The Drifter by Vicki Lewis Thompson Read Free Book Online

read questions in Freddy’s eyes, but the woman voiced none of them.
    â€œWe need your office as a place to change this little boy,” Belinda said.
    â€œThat’s fine.” Freddy glanced out toward the pool as the cowboy hoisted himself out. “I think I’ll be going now, anyway.”
    Belinda smiled. “I would, if I were you. I doubt if the water cooled him off any.”
    â€œHe is so pigheaded!” Freddy said, edging toward the front door as a dripping Ry McGuinnes headed purposefully in her direction. “Well, see you later. Gotta run.”
    As she dashed out the front door, her wet fiancé entered through the back, his jaw rigid. “Freddy!” he called. Then he glanced over at Belinda and Amanda. “Afternoon, ladies.” He tipped his hat, sending a stream of water to the tiled floor.
    â€œRy, this is Amanda Drake and her son, Bartholomew,” Belinda said. “Amanda, this is Ry McGuinnes.”
    His intense blue eyes widened as he looked at the tiny baby squirming and squalling in her arms. He started to say something but closed his mouth again.
    â€œWe have to get this baby’s diaper changed,” Belinda said, turning Amanda toward an office off the main room. “And you’ll need to dry off or get back outside. We can talk later.”
    â€œSure.” Ry touched the brim of his hat. “Nice to have met you, Ms. Drake.”
    Amanda followed Belinda toward the office. Behind her she heard the front door open and Ry bellow Freddy’s name again. It didn’t sound to her like the call of a lovestruck fool, but what did she know? She had obviously left the familiar world of Eastern manners and conventions for the wild, wild West.
    * * *
    A FTER B ARTHOLOMEW had a clean diaper and a more pleasant disposition, Amanda felt ready to view her accommodations.
    Belinda walked her over to the little cottage. Chloe, Dexter’s black-and-white dog started to follow them, but Belinda ordered her back to the ranch house. “Did you bring any other kind of shoes?” she asked as Amanda struggled along the rutted road toward the cottage.
    â€œThey all have open toes, if that’s what you mean,” Amanda said. “I knew it would be hot, so sandals seemed like the obvious choice.” She looked at Belinda’s leather running shoes. “Apparently not.”
    â€œOut here you’re better off in these or boots. But don’t worry. I’ll bet we can find something you can borrow. You should have seen Ry McGuinnes when he first got here. Polished wing tips, designer tie, the works. Freddy fixed him up in no time.”
    â€œI’ll bet Chase didn’t arrive in wing tips.”
    Belinda laughed. “No, he didn’t. Looked like a catalog cowboy at first, but he broke in those new duds real fast. He’s taken to ranch life like a duck to water, especially now that Leigh’s put him on a program to keep his back limber and healthy.”
    Leigh again, Amanda thought sourly. And if Leigh looked anything like her sister Freddy, she’d be very attractive.
    â€œIn fact, Chase has become such a cowboy, I doubt he could be happy living back East now,” Belinda said.
    Amanda got the message. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to drag him back there,” she said.
    â€œI’m very glad to hear that, because I think it would break his heart to have to choose between his obligation to you and his love of the ranch.”
    â€œAs I’ve told Chase, he has no obligation to me or Bartholomew.”
    Belinda met the comment with silence broken only by the crunch of their shoes on the path and the drone of insects in the nearby bushes. “I see,” she said after a moment.
    Amanda expected a question about why she was here at all, but none came, and for that she gave Belinda credit.
    As they neared the cottage, Amanda’s artistic sense was aroused by the quaint adobe structure,