said, stepping away from me. I forced my thoughts back to the fishing pole again. This time the hook landed in the middle of the pool. I reeled it back in quickly.
    â€œThat’s it,” he said. “Now let me show you how to bait the hook and you’re all set. You’re not squeamish about worms, Ihope.” He dangled one in front of me. Then he deftly threaded it onto the hook and held the pole out to me.
    â€œBut—” I looked at Holena. I wasn’t as eager to get away from Mark as I had been before.
    â€œI will stay with Mark,” Holena promised. “I don’t mind. And Papa loves fish.”
    That was true, and fresh fish for supper did sound good. I looked back up at the ridge, then at Mark. My face flushed unexpectedly.
    â€œOkay,” I agreed, and set off quickly before I could change my mind.
    The ridge was both steeper and higher than it had appeared. When I reached the top, I paused to catch my breath. From this height I could see beyond the mine and the nearby hills to the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains, cool and white against the sky. Below me on the other side of the ridge ran a green valley with a stream somewhat larger