Out of Control by Mary Connealy Read Free Book Online

thing in the morning.” Rafe wasn’t listening to her. He was too busy giving orders.
    Julia decided it was time he found out she wasn’t going to obey. “No. I can’t go to Rawhide. Absolutely not. I have to go home . . . now .” She clenched her fist, fought down her temper. Stay calm. Reason with him. Make him understand.
    â€œIf I’m out all night, Audra will be crazy with worry.” Julia’s voice broke, and she jammed her fingers into her hair and pulled it, hoping the pain would distract herself from the panic and stupid crying. She breathed through the tears that were cutting off her voice until she got control of herself. All she and her family had been through since they left Houston in the spring, and Julia had held up well, mainly because Audra needed her to be strong.
    Rafe just stared at her. Honestly, that long, quiet look helped get her tears under control better than if he’d been nice.
    Which he wasn’t. Yippee.
    It was obvious he was waiting to issue some new order.
    â€œWhat?” She might as well let him go ahead.
    â€œWe’ve been talking in circles, Julia. First it’s your pa, then there’s a baby. You live in Rawhide, you have to go home, you can’t go to Rawhide. The town where you say your pa has a store is twenty miles from here, yet you say you live a half mile from the cavern. None of these things match up, Jules. And who in the world is Audra? Is she the baby?”
    Julia glared at Rafe. She had explained her situation very carefully, several times. She inhaled slowly. “Can you sit down, please, and listen to me for a few minutes. I will say this one more time and try to make it clear.”
    Rafe’s eyes flickered to Ethan, who stood in the doorway off to Julia’s right. Rafe was on her left, so she couldn’t quite see what passed between them.
    Probably confusion. The Kincaid brothers seemed to be easily confused.
    â€œWe live outside of town. A long way. Our cabin is about a half mile from the cavern.”
    â€œNo, it’s not.”
    Rafe didn’t sit, and Julia really wished he would so they could pretend like they were having a normal conversation, which might help keep her from screaming when she thought of how worried Audra must be by now. And this was Saturday night. Father would be home. That should have been a good thing; it was better than if Audra was alone. But Father had a knack for making everything worse.
    Julia gritted her teeth. “Yes, it is. It’s a very steep trail, and I discovered the cavern while hiking. I’ve walked that trail many times. I know how far I walked.”
    â€œThere’s a fast-moving creek right over the crest of that mountain. There’s no way across. You have to go around, so it’s a lot longer than half a mile.”
    â€œI have a way across.”
    Rafe frowned and exchanged another look with Ethan. He stepped toward her and took her head in his hands to have a closer look at her temple. “Do you think you were unconscious long? A head injury might explain why you’re a bit addled.”
    She shoved his hands away and snapped, “Just be quiet and listen.” She fought her way back to calm. “My father didn’t want us living in town. He said it was dangerous. So he found a place outside of town and he only comes home on Saturday nights when the general store is closed.”
    â€œThe general store is owned by a man I know well. Your father owns a saloon.”
    Julia threw her hands wide. “Whatever he owns, we live a half mile from that cavern.”
    â€œYour pa leaves you alone out there?” Rafe scowled.
    â€œYes, with Audra, my stepmother. I’ve got a baby sister named Maggie and there’s a baby on the way. In the afternoons, when Maggie sleeps, Audra lays down for a while. The floorboards creak and the door scrapes when I open it, so I can either sit motionless for two or three