Lone Star Winter by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

spokes, and the sooner, the better.

Chapter Three
    H arley drove the little red car with its new water pump back to Lisa Monroe early the next morning, with Cy following in his big utility vehicle.
    Lisa was overjoyed at the way the engine sounded as Harley pulled up at the front porch and revved it before he turned it off.
    â€œIt hasn’t ever sounded that good before!” she enthused. “Thank you, Harley!”
    â€œYou’re very welcome, ma’am,” he said, making her a mock bow with his hat held against his chest. “But I didn’t fix it. I’m just delivering it.”
    She laughed and Cy glowered. She and Harley were close in age, or he missed his bet. The man, despitehis bravado, was honest and hardworking and basically kind. Cy wondered how old Lisa was. Well, at least she was young enough to find Harley’s company stimulating—probably much more stimulating than the company of an aging mercenary who was half-crippled and cynical….
    â€œWon’t you both come in for a cup of coffee?” she invited.
    â€œI will,” Cy told her. “Harley, go take a look around and see what needs doing. Then find Lisa’s part-time help and get them on it.”
    â€œMy pleasure, Mr. Parks,” he said with a wicked grin and turned to follow the tersely given instructions.
    Lisa gave Cy a speaking look.
    â€œGo ahead,” he invited. “Tell me that chores are get ting done by people other than you. Tell me that the south pasture is being hayed before the predicted rains day after tomorrow. Tell me,” he added mockingly, “that you’ve got your new calf crop vaccinated and tagged.”
    She got redder by the minute. She didn’t want to tell him that she couldn’t get the men to take her suggestions seriously. They were throwbacks to another age, most of them were twice her age, and the madder she got, the more indulgent they became. Once they threatened to quit, they had her over a barrel and shegave up. Hands were thin on the ground this time of year. She could barely afford to pay her employees as it was.
    â€œHarley will get them moving,” he told her.
    Her lips compressed and her eyes sparked. She looked outraged.
    â€œI know,” he said helpfully. “It’s a new age. Men and women are equals. You pay their wages and that means they need to do what you say.”
    She made a gesture of agreement, still without speaking.
    â€œBut if you want people to obey, you have to speak in firm tones and tell them who’s the boss. And it helps,” he added darkly, “if you hire people who aren’t still living in the last ice age!”
    â€œThey were all I could find to work part-time,” she muttered.
    â€œDid you go over to the labor office and see who was available?” he asked.
    The suggestion hadn’t occurred to her. Probably she’d have found young, able-bodied help there. She could have kicked herself for being so blind.
    â€œNo,” she confessed.
    He smiled, and that wasn’t a superior smile, either. “You aren’t aggressive enough.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œIf you’re going to hire that type of man, you have to have the whip hand. I’ll teach you.”
    â€œIf that means I’ll end up being a local legend like you, I’m not sure I want to learn it,” she replied with a twinkle in her dark eyes.
    â€œOld lady Monroe,” he recited, chuckling, “carries a shotgun and emasculates men in the barn.”
    She flushed. “Stop that.”
    â€œIsn’t that a nicer image than sweet little Lisa who hasn’t got the heart to fire a man just because he lies in wait in her bed dead drunk and stinking?”
    â€œCy!”
    He grinned as she curled one hand into a fist. “Much better,” he said. “Now hold that thought when you speak to your lazy hands next time. In fact, don’t smile at them ever again.