A Cowboy for Christmas by Bobbi Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

his servants would be able to hear if anything went wrong.
    Alone at last, Matilda looked up at the stranger, trying to judge his character. “Well, Mr. Roland, what is so important that you had to come barging into the Chases’ home this way to see Penny?”
    Dan saw the fierce protectiveness she had for her niece. He knew that was a good quality, but it also meant he was going to have to convince not only Penny, but her aunt, too. “I have a letter for Miss Anderson from her father.”
    He pulled the envelope from his shirt pocket and held it out to her.
    Penny hesitated for a moment, looking from the letter to Dan Roland. Their gazes met, and she could see how serious he was. She took the envelope from him, feeling decidedly unsettled by what might be in it. She took a deep breath and pulled out the one-page letter.
    Dear Penny
,
    It is with great sadness that I am sending this letter to you
.
    I have just learned that I have only a short time left to live and I need to see you again before I pass away. Dan Roland ismy foreman here on the Lazy Ace. He will accompany you back to the ranch
.
    With love,
Your father
    “What does the letter say?” Matilda asked, noticing how Penny paled as she’d read the missive. “What does your father want from you?”
    Penny lifted her gaze to her aunt, her thoughts dark and troubled, her heart aching. “I have to go back to the ranch—”
    “No, you don’t,” her aunt said. “Your life is here now. Your mother wanted you to stay right here in the city with me.”
    “You don’t understand, Aunt Matilda—” Her voice was choked with emotion.
    “Understand what?”
    “My father needs me,” Penny managed. “He’s dying.”
    “Jack is dying?” Matilda was aghast at the news. Of all the things she’d suspected Jack was going to this length to contact Penny about, this wasn’t one of them. The thought that he could be in such ill health shocked her. She looked to the man who’d brought the letter to Penny, and remembering all that Elizabeth had told her about the harshness of life on the ranch, she demanded, “What happened to him? Was he shot? Did he have an accident?”
    “No, ma’am,” Dan replied. “It was nothing likethat. The doctor told him it was his heart, so I have to get Miss Anderson back to the Lazy Ace as quickly as possible.”
    Memories overwhelmed Penny as she stood there holding the letter—memories of her father’s one short visit to see them there in St. Louis all those years ago and memories of the life she’d led on the Lazy Ace when she’d just been a young girl. Along with those memories came the pain of knowing that he hadn’t tried to stay in touch with her very often, even though she’d written to him regularly early on. “Why does he want to see me now after all this time? Why does he suddenly care about me and want me there?”
    Dan was gravely serious as he answered her, “He doesn’t have long to live, and he wants to see you before—”
    “But he never tried to stay in touch with me—”
    Dan was caught off guard by her statement. He glanced at her aunt and wasn’t surprised to see the older woman quickly avert her eyes and look away from him. He told Penny, “Your father did write to you. He wrote regularly, but he never heard back.”
    “He didn’t write regularly,” she denied. “I only got a few letters from him—”
    “Maybe you should ask your aunt about that.” Dan wondered what had really gone on after seeing Matilda’s reaction.
    “Aunt Matilda?” Penny turned to look at her, her eyes wide and questioning.
    “What, dear?” she responded nervously.
    “Is he right? Do you know anything about this?”
    “Well—”
    “Well, what?” Penny pressed her for the truth.
    Matilda met her gaze, feeling decidedly guilty over the deception her mother had started and she had continued. “Your mother always thought it best to keep your contact with your father to a minimum. She wanted you to be happy here, so