Afraid the little hellion might have time to rig some kind of trap at the door, Linc stood well to one side of what appeared to be the only way in. Cautiously, he shoved the door open with a toe. The interior, dark as a cave, smelled of urine and decay. Wrinkling his nose, Linc called, Wolfie, either turn on a light or come outside so we can talk.
The silence stretched, but Linc felt the boys presence.
God, this place stinks like a sewer. Please tell me this isnt where you kids sleep. He reached inside and felt the wall for a light switch. Finding one, he flipped it on. A single bulb in the center of the room sprang to life, barely illuminating the area directly beneath the fixture. Not so much as a glimmer reached into any of the rooms four corners, but the bulb gave off enough power for Linc to see two sets of bunk beds. A cracked mirror hung over a single dresser with a broken leg. The mirror reflected the filament inside the bare bulb. As his eyes adjusted, Linc made out the boy crouched against the wall between the two sets of beds.
His heart lodged in his chest. Look, son, he said, attempting to calm his voice in spite of the fact that it remained rough with emotion. I can only guess what youve put up with in the past. I promise you here and now, for however long youre in my care, you wont be hitand your sleeping conditions will darned well improve.
Freckles stood out on the boys pale cheeks. Wide blue eyes under a shock of sandy red hair warily assessed the man who barred the rooms only door.
Do you understand what Im saying? Linc tried again to reassure the boy. I only took over ownership of the ranch today. I cant make instant changes. But I wouldnt let a dog sleep in this rat hole. I hope the house is in better shape. If so, well all bunk there tonight. He shivered and stopped speaking to rub his arms. Whats the heat in this building set at?
Aint no heat, the boy growled. But even if I gotta take the girls and run away in the dark, aint none of us sleeping with you, creep. So get that in your head.
God! Thats not what I meant by all of us sleeping in the house. Shaken, Linc withdrew fractionally. Did you see the older kids by the road? I simply meant its unacceptable to think anyone would have to sleep here with no heat. I trust the main house has a furnace. Its probably big enough for everyone to stake out a sleeping spot for one night. Tomorrow, well clean this place and locate a hardware store where I can buy baseboard heaters. To say nothing of mattresses that dont sag or smell. Linc eyed the definite bow in the beds.
Why would you go to all that trouble before you get hold of Mrs. Jacobs?
Who? Lincs ears perked up at a new name tossed in the mix.
Our social worker. I heard you talkin on the phone about her.
Jacobs isnt the name I was given. But I gather Mrs. Bishop is new at the agency. I have no idea when well be able to connect. So while youre in my care, I want you kids sleeping on clean sheets and mattresses.
Hana wets. She dont do it on purpose. The house mom said she wasnt washin sheets for no brat big nuff to get up and go to the outhouse. I used to have a flashlight, but it broke. Hanas scared to walk the trail by herself. I told her to wake me up, but she says I sleep too hard.
You meanthis bunkhouse has no bathroom, either?
The boys stringy red hair slapped his ears as he shook his head.
Where do you kids shower? Or bathe? Linc amended his statement when the word shower drew a blank look from the boy.
Fridays, Lydia used to toss me and Hana in the creek with a bar of soap. Before she took over from Judy Rankin, we got to wash in a dishpan Miz Judy set on the back porch. After the Tuckers came, they only let Cassie use the pan. On account of her not being able to get in the water cause of her twisted hip.
A rough expulsion of breath left Lincolns lungs. The news gets worse by the second. I cant listen to any more. Except Wolfie, how often did Mrs. Jacobs come to inspect the place? What agency worker would approve of kids living in such squalor?
She aint never come that I know. Not since she brung me and Hana here to live. Cassie and some others were already here. One house mister griped to Oasis, and somebody came at night and took the other kids away. That was before Rob Rankin. He said Oasis put them in another group home. Climbing to his feet, the boy hiked a thin shoulder. They coulda kilt em. Thats what Hana thinks.
I doubt that. Although Linc swept the room with a scowl. How any adult could visit this mess and close his or her eyes to conditions here is beyond me. Look, Im sure you have few reasons to trust anyone, but I wish youd give me a chance. At least come back to the house and let your sister see that you havent run off without her. She was crying her eyes out when I left to find you.
Hana bawls a lot, but shes only four. Dont hold it against her, okay?
No, I wouldnt hold crying against a child. How old are you, Wolfie?
Ten. I had my birthday last month. Lydia Tucker said I was just lying so shed bake a cake. She never did, so Hana and Cassie think Im still nine.
Linc couldnt even bring himself to comment on the Tuckers callous treatment of the children they were supposed to care for. He met the guarded eyes of the shivering boy. Will you walk with me to the house?
Okay, Wolfie agreed, a catch in his voice. But if anybody lays a hand on me or Hana, theyll wish they hadnt. I have sharp teeth and I can bite hard.
So George Tucker told me. Linc waited to smile until he turned his back on the ten-year-old. Bitings not the way men solve things, Wolfie. Not even if theyre bad things. So before you go biting any of the folks up at the house, Id like you to promise youll talk to me first. Trust me to handle the problem. Will you do that?
I aint makin no promises till I see.
I guess thats fair enough. Ive never met the older kids. But I suspect lifes been no picnic for them, either. Ill start by giving them my house rules.
Rules?
Dos and donts. Theyre pretty simple.
Oh. The boy tucked his chin against his thin chest and tried to match Lincs longer stride while leaving plenty of space between them.
Entering the ranch house provided instant respite from the stinging wind. The room was well lit and warm. The little dog dashed up, barking its head off. But otherwise, if Linc expected to walk into a beehive of activity, he was doomed to disappointment. Each teen appeared to have staked out his or her wedge of real estate. The three boys sat on the floor, propped against their possessions, which included backpacks and guitar cases. Randi and the other girl sat on a raised hearth in front of an empty fireplace. Hana and Cassie did their best to melt into a dark corner as far away as possible from the teens. To the last kid, all tensed visibly when Linc walked in with Wolfie.
Linc homed in on Randi. Was Mrs. Tucker wrong about there being meat in the freezer?
I, uh, we didnt check. Eric said we shouldnt rummage in the kitchen without you. That way you cant claim something ought to be there that isnt. At Lincs vacant expression, she added a qualifier. You know, in case you try to tell the cops we stole from you.
Oh, for Petes sake! Lincoln loosely bracketed his hips with his hands. He studied the rooms occupants. One older boy wore a long, ratty velvet coat over holey jeans. The baggy pants of the other two dragged on the ground. One wore leather wrist bands. All had numerous earrings in both ears, and the girl with the lighter brown hair Jennyhad her lip, eyebrow and, Lord knew what else, pierced. Distrustful expressions, identical to Wolfies, were mirrored five times over.