Read Online At Home in Stone Creek (Silhouette Special Edition) by Linda Lael Miller - Free Book Online Page B

face, and she thought she saw a glimmer of respect in his eyes. “ You bucked bales?”
    â€œSure did.” They’d reached the sewing room door, and Ashley reached out to push it open. “Did you?”
    â€œAre you kidding?” Jack’s chuckle was ragged. “Mydad is a dentist. I was raised in the suburbs—not a hay bale for miles.”
    Like the account of little Rachel’s rescue, this was news to Ashley. She knew nothing about Jack’s background, wondered how she could have fallen so hard for a man who’d never mentioned his family, let alone introduced her to them. In fact, she’d assumed he didn’t have a family.
    â€œExactly what is your job title, anyway?”
    He looked at her long and hard, wavering just a few feet from the narrow bed. “Mercenary,” he said.
    Ashley took that in, but it didn’t really register, even after the Rachel story. “Is that what it says on your tax return, under Occupation? ”
    â€œNo,” he answered.
    They reached the bed, and she helped him get settled. Since he was on top of the blankets, she covered him with a faded quilt that had been passed down through the O’Ballivan clan since the days when Maddie and Sam ran the ranch.
    â€œYou do file taxes, don’t you?” Ashley was a very careful and practical person.
    Jack smiled without opening his eyes. “Yeah,” he said. “What I do is unconventional, but it isn’t illegal.”
    Ashley stepped back, torn between bolting from the room and lying down beside Jack, enfolding him in her arms. “Is there anything I can get you?”
    â€œMy gear,” he said, his eyes still closed. “Tanner brought it in. Leather satchel, under the bed upstairs.”
    Ashley gave a little nod, even though he wouldn’t see it. What kind of gear did a mercenary carry? Guns? Knives?
    She gave a little shudder and left the door slightly ajar.
    Upstairs, she found the leather bag under Jack’s bed.The temptation to open it was nearly overwhelming, but she resisted. Yes, she was curious— beyond curious—but she wasn’t a snoop. She didn’t go through guests’ luggage any more than she read the postcards they gave her to send for them.
    When she got back to the sewing room, Jack was sleeping. Mrs. Wiggins curled up protectively on his chest.
    Ashley set the bag down quietly and slipped out. Busied herself with routine housekeeping chores, too soon finished.
    She was relieved when Tanner showed up at the kitchen door, looking worn out but blissfully happy.
    â€œI came to babysit Jack while you go and see Olivia and the boys,” he said, stepping past her and helping himself to a cup of lukewarm coffee. “How’s he doing?”
    Ashley watched as her brother-in-law stuck the mug into the microwave and pushed the appropriate buttons. “Not bad—for a mercenary.”
    Tanner paused, and his gaze swung in Ashley’s direction. “He told you?”
    â€œYes. I need some answers, Tanner, and Jack is too sick to give them.”
    The new father turned away from the counter, the microwave whirring behind him, leaned back and folded his arms, watching Ashley, probably weighing the pros and cons of spilling what he knew—which was plenty, unless she missed her guess.
    â€œHe’s talking about leaving,” Ashley prodded, when Tanner didn’t say anything right away. “I’m used to that, but I think I deserve to know what’s going on.”
    Tanner gave a long sigh. “I’d trust Jack with my life—I trusted him with Sophie’s , when she ran awayfrom boarding school right after we moved here, but the truth is, I don’t know a hell of a lot more about him than you do.”
    â€œHe’s your best friend.”
    â€œAnd he plays his cards close to the vest. When it comes to security, he’s the best there is.” Tanner paused, thrust a hand