The Legacy of Copper Creek by R.C. Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

polite. But when Mary Alice picked up the box and walked toward the car, he grabbed my arm and told me that unless I grew up and came back to him, he would make my life a living hell.”
    Whit’s hands fisted at his sides. “So you were running from Jared before you ran into No Name in Red Rock.”
    She nodded. “I just wanted to get away. I had a rental car, a credit card, and a little cash, and no destination until I landed here.”
    “That text.” Whit nodded toward her cell phone. “Did it come from a friend or…?”
    “Jared. He doesn’t know where I am, but he’s still sending threatening texts.”
    “Threatening?” Whit’s eyes narrowed.
    “Telling me what he’ll do to me when he finds me.”
    “A really nice guy.” Whit’s tone was low with fury.
    “Yeah.” She began to pace. “I’m sorry I dropped all this on you. It’s been eating away at me. But now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to look around for something physical to do. Otherwise, I’ll just have way too much time on my hands. And that will lead to another pity party and I’ve had enough of those.” She draped the towel over the edge of the sink.
    Whit thought a moment before nodding. “I agree. If you’re going to share this place, you need to earn your keep, Goldilocks. I’m going to chop more firewood. You can stack while I chop.”
    She glanced at the flimsy jacket hanging on a hook by the door. “When I started out on this little odyssey, I was wearing that. I don’t think it’ll do much good in the snow.”
    He indicated a door on the far wall. “You’ll find plenty of parkas, boots, and work gloves in that closet.”
    “Now you tell me.”
    “I figured you’d had time to explore every nook and cranny.”
    She crossed the room. “I missed this one.”
    “Afraid you’d find a dead body or two?”
    “Hey. I figured it was possible, the way my life has been going lately.” She managed a wry smile as she crossed the room.
    A few minutes later, as he headed toward the cabin door, he saw her emerge carrying an armload of winter gear.
    She looked over. “I’ll join you outside in a few minutes.”
    He chuckled. “Judging by all the stuff you’ve got there, it may take a while.”
    He slid his arms into a parka and strolled out the door. Minutes later, as he picked up the ax and started to work, he thought about Cara. He frowned. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. He was spending entirely too much time thinking about her.
    At least now he understood why she’d been so jumpy at their first encounter. He lifted the ax high above his head and brought it down, biting deep into the log. She expected every guy she met to be like Jared Billingham, out to get whatever they could, by any means necessary.
    He had the satisfaction of watching the log split in one quick slice. It wasn’t a fist in Billingham’s face, but it was the best he could do. Any man who would manipulate a woman and then try to crush her dreams in order to control her deserved much more than a fist.
    Cara Walton could fuel any guy’s fantasies. It wasn’t just the angel face and the model’s body. There was also that combination of sharp brain and sophistication mixed with a dash of innocence and simplicity that was intriguing.
    He brought the ax down again and again, enjoying the hard, physical release.
    The door opened and the woman who’d been on his mind stepped into the snow and started toward him.
    “I feel like Nanook of the North.” She was grinning from ear to ear.
    He was relieved to see the smile back in her eyes. “You look like my nephew Casey when his mother puts him in a snowsuit. It’s like a straightjacket and he can barely move. Can you bend those arms?”
    With a laugh, she walked stiff-legged and stiff-armed in his direction. “What arms? Are there arms under all these layers?”
    He was laughing as she bent down and, without warning, scooped up a handful of snow before taking aim. It hit him squarely in the