A Long Tall Texan Summer: Tom Walker by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

of the warrior subchiefs," he explained. "He fought and was wounded in the Little Bighorn fight."
    "Massacre," Crissy said knowingly.
    He gave her a long look. "A massacre is when one group is totally unarmed and defenseless.
    Custer
    and his men had plenty of weapons."
    "Oh," Crissy said respectfully.
    "Back in the old days, trackers could tell by the shape of a moccasin which tribe he was tracking. The arrows were unique to each tribe, and even to each warrior."
    "Goodness," Crissy exclaimed. "Can you track?"
    He chuckled. "I can track my way to the nearest burger stand," he mused. "But out in the woods, I don't think I'd be much good at it. Now my sister's husband is a real tracker. And he's got Native American blood, too. Their little boy is just your age. He looks a lot like you," he mused, studying Crissy. "He has green eyes, too, despite his dark skin and hair."
    "Have you seen the Cades lately?" Luke asked.
    Tom shook his head. "I've been too busy, what with this move to Jacobsville. But I thought I might go up
    there for a few days next month. I don't know what I'll do with Moose while I'm away, though," he added thoughtfully.
    "You got a moose?" Crissy asked, wide-eyed.
    "That's his name," Tom said, correcting her. He chuckled. "Moose is sort of like a walking disaster. I've been around dogs most of my life, but he's unique. Kate saw him once and called him an albatross."
    "What's that?" the little girl wondered aloud.
    "There was a poem by Coleridge. The ancient
    mariner was forced to wear one around his neck—"
    "I read that in school." Luke interrupted. "It was one of the only poems I liked."
    "We could keep your dog for you," Crissy volunteered.
    "No, you couldn't," Tom said before Elysia or Luke could speak. "Moose would shatter every fragile
    thing your mother and uncle have, and you'd have to recarpet the floor. He's a digger. If he can't get his paws into dirt, he'll try to unearth the carpet. Everything I own is saturated in lemon juice to keep Moose
    out of it. He really hates the taste of lemon."
    "Why do you keep him?" Luke asked.
    Tom made a face. "I don't know. I like him, I guess. He was a stray. I felt sorry for him. Now I feel Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html sorry for myself. But he'll grow up. One day."
    "We have two cats that somebody abandoned,"
    Luke murmured, with a speaking glance at his sister. "I was going to take them to the pound, but she—" he gestured toward Elysia "—wouldn't hear of it. They went to the vet instead, for shots. Good thing she makes a good living at her boutique, or their appetites would bankrupt her."
    "They eat an awful lot," Crissy agreed. "Especially Winter."
    "Winter?" Tom ventured.
    "It was when we found her," she replied. "And the other one is named 'Damn—'"
    "Crissy!" Elysia burst out.
    "Well, that's what Uncle Luke calls her,”
    Crissy muttered.
    "Her name is Petunia," Elysia said, smothering
    laughter. "But she likes shaving lotion, so every morning when Luke uses his, Petunia leaps into his lap and tries to lick him."
    "Moose has several other names, too," Tom murmured, "But I won't repeat them in mixed company."
    Luke chuckled.
    "Would you like to see our cats?" Crissy asked when they finished dessert. "They live in the barn."
    "Go ahead," Elysia told the other three occupants of the table. "I have to clear away."
    Tom hesitated, but Crissy caught his hand and coaxed him out the back door.
    Luke hesitated before he followed. "You okay?" he asked his sister.
    She managed a smile. "I suppose so. Not that we've settled anything, but we're not attacking each
    other, either. I don't mind if he sees Crissy."
    "They seem to be forming a bond."
    "I noticed." She sighed. "Luke, you don't think he'll try to take her away from me?" she asked worriedly.
    "No, I don't. He isn't that kind of man."
    "I do hope you're right. I've only been around him for a few..."
    The sound of tires on the gravel outside caught their