Coulson's Wife (The Coulson Series) by Anna J. McIntyre Read Free Book Online Page B

you be up to going to a picture show later this week? Tarzan of
the Apes is playing.”
    “Oh my!” Mary Ellen
looked at William, clearly delighted with the offer. “I wanted to see that
movie, but my father wouldn’t let me.”
    “Why not?”
    “He said he didn’t want
his daughter watching a movie where people are running around the jungle half
naked.”
    William chuckled at her
response.
    “I read the book and am
curious to see the movie. I discussed it last night with Randall, and he said
you could go with me, if you want to.”
    “You spoke to Randall?”
    “Yes. Hasn’t he called
you?”
    “No. I really don’t
expect him to. We never talk much when he’s here. But yes, I would love to go
with you. I’ve also read the book. It’s actually one of my favorites.” Mary
Ellen looked back out the car window and smiled, content for the moment.
    Instead of responding, William
silently considered the fact Randall was not making much of an effort to
develop a deeper relationship with his young bride. He was treating Mary Ellen
the same way the elder Mr. Coulson treated Randall’s mother. William cringed at
the thought and told himself he must convince his friend to cultivate a deeper
relationship with Mary Ellen.
    “My father told me
Randall’s parents were killed in a house fire. Did you know them?” She already
knew the answer, but she didn’t want to betray Mrs. Parker’s confidence and she
was curious to learn more about the man she married — and his best friend. William looked momentarily
startled at the question, because he was silently thinking of the couple when
Mary Ellen asked.
    “Yes, we were
neighbors. He also lost his brother and sister that day.”
    “That must have been
devastating to him, losing his parents and siblings.” Mary Ellen turned to face
William, whose eyes were fixed on the road ahead.
    “He was never close to
his father. And his mother, well, she really didn’t pay much attention to him.
But his younger brother and sister — they
were twins — he seemed quite
fond of them. Of course, they were much younger and didn’t spend a great deal
of time with Randall. But losing his entire family in one day, it was rough.”
    “But you were there for
him, weren’t you?” Mary Ellen asked softly, already knowing the answer. She
suspected William was always there for Randall, when he needed him.
    “We were at different
schools when it happened. I left for college a year before him. But my
grandfather — I was raised by
my grandparents — sent me a
telegram, telling me about the fire. I came home that weekend to give Randall
my support.”
    “Did he go back to
school after the funerals?”
    “Not right away. His
father raised horses, and none of the animals were hurt in the fire. Both of us
pulled out of school for a while — until
he could settle his father’s estate and sell off the horses and land.”
    “You pulled out of
school too?”
    “The term was almost
over, so I went back to finish up, then dropped out for a year. Randall was
pretty devastated by the event and didn’t have any other family. He stayed with
me and my grandparents at their home, since his house was gone.”
    “And he didn’t want to
rebuild and carry on his father’s business?”
    At that question, William
let out a laugh before answering.
    “Oh no, Randall hated — and I mean hated horses.
He hated everything about the ranch. He was the sole heir, so he sold
everything, and used that money as capital to fund our first business venture.”
    “Which was a success.”
    “Yes. I was reluctant
at first; I had my own plans, but Randall begged me to go into business with
him. I told him I would, after I finished college. That was important to my
grandfather, and at the time, I only had a year left.”
    “So you both finished
college?”
    “No, actually, I
finished, Randall was too impatient. He dropped out when I graduated, but it
all worked out for him. Oh, and by the way, maybe forget what