Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) (163 page)

“Stay
in
the
yard.”

Tavish
stared
at
her
in
disbelief.
“There’s
no
room
in
the
yard.
At
Christmas
you
said
I
could
walk
in
the
field
behind
the
back
fence.”

“Well,
today
I’m
saying
to
stay
in
the
yard.
You
can
go
all
around
the
perimeter.
It’ll
be
clear
of
footprints
too—better
shoeing
that
way.”

“I—”

“Give
it
up,
Tavish.
She’s
determined
to
keep
us
prisoner
today.”

“Vannie…”

“I’m
going
to
go
find
something
to
sew.”

“Good
idea.
Tina
brought
home
some
cool
fabric
from
when
she
was
looking
in
Rockland.
It’s
in
the
laundry
room
in
the
dryer.
I
prewashed
it
for
you.”

“Thanks.”

The
girl
didn’t
sound
thankful;
s
he
sounded
angry,
but
before
Aggie
could
say
anything,
t
he
phone
rang
and
Vannie
dashed
to
answer
it.
Seconds later she called out,
“Mrs.
Dyke
wants
Kenzie
to
come
over.
She
baked
snickerdoodles
for
her.”

“I
think
that
jumble
of
pronouns
means
that
Mrs.
Dyke
made
cookies
for
Kenzie.”

“Yes.”

Aggie
dove
for
Ian
before
he
could
escape
into
the
kitchen.
“I’ll
take
Ian
over
and
get
them.”

“She
wants
Kenzie
to
come.
I
think
she
wants
to
sign
the
cast.”

“Well,
Kenzie
isn’t
going—well,
she
can
come
with
us.
Kenzie!”

The
first
days
with
her
cast
had
found
Kenzie
favoring
her
arm.
She
had
held
it
close
and
was
unwilling
to
move
much
unless
forced.
It
hadn’t
lasted
long.
Twice
she’d
caught
the
girl
using
it
in
foam
sword
battles
as
a
shield
and
now
she
barreled
up
the
stairs
and
forced
her
way
through
the
door
with
the
same
sword
still
clutched
in
her
other
hand.
“What?”

“Mrs.
Dyke
made
you
cookies
and
you’re
flinging
your
arm
around
again.”

“That’s
what
the
cast’s
for!
To
protect
it.”

“Well,
you
help
the
cast
a
little
more
by
not
using
it
to
block
strikes
by
swords.
Let’s
go
get
those
cookies.”

“That’s
ok,
Aunt
Aggie.
I
can
go.
Vannie,
will
you
zip
me
up
in
my
jacket?”

Kenzie
had
no
trouble
getting
her
good
arm
in
her
jacket,
but
the
other
wouldn’t
fit
in
the
sleeve,
so
they’d
taken
to
zipping
her
into
it
with
her
arm
ensconced
inside.
Once
ready,
she
pulled
her
stocking
cap
on
crookedly
and
dashed
for
the
door.
“Be
right
back!”

“Wait
for
me,”
Aggie
called.

The
child
froze,
staring
at
her
in
shock.
“Why?”

“Because
I’m
going
with
you.”

“Why?”

“Because
I
want
to.”
Aggie
bundled
Ian
into
his
jacket
as
she
spoke.
“I
think
his
jacket
is
getting
too
small
already!”

“
I’m
confused.”