Runaways (Orphans 5)

"We're very sorry, Mrs. Edwards," Crystal said.

Anita took the picture from Raven and looked at it a moment.

"Her name was Annie," she said, "named for my mother. Now they're together." She put the picture back on the mantel and turned to look at us, deep lines cutting across her forehead as the pain of her loss returned.

"One day," she said, "the light goes out of your life. It's like a candle flickering and flickering and suddenly, a wind comes and there is only darkness."

She sucked back her tears and pressed her lips together. Then she took a deep breath.

"My husband will help you. You can wait here or go outside if you like," she said and walked out of the room.

"How sad," Raven said.

"She looked at me and started to cry in the kitchen," Butterfly revealed. "Then she said, just leave the dishes. You can go back to your sisters."

"I feel bad for her," Raven said.

The air around us felt too heavy to breathe. "I'm going out," I announced and rose from my seat.

When I stepped out, I looked around and saw a tractor parked next to the barn with its engine cover up. There were tools on the ground. Curious, I started for it. It looked like Tommy Edwards was replacing spark plugs. I saw that he had the manual out by his tools, so I sat on the ground and studied it, thinking of Todd and how much I missed him.

"There'

s always something to get after around a ranch," I heard Tommy say as he came out of the house and approached.

I dropped the manual and stood up quickly.

"I didn't mean to frighten you, Brooke," he said. "I had to contact the FBI office about your foster father's car and all you told me, Brooke. The FBI is involved in any crimes committed on or involving Indian reservations. We police ourselves, too, but I thought that was best. I don't want the other girls to get frightened about it."

"I'll explain it," I said.

"They'll go over that vehicle from top to bottom and see if there is any evidence left. Whether there is or not, he'll have some explaining to do. I've also contacted the Child Protection Services about you girls. They're sending someone up, but it will be a while. They have to come from Albuquerque and they are quite understaffed."

"I don't mind how long it takes. I don't think any of us do," I said.

Tommy started working on the tractor and I headed back to the house to break the news. I found Raven coming out the back door.

"What's wrong?" Raven cried when she saw the look on my face.

"Tommy told me he had to contact the FBI." "The FBI?"

"They have to be contacted when there is a question of a crime on Indian reservations. It's not just because of us," I added quickly.

"You're not worried?" Raven asked.

"About what?"

"Maybe they'll arrest us for not turning in the cocaine. We could go to a federal prison!"

"I doubt it," I said. "Where are Crystal and Butterfly? We have to let them know."

"Butterfly went back into the kitchen to help Anita. Funny, how she's not shy with her. I think it's because she feels sorry for her. Crystal says Butterfly is drawn to other people's sadness like a moth to a flame."

I smiled.

"Yes," I said. "I guess she is."

We heard the barn door slide open and turned to see Tommy leading a palomino. The horse had a limp in its right rear leg.