Free Cliff-Hanger by Gloria Skurzynski Page B

word out, Lucky had snatched the watch with such force that Ashley reeled backward.
    â€œWhat is it with you Landons?” Lucky raged, staring at the watch and then quickly buckling it onto her wrist. “I don’t mean you, Jack, but everyone else in this family, especially your sister—”
    â€œWait a second,” Jack broke in. “She didn’t mean anything. Your watch was making some kind of noise, and she wanted to show me, that’s all.”
    Again, Lucky’s face seemed to run through, in split-second succession, a dozen different expressions before she looked up, her eyes filling with tears. She seemed anguished. Pathetic.
    â€œAshley, why do you hate me so much?” she asked. “What did I ever do to you?”
    â€œI don’t hate you,” Ashley protested.
    Tears began to run freely down Lucky’s cheeks. With the palms of her hands, she rubbed them away, leaving fist-size red marks on her skin. “You know, I never had a little sister. I never had anyone in my life that I could really be close to! And when I met you and we sat talking in the living room, I thought you were so cool. I thought we could be special friends. But you’ve hated me from the start, and I don’t even know why.”
    Vehemently, Ashley declared, “That’s not true!”
    â€œYes, it is. First you accused me of stealing from the burn area, then you went through my duffel bag, trying to find whatever it is you thought I stole—oh yeah, I know about it. Your mom really raked me over the coals on that one. Thanks to you I’ll have to deal with Ms. Lopez about that credit card number, even though I told your folks it’s only a number game I play to see how good my memory is. Why didn’t you just ask me about it, Ashley? I would have told you.”
    Ashley’s cheeks flamed.
    â€œAnd now you break into the bathroom and take my watch!”
    Keeping her voice even, Ashley explained, “I just went in to brush my teeth, and your watch was making this weird sound, so I picked it up.”
    â€œI was scared to death when I looked for it and it wasn’t there. You…you took something really precious. This watch is the only thing I have left from…my mom.” Lucky’s head drooped, as if in painful remembrance. She took a breath. “My mother gave it to me right before she died.”
    Ashley crossed her arms over her chest.
    â€œI know I’m overreacting, but it’s all I’ve got of my mother. I…I guess I’m too emotional….”
    â€œIt’s OK—” Jack began. He tried to reach out, but Lucky gently shook his hand off her arm.
    â€œI’m sorry, but right now, I think I need to be alone. I need some space. I’m going for a walk.” She went back to the bathroom to retrieve her jeans and a pair of sandals.
    â€œYou’re leaving? You can’t go out at night!” Ashley warned. “There’s a crazy cougar out there!”
    â€œI’m not afraid,” Lucky said coolly. “The cougar attacks weren’t anywhere around here. They were miles away on the other side of the park, your mother said.” Pulling on her jeans, Lucky slipped her feet into her sandals and quickly headed for the door. The nightshirt hung past the knees of her jeans, but she didn’t seem to care.
    â€œYou’re not allowed out alone unless my parents say it’s OK,” Ashley repeated. “And they’re for sure going to say no because the cougar—”
    â€œWould you stop with the cougar? I’ve handled worse things in my life than a big cat.” Lucky’s voice turned flinty. “As far as getting your parents’ permission, well, they’re not here to give it to me, are they? If they come before I get back, you tell them it’s your fault that I had to go.”
    â€œLeave it alone, Ashley. I’ll walk with her,” Jack said.
    Her face