Maureen McKade by A Dime Novel Hero Read Free Book Online Page A

weather cooperates.”
    “Like the tour I gave you years ago?”
    Jake laughed. “I’d forgotten about that.” He looked down at Johnny. “Did your ma ever tell you about the time her pet chipmunk attacked me?”
    Johnny’s eyes saucered. “Uh-uh.”
    “I came over one day to bring her a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest,” Jake began. “Since I was there, I asked her if I could see the other animals she was taking care of. While I was leaning over one of the cages, this chipmunk jumps onto my back and starts making the most godawful noises I’d ever heard.”
    “That wasn’t the chipmunk making those horrible noises; that was you,” Kit corrected with a grin. “I never did figure out who was more scared, you or Chippy.”
    Johnny howled with laughter. “You were scared of a little chipmunk?”
    A sheepish grin slid across Jake’s face. “It didn’t seem so little at the time.”
    Kit recalled that day with sparkling clarity. A week after Jake had rescued her from Will Jameson and his fellow tormentors, he had brought the baby robin to her. The bird had seemed very tiny and fragile in Jake’s cupped palms. She’d given the young creature extra care, and a month later she and Jake had set it free.
    She glanced down at Jake’s hands, which hung loosely at his sides. Remembering how they had tenderly cradled the baby bird, Kit wondered if he still possessed such a gentle touch—or if his years as a bounty hunter had changed that, too.
    Dragging her gaze up to his face, she asked, “Would you like to stay for lunch?”
    “I think I’ve intruded enough for one day,” Jake said.
    “C’mon, Mr. Cordell, please stay. Ma makes the best peach cobbler in the world,” Johnny added.
    “Well, thank you, young man,” Kit said fondly, smoothing down his cowlick. She glanced at Jake, noticing a tuft of unruly hair in the same place as Johnny’s. Quickly she looked away. Taking a deep breath, she forced the corners of her lips to turn upward. “Really, it’s no problem, Jake. I have more than enough.”
    “As long as I’m not intruding.”
    “You aren’t,” Kit reassured. “Johnny, show Jake where the sink is. And don’t forget to wash your own hands.”
    Johnny led him through the kitchen, which had changed little since Jake had lived there. For a split second he could envision his mother next to the stove, her cheeks rosy, ebony tendrils curling about her face. Jake nearly stumbled in his haste to escape the apparition, and he followed Johnny to the enclosed porch.
    Standing by the pump, Johnny snorted. “Why does Ma always make me wash up? A little dirt ain’t going to hurt.”
    “Because that’s what women do. Besides, don’t you think we’d get awfully dirty if they weren’t around to remind us?” Jake winked at the boy.
    “I don’t care. I like being dirty.”
    Jake tried to remember how his father had handled his stubborn petulance. “Well, let’s humor her and clean up, because we may not get any of that cobbler if we don’t.”
    After a moment’s thought, Johnny agreed.
    When they were done, Johnny wrapped his small fingers around Jake’s hand. Surprised by the trusting gesture, Jake instinctively squeezed the boy’s hand.
    Jake wished his own father had given him some sign of affection. He couldn’t remember his father ever holding his hand or telling him he loved him. For a fleeting moment he wondered what it would be like to have a child. He sure as hell would spend more time with him than Jonathan Cordell had spared his son.
    Kit placed the last of the bowls on the table and turned to see Jake and Johnny enter the dining room hand in hand. Her heart plowed into her ribs, missing a few beats. She’d often dreamed of seeing father and son together in this house. Yet the reality of it troubled her, and she wondered if someone might see the resemblancebetween the man and the boy: the deep brown eyes and strong, square-cut jaw. Thankfully, Johnny had inherited his