Chapter Nine
After a year of ranch-style living, a three-story walk-up seemed like a hassle to Reed. Standing in the one-bedroom apartment, he crossed the linoleum floor to the barred window.
Outside, the view was nothing but concrete. There were no rolling pastures like on the ranch. No sounds of animals roaming about or calling to each other. Instead, the honks of horns and walla walla of the inner city yelled at him.
Instead of looking out to see Xavier and Sean shooting hoops, Reed saw skinny, young boys with pants hanging low on their hips and angry tattoos on their bare, bird-like chests.
He didn’t catch Dylan and Maggie sneaking a kiss behind the barn, or Fran and Eva holding hands as they walked down the lane. Nope. Instead, he saw young girls in too much makeup and too tight j
