Read Online Lone Star Legacy by Roxanne Rustand - Free Book Online

probably offend half the town if I did that, and I’d confuse the other half. They’d wonder what I had for sale.” She braced her hands on her slim hips. “So, how is everything coming with cupboards downst—”
    The telephone rang.
    Instantly, the color drained from her face.
    It rang again. She shot a quick look at the portable receiver on an end table, but made no move to answer it.
    “Your phone is ringing,” he said gently. “Expecting a call?”
    “No…yes.” She took an agitated step forward, then halted.
    The phone rang again.
    “Want me to get that?” When she didn’t immediately reply, he sauntered over and picked it up, held it out to her, then hit the talk button when she didn’t take it from him. “Crystal’s Café.”
    Walt chuckled. “So you’re still there!”
    “Working.”
    “Of course. Never thought otherwise.” The smile in his voice was unmistakable. “Hey, could you tell Beth that I need her to come over to the clinic for a few minutes? An emergency came in, and I could use an extra set of hands. I also can’t find the Farnsworth file, now that she’s straightened everything up. She’s welcome to bring Sophie. I’ll pay her triple if she can help out.”
    Joel handed the phone over. “Walt.”
    He watched the play of emotions on her face. A deep sense of relief, then concern as she eyed Sophie, who was yawning at the table.
    “I understand.” She listened for moment, then added, “I’ll be there” and hung up. “Your uncle says you’re good with kids and totally trustworthy. Would you mind staying with Sophie for a half hour, so I can go help him? She’s so tired that I hate to get her dressed and take her out again.”
    Time stood still as ice rushed through Joel’s veins and terrible memories crashed through his thoughts.
    The last time he’d watched his daughter while his wife was running errands.
    The absolute, overwhelming panic and fear when he’d gone into the nursery and found his little girl…just a half hour after she’d settled down for a nap.
    She’d lain there peacefully, as if sound asleep, soft music still playing on the tape recorder on her dresser.
    But with that sweet and terrible lullaby, she’d been ushered from this world into the next. And nothing—not his trembling efforts at CPR, nor the efforts of the EMTs—had succeeded in bringing her back.
    If he’d only checked her sooner.
    Checked more often.
    Stayed in the room with her, watching every breath she took. If he’d done everything right, maybe the world wouldn’t have ended for him, as well.
    “I—I can’t. I’m sorry.” He strode to the stairs and descended them two at a time, jogged across the café and let himself out into the cool night air.
    He drove like a bat out of hell, disregarding the speed limit on the dangerous curves five miles out of town. Missed the turnoff to his ranch by a half mile. Tires squealing, he did a U-turn in the center of the road.
    It wasn’t until he pulled to a halt in front of his sprawling ranch-style home that he stopped to consider his actions.
    He should have said something— anything —before taking off. Beth had needed his help, and he’d cut out on her like some foolish hothead of a teenager.
    But he’d been unable to explain his sudden, razor-sharp sense of panic. The crushing weight of memories that had blindsided him at the thought of staying at her place—alone and responsible—for her little girl. And the worst of it was that his reaction had been totally illogical.
    He’d driven as if the devil himself was behind him…yet knew he would never truly escape the past.
    So now little Sophie was probably at the clinic in her pj’s, curled up on one of those uncomfortable reception area chairs and trying to sleep…and he’d blown off something that might be far more serious than his own troubled history.
    The stark look of fear on Beth’s face had not been his imagination. She’d been afraid to answer that phone.