Read Online Cedar Hollow by Tracey Smith - Free Book Online

children or a family of her own. Cassidy knew she was doing the right thing by staying, despite having to put up with Ben Riley in the process. Mrs. Owens deserved to keep her home.
    “Will you be home for dinner?” Mrs. Owens asked with exaggerated casualness. Cassidy knew what she was really asking was whether or not she would be back at all.
    “Yes, I’ll be back for dinner.” Cassidy assured her and she could see the relief on her face.
     
    Cassidy plugged her cell phone into the console as soon as she was in the car and realized with dismay that she didn’t have any cell service up here on the mountain. She wondered how many messages she would have once her phone came back to life. She didn’t have too long to wonder. About a mile from the house her phone began pinging repeatedly indicating that she’d had quite a few missed calls and voicemails. When the phone finally stopped she hit the voice activation button on the console.
    “Voicemail.” She said, then listened as her messages played for her. There were three from Roger, each more frantic than the last. Mr. Belfour hadn’t been happy with being put off last week and Roger was just beside himself. The last message was from Becca asking Cassidy what time she expected to be back today. Cassidy considered the situation carefully for a few minutes and then decided to just jump into the fire.
    “Call Becca.” She instructed and the phone dialed, Becca picked up on the second ring.
    “It’s about time.” She said as a way of greeting.
    “Glad to see you missed me.” Cassidy laughed.
    “Not as much as Roger, the poor boy is lost without you.” Becca laughed . “You should see him wandering around the office looking like a lost puppy. It’s kind of sad, actually.”
    “Well Roger is just going to have to be lost for a little while longer. I’m staying for a few more weeks.” Cassidy knew there was no point in beating around the bush.
    “Excuse me? I must have misheard you. Did you say a few weeks?” Becca sounded incredulous.
    “Apparently the will has some bizarre stipulation that I hav e to live on the premises for thirty days before I can assume the property.” Cassidy explained.
    “What kind of crap is that?” Becca asked.
    “I don’t know, apparently my uncle was a very ‘particular’ man.” Cassidy said, using the adjective everyone else had used to describe her uncle. She still wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.
    “Cassi , what am I supposed to do about Mr. Belfour?” Becca asked exasperated. “He wasn’t too happy with our little stunt Friday, I’m not even sure if he bought it.”
    “Becca , this is something I need to do. I have like a million vacation days saved up, so I’m going to use them. You’ve helped me close countless deals, I know you can do this. And you can have the full commission. This one is all you.”
    There was a pause on the other end of the line, she knew she’d hooked her with the words “full commission”.
    “You really think I can do this?” Becca asked sounding unsure.
    “I know you can.”
    “Okay fine.” Becca conceded. “So tell me about New Hampshire.” She said switching from business partner back to best friend. Cassidy proceeded to fill her in on everything that had happened since she’d arrived in Cedar Hollow.
    “You like him!” Becca exclaimed when Cassidy had finished her story.
    “No I don’t!” Cassidy immediately denied it. “This isn’t about Ben, it’s about Mrs. Owens. That place is her home.”
    “How old is he?” Becca pressed.
    “I don’t know, about thirty I guess, my age.”
    “Is he cute?”
    “That’s beside the point.”
    “That’s exactly the point! You like him.” Becca accused again.
    “That’s ridiculous! He’s absolutely awful, haven’t you heard anything I’ve said.”
    “I’ve heard everything, even the stuff you’re not saying .” Becca insisted. “You wouldn’t be staying if you didn’t like him.”
    “Mrs.