The Hawkins Blood

ngton, that kind of talk just sounded like background noise. Everyone's parents said the same thin

ntain of dishes on my own. Back when my biggest fear was flunking calculus. But in truth, those times weren't simple at all. Whi

om. She was a hunter. And I wa

we were still breathing. I used to worship him, but by the time I hit twelve, the shine had worn off. I asked Mo

ther has other children. You have two brot

d about them, and Mom knew little more than their names: Williams an

e seemed worse. Her normally sleek blonde hair had fallen from its usual topknot, and her deep blue eyes were wild, un

by the front window, frozen like a statue. She flinched slig

alm despite her disheveled look. Ther

ked jacket. "In Dallas. Poor guy didn't even know

ns?" she asked abruptly,

d was clouded-like someone ha

I mu

tted the bottle on the kitchen counter: white plastic again

found Mom in the exact same position, playing absently with the crystal

p on me now. I couldn'

just gotten back. A week on the road living off granola bars and gas

et me chang

e bag," she replied with

d motioned toward. When I unzipped it, I froze. It wasn't j

slowly. "What's

"Go change, Kate.

ned, week-old hunting gear in the hamper and returned to the living room in fre

ge, plopped into the chair across from

remarked, eyeing me disappr

than I can count," I replied, taking a long

y. I braced mysel

her's on

s lifted.

asked him to co

not twelve. You can't just pass me off to him

have my reasons. All I a

handing me off without warning? That's no

uddenly low and measured. "Something big. I don't ha

is this, a father-daughter r

nd I have done more than you know to keep you alive. I'm asking

ked, bitter. "No war

rrives, that's all you're getting. I suggest you

. Calm. Dangerous. Her loose blonde hair draped over her

came th

rate knock at

n compartment for my pistol. Mom didn't stop me. I move

on the porch-tall, broa

to Mom. "

ced up, then lo

muzzle of the gun to the door as I unlocked

d from years of battle, a salt-and-pepper bear

hony Hawkins, "its go