A Love to Cherish by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online Page B

about Belle moved Casey deeply and he tried to push it to the back of his mind. Sentiments had no place in his life, not now, not when his brother’s life was at stake. He had accepted McAllister’s money, and had no choice but to bring the case to a favorable conclusion.
    Belle truly wanted to believe Casey. She was so tired of bearing the burden herself. So weary of looking over her shoulder for McAllister’s men. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in over a year. Not since she learned T.J. McAllister wanted to take her son away from her, and that the law would uphold his claim.
    Casey watched the play of emotion on Belle’s features and could only guess at the kind of private demons she was fighting. “Belle, I’m waiting,” Casey repeated. “Is there any truth in what Dinks said?”
    After an inner struggle with her conscience, Belle seemed to come to a decision. She lifted herself up until her eyes were on the same level as Casey’s. “What do you think?”
    “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
    “Very well. You wanted to know if I was seen at Naomi’s Pleasure Parlor in San Francisco. Yes. Now are you satisfied?” She’d be damned if she’d tell Casey her life story. She didn’t owe him a blessed thing.
    For some reason Casey felt a crushing disappointment.After meeting Belle, he hadn’t wanted to believe McAllister’s claim that she was a whore, but the lady had all but admitted it. Or had she? Thinking over her answer, she hadn’t exactly admitted that she had worked at Naomi’s as a whore, only that she’d been seen there.
    “Go on.”
    “There is nothing more to tell.”
    “I think there is.”
    “Damn you! You’re fired. I don’t need you digging into my past or meddling in my personal life. I don’t need you at all! I’ll take Tommy and go where no one can find us.”
    Casey gave an exasperated sigh. This was getting him nowhere. “I told you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you or Tommy. Don’t you believe me?”
    Belle’s eyes went murky. “Tom was the only man I ever trusted.”
    “Tom is dead.”
    “Don’t you think I know that? If he was still alive I wouldn’t be running away from his father.” Her mouth snapped shut and tears filled her eyes. “Oh, God, what did I say?”
    “Now we’re getting somewhere. Why did you run away from your husband’s father?” Of course he knew one side of the story, but he wanted to hear Belle’s version.
    She glared at him. “It’s a long story.”
    “I’ve got time. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you, not until I’ve heard the truth.”
    “You want the truth? Very well. Tom’s father is rich, very rich. He acknowledged neither my marriage to his son nor Tommy’s birth. It wasn’t until Tom died that T.J realized Tommy was the onlygrandson he’d ever have, and decided to take him away from me.”
    “How could he do that? You seem like a damn good mother to me.”
    Belle sighed. They were right back where they started from. For Casey to understand, she’d be required to divulge her background. “T.J. has always hated me. He didn’t think I was good enough for his son. He had a society marriage planned for Tom when we met and fell in love. T.J. forbade Tom to see me but Tom disobeyed him. I think that, more than anything, made T.J. hate me. We married against T.J.’s wishes and he promptly disowned Tom. He hoped Tom would abandon me and run back to him when he cut off Tom’s allowance.
    “Tom was made of sterner stuff and defied his father. I became pregnant almost immediately, and Tom got a job on a nearby ranch in order to support us. I was so proud of Tom. He didn’t care about being disowned and disinherited. He had me and Tommy to love. Then he drowned on a trail drive and my world came to an end. T.J. wasted no time in sending word that he was coming after Tommy, and that he was bringing the law to make sure I complied with his wishes.”
    “What did you do?” Casey asked, having already