Rainbow Hill Read Online Free

were on the floor on the other side of the room. Quinn walked to the window and jerked up the shade to allow light to spill into the room.
    “Damn it’s stuffy in here,” he said, deciding to open the window. “It’s a beauty out. Let’s let some air in.” His gaze dropped to the bedside table, a silver picture frame covered in a fine layer of dust catching Quinn’s attention—a gift from his mother’s great aunt, he remembered. The young couple on their wedding day smiled back at Quinn, their glistening eyes full of anticipation.
    Frank scrubbed his hand over his face, exhaling. “Those damn birds won’t let me sleep. How can creatures so small make all that racket?”
    “They’re letting you know that you shouldn’t be sleeping.”
    “I’ll be the judge of that, son,” Frank murmured under his breath, now steadying against the edge of mattress with both hands. He lifted his chin, his brown eyes verging on soullessness. “Why don’t you get me a drink?” His smile was thin.
    “I think you’ve had enough.”
    The smile dropped. “Of water.” He eyed a glass smudged with fingerprints sitting beside the framed wedding photo.
    “Of course,” Quinn answered, feeling ashamed. He moved for the glass.
    “You know I’m trying really hard.”
    “I know you are.” Quinn took the glass and filled it from the bathroom sink, allowing the water from the tap to run cold first. He gazed around the small room. It was surprisingly orderly compared to the bedroom.
    When handing the glass to Frank, Quinn noticed his father’s hand tremble. “Got it?” he asked, refusing to let go until he was sure Frank had a firm grasp.
    Frank nodded, licking his lips. He drank like a man with a great thirst.
    “Ethan’s downstairs. He only just arrived.” Quinn folded over his father’s shirt collar, pressing it flat with his fingertips while Frank drained the glass.
    “Does he still have that funny hair color?”
    “That was a long time ago. We were in high school.”
    Frank’s chuckle turned into a phlegmy, rumbling cough. “No one should ever have that color of hair,” he managed. “It looked like dried out straw. Miracle the herd didn’t try to munch it off him.”
    “I believe it was supposed to be platinum blond.”
    “Whatever color you call it, it was pretty damn awful. Scared the living hell out of me when I saw him walking down Main Street that day. Almost caused me to run a red light, the glare off his head was that bad.”
    Quinn laughed along with Frank. “It was pretty bad, but let’s not bring it up. He just got caught up with our plan.”
    “Your plan. Tucker’s plan,” Frank clarified. “Not mine.” Taking the final sip, Frank replaced the glass on the table. “If you ask me, you two are dreaming. Who’s gonna drive all the way out here to buy some fancy jelly when they could go down the block to the grocery? Stupid people, that’s who. Do you want to be invaded by stupid people? I surely don’t.”
    “They’re not stupid people, they are people enjoying themselves, enjoying life. And there’s no harm in us making some money off those people so we can enjoy life too.”
    “Enjoy life,” Frank scoffed. “Life’s not about enjoying, it’s about working yourself to the point where your limbs can no longer move and then you die.”
    “That’s a joyous perspective.” Quinn clapped his hands in the hopes of motivating his father to stand and snap out of his morose mood. “Now get up and get yourself downstairs. Tucker’s made stew, and if you don’t want that there’s always eggs but we have work to do. I need help cutting grass out at the backfield, and we’re falling behind. Sun’s shining, and it’s time to make hay. Literally.”
    “I heard you, so stop talking so loudly,” Frank stood with some effort. “And if you ever clap again in my presence, I’m going to clap you upside the head.”
    Although it sounded as if Frank was joking, Quinn didn’t want to find out if