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

He wasn’t needed. Sure, another willing hand was always useful. But Phyl was in control. If he chose, he could pack up and leave any time.
    The thought brought a lump to his throat.
    Wasn’t that what he wanted?
    In silence, he helped her finish cleaning the stall where the heifer gave birth, then stepped outside and into the sunshine. Donovan’s gaze swept over the ranch. He could see only a portion of it, but in his mind’s eye, he saw it all.
    The ranch was in the best shape it had ever been in financially, and from his observation this morning, physically.
    It hadn’t been easy putting it back together after their neighbor, Bart Allen, tried to ruin them two years earlier. It had taken months to re-stock, longer to make the ranch begin paying for itself. Last year, he’d taken the first crop of young calves to market. In a short while, another group would be ready.
    There was no doubt in his mind that Phyl could handle it.
    He rubbed a hand over his whiskered face.
    Where would he go if he did leave?
    Back to San Antonio?
    No future there.
    Ranching was all he knew—all he wanted. Buy a ranch of his own maybe?
    Doing so would take more money than he could come up with. He’d never ask his mom for help, or his half-brothers and sister. They’d think he’d lost his mind. According to them, he already had a ranch. The Callahan Ranch.
    But he wasn’t a Callahan.
    That reality sent his gut into a curling knot.
    ****
    Over the next few days, Phyl tended to her chores and pretended Donovan hadn’t returned. It wasn’t difficult to do because, except for mealtime, he pretty much kept to himself. Of course, Mark made it a point to finagle a ride on the tractor, get another riding lesson, or beg Donovan to let him help with his chores. Most of the time, Donovan agreed. Other times, like the day he baled hay, he made excuses as to why he couldn’t oblige, and Mark pouted for the rest of the day.
    It seemed to Phyl that those times were getting further and further apart. She tried to make Donovan understand that Mark was accustomed to staying with her. He’d grunt that the kid wasn’t that much trouble.
    Even though she wanted Mark where she could see him, she liked seeing the two of them together. The tall rangy cowboy and the six-year-old boy trotting beside him soon became etched in her mind.
    Mark needed a man in his life, and Donovan was a good man.
    Still, she couldn’t help believe their time here was coming to an end. She tried to formulate a plan for that day. But her mind couldn’t wrap itself around the leaving part.
    Mark’s riding lessons had progressed so much that earlier Donovan had put Mark on Lily and the two of them headed for the north pasture to check out the calves scheduled for market.
    Phyl was wary. Partially unsure of Mark’s riding ability, and partially her normal anxiety when he was out of sight. Her protests, though, fell on deaf ears.
    That had been hours ago. Her nerves were stretched to the limit, and she wondered if she shouldn’t saddle up and go after them. She looked at her watch. Not yet. She’d give them another thirty minutes.
    Shading her eyes, she saw them in the distance riding toward the barn. Relief washed through her as she watched them. Would she ever get over this feeling?
    Even though Mark had been with her that dreadful day in California, he was too young to realize the danger they were in.
    Maybe she was being paranoid. Maybe her crazy flight from California to the east coast then down to Texas hadn’t been necessary.
    How was she to know? She checked the papers on-line every night and found nothing. No arrests had been made. Nothing.
    But she’d seen their faces—the evil in them. She’d heard the warning, and knew it was no idle threat.
    Seeing Mark’s happy grin as he rode beside Donovan made her heavy heart lighter. Her son was on cloud nine. The last thing she wanted to do was bring him down.
    Mark jumped off Lily. “That was so cool, Mom. You should