Read Online Lone Tree by Bobbie O'Keefe - Free Book Online Page B

mother’s job to stand up for her son? Not huddle over
there hiding her face in her hands, cowed and whimpering, when she’d known damn
well begging wasn’t going to help.
    Mason Sr. had left his son alone once his son got
big enough to fight back, but he’d still be using his wife for a punching bag
if he hadn’t keeled over drunk one night and never woke up. His ma had come
into some insurance money there, but wouldn’t you know it? Carl wasn’t around
to help her spend it.
    His brow furrowed as his mind returned to the parole
board. He’d had that wrong, he realized; a bleeding heart would be on his side,
would believe in rehabilitation and giving a man a chance. Then a second and
third and fourth, someone who’d just keep giving a man a chance until he either
proved you right or died, whichever came first. Carl Henry knew that kind; he
counted on them.
    So the term he wanted was bitch. It’d been a plain
and simple, ball-breaking bitch who’d nixed his parole hearing. He looked for
something else to hit, something he could wallop on real good without hurting
himself.

Chapter Eight
    Randy Jones and Vindication melded into one as soon
as Randy settled in the saddle. Shoulders level, back straight, hips barely
moving with the motion of the horse, Randy’s horsemanship would’ve outshone
even Mack Jameson’s. After ten minutes Randy had yet to offer any riding tips,
but Lainie doubted that was because none came to mind.
    “Okay, teacher,” she’d said as she and Glory had
followed Randy and his mount out of the stable, and then she’d watched the
man’s back tighten up as if he were in pain.
    Okay. So much for student and teacher. She gave it a
couple of minutes, then tried for two people conversing while riding on horses.
“Shade’s hard to come by around here.” Again his shoulders hunched. Lainie
doubted that it was her voice grating on him. The fact that she was female,
maybe? Words had come easily enough as he’d conversed with Nelly about saddle
soap.
    She recognized his headgear. The high crown added
inches he didn’t need and the hat had a wide, floppy brim. Thank goodness he’d
removed the feather. “I see you’re wearing your new hat. I met Bobbie and her
sister when they were shopping for it.”
    The comment must’ve been too personal. His face
turned deepening shades of crimson.
    Out of sympathy for him, she grew quiet and stared
at the terrain. Thorny mesquite dotted the dusty flatland along with some
hawthorn, and an occasional gully broke its monotony. Judging by the dried look
of the unmistakable evidence they’d left behind, she guessed it’d been a while
since cows had been through here.
    Once he realized she didn’t bite, Randy might ease
up. For now, however, he rode alongside just to make sure she didn’t fall off,
get lost, or vaporize into thin air. She gave it five more minutes and called
it quits. His relief was almost comical, but she didn’t take it personally.
    That evening she caught Reed on his way into the
main house. He paused, probably realizing she wanted to talk. She waited until
Carter, who’d entered with him, moved on ahead.
    “So how did it go today?” Reed asked, prompting her.
    “Uh, well, don’t misunderstand, but, uh, well...”
    He grinned, and made a keep going, circular gesture
with his hand. “Go ahead. You can do it. You can get it out.”
    “Randy’s shy. That’s the worst punishment you
could’ve inflicted upon him, sending him out with me today. I don’t have a
problem with him, don’t get me wrong, but he’s scared to death of me.”
    He chuckled. “Yep, he’s on the shy side. Sometimes I
wonder how he worked up the courage to even say hello to Bobbie Ann, yet
they’re engaged to be married.”
    “Believe me. If she hadn’t said it first, they’d
still be strangers.”
    His chuckle deepened. “Okay. Next time you go out,
ask Carter. He won’t talk your ear off, but he won’t turn red and stay that way
until you return to