Stealing Time by Nancy Pennick Read Free Book Online

me,
right?”
    Lindsey held up her ticket. “Aisle seat, you
in the middle and Drew by the window, just like we planned. What’s
up? I can’t wait. Tell me now.”
    They were walking through the business class
of the plane when Kate whispered to the back of Lindsey’s head the
news about her and Drew.
    “What!” Lindsey’s blonde hair flew around,
hitting Kate in the face. A few passengers looked up as she spun
around.
    “Shhh, we can’t talk about it.” She cocked
her head back toward Drew. Kate walked past her row, waiting for
him to slide in. He gave her a quizzical look as he slipped into
his seat. “Buckle up!” Kate told him as she sat down next to him.
Giving him her best smile, he quickly kissed her cheek.
    “If you think that’s ever happening again
until we’re married, you’re mistaken.” Drew opened a magazine and
began to flip the pages.
    “Unfair! Not the best place or time to start
this argument.” Kate poked him.
    “Oh, it’s the best place to tell you so it
doesn’t turn into an argument.” Drew smiled slightly as he
continued to turn the pages.
    “Hasn’t it always been...an argument?” Kate
was miffed.
    “I love you.”
    “And I love you.” Kate knew she’d get nowhere
with the conversation and decided to let it drop. She turned her
attention to Lindsey. “Anna wanted me to bring the book. Has she
said anything about it?”
    “No, she hasn’t. That’s a strange request.
Maybe she just wants to see it.”
    “I thought that, too. But I think there’s
more to it. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
    “Does she know Tyson stole a book?” Lindsey
made a face when she said his name, and the two friends cracked up.
“It’s not that funny!” Lindsey snorted which made them laugh
harder.
    “Yes, it is.” Kate could hardly breathe.
“Anna knows, and she thinks it could turn into a huge problem if we
don’t do something.”
    “I won’t be home this summer to help break
into his house,” Lindsey mood changed as she stuck out her lower
lip.
    “You’re never home any summer, Linds.” Kate
started to laugh again. “Anyway, you’ll be busy with your summer
fling, Charlie, and your puppy. I can’t wait to see how much Abby’s
grown.”
    “Charlie sends me daily updates and let’s me
talk to her on the phone. I know I’m strange.” Lindsey put her head
on Kate’s shoulder. “I could stay there and never come home, you
know.”
    “Yeah, I know the feeling.”
    The plane began to descend, ready to land in
Phoenix where the families would change planes and continue on to
Flagstaff. The whole Jenkins clan would be there to meet them.
They’d drive in the usual caravan of trucks and SUVs back to the
ranch, giving Kate an old comfortable feeling.
    As the families maneuvered their way to
baggage claim, she slipped her hand in Drew’s. “Excited?”
    “You know I love coming here. We have a whole
week to do what we want. Horseback riding when we get there?”
    “After we see Anna.”
    “Of course, that’s a given.” Drew smiled and
pulled Kate closer. “Are all the secrets out now? No one’s keeping
any, right?”
    Did he sense something? Did he know she had
the book? “Well, there’s just a little one. Anna wanted to see the
book.”
    “You brought it?”
    “Yep, can’t deny my girlfriend.”
    “Well, let’s keep track of it. I’m a little
nervous about books falling into the wrong hands after what just
happened. Could you see Megan ending up at the canyon?”
    Kate giggled. Megan was her eleven-year-old
cousin and interested in everything. She always had a million
questions for Kate when she arrived at the ranch. “Megan would love
it. She lives out here. But if for some reason it happened, we
could convince her it was a dream...for now.”
    She heard shouting and knew they arrived at
the right baggage terminal. Aunt Sue was waving and jumping up and
down. Charlie ran straight for Lindsey.
    “Abby’s in the car,” Charlie told her, and
the two