Unbroken Promises by Dianne Stevens Read Free Book Online

believe what Beth had done tonight. Where had their innocent little girl gone? It seemed like yesterday that he had taken her and Cody blackberry pickin’. His eyes softened as he remembered her grinning up at him with indigo teeth and lips, permanently stained clothes and dripping fingers. Then there was the time when, Beth was 10, she begged Susan to let her stay home with him and watch while he practiced roping. However, it wasn’t long before she became bored just sitting there on the five foot fence watching and decided to walk it like a tightrope. When he glanced up and saw what she was doing, he opened his mouth to holler for her to get down; but, before he could utter a word, she fell hard, right on her left shoulder. He had raced his horse to the fence and jump over. By the time he reached her she, was wreathing and rolling on the ground, screaming. He was so scared his hands were shaking. He ended up calling an ambulance and riding with her to hospital. Thank goodness nothing had been broken.
    Over the last several years with college taking up most of his time, he hadn’t been able to be at home very much, but it didn’t matter, because somehow, someway… it was always He…who seemed to be the one to have to deal with and help Beth through a major crises. Jesse pressed a thumb and middle finger to each eyelid then massaged each in rolling circles trying to ease a building headache. So many precious memories and some not quite so precious—like when she caught him in bed with one of his wild women. At the time, he was still in high school and living fulltime at the ranch in his little bungalow. Jesse was thankful that Beth never told on him because Jordon would have kicked his butt over that one. “So-o-o,” Jesse slowly blew out a breath , “I guess I really owe her to keep quiet about this,” but no more. He didn’t want her screwing up her life by doing crazy and stupid things—things that could hurt her or ruin her life.
    He, Jordon, Susan, and Cody, especially Cody, had always tried to do their best to protect her and keep her safe. Most of the time, Beth was very blasé, then, all of a sudden, this willful and dangerous streak would come from out of nowhere. The rank stench in the truck drew Jesse from his memories of the adorable little girl. As he got out of the truck to get the disinfectants, he focused again on this teenage wildchild. He had a terrible feeling this new little wild streak was far from over.
    After Beth clambered out of Jesse’s truck she went straight to her bedroom, thankfully not seeing anyone. She’d just gotten out of the shower when she heard Jesse tell Susan that she’d called him to come get her because she had stayed up all night and wanted to come home and sleep in her own bed. Beth was relieved that he kept his word about not telling on her. Beth still felt bad but she was a lot better. She went to bed that morning, slept all day and didn’t wake up until the next morning around 10 a.m.
    When Beth finally got out of bed, she unsteadily made her way to the kitchen. When she looked at the cold breakfast that was still on the stove, the sight and smell of it made her stomach roll in such a way she thought she would gag. She was so thirsty. And her mouth felt like cotton; but, when she poured herself a big glass of ice water and drank it, it made her feel even worse. She became dizzy and had to hold onto the counter for a few minutes. When she finally felt her equilibrium come back to normal, she decided she needed to get a cup of coffee.
    She had seen Jesse drink the stuff many times after he came home from partying. She thought maybe coffee was the trick that would make her feel better. But, when she turned around to get the coffee pot off the bar, she looked up and froze. Because there looking back at her, sitting at the kitchen table was a grinning Jesse.
    “Well, hello, little darlin’. How are you feeling this morning? You sure don’t look too perky. Why, your