His Tempest by Candice Poarch Read Free Book Online Page B

and entered the barn where the groom was already at work preparing the horses to board the trailer for the short ride to the practice track.
    Colin wanted to keep George too busy to sit around the house grieving.
    Within that one week Colin had been away, George had lost weight, adding to the total he’d lost since Mackenzie’s death.
    Although Colin respected the grieving process, he wanted to help George. And the best way, he figured, was to get him involved in an activity he loved.
    The sun hadn’t quite broken the horizon when they left the farm. Frost was still on the ground when they arrived at the track.
    Colin went to get more coffee for them. He handed one cup to George. “So what do you think of Maggie Girl?”
    â€œGood choice.”
    When George failed to mention any of the characteristics that made a prime thoroughbred, Colin changed the subject.
    â€œDo you remember the Eppses on Blue Mountain Farms?” he asked. “They used to run a summer camp.”
    George nodded.
    â€œTheir granddaughter is here. She’s opening the camp.”
    â€œThose buildings need work.”
    â€œShe’s having them repaired.”
    â€œWhere’s she going to stay?”
    â€œIn the house. Her dad had some work done to make it livable.”
    â€œHe stopped by when he was here. The family came to Mackenzie’s funeral.”
    Colin didn’t remember. So many people had attended. “The granddaughter’s name is Noelle. I want you to meet her. I saw a lot of her in Memphis. Her brother is here for the week to help her settle in before he returns to school.”
    â€œYou like her?” George asked, never taking his eyes off the activity around them.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIs she different from the rest? Her grandparents were friends with my wife and me.”
    Colin focused on the racetrack where jockeys and trainers were preparing for the race. “She’s special.”
    â€œWhy don’t you invite them to dinner?” George nodded toward Colin’s shirt pocket. “Use that fancy phone of yours and call Leila.” George hadn’t caught on to cell phones yet.
    â€œI’ll do that.”
    George sipped his coffee and looked out toward the track. “Be good to have company again. Leila likes to entertain. Been complaining nobody’s been over lately.”
    This was a good sign, Colin thought. A very good sign. He’d have Noelle and her brother over if he had to drag them kicking and screaming. But with Noelle’s soft heart, she’d readily agree.

    Noelle was still basking in her call from Colin when daylight broke over the horizon. She and her brother drove past the camp entrance and a half mile later turned onto the graveled path that led to her grandparents’ home. She dodged huge potholes, small branches and patches of weeds. The trees were thick and plentiful, but it was easy to see through the bare branches. They entered a clearing and she got her first glimpse of the old Colonial-style house. What used to be white had now weathered gray with age.
    â€œThis place is begging for paint,” Gregory said from the passenger seat.
    â€œAt least it has good bones,” Noelle said. “You’re offering to paint the outside?”
    â€œIf I had another month or two.”
    Four columns supporting the wide front porch stood tall and strong.
    Noelle remembered sitting in a rocker with a glass of juice. An old rusty glider was still there, pushed to the side. It had been sitting on that front porch in rain, snow, heat and hail for years.
    Nostalgia carried Noelle back a couple of decades, and a lump formed in her throat. “Do you remember summers here?”
    â€œA little, not much.”
    â€œYou’re too young,” she said. “See that pecan tree over there? Grandpa made a rope swing on it. It was the best swing I ever had.”
    â€œHmm.”
    â€œAnd although they had the summer