Deborah Camp by My Wild Rose Read Free Book Online

remembered Jack when he was fifteen; a callow, black-haired lad, five years her senior and supposedly the spitting image of his father, a man Regina had never known. Jack had been only three when his widowed mother, Lilah, had married Regina’s father, Will Rose, who had worked in the lumber business. Will Rose had died eight years ago, but he had left the family years before that.
    The ruined beauty of her mother’s face floated through Regina’s mind, making her clench her teeth and ball her hands into fists. She was gripped once again with confusing feelings of wanting to embrace her mother and needing to push her away. She felt herself floating away from the memories, and the farther she went, the lighter she felt.
    A pounding on the front door brought her sharply awake. The ball of yarn in her lap tumbled to the rug, trailing a bright yellow strand. Regina put aside the muffs she was making for Annie Beck and hurried to the door. Whoever was on the other side pummeled it again, making it shake on its hinges and rattle the crossbar.
    “Wait a minute,” Regina called, gripping the heavy plank and beginning to lift it before the voice of caution stayed her. “Who is it?”
    “Jack. Open up.”
    Jack! Regina froze, not at all certain she wanted to see her half brother face-to-face again.
    “Open up or I’ll knock the damn door down!” Jack bellowed, and pounded on it again.
    “Jack, stop it,” Regina hissed as she lifted the crossbar and opened the door to confront whatshe’d dreaded most—a ruddy-faced, wild-eyed drunk. “What do you want at this hour, Jack? And what are you doing in Eureka Springs?”
    “You know damn good and well why I’m here,” he said, too loudly. His voice echoed along the wide, deserted street. “I’m here to collect my wife, that’s what. And don’t go shaking your head, little sis, because I know she hightailed it here. Where is she?” He pushed past Regina and stumbled into the foyer. “Is she upstairs? Come down here, you cowardly bitch! Come down or I’ll come up and drag you downstairs by the hair of the head. You know I’ll do it!”
    “Jack, stop this.” Regina grabbed his coat sleeves and shook hard to get his attention. “She’s not here, I tell you. She left you, did she? Well, I’m not surprised, if this is the way you act around her.”
    “Let go of me. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “That’s right, but I do know that this is my home and I’ll not have you barging in here raising the roof.”
    “And what will you do about it, little sis?” His sneer sent a shiver through her.
    “Jack, come into the kitchen. It’s raining outside and you’re wet. I’ll put on a pot of coffee and you can dry out beside the cookstove.” She tugged again. “Come on, now. Enough of this yelling and swearing. I’ll take care of you, Jacky.”
    The routine returned, the one she’d learned as a young girl. Coddle, comfort, never condemn. Get them settled and maybe they’d pass out. Then, and only then, would there be a few rare hours of peace. She hated Jack for making her remember, forcing the routine back on her. If she had only herself to think of she would order him from her home and lock the door behind him. But shecouldn’t take that chance tonight. If push came to shove, he might shove past her and gain the run of her house. That, she could not afford.
    Jack regarded her intently, and Regina knew he was trying to see past her concern to the truth of her. He shook off her clutching hands and jerked at the lapels of his damp coat.
    “You own this place?” he asked, looking around.
    “I rent from Mrs. Nation.”
    “Mrs. Nation,” Jack said, his upper lip curling. “Someone ought to muzzle that old cur.”
    “That’s an unkind thing to say about someone you haven’t even met.” She tugged on his sleeve. “Come into the kitchen, Jack.”
    “Why?”
    “For something to warm yourself.”
    “You think I’m stupid? I know you’re