Read Online Cattle Baron: Nanny Needed by Margaret Way - Free Book Online

most women would die for.
    “I was an excellent student,” she said, without any fanfareat all. “I did my dad and his memory proud. In being kind to me, Mr MacFarlane, you were bucking the system. The Erskine system, of which you are one of the main players. Surely you expected Grandpop to come back at you?”
    “Oh, I was absolutely convinced he would,” he said, showing no sign of worry. “Are you going to ask me to sit?”
    She waved an expansive hand. “Take your pick.”
    “Any chance of a cup of coffee? That would be nice. Maybe a sandwich. Better yet, let me take you out for lunch.”
    “I think you’ve done enough damage, don’t you?” Hang tough or not, she was shaking inside.
    “Nonsense and let’s cut back to first names. After all, we have been up close and personal. I was kind. Now I’ve done you damage?”
    “I’m sorry. I did it all to myself. I threw caution to the winds. Not the best way to succeed in life. Come into the kitchen,” she invited in a resigned tone. “We can discuss your plan there. Tell me how is Grandpop going to get square with you ?”
    “Disinherit me?” he suggested.
    “That’s wonderful,” she crowed, then swiftly showed concern. “I’m only joking! What kind of a monster is he?”
    “Put it this way. Hell will get hotter when he arrives.”
    “ That bad?” She couldn’t help but laugh.
    “Some of the things he’s done would have taken the Devil aback.” He flashed her a smile that held more than a hint of the said devilment. Made a girl think white teeth and a great smile made the man. “Even if he disinherits you, you’re rich too, aren’t you?”
    “Depends on what you call rich. I don’t have Grandad’s astro bucks but let’s hear it for the MacFarlanes. The MacFarlanes don’t need the Erskines. We do okay on our own.”
    “Well, that’s great. So you’re a race apart?”
    “In a way.” He glanced appreciatively around the shining kitchen—white with a yellow trim, polished golden timberfloor, a couple of bright scatter rugs, big, sunny-face yellow gerberas arranged in a copper kettle. “Grandfather Erskine sees himself as the patriarch of the family. My own dad and my paternal grandfather are gone. I don’t kowtow to my grandfather. I actually like him some of the time. I won’t say he’s a lovely man—”
    “God forbid!” Amber shuddered, taking a container out of the refrigerator that held freshly ground coffee.
    “But he’s definitely got his good points.”
    “Naturally, that’s not my view of him,” she said in disgust.
    “Give it time. He’ll cool down.”
    “Are you saying I don’t have to stay gone?”
    “Not for ever,” he said.
    “Great! Only here’s the tricky bit. In the meantime, he’s made it impossible for me to get work.”
    “That’s why I’m here.” He pinned her with his crystal gaze. “I want to help.”
    “Pardon?” She lifted supercilious brows. The cool ease was getting to her. It shouted money. Lots of it. A life of privilege, though she didn’t doubt for a moment he worked hard. That showed as well.
    “Hear me out.” His voice was smooth and reassuring. A voice one listened to.
    “How can you help when you’ve just told me your grandfather is furious at your apparent support of me thus far? He would see it as an additional act of gross disloyalty.”
    “Let’s forget my grandfather. He doesn’t figure in this.”
    “That’s all right for you to say! But I have nowhere else to turn. For the time being, anyway. The word has gone out. Wyatt’s finished in the business.”
    “Look, do you want me to make the coffee?” he asked as progress on that front had stopped.
    “God, you’re a piece of work!” she muttered. “You just sit there.” She shrugged out of her jacket, placing it carefullyover the back of a chair. Had she known in advance she was going to be sacked she would never have bought such an expensive outfit.
    “I thought you wanted to be a writer?” he was