Read Online Hunter's Prize by Marcia Gruver - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Marcia Gruver
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didn’t matter what name he called her.
“Sit down, dear,” Mother said, “so these poor gentlemen can rest their feet.”
A twinkle of amusement in his eyes, Pearson held Addie’s chair while she reluctantly sat. With wide grins and a boisterous scraping of chairs, the blatant interlopers followed suit.
“There. You see, Addie?” Mother nodded firmly. “I asked God to provide in our hour of need, and He sent us these nice young men. I’m so grateful. Aren’t you?”
Addie focused on shaking out her napkin but couldn’t prevent her brows from rising. “Um … yes, ma’am. I suppose so.”
“You know,” Mother said, “there’s a passage in the Bible that reads, ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ “She winked. “You two aren’t angels by any chance?”
Theo chuckled, the sound so merry Addie smiled despite herself. “Mrs. McRae, I assure you, angelic behavior is a thing we’ll never be accused of.”
Pearson pouted his lips. “Speak for yourself, old man. You’re dangerously close to hurting my feelings.”
Theo burst into laughter, joined by Mother and Pearson.
Glancing around, Addie blushed.
Nearby patrons looked on, some with amused expressions, others laughing along with them. Anyone passing the table would think they were dear old friends enjoying each other’s company instead of strangers who hadn’t been properly introduced.
“By the way,” Mother said, “Theo and I took the liberty of ordering for you both. I hope you won’t mind.”
Addie’s cheeks warmed. Of course she minded. Only a child needed its mother to order lunch.
Pearson grinned. “I don’t care, as long as he doesn’t try to eat it for me, too.”
Curious, Addie stole a peek at his face.
Glancing her way, he lifted one expressive brow. “Theo’s well acquainted with my likes and dislikes. We’ve been friends since his parents first came to this country. He didn’t speak a word of English for the first six months.” He shrugged. “Somehow we managed to communicate.”
“How long has it been?” Mother asked.
Theo pinched his bottom lip. “Let me see … we came to Galveston in April of ‘91, on Pearson’s tenth birthday. I remember because his mother crossed the street to invite me to his party.” He winked at Pearson. “I was his favorite birthday present.”
Pearson folded his arms on the table, a relaxed smile on his face. “My only present that year, as I recall. I’ve tried to return him ever since.”
“Your birthday’s in April, then? What day?”
Addie shot a warning scowl across the bread basket. “Mother, please.”
“The twentieth,” Pearson said, ignoring her.
Delight lit her mother’s pretty face. “For goodness’ sake! You share birthdays with Addie. Isn’t that a wonderful coincidence?”
Leaning back in his chair, he flashed Addie a warm smile. “I think it is.”
“Of course she’s a bit younger,” Mother continued. “You’re twenty-four by my calculations. She just turned twenty-two.”
Compelled to stop her before she revealed the color of their bloomers, Addie swiveled toward Theo. “When will you be returning to Galveston?”
A hush fell over the table, magnifying the murmur of voices and the clink of eating utensils in the room. Before she could recover from her inappropriate question, the waiter delivered four lovely salads to the table, bowed at the waist, and backed away.
Addie licked her lips and tried again. “I meant to say, are the two of you here on business?”
Theo picked up his napkin. “Well, miss, the length of our stay is up to the boss here.” He jabbed a forkful of lettuce and got it halfway to his mouth before Mother cleared her throat. With a startled glance, he lowered the food to his plate.
Mother tilted her head and shot Pearson a winsome smile. “Do you mind if we say grace?”
Drawing a deep breath, he folded his hands in his lap. “Not at all, ma’am.”
“Sit down, dear,” Mother said, “so these poor gentlemen can rest their feet.”
A twinkle of amusement in his eyes, Pearson held Addie’s chair while she reluctantly sat. With wide grins and a boisterous scraping of chairs, the blatant interlopers followed suit.
“There. You see, Addie?” Mother nodded firmly. “I asked God to provide in our hour of need, and He sent us these nice young men. I’m so grateful. Aren’t you?”
Addie focused on shaking out her napkin but couldn’t prevent her brows from rising. “Um … yes, ma’am. I suppose so.”
“You know,” Mother said, “there’s a passage in the Bible that reads, ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ “She winked. “You two aren’t angels by any chance?”
Theo chuckled, the sound so merry Addie smiled despite herself. “Mrs. McRae, I assure you, angelic behavior is a thing we’ll never be accused of.”
Pearson pouted his lips. “Speak for yourself, old man. You’re dangerously close to hurting my feelings.”
Theo burst into laughter, joined by Mother and Pearson.
Glancing around, Addie blushed.
Nearby patrons looked on, some with amused expressions, others laughing along with them. Anyone passing the table would think they were dear old friends enjoying each other’s company instead of strangers who hadn’t been properly introduced.
“By the way,” Mother said, “Theo and I took the liberty of ordering for you both. I hope you won’t mind.”
Addie’s cheeks warmed. Of course she minded. Only a child needed its mother to order lunch.
Pearson grinned. “I don’t care, as long as he doesn’t try to eat it for me, too.”
Curious, Addie stole a peek at his face.
Glancing her way, he lifted one expressive brow. “Theo’s well acquainted with my likes and dislikes. We’ve been friends since his parents first came to this country. He didn’t speak a word of English for the first six months.” He shrugged. “Somehow we managed to communicate.”
“How long has it been?” Mother asked.
Theo pinched his bottom lip. “Let me see … we came to Galveston in April of ‘91, on Pearson’s tenth birthday. I remember because his mother crossed the street to invite me to his party.” He winked at Pearson. “I was his favorite birthday present.”
Pearson folded his arms on the table, a relaxed smile on his face. “My only present that year, as I recall. I’ve tried to return him ever since.”
“Your birthday’s in April, then? What day?”
Addie shot a warning scowl across the bread basket. “Mother, please.”
“The twentieth,” Pearson said, ignoring her.
Delight lit her mother’s pretty face. “For goodness’ sake! You share birthdays with Addie. Isn’t that a wonderful coincidence?”
Leaning back in his chair, he flashed Addie a warm smile. “I think it is.”
“Of course she’s a bit younger,” Mother continued. “You’re twenty-four by my calculations. She just turned twenty-two.”
Compelled to stop her before she revealed the color of their bloomers, Addie swiveled toward Theo. “When will you be returning to Galveston?”
A hush fell over the table, magnifying the murmur of voices and the clink of eating utensils in the room. Before she could recover from her inappropriate question, the waiter delivered four lovely salads to the table, bowed at the waist, and backed away.
Addie licked her lips and tried again. “I meant to say, are the two of you here on business?”
Theo picked up his napkin. “Well, miss, the length of our stay is up to the boss here.” He jabbed a forkful of lettuce and got it halfway to his mouth before Mother cleared her throat. With a startled glance, he lowered the food to his plate.
Mother tilted her head and shot Pearson a winsome smile. “Do you mind if we say grace?”
Drawing a deep breath, he folded his hands in his lap. “Not at all, ma’am.”
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