The Rouseabout Girl by Gloria Bevan Read Free Book Online Page A

herself, if at the end of it all she could force that arrogant man to admit how wrong, wrong, wrong he had been in his snap judgment of her.
    That night it was a long time before she could get to sleep as over and over again the angry thoughts tumbled through her mind. Jard was so convinced in his mind that she was a conniving adventurer, out for all she could get. Oh, she could kill that man! Viciously she flung her pillow over and punched it.
    She had dreaded the meeting with Jard in the restaurant, but when in the morning she went down to breakfast it was Sandy who awaited her at the door .
    ‘I thought you’d be along any moment now.’ Freshly shaved and alert, he looked as pleased to see her, the thought hashed through her mind, as if she were his own Elaine, It was very odd. She brought her mind back to the masculine tones. ‘Jard breakfasted ages ago, then took off for the garage.’ The shrewd gaze took in the dark smudges around Lanie’s eyes. ‘Sleep all right last night, lass?’
    ‘Yes, fine, thank you.’
    ‘That’s good.’ He gave the waitress an order for cornflakes, toast and coffee, then turned on her his penetrating gaze. ‘Not having second thoughts about that cooking job with us, are you?’
    She hesitated. ‘Actually...’ Her voice trailed away. In view of last night’s stormy encounter with his son it was difficult to make her smile bright and convincing.
    ‘Because if you happen to have any notions in that direction I’m warning you right now that I’m going to do my damnedest to talk you out of them.’ He met her troubled glance. ‘Something bothering you, is there?’
    She decided to come right out with it. Choosing her words carefully, she said slowly, ‘It’s just your son. He’s definitely against the whole idea of my taking on the job with you.’
    ‘Did he tell you that?’ He shot the question at her, but she parried it neatly. ‘He had no need to spell it out. He wishes me anywhere else in the world but on the way to Rangimarie. Anyone can see that. It’s the way he looks at me, and all the things he doesn’t say! I know he thinks I’m too young and inexperienced, and I guess,’ she smiled across the table, ‘when you come right down to it, he could be right!’
    ‘Rubbish, lass!’ You’ll make out fine, you’ll see! Just give it a go! Don’t worry about Jard,’ he grinned, ‘it’ll do him a power of good not to get his way all of the time. He’ll come around after a while, you can take my word for it.’
    She flicked him a disbelieving glance from under her lashes. ‘With my cooking and the way he feels about me?’
    ‘Oh, come on, lass,’ his tone was encouraging, ‘you mustn’t let him bother you. Just give him time.’
    ‘But he's so angry!’ She bit her lip thoughtfully. ‘I wouldn’t like to be the cause of any trouble between you —’
    ‘You can put that idea right out of your mind, lass.’ His hearty laugh dispelled her misgivings. ‘Just because nowadays he happens to manage the show, it doesn’t mean we don’t have our little management difficulties and differences! Come on now,’ the twinkling brown eyes were entreating, ‘you’re not the girl I took you for if you’re going to let my son scare you away from Rangimarie before you’ve had a stab at the job.’ All at once his voice took on a serious note. ‘You’re not thinking of giving it away and going back to town today, are you? Not already? Just because of Jard?’
    Jard. The name had the power to stir her to a wild anger and fierce determination. What had she been thinking of? Running away, giving in to his dominating ways? Meekly acceding to his demands? Demands based on his own entirely mistaken interpretation of the relationship that existed between his father and herself. She’d take that job, and what was more, she vowed silently, she’d be so darned good at it that Jard would be forced to admit how mistaken he had been in his snap judgment of her. She