Read Online 03 The Long Road Home by Geeta Kakade - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Geeta Kakade
Tags: Homespun Romance
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angry, simply curious.
Margaret wet her lips. "I may not like the fact Jack is a trucker, but I'm concerned about him as a person. He can't lose his job now, with a baby to support."
"Stop worrying Margaret. Jack won't suffer in any way. If any questions are asked, they'll be asked of Bedouin Trucking, not the drivers. My guess is that one of my men has already taken over and will get the job done for Jack."
"How?"
"He'll hitch a ride with another trucker going in that direction, pick up Jack's truck and complete the run."
"You don't mind that he left his truck just like that?"
"Why should I? It isn't every day a man can be present at the birth of his child. This baby's birth is going to make news waves over the CB radio before the night is over. We truckers stick together. I bet right now there are a great many good wishes being sent over the air for Jack and Gina."
"Oh."
It was a whole new concept. And had he said `we truckers'? Margaret shook her head. Her thoughts were all bouncing around in her head again, confusing her. It would take a while to sort them out.
"What made you decide to call it Bedouin Trucking?" Margaret asked.
She was unprepared for the way Matthew Magnum's eyes darkened. "I named my company after a man who made a very big difference in my life."
Margaret nodded, aware he didn't want to discuss the subject further.
"What do you plan to do now that our services are no longer required?" he asked after a small pause.
Margaret checked her wristwatch. It was barely four o'clock. If the nurse's predictions were right, the baby wouldn't be born till six o'clock. She intended staying around till then. "I'm going upstairs to visit a friend of mine who works in administration," Margaret said. "Helen Swatchey and I went to school together. Don't wait for me. I'll get a ride home with Joe."
"Right." His nod indicated perfect compliance with her plans.
On the lift going up, Margaret tried to puzzle Matthew Magnum out. She had seen so many different facets of the man today. Humor, as he'd teased her and told the story of his sister, gentleness, as he'd helped Gina through her pain, understanding with her fears. Underlying it all was Matt's demand that she take a closer look at her own needs; reach out to life before it was too late. Margaret took a deep breath. Matthew Magnum was like a strong current, and she felt herself helplessly tugged along by it.
The lift door opened, and Margaret stared blankly out at the corridor for a second, before she realized this was the floor the offices were on. Collecting her rampaging thoughts she headed for the room her friend, Helen, worked in.
An hour and a half later, Margaret entered the waiting room and stopped short. Matthew Magnum rose from the couch where he'd been sitting, his head propped up against the wall, his long legs stretched out in front of him. "There you are," he said as if she had asked him to wait for her.
"Yes," snapped Margaret, angered by the thrill of excitement that coursed down her spine at the sight of him. "How's Gina?"
"It's all over, earlier than anticipated. Beautiful baby girl. Six pounds, three ounces, shows promise of great beauty already. Gina's in Room 110."
Margaret turned away, "I'll go in and see her."
A hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Not in this mood. What's happened? You look like a thundercloud."
"Nothing." Margaret held herself stiffly, wishing she could grow horns on her shoulders to butt his hand away. "Why are you still here?"
Matt wondered why she was always so tense around him.
"I'm waiting for you," he said easily. "Joe works the night shift, so you won't be able to ride back with him till tomorrow morning."
"I'll find my own way home," she snapped, and Matt wondered how long it had been since Margaret had allowed anyone to take care of her.
"Go see Gina. Maybe you'll feel better after that." Matt turned her
Margaret wet her lips. "I may not like the fact Jack is a trucker, but I'm concerned about him as a person. He can't lose his job now, with a baby to support."
"Stop worrying Margaret. Jack won't suffer in any way. If any questions are asked, they'll be asked of Bedouin Trucking, not the drivers. My guess is that one of my men has already taken over and will get the job done for Jack."
"How?"
"He'll hitch a ride with another trucker going in that direction, pick up Jack's truck and complete the run."
"You don't mind that he left his truck just like that?"
"Why should I? It isn't every day a man can be present at the birth of his child. This baby's birth is going to make news waves over the CB radio before the night is over. We truckers stick together. I bet right now there are a great many good wishes being sent over the air for Jack and Gina."
"Oh."
It was a whole new concept. And had he said `we truckers'? Margaret shook her head. Her thoughts were all bouncing around in her head again, confusing her. It would take a while to sort them out.
"What made you decide to call it Bedouin Trucking?" Margaret asked.
She was unprepared for the way Matthew Magnum's eyes darkened. "I named my company after a man who made a very big difference in my life."
Margaret nodded, aware he didn't want to discuss the subject further.
"What do you plan to do now that our services are no longer required?" he asked after a small pause.
Margaret checked her wristwatch. It was barely four o'clock. If the nurse's predictions were right, the baby wouldn't be born till six o'clock. She intended staying around till then. "I'm going upstairs to visit a friend of mine who works in administration," Margaret said. "Helen Swatchey and I went to school together. Don't wait for me. I'll get a ride home with Joe."
"Right." His nod indicated perfect compliance with her plans.
On the lift going up, Margaret tried to puzzle Matthew Magnum out. She had seen so many different facets of the man today. Humor, as he'd teased her and told the story of his sister, gentleness, as he'd helped Gina through her pain, understanding with her fears. Underlying it all was Matt's demand that she take a closer look at her own needs; reach out to life before it was too late. Margaret took a deep breath. Matthew Magnum was like a strong current, and she felt herself helplessly tugged along by it.
The lift door opened, and Margaret stared blankly out at the corridor for a second, before she realized this was the floor the offices were on. Collecting her rampaging thoughts she headed for the room her friend, Helen, worked in.
An hour and a half later, Margaret entered the waiting room and stopped short. Matthew Magnum rose from the couch where he'd been sitting, his head propped up against the wall, his long legs stretched out in front of him. "There you are," he said as if she had asked him to wait for her.
"Yes," snapped Margaret, angered by the thrill of excitement that coursed down her spine at the sight of him. "How's Gina?"
"It's all over, earlier than anticipated. Beautiful baby girl. Six pounds, three ounces, shows promise of great beauty already. Gina's in Room 110."
Margaret turned away, "I'll go in and see her."
A hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Not in this mood. What's happened? You look like a thundercloud."
"Nothing." Margaret held herself stiffly, wishing she could grow horns on her shoulders to butt his hand away. "Why are you still here?"
Matt wondered why she was always so tense around him.
"I'm waiting for you," he said easily. "Joe works the night shift, so you won't be able to ride back with him till tomorrow morning."
"I'll find my own way home," she snapped, and Matt wondered how long it had been since Margaret had allowed anyone to take care of her.
"Go see Gina. Maybe you'll feel better after that." Matt turned her
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