Promise Broken (The Callahan Series) by Mitzi Pool Bridges Read Free Book Online

out of her sight. Was she that protective?
    “If he gets in the way?”
    “I’ll bring him back.”
    Still uncertain, she nodded.
    The kid wanted to work. Donovan would see that he did just that. Once Mark was too tired to move, he wouldn’t be so eager to help.
    “We’ll take the truck, Mark. Let’s load up.”
    With a mile-wide grin, Mark scampered in that direction.
    ****
    With every step Mark took away from her, Phyl’s anxiety accelerated. Her gaze swept beyond the pair and over the ranch. It was quiet and peaceful. No strangers. No reason for the nagging fear she couldn’t dispel.
    Before they came here, Mark had been a city kid. He rode the bus to kindergarten. He rode his bike, played with the neighbor kids. He’d never seen a cow or horse except on TV and the movies. But he’d taken to ranch life. She gave him simple chores—feed the dogs, fill the water trough. Little things. His desire to help Donovan with bigger jobs could be disastrous.
    It frightened her.
    Everything about ranch life was new to Mark. If Donovan didn’t watch him closely, Mark could get hurt. Worse, he was out of her sight, away from her protection.
    He’d turned six on the road. In a few weeks it would be time to think of school. Her blood ran cold. She wouldn’t be able to protect him if they were apart.
    She watched the farm truck until it disappeared.
    Mark was in heaven. She was in hell.
    A few hours later, she swatted the rump of the last calf as it ran out of the chute, then she headed toward the barn. Though she’d checked the newborn calf earlier, she wanted to make sure mama and baby were adjusting well before letting them out.
    Every day, she was more and more comfortable on the ranch. Mark had made it clear from their first day that he liked it here. His immediate attachment to Donovan, however, worried her.
    The only male figure in his life had been a dad neither of them could count on. Mark wanted a dad. That need had kept Victor in their life longer than was wise. When Nellie and the rest of the family praised Donovan, Mark soaked it up. Now it was evident her son looked up to the kind rancher who didn’t seem to mind a kid full of questions underfoot.
    That would be a good thing if they stayed. Mark needed a male figure in his life. Not so good if they had to leave. She wouldn’t have him hurt.
    Right now it was imperative they have the safety the ranch provided. It wouldn’t do for the authorities to look at them too closely.
    There were times when she worried that Dugan, being the county sheriff, would come across something that would make him suspicious. But it wasn’t likely. She was using her maiden name, and though the electronic age kept the authorities on the alert with the touch of a button, California was a long way from the Texas Hill Country.
    Three hours later, she heard the truck rattle its return.
    Heart in her throat, she went to greet Donovan Callahan and her son.
    ****
    Donovan watched her stride out of the barn, her steps long and hurried, her face unsmiling. The sudden clench in his lower body surprised him.
    Mark bounded from the truck. “Donovan says I helped real good. That if I wanted to, I could be a real rancher like him.”
    Donovan chuckled to himself. That wasn’t exactly what transpired. But he supposed from a six-year-old perspective, it’s what went down.
    “That’s good,” Phyl said, giving Mark a quick hug. “Now, go wash up for lunch.”
    Mark didn’t have to be told twice. He was off and running.
    “Did my best to wear him down,” Donovan said tiredly. “Looks as if I didn’t make it.”
    “It usually turns out the opposite. Was he too much trouble?”
    “No more than you’d expect.” Actually, he’d enjoyed the kid, but had to admit he could use a break.
    They walked into the barn. “You let them out?”
    It was understood she’d know what he meant.
    “They were ready.”
    “Good.” Donovan felt like the hired hand. Phyl had the ranch running smoothly.