That McCloud Woman by Peggy Moreland Read Free Book Online

me."
    Jack
cut a glance from Alayna to the woman sitting beside her, then back.
"Sorry. I brought the paint samples to show you, but they can wait."
He turned to go, but Alayna called out to him, stopping him.
    "Jack!
Wait!" When he turned, she rose, and Mandy stood as well. Wrapping an arm
at her cousin's waist, Alayna drew Mandy with her as she crossed to him.
"I want you to meet my cousin, Mandy McCloud Barrister. Mandy, this is
Jack Cordell."
    Mandy
extended her hand in greeting, a smile much like Alayna's warming her eyes as
she peered up at him. "Hi, Jack. I've heard a lot about you." She
gave Alayna an arched look, one that Jack didn't understand, then returned her
gaze to his, adding, "And I have to say that you are all Maudie described and more."
    Remembering
the sharp-tongued waitress from the café and her comments
about his predecessor Frank, Jack frowned, not at all sure what the woman might
have said about him. "Pleased to meet you," he mumbled uneasily.
    Mandy's
smile widened as if at some private joke. "The pleasure is all mine, I
assure you." She withdrew her hand and turned to Alayna. "Well, I
guess I better get back to the house. Jesse and Jaime will be coming home soon
and wanting their dinner." Her eyes brightened. "Why don't y'all have
dinner with us? We'd love to have you." She looked at Jack, including him
in the invitation. "I know that my husband and son will want to meet you
and welcome you to the Double-Cross. How about it?"
    Alayna
saw the look of alarm slowly spreading across Jack's face, the way his fingers
convulsed on the paint samples he still held. But to her way of thinking an
evening in the company of a happily married couple might be just what Jack
needed, since his own experience in matrimony seemed to have left nothing but
negative memories. "Thanks, Mandy," she replied before Jack could
respond, "we'd love to."
    Jack
whipped his head around to frown at her. "You and the kids can go. I'm not
much on socializing." He gave his head a quick bob in Mandy's direction.
"If you'll excuse me, I've got work to do."
    Alayna's
heart sank as she watched him stalk away.
    "Was
it something I said?" Mandy asked uncertainly.
    Alayna
forced a smile and slung an arm around her cousin's shoulder as she walked with
her to her truck. "No. It's Jack. He is—well, I don't know what he is
exactly. Sad. Bitter." She stopped at the side of her cousin's truck and
gave Mandy a squeeze before withdrawing her arm. "But mainly just
stubborn."
    "Is
he dangerous?"
    Alayna
started to laugh, but quickly swallowed it when she saw the seriousness in
Mandy's expression. "No," she said, shaking her head, instinctively
knowing somehow that her claim was true. "He's not dangerous." She
glanced toward the barn and watched as Jack heaved a stack of two-by-fours over
the side of his truck. The muscles in his arms bulged with the effort.
"Angry," she said, recognizing the signs, but unsure of their source.
"Mad at the world," she added, noting his dark expression. She looked
back at Mandy and smiled reassuringly. "But not dangerous."
    "You'll
still bring the kids over for dinner, won't you?"
    "Of
course I will," Alayna assured her. "What time do you want us?"
    Jack
grabbed another stack of two-by-fours, muscles straining, and tossed them over
the side of his truck. Bracing his hands at his hips, he hauled in a deep
breath, then slowly blew it out. He glanced toward the drive in time to see
Mandy leave.
    A
son, she'd said. She'd wanted him to have dinner with her husband and her son.
Bringing a shaky hand to his forehead, he swiped at the sweat that had popped
out on his forehead. Sharing meals with Alayna and her brood of kids was
unnerving enough, but the thought of sharing a dinner with a family was worse.
    In
fact, it sounded a whole lot like hell to Jack.
    Dusk
had settled over the countryside by the time Alayna returned home from her
cousin's and tucked the children into bed for the night. After picking up their
clothes from