Free Keeping the Tarnished by Bradon Nave Page A

lettuce they had provided it the night before.
    Johnny smiled in relief as he reached his hand down slowly to the small animal. As he got close, the rabbit lunged slightly at Johnny, causing him to jerk his hand back. The boy began to laugh. “Hey there, little fella, no need for attitude this early in the morning,” he said, smiling at the cranky rabbit.
    “They can be feisty, can’t they, sweetie?” Graye asked as she walked up behind the boy smiling, and still in her royal-blue house robe.
    Johnny turned around, happy to see someone else awake. “I think he’s ready to head back home,” the boy said as Graye put her arms out, embracing him in a hug.
    “Good morning, sweetie. Yes, I’m sure he’s ready to get out of that box,” the woman said as she turned and walked toward the coffee pot on the kitchen counter.
    Johnny stood motionless—dumbfounded. He had not been hugged by an adult since his mother left him. He felt warm inside and began to smile.
    “You think the dogs will bother him if I take him out now?” Johnny asked.
    “Oh, they’re put up at night in the barn. They like to roam after the sun goes down, and we got tired of the phone calls from annoyed neighbors six miles up the road.”
    Johnny turned and closed the box. He carefully picked it up with both hands and began walking from the kitchen.
    “I’ll start breakfast here in a little bit, Johnny,” Graye announced as he exited the kitchen.
    “Thank you, Graye. I am pretty hungry,” the teen replied.
    He exited the house through the front door and went down the porch stairs.
     
    ***
     
    Graye
     
    Graye watched him as he came into view from the kitchen window. The boy began walking in the direction of the stable. She was happy the rabbit had survived the night. She loved that it made the boy so happy.
    “Um, where’s my breakfast, mommaroo?” a sleepy, shirtless, bed-headed Jared asked as he entered the kitchen. He yawned loudly and hugged his mother.
    “Hey now, young man, I was just telling Johnny I was about to start it up,” she said as she hugged her son tightly.
    “Where is he? I thought he was still in bed?” Jared asked as Graye turned from him and grabbed her coffee cup.
    “He is releasing Mr. Hops out by the horse stables.”
    “Awesome,” Jared replied as he looked at Graye with a solemn look on his face. “Mom, are you and Dad going to take him to the Grace House?”
    Graye turned her back to Jared and inhaled deeply, letting it out slow.
    “It’s a complicated situation, Jared, but no. Your dad and I are going to offer him a room upstairs while he finishes school.” Graye placed her coffee cup in the sink and looked out the window. Before she even completed the sentence, Jared was flashing a huge smile. “That is, of course, if that is okay with you and B, and if he even wants to stay here with you two crazies,” the woman said as she turned to her son just as Jared put his arms out and walked to his mother to hug her.
    “That’s awesome. You guys are awesome. That is seriously awesome,” the boy said excitedly as he hugged his mother.
    “I think so too, son.” The woman embraced him back, and then pushed away, looking at the boy’s face.
    “Not a word to him or your sister until your father and I speak with him first. There will be ground rules that he will be expected to follow, just like you and B,” she said sternly as Jared quickly released her and turned for the front door.
    “Yea, yea, I’m gonna go watch the release!” Jared ran for the door happily, hoping he didn’t miss the grand release of the small cottontail.
    “I’m serious! Not a single word!” Graye hollered at her boy as she smiled and walked toward the refrigerator.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Fourteen
     
     
    An Invitation
     
    Jackson
     
    “Between what I bought him and the clothes that Jared provided, I’d say he’s going to be set up pretty well,” Graye said to her husband.
    Jackson looked