Read Online Holdin' On for a Hero by Ciana Stone - Free Book Online Page A

filtered down through the trees that towered overhead, dappling her body with sun and shadow. She seemed to be as much a part of nature as the trees and rocks. Chance stared at the picture, wondering why Wyatt would have drawn it.
    “What are you doing?” His angry voice behind her made her jump.
    “I was…I was…just looking around,” she explained, stumbling over the words in embarrassment.
    “You mean you were snooping.”
    “I didn’t mean to. I was just looking around and I found this room. I didn’t know you were such a talented artist. That picture on the drawing board—it’s for a book cover, isn’t it? I recognize the style. You’ve done a lot of them, haven’t you?”
    Wyatt stared at her stoically without reply and she looked down at the sketchpad still in her hand. “Why did you do these, Wyatt?”
    He snatched it from her and put it on the drawing table. Then he shoved her out of the room and closed the door. “That’s private and I don’t appreciate you going through my things.”
    Chance stumbled as he pushed her again farther down the hall. She reached out to steady herself against the wall. He walked by her and disappeared into the kitchen. She started after him then stopped. She was getting nowhere. So far he had not had a kind word to say to her and it was just getting worse. The way things were going, she wasn’t going to find out what was bothering him. Until he got over his anger there was no point in even trying to talk to him.
    Resisting the urge to try and get through to him, she ran into the den and snatched up the keys to his Jeep from the coffee table. She didn’t bother to tell him she was leaving. She felt if she did he would only tell her how he hoped she never came back.
    She ran outside, climbed into the Jeep and started it. She had no doubt that he heard the engine but he didn’t come outside. She drove back to Ralph’s bar. Her Wrangler was parked in the back lot. She stopped and went over to it. The doors were locked and the keys were not in the ignition. She had no idea how to get in touch with Billy Hawkes so she decided to just leave the Wrangler where it was and come back later that night and hope that Billy showed up.
    As soon as she arrived at the motel she took a long, hot shower then checked her messages. There was a message from her father, demanding that she call him immediately. She almost decided against it, but then changed her mind. Abbott answered the phone at the estate.
    “Davenport residence. How may I help you?”
    “Hi, Abbott, it’s Chance. Is my father around?”
    “One moment, Miss Chance.”
    She pulled her attaché case over closer as she waited for her father to pick up. He came on the line a moment later. “Do you mind telling me just where the hell you are?”
    “On assignment,” she lied without hesitation.
    “Assignment?” He sounded as if he didn’t believe her. “What assignment?”
    She didn’t answer his question. “Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?”
    “I want to know why you went to see Neil Brown!”
    “Not that it’s any of your business, but it’s for a piece I’m putting together.”
    “What piece?”
    “Look, I really don’t have time for this right now. When the piece airs you can watch it. But right now I have a lot to do. So unless there’s something else—”
    “I want you to quit that goddamn job!” he shouted. “I’ve have had enough of your foolishness. It’s high time you settled down and started a family. I spoke with Walter Stillwell just yesterday, and even though you treated him abominably he would still take you back. And you couldn’t find a more suitable husband, I might say. Why, Walter is worth at least—”
    “He’s ancient,” Chance interrupted. “And I’m not interested.”
    “Ancient?” Maurice’s voice rose even higher. “What kind of remark is that? He’s a year younger than I, and I hardly consider myself ancient. Besides, you need someone more