On The Run by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page B

of relief. So far, so good. If she could keep Frankie busy, it wouldn’t heal the pain but it would keep her from remembering every single moment. It was the same remedy she should prescribe for herself. But there was no question that she was going to be busy. She was being sucked back into that horror she thought she’d escaped nine years ago. But she’d not really thought it was over. Why else had she prepared, packed the knapsack, scouted out those woods? She’d known it wasn’t finished.
    She sat down in the chair to wait for Frankie to come out of the bathroom.
             
    I t’s . . . different.” Frankie’s eyes were fixed on the stable. “I keep expecting to see Charlie walking out of the barn or the stable and teasing me because I got up late.”
    “Me too.” She got out of the car. “But he’s not going to be doing that, baby. So we have to get used to it. Why don’t you run and start your chores? I have to go in and do a few things inside the house.”
    Frankie’s gaze shifted to her face. “What things? Something to do with Charlie?”
    “Partly. I have to gather all his important papers together and send them to his lawyer.”
    “And what else?”
    “I have to pack our clothes.”
    Frankie was silent a moment. “That’s right; we won’t be able to live here anymore. This was Charlie’s place. I’m going to miss it.”
    “We’ll come back. Charlie would want us to come back.”
    Frankie was shaking her head.
    “Frankie, listen to me. Things are going to change for a while, but I promise you that you’ll still have this place and the animals. Do you believe me?”
    Frankie nodded. “You don’t lie to me.” She headed for the stable. “I’ve got to go see Darling. He’s smart, but he won’t understand either.”
    Either. Frankie didn’t understand, but she was trusting Grace to make things right. She couldn’t disappoint her. “I’ll be there in an hour and we’ll start exercising the horses.”
    Frankie lifted her hand in acknowledgment before disappearing into the stable.
    Grace stared after her for a moment before turning and going up the front steps. She’d promised her she’d be there in an hour, and it was going to be tight. But she didn’t want Frankie to be alone any longer than she had to be.
    “Grace.”
    She stiffened and turned to face Kilmer, who was walking down the road toward the house. “I don’t want you here.”
    “But you need me.”
    “The hell I do.”
    “Then Frankie needs me.” He’d reached the porch. “You can be as independent as you like, but you won’t jeopardize Frankie.”
    “Don’t you tell me how to take care of my daughter.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Christ, he was just the same. In character and appearance. He must be in his late thirties now, but the years had been kind to him. Tall, lean—deceptively lean, she knew, because no one was more aware than she of the strength and stamina that lay behind that slenderness. But it was his face that she had found so riveting nine years ago. His features weren’t actually good-looking. His dark eyes were deep-set, his cheekbones high, his lips thin, tight. It was his expression that she had always found fascinating. Or lack of it. There was a quietness, a wariness, a containment that had been a challenge from the moment she had first seen him.
    “I wouldn’t presume.” He smiled. “Not when you’ve done such an excellent job. She’s quite wonderful, Grace.”
    “Yes, she is.”
    “I’m only suggesting that you take advantage of my help in getting her out of this predicament. After all, it’s your right to make a few demands on me.”
    “She’s not in any predicament I can’t get her out of. And I’ve no intention of making any demands. I don’t want you involved in her life.”
    “Then I’ll have to insist.” His voice was soft but there was a thread of hardness running through it. “I’ve left you alone as long as I could because it was