Read Online Blessings of the Heart and Samantha's Gift by Valerie Hansen - Free Book Online

at Mitch, wondering how to tactfully suggest that he hose down the dog—and himself—before coming inside. Her gaze settled on the muddy rags he was holding. “I’ll dispose of that trash for you. Just drop it out there.”
    “Humph!” He snorted. “If I did I’d be throwing away the only extra clothes the kids and I have.”
    “Those are your clothes?”
    “Yes. At least they’ll give us a change. I figured that would beat my being stuck in your guest bathroom again. Old Barney’s not much of a conversationalist.”
    “I suppose not.”
    Kicking clumps of red-clay mud off the sides of his boots, Mitch said, “I guess I should be thankful he’s outgrown the chewing stage. So, tell me where the washing machine is, and I’ll start a load.”
    “It’s…” Purposely blocking the doorway, Brianne couldn’t make herself move out of his way. She pulled a face as she scanned his full length. “Never mind. You can’t come in like that. Take your boots off and leave them out here. I’ll bring you a towel and washcloth.” Her mouth twisted tighter at one corner. “Those jeans will just have to do until something else is washed and dried.”
    “You want me to stand out here in the rain? You really are picky, aren’t you?”
    “It’s not picky to have an immaculate house and want to keep it that way. I wouldn’t dream of coming into your house if I wasn’t spotlessly clean.”
    Chuckling and shaking his head, Mitch sat on a step and started to unlace his hiking boots. “I don’t think that’ll be much of a problem for a while. At the moment, I don’t seem to have a house to worry about getting dirty.”

Chapter Six
    B rianne measured the proper amount of laundry detergent into her gleaming white washing machine, then yielded to a strong impulse to add more soap.
    Planning ahead while she worked, she closed the lid on Mitch’s recovered clothes. The first thing she’d need to do was make a few calls and find him another place to live. Then she’d either offer to drive him down to get his car or arrange for a tow truck to pull it out so he’d have wheels again.
    What if I can’t find a new house for him right away? she asked herself. Don’t say it. Don’t even think it. Whatever happened, they weren’t staying here. No way. The whole Fowler family was one big disaster waiting to get worse.
    Brianne started toward her office while she mulled over the events that had dropped Mitch Fowler and his kids in her lap. The image of having two children sitting on her lap was amusing. And scary. As far as she could recall, this was the first time in her life she had ever imagined herself anywhere near children—anybody’s children—let alone rambunctious little boys.
    Makes me feel sticky already, Brianne thought. She suspected she’d be finding smears of pancake syrup here and there for months to come, and little maple-flavored fingerprints. How those kids managed to get any nourishment was a mystery. It seemed like most of their meal had wound up spilled on the table, the chair seats, the floor or the lawn. And no telling how much their scruffy dog had gobbled up. Or soaked up!
    Having Mitch’s family as guests in her home had certainly been interesting. It was going to take weeks to get the place straightened up and running smoothly again. Thank heavens their visit was almost over!
    She seated herself at her desk, picked up the telephone and held the receiver to her ear. No dial tone. Hmm. Well, there was always the cellular phone she carried in her purse. She dug it out and began to dial.
     
    When Mitch got himself cleaned up and came looking for her, she was in her office. The door was ajar so he knocked on the jamb. When Bree gazed at him, he could have sworn her eyes had the mesmerized look of a deer staring blankly into the headlights of an oncoming car.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked.
    “I couldn’t find you another house.”
    “Is that all? Hey, don’t worry. We’ll make do. I’ve got