Free The Journey Home by Brandon Wallace

brothers, right? I can see it in your faces.”
    â€œYeah, we are. So what?”
    Kim gave a low whistle. “Whoa! Easy, there.”
    â€œSorry.” Jake fidgeted uneasily. He knew he was acting like someone with something to hide, and the girl clearly knew it too. He’d gone outside and retrieved Taylor’s backpack as well as the snowboard, but he hadn’t thought up a cover story.
    With a broad grin she asked, “Sooo, what brings you guys out here on your own, miles from town, just after a giant snowstorm?”
    â€œWe’re snowboarders,” Jake answered, saying the first thing that came into his head.
    â€œSnowboarders!” she echoed. “With only one board between you. So do you, like, take turns?”
    â€œI dropped mine in the avalanche!” Jake protested.
    Kim made a noise halfway between a snort and a laugh. “We don’t get many snowboarders around here. You do know you’re on the Wind River Reservation, don’t you?”
    The question left Jake tongue-tied, but Taylor stepped in. “We kind of got lost. When we saw your house, we decided to come and ask for directions.”
    At least that part’s true, Jake thought.
    Kim just shrugged. “Whatever. It’s my mom’s job to look after this part of the reservation. I couldn’t care less what you guys are up to, but she’ll definitely want to know.”
    A question came to Jake’s lips then, as he noticed whatwas missing from the house, but he bit it back. Kim must have guessed what was on his mind, though, because she said, “Dad doesn’t live with us. Not anymore.”
    â€œOur parents split up too,” Taylor said.
    â€œSucks, doesn’t it?” Kim said with a wry twist of the mouth.
    Jake relaxed a little. Now that they had something in common, maybe she’d stop with the questions.
    â€œSo, who do you need to call?” said Kim, standing up. “Your mom, or your dad? You’ll want to tell them you’re safe, I bet.”
    Or maybe she’ll just ask us more questions. Jake avoided her eyes. “We, uh . . .”
    â€œI’ll get the phone. What’s your phone number?”
    Jake and Taylor glanced at each other.
    â€œWe don’t, uh, know,” Jake said.
    Kim burst out laughing. “Oh, give me a break ! You don’t know your phone number? You’re out here alone, with a bunch of camping gear and a single freakin’ snowboard, and now you’ve got amnesia, too?”
    A sound came from outside—a vehicle was approaching the house.
    â€œThat’ll be Mom,” Kim said. “I’d tell her you are my guests . . . if I knew who the hell you two really were. But maybe you’ll tell her yourselves.”
    â€œYou want the truth?” Jake erupted. “Fine. We’ve run away from our dad, and we’re trying to get to our mom. She’s in trouble.”
    â€œWhat kind of trouble?”
    â€œBig trouble. The kind that could get her killed,” Taylor said. “She nearly died once already.”
    Jake sighed. Geez, Taylor. Tell her everything, why don’t you.
    Kim stared at the two of them. Outside, boots crunched on the ice, coming closer to the door.
    â€œI knew you were runaways,” Kim said, sounding satisfied. “Sorry, guys, but my mom needs to know.”
    â€œDon’t!” Jake pleaded. “We can’t go back to Dad. Our mom needs us. Please!”
    Kim gave him a calculating look. She seemed to be weighing her options. Jake gripped the arms of his chair, sick with dread.
    A key turned in the door. It swung inward.
    There was a pause. Then a worried-sounding voice called: “Kim? Is someone here with you?”
    Jake sat, bracing himself for Kim’s answer, waiting for the worst. . . .

10 The woman standing in the doorway had Kim’s round face and deep-set eyes. She wore a richly colored wool overcoat that