Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) by Mitzi Pool Bridges Read Free Book Online Page A

young woman was obviously nervous. She twisted the handle on her bag, dropped it to grab her glass of tea. Everything might be all right at home, but something was wrong.
    Dani had on a pair of jeans, T-shirt, and Nikes. Her dark hair was a tumble of curls, her blue eyes worried.
    Dani took a sip of tea, then set the glass down.
    Nellie gave the girl a moment to compose herself. “What can I do for you?”
    “I want to apologize for being so rude the night I saw you at Dad’s. I didn’t mean to be, but both my brother and I were upset.”
    “I understand.”
    “We didn’t get formally introduced. I’m Danielle Chandler. Everyone calls me Dani.” She laughed. “But you know that. I guess Dad has told you what a couple of losers his children are?”
    “I’m Nellie Callahan,” Nellie said. “You can call me, Nellie. And no. Your dad would never do anything of the sort. I can tell by the way he speaks of you how much he loves you.”
    “Right.”
    “He does, you know. What you have is a misunderstanding. It will get straightened out. You’ll see.”
    Dani cleared her throat. “My brother and I came back a couple of days ago. Rey is working for Dad. Though he knows nothing about ranching, he plans to earn enough money so he can afford to leave and do whatever he’s going to do with his life.”
    So that was it. They hadn’t made it in San Antonio and were back home. It was good of Beau to give his son a chance. “And you?”
    Dani let out a breath, gave Nellie a small smile. “I don’t think I would make it as a ranch hand.”
    Nellie laughed. “You’re probably right.”
    Dani leaned across the table. “It’s a real imposition on my part to pop over here like this, but Lela told me you might be able to help me find a job?”
    So that was what this was about? She wondered if she’d spoken out of turn. Still, it was worth checking into. Emma Wells really did need help. She studied the young girl sipping tea. Could she do the job Nellie had in mind? She seemed inexperienced and maybe a bit spoiled. But there was something in the girl’s expression that told Nellie there was some steel there too.
    It was worth a try. “Let me make a call.”
    She went to the phone, spoke for a few minutes and came back to the table. “Can you meet me back here after dinner? Or, better still, why don’t you come for dinner? After we eat, we’ll go to town. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
    Dani swallowed hard. “What sort of work is it? I’m not experienced at anything.”
    “You’ll see. Are you game?”
    “Of course I am. If I don’t find work, Dad will kick me out of the house, and I’ll be homeless. If you don’t mind, I’ll come for dinner. I want to get this settled as quickly as possible.”
    “You want to prove yourself in your dad’s eyes, right?”
    “How did you know?”
    Nellie shrugged. She’d spent the biggest part of her life trying to prove she could be a different person than her foster parents thought. Of course she understood. She knew exactly where Dani was coming from. “You’re wrong about your dad. He wouldn’t push you out. Not without a parachute, anyway.”
    Dani rolled her eyes. “Some parachute.”
    “We eat at six,” Nellie said as she escorted Dani out.
    “I’ll be here. And thanks.”
    Nellie watched the girl almost skip to her car, a Nissan 350Z. She wondered if Dani would be so excited if she knew what the job entailed.
    ****
    When the doorbell rang, Nellie looked at the clock. Right on time.
    “I’ll get it,” Mark yelled.
    She chuckled as he raced to the door, but just in case he was too animated, she followed him.
    “You must be Dani. Gran said you were coming for dinner.”
    He took her arm and pulled her inside. “My name is Mark.”
    Nellie watched and listened.
    “Hi, Mark.”
    “Gran fixed a great dessert tonight.”
    “Oh?”
    “Do you like chocolate cake?”
    “You bet I do.”
    “She’s here, Gran!” Mark exclaimed.
    “So I see, and I