The Siege by Rick Hautala Read Free Book Online

Brad had left her, she had quit her job at John Hancock in Boston, sublet her apartment until her lease expired, and sold most of her clothes and furniture to a secondhand store in Chelsea. Nestled into one corner of the small guest room in her sister’s house in Dyer, Maine, were her entire possessions. She was just about a vagabond, and, at least for now, that was all she wanted.
    As the sun started its westward slide toward the horizon, the two sisters sat side by side on the front porch with their feet up on the railing and tall glasses of iced tea in hand. Their conversation wound in lazy loops and curves, like an old stream, as Barbara filled her sister in on the latest doings around town: who was married or divorced or cheating or whatever. All of Barbara’s children were off for the afternoon: Heather, who had just turned fourteen, was off to Houlton with some friends to see a movie, or she said. If Donna and Barbara guessed right, she was using that as an excuse to meet up with some boys somewhere. Kelly, the next in line, was taking piano lessons from Mrs. Plaisted, who played organ for the local Baptist church. And Al Junior, whose sixth birthday was only weeks away, had gone swimming with his friend’s family at Beaver Brook Pond.
    Mention of Beaver Brook Pond sent a rippling chill up Donna’s back. The swimming hole was out on Mayall Road, the same road as the old homestead. When she and her sister were growing up, it was the site of hundreds of days of fun, the place for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. But with those memories came memories of the house, once a thriving, warm, love-filled home. Now, Donna didn’t even want to think about it. Three years ago, when she came home for her father’s funeral, the place looked worn-out, tired and small. She tried not to imagine how it looked now, after three more years of desertion.
    “Did you drive by the graves on your way in?” Barbara asked. She looked directly at Donna, but she didn’t seem to notice the crossfire of emotions Donna was sure were playing across her face.
    “No, I came straight here. I’ve been driving since five o’clock this morning.”
    “And here I am, talking your ear off,” Barbara said, shifting forward and standing up. “You should go inside and take a nap before everyone gets home. Then the house will sound like there’s an army in town.”
    “No, no,” Donna said, waving her sister back down. “I’m comfortable right where I am.” She took a sip of iced tea and, as if in proof, smacked her lips with satisfaction.
    “You’re sure?”
    “I’m positive,” Donna said. “I wasn’t hinting or anything. If I was that tired, I’d tell you.”
    “Well, I certainly hope so,” Barbara said. “After everything you’ve been through, I think you deserve to spoil yourself a little.”
    Donna smiled and nodded, thinking to herself, you don’t know the half of it, sister dear. Lucky you! She hoped her voice didn’t betray her when she said, “I was thinking of driving out to the cemetery and maybe by the old house this afternoon, but I think I’ll wait ’til tomorrow.”
    “I told you I was renting the fields to Higgins for growing potatoes, didn’t I? He doesn’t pay much, but every bit helps.”
    Donna took another sip of tea. She tried to settle back deeper into the lounge chair, but one of the straps was digging into her back. “Old Sam Higgins,” she said. “Christ, he must own or rent pretty much every farm in the area by now.”
    Barbara nodded agreement. “He’s got quite a business going. He was hounding me about selling the farm to him, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. I still kinda have hopes you’ll move back to town for good.”
    Donna looked down at the porch floor. “I don’t know. I don’t have any idea what I’m going to do. After what I’ve just been through, and what with Mom and Dad gone now… I don’t know.”
    “I put flowers out whenever I can,”