Maggie Undercover by Elysa Hendricks Read Free Book Online

crime was rare in this area and
the pumpkin farm was well attended, when she'd disappeared his
heart had jolted. The highway ran just a few yards away. Anything
could have happened to her. "Where were you?" Fear made his tone
harsher than he intended.
    She shot him a sharp look then shrugged.
"Just checking something out."
    "Our cider's getting cold," Alexandra
complained. Without waiting she trotted back to the picnic
table.
    "Don't wander off like that again." He turned
to follow her.
    Maggie touched his arm. "I'm sorry if you
were worried."
    He stopped, but unwilling for her to see what
was in his eyes, didn't turn around.
    Worry didn't begin to describe the unreasoned
panic that had invaded him when she vanished for those few minutes.
She aroused primitive, protective instincts he thought only
Alexandra could stir. Wanting to deny the feelings Maggie created
inside him he said, "As your teacher, if anything were to happen to
you while in my care, I'd be held responsible."
    He heard her suck in her breath. When she
spoke her voice was cool and controlled. "I'm a big girl, Mr.
Blake. I can take care of myself." He remained frozen as she strode
ahead to the picnic table and sat next to Alexandra. In seconds the
two were involved in conversation. Maggie's laughter sounded
strained.
    Though she was running low on energy and
becoming a bit cranky, Alexandra settled down once they started
home. Jared couldn't contain his smile as she turned often in her
seat to admire the pumpkins in the rear.
    Maggie huddled against the passenger door,
staring out the window. Whatever she was thinking didn't show on
her face. Since his statement, she hadn't addressed a word to
him.
    Well, he wondered in growing irritation, what
did she expect of him? He was her teacher.
    Thirty long, silent minutes later he pulled
into his drive. Filled with renewed energy Alexandra bounded out of
the car and ran around to open the rear door. "Come on,
Maggie."
    Hugging her middle, Maggie eased out of the
car.
    "I think Maggie's ready to quit for today,
sweetheart. You and I can do the carving."
    "No, she promised." Alexandra pulled away
from his touch and stomped her foot, revealing a petulant,
demanding side to her personality he hadn't yet seen. Part of it he
knew came from being over tired, but another part was pure
stubbornness. Though it was part of her emergence from the grieving
process, Jared didn't welcome it right now with Maggie watching.
Nothing but time and patience would end the storm that was about to
erupt.
    "Alexandra…" he started.
    "No, she's right. I did promise. And I'm not
tired. Let's you and I get the tools. Your dad can carry in the
pumpkins." She turned to him and held out her hand. "The house key
please."
    Reprieved from having to be the heavy parent
and ruin a delightful day, he complied without argument.
    With things going her way Alexandra's pout
disappeared. Like a docile puppy she followed Maggie into the
house.
    A few minutes after they settled down on to
the porch and began working on the pumpkins, Bobby and Lisa showed
up. Heads bent together the three children argued without heat as
to the best way to carve the pumpkins. Bobby lobbied for scary,
gruesome faces, while Lisa and Alexandra wanted ones with sweet
smiles. Maggie resolved the conflict by pointing out that there
were more than enough pumpkins to do both. With innate skill she
directed the children's high spirits and energy. She knew when to
step in and help and when to sit back and let them find the answers
themselves.
    "Hello."
    He looked up and muffled a groan. The Widow
Larkins was coming up the walk. She'd been a godsend since he and
Alexandra had moved in, stepping in when his regular sitter
couldn't watch Alexandra. With his parents in Florida, she stood in
as a substitute grandmother. A widow with no children or
grandchildren, she'd adopted the whole town as her family. But her
blunt manner and ability to ferret out secrets made him
uncomfortable. She