Maggie's Dad by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online

never affected her driving. Powell Long had destroyed enough of her life. She wasn’t going to give him possession of one more minute of it, not even through hatred.
    She kept busy for the remainder of her vacation and spent New Year’s Eve by herself, with only a brief telephone call to her father for company. They didn’t mention Powell.
    Barrie stopped by on New Year’s Day, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and trying not to look interested in Dawson’s visit to Antonia’s father’s house. It was always the same, though. Whenever Antonia went toWyoming, Barrie would wait patiently until her friend said something about Dawson. Then she pretended that she wasn’t interested and changed the subject.
    But this time, she didn’t. She searched Antonia’s eyes. “Does he…look well?” she asked.
    â€œHe’s fine,” Antonia replied honestly. “He’s quit smoking, so that’s good news.”
    â€œDid he mention the widow?”
    Antonia smiled sympathetically and shook her head. “He doesn’t have much to do with women, Barrie. In fact, Dad says they call him ‘the iceman’ around Bighorn. They’re still looking for a woman who can thaw him out.”
    â€œDawson?” Barrie burst out. “But he’s always had women hanging on him…!”
    â€œNot these days. Apparently all he’s interested in is making money.”
    Barrie looked shocked. “Since when?”
    â€œI don’t know. For the past few years at least,” Antonia replied, frowning. “He’s your stepbrother. You’d know more about that than I would. Wouldn’t you?”
    Barrie averted her eyes. “I don’t see him. I don’t go home.”
    â€œYes, I know, but you must hear about him….”
    â€œOnly from you,” the other woman said stiffly. “I don’t…we don’t have any mutual friends.”
    â€œDoesn’t he ever come to see you?”
    Barrie went pale. “He wouldn’t.” She bit off the words and forced a smile to her face. “We’re poisonto each other, didn’t you know?” She looked at her watch. “I’m going to a dance. Want to come?”
    Antonia shook her head. “Not me. I’m too tired. I’ll see you back at work.”
    â€œSure. You look worse than you did when you left. Did you see Powell?”
    Antonia flinched.
    â€œSorry,” came the instant reply. “Listen, don’t tell me anything about Dawson even if I beg, and I swear I won’t mention Powell again, okay? I’m really sorry. I suppose we both have wounds too raw to expose. See you!”
    Barrie left, and Antonia quickly found something to do, so that she wouldn’t have to think any more about Powell.
    But, oh, it was hard. He’d literally jilted her the day before the wedding. The invitations had been sent out, the church booked, the minister ready to officiate at the ceremony. Antonia had a dress from Neiman Marcus, a heavenly creation that George had helped her buy—which had become part of the fiasco when she admitted it to Powell. And then, out of the blue, Sally had dropped her bombshell. She’d told Powell that George Rutherford was Antonia’s sugar daddy and he was paying for her body. Everyone in Bighorn knew it. They probably did, Sally had worked hard enough spreading the rumor. The gossip alone was enough to send Powell crazy. He’d turned on Antonia in a rage and canceled the wedding. She didn’t like remembering the things he’d said to her.
    Some of the guests didn’t get notified in time and came to the church, expecting a wedding. Antonia had had to face them and tell them the sad news. She had been publicly humiliated, and then there was the scandal that involved poor George. He’d had to move back to Sheridan, to the headquarters ranch of the Rutherford chain. It had been a shame, because the