Not Our Summer by Casie Bazay (android based ebook reader TXT) 📗

my fault that getting into college is almost impossible now. If I’d have known higher education was even a possibility for me, maybe I would have tried harder.

“I still don’t understand how Daddy had all this money,” RaeLynn says, “but this is certainly a nice surprise.”

I love how she’s suddenly referring to him as Daddy, like they were the perfect father-daughter combo. According to that letter, RaeLynn and Becka weren’t around much, either.

“Let’s just say he invested well,” Mr. Sisco says with the hint of a smile, “but there’s more.”

“Oh,” Mom says quietly as she settles back into her seat.

“In order for any of the four named recipients to receive their inheritance, there are five specific tasks that must be completed.”

“What do you mean?” RaeLynn asks, her eyes narrowing.

Mr. Sisco pauses, glancing her way for a second before peering back down at the paper in front of him. “These tasks must be completed by Rebecka Cowles and Katherine Walker. If the tasks are not completed, in full, then the entire sum will be withheld from the aforementioned persons and left instead to the Arkansas Amateur Entomological Association.”

“What the hell does the Entomological Association need all that money for?” Mom demands.

“What are the tasks?” I ask, a mixture of curiosity and dread taking over. I honestly have no clue what to expect here.

Mr. Sisco smiles again. “I’m so glad you asked.”

Mom inches closer to him, trying to read the document herself. I can’t see crap from where I sit.

“The following tasks are to be completed in this specific order, and all costs pertaining to them will be covered by an additional set of funds provided by Mr. Walker.”

Whatever the hell these tasks are, Grandpa sure was serious about them. Nothing should probably surprise me at this point, but my spine stiffens with nervous anticipation.

“Task number one,” Mr. Sisco says, his voice becoming thick with authority. “Ride a mule on the guided trip into the Grand Canyon, stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch, and return to the South Rim the following day. The trip has already been booked, since reservations must be made at least a year in advance.”

“What in the actual fuck?” I mutter.

Mom elbows me again.

Becka’s face is flushed pink. “I’m not riding a mule.” She fixes her blue eyes on me and frowns. “And especially not with her.”

“Be quiet, both of you,” my mom says. Well, well, look who’s suddenly decided to give a shit. “What’s the second thing?” she asks.

“Task two is to participate in a base camp hike at Yellowstone National Park.” My eyes widen, but Mr. Sisco doesn’t wait for us to respond this time. “Task three is to white water raft over the Bull Sluice on the Chattooga River. Task four will be snuba diving off the coast of Key West, Florida. And, finally, task five will be to enter one event in a local rodeo.”

“Wait,” I say. “What’s snuba diving?”

“A combination of scuba diving and snorkeling,” Mr. Sisco says. “You won’t need certification for it.”

“Wow!” RaeLynn says, nodding appreciatively. “It’s like a bunch of little mini-vacations. Except for the rodeo.”

Becka’s face has gone from pink to almost magenta now, and she looks like she’s about to blow. Little Miss Perfect has a temper, so it would seem.

I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t get it. Why would Grandpa want us to do all these things?”

“He’s trying to kill us,” Becka screeches, her cool finally breaking. “I’m afraid of heights. And I don’t like horses.”

“He never said you had to ride a horse,” I say. “Just a mule. And you could ride a bull in the rodeo.” The thought makes me smile.

She pounds a hand on the table. “I don’t need to do any of these things. I already have my college paid for, and my mom doesn’t need this money.”

Now my mom is the one to redden. “Listen here, little missy, you two might not need the money, but I don’t even have a reliable car. And this could be K. J.’s only chance to go to college.” Obviously, she’s not remembering my less-than-ideal grades at the moment.

“Actually, I could use the money,” RaeLynn says quietly. “I could pay off the rest of my debt. We still owe quite a bit on Ricky’s hospital bills.”

A small knot of guilt tightens inside my stomach. I’d never even met my cousin Ricky. He died four years ago, from a bad infection after having his appendix removed. He spent almost two months in the hospital. Mom and I didn’t attend his funeral. We didn’t even know about it until after the fact.

RaeLynn turns to Becka, her expression hard to read. “I know these are strange requests, but look at it this way, you’ll get to travel all over the country. Do things you may otherwise never get to do.” She gives a slight smile. “I’m a little envious actually. I’d love to go to Key West.”

“Would you love to enter a rodeo?” Becka asks flatly. “Or have to do all these things with Aunt Jackie?”

RaeLynn’s smile evaporates. We all know the answer to that question.

“Why us?” I ask. I seem to be the only one who isn’t angry, and just trying to comprehend all this craziness. “Why not his own daughters? They’re the ones who hate each other’s guts.”

Mr. Sisco gives me a chiding look, like maybe I shouldn’t have stated the obvious. “Your grandfather thought it might be too late to mend their broken relationship, but it seems he still had hopes that his two granddaughters might learn to be friends.”

I catch Becka’s eye, and we both stare at one another.

“Not gonna happen,” she says.

I second that. Grandpa’s tasks actually sound kind of cool, but I’d never be able to enjoy myself—not with her tagging along.

“I know what this is,” RaeLynn says, realization dawning on her face. She folds her hands on the table and nods to no one in particular. “These are the things he always wished he’d done, but he couldn’t because of