Pitch Black by Susan Crandall Read Free Book Online Page B

met. He’d seemed larger than life, and she’d felt small and pale in his shadow. But, oh, how she’d wanted to be in that shadow. He’d made her feel safe.
    There had been times during their two-year marriage when she’d paced the floor with worry. Back when he’d climbed Mt. Hood and the weather had abruptly changed, trapping his climbing team in a freak snowstorm. And the time he’d been a day late checking back into the lodge after hiking in Yosemite. For a man who lived the life Steve did, an overnight camping trip in what amounted to his own backyard shouldn’t have caused even a moment’s pause.
    Todd knelt in front of her. “We’ll hear soon. But he’s going to be
fine.
”
    She straightened in her chair and looked into her stepson’s eyes. “Do you really think so?” She wanted to believe. She had to believe. Todd had said Steve was going to be all right those other times, and he had. It was just like Mt. Hood. He was going to be okay.
    “I do,” Todd said, holding her gaze. “Dad knows what he’s doing. And he’s strong. He’ll get through this.”
    She managed a smile of faith. “Maybe I will take that coffee.”
    Todd patted her hand and stood up. He seemed so much more than five years older than Jordan. So strong and confident—like his dad. It seemed he’d been a man from the time she’d first met him.
    Bobby’s voice broke into her thoughts. “I never liked the idea of Steve taking Jordan up there. A boy like Jordan had no place in the wilderness. Just look at him—” He stood up and shoved his hands on his hips. “Steve shouldn’t—”
    “Hey!” Todd spun back around from the door and grabbed Bobby’s arm.
    Fear rippled through Kate. She and Bobby had had this disagreement a hundred times but Todd had never known of it. She didn’t think she could take it if Todd and Bobby got into it right now. She held her breath, but could not make herself stand up and put herself between them.
    Todd leaned close to Bobby’s face. “My dad was just trying to do something nice for Jordan and that freaky friend of his! He doesn’t have to spend his time—” Todd clamped down on his words. After a deep breath he continued, his voice sounding slightly more in control. “Dad’s the one who’s up on that mountain hurt.” He released his grip on Bobby’s arm and walked out of the room.
    She watched Bobby’s shoulders rise and fall. She knew him well enough to see he was barely controlling his anger. After a moment, she stood and touched his elbow. “Todd’s upset. . . . ”
    “I know.”
    “He’s right, too. Steve is always trying to help Jordan fit in better, helping him with sports and things. He’s—”
    “Being a father?” Bobby’s sharp gaze turned her way. “Is that what you’re saying? Steve is being a better father to Jordan than I am? Don’t you see, Kate? He’s trying to make Jordan into something he’s not. And in the process, he’s making him feel like a failure. Steve needs to understand that playing baseball and climbing mountains and”—his face contorted with anger—“wrestling freakin’ grizzlies is not the mark of a man.”
    He pulled his elbow out of her grasp and stalked out of the room.
    Kate felt one more piece of solid ground crumble beneath her feet.
    TODD HANDED KATE a fresh cup of coffee. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to run him off.” He nodded toward Bobby’s empty chair.
    “It’s okay. Everyone’s upset.” She took a tentative sip of coffee. Todd had added cream, just like she liked it. “He’ll be back.”
For Jordan,
she thought,
not for me. I’m alone. So alone. Dear Lord, please let Steve be all right.
She didn’t think she could stand being alone again.
    Todd sat in the chair next to her. He leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs and looked deep into his own cup of coffee. “I’ll apologize when he comes back.”
    She managed a nod and a weak smile. Todd was a good boy, a good example for Jordan. Todd had had