Read Dancing Through the Snow for Free Online Page B

managed to ask, “Is it about a foster child too?”
    “What?” Jess said, glancing down at the books she had brought earlier. Then she exclaimed, “Oh, heavens! I never even noticed. They’re just three of my favourite books. I’ve met the authors. One of them has been my friend since she was a child.”
    “Wow!” Min said, startled and impressed. She herself had never seen an author. One had come to her school when she was in Grade Three, but she had been sick that day and missed seeing him.
    Jess reached out and lightly patted Min’s cheek.
    “Sweet dreams, Min,” she said softly. “If you have a bad one, I’m right next door. Call me or come looking. I am an expert at driving away nightmares.”
    Min pulled the quilt up until half her face was hidden. “Could you … could you sing to me like you did in the hospital?” she asked.
    “So you
were
awake that night,” Jess said softly. And she turned out the Tiffany light, sat down on the edge of the bed and began to sing, “Good night, little girl, good night …”
    When the song ended, she rose and went out the door, closing it behind her. Then she opened it again. Maude Motley entered, waving her tail, and jumped up next to Min.
    “Boot her out if she bothers you,” Jess called from the hall. The door closed again. Min reached out to stroke the cat. When she had curled up next to the pillow, Min, taking care not to disturb her visitor, slipped out of bed and went to the window to raise the blind. She wanted the light of morning to shine in as soon as possible. She stood and gazed out through the drifting snowflakes at the streetlight right in front of the house. The steady glow it cast reached right to the front walk. No darkness lurked beneath it. Feeling safe, she got back into bed, pulled up the cocoon quilt, gave Maude another stroke and closed her eyes.
    She lay absolutely still, listening to the cat’s contented purr deepen into a snore.
    Then, out of the blue, a whirlwind of ugly feelings caught her. They were as unexpected as a springing tiger, and as terrifying. She doubled up her right fist and pushed it hard against her mouth. Tears leaked from the corners of her wide, staring eyes and soaked into the pillow. She clenched her teeth and fought to quell the rising storm.
    What was wrong with her? Bruno had had no power over her for years. Enid Bangs was not coming back for her. For the first time in her life that she could remember, someone had chosen to reach out for her without being asked to do so. Jess Hart had taken her and, without hesitating, carried her away out of the office and through the city to her home. Nobody had made arrangements to pay her. Mrs. Willis had even tried to stop her. Why was she mad when she should be overjoyed?
    Because it can’t be
true
, Min shouted at herself. Don’t believe it. She will have changed her mind by morning. Don’t trust anybody. You should know that by now.
    She could not hold back a gulping sob. The cat, startled awake, raised her head to stare. Then blackness closed over Min like a giant wave pulling her under. She went with it gratefully, diving deep into sleep. The bewildering outburst of joy and fury and terror washed away and were left forgotten on yesterday’s shore. The evil dream, which haunted so many of her nights, could not reach her. Deeply asleep for once, Min Randall smiled.

4
A Cry for Help
    F
ULLUMP!
    The cat, landing solidly on the floor next to the bed, woke Min. She lay absolutely still, staring around her, trying to decide where on earth she was and what had made the unfamiliar sound. Then she lifted her head from the pillow and looked over at Maude Motley, who was standing at the door, commanding Min to get up and let her out.
    “Coming, Miss Bossy,” Min said, and rose to obey orders.
    The morning sun was glistening on the heaps of fresh snow outside, making rainbows even lovelier than those created by the glass in her lamp. As Maude departed, Min started to yawn