Read Online Dark Secret by Christine Feehan - Free Book Online Page A

the ranch house. Ginny’s dog, King, a border collie, rushed out barking a greeting. She rested her head against the steering wheel for a moment trying to absorb the vibrations in the night sky. What was out there, close, watching her ranch, marking her family? Why couldn’t she isolate the direction it was coming from? She knew something was watching, yet she couldn’t pinpoint the trouble. Colby knew things. She knew the cow in the barn was going to give birth soon and it wasn’t going to be an easybirth. She knew when it was going to rain and just how long she had to get the hay out of the fields.
    Patting the dog, she made her way to the porch. Paul was waiting for her, on the porch swing. His long, lanky frame was stretched out, his hat pulled low over his eyes. His arms were folded across his chest. Colby stood there looking down at him, love for him welling up inside of her. He was an amazing brother. He looked so young and vulnerable when he was asleep. Colby touched his shoulder gently.
    Paul woke with a start. “I was just resting my eyes,” he said, his grin lighting his face as he pushed back his hat with his thumb. He had seen the gesture in a western movie and had copied it ever since. He had been about seven and Colby didn’t have the heart to remind him of its origins. In any case she found it endearing.
    “Joclyn Everett is a very nice woman, Paul. I’ve met her husband, of course, many times, but never her. What do you think of them?”
    His sigh was audible in the silence of the night. “What I think is that you told this woman you would take on her kid for riding lessons even though you are totally swamped. That’s what I think, Colby.”
    Colby rubbed her forehead, avoiding his eyes. “Well, the girl is Ginny’s age and Ginny gets very lonely.”
    “Colby, you can’t do it. You’re running yourself into the ground already. Don’t you think I know you’re staying up half the night already? You can’t take on any more.”
    “They’re offering good money, Paulo, and Ginny needs a friend. I thought I could spend a short period each lesson with the girl and then let Ginny take over. It shouldn’t really take that much time.”
    Paul groaned aloud. “You really are crazy, Colby, but there’s never any good arguing with you.” He held open the door. “I checked the stock, made the rounds so you can hit the sack.”
    She flashed him a quick smile. “Thanks, Paul. I am tired tonight.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I appreciate it, I really do.”
    “I’d give you a lecture,” he said, “but I kind of like Sean Everett. Since he’s a neighbor, we might as well becomefriends with him.” Colby burst out laughing, the sound soft and quite catching. Paul found himself with a big smile on his face.
    “You’re only saying that because you want another victim to rope into fixing our broken-down equipment.”
    “Are you accusing me of having an ulterior motive?” He did his best to look innocent.
    Colby signaled King toward the barn. Usually the collie slept curled up on the floor of Ginny’s bedroom, but Colby had been so troubled lately, she had taken to using him as a night guard. Paul watched her signal the dog, a frown on his face. “You really are worried, aren’t you, Colby?”
    She shrugged casually. “I just think it’s better to be safe than sorry, Paulo. Ben says he thinks a bunch of kids are playing pranks.”
    Paul snorted his denial. “Ben always blames teenagers. What’s up with that?”
    Colby laughed again, filling the house with the sound of her warmth. “You should have seen him as a teenager. He was the bad boy of the school. He just thinks everyone is like he was.”
    Paul shook his head and opened the door to his bedroom. “I can’t imagine him as a teenager. He doesn’t even know how to smile. Good night, Colby, you need to actually go to bed.”
    She raised an eyebrow even as she hid her amusement of his authoritative tone. “Good night,